SAO: Strawberry Bunny

Qeozze charged forward, his massive form stirring the water into a churning tempest. His maw snapped toward Quinella, forcing her to dodge with a burst of speed. At the same time, his massive tail swung toward Strawberry, its force enough to stir a small underwater quake as it connected with the stone columns around them.

Qeozze's claws lashed out, one narrowly missing Strawberry as she spun out of reach, her wires slicing through the water as she used them to stabilize herself. Muffin, safely tucked into her hood, chirped nervously as she maneuvered to avoid the beast's relentless attacks.

Quinella managed to land a strike, her violet blade glowing faintly as it cut into Qeozze's hide. Yet, his thick scales deflected most of the damage. His roars of frustration shook the water as he whipped his tail toward her, forcing Quinella to use her agility to evade.

"His scales are too thick!" Quinella called out, her voice tinged with frustration.

Strawberry grimaced. "Then we go for the weak points. The eyes, the joints—anywhere that looks vulnerable."

The tide of the battle shifted when Qeozze began swimming in rapid, circular motions, creating a vortex that pulled everything in its wake. The water swirled violently, and both players found themselves struggling against the powerful current.

"Swim out of it!" Quinella shouted, her arms flailing as she tried to break free.

Strawberry fought to stay in control, her scythe digging into the rocky seabed to anchor herself. Muffin squeaked in terror, clinging to her hood as the water threatened to drag them into the vortex's center. Despite their efforts, the vortex's pull was relentless, and Strawberry felt her grip slipping.

Finally, Quinella managed to break free, using her blade to propel herself out of the current. She extended her hand toward Strawberry, who grasped it tightly as she was pulled out just in time. The vortex dissipated, leaving Qeozze momentarily disoriented but no less dangerous.

He unleashed his breath attack next—a crackling chain of lightning that illuminated the water in a blinding flash. The electricity arced between Strawberry and Quinella, striking them both and sending waves of searing pain through their bodies. The attack left them momentarily stunned, their health bars dipping into dangerous territory.

With their health dwindling and Qeozze's relentless onslaught showing no signs of slowing, the two players pooled their remaining strength for a final assault. Quinella distracted the dragon, her agile movements drawing its attention while Strawberry circled behind, her wires gleaming faintly in the dim light.

"Now!" Quinella shouted, her voice cutting through the bubbling chaos of the underwater battle. She darted to the side, avoiding a massive swipe from Qeozze's claws, her movements swift and precise.

Strawberry launched her scythe forward, the blade glowing faintly as it pierced Qeozze's side. The dragon let out a deafening roar, its body thrashing wildly. Strawberry yanked the weapon free with a swift tug and followed up with another strike, the blade carving deep into the dragon's thick scales.

Quinella, however, wasn't finished. She gripped her Blade of Storms tightly, the weapon responding to her intent as violet lightning arced along its edges, crackling ominously. Her eyes narrowed, her violet gaze burning with determination.

"Let's see how you handle this," Quinella murmured, and suddenly her blade pulsed, the electricity growing brighter and wilder.

Extra Skill Unlocked: Tempest's Wrath

Skill Name: Tempest's Wrath

Description: A unique Extra Skill tied to the Blade of Storms. This ability channels the raw power of purple lightning into devastating strikes, blending speed and precision with overwhelming force. The skill allows user to unleash a combination of lightning-infused attacks that deal heavy elemental damage while also disrupting the enemy's movements.

Effects:

Stormstrike: Enhances weapon attacks with electrical energy, dealing bonus lightning damage.

Chainlight Arc: Creates a chained lightning effect that leaps between multiple targets if they are in close proximity.

Overload: Unleashes a massive burst of lightning energy, dealing AoE damage in a radius around user and stunning nearby enemies for a short time.

Cooldown: 5 minutes between uses.

Special Animation: Violet lightning surges through Quinella's body, giving her an otherworldly glow as storm clouds seem to form briefly in her wake.

"Since you like lightning so much, here, have some of mine, you overgrown water lizard! Tempest's Wrath!" Quinella cried, activating her new skill.

The air around her shifted even underwater, the violet lightning surging along her blade and arcing out to illuminate the dark depths. As she swung the Blade of Storms, a bolt of electricity shot out, striking Qeozze directly in the face. The beast reeled back, its thrashing momentarily slowing as its massive body convulsed from the shock.

Quinella didn't stop there. She charged forward with blinding speed, her blade carving a streak of light through the water as it connected with Qeozze's side. A chain of purple lightning leaped from her weapon to the dragon's limbs, disrupting its movements and leaving it vulnerable.

"Strawberry, now!" Quinella shouted, her voice alive with the power of the storm.

Strawberry took the opening, spinning her scythe in a deadly arc and targeting the weakened joints at the dragon's neck. The combined assault was relentless, each strike coordinated and precise.

As Qeozze let out another deafening roar, Quinella activated the final ability of her skill: Overload. She raised the Blade of Storms high, the weapon pulsating with unstable energy. A low rumble echoed through the water as the lightning coalesced into a sphere of pure, destructive force.

"Get clear!" Quinella warned, her voice strained from the immense power she was channeling.

Strawberry immediately retreated, her wires pulling her to safety as Muffin squeaked nervously from her hood. Quinella released the energy, slamming her blade into Qeozze's exposed chest. The resulting explosion of violet lightning engulfed the dragon, the water around it boiling and churning in the aftermath.

When the light faded, Qeozze was left barely standing, its once-massive frame weakened and sluggish.

The combined might of Strawberry's scythe and Quinella's new Extra Skill proved too much for the Deep Dweller. The two warriors stood side by side, their weapons still glowing faintly as Qeozze finally collapsed, his massive body sinking lifelessly to the seabed.

As Qeozze's massive form sank to the depths, the water around the trio grew eerily still. The once-roaring chaos of the battle was replaced by an uneasy quiet, the faint crackling of residual purple lightning fading from Quinella's blade. Both she and Strawberry stood there for a moment, catching their breath. Muffin poked his head out from Strawberry's hood, letting out a relieved chirp, his large ears twitching in the stillness.

Strawberry gave a low whistle, resting her scythe against her shoulder. "That… was something else. I think he's finally down for good."

Quinella nodded, her fingers trembling slightly as she sheathed the Blade of Storms. "Let's hope so. I don't think I've got another Tempest's Wrath in me anytime soon."

Muffin chirped again, nudging Strawberry's neck with his tiny nose. She smirked, scratching his head gently. "Yeah, Muffin, I know. You were the bravest of us all, weren't you?"

Quinella chuckled softly at that, the tension in her shoulders easing. "He did help. Probably provided moral support."

Strawberry snorted. "Moral support, sure. More like moral panic." She gave Muffin another affectionate scratch. "Don't worry, buddy. I'll keep that between us."

The playful banter eased the tension, but as they looked around the murky depths of the lake, their expressions grew serious again. Quinella's violet eyes flicked toward the far side of the cavern. "We still haven't checked the treasure hoard."

Strawberry stiffened at the reminder. "Right. Let's see if this was worth the fight."

They cautiously made their way through the water, their movements slowed by the heaviness of the depths and the strain of the battle. Qeozze's treasure hoard came into view, nestled in a rocky alcove near the cavern wall. Golden coins, jeweled trinkets, and shimmering weapons lay scattered, their brilliance only slightly dulled by the water. The sight of it all made Strawberry's heart skip a beat.

"Jackpot," she murmured, her fingers itching to grab something—anything.

But before they could move closer, a faint rumble echoed through the cavern. The sound grew louder, the water beginning to churn once more. Strawberry and Quinella exchanged alarmed glances.

"What now?" Quinella muttered, her hand instinctively going to the hilt of her blade.

The answer came swiftly. Qeozze, in his final moments, had mustered the last of his strength. His massive body spasmed, and his jaws opened wide, unleashing a concentrated beam of energy that shot directly toward the treasure hoard. The beam struck true, and in an instant, the entire hoard was consumed in a blinding explosion of light and heat.

Strawberry's eyes widened in horror. "No, no, no!" she yelled, her voice muffled by the water. She swam forward instinctively, but Quinella grabbed her arm, pulling her back as the shockwave rippled through the cavern.

When the light faded, the treasure hoard was gone. Only scorched stone and shattered remnants remained, the glittering gold and jewels vaporized by Qeozze's final act of defiance.

Strawberry stared at the empty space, her jaw tightening. "You've got to be kidding me. We spent two weeks in that labyrinth, fought a dragon, nearly died, and for what? This?" She gestured angrily toward the charred remains.

Quinella placed a hand on her shoulder, her voice calm but tinged with regret. "It's not like we could've stopped him. His last attack… it was aimed to destroy everything, not us."

Strawberry shook her head, her frustration evident. "Still. It's a waste. All that treasure, gone."

Muffin chirped softly, almost sympathetically, as if trying to console her.

After a long, tense moment, Strawberry sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping. "Alright. Let's get out of here before something else decides to show up."

Quinella nodded, and together, they swam toward the cavern entrance. The journey back to the lake's surface was silent, the weight of their loss hanging heavy in the water around them.

System Notification:

Quest Update

[DHA 3: The Depths of Vengeance] - Complete

Rewards:

[Blessing of Nukal]: Ability to breathe underwater in certain environments.

[Dragon's Regret Pendant]: A unique necklace created from Qeozze's residual energy. Slightly enhances resistance to elemental attacks.

1,000 EXP.

When they finally surfaced and emerged from the lake, the cool air of the forest felt like a small mercy. Muffin shook himself out, his fur puffing up comically as he nestled back into Strawberry's hood. Quinella wrung water from her hair, glancing at Strawberry with a small smile.

"Well," Quinella said, breaking the silence. "It wasn't the treasure we hoped for, but at least we're alive."

Strawberry grunted, her scythe slung over her shoulder. "Barely."

Quinella's smile widened slightly. "And think of it this way: we got some good experience, and I unlocked a pretty awesome skill."

Strawberry glanced at her, her lips twitching upward despite herself. "You're lucky that skill is so cool. Otherwise, I'd still be mad."

The two shared a rare laugh, the tension from the battle easing as they began their trek back toward Aruyt. Despite the loss of the treasure hoard, they couldn't deny the camaraderie they had built during the ordeal. And deep down, both of them knew this was only the beginning of their journey together.

As the forest began to close in around them once more, Strawberry glanced over at Quinella. "Next time," she said, her tone light but resolute, "we're keeping the treasure."

Quinella smirked, her violet eyes glinting. "Deal."

And with that, they disappeared into the mist, heading back to Nukal to finish the quest.