Dive x Divinity

With a trusty pickaxe in me hand.

I mine I mine I mine.

Toiling away under vibrant orange.

May all the metal be mine.

He ho he ho.

He ho he ho.

“He ho he-” Guhiiuh. A mole drilled Biim in the stomach. Sending him flying into the cave's wall. Cracked. Collapsed.

“Buum!” Biim called out.

A hand emerged from the rocks, signing. “All good!”

“Kidd B and C, what’s goin’ on back there!? Are we gonna focus up or what?” Clark kicked a mole into Zein who stabbed it. “We got 11 more to go!”

Biim fired another barrage of missiles, missing most of them as he weaved past diving moles.

“It’d be easier to do that if we could just get some peel.” he glanced at Jejj.

“Some peel! Some peel!” Buum freed himself from the miniature mountain.

“Don’t you blame me for you bein’ ass.” Jejj punched a mole into a cave wall. It burrowed into it.

“You leave them alone!” Skada shot by Biim’s head, hitting a mole behind him.

“G-guys, please stop-”

“Alright, alright, enough. Let’s regroup.”

Scattered like Sagittarius, everyone returned to position. Buum stayed at the back by Mag's side. Standing in order, Jejj, Torell and Clark covered the front while Skada, Zein, and Biim protected the rear. Gemini was restored.

“Defence defence! Even if it’s a snooze.” Clark snored.

“It’s better doing that than getting Mag and us killed You want to see the poor old man dead hmm?” Zein asked.

“I suggested the plan, Zeizei!” Clark cried.

“Here they come.” Biim interrupted.

10 moles remained. Low on mana and stamina, the party began to rely on raw damage and defence. Torell sifted through his inventory for mana potions while the mole's attack began.

5 would charge, claws at the ready. 5 would burrow, appearing at the worst time possible. Like a task force, they kept rotating these two duties, whittling their stamina.

“Should I feel embarrassed for struggling with moles?” Clark wondered, blocking a mole from reaching him.

“I mean, the last time you faced any mole was 4 years ago.” Zein slashed at a mole and kicked it away.

“Ohh, so that’s why you’re ass too.” Clark smirked.

Zein stopped in his tracks, rising to his full height. “Alright… Let’s wager. Whoever gets the most kills wins.” Zein retrieved his axe.

“Now we’re talking. Zeizei!” Clark roared.

“Uh.. we standing back then?” Jejj questioned.

“Ooooh this is going to be fun!” Skada giggled, clapping her hands.

“Place your bets, everybody!” Clark readjusted his sword.

Biim rolled his eyes. “Can we just finish this-”

“10 red gems on Kalel!” Buum reached for the air, waving his hand.

Biim’s face contorted as he turned to face Buum. “On Kalel!?” he said aghast. “Not on the man who was seen as the best player in the game? A man who could solo dungeons? A man who every adventurer looked up to and is still whispered about? Are you out of your goddamn mind? You-you don’t know how good he was!” Buum brushed his hair, hood falling over. “Anodos is winning this every day! Put 20 on Anodos.” air blew out the mage’s nose as Zein laughed shyly.

Torell raised his staff like a student with a doubt. “U-um. If we’re actually betting, then I’ll place 15 red gems on Kale-”

Clark peeped at Torell.

“On Kal.”

Clark winked at Torell.

“Oogie!” Wu picked a gem from Torell’s bag. “Oogie oogie!” he waved it at Zein. “How does he know what gambling is?” Zein waved back.

“May the lord forgive me for the sin I will commit. 20 on Kal for me. Need the wise-ass beat.”

“What about all the bonds we forged!? The memories we made!”

“Funny.”

‘Ahh, don’t be mean to him! He brought us together after all!.” Skada pointed out. Hope filled Zein’s eyes. “That being said, 10 on Kalel.” Hope left Zein’s eyes.

“The bets are in baby. I guess I’m favoured.” Clark shrugged, eyes closed.

Splat. A spear found itself pierced through a mole.

“I can’t believe everyone’s going to let a Skull Kiddand a baby take their gems.” Zein retrieved it with force.

“Dirty play!” Clark cried.

“Dirty play!” Buum cried.

“Dirty play!” Skada cried.

“Less chatting, more hunting rich boy.” Zein gestured with his hand, mimicking chatter.

‘Oh ho now you’ve done it, Zeizei.” Clark joined the battle. Charging at any mole with bullets in them. Eyes darting. Scanning. Like a hunter spotting prey, Clark dashed towards them, throwing his skills on cooldown.

His mana drained like a broken pipe, but it worked. Having a level advantage and strength advantage on Zein aided in Clark's slaughter.

Ding. Zein levelled up.

“Point allocation: 6 points Dexterity!”

Zein's speed and stamina shot up. Slashing and stabbing any mole in his way. Taking 2 on at a time, keeping it close.

One by one the moles fell as the men's health, stamina, and mana cratered. Yet, they kept pushing. They became slower, leading to more dives. And yet, they kept pushing.

“S-should we heal them up? Cause things aren’t looking good.” Torell asked, wondering.

“They’ll be fine.” Skada emphasised the adverb. Both of them have 20% health left and there's only 4 more moles!”

“Don’t think they’d want us interfering anyway.” Skada crossed their arms. Their eyebrows curled, spotting mud rise. “Mole coming our way.”

Burrowing towards them, a mole climbed out of the ground and leapt Clink. A scream. A spear. Piercing through the mole's heart and pinning it against the wall behind the miner.

“Oh-oh my!” Mag stuttered, both in speech and step.

Zein panted, head swivelling back towards the three remaining moles. It was now two. Clark panted with a sword through another.

“Looking tired out there, Zeizei.” Clark extracted his sword. “Why don’t you take a break? Have some juice. Or maybe some wine huh?”

Zein drew his sword from his inventory.

“I’ll think about it .”

Zein slashed at both moles, bringing down to 10%. Clark, watching it drop, dashed right in. A matter of milliseconds. Both moles fell. Gems dropped by Zein's feet. Gems dropped by Clark's feet. Tie game.

Hands-on their knees, staring, the cat and the blonde shook hands.

“Rigged game!” Jejj slapped the air.

“Rigged game!” Skada slapped the air.

“Rigged game!” Buum slapped the air.

“Wouldn’t this be Anodos’ win since he’s 3 levels down?”

“I.” huff huff. “Agree.”

“Now,” huff huff. “Don’t be like that.” huff huff. “Let’s just call it a tie and share. Sharing is,” huff huff. “Caring after all.”

“Don’t be like that.” Zein stretched his back and tail. “You know the Kidd is right.”

“I-I agree with Biim.” Torell said. “Anodos m-making it a tie with a 3 level is…” He looked away as the rest pondered.

Aggh. “Fine! You win!” Skada threw her hands in the air. “You become less cute with every minute, Anodos!”

“Come on why are we being so mean?! I won fair and square this time!” Zein chuckled.

“Less cute with every second!” Buum threw his hands in the air.

“Punished for sinning. Never betting again. ‘Specially on you, Kal.” Jejj swayed their head in disappointment.

“Cmaaan why we being mean!? Let’s all get along okay?” Clark pleaded.

Phew. “Finally done with this one.” Mag wiped the sweat off his brow. “Let’s find some more!”

Everyone glanced at each other. Understanding. Their attention switched to Buum who reluctantly began their conversation.

“Old man.” Buum touched Mag’s shoulder. “I think we’re gonna get back to climbing.”

“Aw really?” Mag pouted. “Alright, let me pack these then.” he waddled towards the fallen ores.

Wu hopped off Torell's shoulder and began collecting. The rest of them helped, easing their workload and allowing their health, mana, and stamina bars to recover by using a single potion each.

“Do we have enough potions left?” Zein plucked his spear from the wall.

“I got enough left for us.” Clark checked his inventory list. “And even if I didn’t, I’d die for you, Zeizei.” Clark smiled.

“Oh mein gott!” Skada held her hands to her face, mouth forming the perfect o. “So cute!” her eyes sparkled.

“Decent pronunciation, not bad.” Jejj picked a gem off the floor.

“The little cola boy taught me well. He must be all grown up now.” Skada shed a pretend tear, wiping it with exaggeration.

“Di-did he even say that?” Torell scratched his temple.

“I’m done collecting.” Biim walked to the group.

“Me too! Me too!” Buum skipped to the group.

“Hell yeah. I’m done as well.” Zein left his sword and axe in his inventory. “Shall we get going?”

“Let’s go let’s go let’s go!” Clark jumped in place.

With nails, gems, and leather stored in their inventories. The party exited the cave. Revitalised and reorganised.

Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. The party rotated themselves between the narrow pathways of the mountain and wide chambers of the caves, playing defence and avoiding battle as much as they could.

Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.

By the end of this charade, moments before reaching the peak of the mountain- Zein reached level 20, Jejj reached 21, Biim, Buum, and Torell reached 21, and Skada and Clark remained the same.

“Have you distributed your points yet, Jejj.” Zein asked, using his spear like a hiking pole

“Naw. Going to now. Why?” Jejj asked, trailing.

“Would you trust me if I asked you to dump it into Strength and Dexterity?” Zein stopped in his tracks.

“Strength and Dexterity…” Jejj pondered. Their eyes lit up. “Oh. I see where you goin’ with it. Aight bet. Let’s do it.”

Jejj dumped 24 of their leftover points into Dexterity and Strength. They ventured into their inventory, grabbing the Goblin Chief's club, wielding it with one hand.

Jejj reached into their inventory. A wooden handle, growing larger and wider with bumps and scratches and dried blood. “Now we in business.” Jejj heaved the weapon onto their shoulder.

“Ooh, you took the chief’s weapon!? That’s so cool!” Skada patted the weapon, marvelling at it.

“That is cool… Damn.” Biim held his chin.

“Oh my god that is pretty rare!” Clark joined Skada in marvelling at it. “You could actually sell that for decent money since newer players don't go for it and older players find it pointless.” Clark began analysing.

“You could probably sell it for a gold piece.” Zein added with nonchalance.

“Ain’t selling.” Jejj shut down all potential offers.

“... Can we move along? Mag seems just about ready to reach the peak too.”

“Ooh, I knew I could count on you adventurers!” Mag giggled. “Everyone is going to be so jealous.”

“Again with the rushing! Let’s relax buddy.” Clark walked up to Biim. “We need to recover too. Especially since we have only a couple potions left on us.” he kept his hands on his hips.

“Aren’t we all at max?” Biim retorted, crossing his arms.

“Pal it’s 2 in the night.” Clark pointed. “There’s real people outside these characters yknow.”

“Like you and Anodos would get tired with just two hours of raiding.” Biim scoffed.

“And yet there are 4 others. Listen-” Clark got closer.

“Enough.” Zein stepped in, holding him back. “Let’s get going alright.” He turned to the rest of them. “Everyone else okay?”

“I’m good!”

“Yee.”

“I-I’m okay as well.”

“Oogie!”

“Oogie!”

“Oogie?”

Buum giggled. Zein retrieved his bow and quiver, slinging them over his shoulder. He then reached for his staff.

“Time to get going go boys.”

Skada coughed.

“And girl.”

Jejj coughed.

“And person.”

“Oogie.”

“And monkey… Okay let’s get going!”

They walked to the peak of the tallest mountain. Cautious with every step. Zip. Their hair and fur blew with a sudden gust of wind. Their pressure rose as their blood pumped. Hearts beating for anxiety and excitement.

A sign.

"Beyond this post lays the ruler of the mountain. For those of simple mind, may your death be painless."

“Zeizei, I’m scared!”

“I’ll let Jorah know.”

“Why you gotta do that! No one likes a rat, Zeizei!”

“Rats make decent food though.”

“Like Ratatouille!”

“E-excuse me!?”

“Don’t mind him. Ain’t worth it.”

“B-b-but Ratatouille!?”

“We’ve reached.”

“Reached!”

Past a narrow entrance, an empty field lay before them with stalagmite formations erupting from the ground. Iron ore. Zip. Their hair and fur blew with a sudden gust of wind. Mag, missing from the middle, was spotted galloping towards the centre.

“Ore!” Mag yelled with joy.

“Buum! Get him now!” Zein commanded.

Buum sprang into action as a shadow was cast over the miner. Growing in size with every blink. Growing darker with every step. Moments away from a painless death

“Dash!”

CRASSSHHHHH! The dust blinded them, forcing everyone to step back into the barrier. There was no escape. Death was inevitable.

The dust settled. Buum had his hand over the frozen old man, shivering at the sight of what stood before him. A majestic, blue feathered bird looming over them at 7 metres tall. Its emotionless black eyes stared into their souls as they rested before them. The Great Blue Vulture. Level 25.