Chapter 27 – Floor 1 – Unending Ocean

Day three began as usual for the crew of the caravel, 'Labyrinthian'. While the non-essential members played their games on deck or trained, the members who navigated the ship worked around the clock in the control room.

Fitted with technology that shouldn't fit a caravel at all, magical arrays and screens were projected all over the control room as the equipment manager of the sub-group, Tyermsy, delegated her squadron to move the ship according to Ziphe's navigations.

"Ziphe, it's been three days, how close are we to the second floor?" Tyermsy asked impatiently.

"High Queen of the Gatekeepers, Tyermsy, the first floor is a trial of patience. 21 calls this floor an 'endless ocean'. I have his schematics here. Navigating this sea should take us around four to six months."

"Impossible. With our speed we should cover the distance of the entire world's oceans countless times over within a week." Tyermsy grumbled.

Tyermsy was different from Ziphe because she was one of the very few people who was from the infamous Void Continent, located on the dark side of Ryko. Because Ryko is tidally locked, around half of the planet lay in eternal darkness. The only creatures that could live on the continent were those who lived on the edges that occasionally got sun from the rotation of the two stars. Voidlings adapted to the treacherous space and infested the dark regions of the continent, the Voidlands where round two of the Dungeon Selection 'took place'.

Because most of the continent was part of the other Great Dungeon, Purgatory, only the country of Phanec controlled the continent. It was more profitable to stay away from the Void Continent because it cost more to have a settlement or organization there. Normal civilians would get Void Sickness from being exposed to the Void for too long and could easily die. Even those at the Royalty Realm could be harmed if specific precautions weren't taken.

Special suits equipped lost technologies were required to move about in the long term or special, complex void magic would have to be used to protect a person. Phanec was special because it was the last scientific country. Although they had superior technology, they were still matched by the magically minded countries like Pyrite. Agate and Galeon were also strong as well, but Phanec and Pyrite were considered to be the strongest countries because of their technological and magical advantages respectively.

Tyermsy was the Queen of the Gatekeepers, an organization that partnered with the country Phanec to guard the gates of Purgatory to report on any activity at the gates. While the gates of Hell were metallic and menacing, full of the aura of death, the gates of Purgatory were high tech and glowed blue, overflowing with scientific energy. Purgatory fit Phanec's aesthetic perfectly.

The Gatekeepers are a mysterious organization created in the past by the Authority Cipher before the creation of Purgatory. The Gatekeepers had unknown motives, and the group of five other elite members that joined Ziphe's sub-party were ultimately loyal to Tyermsy above Ziphe. Tyermsy agreed to join Ziphe's party as a subordinate because of her deal with the High Mage Council. She agreed to do whatever Ziphe told her, as long as they could complete the mission 'Cipher' had given to her on the 29th Floor.

Ziphe highly doubted Cipher himself had given her a task because the Authorities locked in Purgatory could not access the outside world. However, he agreed to her terms anyways because of the major asset they added to the party. Tyermsy herself was perhaps the strongest member of the entire subjugation party in terms of raw aura levels, but her role devoted her efforts more towards logistics. The Gatekeepers also prepared most of the equipment needed for the expedition, including the ship they were on now. Investing millions of aura credits, the Gatekeepers were the biggest benefactor of the expedition, save the council themselves.

Tyermsy's long silver hair and green eyes made her look like an elf, but her appearance was due to the spirit magic she rarely used. Elves were in fact extinct, and a historical account of an elf had not been recorded for over an era. It was not out of question for Tyermsy to be descended from elves, but it wasn't necessary for her to look like one. She was a woman of dignity and power. She stood up straight and was serious in business. She couldn't trust someone with few tangible feats like 21.

"Do you really trust that prophet?" She wondered out loud.

"21 is indeed someone who can be trusted. You may not believe him, but this ocean is truly that large." Ziphe tried to be apologetic.

"Hmph. It's hard for me to be your subordinate Ziphe, but I trust you. We've known each other for a long time, but we both know a hidden card like 21 is questionable. I doubt his existence came out of thin air." Tyermsy was one of the skeptics of 21. Logically, 21 was either a plant by an Authority or a fraud.

"Enough. Speak to the man himself when you get a chance. A few floors from now…" Ziphe sighed. "21 told me to tell you that you will be forced into a situation where you and he will have some alone time… whatever that means."

"If his act goes on long enough, I look forward to it." Tyermsy grinded her teeth together in frustration. For months on end, Tyermsy had spent tireless hours preparing the long list of supplies Wizard King Xie had sent her, only to find out that Xie had created the plan together with 21 without Ziphe's knowledge. Xie and 21 had planted many odd curveballs into the expedition and yet were able to predict the splitting of the party on Floor 0 as well as the Ocean, Forest, Mountain, and Desert Floors depicted by Diana, the Goddess of the Gates.

Before the expedition started, a few key points were debriefed for the first stage of the expedition between the leaders of party, and some fine details like the floor landscapes had been described in detail. Xie was a fine Wizard King and respectable man, yet 21 was someone who she had never heard of before the expedition.

Councilman Ryke, a former Gatekeeper, and friend of Tyermsy when they were kids, spoke up from beside Ziphe.

"Ziphe and Xie are convinced. It is enough for me. Lord Cipher would not have sent you on this mission if he had not predicted this man's intervention." Ryke, like most of the council members, wore a dubious mask, and he held a dark muffled voice beneath it. Growing up on the Void Continent, Ryke specialized in Void Magic. He wore a similar protective suit those on the Void Continent and would wear even on the ship along with his Void protective mask despite no damaging Void Aura in the area.

"You chose to serve the Council over Cipher, Ryke, but you're right. It is likely that Cipher accounted for this man… 21."

"One day you might learn the truth why I joined the Council. Ziphe here is just as important as Cipher, and you'll find out why soon enough." Ryke said seriously.

"Those are kind words Ryke, but I am no Authority. It is disrespectful to Tyermsy and the Gatekeepers to compare me to him." Ziphe rebuked Ryke. Religion was important to the Gatekeepers, who worshipped the Authority Cipher.

"I apologize lady Tyermsy." Ryke bowed his head but sent a telepathic message to Tyermsy:

"On Floor 29, before your mission, I will tell you the truth."

Tyermsy pretended not to hear the cryptic message and replied out loud, "As long as you're sorry, I will accept your apology. Lord Cipher should never be compared to a God, even a God as competent as Ziphe." Tyermsy smiled but pondered Ryke's proposition.

"Let's get back to the navigation." Tyermsy recomposed herself and got back to business.

***

As guests of the expedition, Priests from the Church of Seven Paths joined the Great Dungeon Party as guests and patrons. The High Priest of the Void, Vladimir, was the guest of Ziphe's group and would only lend his aid in dire situations while the other members brought him from floor to floor in luxury. Assigned to look after his needs were Council Trainee Member Duchess, Council Trainee Member White, and Vice-Councilman Zacchaeus. Duchess and White were hard working, attending to every over-the-top demand of the Priest.

"Can you tell Ziphe to move the ship slower so I can watch the waves of souls?"

"Can you fetch me some more tea?"

"Could you tell the rabble on the deck to be quieter?"

"My tea is too hot, please make me another cup."

"Can you tell Ziphe to move the ship faster, we've been on this floor too long!"

Duchess and White wanted to prove themselves as capable members of the council so they could be trained to one day be a Vice-Councilmember and then eventually, a full-fledged Councilmember.

Zacchaeus, on the other hand, was already the apprentice of Councilwoman Zirene. When Zirene retired or died, he would become an official Councilman. Only 24 Councilmen and women were allowed on the High Mage Council, and its prestige was at the peak of the political world. Dealing with an annoying old priest who treated the deadly dungeon like a vacation was disgusting to him and his pride.

He constantly fought against the priest's demands and gave the demeaning and absurd duties to the interns.

Ahem, the Trainees.

He had worked his way to become one of the most respected leaders in the entire world. Soon, he would be a Councilman, a rank many considered even higher than the High Priests of the Seven Paths' Church.

Serving the whims of this old coot while he could be conquering the dungeon on the front lines was a nightmare for him. He would rather be with the other council members helping Ziphe in the control room along with the Gatekeepers.

Occasionally, the High Priest would yell at the young trainees if they messed up a demand from him. After taking the abuse, the priest would feel bad and apologize. Zacchaeus would excuse himself from the room during these outbreaks. One time in particular, White had spilled tea on the Priest's bed after the ship had gone over a massive wave. The Priest scolded White over his mistake.

"I don't know how they let you be a trainee. A wizard like you can't make his way up the ladder anyways. You wouldn't even have any luck joining the charitable Seven Paths Church; the resources spent on you are better spent elsewhere!"

Zacchaeus let himself out of the priest's room and pretended to guard the room from intruders.

21 happened to pass by.

"Hello friend, I don't believe we've met. I'm 21, the prophet of our sub-group."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Zacchaeus." Replied the sorrowful Vice-Councilman dismissively. The mysterious prophet looked like a normal person, and Zacchaeus probably wouldn't have paid any attention to him if 21 hadn't taken the initiative.

"Looks like you don't like you like your assigned role on this expedition. I just happened to walk by, but I don't need to be prophet to see your frustration…

I can hear that man's yelling from here! Luckily for you, I am a prophet. I could help solve your predicament. Would you like to clear the dungeon in a more exciting way?" Asked 21.

"I'm listening." Replied Zacchaeus desperately.

21 smiled deviously.