Thermos

The shaking got worse, and the the small island started to move.

Cracks opened up in the rocky ground as the yellow ocean churned madly around it, like the sea itself was alive.

Grido's voice came through the din.

"Everybody, look out!" - He yelled

But it was only Akira's sharp instincts that noticed something the others didn't.

His eyes quickly scanned over the broken ground, linking the clues marks in the earth, the strange acting of the waves, and the unhealthy light coming up from beneath.

His voice came out urgent, louder than the shaking.

"Grido!"

"Transform the bird!"

"We have to get away now or we'll die!"

Grido stared at him in shock.

"What are you saying?!"

Akira shouted with dark eyes full of confidence.

"The island-it's not just shaking!"

"The island is the Boss!"

"The whole thing!"

"NOW, MOVE!"

The words fell like thunder. Grido did not wait any longer.

In a moment, his bird , changed from its small, hidden shape into its real size. Its wings spread out.

"Get on!"

"Now!" Grido yelled.

Akira darted forward, grabbed hold of Victor—who was still in stunned shock—and heaved him onto the bird's back.

Grido did the same with Anna, who stumbled and almost fell as the earth gave way under her feet.

With everyone on its back, the bird started flapping its powerful wings, raising them off the ground just as the island began to break apart.

The next rumble from below was followed by an enormous gout of yellow liquid that hurled a hundred feet into the air. The bird narrowly missed the spray of liquid, flying higher as the island began to change.

From their viewpoint, the true nature of the monster became exposed.

The solid small island changed shape, its rocky sand surface turning into something that looked like a glowing yellow jelly.

The sea around bubbled wildly as a giant, slime-like creature heaved itself into view it had a rocky shell on its back, like some giant sea monster.

Its eyes were two glowing balls of gold that stared with a deep hatred at the bird—odds felt overwhelming.

Anna clasped at her chest, voice trembling.

"That...that thing is not huge is massive!"

"How are we to fight something like that?!"

Grido ground his teeth, his knuckles white as he gripped the bird's reins.

"That's a Thermos."

"Damn it, I know that's the type of monster that appears here, but they've never been on the island itself. They usually come out of the water, or sometimes they don't appear at all, and the dungeon is cleared without fighting one."

"This is the only type of dungeon where the gate to exit opens itself without needing to kill the boss... what is happening to us today."

"Is this one a mutant too?!"

"Because this size—this is on a whole other level than normal Thermos!"

"How the hell are we supposed to kill it when we're barely holding on ourselves?"

"Our mana reserves are drained, and the plan we had is useless now!"

Victor, still agitated, spoke up finally.

"Those Werehyenas were tougher to battle than we thought."

"They had us weakened before the fight really even began."

Akira sat at the front of the bird and looked down at the huge Thermos.

His dark eyes were cold and thoughtful.

Akira did not move.

"I think I know a way,"

He said, his voice low but firm, imbued with quiet intensity that shut the others up.

Grido turned his head slightly, an expression of surprise and hope crossing his face.

"What do you mean, Akira?"

"Do you have a plan?"

Akira smiled slightly and looked down at the Thermos.

"If we think this through...we can do it."

"But you have to trust me completely."

The air was thick with tension, the weight of their task hanging heavy over them, like a guillotine.

Below, the Thermos roared once more, its massive form shifting as it continued to rise from the ocean, like a mountain about to crush them all.

"Trust you?"

Grido muttered, glancing at the others.

"You're the reason we're still kicking, Akira."

"So whatever you've got in mind...we're with you."

The bird flew around the monster, wings slicing through steam rising from the boiling sea below.

"Good," He said, clutching the hilt of his Panthosword tightly.

"Because this will not be easy."

The air was full of tension as Akira finished scanning with the system the mutant Thermos.

He didn't say a word about what he had found out, only clicking his tongue in thought, his sharp eyes always on the huge, mutated creature.

"Hmm,"

He muttered as he turned to others

"Here's the plan," Akira started, his voice low.

"It's do or die, so no mistakes are allowed."

"Trust me completely."

His eyes swept over the group, and though their faces showed exhaustion and pain, each nodded in agreement, steeling themselves for the challenge ahead.

"Grido you're up first."

"Use your bird to get its attention,"

Akira said, motioning to the towering Thermos that swayed like a living fortress of slime and stone.

Grido nodded and then whispered something that could not be heard to his giant bird.

With a loud screech, the bird charged ahead, its sharp claws shining in the golden light.

It flew low, attacking the Thermos and scratching its claws on the slimy surface of the creature

The Thermos let out a loud roar, its deep sound echoing across the ocean like thunder.

Its huge, jelly-like body turned slowly, focusing completely on the threat from the air.

"Good,"

Akira said, with a small smile.

"The first step is done."

"Victor, it's your turn,"

Akira said more firmly, his face turning serious.

"I know you're hurt but it's the only way."

"You need to blind its right eye"

"Don't worry i will help you"

Victor coughed into his hand, blood on his lips, but he clenched his teeth.

"Damn kid, pushing me like this,"

He said, giving Akira a look that showed more tiredness than anger.

Victor leapt from the bird, plunging toward the Thermos, his tiny form barely visible against the vast expanse of the beast. As he dived, there was a shrill crackle in the air as Akira's white lightning bolts shot out at a distance toward the Thermos the sharp arc was confusing to the beast and quite sufficient to eclipse Victor's plunge. The bolts didn't strike, but they did flash with a dazzling light, blinding the Thermos for an instant, making the small figure of Victor seem even more diminutive.

With a battle cry that was more like the blast of a war horn, Victor plunged the great sword straight into the creature's colossal, shining right eye. The blade sank deep with a sickening crunch and a fierce howl from the beast. The Thermos writhed violently, its huge, jelly-like body jolting up and down like a choppy sea, nearly pitching Victor off.

The sword twisted deep within the wound as the beast recoiled, its immense size barely noticing the small figure who had dared to attack. Victor found himself flung onto the solid, ridged portion of the creature's spine, fighting to hold on as the beast rampaged.

The only reason he had even managed to injure the beast was his tiny size relative to its enormous mass. It was so distracted by the chaos around it that Victor was hardly even a blip on its radar.

Victor held onto the rough surface, using all the strength he could find in his hurt body.

"Damn it!" - He cursed, coughing up blood.

"Kid, I'll kill you myself after this."

But a small smirk was on his face.

"Perfect,"

Akira muttered under his breath, eyes locked onto the massive beast before them.

"Now it's your turn. Anna, can you do it?"

Anna's eyes widened, gripping her daggers tightly.

"Me?"

Her voice wavered slightly. "What do you want me to do?"

Akira's voice softened, but his gaze remained cold and unwavering.

"You can do this."

"Blind its other eye—make sure it can't see us coming."

"I'll use my lightning again to distract it. Can you do it or not?"

Anna clenched her jaw, took a deep breath, and then nodded sharply.

"Okay. Leave it to me."

The Thermos roared, its deafening cry shaking the battlefield. Its grotesque, slimy form twisted violently, its one good eye burning with unbridled rage.

Without wasting another second, Anna launched herself forward, her body cutting through the air like an arrow, daggers gleaming under the harsh light.

At the same time—

CRACK!

Blinding white lightning surged from Akira's palm, splitting the air with a deafening boom as it struck the Thermos. Sparks exploded across its massive body, arcs of electricity dancing wildly over its slimy flesh.

The attack should've staggered it. Should've made it flinch.

But it didn't.

The Thermos barely reacted.

It had adapted.

Its remaining eye flickered with something primal and ruthless—it wasn't backing down anymore.

Still mid-air, Anna realized it too late.

The beast wasn't distracted. It wasn't hesitating.

It was waiting.

Its massive, quivering arm heaved itself upwards like a wave of liquid and intercepted Anna's daggers in midstroke just before they cut through into the glowing orb.

That impact sent ripples traversing the beast's face, and Anna found herself slightly off balance.

"Tch!"

She spat, her voice shrill with frustration.

"Why does it always have to be so bloody difficult?!"

Her feet scrambled against the slick, uneven surface of the Thermos, and her eyes went wide with horror as the monster's other huge hand loomed over her head, threatening to squash her like an insect.

From the bird's back, Akira saw the impending danger. His cold, dark eyes narrowed, and he didn't hesitate a second before he readied himself to throw his body toward her.

"Damn it!"

He growled under his breath.

"Forget the plan."

"If she dies-"

His thoughts cut off abruptly as he shifted his weight to leap, his body already full of raw, unbridled energy.

But before he could move, Grido had clutched his arm, holding him with an unexpected strength.

"Stop!"

Grido's voice was commanding.

"Trust her!"

"She's got this!"

Akira glared at him, his jaw tight, but he hesitated, his gaze snapping back to Anna.

As the massive hand of the Thermos descended, Anna's sharp mind worked faster than the lumbering movements of the beast.

"No today i won't look bad and useless to him"

"And if i don't do this our chances to survive will fall to zero"

She muttered under her breath, her expression hardening.

She activated her skill, Blink, just as the monster's hand was about to crush her.

In an instant, her body shimmered like a mirage and disappeared, reappearing mid-air just before the Thermos' remaining eye.

"What—?"

Akira's breath caught, his keen eyes jerking to where she had materialized.

Anna didn't waste the opportunity.

She let out a savage cry as she plunged both her daggers with all her strength into the glowing eye.

Deep inside, they sank, and the Thermos released an earsplitting roar of agony.

The body, enormous beyond her imagination, went into massive spasm, sending waves of turbulence crashing against the surrounding sea, writhing in blind furiously wild contortions.

The glowing light in its second eye dissipated into darkness, and it became blind and helpless.

Anna landed back on the beast's surface, breathing heavily but steady, with eyes burning with determination.

Grido let out a long exhale, releasing Akira's arm.

"See?"

"I told you,"

He said, though his voice had an edge of relief to it.

Akira's face was impassive, staring at Anna as his mind whirled.

He muttered.

"What did she do!!"