2. A: The Eldritch Sea Food And The Guiding Coin Chain

Looking at my arm and moving it around, I test it, but as expected... Without my Regeneration skill, the result is not satisfactory, still...

“For now... This will do.”

Saying that and nodding to myself, I slowly clench my fist and watch as suddenly tens or maybe hundreds of white threads spring to life binding my right arm momentarily, before then slowly weaving themselves and covering said arm with a thick layer of bandages.

Then calmly looking at that, I move my attention from the bandage and to the rest of my shirt and even shorts, as both slowly change their shape, getting not only thicker but even sturdier while covering most of my body, and giving it the needed defense. After all, now...

“Now is the time to hunt.”

Saying that and looking at the hole ahead of me, I slowly pull up the newly appearing white hood while also fixing my hair in it and taking a deep breath, only to then smile and take a step forward, followed by another as streams of Black slowly slither along my limbs and torso covering them in light armor. Still...

”... The keyword here is Light.”

Saying that and grinning, I slowly lower my body while increasing my speed, only to then...

ZzzSsZt.

“JUMP”

Saying that word and removing my smile, I rapidly move forward through the closing tunnel while a vortex of Curse pushes me forward, through the many floors and against the unpredictable gravity. Ah, but it’s not like the maze is the only thing annoying me, and so...

SmAacK.

From time to time, I don’t forget to slap and punch aside everything jumping in my path, be it a couch with teeth, an eldrich Tv from the deep sea, or even a... Wait, for real?

“Ugh, seriously... There really is all kind of beasts, huh?”

Saying that and feeling weirded out, I cringe inwardly while also not losing my concentration and instead I increase my speed and resist the suction force from the many floors, many rooms, and paths I pass. As I then keep myself racing on and on forward through this closing tunnel, still... Somehow, it seems even with this much speed and acceleration, it’s...

“It’s not enough?!!”

Saying that and feeling the incredible force pulling me to the left increasing steadily, I... I try to resist, and even increase the amount of curse pushing me to the limit, but... but something is wrong and so I...

“... I give up.”

Saying that and flipping in the air, I instantly release the vortex of black around me, before then following the weird flow of gravity here and rolling on the ‘floor’ to kill my momentum. Still, is it just me or is this...

“... Weird.”

Saying that and feeling confused about both the sudden shift in directions and the increased rejection from Curse I just felt, I quickly stand back in place and with vigilance glance at the broken furniture surrounding me, and then at the wall that just closed completely, but the hel-

“... Account.” “Hmm? Wha-...”

“It’s The 3rd Layer. We are drawing nearer to The 3rd Layer.”

Hovering in front of my face and saying that, Navi, with a worried expression, waves her small hands and points to the red interface floating beside her, where the number of this layer appears. Or to be more precise, it’s this that appears. -Layer: 2.91-

And then looking at that, I freeze for a moment before then absentmindedly nodding as I finally understand not only what’s happening here but also what that mischie-... Hmm? What? I didn’t explain what Layers are?

Oh, yeah, I guess I really didn’t... But hmmm... Well, to simplify, Layers are just that, Layers. Ones that differentiate the different levels of depth in Oblivion, the strength of demonic beasts, and more importantly...

“The concentration of Curse.”

Knitting my brows and muttering those words, I look at the weird pool of blood flowing from the surrounding furniture, while also feeling the increased rejection from the Curse around me, but...

“As expected, It’s my level, ha?”

Saying that and shaking my head, I try listening to the whispers around, but... it seems like I can’t suppress them completely, nor control them with the same ease as before. Still, now is not the time for this and so...

“Let’s move on.” “Understood, Account, I will update the ma-...”

“No need, we are close already.”

Gesturing for Navi to stop and saying that, I look as the blood and furniture slowly rise forming some weird eye-covered creatures, then looking at them curiously, I also put my hand in my pants pocket and pull a silver bar, before then breaking a small piece of it and crushing it in my fist, when...

Ssssh. Ssssh.

”!!?... Hey, careful, would you?”

Screaming that and instantly jumping back, I once again step aside avoiding a bloody whip attack, before then calmly flipping back and this time avoiding... a claw? For real? So, are you telling me that these thousand-eyed masses of pulsing furniture are...

-Homicide Lobster lv17: Covered in blood, covered in eyes, and even a shell of wood, this ugly thing looks like a lobster, moves like a lobster, and even screams like one, but no way in hell will I accept this inedible abomination as a lobster.-

-Skills:

Homicide - Great Health - Attack - Defense - Agility - Whip - Claw - Blood Tide- ??? - ???? - ...

“Eh? For real?”

Saying so and tilting my head, I slowly rub my eyes and then look again at the many-eyed pulsing masses of furniture with tentacles, but... it seems my eyes are not deceiving me, and this is indeed...

“Another interesting addition to this maze’s Deep Sea collection...”

The Eldritch Lobster... Or so, I would record it later, but it’s not like names are that important.

Thinking like that and suppressing my laugh, I look once more at the group of ugly lobsters around me, at the wall behind them, and then at a small chain held in my right hand and the black-silver coin pulling it in a certain direction.