Thirty minutes later, Tiona and Tione met at the entrance.
Both sisters had traces of blood on their weapons and limbs, yet their moods were light. After wiping out all the dark faction members who intended to interfere, the coming battle against the floor boss would be much smoother.
"Done already?"
Tione glanced at Tiona's weapon, still faintly stained with red—blood she hadn't fully cleaned off.
"Of course it's done."
Tiona flexed her arm and proudly showed her biceps, smiling with complete confidence.
Tione ignored her, turning her gaze to Tsunayoshi.
"If he hadn't helped you conceal your movements, your noisy fighting style would've already alerted the whole floor."
Tiona's grin froze. Puffing her cheeks, she glared at her sister.
"Tione, can't you let me enjoy my victory for once without ruining it?"
"That's not ruining it—just stating the facts."
"Ugh!"
The two sisters faced off again with puffed cheeks, their usual bickering filling the air. Tsunayoshi could only shake his head helplessly—these two never changed.
"Tione, how did things go on your side?"
"Perfectly!"
At the sound of his voice, Tione instantly abandoned her standoff with Tiona and focused on him.
"All the firestones scattered at the entrance and exit were completely dismantled. Everyone lying in ambush has also been taken care of. No one escaped, and all the charges were safely removed."
"Good work, Tione."
Tsunayoshi nodded approvingly, not holding back his praise. Tione's face immediately lit up with a pleased smile.
"Tiona, Tione—next comes your real task: the floor boss battle."
His smile faded as his tone grew serious. Facing a floor boss was never easy. The sisters' expressions also turned solemn.
"Given the conditions of the Giant Azure Waterfall, you'll face a water disadvantage when fighting Amphisbæna. As a water dragon, it naturally holds an overwhelming advantage underwater—something adventurers can't match."
He spoke calmly, outlining their disadvantage in detail.
"But for you two, there's also a counterbalancing advantage."
Tsunayoshi pointed at the rings on their fingers. The sisters looked down at them, and the tension in the air softened slightly.
"That's right—we have something the dragon doesn't."
"And not just the rings," Tiona added excitedly. "We also have the special equipment you crafted for us, Tsunayoshi!"
She raised her hand proudly to show the burning ring, while Tione adjusted her shoulder strap, revealing the enchanted armor hidden beneath.
No matter how fearsome Amphisbæna was, they had Tsunayoshi's creations supporting them. That alone gave them confidence no monster could match.
Seeing that confidence return to their eyes, Tsunayoshi relaxed slightly.
"Alright. I'll summon it."
"Then it's your challenge from here."
"Got it!"
Both sisters nodded firmly.
Tsunayoshi activated the preparations he had set up earlier.
"Boom!!!"
A massive explosion erupted above the waterfall. The steady stream instantly became a roaring flood, raising the water level by more than two meters. Only a few scattered rocky platforms remained above the surface—the perfect stage for battle.
From deep within the water, a pair of enormous scarlet eyes slowly opened, each as large as a human. The creature's murderous gaze locked onto the sisters, as if ready to devour them whole.
"Bang!"
The water's surface erupted like a bomb had gone off, sending waves crashing toward the rocks.
Tiona and Tione quickly leapt away, grabbing onto the damp cliff walls and narrowly avoiding the surging torrent.
"This thing's not even out yet, and it's already trying to crush us!" Tiona hissed, eyes fixed on the twin-headed dragon emerging from the depths.
"Stay calm, Tiona," Tione warned. "This is the toughest opponent we've faced yet."
They couldn't afford even a moment of carelessness. Fighting Amphisbæna on its home turf—the water—was an enormous disadvantage.
But that was exactly what made this battle truly theirs.
As they spoke, faint blue flames began to shimmer across the surface of the water.
"!?"
"Dodge!"
Tione's warning came just in time. Both sisters jumped away from the wall as a jet of azure fire burst upward, striking the stone face. The rock turned molten red before melting into liquid, dripping into the water below.
"Zzzzt!"
Each droplet hissed violently on contact with the surface, releasing clouds of white steam that filled the cavern. The heat distorted the air, creating a blinding fog—a perfect cover for the water dragon.
Lying across the surface, Amphisbæna's heavy scales shielded it from the heat. Its twin golden pupils scanned the mist cautiously, searching for its prey.
"Splash, splash!"
Footsteps echoed across the water. The dragon's right head instantly turned toward the sound, spewing a burst of crimson mist. The footsteps slowed, becoming heavy and uneven.
The left head gathered azure flames again, blasting toward the source—
only to hit nothing.
"!?"
The dragon's twin eyes narrowed. The left head couldn't stop its attack mid-way, and its exposed throat became a glaring weak point.
"Above!"
The right head jerked upward just in time to see a figure descending from above, twin blades gleaming in hand.
The left head's beam of blue fire whipped upward in a frantic, unstable sweep.
But it was already too late.
At that moment, footsteps splashed across the water's surface again. Tione charged forward, her left arm scorched but her right hand gripping her curved blade tightly.
"Now you can't move, can you?!"
With both of her combat skills—Frenzied Strike and Grand Counter—activated, Tione lunged, her blade aiming straight for the exposed throat of the left head.
This was their chance—the moment when Amphisbæna's own attack had laid bare its fatal weakness.
(End of Chapter)
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