Take Down Chapter 24: Captain_Underpants

You headed out the door together as a group, chatting as you walked along.

“Wait.” You said suddenly, “do we have a plan?”

“Plan?” O/N asked, “who plans things?”

“Uh…” you hummed in confusion, “we’re going up against an unknown… shouldn’t we have some kind of plan of attack in place?”

“Oh.” She said, “guess so?”

“Migata.” Butterfli3 asked.” Could you make us invisible as we get closer so we can scout before making our minds up on what we want to do?”

“Can do.” Migata replied happily.

“Ok. Plan sorted. Let’s go!” O/N said triumphantly as she marched on ahead.

“What class are you?” You asked her as you fell in behind her.

“I’m a blacksmith.” She said proudly.

“Do you engage in combat?” You queried.

“No. I’m back up. I have a mobile work space in my inventory.” She said, “I can make anything you need.”

“Interesting.” You mused. “I’m the only one that doesn’t have a class here.”

“Not for long.” Migata said kindly as he reached out and grabbed your hand in his, squeezing it gently before letting go.

You looked back at him and smiled, relaxing a little as you continued along.

The track you were following started to get narrower and you were forced into single file; O/N in the lead, with you behind her, then Migata, and lastly Butterfli3.

“Did the temperature just drop?” O/N asked from ahead, making her way down the side of the floating island to a naturally occurring rope bridge that connected to the next island.

“It is a little colder.” Migata commented from behind you. “Careful as you go, O/N,” he warned as one of his feet slipped slightly on the damp earth.

“Got ‘cha.” She called back, not slowing one bit.

“O/N.” You called sharply as her foot slipped.

She managed to right herself and brushed it off with a light chuckle.

“I’m fine.” She replied.

“No you’re not.” You said bluntly, “let me go first.”

“Are you ok with going first, U/N?” Migata asked.

“Yes, I’ll be fine.” You said with a smile.

“In that case, I’ll go after you.” Migata said, “just in case.”

“Why am I being shuffled down the line?” O/N huffed.

“So that you’re closer to me.” Butterfli3 said with a soft smile, “I like it when we’re closer.”

“Ok.” O/N said with a smile, “I’ll allow it because you’re my husband.”

Everyone switched places and Migata followed you as you gingerly headed down to the rope ladder, taking a look around at the surroundings as you went.

There was a deep crevice below the rope crossway and low clouds floated past underneath, looking like a river of some sorts as they meandered between the floating islands.

“Bit precarious.” You commented as you started climbing down the ladder then headed to the rope lattice that spanned the cavern to the other island.

“Wait. WAIT.” Migata called urgently, making you freeze where you were at the start of the crossing.

You looked back at him.

“Everything ok?” You asked, studying his face.

“Umm… yeah. Sorry, I just… for a split second I sensed something large nearby but it’s gone now.” He said, confused. “Keep your wits about you.”

You nodded as you looked around again.

Everything seemed normal.

All was quiet.

So you kept going, trying not to look down as you made your way to the next island.

Suddenly Migata yelled loudly from behind you.

“TELEPORT!” He hollered, casting a spell on you and removing you from the bridge in an instant.

You were immediately teleported behind Bitterfli3 a split second before an extremely large pterodactyl with glowing red eyes shot up from the abyss below the suspended bridge and bit it in half, right over where you would have been- had you been there still.

“Oh!” You gasped as the winged beast disappeared from sight and let out a screech of annoyance, making the ground you were standing on tremble with the ferocity of the call.

“THERE’S PANTS!” O/N screamed.

“Why do you sound excited?!” You shouted at her, “this isn’t exciting, did you see that thing?!”

“How’s your pants?” She leered at you.

“I could have been eaten.” You gasped again, still horrified at the thought and looking to see where Migata was. “How did you know?!”

“I maxed out my detect skills.” Migata replied with a smile, “but we need to hide before it comes back to find us.”

Your small team stepped off the path into the underbrush and made sure to stay well hidden as the sound of beating wings carried overhead.

“Is she looking for us?” O/N whispered.

“I think so?” Butterfli3 commented.

“We need to find a way to get to her nest without her being there. If she’s looking for us here then that will keep her occupied.” O/N said.

“I have teleport cubes, and I think I have enough to move you all.” Migata said, opening his inventory to have a look. “I can move people further with the cubes than with the spell.”

“They sound handy.” You commented, “where did you get them?”

“A skunk boss dropped them on level 33.” Migata said with a smile, “the perfect drop from a skunk to be honest.”

“Fair enough.” You said softly.

Just then Pants swooped low, searching through the treeline for your little raid party.

“Migata!” O/N hissed, “just drop them into the ravine, down to the floor. We can climb or fly up from there once we line up where her nest is.”

“Sounds good.” Migata said as he pulled 4 teleport cubes from his storage and carefully made his way closer to the edge of the island.

He dropped them off then gave you all a thumbs up.

“Ok, let’s go.” He said softly as he cast a spell on each of you and you disappeared to wherever the teleport cube had fallen.

You blinked and immediately you were on the floor of level 44.

“Oh! Wow, that was quick.” You thought as you looked around at the very dense forest surroundings.

“This looks eerie.” You whispered to Migata, who had landed right beside you.

“It does, doesn’t it?” He commented, looking around, “hey, where’s the rest of the party?”

“Good question.” You said.

“Coooeeee!” The voice of O/N call from a little way away.

“There’s O/N.” You announced.

“Where’s butterfli3?” Migata asked.

“Over here!” You shouted to O/N, making verbal contact with her.

“Where’s here?!” She shouted.

You chuckled.

“MARCO.” Migata called loudly.

“POLO!” Butterfli3 replied.

“HELP?!” A third voice sounded from the dense underbrush.

“Wait? whose that?” You asked Migata with confusion.

“WHO CALLED OUT, HELP?” O/N yelled.

“I DID!” The voice replied.

“Whose, I?” O/N shouted.

“Uh… Captain underscore underpants.” The voice yelled.

“I don’t know who that is?” O/N called out again.

“What is going on?” You said with a confused laugh, looking at Migata.

“I think someone else is down here.” Migata mused.

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Take Down Chapter 25: All A Little Screwy >>>