The ocean swirled around us as we navigated the rocky terrain, the first gem safely tucked away in my satchel. With our adrenaline still pumping from the last encounter, we were more than ready to tackle the next three gems. I pulled out the map, the ink still fresh as we traced our route.

It was quite useful until the rhythmic throb of the gem echoed through the water, pulling us toward it like a drumbeat, just as it had in the first loop. I felt the familiar pulse radiating from the ocean floor, but this time, there was no surprise. I knew what was coming.

“Here we go again,” I muttered, already scanning the water for the sea monsters. Sure enough, they materialized out of the darkness, their green eyes glowing with the same vicious intensity.

“Monsters incoming!” Nicole’s voice echoed through the link, her gun firing before the creatures could even get close. The neon green liquid shot through the water, striking the first beast square in the face. We didn’t have time to get bogged down in another long fight.

“We know the drill—push through, get the gem, and get out!” I sent through the link, moving forward with purpose. Wade was already beside me, his sword flashing through the water, cutting down anything that got in our way.

We pushed forward, cutting through the water with practiced speed. This time, I didn’t waste time engaging with the creatures. I’d seen it all before—their venom, their speed—none of it was new. I headed straight for the gem, knowing the others would cover me.

“Hold them off,” Nicole relayed, firing off another round, keeping the monsters at bay, while Wade expertly slashed through the waves. There was no hesitation, no second-guessing. The first loop had taught me everything we needed to know.

I reached the gem in record time, the throb almost overwhelming now as I stretched my hand toward it. My fingers brushed the glowing surface, and just like before, the rhythm stopped. The sea monsters froze, blinking in confusion before retreating into the dark depths.

“Got it!” I shouted through the link, grabbing the gem and stowing it in my satchel. The whole encounter had lasted only minutes.

“Well, that was easier,” Wade smirked, already turning back toward the surface.

Nicole gave a short laugh, her gun still raised but her shoulders relaxing. “Yeah, no need to relive that fight.”

We didn’t stick around to admire the silence. Instead, we kicked upward, leaving the now still ocean behind us, the second gem secured, and ready for the next.

°*°

“Alright, team,” I said, pointing at the map. “Two gems left.”

“Underwater again?” Wade asked, glancing warily at the ocean.

I nodded. “This time, it’s just sitting in a trench out there. But there are sea monsters.”

“Of course there are,” Wade muttered, gripping his sword.

“We know what we’re dealing with now. Let’s make this quick.” I gestured toward the water. “Stay sharp.”

Without wasting any more time, we dove in. The cool water enveloped us instantly, but we pushed forward. As soon as we got deeper, a rhythmic pulse surged through the sea. The gem was calling them.

“Here they come,” Nicole’s voice resonated through the link, as dark shapes emerged, tentacles writhing.

“No hesitation, we push through!” I directed, raising Ye. The first sea monster lunged at us, but we moved with precision, each of us knowing what to do, according to plan. Wade’s sword flashed in the water, cutting through a tentacle while Nicole’s gun fired neon liquid, forcing another creature to pull back.

We swam hard toward the trench, the throb from the gem growing stronger. More sea monsters appeared, their tentacles darting at us from all directions.

“Keep moving!” I urged, slashing through another attack. My heart raced as the creatures closed in, but we were almost there.

“There it is!” Wade’s voice echoed with excitement, pointing to the glowing gem. It shimmered in the trench, its pulsing light sending waves through the water, calling the monsters toward us.

Nicole fired another burst of neon liquid, pushing the nearest sea monster back just long enough for us to reach the trench. “I’ll grab it!” she sent, darting forward.

Just as Nicole reached for the gem, a massive tentacle shot out of the depths, aiming for her. “Look out!” I warned, deflecting it with my scythe. Wade charged in, striking with his sword, cutting the monster down.

With one swift motion, Nicole snatched the gem. “Got it!” she exclaimed, holding it up as the sea monsters roared in the distance.

“We need to move—now!” I sent through the link, already turning back toward the shore. The creatures were closing in fast, their growls reverberating through the water.

We swam as fast as we could, dodging tentacles and weaving through the sea. The monsters chased us all the way back, their attacks growing more frenzied as the gem’s pulse weakened.

But just as they reached us, the water grew still. The moment we broke through the surface, the monsters fell back, disappearing into the depths.

“That was close,” Wade panted, clutching the gem.

“Too close,” I agreed, catching my breath as I sprawled myself on the sandy shore, the echoes of our recent battle still ringing in my ears. “That’s three down! Now, onto the volcano!”

“Fantastic!” Nicole said, a mix of excitement and sarcasm lacing her tone. “Nothing says vacation like a trip to a lava-spewing underwater volcano.”

“Just wait until you see the view!” I joked, trying to lighten the mood as we exited the shore. The water swirled around us, embracing us in its depths as we prepared for the next leg of our journey.

The trek to the volcano was fraught with peril, filled with obstacles both natural and otherwise. The pressure of the water increased with every stroke, and the luminescent flora surrounding us glowed eerily in the dim light. “Why did we think this was a good idea again?” Wade asked through the link, adjusting his grip on his sword as we swam deeper into the ocean.

“Because we’re adventurers!” Nicole declared. “And adventurers do crazy things like this!”

“Since when?” Wade shot back, raising an eyebrow as we maneuvered around a cluster of coral.

“Since forever! Or at least since we got stuck in this hell prison and decided to shake things up a bit!” she replied, grinning.

“Let’s just get in, grab the gem, and get out before we end up as lava stew,” I sent, eyeing the distant silhouette of the underwater volcano, its ominous glow pulsing like a heartbeat.

As we approached the volcano, the temperature of the water began to rise, becoming uncomfortably warm as we drew near. I stared at the swirling lava beneath the surface, the molten rock creating a hypnotic dance in the depths. “There should be a ledge where the gem is hidden,” I said, scanning the area, my heart pounding in my chest. “Just be careful. The heat is intense, and I don’t want anyone to fall in.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence!” Wade said, rolling his eyes. “But I’ll pass on being lava stew.” His sarcasm barely concealed the nervousness that hung in the water around us.

We carefully swam down the rocky ledge, the heat radiating against our skin even through the water. As we reached the designated spot, there it was—the last gem, nestled on a ledge, glowing ominously like a trapped star.

“Now that’s a beauty!” Nicole exclaimed, her awe audible through the link. The gem pulsed with energy, casting intricate shadows on the rocky walls. But as I reached for it, the ground beneath us shook violently, a low rumble that resonated through the water.

“Earthquake!” Wade shouted, struggling to keep his balance as the ocean floor quaked. “Or is it just a little hot under the collar?”

“Focus!” I yelled, steadying myself against the jagged rock. “We can’t let the volcano’s eruption catch us off guard. Remember the last time?” Of course they didn't.

We stood just like the first time, our bodies tense with anticipation. A trick Wade had come up with in the previous loop had proven useful, allowing us to calm ourselves amid the chaos. Within that calmness, I felt the gem drawing itself closer, as if it were beckoning me to take it.

As I grasped the gem, a loud roar erupted from deep within the volcano. The water around us bubbled and churned as if it were alive, and I felt the heat intensify, licking at my skin through the ocean. “We need to move, now!” Nicole shouted, urgency thrumming in her voice.

We scrambled back up the edge, the ocean floor shaking beneath us. The heat was suffocating now, a palpable force pressing against us as lava began to bubble to the surface, the bright orange glow illuminating the dark waters. “This is not what I signed up for!” Wade yelled, swimming ahead, urgency driving his strokes.

“Just keep swimming!” I shouted, feeling the urgency of the situation clawing at my mind. “We’ve dodged tentacles; we can dodge lava!”

“Just keep swimming!” I shouted, feeling the urgency of the situation clawing at my mind. “We’ve dodged tentacles; we can dodge lava!”

We dashed for the exit, weaving through the rocky terrain, dodging streams of lava that erupted like vengeful serpents. The once-clear path was now a gauntlet of fiery danger, but the gem’s pull urged us onward. Each stroke felt like a small miracle, a defiance against the chaos that threatened to consume us.

Finally, we reached the top of the rocky ledge, gasping for air as we emerged into an open expanse of water, looking back at the volcano now spewing molten rock into the ocean. The sound was deafening, a cacophony of nature’s fury that made it hard to think. “Did we really just do that?” Wade asked, breathless, a mixture of disbelief and triumph in his voice.

“Yep!” Nicole said, holding up the last gem, its glow bright against the darkening water. “And I think we’ve earned ourselves a break!”

Sure we had, but I couldn't help but notice that tides had risen massively ever since our first venture. I knew the gems pillared the island, but it was too fast. The way the island got gnawed at by the waters and its downfall.