Charybdis Pt 2

A Few Minutes Later

Far North of Tempest

Great Forest of Jura

Treyni brought a hand up, a vine swinging and batting away yet another attack by one of Charybdis' flying Megalodons. Her other hand remained extended, the majority of her powers and focus working to keep Charybdis itself wrapped like a Christmas gift.

It was an effort that would ultimately be in vain. Charybdis could not be contained forever by plants and trees. Even on home territory, with the power of the Great Jura Forest fully at her beck and call, the beast was simply too powerful.

It had nearly escaped half a dozen times, with Treyni nearly losing some extremity or another to its Megalodons half a dozen more. Were Charybdis any more than a mindless beast, it would have never gotten ensnared in the first place. But it had, and it had remained ensnared, though quite unwillingly.

Its power was enormous. Keeping it one place was like bearing Atlas' curse, and with what was a stake, it truly felt like the world was at her back. The fact that Treyni had managed to contain it for so long and was still doing so now, long after she'd exhausted her spirit-based powers and began relying entirely on her control of the forest, was a testament to her own experience and power.

Even so, it was rapidly running out.

Snap!

Damn!

Three Megalodons broke free at once, two of them rushing her, and the other just sort of swimming around in the air and looking at the vines that had snapped, for some reason or other Treyni couldn't be bothered to care about right now.

She brought her off hand up again, a tree sprouting up and catching one Megalodon in its hollow trunk. The second flew around the trunk, dodging her first, second, third attempts at lassoing it with a vine with frightening ease.

Right… there!

On the fourth attempt, she got it, grabbing the oversized shark just meters from her position and tossing it away. Then, the sound of snapping vines again caught her attention, as Charybdis rolled and bucked against its confinement for the umpteenth time. She quickly made to wrap the other Megalodon up further, before redoubling her efforts on Charybdis itself.

Crack!

But just before she could, the tree surrounding the first Megalodon splintered, falling to wooden chips around it. The oversized shark rushed from its former prison, sprint swimming through the air as quick as it could. Another sharp Snap! only solidified her fears, as the second broke free as well from its hastily formed confinement.

Treyni grimaced, shutting her eyes as she readied herself for the inevitable.

Sure, she didn't technically have a physical body – her usual form more being a physical amalgamation of energies than flesh and blood – so this wouldn't kill her. She'd just dissipate after enough damage, reforming at her original tree much further back in the forest. But it would still hurt, and Charybdis would escape immediately after.

So, it wouldn't be pleasant, all things considered.

Lord Rimuru, I hope you're ready-

FWOOOOSH

Huh?

An incredible heat overrode her senses, its source flowing directly over her head. Heated air, crackling flames, and the scorching of flesh all met her, the scorching power continuing for what felt like forever. Soon enough though, it cut off, the sound of someone landing next to her meeting her ears.

Treyni opened her eyes, letting out a gasp at what met her.

"Tanya!"

"Just like I thought." Tanya didn't acknowledge her at first, "Even if they resist magic or magic-produced flames, they certainly don't resist the resulting heat. Or maybe the resistance has a limit?"

"What?"

Tanya glanced at her, a reassuring half smile on her face.

"The sharks. I figured they resist magic like Charybdis apparently does. But they're still fish, so I also figured the heat that's a byproduct of the flames would work. And I was right. Again."

Treyni's eyes widened. "Charybdis!"

She shifted her gaze. The answer to an earlier question presented itself then, as the third Megalodon finished biting through the last of the massive vines entangling Charybdis' girth. A bestial groan shook the flora-engulfed clearing, the sound of snapping jaws accompanying it as the remaining Megalodons broke free from their own ivy imprisonment.

"I don't think so!" Treyni threw out a hand, gathering the remainder of her energy. She could see it in her minds eye, the plants reanimating and dragging the spiritual beasts back down to earth.

"Don't do that, actually." Tanya destroyed that image, quickly pushing her arm down.

"T- Tanya!" Treyni looked at her incredulously, as Charybdis and its entourage shook off the remainder of her labor. Another groan resonated out, some impossible to understand grouping of syllables echoing in their ears.

It made the sound again, beginning to ascend without giving the two of them a second glance. Or a first glance, even. It rather appeared like Charybdis hadn't seen them at all, or at least, hadn't seen Tanya.

They came to realize why that was, as the large singular eye on Charybdis' front slowly creeped open, it's gaze pointed skyward. It hadn't been looking at anything at all. This whole time, it'd been putting up a resistance without bothering to open its eye.

Treyni couldn't help but feel mildly insulted.

A third incomprehensible groan came out then, with the Megalodons responding in kind. This time however, a bit of the noise could be made out, though not very much.

"Ta-" …something or other, and then "-est"?

Treyni shook her head, focusing back on the task at hand.

"Why did you stop me?"

"You've done enough." Tanya looked at her, her eyes glowing in a way that bespoke power and her expression understanding, "I know it's rich coming from a workaholic, but once you've done your part, it's time to take a break. The others should be about ready by now. Your job is done, Protector of the Forest."

Treyni opened her mouth to argue, only to stop as her stomach gurgled. She blushed, looking away.

Tanya snorted, "Souei."

Immediately, his body double popped up next to them.

"Make sure she gets somewhere safe."

He nodded.

"I'll be fine by myself, you know." Treyni shot her an amused glance. "I can teleport, after all."

"Well, it would be impolite to let a lady walk home unattended, wouldn't it? Especially after such a hard day's work." Tanya said, only half joking, "Honestly, I'd carry you back myself if I could. You deserve the rest, after dealing with Charybdis for so long."

Treyni started at that.

"You would carry me yourself?" Her expression became appraising, her gaze scanning over Tanya in a new light. "Sweep me off my feet, even?"

Well, she is rather beautiful. I can think of far worse. Far, far worse…

"What?" Tanya raised an eyebrow, misunderstanding the question entirely, "Sorry, but I was joking. I can't carry you back right now; I've got a recon job to finish before anything else."

"But you would sweep me off my feet?"

"…Yes?" Tanya turned slightly, her bemusement evident. "If you really needed to be carried that badly, I suppose I could assist. But again, at a later date. Though, you should be fine to walk on your own then…"

She trailed off, her expression best described as "perplexed". Souei's body double held back from face palming

"Oh, Tanya." Treyni giggled, "You should be careful what you offer. You never know when a lady might take you up on your offer."

"To… carry you…?"

Souei's body double continued to watch the exchange with equal amount amusement and exasperation.

It was clear to him then, as a clone that housed all of the same knowledge and memories of the original Souei, that Tanya knew absolutely nothing about Dryads. Granted, Souei wasn't the most read expert on Dryad traditional practices either, but as someone who prided himself on intelligence operations and information gathering, even he knew the significance behind sweeping a tree spirit up and away from the ground.

A roar interrupted any further conversation, the threesome's attention pulled back to the situation at hand. They watched as Charybdis continued to fly away, ten of the remaining eleven Megalodons rising and flying with it. The eleventh Megalodon – the one that had roared, it seemed – remained in the clearing, staring at them hungrily.

"Interesting…" Tanya stepped forward, her magic flaring visibly. "Well, you can't expect reason from beasts. Otherwise, it would have fled."

"We'll take our leave." Body Double Souei said, standing at Treyni's shoulder. Treyni nodded, her gaze still appraising.

"Tanya. When will you be returning?" The Dryad asked, using her remaining magic to begin her teleportation spell.

"My job's not quite done, unfortunately. Though it's not technically my mission, I'd like to gather more details on Charybdis itself before I head back." Tanya held up a gloved hand, the same teal flames from before licking her fingertips. A ball of mana formed beneath her other hand, the glow shining through her fingers.

-=-

Art by (@tanjaded)

-=-

Tanya's magic sparked visibly around her, every inch of her body seemingly alight with her magic. As someone deeply connected with magic both spiritual and not, alongside nature as a whole, the display was rather intense. And mildly intoxicating, Treyni couldn't help but think.

"It's a shame. I'd like nothing more than to kick back with a drink right about now, but instead I'm on the frontline turning sharks into fish sticks."

"Well, when you get back," Treyni began, "Come by the bar. I'll treat you to something nice."

With that being said, she disappeared. Body Double Souei vanished into the shadow of a nearby tree immediately after.

"I think I'll hold you to that." A teal glow outlined Tanya's eyes, "I'll have to end this whole mission quick. My first drink in decades… I can hardly wait."

-=-=-=-

Around the Same Time

Road to Dwargon

Tempest, Jura Tempest Federation

"Everyone in Tempest has successfully evacuated." Mary stood at attention. "What's our next move?"

"Ah, that's good. That's good. Um…" Rimuru shot her a confused look. "…Shouldn't you be with them?"

"I want to fight." Mary squared her shoulders determinedly. "Degurechaff said it was okay, and that I should join your squadron."

Shuna stepped forward, backing her up, "Lord Rimuru, she's telling the truth. I can confirm."

Rimuru stared at the both of them for a moment, before shrugging.

"Sure, alright. Welcome to the team!" He shot her a thumbs up, turning away right after to refocus on the sky.

Speaking of which, Tanya should be checking in soon-

"Rimuru, can you hear me?"

Rimuru hid his flinch expertly well.

"Yeah, I hear you. What's the situation over there?"

"Treyni's perfectly fine, if exhausted. She teleported away somewhere, presumably Tempest or her original tree. Charybdis is heading your way now, but what you should be worried about first is the group of giant flying sharks it has as a vanguard."

"Sharks?" Rimuru couldn't help his disbelief.

"Yes, sharks. I took out two when I rescued Treyni and a third immediately afterwards, but there's still approximately ten heading right for you. I've confirmed that they resist magic, similar I'd assume to Charybdis, but I overrode it fairly easily."

I have a feeling your definition of "fairly easily" differs from most people. Rimuru thought to himself with an amused nod.

And while Tanya couldn't see it, Mary and Milim could. Both exchanged a glance, before electing to ignore it.

"Anything else?" He sent back. Tanya said nothing for a moment.

"They smelled pretty good after I killed them with fire magic."

Rimuru blinked. "Sorry, what was that?"

"I said, they can be killed with fire magic." Tanya's mental voice was dry, giving away nothing. In fact, it was enough that Rimuru almost believed her. Almost. "I've decided to personally approach Charybdis for further reconnaissance."

"Huh? Hold on, you don't have to-"

"I'll keep you updated. Out."

Wait a sec- and she's gone. Rimuru let out a huff. That woman does not waste any time.

"Lord Rimuru." Trya approached him then, Benimaru, Hakurou, Souei, and the rest of his top Executives close behind. "Shall we begin?"

"Of course. Benimaru."

"Right." Benimaru stepped forward. "You all know your squadrons. We'll spread across this road, attacking as required to…"

This will work. I'll make it work. Rimuru stood up straighter, squaring his shoulders and listening raptly as Benimaru laid out the plan of action. Trya added information as they went, her knowledge of Charybdis a great boon to the battle ahead.

Tempest will not fall. Not as long as I'm around.

Rimuru thought this confidently to himself, as Benimaru began to direct the individual squadrons over to their preassigned locations along the road and in the tree line.

All were within shouting range still, either nestled in or at the base of trees along the road, or otherwise slightly further ahead on the road. All were spread appropriately and at safe distance, as to not create a large enough singular target. Tanya had emphasized that sort of thing in one of her many previous discussions with Benimaru, before she'd switched to working with Souei fulltime.

Benimaru saluted Rimuru, before joining his own squadron a bit up ahead. Geld and his orcs, and Gabiru and his lot awaited him. To the right, the Goblin Riders stood at attention, with Gobta and Hakurou at the lead. On the left was Souei, Souka, and the rest of Souei's Dragonewt subordinates.

And finally, in the middle stood Rimuru himself, Shuna and Shion flanking him with Mary and Milim right behind.

Trya, on the other hand, was not part of a squadron. She was here only to relay information, before leaving to check on her sister. And she wasn't done here quite yet.

"There's one more thing." Trya had a troubled look on her face. "Charybdis' resistance is incredible. Alongside High Speed Regeneration, it possesses the Extra Skill: Magic Jamming, which disrupts the flow of magicules near its body. Magical attacks are essentially useless."

"Magic jamming?" Rimuru raised an eyebrow. "Well, we'll work around it-"

"I'm sorry, you said 'jamming'?" Mary spoke up, stepping around Rimuru. "Not 'resistance'?"

"That's right."

Mary's eyes flashed, her mind going back to Tanya's parting words from earlier.

"If this thing's magic resistance is the real deal, you'll need a magisteel blade rather than magic one."

"Does Degurechaff know that?"

Rimuru blinking, glancing at the surprise Trya's face.

"Well, she should, right?" Rimuru offered after a few awkward seconds, "I mean, she was there…"

He trailed off, the same realization striking hm at the same time it did everyone else listening in.

Tanya wasn't here, was she?

Due to the uniqueness of her abilities, her position as one of Tempest 3 strongest residents, and Benimaru's unwillingness to send Rimuru on the task, Tanya had been sent ahead to assist Treyni and gather information, whilst everyone else had been arranging evacuations, setting up squadrons, and making battle strategies.

This "Jamming" aspect of Charybdis' skillset had only just now come up. A fact which Mary pointed out as soon as she thought of it.

"But, this didn't come up until just now." Mary said, her voice betraying her growing unease, "Which means, she thinks Charybdis has magic resistance. Not magic jamming."

The slow realization dawning on everyone's faces did not make Mary or Rimuru feel any better.

"Wahahaha!!"

A burst of unfortunately familiar laughter interrupted their rapidly growing concern. Milim marched forward, throwing an arm around Mary's shoulders with a familiarity Mary rather wished they didn't have.

"Oi, get off!"

"Don't worry so much! Tanya's stronger than some half-baked spirit spawn of Veldora anyway. She's really improved since our last fight, you know?"

"Really?" Rimuru blinked, some of his worry dissipating as he ignored Mary's – ultimately meaningless – struggle to make Milim let go. "She's that powerful?"

Come to think of it, we've rarely sparred before. Yet, she and Milim spar all the time, and at the crack of dawn to boot. Maybe I should drop by more often.

"With her magic on full blast, she's at least a low Disaster Class. The laser spell she hit me with might have even killed some of the guys I know."

"The spell that shattered her arm." Mary pointed out, her expression mildly pained.

"Yeah!"

"The magic that Charybdis' Extra Skill disrupts?" Trya felt the need to add, having mentioned the Skill in the first place.

"…Yeah?"

No one spoke for several seconds.

"I... think I'll contact her really quick." Rimuru sweatdropped, quickly focusing and activating Thought Communication.

"Tanya, can you hear me?"

A few seconds trickled by. No response came.

It... didn't connect.

"Look alive!" Rimuru jumped as Benimaru called back to them. "They're coming!"

Everyone's eyes shot skyward, a large dot on the horizon quicky making itself apparent. Along with something else, too.

Are those… bugs?

Rimuru squinted, his eyesight enhancing through the helpful application of a piece of observation magic Tanya had demonstrated and Great Sage had copied.

No, not bugs. Scales?

-=-=-=-

Just a Tad Bit Earlier

North of Tempest

Great Forest of Jura

I'm hungry…

Flash fried shark meat smelled surprisingly good, Tanya had come to find. Was that weird? Ever since arriving in this world, she'd found that food in general was much more appetizing.

That might've been Shuna's fault, all things considered. Her cooking was the best Tanya had ever had, in all three worlds. She also couldn't rule out her growth – physical and magically – as the source either. Energy derived from food, after all, so it only made sense that as her power grew, so too would her metabolism and appetite.

It was a combination of both, Tanya eventually concluded.

Take the spicy curry they'd had for lunch just the other day. She practically inhaled three plates and had been starting on her fourth when she'd been called away for some Milim-related incident.

It was some damn good curry, now that she thought about it again. Hell, just remembering the delectable richness, the delicious aroma that lingered even after-

Fuck. Her face deadpanned, the expression visible even under her goggles. I can't help but feel I picked up Visha's gluttony somewhere along the way.

Her flight continued, and it wasn't long before she spotted Charybdis once more, her own speed far outpacing the ginormous beast's.

Geh. This sucks.

Hunger notwithstanding, this situation was what some might refer to as "not enjoyable in the slightest". Her ponytail bounced helplessly behind her head, the wind rushing past as she blasted through the sky. At the same time, her body swiftly faded from the visual spectrum, and the electric teal aura of TLE Level Two began to dissipate.

But it is a great opportunity. I doubt Demon Lord Carry On or whatever his name was will just stroll over and let me punch him. With Rimuru and the others nearby, this is the closest I'll can get to a controlled study.

Tanya pulled back sharply, ascending upwards so she was rising towards Charybdis' back half. To the rest of the world, all that could be seen was, at most, a faint rippling of the air akin to heat waves.

Illusion is in place. Magical aura suppression...

She darted past a Megalodon. Her eyes tracked its movement, checking for any sign of being found out. After a brief pause, the giant shark shifted, and Tanya went still, holding her breath.

...Only to let it out quietly, as the beast dropped its altitude slightly in order to bump against another of its kin. It hadn't reacted at all to her presence. Good. Tanya continued on up, Charybdis and its ilk none the wiser.

…Working as intended. Alright Tanya. Get in, measure power, get out. Nice and easy.

Tanya's sigh was lost on the wind.

Let's get this over with.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Known Skills List

Tanya:

Common Skill: Thought Communication

Extra Skill: Magic Sense

Extra Skill: Magic Aura

Extra Skill: Voice of the World Communication

Unique Skill: Formulaic Casting

Unique Skill: Tetrabattery Limit Enhancement

Mary:

Extra Skill: Magic Sense

Extra Skill: Magic Aura

Extra/Intrinsic Skill: Physical Enhancement

Other Skills Unknown