#xook

It was time for the group to go to Melt's casino. But before they could, it was clear to them that the Shark god, Xook had decided to take it over. But now was not the time to be frightful, it was time to take action!

Ed: I am very much not a fan of going in with him in there!

Mari: do not be a coward! Hokusai is in there and she needs our help!

Rex: actually, there may be something we can do about this...

Ed: que?

Rex: we need to go under the Casino to find it!

Mari: huh?

Quetz: ooooh!

Jeanne: what exactly do you have in mind?

Rex: you'll see!

The group went into the casino, seeing it in a wreck even flooded for the most part.

Ishtar: how do we go underneath this place?

Rex: hmmm... maybe if we could find some stairs...

Jeanne: wait, you don't remember?

Quetz: it wasn't exactly an orthodox way to get down there at the time.

Mari: wait, there's a bigass hole over there! You think it could take us there?

They looked over and saw a large hole with water pouring down somewhat.

Rex: let's give it a try.

They look down it, and see what looks like a wrecked and flooded factory.

Quetz: this is it!

Ed: a factory?!

Rex: that's only part of what we're looking for!

The servants help take Rex and the kids down into the hole. Then Rex and Quetz started to search around.

Mari: what are we looking for?

Quetz: purple casino chips.

Jeanne: what for?

Rex: it's EXP it can strengthen the kids!

Ishtar: wait, what?! Melt had EXP casino chips? Where'd they come from?

Quetz: the customers themselves!

Ed: why?!

Rex: to become an entire ocean, and absorb this singularity into herself!

Mari: looks like Xook prevented that.

As they were speaking, rumbling could be heard from above, and more water started pouring down.

Rex: ah hell

Quetz: the water from the stadium is going to come down on us!

Jeanne: we better speed it up then!

The group goes all over trying to find the chips, eventually Ed manages to find what looks like it!

Ed: I think I found them!

Rex: you sure!

Ed: they're purple chips!

Mari: but how do we use them?

Quetz: we never actually saw Melt use them! She lost all of them before she could!

Mari: then how are we supposed to use them!

Then, finally, the ceiling gave way!

All of the water from the pool poured into the basement the group was in, and at the last second, Ed grabbed a bunch of the chips hoping for the best.

As the room is filled with water, Melt, Hokusai, an unconcerned Protea come down with the water. With Xook and his small army of sharks following down.

Xook: Ra har har har! What a poor showing for a supposed "Leviathan!" Ra har har!

Melt made an angry face, but unable to speak at all in the water.

Xook: awww, got nothing to say? No witty comebacks?

Melt then decided to swim towards Xook in an effort to attack. Only for one of his sharks to headbutt her, knocking her into some rocks on the floor.

Xook: nice effort, but poor execution!

Then, more sharks start to surround her, while she's unable to do much.

Xook: ur a bit too skinny for my liking, but I'm sure you'll still taste decent enough! Ra har har ha-

Then, a huge marine reptile came and bit one of the sharks in half!

Xook: huh?!

Melt: !!!

A giant Pliosaur was now swimming around the place, with Ed right on top of it.

Xook: boy! Got some new tricks up your sleeve all of a sudden?! How nice, but it won't be enough!

Ed: we'll see about that, chum breathe!

Xook: ohohoho! Ya even managed to grow a pair, huh?!

The remaining sharks go after Ed, while he has his new Familiar attack, managing to crunch another, while the force of the attack in the water knocks the rest back!

Meanwhile, Melt decides to try and swim up, then saw Hokusai and the others try to awaken the unconscious Kingprotea. She decides to help, despite not being a fan of the situation.

Melt swims towards the others, then performs a large kick on the sleeping giant's head, waking her up.

Kongprotea then proceeded to pick up the group in her hands and swim up.

Protea: *gasp* what happened?!

Melt: I'd also like to know!?

Jeanne: monster shark wants Mastersonas's kids dead.

Protea: why?!

Ishtar: prophecy bs, doesn't matter right now. We need to help.

Back with Ed and Xook, Ed was actually managing to keep his own during the fight.

Xook: gotta say boy, I'm surprised how well you've held your own! Normally I've got ya shivering. But now you're standing your ground! Doesn't mean I won't still kill ya, just though I'd let ya know before I do so.

Ed: you're the only that's gonna be dead today, chum for brains!

Then Ed's Pliosaur charged while Xook simultaneously charged too!

Thr group was seeing this from above.

Rex: will he be able to do it?!

Quetz: I don't want to risk it!

Mari: wait, look!

Then it was seen that Ed and his new beast were charging up with Lightning.

Melt: Protea! Get us out of the water!

Protea: ok!

Protea leaped out of the water, just barely making it in time. While Ed and his beasty attack and Electrocuted Xook!

Xook: RAAAAAAAH!

And after it's over, Xook is seen floating belly up at the surface. Ed finally manages to get back up to the surface with his familiar.

Then the group gave him a big group hug!

Rex: holy shit, Mijo! You managed to kill him!

Quetz: you finally managed to summon your own familiar! I'm so proud of you!

Mari: you fucking fried that asshole! Holy fuck!

Ed: hehehehe... gracias you guys....

After the hug ends, Ed is seen more scared again.

Ed: but I was just holding it all in... I Was Terrified the whole time!

Quetz: oh that's OK, Mijo! No one is without fear, all that matters is you fought on regardless of your own fear!

Rex: how'd you manage it anyways?!

Ed: with these!

Ed then pulls out the XP chips they were looking for.

Mari: you figured out how to use them?!

Ed: kinda...? I think I somehow absorbed them?

Mari: man, gimme those!

Mari then grabs them for her own use.

Mari: I wanna put down that stupid bat the same way!

Rex: now that'd be a sight to see!

After that it was time to continue on with their journey.

A/N: so Ed got to grow up a bit more! Got to tough it out against that shark! Things have changed....

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Yaxchilan Lintel 24, Mexico AD 600 - 900

The dramatic image on the carved stone lintel shows the king and queen of Yaxchilán, with the queen pulling a thorny rope through her tongue. Yaxchilán was one of many Maya kingdoms stretching across what is now Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and parts of Honduras and El Salvador.

Maya civilisation reached its peak around AD 300 to 900, and Yaxchilán was ruled by Shield Jaguar II (the Great) between AD 681 and 742. Queen Xook was his wife and her pierced tongue allowed her blood to flow as part of a ritual communication with gods and spirits. This sacrifice mirrored the Maya story of creation, when the gods let their blood to create the human race. By choosing to take part in the ritual, the queen demonstrated both her moral and physical strength to the people, and her suitability as a Maya royal.

🦈 RA HAR HAR HAR! WHERE ARE YA BOI!? BOSS MAN'S WANTS TA HAVE A WORDS WITCHA! AND THE WORD IS...

DIE!

Two children, born of an all powerful goddess, and a heroic savior of humanity. It was not know of from the beginning but the path these children were to take in life had already been set out for them. It may not dictate every aspect of their lives, but it does dictate a "final goal" for the two. But this goal involves usurping two other powerful being, two being who'd prefer not lose their power. As such once it was revealed who the children were, these two beings did what they thought would assist in allowing them to keep their thrones.

Unfortunately, this meant sending in deadly monsters from their respective realms, to attack the children.

The peoples of Classic Maya civilization were obsessed with sharks. Images of shark-like monsters appear in Maya cities throughout the regions known today as Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala—even deep in the continent's interior, where people never saw the ocean. Now one archaeologist has suggested these mythic symbols may have been based on real experiences Mayans had with sharks, as well as a brisk trade in shark jaws and giant shark tooth fossils.

Shark teeth have been found in some of the earliest Maya sites in the interior, going back to 100 CE. Some are perforated, as if they were worn as jewelry. Others seem to have been attached to weapons or used in bloodletting rituals. Sea monsters with shark-like features appear on pottery and the walls of ceremonial buildings. An ancient Maya creation story features the Maize God defeating a shark in battle and sometimes being born from the creature's toothy jaws.