Terry, on the other hand, needed more practice to catch up with their level of skill. At first, his attempts resulted in rough and messy excavations, but he remained determined. Day by day, he honed his earth manipulation abilities, carefully studying the movements of Vanessa and Rebecca and learning from their techniques.

Over time, Terry’s proficiency improved, and he became more adept at turning large chunks of earth into smaller, more manageable pieces. While he might not match the finesse of his companions, he could now dig with relative ease, contributing his efforts to the task.

"The sewer system in New York is a mess, huh?" Vanessa asked when they reached the maze that was the sewers under the system. "Even though this place hasn’t been used in decades, it still smells a lot... Can we find crocodiles here?"

"Whatever, just seal the sides of the path with the dirt that we removed," Terry said.

As the group ventured deeper into the dungeon, they made efficient progress thanks to the magic wands they had acquired. Angela and Diane used their magical prowess to create a barrier of light, illuminating the dark tunnel and providing them with a clear view of their surroundings. With this newfound visibility, they could cover hundreds of meters of the tunnel with ease.

Terry, having used all the mana stored in his armor during the previous battle, saw his magic wand level up significantly. The power of his Fire magic had grown stronger, and he was eager to put it to use in the next encounter.

As they continued further into the dungeon, they realized the need for Earth magic to complement their skillset in that kind of situation.

Fiery Staff Lv 24 (30/240) (Magic)

Magic Power: 144

Durability: 72/72

Fire Damage: + 24%

Fire Damage Up: increases fire damage when using it against enemies of the opposite element.

Embers: making the targets hit by fire attacks suffer ten points of burn damage for thirty seconds per second.

Fiery Fury: Increases the power of fire attacks on opponents with low health

Soul of Fire: when dealing critical damage with fire attacks, you can recover ten points of mana.

"I am always focusing on improving and leveling up the armor, but perhaps I should focus on doing the same with the magic Items," Terry thought.

As Terry donned the Dark Pegasus Boots, he marveled at the potential of magic items. The boots not only granted him enhanced speed and agility but also made him realize that magic items had the capacity to evolve and grow in power. He pondered the possibilities of other magical artifacts, each with unique abilities and effects, and how they could be upgraded to further augment their capabilities.

Despite the wondrous potential of magical items, the group focused on their primary goal - reaching the ocean through the labyrinthine tunnels. They pressed on tirelessly, facing various challenges.

Finally, after three days of arduous work, they reached the ocean. The sight of the vast expanse of water before them filled them with a sense of accomplishment. Terry briefly wondered if it was possible to extend their underground tunnels to pass below the ocean. Still, they quickly realized that such an endeavor would be extremely time-consuming and impractical.

"Are we going to use a boat from here?" Rebecca asked. "Still, even the ocean smells since we are close to the sewers. This isn’t unexpected, but... it sure is disheartening."

"Nope, you don’t have much of a creative mind, do you?" Terry asked.

Terry’s Dark Pegasus Boots allowed him to move at incredible speeds, almost leaving afterimages with each step. As he ran across the surface of the ocean, he created powerful blasts with each footfall, propelling himself forward and preventing himself from sinking despite carrying the heavy armor. It was a remarkable sight to behold, and Vanessa and Rebecca were in awe of his speed and agility.

However, they were acutely aware of the danger they faced. The weight of the armor they wore could easily make them sink like a stone if they made even the slightest mistake. Vanessa and Rebecca focused on following Terry closely, making sure not to lag behind or lose sight of him.

"I guess we can do this, but it seems that you got that airplane for nothing," Rebecca said.

"I heard that some portals exist underwater, and no one was able to close them until now. Do you plan on adapting your armor for underwater battles?" Vanessa asked.

"Maybe in the future, once everywhere on the surface is peaceful enough, and I am bored out of it," Terry explained.

"I will take that as a no," Vanessa said.

Terry knew that using the heavy power armor underwater would be impractical and risky. He wasn’t one to make such careless mistakes. However, he couldn’t help but wonder if there would be an opportunity to unlock an ability that would aid him in aquatic environments. Perhaps he could discover an effect that would enhance his swimming abilities or even grant him the power of flight, which would be immensely helpful in various situations, including underwater challenges.

The idea of a power suit that could fly was undoubtedly enticing, and Terry couldn’t deny how awesome that would be. Still, he realized that such upgrades and abilities would require time and effort to unlock. But he was determined to keep pushing his armor’s potential to new heights and explore all the possibilities it offered.

As they discussed their plans, Terry explained to Vanessa and Rebecca the importance of occasionally splitting their efforts. Working together all the time might make them vulnerable to tracking and attacks by the unknown assassin. By dividing their tasks and movements, they could reduce the risk of being targeted.

With the guild masters continuing their investigations to find clues about the assassin’s identity, caution became paramount. Terry emphasized the need to be vigilant and prudent in their actions. The enemy was elusive, and they had to be prepared for anything.