The understanding about their situation was limited to say the least, but it was clear to them that even without enough information they needed to focus on the one important thing which was their survival. Of all the dangerous enemies they've faced over the years, never did it cross their mind that the end would co by starvation. It was such a mundane way to die and the least suited for powerful hunters.
"A hunter's end is always on the belly of a beast... such bullshit." Nika grumbled without energy as she painstakingly made the effort to take one more step.
"We visited so cities and found no corpse and all the evidence suggests that we will end up in the belly of a beast, only after we pass." Luna inford.
"I always said you guys would get killed one day or maybe you would kill yourselves... I would eat my words if I could." Sam groaned, yet his eyes remained focused on a point at a distance fearing that just taking his eyes out from that building would be enough for it to disappear.
Despite his Lightbringer trait, due to the many tree trunks covering his line of sight Sam couldn't see say what kind of building it was, only that unlike the others they've seen before it wasn't damaged in the slightest. It was pristine as if soone lived there. Not that they expected to find soone actually living there as the land was barren of life and even the air was asphyxiating enough to drive away the few people that could survive such extre darkness. But although no one said it, there was one slight glint of hope that Uriel may be the one behind it or that at least they would find the exit of the dungeon.
"Are you sure you can't just fly away, pick sothing to eat and return really quick?" dusa asked for the umpteenth ti.
"I'm not a food delivery service, but don't you think that if it was possible I would have done it already?" Sam replied with hostility. Unlike what his tone suggested, he wasn't angry at dusa for suggesting it but at his own weakness.
The main reason why Sam couldn't do what dusa just suggested was that there were cryptids in the air. If he was to take flight, he would lose all chance to hide and his only chance at survival would be to be fast. Back when he was possessed by Water warlock there was no need for him to worry about such small creatures, but now they posed a real danger. He knew full well that although he was a holy rank hunter, he doubted he would be faster than those flying abominations at his best, let alone now that he was on an empty stomach. The other problem was that, although he could see far in the distance, it was impossible for Sam to tell the difference between the Shadowlands and what was out. He didn't know if it was due to the curvature of the earth or so strange phenonon taking place, but no matter where he looked everything was the sa.
"I'm now starting to experience secondary symptoms of food deprivation." Luna inford like a machine. Contrary to the others, she did not complain needlessly as it was an energy expenditure she could not allow herself.
"Are we there yet?" Nika asked.
"If you want to get there faster you need to move your legs instead of your mouth."
"This would not have been necessary in the first place if soone did his job properly. I'm not pointing any fingers, but it is his fault and his alone." Nika's childish move of pretending not to bla anyone, but remarking the one responsible was the only male in their team should not have had any effect on him, but for so reason he was starting to lose his mind.
"I've had it with you, if you want to die that's your call, but..." Sam snarled.
"Oh, so now you're abandoning us, huh! I knew it! I knew you were just playing nice." dusa accused.
"I was about to say that you can not give up now. It is not about us anymore. We can die here to starvation, a cryptid or whatever. But we must stay in it together. If we keep turning on each other, then all will be lost."
"That was beautiful!" dusa gasped.
"I know, I was inspired." Sam scratched his nose with pride that sunk fast when dusa grunted.
"Not you, idiot. That!" dusa pointed at Luna, but Sam saw nothing strange. Nevertheless, he looked very intently at her for a few seconds trying to figure out what had changed yet failed miserably.
"Stop staring at my breasts." Luna said.
"I'm not!" Sam said in a shrill voice that confird the accusation, not that there was any need for evidence considering how now that Luna activated her trait they could all see Sam. The only reason why Sam didn't notice anything was that although Luna's Moonlight light was bright, it changed nothing for him since he could already see from the start.
"We can see you."
"Luna, stop what you're doing imdiately!" Sam said in a rush as he scanned his surroundings.
"Uhm... no. If it's lightseekers you're worried about, we can outrun them."
"It's not that... last ti I was here, so weird cryptid told the light I brought with was not welcod or sothing like that. And I wasn't even carrying a light because I don't need it."
"It was probably the sheen on your eyes when you channel flux." dusa shrugged.
"You don't understand!"
Truth be told, Luna was more than aware that activating her trait was the sa as lighting up a beacon for all cryptids to see. She asured the risks and realized that walking at the speed they carried was actually more dangerous than illuminating the way and making a run for it which was precisely what they did. Sam really wanted to discuss so more, but that could wait for after they reached a safe place.
"Do you think there will be food in there?" dusa asked as she ran at a speed only possible thanks to Luna lighting the way.
"Forget about food, I still need to go!"
Their race, because it couldn't be called anything other than that, was safe since there were no enemies nearby yet at the sa ti the most dangerous one they've ever perford. Just knowing that cryptids would be able to see them from all directions the mont they stepped out of the barren jungle was enough to make their skin crawl, but they were out of options and it was the one chance they had to survive.
Cryptids from the four corners announced finding prey with variants of angry snarls and sad moans that were sohow more uncanny. Luna's trait was enough to allow them to see where they stepped and it also embraced them in a bubble of light that felt refreshing, but the dark of the shadows around them was an impregnable wall that enveloped everything and made them feel vulnerable.
Sam knew he could turn his head and see how far the enemies were, but his heart raced just at the thought of adding them to his list of nightmares. He wasn't strong enough now, but thankfully their survival didn't rely on their power anymore but the sheer persistence of their race.
"We're almost there!" Sam said at the sa ti he opened fire behind them with the most advanced pulse gun dusa could give him and while it was impossible to tell what creature it was, the quick sound of the impact made it clear it wasn't that far from them.
Nika felt as if a thousand needles pierced her legs and she didn't even want to think what would Luna be experiencing with her short legs and small fra, it was clear that she would be the one most tired. But as much as she wanted to help her, the only thing Nika could do was keep on her speed and avoid becoming a burden for the others. It was much better for each one to make sure to arrive safely, than for soone to play the hero and beco a willing sacrifice to the unseen creatures of the void just because there was a chance one of the companions could fall.
It was much better to do just that, but it wasn't what Sam did because when a fearso cryptid with sharp legs and spiked manipulators attempted to grab the last one at the formation, he turned his back and used smite to his full power vanquishing all manner of cryptids with but a single strike at the cost of falling helpless to the ground without a drop of flux on him.
"And now... I die a hero." Sam closed his eyes with relief after finding the one thing he craved above all: redemption.
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