Chapter 310: Force of Nature
The others stopped attacking. Their eyes were glued to their fellow dragonkin’s corpse.
The gruesome spectacle had not yet been swallowed by the dungeon, resting upon the frozen murky waters, blood seeping from its corpse before freezing and welding its corpse to the waters.
The Crystal Owl’s smile died only a moment after relieving that side of her frustration. Her eyes looked up again at the dragonkin, who’d put some more distance between themselves and her.
‘Now, then…’
With that excessive display of force, Ximena could tell the two who’d been in charge of assessing her had e to a simple conclusion: they couldn’t win.
A message they’d undoubtedly relayed to the four others.
Their arrows were already running out, and they held no chance in hand-to-hand bat, especially since they were neither allowed to open their mouths nor eyes. Ximena wasn’t even sure if they could breathe through their nostril slits — perhaps they had cut that off too.
Then again, perhaps not.
Maybe their mucus was resistant to freezing like the frog things.
But, just because they had no chance of winning didn’t mean they had lost. No…
In fact, it was Ximena on the ropes at the moment.
While there wasn’t exactly a timer for her to plete her task, there was definitely an incentive to do it quickly.
The faster she found and killed the Dungeon Core, the less organized the forces outside would bee when she inevitably faced them.
At the same time…
Those forces outside knew nothing of her other than what they could sense; like those she was currently fighting, they’d have to learn in the moment.
Yet…
If even one of these dragonkin made it out, they could relay not only a report of Ximena’s abilities, but also her current situation of being entirely alone — or at least appearing to be alone.
Ximena, knowing hesitation was the first fault in war, turned her back on the six and sauntered away from the transportation device.
But not before giving them one last message… not that they would understand.
“I do pray you at least warn them properly.”
Dismissively, she waved the back of her hand at them.
“I do like crushing expectations.”
A ‘Force of Nature’ some called her?
‘Just how low do they think of me?’
Ximena’s crystals flipped, leaving her wearing a sleek red outfit that looked like the hot blood she spilled moments ago. Her crimson suit reflected the muddy waters as a path froze before her.
As she got further and further away, the dragonkin tentatively approached the transportation device, perhaps expecting a trap.
Eventually, one went through: a scout.
Quickly, it came back and called for the rest to follow. All did except one. A brave one who continued to follow Ximena, jumping from tree to tree.
Drawing her eyes forward, uncaring for her spectator, Ximena thought to herself:
‘Where are those foul creatures…?’
So far, she’d only seen those dragonkin warriors on this floor. No beetles. Nor had she seen any beetle Champions, though perhaps those Champions had all been killed already.
After all…
The room in the cave containing the transportation orb was the most defensible point in the entire dungeon — one would have to cross the breeding ground, wading through the bones, and then enter a narrow corridor. Ignorant of her abilities, it would make sense that in a panic the Dungeon Master had sent its entire force to stop her.
It took a few more minutes of walking before she got a whiff of a deep Aether Reserve. Turning, she headed toward that mass.
“Disgusting…”
Before Ximena lay a nest. A mass of red branches and bones held together by yellow goop sat in a circular clearing.
In the middle of that nest was a gigantic golden beetle. Surrounding it were hundreds, maybe thousands, of regular-sized insects, which all turned to face her.
If Ximena wasn’t Ximena, perhaps the force in front of her would have posed a threat.
Not caring to waste any more time, Ximena summoned a thick and long chain. A chain that, despite its reduced weight, held so much heft she struggled to pull it behind her and had to reinforce her body to do so.
About fifty paces from the edge of the nest, Ximena stopped and looked upon the hideous beast staring at her. The beast she sensed had little bat potential. Its wings didn’t even look functional.
It was time to serve its eviction notice.
Taking a deep breath in, Ximena slung her arm. The chain launched at the gigantic beetle’s body, wrapping around its carapace and underbelly.
Once the links firmly hooked onto themselves, Ximena turned her back and heaved.
A moment later…
Mama beetle was sent high in the sky, leaving behind its worker and defenseless Dungeon Core.
Not even caring to see where the beetle went, Ximena dismissed the chain and walked toward the nasty nest.
Not wanting to step in the ghastly concoction, she even took the time to make another crystal bridge, which led her right to the Dungeon Core, over the mass of now frozen beetles.
Holding out her hand, a red crystal stiletto slowly took shape, growing from her palm.
When it finished forming, Ximena wasted no time in stabbing the bright yellow orb before her.
The world trembled.
The sky fell, plunging the floor into darkness.
The trees groaned and swayed before falling and sinking into the waters.
In the lightless abyss, Ximena felt a rush of Aether flood her own Core.
***
Looking up, the Reaper felt the cave quake.
He stood with his bat boot over the throat of the last dragonkin that had walked out from the transportation device.
In ancient Emenian, he calmly asked it:
“Are you sure there’s nothing you’d like to tell me?”
The large beast growled in a deep voice.
“Nothing.”
The Reaper shook his head.
“Such a shame… And I have such respect for your people’s culture. I really, really didn’t want to have to do this.”
Mias looked over his shoulder, toward the snake.
“Sivian, if you would be so kind.”
The snake hissed:
“Of course…”
A moment later, venom gushed from her mouth and entered the open wounds on the dragonkin’s ankles.
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