The walls of those tunnels felt vaguely familiar.
“Are those Dark Regions tunnels?”
“Aye. As a rule, if a tunnel this deep shows no sign of ending, it usually leads there.”
Ornor’s words were a bit confusing.
“Every tunnel?”
“Most of ‘em. The Dark Regions have many entrances – just as you’d expect from a network spanning the whole continent.”
“They really are everywhere?..”
I’ve heard about those tunnels being found underneath most of the kingdom, but the continent – that was a different scale.
“They say if you go deep enough, you can reach the core of the world. Bunch’a bullocks, I say, but they sure run deep, I’ll give’m that.”
“Far enough down their depths, one can often find remnants of kingdoms and empires from ages long past. Actually, the Gloom Swamps you grew near – the Dark Regions directly below them are what remains of the old imperial capital.”
“Mhhm.”
I nodded. Hilda’s words were sothing I was well aware of.
Bzzzt
Suddenly, sothing on Bern’s waist emitted a short buzz. It was a small circular sphere, although it wasn’t actually a circle, but a 64-faced polyhedron.
Upon taking it out, the party leader’s eyes focused on one of its faces, where a large red dot appeared.
A few monts later, he pressed his finger against one particular face. Through my Arcane Sense, I could feel a ‘pearl-white’ (information magic focused on observation) pulse being emitted in all directions, before another, more particular stream of ‘teal-white’ energy (information magic focused on transfer) shot down through the ground a second later, in the direction where the dot had originally shown itself.
“They aren’t far. Hilda, you saw it too. Based on the distance and direction, can you guess where they might be?”
I had no idea how the dot related to distance, yet I was fairly certain there was so formula to it, probably based on its size relative to the face.
“Hmm.. let think..”
She took out a couple papers, with scribbles on them that made little-to-no sense in my eyes. Of course, that was to be expected, given the 3d nature of those passages.
My spatial orientation ability was always pretty decent, both in real life and in certain types of gas which made it a point not to provide the player with any maps, while making their layout as convoluted as possible. Well, following spoken directions was an exception, but that was beside the point.
Earlier in the sewers, up until the entrance to the tunnels, I was fairly confident in finding my way back.
However, after we’ve half-jogged, half-walked through the twisting tunnels for nearly half an hour, I was now fairly certain of the opposite.
3D navigation was always difficult, but even more-so in an unfamiliar place.
Thankfully, Hilda's navigation ability seed to be fairly high, and, with the help of her makeshift map(s), she managed to produce an estimate.
“I think they might be here. Based on their first signal, this would make sense, too. It seems they're planning to travel to this intersection here. Alternatively, they could be taking this lengthy route; However, if they did, Xin'd let us know sohow.”
“They?..”
While the black-haired woman was talking, mainly to Bern, pointing at a few locations and markings on her scribbles, I quietly asked Ornor the question which has been bugging for so ti.
“He and Evelyn. An.. old friend of his. They went on the mission together. Ah, well… Sort of.”
I didn't pry any farther, judging the seemingly-complicated situation to be none of my business.
“...in short, we can will reach that intersection before them, if we hurry.”
“By the way, if that's the most likely route they could take.. if whatever’s chasing them are humans, wouldn't they also know that?”
In response to my question, Bern gave a solemn nod.
“It’s highly likely, given the fact those thugs were all guarding the entrance. In fact, we should assu that half their underground force will already be waiting in the intersection, while the rest are slowly cornering Xin and his companion, cutting off potential escape routes.”
“Are you sure we can’t use this comm-sphere sohow?”
One of the things found on the gangster leader’s utility belt was another communication sphere, albeit much simpler than Bern’s. Presumably, this one could only receive and send ‘pings’, but couldn’t transmit the direction and distance.
When I discovered it, I thought it was the most valuable thing on that belt, which had 2 vials that looked like smoke bombs, 1 unidentified concoction, a vial of sothing that was likely a healing potion (based on its light-red color), and 21 gold.
Actually, it truly might have been the most valuable item there, however…
“No point in trying. At best, we’d alert them to our presence. Even if they send any transmissions, we have no way to decipher them.”
That was true. Actually, just the fact that the sphere hadn’t vibrated yet was already a relief. If those guys had periodic checkups, they hadn’t initiated one, at least for now. Of course, it could also be that the guards at the entrance were the ones supposed to initiate such checkups. We simply had no way of knowing.
“Then let’s-”
Suddenly, I turned my head, towards the faint sound of flapping wings to my right. Hilda, who was already almost facing that direction, turned her head at the sa ti, causing Bern to halt his words.
“That’s..”
crank!
Before the dwarf could say another word, an iron bolt was already flying through the air. In fact, judging by the subtly shifting air near its tip, it was enhanced by a Skill beforehand.
The target turned abruptly mid-air, in an unnatural manner, yet the leading shot suddenly changed its trajectory, with the iron bolt lodging itself into the tiny creature’s chest.
“..an imp!”
plop
The shot sent the light creature, whose body was smaller than my foot - barring the four wings, each as wide as my the sa foot - flying backwards in a small arc, landing on the cold stone a few ters back.
As we approached it, I got a better look at its features – it’s head, covered in light-red leathery skin, like the rest of its body, was shaped a bit like that of a deford human baby, only that its ears were closer to those of a goblin, its eyes were twice as large as a human’s, and its sharp teeth reminded of anything but a toddler.
Its thin neck seed to have broken during the fall. The two thin arms, adorned by comically long hands with four thin fingers, each adorned by a sharp claw, still twitched, perhaps due to instinct. So did its thin tail, almost as long as its body.
Bern quickly stabbed the head of the dying creature with his sword, ending its convulsions.
“A greater variant…”
Hilda’s voice was filled with concern. I, too, noticed its proportions were more elongated compared to the black-and-white illustration I once saw in Pine Harbor’s local monster guide, and the extra pair of wings went without saying.
sniff
anwhile, Bern’s face grew solemn, as his expression sank.
“Do you sll that?”
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“Sulphur. Isn’t it standard for imps?”
“Sebastian… I know your senses are exceptional. Just so you know, shortly after they arrive in our world, the sulphur sll subsides, to the point where a regular person can barely sll it.”
“...”
None of us said a word following Bern’s clear implication. A few seconds later, before anyone could speak…
“Huh?”
“What is it, Sebastian?”
“I thought I heard sothing, far in the distance.. to the left? It sounded like a chorus of voices reaching a high note… I’m not sure, I thought I heard it for a mont, but it was so faint-”
At that mont, my body suddenly stiffened, as I sensed a wave of.. sothing.. wash over .
It wasn’t arcane energy, at least, it didn’t exactly feel like it, but at the sa ti, the feeling was sohow vaguely familiar.
“What’s wr-”
wraaa…
The distant echo of a mighty roar, sowhat reminiscent of a human scream, but also uncannily wrong, made the whole party freeze. This spoke to its high volu, assuming it originated in the sa place I heard the chorus of voices just now.
“Bloody hells…”
The dwarf was the first to react.
“Is that-”
“I think so. So lunatics must have summoned a demon.”
Hilde’s suspicion was confird by Bern.
“A demon…”
So far, I haven’t encountered an abyssal creature. Actually, this was the first real imp I’ve seen, too.
“Bah, to the depth with them! We don’t have ti!”
Ornor was the first one to co to a conclusion.
“Don’t have ti?..”
I was less sympathetic to his plight, even if I did recognize the urgency of our situation.
“He’s got a point. This must have already been picked up – both by the Ministry, and the Inquisition. They’ll co down here soon enough. Neither the demon nor its summoners can hide from them for long.”
“Berna.. Bern. Are you saying we just ignore this?”
Hilda, too, seed to be distraught by the idea.
“Neigh – I do! It won’t matter! We have to keep moving!”
The dwarf was almost shouting now.
“I’m going to check it out.”
The three pairs of eyes landed on .
“If it’s sothing I can handle alone, I’m going to stop them. You can go on without – I’m faster, so I’ll catch up.”
Maybe it was the unsettling feeling in my chest; Maybe it was a certain scene, one which hasn’t entered my mind for days now, flashing before my eyes once again; Whichever it was, I refused to just let this go.
“Damn it, boy! If anything happens to Xin, it’ll be on your shoulders!”
“What if this demon chases after us? Or, those who summoned it decide to escape in our direction? Even if we don’t end up between a hamr and an anvil, the whole area might be sward with inquisitors and MIS operatives. Even if we succeed, are you gonna be the one to ‘politely explain’ our involvent?”
My hastily conjured justification, half of which I didn’t even think of before midway through my speech, seed to have resonated with Bern, whose voice beca hesitant.
“Hmm..”
“Are you seriously considering this?!”
“Calm down, Ornor. You’ll co with . Hilda, give the maps.”
Under the stern gaze of the dwarf, and the woman’s look of concern, the party leader extended his hand.
“You’ll go with Sebastian, and guide him back. However, if you aren’t certain of victory, you are to retreat imdiately, even if it ans doing so alone. Am I clear?”
His gaze glided between and Hilda, his expression solemn. Perhaps he was waiting for to reconsider.
“That’s fine.”
Of course, I had no intention of turning back. Not in the face of those cultist bastards.
“I.. I will go. Don’t worry about . This has to be done.”
Hilda’s voice gradually gained resolve as she spoke. She and Bern exchange a silent glance, as her hand reached forward, passing the papers, and her fingertips brushing against those of the black-haired man as she did.
“Be careful.”
Bern’s voice turned softer for a mont, before his eyes regained their previous look of urgency.
“Co! Let’s be about it.”
Without turning around, he began marching forward in fast step, one eye on the newly acquired maps.
Ornor promptly followed, without sparing us another glance, either.
“It’s that way. Co.”
I quickly turned around, and began sprinting through the side tunnel, doing my best to rember the path back. Thankfully, with my improved mory (thanks to the high Attribute), I was fairly confident I could keep a few turns in mind.
Hilda’s steps resounded behind , as the voices far ahead slowly beca clearer and clearer.
After running for close to a minute, I began hearing fragnts of conversation, as well as loud growls.
“..steady!..”
“Light take it! Control it! And don’t let it slip back!”
I realized the sounds ca from beyond a small side opening in the tunnel. Moreover, I also realized those sounds were coming from sowhere below (unless the cultists were all laying on the cold stone, their heads pressed against the ground – a funny scene to imagine, which I instantly discarded).
Behind , Hilda had turned off her light orb, slowing her step, which was now barely perceivable, even to .
On my end, I sheathed the brightflow sword, which might’ve been able to reflect the dim red light coming from the opening, and drew the adamantium sword, instead.
“Agh.. just a little bit more!..”
At least three distinct voices could be heard so far.
Slowly peeking over the corner, I noted that the cavern ceiling was right overhead, no higher than a ter away from . In the middle of the cavern, the radius of which was probably around 8 ters (the other side was beyond my Arcane Sense’s range), was a large pit. Spiraling down around it, to my right, it was a narrow path, one ter wide, at most.
The bottom of this pit seed to be right outside my ability’s range, too. Opening my eyes once again, I decided to rely on the faint illumination, instead.
Cautiously, both and Hilda crouched, and moved to peek over the edge, gazing down into the depth of this pit.
Four n - although one of them might have been a woman, for all I knew - clad in dark cloaks stood at the edges of a large crimson circle, with unknown runes and glyphs at its edges, all slowly pulsating with dim light.
At the edge of the circle lay the naked body of a woman. Well, ‘naked’ was a strong word, as the skin - and most muscles, organs and bones - of the upper half of her body were either missing, or turned into mush inside the corpse.
The bottom half was fully missing, with a large splash of blood, and multiple pieces of gore, spreading towards the wall on my side. I didn’t want to follow that path with my eyes, even though I couldn’t ignore the sll. Instead, I focused on the enormous creature in the center of the circle.
Its figure had a sowhat humanoid shape, but its legs were akin to those of a velociraptor, it had four human-like arms with six fingers, each adorned by short, sowhat-dull claws, and its height was about 4 ters, with the width of its body about twice that of a human, as well.
However, neither those characteristics, nor the dark-red scales over the skin, were its most disturbing feature.
That would be the head.
It was elongated, clad in a dark-red exoskeleton, like one of the alien creatures you’d see in movies on Earth. The upper half was completely smooth, with no signs of eyes, ears, or anything else. Below it was a gaping maw, opening three-way as it emitted its hateful growls, filled with rows and rows of teeth.
“Damnation! Focus!”
The one who spoke was the presud leader, whose dark cloak had crimson stripes at its sides, his face hidden behind a bone-colored mask – perhaps made of actual bone.
The creature was flailing its arms violently, as the light around it pulsated irregularly, the frequency and brightness fluctuating.
“Demolisher. Minor. CR2 Demon.”
Hilda’s faint whisper reached my ear. Honestly, I wasn’t sure whether I could take it alone – hell, if I had to fight four level 2 Path-bearers, openly, I’d most likely lose. However, I didn’t want to simply retreat, either.
“The cultists seem to be having trouble with the summoning. Maybe we ca-”
My words were interrupted by a sudden chill gripping my chest.
I realized the creature at the center was no longer struggling.
“Huff… is it ours?”
Turns out, the last mber was a woman.
“Sothing is wrong... It’s..”
One of the other mbers spoke.
“It’s not trying to run. It’s stabilizing."
As the leader’s cautious voice reached my ears, the creature raised its head. Although it had no eyes, sohow, I could sense it was looking right into mine.
“WRAAAAAAAGHHHHH!!!”
With a roar rivaling the first one, its massive muscles bulged even harder, and all four arms began clawing and striking at the upper half of the invisible barrier, which began emitting the sounds of crackling glass.
“Concentrate!”
The voice of the cultist was strained.
“Send it.. back!..”
When giving the unexpected command, the leader’s voice was filled with resolve and resignation in equal asure. After uttering those words, he raised his head.. and his glimring green eyes locked with mine, as well.
“Wha-”
Tcha!
The mont of confusion seed to be the tipping point, enough for the creature to finally shatter the barrier, as three of the cultists recoiled in terror.
However, it didn’t even glance at them. Instead, its ‘sight’ remained fixed.
The next mont, it was as if my body acted by itself.
‘Wh-’
[Charge] !!!
‘-at have you!..’
Before I knew it, I was soaring through the air, sword raised, descending in an arc – straight towards the demon’s hideous head.
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