As we ventured into the cave, we came across battle scenes, Cyril informed where the first battle took place as we strolled deeper into the Dungeon strata. Surprisingly no varaes dared ambushed us, maybe it was because of the overwhelming presences of the grandmasters. Then we came across big hall of the ancient king who built the dungeon, then went in dark big hallways which further lead us to the Decay strata, Cyril led us and as we walked he pointed where his team were ambushed by Witch Spiders and finally we came out into a big shining cave filled with magic clusters, the Errtoen Cave. The place where the battle between Master Mayher and the Nightcrawler Lord took place. As soon as we entered, I picked up the scent of dead bodies and in the process of decaying. Cyril eyes widened as he noticed the two lying in the Cave, one was slammed across the wall of the cave, his head facing down the earth and motionless and another one in the middle of the Cave, a Master probably, lay flat on the ground with blood spilled from mouth and half eaten down the lower body.
" Master Mayher and Drao, " Cyril whispered slowly under his breath and tears started cluttering up in his eyes, he went both to their bodies and paid respect.
" So this is where the battle took place?," said Grandmaster Jenny.
" Looking at the details of the scene, the battle took place two days ago, " said Gheno as he examined the site.
I looked around carefully at the clues left behind by the battle, I quickly recreated a scene of the past that happened there, the fact that one of the body is scattered near the wall meant he was blasted from the battle with a powerful blow to the stomach, I walked closer to Drao's body and looked at the wound, his belly portion was shattered by the impact, as I lifted up his cloth, I saw an abnormal imprint on his flesh, an imprint of fist larger than any human fist, although it didn't tear his outer muscles, the impact obliterated the inner organs and he died from internal organ damage. A blow powerful enough to shatter all the internal organs, I muttered to myself. Grandmaster Arilyne walked up behind me and I said, " He died from internal hemorrhage, "
" I see, the varae is indeed powerful " replied grandmaster Arilyne.
And then examining the scenes of the cave, with my enhanced sense of smell and concentration, I saw that there were multiple footprints from the boots of the slayers but also some weird imprints, something which was much heavier and deep.
" This imprint, " I said.
" What of it?, " said grandmaster Jenny from behind and as I was startled I looked around in a hurry, She stood there looking at me as if I was interfering with their work, which I was, I almost forgot the compulsiveness of my old habits. Since I grew up in the wilderness, tracking and hunting has been my everyday life work, old habits kind of sneaked upon me. Beside her was the Royal Inquisitor with cold blood eyes. Compelled to answer properly, I looked one more time sharply at the imprint and collected the information I gathered to deliver it to my interrogator.
" This imprint, it belongs to the Nightcrawler Lord, It's deep and unnatural, see this triangular shaped with no distinct marks of having any toes, it meant it was created in the process of rushing towards something, as if it was almost tiptoeing to something which created the deep incision on the ground and since this cave floor is made of limestone, it is nearly impossible for any normal varae or human to create such an imprint. The varae must be overwhelmingly strong and must have acquired some sort of hardened skin or layers. " I explained.
I saw Leon and Knight Rhendy smirking in admiration and excitement, grandmaster Arilyne looking at me and smirked.
" I like this boy, " said the Royal Inquisitor with a wicked smile in her emotionless tone.
Grandmaster Jenny, ignoring me, turned around and said, " He is correct, ".
" What Lan said is basically true, I saw the Nightcrawler Lord. It was nearly seven feet tall and had very well developed muscles and yes, his feet were that of the Nightcrawlers, it doesn't have flat feet but more of an inclined surface like any other Nightcrawlers. " explained Cyril.
" Well then what do we do now? Should we keep on venturing further or ?, " said Cyril.
" Wait Let me recheck the cave one more time with Enhanced Magic Sensor. " replied grandmaster Jenny.
" I haven't sensed any abnormal magic aura so far since I entered the cave, " commented Leeben Hestra.
" Activate Enhanced Magic Sensor, " said grandmaster Jenny. She closed her eyes.
She seemed to be scanning the cave. Based on my instinct, and the strange light marks on the entrance of the Ertoen cave, I suspected the Nightcrawler Lord had already escaped from the cave.
After a minute, she opened her eyes and told us, " I don't sense anything unusual in particular so far in this cave, only lower level varaes around here and I don't believe even the Nightcrawler Lord can bypass the Enhanced Magic Sensor. "
" Well, there is only one way to know, let's use the Xichiha " said Grim Doctor.
He opened the lid of the container and gently pick it up on his palm and holding it carefully, he activated a magic spell, "Activate Enhanced Magic Sensor, "
Then scanning the scene where the magic residual is strong, he proceeded to the area where Master Mayher's dead body lies, he then put down the insect on the ground near the entrails of the dead body. After some moments, I noticed the insect wings started to flutter and it raised to the air, and a small light illuminated from its body.
" It's working, hohoho " commented Grim Doctor.
The insect first circled around the cave and it started to head out of the cave towards the tunnel which we came from.
" Lets go, it will lead us to the Nightcrawler Lord, " said Grim Doctor and the rest of us followed him except for Cyril.
" I need to give a proper funeral to Master Mayher and Drao, I'll just burn their bodies and give a small prayer. I'll join you in a minute. " said Cyril. No one objected to his wish and allowed him to stay behind.
We continued to follow the path of the insect, it slowly, bulging in yellow light and diming and bulging again, led us outside the Demon Mouth Cave. As usual the second unit of the vanguard followed from the rear while the unit one took the frontal train.
The tracking creature then flew east, without a word we followed it. Thoughts were running through my mind, based on my observation and clues I have seen at the entrance of the Errtoen cave and in the Dungeon strata, it seemed the insect was heading in the right direction but the faint imprint of the Nightcrawler Lord's had been mixed with other footprints outside the cave, those imprints were all mixed up and scattered, it would be hard for any ordinary eyes to spot them but it was there under the carpet of the dried leaves and grass, the impressions were still there. I suspected it was not only Nightcrawler Lord that escaped from this cave but others also escaped, maybe it was the Nightcrawler Lord that led them? Or was there more than one Nightcrawler Lord? Such a wild thought, I dismissed that possibility. It was unlikely, the stomped multiple footprints didn't belong to the Nightcrawler Lord, they were light and wouldn't match the stature of the Nightcrawler Lord. Ahhha, I exclaimed in my mind, maybe it was normal Nightcrawlers or above. It was very possible, a Nightcrawler Lord given that it was the peak of the species evolution tree, an Alpha predator would be able to command it's kin undoubtedly.
What strange was that a night varae going outside, it means they have to face the race of survival with other creatures and they put themselves at disadvantage, a natural instinct of any night varae is to remain in darkness and avoid daylight since it immensely weakens them under sunlight, so it's quite unclear as to why varae such as Nightcrawler would ventured outside the cave?I entered into a deep contemplation for minutes, then the only possible outcome that I came up with was that unless the Nightcrawler Lord has overcome the limitations of being a night varae, it wouldn't necessarily venture outside. I thought I ought to inform my suspicion so I moved closer to her, beside her and said, " Grandmaster, "
She turned and looked at me and said, " Yes, anything wrong?, "
" It was not only the Nightcrawler Lord that escaped, " I said.
" Why do you think so?, " she said.
" Seeing the multiple imprints outside the Demon Mouth Cave, I believe an army of Nightcrawlers may have escaped along with the Nightcrawler Lord, since it's the only alpha of the species, it may have the ability to command other Nightcrawlers. " I said.
" That makes sense, it's very possible. Just like the Alpha Red Hound. But how come we didn't notice any of the footprints, if an army of Nightcrawlers escaped, there should be a visible track outside the cave? " she asked.
" There were faint clues and marks left behind by the trampling of the Nightcrawlers, It would be hard for ordinary eyes to notice them. Maybe they used the trees and branches to move across the forest? It's possible. " I said.
" Hmmm impressive observation! Lan. What you said is very possible and I fear it might be true too," She replied without hesistation.