Mellona is currently wandering around the cave in hopes of finding her companions who got separated from her. Well it seems like I'm lost, when we came into this cave, there were three of us, Unicus, Marcus and myself included. But while we were walking inside the cave I saw an attractive looking stone which glows. So I stopped walking and started staring at the glowing stone. After a few minutes, I realized that Marcus and Unicus got separated from me. I took a piece of the glowing stone in the hopes of one day turning it into an accessory which I can wear.
Afterwards I started searching for them left and right walking all the possible ways they could have gone but I still wasn't able to find them, plus the darkness of the cave can't be overcomed with just a small glowing stone like this. While I was wandering around aimlessly I encountered multiple monsters, and defeated them all with ease. As an adventurer with hunting non-humans as a specialty one should never underestimate or overestimate their abilities because 'pride always comes before fall' so I heard. I'm enjoying this place which has so many non-human monsters.
Speaking of which, another rat-like monster appeared before me. It tried to jump and strike but I couldn't be taken down that easily, so I moved as fast as I could the moment I realized its intentions. The place I was standing in a few minutes before is cracked by the sheer impact of the monster's strike. Now with a sadistic smile on my face I released my magic, "By thunder's roar and sky's bright light, Unleash the storm with bolts so bright! Voltaris Ignis!" I shouted loudly. The magic spell produced crackling lighting which casted a bluish glow on the whole cave so bright that it was kind of hard to see for a moment. I discharged my deadly attack from my fingers, it traced the path I desired and instantly killed the monster by burning it inside out.
I surveyed the surroundings and I noticed that even more Monsters are approaching me, so I readied myself and since I already let my magic loose it might take a few minutes to recover the energy I lost even though she made sure to hold back. "Wow this is one of the best days of my life" Mellona slowly moved her hands to clean the dirt on her clothes, with her amber eyes blazing with a passion to kill non-human monsters. She readied her swords against her new wave of monsters and started to kill them one by one with skillful precision.
Meanwhile Unicus and Marcus are having a tough time together, after Unicus got hit by that monster His black hair now covered with his own blood looks really dreadful to watch and black eyes are filled with pain from the impact. Unicus's body is full of major and minor injuries all over, just the sight was enough for Marcus's heartache in pain. Took the Unicus to near water and cleaned all the blood and wounds.
"So have you seen that monster before Marcus, it seems like you were at least aware of its existence" asked Unicus. He is still not in a good shape after he crashed into the wall filled with sharp spikes, with few places of minor and major injuries with few broken bones. He is literally suffering from unimaginable pain at the moment with his clothes now tattered and filled holes where the spikes injured him.
"Well let's see, I'm not sure but I'm pretty sure I saw about it in a book my grandfather used to carry". Since his grandfather is a merchant, he has to always be alert in his journey.
Marcus said with a hint of pride in his eyes and his whole behavior is kind of different than a few seconds ago. As Marcus gently slides his hands under Unicus's shoulder, being careful not to jostle him too much. With a firm but gentle grip, Marcus supports Unicus's weight, ensuring he feels secure and stable. As they begin to move, Marcus adjusts his stance, leaning slightly to one side to make sure they both won't lose balance. With each step, Marcus maintains a steady pace, offering words of encouragement to reassure Unicus and keep his spirits up.
"Hey Marcus, thanks for everything. You really helped me out today" said Unicus. "Hey, you helped me when I lost consciousness right? I think this is a good time for me to pay you back" said Marcus. Unicus hearing Marcus's response chuckled slightly, but he isn't really in any state to enjoy the moment. The ground is lush with vegetation, thriving in the moisture provided by the cascading water. Thick carpets of vibrant green moss cover the rocky surface, interspersed with ferns and small shrubs. The air is filled with the earthy scent of damp soil and the sweet fragrance of wildflowers. Fallen leaves and branches create a natural carpet underfoot, while the occasional patch of grass adds to the verdant scene. It's a thriving ecosystem of monsters, teeming with life, thanks to the abundant water source nearby at least that's what I think is going on.
With each step, their feet sink slightly into the soft carpet of moss, providing a cushioned and comfortable surface to walk on. The air is filled with the refreshing scent of damp soil and the sweet fragrance of wildflowers, invigorating your senses with every breath. As they navigate through the verdant landscape, the occasional patch of grass would tickle your feet. Fallen leaves and branches would crunch softly underfoot, creating a natural rhythm as you move.
"So Unicus, how do you feel right now?" Marcus asked concerned since he can't use healing magic. "The pain is coursing through my body like fire, with each passing moment making me feel it's agony. But the thing is your first aid has reduced the pain significantly compared to before Marcus" said Unicus. "Well you only have yourself to thank here. You were the one who taught me that, didn't you?" said Marcus. "You are right Marcus" but Unicus was interrupted by a loud growling sound of a hungry person. They both tried to laugh it off but it's apparently more serious than that. "It looks like I am hungry Marcus" said Unicus. "Well leave it to me, I'll catch something to eat" said Marcus. "Thanks Marcus". Following that Marcus took Unicus to a safe place which is located between few trees which is far from the place where he was previously attacked and asked him to wait, meanwhile Marcus took off towards the waterfall to catch something to eat.
After what felt like eternity around the time when the sun's rays stopped reaching into the cave from the outside through the waterfall. Marcus came back waving her hands in happiness, Marcus's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he was using his shirt to carry the freshly caught trout and blueberries. He could feel Unicus's eyes on him, and he wished that he could disappear into the cave's shadows. Unicus's face turned crimson as he averted his gaze, feeling a mix of embarrassment and discomfort at the sight before him. He cleared his throat, struggling to find the right words to express his unease.. "What happened? Did you get anything for dinner?" asked with a voice shaking with uncertainty. Marcus hurriedly tried to hide his embarrassment by masking it with face confidence "Tada, I got some trout and blueberries for dinner" and started spreading her shirt on the ground to reveal the food she had gathered. Following that he proceeded by bringing some wood to light a fire and started to cook the trout. But looking at all things which are happening around him, Unicus has a burning question which he wants Marcus to answer.
"Hey Marcus, have you cooked food before?". "No I didn't, why do you ask?" answered Marcus with a cute tilt to his head which made Unicus squeeze his head in frustration and flooded him with doubts about the dinner. But there was something bugging Unicus way more than the taste of the dinner itself, "Umm, Marcus think you can put your shirt on. It's embarrassing to look at you".
Suddenly Marcus was struggling to keep her embarrassment at bay and he was at a loss for words, her brain totally stopped working. He slowly moved closer to Unicus and gave him a firm slap to his face, After which he put his face close to Unicus's and whispered to his ears "I'm not doing this, because I want to pervert. I couldn't carry the food for dinner without using my shirt" with a face crimson in embarrassment.
Unicus placed his hand on Marcus's hips and started to tickle her which served to lighten the mood. "Ha hah hah !!… stop that Unicus!! Hah ha ha !!!..." After Unicus finally decided to stop it was Marcus's turn to fight back and they were both tickling each other until Marcus moved away to check on the food that was getting cooked. Marcus touched and took a sample to taste it. Unicus placed his hands on his cheek where Marcus hit him and cried out "Well you didn't have to hit me, you know". "Well it was your damn fault" said Marcus with a serious face, but he was clearly enjoying everything that has happened so far, with his sheltered upbringing his longing for adventures is slowly getting fulfilled.
After the dinner was ready Unicus tried to start eating but his body was screaming in pain not to do anything. So Marcus felt responsible for everything. He took some blueberries in her hands and started feeding them to Unicus. "Thanks Marcus" said Unicus with a smile on his face, recognizing how kind Marcus really is, but Marcus responded by forcing a cooked trout into his mouth. "So how is the dinner?" asked Marcus.
Since the trout was made poorly with what was available for us, I feel a sense of disappointment mixed with gratitude for the effort put into the meal. While the flavors are not exactly as satisfying as expected, I do appreciate the intention behind the preparation. "As I take each bite of blueberries and trout, I savor the unique combination of flavors dancing on my taste buds. The tangy sweetness of the blueberries contrasts beautifully with the tender, savory taste of the trout. With each mouthful, I feel a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, knowing that I'm enjoying a meal that not only delights my senses but also nourishes my body with its abundance of nutrients. It's an experience that leaves me feeling both indulged and invigorated, ready to take on whatever comes my way."
Unicus boldly exaggerated his feelings a bit to give a satisfying response to Marcus but he caught on to it after he ate the trout. "Well I tried my best, I do help around the house. but even so I can't believe how I'm currently incapable of preparing a delicious dinner " said Marcus. "Well Marcus, I'm pretty sure Mellona could help you out, if only we got out of here" said Unicus recalling how good Mellona is in the kitchen. Since he always gets to eat her cooking, for him her cooking might seem normal. But most people aren't as skilled as her, she is a rare find with skills you can only find 1 in million people.
"Yeah I agree with you on that one" said Marcus. After they both finished dinner, they lied next to each other in the hopes of getting some sleep. But the cave didn't allow both of them to sleep at the same time, since Unicus was used to being a night owl back on earth. He suggested that he will do the guard duty and wake him up if needed. His suggestion was good which made Marcus agree since he made dinner and stuff, he is sleepy as well. With that Unicus stayed awake, watching cautiously for anything and everything within his field of vision. His heartbeat has started rising due to how excited he is about all this, but with a body full of injuries he can't fight. Not to mention his inability to fight even with a healthy body. With a heavy sigh he started to look outside and as the time passed he couldn't help but fall half asleep.
Unicus closing his eyes started remembering the good old days to which he can't go back with a hint of nostalgia. The time of his high school on earth was the most fun he ever experienced in his previous life, with the pocket money he had. He will go around buying whatever he wants and play and enjoy his life in all of his video game collection. He has all the consoles from the NES Era and he treasured it all like a precious price he got in a competition. But his train of nostalgia was interrupted by an uninvited guest. It was a very sinister-looking monster. The human-sized centipede stands tall on multiple pairs of long, segmented legs, its chitinous exoskeleton gleaming in the dim light of the cavern. Its body undulates sinuously, each segment adorned with sharp, dark plates that bristle with menace.
Atop its elongated form rests a fearsome head, crowned with large, multifaceted eyes that glint with predatory intelligence.
Long, sensory antennae wave back and forth, probing the air for signs of danger or potential prey. With large, razor-sharp mandibles and venomous fangs, it is a formidable predator, capable of subduing prey many times its size. This monstrous creature prowls the dark recesses of its underground domain, a true terror of the depths. Unicus could not help but feel the fear when confronted by such a creature, Marcus chose the specific spot they are currently staying because the monster activity around this part was very low compared to the other parts near the waterfall. Other than occasionally a few insect-type monsters trying to attack us, it was relatively peaceful.
But now that I think about it, centipedes love insects. I mean the centipedes from earth are even capable of harming humans as well. Just the thought of facing such a sent shiver down his spine, but Unicus acted quickly. He quickly woke up Marcus, they both quickly and quietly started moving in the opposite direction to where the centipede was moving towards.
The place where the waterfall is situated in the cave has a really enormous floor which is full of a thriving ecosystem. It might be something a biologist might celebrate but for a person who is injured like me can't really be happy about it, since I don't know how to get out of here.
The available vegetation served as excellent cover to hide from the sinister centipede, but it also made our movement quite a bit louder than I would prefer. But even so with the help of Marcus, we both are moving relatively fast to avoid contact with the centipede. Suddenly after 1200 meters away from the centipede, a fluid hit the ground where I previously was a few minutes ago. The colossal spider from above is oozing its saliva or venom from its massive mouthparts. This viscous fluid drips ominously from its serrated fangs, leaving a trail of glistening droplets. The colossal spider stands at an astonishing height of over 15 meters, its immense form dominating the horizon of the cave. With a leg span stretching to more than 75 meters across, its presence dwarfs even the tallest vegetation in the enormous floor of the cave, casting a long shadow over the surroundings.
Covered in coarse, dark-colored hairs, the spider's body bristles with menace as its eight thick, segmented legs extend outward, each adorned with sharp, hooked claws ready to ensnare prey. Its cephalothorax features multiple pairs of large, multifaceted eyes that gleam with an otherworldly intelligence, while long, twitching antennae sense the slightest vibrations in the air and on the ground. Despite its monstrous size, the spider moves with surprising grace and agility, its massive legs propelling it forward with alarming speed and it tried to eat me and Marcus alive.
After it popped itself in the floor, at each of its steps the ground trembled beneath its weight, sending shockwaves rippling through the earth and filling the air with the scent of decay and rot. The saliva or venom could serve multiple purposes, such as aiding in the digestion of prey, incapacitating potential threats, or marking its territory with a potent chemical scent but that only made things worse.
As we both tried to escape from the predator, it effortlessly followed us with a speed which left us unable to escape from its grasp. Marcus already surrendered to his fate, collapsing on the floor. But I couldn't do that, if I did then all hope will truly be lost. But just to be sure "Hey Marcus, think you can use your magic?" I whispered to his ears. "I'll try, it's better than nothing" he said that and followed it up with "From shadows deep, with whispered plea, A flickering flame, to burn the sea". This time through the flame meant absolutely nothing to the spider as it was standing still taking the blunt of the attack head on.
The flame failed to give the protection we so desired, but the centipede from before somehow found us. The moment it noticed the spider through it tried to attack it with its razor-sharp mandibles and venomous fangs, which only aggregated more fuel in the fire.
The monstrous centipede and the colossal spider engage in a deadly dance of combat. The centipede lunges forward with lightning speed, its sharp mandibles clashing against the spider's serrated fangs in a flurry of strikes. But the spider is quick to retaliate, its massive legs sweeping through the air with precision, forcing the centipede to dodge and weave to avoid the deadly blows.
As the battle rages on, the centipede's agility and speed prove to be formidable adversaries for the spider's raw power and size. With each exchange, the creatures circle each other warily, searching for an opening to deliver a decisive blow. The cave echoes with the sounds of their struggle, the clash of exoskeletons and the hiss of venom filling the air. Despite the centipede's valiant efforts, the spider's overwhelming strength begins to turn the tide of battle in its favor. With a swift and calculated strike, the spider ensnares the centipede in a web of silk, immobilizing its opponent and leaving it vulnerable to the spider's final, fatal blow. In a swift and decisive victory, the spider emerges triumphant, its dominance assured as it claims its rightful place as the apex predator.
Meanwhile Unicus and Marcus ran away from the battlefield to ensure their safety, but they both felt the ominous presence of the spider trying to chase them down. So they both were running as fast as they could at the moment with Unicus's injuries being the limiting factor of the speed.