Thus, the three ultimately decided to remain on the back of the gigantic burrowing creature.
It was probably their best option for now.
The mutant continued moving through the underground galleries, sometimes turning left, sometimes right, always going deeper into the immense rocky labyrinth.
Time seemed endless.
The tunnels all looked the same.
Always the same dark walls.
Always the same distant rumblings.
Always that oppressive feeling of being lost in a living underground world.
And after a while—
Kert literally ended up falling asleep on the back of the mutant.
Slumped against one of the creature's long sensory hairs, he slept despite the constant vibrations around them.
Zerath watched him for a few seconds before exhaling through his nose.
— I don't even know how he does that…
Hinata, meanwhile, was carefully observing the other mutants around them.
The creatures seemed surprisingly social.
They constantly crossed paths in the tunnels without aggression.
Some even briefly touched each other with their whiskers before heading off in other directions.
As if they were communicating in some way.
Then suddenly—
GRRRRROOOOM.
The ground shook once again.
The mutants around them immediately became agitated.
Their speed increased abruptly.
Hinata immediately lifted her head.
— Zerath…
Her gaze followed the nervous movements of the creatures.
— For these things to be afraid of another type of creature… what exactly does that suggest to you?
Zerath remained silent for a few seconds before thinking seriously.
— Honestly… it could suggest a lot of things.
He observed the burrowing mutants around them.
— First of all, they have almost no fear of us.
He crossed his arms.
— Yet I strongly doubt they've ever encountered humans before.
His gaze grew more serious.
— So if a creature is capable of triggering such a violent flight response in them…
He placed a hand against the rock.
— Then there's a strong chance it's a danger deeply embedded in their instincts.
Hinata listened attentively.
Zerath continued:
— The most obvious possibility… is a natural predator.
He looked at the gigantic tunnels.
— A creature long adapted to hunting in this environment.
Then he slightly frowned.
— But it could also be something else.
Hinata tilted her head slightly.
— Like what?
Zerath thought for a few more seconds.
— A member of their own species, for example.
He gestured toward the burrowers around them.
— Maybe an individual that became unstable. Or a particularly aggressive territorial male.
His gaze hardened slightly.
— During a breeding period, some species become extremely violent to drive away rivals.
He sighed.
— That would explain why the entire colony is fleeing.
Then he added:
— There's also another possibility.
Hinata remained attentive.
— Some underground species react extremely poorly to changes in vibrations or pressure.
He looked at the tunnels around them.
— What we're hearing could be linked to a massive collapse… or to a creature so enormous that its mere movement disrupts their entire sensory network.
Kert, still half-asleep, muttered faintly:
— I just hope it's not something that eats humans…
Zerath completely ignored his remark before continuing:
— And if the predator theory is correct…
He looked at the gigantic burrowing mutants beneath them.
— Then that thing is probably enormous.
Hinata slightly frowned.
— How enormous?
Zerath answered calmly:
— Large enough to regularly hunt creatures of this size.
He looked at the immense back of the burrower they were riding.
— So probably even more massive than them.
His expression grew heavier.
— And above all… perfectly adapted to this underground network.
Hinata remained silent for a few seconds.
— I see…
Then slowly—
She closed her eyes.
An emerald aura immediately spread across her body.
Her mana then began to gradually extend into the depths of the galleries.
First a few tunnels.
Then dozens.
Then even farther.
Her energy silently slid through the underground networks like invisible roots.
Zerath immediately felt the magical pressure around them increase.
— Hinata…?
But she remained motionless.
Focused.
Her mana continued to spread.
Passing through galleries.
Analyzing vibrations.
Smells.
Movements.
Then suddenly—
She felt something.
A presence.
And immediately—
A sensation of monstrous voracity ran through her mana.
Hinata abruptly opened her eyes.
Her body tensed slightly.
That thing…
Was truly hunting the burrowers.
And not occasionally.
No.
It was a true specialized predator.
Her mana continued to analyze the creature from a distance.
Little by little, certain pieces of information began to appear in her mind.
A reptilian creature.
Immense.
Probably twice as large as the burrowing mutants.
Its body seemed long and massive, perfectly adapted to underground tunnels.
Its powerful limbs clung to the rocky walls as it moved with terrifying speed despite its size.
Its eyes—
Were gigantic as well.
But unlike the burrowers, they seemed truly functional.
Adapted to absolute darkness.
And above all—
A long forked tongue constantly slipped out of its mouth.
Like a snake.
It was probably analyzing particles in the air.
Scents.
Traces left in the tunnels.
This creature did not simply sense its prey.
It tracked them.
Elsewhere…
Sakolomeh suddenly felt something strange.
A diffuse sensation.
Unstable.
As if Mü Thanatos was not well.
Or rather…
As if something was deeply troubling her.
And the most unsettling part of all this was that he could feel it directly through the reality itself that she embodied.
The space around him seemed slightly heavier.
As if an invisible tension ran through the world.
Then suddenly—
A voice echoed directly in his mind.
A telepathic transmission.
It was Mü Thanatos.
— Join the World of Myths immediately.
Sakolomeh slowly opened his eyes before letting out a tired sigh.
He had been lying on a massive rock for several hours, silently observing the sky.
— What's wrong…?
He slightly frowned.
— Is there a problem?
For a few seconds—
No response.
Silence lingered in his mind.
And yet…
A faint tension still persisted.
But Sakolomeh did not seem to truly pay attention to it yet.
Or perhaps he was unconsciously refusing to believe it.
Then finally—
Mü Thanatos's voice reappeared.
More serious this time.
— Come to the World of Myths… and you will understand.
The connection cut off immediately.
Sakolomeh remained still for a few seconds before slowly sitting up.
— What could possibly be happening…?
His gaze became slightly more serious.
Something was coming.
He could clearly feel it now.
But no one seemed to know the truth yet.
…Except, perhaps, the original gods.
Sakolomeh slowly extended his hand in front of him.
CRAAAK.
A massive spatial rift immediately tore open in the air.
Fragments of dark energy ran along the edges of the tear.
He let out one last sigh before stepping inside.
A few seconds later—
He emerged directly into the World of Myths.
The atmosphere there was immediately different.
Heavier.
Older.
As if the air itself carried something abnormal.
And as soon as he arrived—
He spotted two familiar figures not far from him.
Ysolongue stood there, visibly impatient.
At her side, Bakuzan stood with his arms crossed, maintaining his usual calm.
But as soon as Ysolongue saw Sakolomeh—
Her face immediately lit up.
— Sako!!
Without the slightest hesitation, she ran toward him before literally throwing herself into his arms.
Sakolomeh was slightly surprised by the impact.
Ysolongue was now holding him tightly.
— I'm so happy to see you again, you know…!
For a few seconds, Sakolomeh remained silent.
Then a faint melancholic smile finally appeared on his face.
He gently placed a hand on Ysolongue's hair.
— Come now…
His tone was calm.
— A dragon heir like you shouldn't be so affectionate.
But Ysolongue immediately shook her head without letting go.
— I don't care about that at all.
Her voice trembled slightly with emotion.
— I missed you so much…
Sakolomeh's gaze softened slightly.
Then footsteps echoed behind them.
Bakuzan finally approached before sighing.
— Ysolongue…
He slightly raised his eyes.
— You should probably let go of Sakolomeh now.
Ysolongue seemed to realize the situation before stepping back awkwardly.
Sakolomeh then turned his head toward Bakuzan.
— You too… you received Mü Thanatos's call?
Bakuzan slowly nodded.
— Not exactly.
He crossed his arms again.
— It was rather the Son of God in my case.
He sighed slightly.
— But in the end, it probably amounts to the same thing.
Then he calmly turned his head toward the immense castle that dominated the World of Myths.
— Come on.
His gaze became serious again.
— Come to the castle.
A strange tension now seemed to hang everywhere around them.