The Crawlers were crushed under the weight of the boulder, squirming like a spider caught underneath a newspaper, before it stopped moving. With the last of the Monsters dead, I heaved a sigh.
That was my first time trying out two of those three spells: I had used Stone Spears before back when I was alone in the Free Lands, but I had only ever read about how to cast Stone Spire and Quick Pitfall. Perhaps the amount of time I spent studying it allowed me to learn it quickly in practice, or my control over magic was simply getting better. But it was undeniable that I was putting myself at risk by testing that out in a combat situation. Sure, I had a Wind Blade at the ready the entire time, but there was always the fear in the back of my mind that I might not react fast enough.
It was risky. Yet with more risk came more reward (or that was how the saying went). This was a good learning experience for me. There was no short-term gratification to this. I was not instantly rewarded for my efforts. It did not assure me that I could reliably cast these spells whenever, but it at least let me know I was capable of casting them when needed.
So that put me at ease. I took another quick look around, surveying the landscape, trying to see if anyone could have spotted what had happened. I saw nothing.
There was no one within a mile from where I stood, and I would have been obscured by the hills and rocks if someone was beyond that. The closest road was over ten miles away— I would not have even been a speck in the distance— while the treetops would have blocked the view of anyone closer. I was certain no one saw me.
I quickly glanced heavenward just to be absolutely certain (a stupid precaution predicated purely on paranoia) and was relieved to find no flying-men staring down at me, mouth agape. The sun was high enough now that the sky held a deep blue color, with not a cloud in sight. I shook my head, casting aside my worries before proceeding up to where I first spotted the Crawlers.
I had a feeling. A rough idea of what could have happened. And I was right.
There, I found an opening at the side of the mountain. A cave entrance. One that led to what should have been a natural habitat for various Monster species, but was instead turned into the home for creatures not from this world.
Abominations.
Chapter 16: Extermination
I stood right outside of the cave entrance, and I knew what lay within it. Dried blood painted the walls, while broken limbs, chitinous chunks, and corpses were scattered across the floor. A fight had happened here recently, but something told me this was not the first time the Crawlers tried to take back their home.
I glanced to the side and saw the remains of Abominations. Humans, Monsters, and animals were strewn about— all deformed by the blue bulbous protrusions of those terrible creatures. These ones were dead, their sacs without their light, looking like deflated balloons sticking out of the dead bodies. Some were not connected to any bodies at all, hacked off, and lining the side of the cavern like a kind of cerulean moss.
I took a step into the cave, the sound of my footfall echoing throughout the natural antechamber. It was dark; the light of the sun only reached so far. I should have had a torch, but alas, my inexperience as a Hunter showed in my unpreparedness for this mission. I had to light a torch when I was in the forest— after realizing the shadow of the night would not hide me from any nocturnal Monsters— and now, I had no choice but to use magic.
I took a last look behind me, confirming that there was no one there, before I raised my hand. A spell circle momentarily flashed, and was replaced by a ball of light that illuminated the darkness of the hallway. I pressed on, further and further into the cave. Until all the brightness of day disappeared behind me, and all that shone was the Light spell above my head.
I continued down the naturally formed tunnel, stepping over the occasional body parts covered in the flesh-like blue bulbs, missing their signature yellow glow, having been severed or sprayed out into the floor. There were no corpses of unturned Monsters laying around here, only their trails of blood remained, as evidence that the once dead were dragged further into the cave. I clutched the hilt of my dagger, starting to get second thoughts about this mission.
I came here because I believed the Abominations would not attack me. And that might have been true in Bys, when that stranger in plate armor— one of the followers of that false god— watched over me. However, I knew not for certain if that would be the case now. Just as I started to reconsider my actions however, I turned the corner and came face to face with a group of Abominations.
Five shadows appeared at first, too far away for my light to reach them, yet their disembodied shapes could be clearly made out even so. I steeled myself, pulling out the short blade from my side, readying any number of spells to cast. The five Abominations got closer and closer, walking ever so slowly towards me, quite clearly approaching my direction.
I should have attacked them, but held off for a moment specifically because they were walking. I remembered
