Free Web NovelChapter 25: Breeding Nest
Meanwhile, the group had finally emerged from the tunnel. And what awaited them beyond caused everyone’s faces to freeze.
"Just what is this place...?"
Caelestra’s voice came out as a faint gasp, almost swallowed by the oppressive atmosphere of the cavern they walked into.
The failed Merchant girl stood near the entrance of the tunnel, her silver-blonde hair reflecting the crimson glow bleeding from the cocoons around them.
Her elegant featured had long since lost their usual composure; even her eyes, normally sharp with wit and calculation, were clouded with unease as they swept across the grotesque chamber.
The cavern was enormous; far larger than any cave they had come across since arriving in the Nether Lands.
The ceiling stretched high into darkness, hidden behind curtains of hanging crimson roots and jagged stalactites that resembled bloody fangs.
Also, thick veins pulsed through the walls of the cavern like arteries beneath skin, expanding and contracting slowly as though the mountain itself possessed life.
Every pulse of the walls caused the chamber to tremble faintly; as though it was alive and breathing.
The entire place smelled of rotting flesh, iron-rich blood, and something else... Something strangely human.
Yet, those were not the things that made the cavern terrifying. Because unlike other caves, this place resembled a nest; like a breeding pit for some things that are monstrous...
At the center of the cavern was a massive pool which ripple with dark red liquid. The surface of the pool reflected the crimson glow radiating from hundreds of cocoons spread throughout the cavern like diseased eggs within a monstrous nest.
Each cocoon stood nearly twice the height of an adult male...
Their surfaces were translucent and fleshy, wrapped in layers of thick crimson membrane through which vague silhouettes could be seen twitching occasionally.
Connected to every cocoon were grotesque organic tubes resembling veins or intestines. These tubes stretched downward from the ceiling into the cocoons while crimson liquid flowed continuously through them.
Clearly, whatever rested within these cocoons were being fed and nourished by the tubes...
Hearing Caelestra’s questions, Kaeloris adjusted his spectacles before answering carefully.
"It looks like some kind of nest..." The failed Gnost swallowed before continuing.
"I said it before that Wights are creatures formed by a higher race known as the Sauryeans. Perhaps, this might be one of the places they create them."
Silence followed immediately after his explanation.
Even the usually maniacal Valmyr had lost the grin on his face.
The failed Vanguard stood with his massive frame tense beneath his beastskin armour. His broad shoulders was stiff as his large hand tightened unconsciously around the hilt of his Broadsword...
He wasn’t the only one feeling tense; as the atmosphere inside the chamber was simply wrong.
It felt like they had unknowingly stepped into the womb of some primordial nightmare because nothing there seem natural...
As the group slowly processed Kaeloris’ words... Regaleon had already begun moving.
Without speaking, the failed Knight walked toward the edge of the blood-red pool slowly.
His rusted golden Armour emitted a faint metallic glow beneath the crimson light of the chamber as he crouched beside the pool, with his gleaming Halberd resting tightly in his hand.
The other swatches the silver-haired Knight, wondering what he was up to this time...
Then... Regaleon placed his hand into the pool.
"What are you doing?!" Veyrath’s eyes flew open as he asked immediately.
Regaleon ignored him. Instead, he slowly lifted his hand from the pool. Thick crimson liquid dripped from his fingers before slashing back into the pool below...
Then he brought the liquid closer, and smelled it. The moment he did, his golden eyes darkened as he confirmed his suspicion.
"This is blood. Real blood." His voice was calm as he spoke to the rest.
Chills swept through the group after hearing his words. What does he mean real blood? Aureleah narrowed her eyes thoughtfully as she watched the silver-haired Knight...
Regaleon slowly lifted his gaze toward the cocoons and spoke grimly. "It seems that these things are being fed and bred with human blood."
Suddenly, the chamber felt colder as no one spoke or move...
The realization settled heavily upon their shoulders like invisible chains as they now understood the magnitude of whatever was going on in this forsaken place.
"Guys..." Valmyr suddenly muttered.
The failed Vanguard scratched the back of his neck awkwardly while staring at the endless rows of cocoons.
"...I really think that we should leave."
For once, there was no bravado in his voice; only unease and a hint of fear lurking within his gaze.
Veyrath immediately pointed at him dramatically and declared loudly.
"I second that idea!" fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
The failed Alchemist looked moments away from collapsing as he continued.
"We seriously need to leave. Right now. Immediately. Instantly. Preferably before whatever nightmare lives here notices us."
This time, fear crept openly into his voice as he spoke rapidly.
Even Caelestra, who usually look at him with disdain, didn’t mock him this time. Because truthfully, they all wanted to leave.
But Regaleon said nothing. Though he understood their fears, that still doesn’t change anything. They are out here for a mission and it is necessary that they accomplish it. No matter the cost.
He stood slowly from the pool and suddenly... He jumped.
The Forgotten Knight leapt cleanly across the pool and landed atop one of the raised platforms near the cocoons.
"Fuck! what the hell is he doing now?!" Veyrath cursed loudly.
Even the others widened their eyes in surprise because honestly, they didn’t expect that...
Regaleon ignored their reaction completely as he focused his attention on the cocoons before him.
Up close, the filthy things looked even more horrifying...
The membrane surrounding it shifted wetly like living skins. Veins crawled beneath its surface while warm crimson fluid pulsed through them...
Regaleon stepped closer. Then slowly, he placed his gauntleted hand against the cocoon.
He noticed that the surface was warm; like human flesh.
Behind him, others still watched with growing horror as they stared at the silver-haired Knight.
Regaleon narrowed his eyes as he peered into the cocoon. At first, the thick membrane obscured whatever creature resting within it as only a vague outline could be seen moving sluggishly.
But then, the cocoon pulsed brighter... And the silhouette inside shifted.
Regaleon’s expression changed drastically as his golden eyes sharpened...
A distorted humanoid shape floated within the cocoon. It was large and twisted...
It’s limbs looked elongated and unnatural while jagged scales covered portions of it’s body.
Crimson eyes flickered open briefly; almost startling Regaleon... Before they closed once more.
The creature looked unfinished. Like something that was still evolving. Still growing. And still becoming.
Regaleon stepped backward slowly, with his face grim. His instincts screamed at him because whatever those things were... He knew they would be monsters far beyond the ordinary Wights they faced when they matured...
Meanwhile, as the group remained focused on Regaleon and the cocoons, a sound suddenly echoed across the chamber.
SHRIEKKK!!!
The noise pierced the cavern like rusted blades scraping over stone...
Everyone froze. Then they turned sharply toward the far corner of the chamber.
There... Hidden partially behind fleshy stalactites and hanging crimson roots, was a massive dark tunnel they had failed to notice earlier.
And from within this tunnel... Came movement.
Dozens of figures crawled out from the darkness. Like spawns of death and darkness.
The group’s expression changed instantly as they saw them; because while these things looked like Wights, they were definitely not ordinary.
They were larger, taller and appear more monstrous than the ordinary Wights...
Their bodies were wrapped in thick black scales that armoured their shoulders, necks, torsos and limbs.
These scales glistened wetly beneath the crimson glow like hardened obsidian drenched in blood.
And unlike the eyeless Wights, these creatures possessed eyes; slitted crimson eyes that was predatory, intelligent and sinister...
Their elongated limbs scraped against the ground as they crawled unnaturally from the tunnel. Sharp claws clocked against stone while their mouths were opened slightly, revealing rows of jagged teeth dripping with black saliva.
These things resembled twisted hybrids between reptiles and corpses. They were like dead things wearing the skin of predators...
"I knew it..." Veyrath almost shouted hysterically. "I knew it. We should have left when we had the chance!"
The failed Alchemist voice nearly cracked as he complained...
Caelestra herself looked pale now, and even Vaelorin’s flames flickered uneasily around his Staff.
Still, the failed Pyromancer tried speaking calmly. "Relax. Aren’t they just Wights? We fought them before, remember?"
Veyrath slowly turned toward him, then pointed shakily at the approaching monsters.
"Do those things look like what we fought before?"
Vaelorin immediately shut up. No one answered the question after that because the answer was pretty obvious...
These creatures radiated danger far beyond what they’ve dealt with.
Regaleon suddenly landed back beside the group after leaping across the pool once more.
However, his gaze wasn’t focused on the monsters like the others. Instead, it was fixed elsewhere...
At the center of the cavern.
Standing silently between the cocoons and the tunnel was a lone figure which suddenly appeared from nowhere.
The figure was humanoid. That was easily discernable by the way it stood, yet it’s body was wrapped completely in dark crimson robes that concealed every visible features.
The robe dragged slightly against the ground while strange symbols glimmered faintly across its sleeves...
Yet, the strangest part was the behavior ot the creatures around the figure.
Every Scaled Wights avoided it instinctively as they spread across the chamber. Not one of them approached or touched it; as though they feared it... Or obeyed it.
The others also noticed the anomaly as Vaelorin muttered. "Who the hell is that?"
Aureleah frowned, then turned toward Kaeloris and asked in her usual cold tone. "Does that person resemble a Sauryean?"
Kaeloris adjusted his glasses nervously before shaking his head.
"I... I don’t know." His voice trembled slightly as he spoke. "There are almost no records about other races in the archives I studied. It was almost as though knowing about them was forbidden."
The chamber gree silent once more...
Then, the robed figure moved slowly. It’s head tilted toward them and then... It spoke.
"Attaccate!"
The language was foreign and ancient.
They didn’t understand it and yet somehow, the Intent behind it was unmistakable...
ATTACK!
The moment the word echoed across the chamber. The Scaled Wights shrieked violently... And pounced.
