The gates in front are big and sturdy looking. There are even intricate engravings of various insects on it. I can't help but check how many humans fit in there before commenting.

[So, why does a sect with small Gus need such big main gates?]

​​

I hear my companions laugh as they awkwardly shrug. It seems they never really thought about it. Then again, I guess it's just part of the décor.

"You know most people are not relaxed enough to pass such comments usually. Doesn't it worry you even at least a little? Entering the famous Gu Meadow?!"

[To be fair I hadn't even heard of the Gu Meadow before meeting you. So, as far as famous goes…]

The others are looking at me like I am some kind of alien. What can I say? To be fair they haven't heard of my sect either, I'm sure.

"Alright, let's enter."

The doors rotate letting us in. There are curious people on each side of what appears to be a small rocky tunnel. This sect is in a mountain, I wonder if they had the same architect as the dwarves. Doubtful but who knows?

Now, I'm just picturing insects and dwarves both going through the huge door and barely being discernable. Hell, if the dwarves raised Gus there would be Gus that produced alcohol and lava very soon.

"Are you coming?"

I resume following my friend. Before long, sunlight appears. How?! But a few steps later I understand. The inside of the mountain is actually hollowed. I can even see the sky in some places.

[Wow! This is like a secret base!]

"Fun fact, that's how it started. In the past, Gu Trainers didn't have a place to call home. Everyone was just sneaking around trying to survive. It took a while to get an actual sect going."

[So you guys hid here and when you became powerful enough you just added a door and made it easier to access?]

"Yep. For a long time, people thought that all the poisonous insects in the meadow were a natural disaster of some kind. They spent so much effort to try and reclaim the land before eventually giving up."

This is like building a cool base right next to a monster spawner without realizing it. Then it gets invaded and you either fight to the death or just give up.

[So, what now?]

"We should stay a few days. At the very least, I'd like to somehow get myself a few Gus for self-defense."

[What about—?]

But then I shut up. Right, the fruit fly is supposed to be a secret trump card somehow. I'm surprised even the sect doesn't know about it. He probably does so to remain the Champion here. People will strive hard to surpass him.

Except that when they will finally manage to, he'll just reveal the fruit fly and go: "Fool you thought you had bested me? You thought wrong!"

"Here, follow me."

He brings me all the way to a small room that is littered with junk everywhere. Actually, somehow, I get the feeling these are all tools to train Gus.

There are even balls? Oh my god. One can play fetch with Gus?! This reminds me of great memories. It reminds me of that time I played fetch with Wolfie— the first Elder. Okay, that sounds weird and quite frankly deviant…

"Alright, to avoid trouble just stay in this room. Some people are real assholes here. I'll be back later tonight or tomorrow."

Then he leaves directly. I survey the room but there really isn't anything much for me to do. I grab a ball and throw it at the wall like a huge loner before catching it again.

Ah, this is boring as hell. No way I'm staying cooped up in here until tomorrow. Yep, time to leave. I go for a walk and I observe people around.

They all wear similar clothes but look very different. Some have Gus crawling at their feet. Some have Gus crawling on their clothes. Some have Gus crawling on their faces! Yes! Many are Guless too (or so it seems).

Many look at me as I swagger around but many don't care either. They seem too shy to ask me any questions too. I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry. Does that mean I'm less approachable than Gus?!

That is when I use my scouting ability to locate places of interest. I quickly deactivate it because of some very trauma-inducing scenes I see. Let's just say there are Gus going in holes that weren't meant for that.

At this point, I'm not sure if that one was a deviant or some sort of very deeply hidden trump card. Either way, I shudder just imagining it wriggling inside…

The first step is to get food! There is an area with stone tables and food being distributed. It's kinda cool but every piece of furniture is just carved in the rock. It all seems natural. Downside, it doesn't seem very comfortable.

As I grab some grub the guy handing it out glares at me. He's giving me a look that says "I know you aren't part of this sect." I answer by "What are you gonna do about it?" He goes "Nothing at all."

That's how I get some sustenance from having participated in an intense staring contest. What about the food? It's unexpectedly normal. Gu Trainer sounds edgy but they gotta eat like everyone.

Bread, vegetables, some unidentified purple meat that tastes delicious too. I don't want to admit it, but this is almost as good as my barbecue. That's when I hear a random guy complain about the shitty food.

[How about you shut the fuck up, you prick!]

That shuts him down real good. He's wondering who the hell I am, why I'm so heated over defending the food and other stuff but I don't care.

I just finish eating and head outside, giving a big smile to the employee in charge of it. He doesn't seem to care at all. Oh well.

Now, it is time for my second destination. I have noticed that there is a temple nearby. Honestly, I'm kinda getting curious. How does a Gu deity look like? I don't know because I averted my gaze when I was scouting.

So far, something very fun has happened every time I touched a god's statue. What about this time? We'll see soon enough haha…