Raiz’s feet crunch against the sharp ground as he continues further in, his eyes drinking in the sight of many strange creatures. Large, metallic ants that move by digging themselves in and out of the ground, as if swimming through the land itself. Large birds soar above him with wide spread wings covering the sun, their body dusted with metallic particles that fly in the air around them.

Raiz watches as one of the birds fly down and those metallic pieces direct themselves toward him. Raiz jumps out of the way and watches as it strikes the ground and tears through its sharpness as if going through liquid. Then the cackle of an entertained bird echoes out as it flies back up and those particles return to shimmering around its body.

Raiz travels through this interesting land for a while, the mountains still in the distance, but is unable to find any specimens. Instead he finds something far more interesting. As Raiz is about to breach the other side of a jagged mountain, he hears voices beyond its peak.

“He didn’t accept. The stubborn brute. Come let us look for a few others.” One voice says gruffly.

“Do we have to do this? I thought the plan was to let them come to us.” Another speaks, more timid and quiet.

“Plans have moved forward. You will do what you’re commanded.“ The third voice calls out, cold and distant.

“…Yes.” The first two voices answer. Raiz stands there silently as takes the information in. Raiz’s interest is provoked as he analyses what he heard. He has never seen creatures work together in this place. It’s something that goes against the fundamental nature of their being. Killing and taking their energy to grow stronger is the only way to live. Something isn’t right here.

Raiz decides to wait as he hears them discuss something with each other in low voices. After a few minutes the group disperses and Raiz can hear them heading in different directions. His ears strain to hear the distinct pattern of their footsteps as he stealthily follows the timid voice he had heard earlier. To keep himself unknown he gives the creature a wide berth as he picks up speed and goes to cut him off from the side.

Soon enough he encounters the timid creature. It’s a slug, oozing a blue and green matter that rolls over its body in thick waves. It moves quite fast for its small size and almost seems to slide across the ground as it heads to its perceived destination. Not giving it a chance to react Raiz jumps toward it and digs his knife straight into its body.

The slug cries out in shock and pain as the dagger digs in, anchoring it in place much like the specimens Raiz gathers. While chained in place the slug gathers its body toward itself as it increases its density through pressure. Wary of its response Raiz immediately backs away as far as he can when suddenly the pressure releases and the slug explodes outward.

The goo roiling off of it scatters everywhere as it bursts out like projectiles, the blue-green glowing mess splattering over everything nearby. Anything it touches starts to hiss as the goo ferociously erodes the metal and earth in big chunks. Its toxic nature is aggressive but quick as it fails to sink any further into the ground and simply covers the earth in a sickly shade.

Raiz is grateful he made it far enough as he watches the spectacle, turning his eyes back to the now far more naked slug. Underneath that slime the slug has a soft-skinned body. Its body is a uncomfortable cement gray and its eyes that stretch away from its head like an antenna are drooping in exhaustion. Confirming its energy is spent Raiz returns to its location and plants another knife in its body for good measure, eliciting another long-winded scream.

Raiz gives it a moment for its voice to die out before starting. “What happened back there?” The slug just looks at him like he’s a monster, confusion clear in its eyes. Raiz rolls his eyes and states it clearer this time. “There were three of you in casual conversation. I would like to know why. Why weren’t you killing each other?”

“W-we aren’t allowed to.” The slug stutters. “Please don’t kill me.”

“Then answer my question,” Raiz returns, grabbing one if the daggers and digging it deeper into the slug’s flesh.

“Okay okay! Just stop hurting me.” The creature thrashes around as the pain digs at it only furthering its wounds, its thoughts becoming scattered as it forces out whatever it can think of. “We serve the three Overlords. They they they’re super powerful. Squash you like a bug powerful. They’ve been taking in tons of beings like me. In return for serving them they protect us. We also go out and get more followers. I don’t know anymore then that!”

“Why? Why do they want you to follow them?” Raiz asks, his hand holding onto the dagger as the slug looks at him.

“They said they want us to serve them. They want to be kings! That’s what they said.” The slug sputters. “I’ve told you what I know. Don’t kill me.”

“That makes no sense,” Raiz mutters as he stares down at the slug. He considers letting it live for a moment but eventually shakes the thought. Whatever is happening here, he doesn’t want to be on its radar. After forcing their base’s location out of it, Raiz ignores the slug’s cries and digs his daggers into its neck, silencing the creature forever.

“It doesn’t make sense…” Raiz mutters again as he returns to the slug’s words. Energy is energy. It isn’t less potent in weaker creatures, there is just less of it. If those overlords really had such a large amount of followers, swallowing them would increase their strength exponentially. Who could resist such a desire? To be a king? What a ridiculous thought. There must be something else happening here.

With curiosity driving him Raiz decides to visit their base, situated in the depths of the swampland. Heading through the earthy, metallic landscape it takes a while before Raiz finds himself at its edges. Staring into the murky, multi-coloured swamp Raiz’s feet pause as they hover at its edge before finally sinking into its soft mesh of water-mixed soil. A hiss escapes from his feet as he can feel it attempt to break through his skin.

Feeling it start to succeed Raiz channels some of his gathered energy to reinforce the skin of his feet against the toxic land. It takes a few minutes for him to adjust and reach a point where his feet are no longer eroding. The hissing sound still emanates from under them however as the ground continually attempts to eat through his layer of protection.

Raiz walks further into the swampland. Raiz doesn’t encounter any creatures during his short walk, further confirming the slug’s words. Unless there is something commanding the place it should be filled with opportunistic creatures seeking prey. As Raiz silently traverses the area he takes his time to admire it. From afar it looks like a mess of different coloured shades all blending together like a misshapen soup.

However once Raiz has stepped inside he realises these colours are separated into their own areas, with only the edges clashing against each other much like the bigger territories do. In one section Raiz finds himself looking at a large spattering of mangroves made of light and dark blue blotches, gathered around a purplish brackish water.

Next to it is the swampland itself covered with trees of varying shades of green and murky white grafted together in a permanent stitching. Even further in Raiz spots a treeless area filled with deep orange flora which can only be a marshland. Raiz travels further into the swamp as he admires the view around him.

A strangeness gently seeps into him, one Raiz fails to notice. As it does he slowly loses the purpose held in his steps, his eyes becoming unfocused as he finds himself drawn further into the scenery. Soon his focused walk slows as his gaze turns from interest to befuddlement. His mind attempts to conjure the reason he entered in the first place before it slips away again.

A small voice in the back of his head screams at him, but Raiz is unable to hear it. His steps slow further until they become still. Raiz stands there no longer able to see anything; his mind a daze. Everything slows. A thought conjures then disappears. A plea is heard then forgotten. His purpose is gone. His reason missing. Then a new one takes its place.

He was looking for specimens. He failed to find any and decided to enter the swamp to look for more. Yet he failed again. A shame. Raiz still in his daze turns around and begins to walk out, each step an unnatural jerk. A shame. All he can do is go back and try another day.

Yes. That’s all he can do.