Chapter 14

The cave was surprisingly well lit. Granted there were just some torches placed on the walls here and there, but it was impressive something like this could be found in a kobold camp. Though, there was no point ignoring the obvious influence this rodentia had on them. Even with all the danger surrounding us, my curiosity did manage to peek its head from time to time.

I did see a lot of strange stuff in the past couple of days. It looks that’s some kind of trend with this place. Anthropomorphic animals seemed pretty common, what with the dogmen and the newly discovered ratman.

I could sense how tense Lucian was behind me. Of course, I was not taking a stroll either since we were neck deep into enemy territory. But the rodentia seemed to be a deep cause for concern.

The cave was pretty long, or was the word for it deep? In any case we walked quite a lot and that allowed us to see some very interesting things along the way.

The first was a pile of dead kobolds, nothing special about them except for their eyes. They were wide open with blood stains running down from them. If you added a red glow, you might witness the same disturbing look we saw yesterday.

The next objects we encountered were rows upon rows of barrels. Their content was between solid and liquid, emanating a sweet fragrance. It was honey and I bet it wasn’t just the normal kind either.

We couldn’t afford to stop and make sure, but, judging by the attack yesterday, we were fairly certain it was the same one the doctor had in his jar.

It didn’t take long to find another piece of the puzzle. Rock root. Heaps of them more specifically, carelessly piled up on the ground like potatoes in a street market.

Right after the piles, the road split into two sections. We had no time to debate which way to go and we couldn’t risk reaching a dead end, only to be surprised from behind. I glanced at Lucian. We could either split off or risk it and go together. Either option had its advantages and disadvantages.

I couldn't decide. Honestly I’d rather not go alone into the unknown, but getting stuck between a dead end and the enemy wasn’t favourable either. The doctor was basically the one calling the shots on this expedition so I turned to him.

He noticed my gaze and resolutely nodded. “We split up. I can handle myself in case of anything. Make sure to finish off anything that sees you. We can’t risk them running by us and sounding the alarm.”

I grimaced, not pleased with that particular image. The last thing I wanted right now was having to fight my way out of here through an entire army.

With that, the doctor continued going right while I went towards the left. I kept moving at the same slow pace, not wanting to alert anything of my presence. My sword was out and ready to stab at the slightest noise.

I just hoped Lucian didn’t get impatient and rushed things. He’s temper and the antagonistic feelings he seemed to have for the rodentia were worrying.

I finally reached the end of the passage and it opened into a bigger cavern. Unfortunately, the torches lining up the walls were not present in there so it was pitch black. There was no way in hell I was going to walk in there without any vision so I turned back.

I grabbed the last wall torch I passed and returned. I got ready just in case something might jump at me and threw the torch. The walls were illuminated and the ground as well. The light didn’t reach the ceiling, but it was enough to show me everything that was inside.

And I almost had a heart attack.

The torch landed and rolled forwards a bit, reaching the scaly legs of a hulking monstrosity who’s species I had already come across. The beast was five meters tall, with muscled arms bigger than...me honestly.

The Gorillasaurus looked like some kind of real life Hulk, just bigger and scarier looking. I had already jumped backwards in fright, but then I noticed the creature was somehow out of it.

I looked more closely and saw thick iron chains coming from the ground as well as the ceiling, piercing and binding its limbs. Its raptor-like head was looking down, its eyes empty. The thing was definitely not dead, judging by the way its chest moved rhythmically. It looked sedated, hell it probably was.

Scattered around were a few barrels and in one of them I saw Rock Root. I glanced at the gorillasaurus’s lack of reaction and moved closer to inspect it.

Yes, this was definitely Rock Root. The interesting thing was that it was fermenting, a murky liquid being released in the barrel along with the process. This was probably what they were feeding the gorillasaurus to keep it sedated.

It seems like the good doctor was wrong. The blasted things really did figure out medicine. Or was this solely the work of that rodentia? It makes no difference at the moment. The question is why are they keeping this creature captive? I can’t imagine it was easy to subdue it, especially since this was not the tiny, two meter, juvenile I fought a while ago.

It was an adult and it looked like an impossible thing to defeat from my perspective. I glanced at the barrel again and realized they may not have fought it at all. They might have just shoved the Rock Root juice down it's throat and dragged it here.

I shook my head and looked around. I kept a healthy distance from the beast as I walked. There were a few more barrels that had the same fermenting plant in them, but most of them didn’t.

Instead they contained something much more disturbing. The fermenting Rook Root had a powerful smell so I didn't notice it at first.

But it smelled like iron.

These barrels had litres upon litres of blood in them. They were literally farming the gorillasaurus for its blood. This had reached some very uncomfortable levels of strangeness.

I suppressed my discomfort and looked around some more. Unfortunately, there was nothing else of interest here. The cave didn’t continue so it was a dead end.

I didn't want to spend any more time than needed here, especially since Lucian was heading towards the main culprit behind all this mess.

I gave one last look around the room and at the captured beast. I fiddled with the idea of killing the poor thing out of mercy. Unfortunately, I had neither the time, nor the reassurance that I would deliver a killing blow and simply not to wake it up.

Lily was right that an adult gorillasaurus’s hide was totally different from a juvenile. Those scales look as thick as armor and probably way harder to pierce. I shook my head and left. If, in the future, it managed to survive and leave, then good for it.

The walk back went more smoothly now that I had passed through here once. I didn’t run, but neither did I bother sneaking at the level I had before.

After some time I arrived back at the crossroads. I glanced in the exit’s direction, a subconscious act stemming from my desire for safety. Even so, I ignored my emotions and began walking after the doctor. I kept my eyes peeled and returned to my previous skulking.

I knew Lucian was ahead of me, but in case he ran into trouble it wouldn't do for me to be instantly discovered as well.

This passage was well lit and there were no barrels or any other things placed around. I moved steadily, until I reached what looked to be a perfect ninety degree corner.

I planned to continue walking slowly towards it, then peek around, but the sound of clashing metal interrupted my plans. I sped up frantically, but before I charged over there, I managed to rein myself in.

With an agitated mind, I stuck my back to the wall and turned my head to see the situation.