??? POV

It was born...

Thus it hungers!

The more it feeds, the more it grows.

Not in size, but in domain.

It will corrupt the cave and caverns.

All shall bend to its will or perish.

Narrator

Somewhere in the ever-winding tunnels of the underworld, a group of five people was traversing in the darkness with only a light from a single torch to lead their way.

It was the group calling themselves five fingers and one guide, which had brought them to the entrance. Though maybe they should call themselves four fingers from now on. Since they were one man short and that was not in stature, as the dwarf of their group was leading the way in the cave tunnels. The tunnel was large and wide enough to spread out. But for safety, they still walked in a line with a one-meter gap between each other.

"Dwarf just admit it, were lost!" [Enrik]

The pale white assassin in the group proclaims as he follows behind the dwarf.

"Nay, we just take tha safest routes. But it has been a long one none tha less." [Jenkins]

"Enrik, don't argue with a Dwarf about directions underground, Jenkins knows what he's doing. If you wish why don't you take another route instead." [Brute]

The pale white assassin pondered the big man's proposal for but a second. But wisely enough shook his head and instead stayed quiet for the moment.

"Is it always this lively, with you guys?" [Mat]

The young tracker, the peon of the information broker from the city of thieves and the temporary addition to the group. Quarried to the leader of the Finger's, which he still didn't know by their first name. Or last for that matter.

The rest of the group he had quickly come to befriend. Surprisingly enough, the pale white assassin as well. Though, one would most likely call it a mutual understanding rather than a friendship.

This was only natural if you travel with people for a longer duration. But he could never crack open the leader.

The leader did not answer him and just continued to walk in silence. As these seemingly endless tunnels brought them further into the underworld. It had gone three days since they entered the caves and their rations were nearing the point of no return.

"Dinna bother, our leader has made a vow of silence. Yer barkin' up tha wrong tree lad. Let's focus on tha road ahead." [Jenkins]

Just a day before they had gotten a lead on where the mage might be hiding. As a swarm of different insect and beast species had been stampeding through the cave tunnels. As if they were running away from someone... Or something. Which was very unusual for any monster of any size. It was as if they were running away from a calamity. But the dwarf of the group had seen no such signs with his dwarvish eyes.

And as this was the only lead they have, they had to follow it.

Luckily they did not need to face any of the creatures in battle as the dwarf had felt the tremors in the ground of the approach. As the dwarf found a crevice in the wall for them to hide in, as the swarm passed them by.

"Ay, finally found tha track again!" [Jenkins]

"So I was actually right Dwarf, we were lost!" [Enrik]

"Nay Enrik! Just a bit confused. Dwarfs dinna think well without their meed, *sigh* what I wouldn't do for a mug right now. " [Jenkins]

The dwarf said with bitterness in his voice.

"Look thar. That's our path!" [Jenkins]

The dwarf pointed down a tunnel to the left.

"Where? It's just the same old tunnels!" [Mat]

The young tracker looked with the rest of the group into the tunnel, but there was nothing which stood out just the same old dirt brown rock, moss and fungi.

"Wait a wee bit." [Jenkins]

The dwarf put a wet cloth over the torch and as the light went out a completely new sight could be seen. The so thought normal fungus was glowing in a dim light of blue and a scarce number was glowing green, creating a dimly lit path forward leading to somewhere unknown.

"Bioluminescent cave fungi. Nearly invisible ta tha naked eye. Nae different from any other mushroom. That be until ye put out tha light. A dwarvish way ta find yer path in tha labyrinth of tunnels." [Jenkins]

The dwarf explained that he had with his keen eyes been following these tracks of the green mushrooms since the entrance. But as it was leading trough monster nests and a bottomless pit. The group had to take several detours.

The young tracker looked at the glowing mushrooms baffled by the ingenuity.

"Seems like this mage knows some good tricks for sweeping his tracks...

Spooked cave creatures are bad news, to begin with! And this mage is getting more troublesome by the minute.

How do we even know that these mushrooms ain't leading us into a trap?" [Mat]

*Ouf!* [Brute]

In the darkness, with only the dim light of the glowing mushrooms, The leader had elbowed the big berserker giving him some sign language which only he was close enough to see.

"Mh! Boss says you have no say in this matter... And also Jenkins. Put on the bloody light again! I can barely see anything ahead of me." [Brute]

"Ya, ya. Ye wee humans and yere bad eyesight." [Jenkins]

The dwarf poured some oil on the torch, poured from a pouch from his belt. Then he put the torch on the ground and he procured a pair of flint and tinder from his pocket. And started to hit them together to create sparks over the torch.

As the spark hit the torch it quickly took flame.

Yet again the tunnel was lit up by light and the fungi turned seemingly normal again. The group could see further again, though the limit was still only little more than six meters of light and maybe another six of dim light ahead.

In the rear past that limit of light in the darkness, something had moved.

the young tracker which was furthest in the rear was the one to notice, he had looked over his shoulder when he saw a shadow in the dark.

"Did you guys see that!? Somethings there in the darkness!" [Mat]

Everybody tensed up as they all turned around. The Finger's might be a gang of misfits but they were still thieves, and to have something sneak up on them is out of the question.

"I dinna see anything. Slime perhaps?" [Jenkins]

The dwarf said seemingly uncaringly. As dwarfs had better sight in the dark than humans. Their sight could be described as at least three to four extra meters of dim light. The only downside is that they don't see colors in the dark only different shades of gray.

Since it wasn't that uncommon to meet slimes underground, the group relax a bit. Slimes were not a threat if you knew how to handle them.

Bobfrays Adventure journal: Encountering slimes.

1. Run away.

The first tips are to run away, any F-rank adventurer and child were thought this common fact in this world as the most effective way to survive a slime in the wild.

2. Retaliate

The second one is more of a gamble. Unless one has a mage in the group.

Destroy the core. As a mostly physically immune creature, a mage would be the most optimal. As they could instantly kill them with magic.

But if one was a melee fighter then one would need to have, great discipline or great luck as the monster's core was small and defended by layers of acid goo.

If one had a weapon of poor quality one's weapon would surely be forfeited.

-Though all these were useless if you were ambushed by a slime. Then one could only hope that one's companions got the slime off before it had digested one whole.

The group waited and examined the tunnel with wary eyes, but nothing seemed to happen. So instead they continued to traverse slowly forward. Making sure to have all their bases covered.

From somewhere, in the darkest part of the cave. Something was eyeing five meatbags. As they were traversing through its domain. Anger filled its soul, as it watched the intruders walk towards its Lair.

The young tracker was uneasy. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was watching them. But no matter how many time he looked he could not see anything following them as his sight was obscured by the darkness.

Brute noticed Mats uneasiness and started to remissness about old memories to try and ease his worries.

"You know this reminds me of my adventuring days." [Brute]

"You where an adventurer!?" [Mat]

The young tracker asked with obvious interest.

"Why yes, D-rank and it was glorious. Treasures, meat, booze, and bosoms. That will say the time when I was not adventuring." [Brute]

"How in the... how does this remind you of women and booze!?" [Mat]

Brute did not answer immediately, instead, he asked Mat a question.

"Mat? Do you know the reason an adventurer stays as an adventurer?" [Brute]

Mat pondered the question, there were as many as there were people in Nozfernia.

It could be because they wanted to become a hero and be idolized. Or they did it so they could take care of their family, sending funds back home. Some did it to indulge in the riches, such as themselves. Or they could be doing it because they liked the thrill of it. Out of all of this Mat chose the one that was the most reasonable.

"Because of the fame?" [Mat]

"The fame? HA! you're funny! No, it's because of gluttony and greed. The more you earn the more you spend. The more you spend the more you need to earn." [Brute]

What he said was logical. The more one indulges in the finer thing of life, the less likely it was that they could return to their previous, mundane life.

"Think about this. How many adventurers have actually retired? Most die on the job. The so-called famous ones, that you hear about are the ones getting eaten by a dragon." [Brute]

"What about Reginald? The man who actually slew a dragon?" [Mat]

"Well Reginald is a bit..." [Brute]

Enrik took this opportunity to cut into the conversation.

"You don't mean Prince Reginald by any chance?" [Enrik]

"Is there anyone else?" [Mat]

"I met him once, He's a poser. All his power is all do to his father, the king. Legendary items of immense value, legions of soldiers. Strip that away and he's just a child begging for his life. He even offered me money to spare his."

""WATH!? you-?"" [Mat][Brute]

Enrik cut them off as he already knew the question.

"No, alas. I didn't kill him. I didn't want a whole country on my tail for killing their prince. Besides, it was a hefty sum." [Enrik] said with a creepy smile.

"..." [Brute] [Mat]

Brute cleared his throat.

"... anyways. There are still some real idiots in the world. Money won't make you strong only muscles and a sharp mind will. Money is for booze and food.

I remember this one guy who betrayed his whole party over a measly bounty. That just goes to show that you should never trust an adventurer." [Brute]

Enrik rose one of his eyebrows toward brute as he opened his mouth.

"Hmm, I remember it differently. Wasn't it you who betrayed them and got away with the treasure? You even bought me a round of beer that day bragging about it." [Enrik]

"ken ye stop talkin' about meed!" [Jenkins] said from the lead in a low frustrated voice.

"As I said. Never trust an Adventurer around treasure. Bwa ha ha ha ha!" [Brute]

"... I guess it's good that your not an-" [Mat]

Mat stopped mid-sentence as he swore that he heard something from the rear. The others had not noticed but took notice of Mats behavior.

"Something wrong?" [Brute]

"I heard something!" [Mat]

It had been a faint sound as quiet as a pin hitting the floor not even being enhanced by the echoes of the cave walls. Or perhaps it had been so quiet that only because of the cave walls was he able to hear it.

As a tracker. Mat had an upper hand in sight and hearing as the four senses were a tracker's far most important quality. If he had been a hound then smell would be included. But humans were flawed with their inferior nose and could only pick up the most obvious of smells. Some trackers fix this flaw by taming a companion, unfortunately, Mat did not have that luxury.

"Oh hush! You're just paranoid. It's probably just another slime. Right dwarf?" [Enrik]

"I never said it was a slime ta start with. I said it might possibly be. But I still kinna see anythin'." [Jenkins] said as he looked into the darkness.

"Oh but! Bloody hell's." [Mat]

Mat had retrieved a loose rock from the ground slightly smaller than his fist. It was true that he was extra jumpy in these caves, as this was outside his expertise.

But if there was something he knew then it was this... -He threw the rock randomly into the dark.- ...If there was something then it would react to confrontation.

The rock landed on something with a weird clang. Then...

A screech as something heavy hit the ground and then the sudden sound of something rolling.

A large boulder, nay creature emerged from the darkness into the illumination of the torch. Roling their way.

"Is that..." [Mat]

"Ruuuuuun!" [Jenkins]

""""!!?"""" [Mat] [Enrik] [Brute] [Jenn]

The group picked up their pace into a running sprint. The creature -in a ball-shaped form- came at them at a frightening speed.

The group sprinted at full throttle, but for every second they ran the creature still got closer and closer. As the sound of rocks breaking underneath its weight could be heard.

The creature shaped like a giant boulder had layers of armor lying in folds. It would flatten anything under its immense weight, and that weight was closing in too close for comfort.

"In here!" [Jenkins]

The straight cave corridor split into a left turn. The group turned just in time as the creature passed by them. but soon after, could be heard stopping and turning around.

"What was that? It looked like a giant-"[Mat]

"-PILLBUG!!! It's comin' again!" [Jenkins]

The sound of the giant-sized pillbug numeral legs could be heard as it was skittering on the cave floor closing into the tunnel.

The group continued to run and not soon after the sound of the pillbugs balled form could be heard behind them again.

Mat's POV

Pillbug, a creature of the vermin family. Usual habitat Forest areas or underground... Guess I know which this one prefers.

I looked back over my shoulder to see the bolder form of the giant pillbug closing in.

"Shit, shit, shit!" [Mat]

What more?... Typically lives under large boulders.. well that's ironical... no, no time... They feed on fallen trees, fungus and other detriments...

"Hmm, that's odd..." [Mat]

Pill bugs do have some rather peculiar feeding habits since they are known to eat their own feces, as well as feces from other animals... Urgh... Additionally, sometimes pill bugs will feed on decomposing animal flesh...

More... Giant Pillbugs are known to curl up into a tight ball protecting their delicate underbellies with their chitinous segmented shells. They proceed to roll their ball-like bodies over everything in their path. The Creature's of the giant family can grow up to 4 meters.... By the seven curses ain't that bug way larger? I looked back again.

Fuck it is!... Noting more... Think, think.

How do we escape or defeat it? Unless we get through the armor...

"Arrg! damn it!" [Mat]

"Watch out! Get your head in the fight!" [Brute]

Brute slammed into my body as we both went into another cave corridor. I stumbled falling flat on my face. I could feel the blood flowing from somewhere on my face but had no time to care for it as the pillbug still was on our tails. I hurriedly stumbled up on my feet.

The rest of the group had already run past. My sight was slightly blurred and I could swear that the corridor seemed more cramped further ahead. No! It was! By the light of Jenkins torch, I could see far enough ahead, to see that the corridor slimmed down into a bottleneck. If we could just run to it before the bug squashed us.

"Guys! Up ahead. That's our escape. It won't fit!" [Mat]

"It's too far we won't make it!" [Enrik]

"Enrik stop bein' so pessimistic, wou' ye really let yerself be outrun by a dwarf?" [Jenkins]

Jenkins said with glee as he sprinted faster than any dwarf I have ever seen.

"Dwarf, get back here!" [Enrik]

"Keep Breathin', That's tha Key. Breathe!" [Jenkins]

Though it seemed to take a massive toll on him.

The rumbling sound of the pillbug and the stones which were getting crushed underneath got more and more audible as we got closer to the bottleneck.

I didn't dare look back anymore and the last side cave corridor was already far behind us. Now there was only one way out of this.

Run!

Run! as if the slavers was wiping my back! Sweat was pouring down my body I couldn't even discern if it was from fright or exhaustion. But I could feel my limbs get heavier for every second that passed. How long would the rest of the group last?

"Almost there, almost there" [Mat]

I heard a weak thud which got my attention. As I pinpointed the sound I saw the leader of the five fingers on the ground he must have gote-

"JENN!" [Brute]

"!?" [Mat]

Brute which had been in the lead had abruptly turned around after yelling out and ran towards the Fingers leader.

"You idiot! You will both be crushed!" [Enrik]

No words were exchanged as the big guy passed me. But no words were necessary. I saw it in his eyes.

Determination. No words could stop him now.

"Move god damn it!" [Brute]

I could only watch.

Narrator

The leader had lost her footing on the uneven ground and her foot had gotten stuck in between two rocks. By a quick examination, it wasn't broken but...

It was unlikely to get the chance to be used again. As in a few seconds, death would come by flattening.

A million things flew through her head. As time seemed to stop around her.

She saw her mother and father. Dead since long ago. The garden with so many flowers. Her guild master and drill sergeant. The five fingers and also the little boy she fell in love with so long ago.

A tear fell down her cheek, yet no one could see it because of her mask.

"Thank you, I'm sorry." [Jenn]

Her voice as sweet as honey, yet could not be enjoyed by anyone as the rumbling of the Pillbug overshadowed all sound.

That's when a very familiar war cry overpowered the rumbling of death filling the tunnel.

Brute, the self-proclaimed second in command had jumped past here and was now staring down the giant Pillbugs. And with his big palms, he grabbed the rolling beast by the sides. As with all of his strength he tried to stop the bolder-form bug. His skin getting ripped up as blood flowed from his hands.

"oooOOO!" [Brute]

He roared but no one could discern if it was in pain or in a desperate cry for willpower to stop the unstoppable bolder-bug.

His big form was easily pushed back and the weight of the bolder bug was starting to loom over him. As the weight started to take it's toll on his muscles as veins were popping and bones were knocking...

.... knocking!? no not knocking he felt a tap on his shoulder. A normal tap from someone.

"It's stuck!" [Enrik]

Brute looked to the sides semi bent as he still was holding the weight of the bug over himself. The Pillbug had gotten stuck in between the cave walls.

Brute let go and looked towards their leader which was just a few centimeters behind him. Jenkins sat beside as he was wiggling out the foot from between the rocks.

As their leader got loose she walked straight towards Brute and drew her dagger. And with the butt of it, she rammed it hard into Brutes forehead.

"What was that for!?" [Brute]

He said as he covered his head with his flogged hands. Jenn took one of them as she took a bandage from her bag and started to bind it with the bandages.

Both stood in silence.

*knock, knock* *screech*

Jenkins had taken the moment to examen the shell of the bug. He had used an old dwarfish skill to determine the mass and other secrets. Crawling out from under the bug.

"It weighs more than five tons. Impressive feet for a giant bug. Its shell is impenetrable, except for a weapon of mithril or higher grade. Well, were nae goin' back tha same way we came!" [Jenkins]

The Pillbug was stuck and not just stuck, but jammed stuck. It would probably starve to death here alone. But not before they themselves died of hunger.

"Well, only one way ta go then." [Jenkins]

The group looked down the cramped tunnel which would only allow one to pass at a time.

"Hey, Jenkins. There something bothering me. Pillbugs are not carnivores. Why would it stalk us?" [Mat]

"It dinna. Ye set it off!" [Jenkins]

"Ye, sorry I might have annoyed it." [Mat]

"That was nae what I meant. It was a trap... Organic one at that!" [Jenkins]

"Organic trap? Never heard of it." [Mat]

"Oy! Dwarf don't tell me..." [Enrik]

"Ay, We be in a natural born dungeon!" [Jenkins]

An unnatural chill went through the cave, as an immense pressure could be felt from further inside.