[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

It took long, way too long, for Tikan to stop mourning. It could lure predators, but nobody dared to interrupt.

Eventually, Tikan stood up, several minutes after running out of tears.

He appeared in front of Arath, gloomy, uttering only - “Take whatever you need” - and moved away.

The final area was an agglomeration of many randomly angled, joint tunnels. Walls formed a lot of triangles or irregular quadrilaterals and were overgrown by moss.

At first, the moss was yellow and the area was inhabited by thousands of small snails, which were food to amphibian rodents that appeared like a blob of gray meat with two broad, triangular fins at sides and a lightly forked tail. They had four legs, no neck, and under their two small, black beady eyes was a long mouth with a chameleon-like tongue.

However, these creatures were also a meal to larger species of white, very furry crustaceans with the torso in the shape of a lobster. They had twenty-four, long arachnid-like limbs that ended with sharp spikes. Eight frontal limbs functioned as arms and were used to pierce their prey, then move it to mandibles. Other than that, lobster-like creatures had a set of six yellow wings in the shape of circles. When rotated, these wings covered their entire torso and helped to camouflage in the moss.

At last, there were rare, solitary, horned gray giants on top of the food chain. They were three meters tall and had humanoid shape but the torso, legs, and arms were shorter in proportions. Limbs of the giant ended with three fingers that consisted solely of talons. Sometimes, the giants wore shells and wings of crustaceans as their primitive attire and used weapons made of animal bones.

Next, the moss turned green. The area was pretty silent and empty, but a lot of various mushrooms grew here.

The most dangerous area was when surroundings started to have a color of livid crimson. That's where red worms described by Tador lived, but they weren't the biggest trouble, they were merely somewhere on the bottom of the food chain.

Feasting on worms, were creatures with the appearance of many sheets of long orange paper combined at a single spherical head under a shell that appeared like a truncated coolie hat. They had ancient symbols on their skin, similar to runes that Noemi encountered in the forest, and the outline of their limbs was redder. These creatures entwined their victims, brutally squeezing vital fluids out of prey. The blood stained the appendages, which drained the life force out of the liquid.

At the same time, the worms feasted on red, slimy tadpoles shaped like Rupert's drop with a single black circle in front of them. These tadpoles were exactly the first stage of the development of their predators. They would grow small rectangular shaped sheets over time and live mainly in waters, until ready to hunt on lands.

The largest hunter was a four-legged mammal with a triangular head, rows of teeth, claws of a tiger and a long tail ended with a ball of fur. The torso and head were rather flat. Its hairs formed braids, like somebody tended to it.

As for the flora, except for moss, there was only what appeared to be red leafless bushes with very sharp twigs.

The penultimate area had purple moss. It was mostly empty, but some purple slimes lived here. In the area were flowering plum trees that already also bore fruits.

Medium-sized mammals that lived here were balls of fur on four tiny legs, entirely invisible under the torso. Creatures had two long, backward-faced, feather-shaped protuberances and a single, giant yellow eye. Contrary to humans, they consumed plum flowers instead of fruits.

From the waters, were protruding tall brown poles ended in a blue glass-crystal eye. Any flying insect that came close to them froze in a thin layer of ice and fall down.

At last, the moss turned black. The entire zone was overgrown by black lilies. The largest type of worms lived here, lurking in the dark, but they were hunting alone, so avoiding them wasn't a problem.

Accompanying them, were long and thin black worms entirely covered in barbs, accustomed to constricting their victims or legs of unaware adventurers and lacerating them with grievous wounds.

In the middle of a zone was a pond of black water, guarded by elementals of the same color. In the center of a pond was a massive stone sphere, with white inscriptions, but they were written in a language that neither any of the present people nor Zurnians could read.

Above it, were flying purely white, bioluminescent insects.

After that, the party entered a cave where luminous slimes lived, their appearance was like that of an egg without a shell and their taste was known to be the same. Sometimes slimes lacked the outer layer and sometimes they lacked the yolk. They lived only here and intact, were costly titbits in Zurno.

[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

Finally, the party arrived at the boss gate. It was the time for the rogue to depart. He was a great help in avoiding combat until the party arrived at their destination.

“Are you sure that you don't want to join?” - Noemi asked.

“I shouldn't go that far in the first place. It might sound improper, but I still believe that you're all going to die.” - The rogue responded. - “I will take my chance with top contenders when I earn enough cash.”

“At least, are you sure that you don't even want to introduce yourself.” - Noemi asked.

“Since you're not coming back, I assume there comes nothing bad with it.” - The rogue grunted, then removed a cloak and bowed ceremoniously. - “Voyn Aldiago, at your service.”

Voyn was a rabbit. If to ignore his pointy ears, he was only zero point six meters tall. He was twenty-three years old, but a scar on his left eye, shabby gray fur, and permanently grouchy expression made him appear like a grizzled veteran in his forties.

Voyn had a sleek, sleeveless outfit with multiple slots for handy items. It was made of exquisite black leather and was well-fitting to allow nigh-full mobility. The chest was belted from right shoulder to right waist, a strong strap was equipped in four knives, a single well-secured molotov cocktail, and several illegally acquired smoke bombs. His trousers had two side knee-pockets. In the right was a box with thief tools, in the left, were three compartments filled respectively with caltrops, oiled steel balls, and poisoned spikes.

His weapon belt held two curved, light, and thin daggers and a black pernach and on his left arm there were several spots of receding hair, which revealed traces of slash wounds.

“Glad to know you.” - Noemi bowed her head. - “Thank you for all of your assistance, Voyn.”

Voyn half-smirked then shouted to his former employer. - “Boy, our contract is over. Good luck. See you, If you make it!”

Arath turned, simply saying. - “Bye.” - He didn't appear like he cared a lot.

“Okay, I must be going, before the night falls.” - Voyn called. - “Bye to you all.”

“Good luck with finding a skilled party!” - Noemi shouted and waved, right as Voyn was leaving.

[ ––––––––– ֎ Day 87 ––––––––– ]

The party took a final rest, making sure that everyone is at their full strength for the boss. They discussed the strategy, which was Noemi distracting the boss, and others attacking with grenades. If that didn't work, the girl would plant the bomb, switch the fuse and run.

In the beginning, everyone would be close to Augmi, who would distribute alchemical items. Everyone got one portion of echeveria powder, Noemi got cyclopean-stalker liver oil, which granted a small level of thermoception and everyone without goggles got eyedrops that prevented irritants. On top of that, Noemi would get to drink a durability infusion, which would allow her to last in the fight longer without great fatigue.

The party put out the lanterns, in case there is some combustible gas or substances inside. The gate had a double doors, so everyone moved inside and Noemi read the ancient symbols.

“Four on six people. Can enter.” - She translated, then instructed. - “We need to rotate this.” - She pointed at an annular lever. - “Ready?”

Everyone nodded as agreed earlier, so Noemi turned the lever.

[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

The inside was a forty meters wide, twenty meters tall cavern made of brown rock and solid dirt. Numerous pillars, lone rocks, stalactites, and stalagmites were densely scattered throughout the chamber.

Everyone's nostrils were struck by a horrible odor, which resembled a combination of rotting flesh and feces.

As Noemi trod onward, soft splats could be heard underneath her sandals, since the entirety of the floor was coated in thick, gelatinous liquid.

The room was dark, but sparse bioluminescent gray and brown polypores provided weak, dim light in shades of white and orange.

Tikan silently lifted his lantern, then moved it next to Augmi, who lit it, since she judged the air around to not be inflammable. Tikan moved his arm towards the center of the room, illuminating it with a red light.

A huge, eight-meters tall, cubical creature made of slimy substance was revealed. It was composed of biological material similar to semi-translucent gelatin that owed its hue to a combination of blood mixed with wet excrement. Tones of color ranged from darker shades of yellow, green, and standard brown, to less common orange and red.

That gigantic chunk of filth had eight tentacles, which were resting at the ground and were inserted inside tunnels that led to rat lair-habitats. In series of subsequent pulses of jelly, dozens of vermin corpses leisurely drifted through the goo, towards the monster's acid core.

The idle giant appeared to ignore the presence of intruders, so they had time to apply eyedrops and lit a second miniature lantern, attached near the lizard's belt.

The preparation was interrupted by Noemi's alarmed whisper. - “Shit...”

Under her feet, a thin layer of yellow mist began to appear. Augmi quickly distributed echeveria powder to the entire party, who as soon as they were done, swiftly yet carefully moved onward, preparing their grenades.

Noemi stepped a few meters in front of the group, concentrated on the task of intercepting the attacks and distracting the monster.

Three bombs were thrown and landed deep inside the monster's outer sludge-like mantle. Although violent explosions removed large chunks of foul flesh, the creature transferred another section of her body to fill the gaps, growing just inconsiderably smaller in the result.

“It won't work.” - Augmi uttered. She was shocked by the colossal size of the creature.

“How can anyone possibly think of beating that!?” - Tikan responded in a nervous tone.

Everyone was aware of the fact that the creature didn't even compare to bosses of the first layer, disproportion in terms of difficulty was enormous. It was like this single dungeon wasn't supposed to be conquered anymore.

A large, egg-shaped missile, previously stored inside the gelatinous cube, was shot at Noemi. The girl immediately responded to an attack by hiding her entire silhouette behind a shield, drops of corrosive liquid splattered all around her. She could see how bubbling fluid drilled porous gaps in the ground, turning it into white vapor.

“It's safer if we spread! We must detonate the bomb, there's no other choice.” - Noemi shouted, taking a lead.

Just before the party split, everyone tossed the second round of grenades right to the spot where acid came from. The subsequent explosion revealed a ruptured membrane of transparent, sac-like organ, from which acid spilled out straight on the floor.

It became clearly apparent that it was not enough to stop the jelly, which started to move towards Augmi. It also removed its tentacles from the holes and raised their ends.

While Noemi hurried towards the monstrosity, two slimy limbs swung at Augmi and Arath. The mouse was knocked on the ground, Arath was violently flung against a rock column. If not for the contents of his large backpack which absorbed the blow and now were mostly crushed, his spine would've been broken.

Tikan was preparing the last of his grenades and planned to pull the monster away from others.

Noemi was very close to the enemy and just freed her hands from equipment and began to extend a fuse of a bomb, but she wasn't able to finish the task. A tentacle concealed in a layer of sludge wrapped around her feet, then slammed her against the ground. Lizard's skull hit a hard surface and the female lost consciousness, then was pulled inside the enemy.

At the same time, the mouse took a few step backs, as in an attempt to flee, her all instincts told her to run and she was hopeless, but still sane parts suppressed those feelings in an attempt to save her dear friend. She was in an emotional impasse, wanting to move, but simultaneously paralyzed.

Augmi's bloodshot eyes started to tear up, as she looked in horror and finally cried out. - “SOMEONE HELP HER!”

Arath dropped an unnecessary weight, which was his backpack, and prepared a rope then tied it around the column. The boy lunged at the foe, jumped over one of its incoming tentacles, then dived into a liquid.

Slime's other, faster tentacle was coming at Tikan. It hit him in the left shoulder, splitting his skin and causing intense pain. The rat could feel and hear his cracking bones. Unresponsive limb dropped the bomb right under rat's feet. The charge exploded before Tikan could react, tearing his body apart and leaving a dark trace of charred blood in front. His body collapsed to the side of a heavier arm, it was near-instant death.

Everyone was gone. Augmi was alone and became the main target. She witnessed the event of Tikan's death with her own eyes and adrenaline rushed through her veins. She desperately started looking for a place to hide and found one behind a tall, vertical stone slab surrounded by a group of rocks.

Augmi kneeled covering hear ears and prayed, repeating - “Please don't find me. Please don't find me...”

[ ––––––––– Ϫ ––––––––– ]

Arath reached a darker spot where Noemi was located. He tried to move her immobile body, but it was too hard due to the density of the environment. Arath decided to use a pocket knife to cut the bomb off and leave it in the jelly, then grabbed the girl by the arm and dragged himself outside, along the length of tightened rope, bit by a bit.

Arath emerged from the cube of living filth and quickly shook down chunks of slime.

“Augmi!? Tikan!?” - He shouted as he couldn't see anyone and Augmi overhead him.

The mouse alchemist moved to the edge of a stone slab and signaled her location.

Arath cut off the rope that was hindering his movement and started to drag Noemi to the safe location.

At this moment, the jelly monster engulfed Tikan's corpse with its appendage and started dragging it inside the body, to later devour it.

When the tentacle next to Arath began to encircle the struggling target, Augmi knew she had to react. A grenade landed next to the slimy limb and exploded, tearing it in half right in Arath's path. The monster's mass started to shift as other arms were no longer in reach, but the mouse hurried to the boy and helped to move the unconscious girl behind a stone barrier.

“Not breathing.” - Arath hastily evaluated his patient, then removed a cuirass.

Augmi nervously started rummaging through her satchel in a search of potions, while Arath began resuscitation.

“What are you doing!?” - Augmi was shocked, she didn't understand the procedure.

“Saving a life. Be quiet and let me focus.” - Arath replied dismissively.

Hesitating, Augmi backed away, trying not to interfere.

After two series, Noemi started to cough and regained consciousness, although her vision was still blurry and the entire body was aching. The girl curled to the side and moved arms under her chest, then began the excruciating process of removing filth out of her lungs.

Noemi could again feel the taste of disgusting fluid in her mouth and had to suppress the need to vomit until she felt it's possible to breathe normally again. When it was over, the girl vomited on the floor, then lied motionless on the ground. She was out of strength to get up.

Seeing no larger complications. Arath spoke to Augmi - “You're a potion expert, I'm leaving the rest up to you.” - then peeked behind a barrier.

The monster was still regenerating, but it was a suicide mission. Arath knew that there is close to no chance that he will survive the blast, even If he menages to fully extend the fuse. It was him, or him and everyone else.

Without speaking any further words, Arath ran to a monster.

[ ––––––––– ҉҉҉҉ ––––––––– ]

Augmi gave anti-bacterial potions to her friend, then a small, exquisite, heart-shaped flask of what appeared to be water and later poured a stamina potion between lizard's lips. Next were sobering salts, followed by two healing potions.

Noemi finally opened her fatigued eyes and looked and Augmi.

“Are you feeling alright?” - Augmi asked.

“I can... barely move...” - Noemi paused and looked around. - “Where is... the mushroom boy?”

“Do you mean Arath? After helping you, he... ran to face the monster, straight away.”

“He's... too... weak.” - Noemi tried to sit, then stand up, but her limbs collapsed mid-way an attempt.

“Don't strain yourself. You can't go in this state!”

“Is Tikan aiding him?”

Augmi's expression turned sad and she averted her eyes, whispering. - “Tikan... is dead.”

“Give me... all stamina potions...” - Noemi clenched her fists and tried to stand up again, harder.

“You shouldn't...”

“Now!” - Noemi yelled with a serious expression, almost like angry at the mouse.

Augmi didn't know that side of Noemi, and was a bit scared, she obediently started handing out the elixirs.

Noemi drank the first potion, but at the moment when the alchemist was removing the second from the satchel, the jelly monster began to wildly trash at the ceiling with its tentacles. Rocks and stalactites started to fall down, around the creature and a large piece of ceiling dropped straight on Augmi, crushing her flat.

Numerous droplets of blood stained Noemi's torso and face, in a split-second after she observed her dearest friend die in front of her eyes. The only intact, still visible, part of Augmi's body was an arm that held a vial.

It was too sudden. Noemi was left immobilized in a state of shock. Her open mouth wouldn't make a sound, nor a single word would leave it. Noemi's extended arm remained in its last position, reaching for stamina potion.

Seconds have passed and Noemi tightened her shaking lips and tears started rolling down her cheeks. Noemi couldn't stand another loss. She gave up. There was no point in continuing living. Her fight was over.

[ ––––––––– Ϫ ––––––––– ]

A thundering echo penetrated the air and chunks of slime splattered everywhere, but Noemi didn't bother to care. Her pale expression was vacant and eyes appeared dead. She even ignored irregular, splatting sound that was getting closer and closer. A shadow hovered over the girl's face.

“I need your help.” - It was Arath's voice.

The girl rolled her hollow eyes to look at the boy. His outfit was still intact, but blood was trickling down his left arm. It were only scratch wounds that resulted from harsh landing, nothing that couldn't be cured with healing potions.

However, Arath's face was in worse condition. His entire left cheek was painted red. Shrapnel pierced the lens of his protective goggles and shattered it into pieces, which were now stuck inside the boy's lacerated eyeball.

Noemi momentarily sobered up, stimulated by panic, but she didn't know how to act.

Arath had to slowly, meticulously explain what needs to be done, at the same time presenting surgical tools...

[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

Arath recycled what items he could, which wasn't much considering that Augmi's corpse was irretrievable. Beneath the sludge where remnants of boss were located, a steel section of floor retracted, revealing spiral stone stairs.

Nobody had a desire to discuss events of the past or say anything at all. The duo of survivors simply traveled downstairs. Noemi was in a bad state, both mentally and physically. She had an exhausted, gloomy expression and bags under her eyes. The girl moved shield on her back and hugged her spear with crossed arms, unable to cope.

After removal of the lost eye, Arath's face was wrapped in a bloodied bandage, but he remained as cold and uncaring as usual.

The party found themselves in a room with two fountains-statues. One was resembling Noemi in a kneeling position, with water running down her cheeks, as If to portray tears. The second was resembling Arath, clenching his chest near the heart area, with an expression of anguish and water trickling down his lips, as If the statue was bleeding from the mouth.

In front of the room, behind the statues, was an ornamented gate with decorations in form of silver vines and leaves.

In the rewards chests next to the statues, Arath had found a standard-tier claw weapon that looked like a single drill attached to a glove.

Noemi received a mythic tier accessory again. This time in form of a fashionable black hairpin in the shape of an eastern dragon. It created an invisible spherical area that prevented any of the lowest level divination spells.

At the rear of the room, were two identical rooms. They were bathrooms with soft, white towels hanging on steel pegs and running hot water. Behind these rooms was an air-conditioned cavity with an oval, cradle-like, stone bed overgrown by a layer of thick and comfortable moss.

Arath was about to separate, but Noemi stopped him for a brief moment, asking. - “You won't break the contract and abandon me?”

“No.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise.”

“You will not die. That's what it requires. That's the weight of your own words.”

Arath wanted to say that everybody dies at some point, but he kept his tongue in check.