As I charge the thing I bring Blitz down low, and as I get in range I swing up under Drog and cut through the bird thing's neck. The head and Drog go tumbling away as the body drops to the ground. I walk over and pry the beak apart to free Drog.

"Are you okay?"

Drog says "Yes, master. Thank you, master."

"How did it sneak up on you?"

Drog says "I don't know, I didn't sense it until it attacked."

"Well, if you are going to explore, be careful. There may still be more of them."

Drog growls and says "I hope there are!"

"If you kill any, bring the bodies back."

As Drog stalks off looking for revenge I set about butchering the one at my feet while Ruby keeps watch. When I pull out its beast core and clean it off I hand it and two more from my bag to Ruby.

"Here, absorb these if you can."

Ruby gives me a strange look as I hand them to her. She absorbs them without any problems and I sigh.

Ruby says "What?"

"I can't absorb beast cores anymore."

Ruby says "Why not?"

"I think it is because I am a demon now, I probably can only absorb demon cores."

Ruby says "Those are going to be kind of hard to come by."

"I know!"

I return to searching the ruins with Ruby watching my back. As I am shifting a pile of rubble I come across a small piece of glass. The fact that it was buried in rocks and doesn't have a scratch on it peaks my curiosity.

'Observe!'

*MAGIC ITEM*

Glass of Seeing

Reveals what is Hidden

Putting the glass up to my eye I take a look through it at Ruby. Through it I can see an aura around Ruby that I am guessing identifies her as a spirit. I then start looking all around with the glass and I see two areas that glow, one is in the ruins and the other is on the cave wall.

Heading over to the one in the ruins first I can make out a rectangle that is glowing and to the side a tiny spot that also glows. Pushing the tiny spot with a claw rewards me with a click and the secret compartment opening. Inside is a beautiful axe made of a black metal I don't recognize.

When I lift the axe out I am surprised at the weight which makes me think this is adamantite or something similar. From the design it looks to be meant to be a two-handed axe but for me it is too small for that. Meaning it was made for a smaller being that was very strong, again making me think of dwarves.

'Observe!'

*ITEM*

Adamantium Axe

Damage +10

Durability 998/1000

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Observe has progressed to level 9!

Observe

Level 9

Int +9

You can identify items with study.

Not enchanted but with the material and craftsmanship it easily could be. For now I put it in my bag, a good axe could come in handy. I scan the rest of the ruins before I check the spot on the cave wall.

Before I head over I hear a scraping sound coming from one of the tunnels. A minute later Drog comes backing out of the tunnel dragging a dead bird thing. He has several almost healed wounds, looks like the bird thing put up a decent fight. I walk over to stand next to Drog.

"Good boy!" and I ruffle his fur.

He looks pleased and his tail starts wagging, then he realizes and growls and moves away from me. I start butchering the bird thing and as I work I toss some of the choice bits to Drog, he snatches them out of the air and wolfs them down.

"How are the tunnels?"

Drog says "It is a maze in there, looks like the tunnels go on for miles. And they mostly go deeper."

"Ugh, I don't want to spend days exploring!"

Ruby says "So don't. We can leave. We know how to get back here if you really want to, later."

"True. I am really sick of being underground."

I walk over to the cave wall that hides the secret and using the glass after a minute I find the rock switch to open it. I push on the rock and a section of the wall swings open. It reveals a spiral staircase going down, I lean out to look, but I can't see the bottom.

With the secret door open a steady wind of hot dry air is pouring out of it. Wherever it goes is probably not a very pleasant place, so I push the rock again and the door swings closed. I will come back at some point to explore but not right now.

With my mind made up I slip the glass into my bag and walk back to the river. I wait for Ruby and Drog to return to the amulet and Blitz before I dive back in and resume my journey downriver. I swim along with the current wanting to get outside faster.

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Swimming has progressed to level 7!

Swimming

Level 7

Str +7 End +7 Cold Resist +7 Hold Breath: End Stat x 2 Minute.

You are a strong swimmer.

After swimming along for about a half hour I again see light above the water ahead. Again I swim to the side and grab a rock to hold position as I raise my head above water. After so long underground the sunlight is blinding but wonderful to see at the same time.

*DING*

Congratulations! You have completed a quest!

Escape the Sewers.

Objective: Survive and find a way to escape the sewers.

Reward: 10 STAT Points.

'Finally!'

I pull myself up onto the riverbank and stand with my arms spread just enjoying the sunlight hitting me. As my eyes adjust and I can see the beautiful blue sky I start to weep with relief and joy. Then I feel like someone punches me in the back and I hear a human voice.

Hunter says "Ha! Got him!"

I feel myself falling forward and darkness awaits me. My last thought before darkness engulfs me is of Ruby!