“Fuggrrrbgbggarrgggbbblle!” I cried out in pain underwater as I bashed my still raw leg on a piece of ripped, bent rail that perilously stuck up like a spear and the tracks and walls underwater were heavily damaged; signs of fierce battles were everywhere.

So this is how far people got to before getting savaged..or did a-

The shredded back end carcass of a train cab came into view through the murky water.

..Fuck.

Fortunately it didn’t pose much of an obstacle or rather I should say it had been ‘exploded’ to the point where it posed not much of an obstacle; the wreckage had been reduced to scraps of metal on thick axels and wheels. The water still didn’t fully reach the ceiling, leaving us a few spots to grab some fresh air, so we were not totally fucked.

#Godu# Remember Siya, if you need to breathe and there's no place to surface, tell me straight away and we'll Slipfold straight out of here and come back.

We had been swimming rapidly for maybe a couple of minutes and surprisingly I had not felt the need to surface for air yet, although I still didn’t know if that was thanks to my wing attribute or my shield.

Stamina? Endurance? Agility? Fucking one day I’ll understand it..maybe. But as long as it works that’s fine with me-

#Siya# Roggy that. I can still keep going but I'll let you know.

Visibility was abysmal although that had more to do with the particles in the water as well as not having swimming goggles to prevent the water from hitting my eyes; the water made everything blurry, and I was mentally kicking myself for not thinking about picking some up beforehand.

Would have been so useful! I even saw them in the sports shop. I hope there's a hindsight ability somewhere.. although I would hate to imagine how fucked up it would have been trying to navigate down here without my vision ability..

I was yet again extremely thankful that I wasn't trying to do all this without it, given how suffocatingly pitch black it was down here, and even though my TEFv skill lit everything up, I could still tell there was not even a single whisper of light bouncing around down here, and the exploded train carcass was just the cherry on top of the creepy atmosphere cake.

After another minute I surfaced to replenish my lungs, purely as a precaution since I was not used to being able to hold my breath for several minutes and change. I didn't know when the next air pocket was going to be and I didn't know if the pothole maggots or the Crevice Horrors could swim or live underwater.

Maggots probably can. Immortal flesh pinata scribbles?..Yeah. Probably can as well..

I kept my eyes sharply peeled.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake free from how eerie it was being underwater in the tunnel, the sounds of sloshing water rushing past my ears, the claustrophobic weight of the tunnels ceiling and all the layers above that, and then the knowledge of a whole ocean above holding the colossals was just..words could not describe it, especially ‌as we continued and experienced earth shaking rumbles and vibrations that could be heard through the water; sounds that could only be produced from frighteningly sized things.

#Siya# Godu! Look!

My heart froze briefly before kickstarting into overdrive as I snapped over to where Siya was pointing. There was so much dirt and debris clouding the water, but in the distance there was a giant yellowish circle reflecting light on the ground. It was huge. The size of a bus and for a second I thought it was some kind of giant, flourescent light bulb or one of the ‘cats eyes’ you get on roads, but then as we got closer, it blinked and started to track us.

A giant eye.

I took one look at Siya and sped on as fast as my legs and shield could carry us and didn’t look back once.

A new core nightmare…

Mercifully the eye didn’t chase us, nor did it’s owner, and there was no sign of the maggots or the horrors floating around or trying to eat my legs. Which, quite honestly is a welcome blessing. Truly.

After a few more minutes of speeding through the water at maximum pelt, we started to witness the water level dropping down until it was shallow enough for us to continue jogging through the knee high water on the side path. It was a weird sensation being able to cut through water at this speed; Siya didn’t seem to be phased by it in the slightest but for me I could remember when wading through water would be a mildly exhausting and resistive task, but presently it was like running through tall grass.

Thank fuck for that..please no more flooded tunnels or giant eyes please and thank you in advance.

The potholes returned as the water receded, still heavily infested our route and forcing us to take slow and steady care, and the cracks in the walls most certainly had more unfriendly inhabitants in them that would silently peel themselves out after we ran past, but we stayed calm and kept steady..

We are so damned close. SO CLOSE!

They would sometimes fall into potholes themselves, writhing and unleashing terrible noise as they were devoured–apparently their only weakness–and the ascending sounds of bellowing alien trumpets accompanied the scratching and tapping of hundreds of inhuman footsteps as we rushed through the suffocating tunnel, the din ascending in volume until it reached a hurrican level of bone shaking noise.

A normal human being would have shat and or pissed their pants, the soul leeching sight of a flood of alien and unnatural horrors casually jogging and lumbering after us would have broken down most on the spot, if only from the cacophony of sound alone, but we were not normal in the slightest and we pressed on with fierce determination and purpose. We were two spirits, technically 4, on a mission to survive and we were bloody well going to make it through HELL or HIGHWATER.

A bright white singularity winked into existence far beyond.

“The exit! Siya! Do you see it!” I cried out in jubilant celebration. “HAAAAHA! DO YOU BLOODY SEE IT! DO YOU-”

*BRRR-JRRRRR*

My shields unexpectedly juddered and slammed protectively into my back in the same split second I felt a spike of panic course through my nerves-

*CRRRRACK*

A deafening splintering and crunching assaulted my ears and something extremely dense and heavy slammed into my back, sending me hurtling forward, bouncing off the wall and sliding on the floor.

#Siya# NOOO!

You have been hit by [Pothole Pupae] with [Crysallis Crush] for 608 damage and have been stunned for 5 seconds.

#Siya# Get UP Godu! The walls are falling apart! THEY are coming! You must Jump! Get out of here! GO!

“TRRRRLLLL” Siya screeched a war-trill in the distance, my vision swam and I shook my head and groaned as my body struggled to catch up with the assault I’d just experienced. My vision was flickering between pitch black and the dull neon-coloured, night vision ability; my mind was spinning like a vortex.

Wha…ugh..

Label: Pothole Pupae

MAGN: ???

Notes: Didn’t really think about the next stages of evolution huh? Here’s a good ol’ slapping reminder that Darwin was right.

Hmm, I wonder if humans can metamorphose into cocoons now too..

After a few seconds my mind fell back into place and my eyes widened in realisation. I jumped to my feet and cried out as I fell down on a broken leg that was completely numb but my ribs and back were in agony. I caught myself on my broken hands and shattered knees and looked up with gritted teeth.

What I could see was a huge train cart sized insect, covered in pale pink, thick looking chitinous plating like a cocoon, but it’s features and legs were defined and frightening, giving it the look of a pissed off insect, and it was smashing into ‌walls and other monsters as it thrashed about, raging at the intrusion of everything around it, including ourselves.

“Siya-*cough*-ack, Fuck! Ugh..SIYA!! Get around it!! Come on! You can do it! SIYA!” I spluttered up fluids and felt terrible stabbing pains in my chest and stomach, but all I could think about was the sight of Siya struggling to get to safety.

Come on, get up..help her!

Huge chunks of debris and dirt were heaping into piles and rapidly filling the tunnel, and to make matters worse, there were streams of water pouring down, steadily increasing in volume and intensity. It was clear the tunnel was done for and amongst this chaos was Siya getting slashed, bitten, beaten; drowning in the sheer amount of Crevice Horrors and all the other shit that blanketed her surrounding area.

I tried to find an empty spot to Slipfold to.

Anchor placement failed - obstruction.

Anchor placement failed - obstruction.

Fucking come on..FUCKING COME ON!

Anchor placement failed - obstruction.

Anchor placement failed - obstruction.

Anchor placement failed - obstruction.

Anchor placement failed - obstruction.

Argh!

My mind was running into overdrive, manically praying Siya could get a lucky break and just slip away as I frantically tried to get a placement but the fucking giant bug was going apeshit and kept blocking my line of sight. Meanwhile Siya had attempted dozens of escape and flight attempts, only to be yanked back down by the flood of horrors or blocked by the hulking pupates mass.

She caught my gaze and I could see the fear in her eyes, the fear of dying and being alone. It was the last thing I saw as she wrapped herself in her cloak-wings and became buried under the writhing sea of monsters.

All I could do was crouch there in stupid shock as everything went to absolute shit in mere seconds.

This can’t be happening.

#Siya# Godu..Ugh..I’m..sorry-

THIS IS NOT HAPPENING.

#Siya# Please..I'll find..another…..

…

#Godu# No Siya!..Siya?? SIYA?!

DAMN IT ALL TO FUCKING HELL! SEREN! IMMO! PLEASE, HELP US!

Warning. Extreme levels of-

DON’T FUCKING CARE. DO IT. AND-

[I Blood Wrath] activated (-25% HP).

Slipfold tether point deployed.

GODUYNE

STRY.KYR - MAGN.81.999

HP 506 / 1620

MP 900 / 1887

EP 20%

DS 0%

SWRD 99 (124)

SHLD 100 (125)

FTHR 117 (146)

GLYP 133 (166)

My shields detached and burst into an azure and black slurry that constructed Seren in her daemon form, whilst simultaneously a wave of white and blue beads burst from my entire body and swirled into a pile, solidifying into Immo’s wolf body.

The exertion and pain made me howl with rage as my muscles tensed violently with explosive strength and I felt something brace and hold together all my broken bones forcibly, with a few shots of potent pain relief and a splash of rage fuelled energy dumped into my bloodstream to top it all off.

Seren: Come, WOLF. Time to earn our keep!

Immo: Ha! And earn it we shall, DAEMON.

“BLARGGHHHHHH!” My mind went into basic primitive mode as I unleashed a warcry.

There was no need to communicate instructions or intentions, they knew what we had to do. Blood dripped out of my nose and ears as a migraine slammed into my skull, but I ignored it as the rush from blood wrath injected every cell in my body with ignited energy.

We charged as one.

Immo was the quickest by far and managed to slip between an impossible to predict series of gaps that the massive bug left as it bucked and slammed its heavily armoured carapace into the horrors and tunnel walls. She disappeared and dove into the writhing mass like she was a searing hot knife diving into black snow.

Seren charged into the pupae like a midnight black knight on a crusade, her kite shields doing no visible damage to the huge bug, but with a terrible synth growl and printer grinding noise, she miraculously halted its rampage.

Seren: Ugh. Phew! Move quickly darling! It is somewhat incredibly strong!

Immo: There! I've found her! HURRY GODU!

"ARRRRROOOOOO!"

As I sprinted forward, there was a thunderous howl and a sphere of whisper thin white plasma exploded out and rapidly expanded through everything, harmlessly passing me as I dropped down and slid underneath Seren pinning the huge insect like atlas holding up the world, but sizzling and reacting with the surface of the pupae and most of the Crevice Horrors. There were a few pothole maggots that had been forcibly unearthed from their big armoured sibling, but they were more interested in munching on some screaming scribbles, even as they became submerged in the water filled gouges and tracks.

Come on, come on! Where are-ah I see you!

I started throwing unruly punches at the grinning crayola-based cunts, sending them hurtling into walls or knocking them out cold, and I even managed to grab one and grab it by the face and took a huge bite out of where its neck was supposed to be, hurling the nightmare away as I chewed on something that tasty salty and slimy; it had the texture of uncooked chicken with the taste of heavily salted uncooked egg whites, but it did something for me as I felt a small mass drain effect trigger and repair some of the damage. The fighting continued until I cleared enough space to spot Immo furiously pouncing and tearing through the horrors in a small clearing of her own making, each swipe and charge of hers sent them flying in bits, but again, their regeneration was absurdly quick and their body parts would find each other, or just regenerate out of thin air.

Godu: I'm here! I see you!

The white wolf spun around and her thin whip-like tail sailed through the air and cracked a dozen of them away.

Immo: Take ya time huh?! Okay get ready! Here comes a big one! And I really mean just one!

She flickered a brilliant white and went supernova in the blink of an eye, exploding out a blast of subzero cold air that flash-froze everything within a dozen metres except for me and the small, beat up, unconscious cloak bundle on the floor.

Siya.

Everything went deathly still and silent, except for the screeching giant bug that was still struggling against Serens synth-grumbling and juddering frame.

Immo: That's me spent! I'm coming back! Grab her then get the heck outta here! You've got three seconds!!

Immo burst into a white mist and reabsorbed back into my body, and I ignored the extreme wave of pressure and discomfort as I jumped over to Siya and wrapped my arms around her.

“I got you Siya. I got you-” The simultaneous cracking sounds of ice prisons cracking followed by the awful trumpet screams disorientated me so much I almost forgot what to do next.

Seren: Dearest!!-UGH-DO PLEASE HURRY!

Slipfold tether point activated.

The floating watery glass orb popped into existence and I leaned into it as it engulfed us both, Slipfolding us back to the other side of the giant piece of shit cocoon-bug.

The side that would lead us out to home.

Godu: Seren! We're out! Let’s move!!

With a groan Seren broke free and with zero hesitation and with utter mechanical brutality, stomped and shield-severed several scribbly pairs of claws that tried to clutch onto her leg as she burst away from the enraged pupae and dashed towards us.

Seren: Phew..that was one BIG boy but not as-...hang on a sec, have you grown taller!? Woah, tall dark and handsome. Me likey. Raoowlll.

Seren meowed a horrifying off-pitch gritty tone at me, as she caught up and stomped alongside and I couldn't help but laugh even as I ran as fast as my ragged legs could manage whilst holding Siya and trying to dodge the potholes.

Siya was alive and was stable. And the light was only growing brighter.

Seriously Seren? Haha ahh Fuck it! You two are bloody amazing! Siyas okay! She's just beat up-woah watch out there! Careful of the-

*Squelch*

"SQUEEEEEEEE"

Seren: Ugh! I just stepped on something gross and it tried to eat my foot..Yeah we’re amazing I know I know, second time in the past week right?..ahh good times..Ughh this stuff is disgusting. I'm uhmm, coming back to base. Do you copy tall, dark, handsome base?

Haha, I sure do! My doors are always open for you! Truly, thank you both. Let me know if there's ever anything I can do to repay you.

Seren: Ohoo, dangerous words for a married man..But yeah, I'll let you know. Byeee-

She giggled as she leapt towards me and exploded into a stream of Majik and slammed into my back, returning to form my shields in config:prime.

The tunnel started collapsing more viciously behind us but we were much too far away for it to be a threat now. The light at the end of the literal tunnel was getting brighter and even though I'd nearly lost my leg and Siya, and even though I was battered, bruised, exhausted both mentally and physically and, even though I'd just traversed an entire continent full of nightmares and demonic monsters..

I grinned.

I grinned a huge stupid, happy grin, as I was about to take my very first step onto home soil.

Home soil, where my wife and child are waiting.

I couldn't help but push my wobbly legs dangerously harder as the exit to this god forsaken tunnel grew larger and larger still..until..

Sunlight. Clouds. The sky. Fresh air. The familiar cold air smell. The gusts of salty coastal winds.

Home.

I breached the tunnel exit and shivered with barely contained happiness and excitement.

Fuck yesssssssssssssssssssssss! We did it! We damn well did it!! HAHA!!

I glanced around and the new sight of posible threats and danger slapped me back down to earth.

Fuck, stay focused. Get to safety. Check over Siya. And then..bloody head home as quick as possible.

But..We bloody did it.

Yes yes YESSSSSS!

…

..

.