Outside of Theryn's cavern, it was pitch black. Only a few mana crystals, which protruded from the highest walls, faintly illuminated the gloomy atmosphere. The smell, however, was drier, and no moisture could be detected, as if they were gradually approaching the surface.
Theryn's steps were as silent as a cat's. With each step, only the sound of his walking stick touching the ground could be heard.
Kaen continued at a slow pace, following his guide and looking around.
He did not know Theryn, and he could not trust him. He claimed to know the way out, but, given his unstable mind, it was possible that he was luring him into a trap so that he could study his body as he did those of magical beasts.
With his new sword, the best option was to find more scorpids and collect more Fragments of Mana to acquire new abilities.
If the beast called Cravenn really existed and matched Theryn's description even remotely, it would take more than a rusty sword to defeat it.
Kaen and Teryn passed through several tunnels and burrows. They walked past steep cliffs and slopes, skirting rock faces that were ready to collapse. There were no signs of civilization at those depths; no one had passed that way in years. Not even scorpids or other minor magical beasts were to be found.
Kaen no longer wore the sword on his belt; he clutched it in his hand. One had to be ready to fight at any moment.
Teryn asked Kaen to tell him more about why he had gone to the abandoned part of the mine and how he had discovered that he had acquired the power of the Void. The old alchemist obviously did not know how the Void System worked, but he was intrigued. Whenever the Void was mentioned, he started talking about old myths and legends and ancient gods who were constantly at war with each other.
These speeches were very similar to those the Void itself told its bearer in that strange place, far removed from time and space.
Kaen's account was limited to recounting the death of his brother and the injustices he had endured during his lifetime. He also told Theryn about the Archmage and the mutant wizard he had to mutilate and defeat in order to escape the square alive. He said no more. He didn't mention the strange cultists with symbols carved into their flesh or Nihra.
"Here we are. We are almost there. Be careful where you step; the ground may be slippery from this point on. And be quiet."
Therin slowed his pace, indicating for Kaen to follow his lead. They skirted another wall, walked on old tracks to cross a collapsed bridge, and stopped behind a large rock before the hollow widened.
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[WARNING]
[Hostile presence detected]
[Mana Density Nearby: HIGH]
[Recommended action: avoid fight]
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"I can't" thought Kaen, responding in his mind to the words that appeared on the HUD. "I can't avoid the fight, and I can't go back. If what you told me is true and you want me to end magic in this miserable world, then I have to get out of here!"
Kaen realized that what Theryn had told him was true. Someone or something was hiding in the hollow, with so much mana that a flashing danger symbol appeared on the HUD.
Theryn began rummaging through his bag and pulled out two spherical objects wrapped in large brown leaves. "These are mixtures directly from my supplies. I only have two. The materials needed are rare. They contain Myrralux root, Darkveil moss, and Skarnite powder" he continued.
Kaen looked at him with a confused expression.
"They are similar to the explosive I used to ward off the scorpids, but they are more powerful due to the Skarnite's amplifying effect" the alchemist explained. "Each of these can stun and frighten a minor magical beast. I don't know if the effect applies to a monster like the Cravenn, though. We'll soon find out!"
Theryn was definitely excited to face what he had called the 'beast', the reason why no one dared approach the exit of the old abandoned mine.
"An ointment! Tell me you have an ointment for the blade of my weapon" Kaen urged.
"An ointment? No, I don't have any ointment, but you can rub Darkveil moss on the blade. It repels magical creatures, and it will stick to the blade because of the rust. I'm sure it will increase the weapon's damage."
Kaen took the piece of moss and followed Theryn's instructions, applying it to the rusty sword.
He slowly leaned forward and peered over the rock behind which they were hiding.
Above them, thin rays of light streamed in through fractures in the rocks of the half-cracked ceiling of a large, circular room. The room's floor and walls were covered in mud, excrement, and the remains of bones and rotting flesh.
At the back of the room, a large, circular opening had been carved into the rock.
In front of the opening slept an abominable creature. Judging by the nearby animal remains, the creature must have recently consumed its meal.
If that was indeed the correct exit, it could only be behind the opening. The tunnel guarded by the huge beast could represent a new beginning.
Despite his excitement at seeing the creature alive, Theryn held his breath, remained silent, and made way for Kaen. He grabbed one of his alchemical bombs and began to move forward, being careful where he placed his feet.
The mud and stinking mush on the ground had formed such a thick layer that it was difficult to move and impossible to see what was below.
With a sword in one hand and a bomb in the other, Kaen stared at the monster and activated Null Sense.
When he saw the amount of mana circulating in the Cravenn's body, a shiver ran down his spine. The blue filaments were so dense that they were indistinguishable in the mass of mana stretching across the beast's abominable body.
-------------------------------------
[WARNING]
[Hostile presence detected]
[Recommended action: avoid fight]
-------------------------------------
Theryn followed Kaen from a distance, one step after another.
The old alchemist slowly sank his feet into the mud, trying not to make a sound.
Meanwhile, Kaen gripped his sword with the blade facing down. Although the Cravenn's body was not clearly distinguishable from its position during sleep, he could still make out the head.
The monster's head resembled that of a gigantic leech. Gill-like slits exhaled boiling air on the sides of its long, black, scaleless neck. In the same rhythm, its spine-covered back rose and fell.
Kaen pointed the sword blade toward the monster's head, ready to stab it.
Suddenly, a wooden sound rumbled through the cave. Theryn's staff had struck something on the ground, perhaps a bone buried in the mud.
At that exact moment, two small blue eyes opened on Cravenn's slimy neck.