Preview: “So, which one are you going to pick?” The darkness seemed to stop stirring as the trio felt tense and their breathing stopped for a moment, unsure of what to choose.
“So, what now? Where are we going to find a hundred demons to feed this little thing you chose? Dumbass.” He spouts curses at the stupid centipede coiled around Sunirae.
Pendra retorted by saying it's easy to find and hunt a hundred demons. “But, what kind of demon blood do we feed it to incubate the egg?” Yhaele asked a crucial question as the trio fell silent.
The trio came back to the Second Level of Hell that they are familiar with the moment their negotiation ended. Sunirae ended up choosing the Cockroach King’s egg due to his persistent persuasion. His argument stated that cockroaches would greatly assist them in their hunting, especially scouting new places and no need to risk their lives by doing it themselves. His argument was accepted by the silly sunflower as she also felt that, indeed, they were in great danger.
Ever since they came to the Second Level of Hell, they had encountered many strange and unexplainable events. And most of these events are greatly dangerous and they almost lost their lives on a few occasions. Just like the recent event of the encounter with Pizon, a natural-born Lord.
Yhaele also asked for some plant or fiber-like materials to hold his weapons and armaments in order to not trouble Sunirae to hold them all the time. And now, two crimson-red and crude short spears make a cross sign behind his back as they are placed there. While the two sets of Soleis Daggers he had were respectively placed on his hips and his calves through the use of vine-like objects. These few conveniences weren’t relevant to Athor so he just gave them away for free.
After everything was over, the surroundings distorted for a moment and everything went back to normal. Although they felt that it was but an illusion, cold hard facts slapped them in their faces as Sunirae’s vines gripped on a small box containing the egg of the Cockroach King.
And now, here we are. The trio is in a dilemma as they brainstormed about how to gather the blood of hundreds of demons in a short amount of time and rush down to descend in floors and gain more power.
They realized that they couldn’t dilly dally anymore even though they just arrived in the 2nd Level of Hell for not long. “Artho didn’t specify it. And he didn't say that we needed 100 different kinds of demon blood to hatch this thing. So, I suggest we go out and explore to hunt more prey and strengthen ourselves. And at the same time, we’ll try to gather more information about where the Gate leading towards the 3rd Level of Hell is located.” Pendra said with pauses in between.
The two didn't have any disagreements knowing the predicament they are currently in. Yhaele was filled with anticipation about the descent as he only heard about it from the two. In his opinion, descending seems to be a choice closest to achieving his goals. It involves the principles of traveling through different realms and at the same time, strengthening.
“In that case, let's go!” Sunirae picked up the two of them and carried them somewhere again. Thankfully, this time, there was no strange event of them being pulled into a weird place or space like that jungle from earlier.
They landed outside a cave located in a volcanic landscape and noticed the surroundings are quite different from usual. As the place was filled with small caves and small pairs of red eyes flashed from them, looking greedily at the trio who rudely barged in.
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Sunirae was overjoyed as they quickly solved their problem “Aha! See? We’re finally getting lucky and getting what we want!” She was filled with joy as there were more than just a hundred caves and that means enough blood for the egg.
Pendra clacked in agreement but Yhaele was being a killjoy by pouring cold water on their wishful thinking and fantasies “Who said the blood of a hundred demons can hatch it? What if we have to hunt a hundred types of demons? And how exactly are we going to get precise and accurate information about the 3rd Gate from these clueless demons?”
Sunirae let out a soft chuckle that echoed directly in everyone’s mind “Then we just have to hunt a hundred types of demons! And have I never told you? I can swallow the souls of my prey and read through their memories, even if they are fragmented. And, as you mentioned way back. Demon races who tend to gather together and form large groups have a certain history, so they might possess the knowledge that we’re looking for. As long as we keep trying, we’ll definitely achieve our two current goals in a short amount of time with our traveling speed and efficiency.”
She was happy and mimicked the robed figure, Artho’s habit of chuckling. She thought that by doing so, she’d seem more intelligent and dominant. And she was indeed intelligent, she made the plan on the spot as she reminisced about the information she previously took in. Especially that precious data regarding Flaming Salamanders. It was about how they had an ancestor or Lord that managed to descend. So, her deduction isn't without any point and truth and indeed, they could start by hunting large demon races for information and nourishment.
Pendra was inwardly sneering at the stupid ugly thing. And Yhaele shut his mouth as he couldn’t find any words of rebuttal. He couldn’t deny that the silly sunflower is making lots of sense right now and he could only go along with her thoughts, just like last time. But this time, with less risk and a more concrete plan.
The trio turned to look at the caves and saw the creatures hidden inside reveal themselves fully. Bodies of volcanic rocks and searing heat emanated from their igneous bodies. They looked as though they were part of the volcanic mountain, but as the magma blocks. The entire volcanic mountain only looks like a volcano due to the crater at the peak but it was a dormant volcano.
And on the mountain, sharp and tall rocks form spire-like structures where the golem-like demons live.
“Clack. Master, they don't seem to have any blood.” Pendra didn't say much but pointed out the obvious because he knew that speaking more than necessary would just jeopardize his job as a slave.
She agrees by swaying her leaves and stem and a certain smell permeates the air “Ah, how nostalgic. And yes, you’re right Pendra. But I guess we can still wring out the nutrients from within their bodies. Just like those bastards, Rock Demons.”
Yhaele could sense the hidden malice in those words despite the bright and cheery tone of Sunirae. Pendra agrees by a clack and the surrounding golem-like demons take steps forward to enclose them and cut off their escape route.
The one closest opened its barely visible mouth shape in what seemed to be its face and spoke “Why hath thou trespassed our lands, outsider? Thou desire punishment and death, and offer yourself to us politely?”
The surrounding golems laugh their ass out as their most articulate kin mocked these lowly and inferior beings that appeared out of nowhere. They were certain that they had the high ground, considering the geographical advantage, their population and the enemy number.
Sunirae inwardly let out a chuckle as she couldn’t help but reminisce about the past even though it just happened months ago. Same words, same lines, these stupid rocks never change. Just their vocabulary improved but that's it.
She was in a great mood because she couldn’t finish the Rock Demon race that inhabits the 1st Level of Hell. And here, she could wipe them out and annihilate existence from this Level and turn them into dust of history. And this time, she knew and had the means to deal with them, unlike her first encounter with similar beings. The only difference between these Rock Demons from the ones above is that these ones seem hotter and tougher. They should be called Magma Rock Demons. She randomly came up with a name for the entire race as her roots and vines wordlessly moved out. Creeping towards their own targets and robbing them of their lives.
Pendra jumped down and swam underground like a fish in the water. Occasionally appearing and opening a hole in a golem’s body and destroying it from the inside. Searing white liquid objects kept dropping to the ground, creating holes and melting large parts of the land.
Screams sounded as the Magma Rock Demons were caught totally unawares of the predicament they find themselves in. Who would’ve thought that these tiny and weak creatures are actually this strong and aggressive?!
The fight took place in an instant as sounds of rock pounding and sizzlings echoed throughout the place. It was so intense as though two different kinds of armies were fighting on a battlefield even though the participants were only a small sunflower, a centipede, and a Predator against an entire race of demons.