The tunnel network below the city turned out to be larger than the group had anticipated. As far as Zeke could understand, the area only had one entrance and exit, however, the territory in between the two appeared to be incredibly vast and complex. A series of tunnels dug out by the monsters inhabiting the caverns of the Undercity, a sprawling ecosystem over a hundred kilometers in diameter.

“How do the knights not know about this?” Zeke pondered.

As the group continued their travels in pitch black darkness, fewer and fewer screams could be heard in the distance. The deeper they delved, the less alive contestants they would come across on their journey and the more corpses they would find along the way.

The tunnels were malformed, filled with rubble and twisted, intertwined trees. One would think that no vegetation should be able to survive in such a dark place, but alas, nature always finds a way. After hell’s seal broke, many invasive species of plants made their way into the human world. Seeds were often transferred by demonic beasts. And upon their arrival and injection into the soil, they would sprout, often finding the human realm more habitable than their original home. Here they would nurture making their new homes, joining together into sprawling habitats, creating a diverse new ecosystem, an ecosystem that was not suitable for humans.

Elaine had glow sticks packed in her bag. The glow sticks the group used to see where they were going. However, soon the sticks ran out and the team once again found themselves submerged in unnerving darkness.

“How long have we been down here?” asked Elaine, wiping beast-blood off her left cheek.

“About a week,” Ulmak answered while cleaning his weapon.

“Shhhhh, they’re coming,” Zeke said, pointing his finger towards a series of tunnels on his right.

“Do you see them?” Ulmak asked.

“No, they’re underground. I can hear them moving, numbering about 50,” Zeke replied with a grim expression.

“Crawlers?” Elaine sighed.

“No, Creeping Weepers,” Zeke replied, tearing a piece of fabric into smaller pieces.

“What do we do?” Ulmak asked.

“Stuff this in your ears and light that thing on fire. You need to be able to see them to fight,” Zeke explained, handing small pieces of rags to Ulmak and Elaine, and pointing towards a twisted dead tree positioned directly behind them.

“How big?” Elaine asked with a worried expression.

“About the size of a rottweiler,” Zeke responded.

Suddenly, a group of creatures sprung out from the ground, releasing a loud piercing screech, rushing towards the group. They appeared like 8 limbed hounds with 8 large, jagged claws on each on each limb. Their maws appeared large and misshaped, with many teeth pointing outwards. Their skin was gray, hard, hairless, and veiny.

Their terrifying screams echoed throughout the caverns, reaching even the ears of those who were miles away.

Ulmak lit a match and threw it at the dry tree, which immediately lit on fire. There were many dry trees in the area, but the tree that Ulmak lit belonged to a specific species. A species that, upon its decomposition, converts its sap into a flammable gasoline-like material.

In a flash, the tree burst into flames, frightening the creeping weepers. Elaine used their disarray as an opportunity to strike. She charged at the beasts, striking one with her fists, and kicking another in the ribs, taking the two creatures out of commission. Her hand-to-hand combat style proved highly effective against the creatures’ tough hide, which made them almost impervious to bladed weapons.

Ulmak picked up his spear, the tip covered with a wooden log making it into a makeshift mallet and swung at the Weepers with devout intensity. The beasts growled in anguish, their bodies becoming twisted and mangled in the fight.

Zeke picked up dry branches, lighting them on fire and tossing them at the Weepers, frightening the creatures of the dark. Elaine would use this opportunity to strike the creatures down, stunning them and throwing them to the ground. Ulmak would finish the grounded creatures off with ease by using his mallet and smashing them until they were almost ground into dust.

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As the group used this method to fight off most of the pack, their muddy blue blood colored the ground beneath, coating the air a certain lightly acidic taste.

However, the victory proved hard earned. Elaine and Ulmak were left completely drained, covered in blood and sweat, barely able to keep their composure. Even though the danger had already passed, their tired eyes remained blood shot and their hands would not cease shaking.

Without his companions noticing, Zeke hastily packed their belongings and quietly approached them. As Zeke inched closer, Ulmak, fueled by his instinct alone, raised his weapon without looking, stopping his attack mid-swing just as it was about to hit the boy.

“Oh, sorry about that, I thought you were one of those rats,” he expressed with a tired expression.

Zeke sighed.

“Let’s get going. Creatures far more dangerous, often get attracted by their screams,” Zeke said while handing Ulmak his backpack.

The group ventured forth, picking up dry pieces of firewood on their way. Traveling into a barren zone with no vegetation. Filled to the brim with the bitter smell of sulfur which carried with it a certain sense of unease.

“What is this place?” Elaine asked, visibly anxious.

“A graveyard,” Ulmak responded with a somber expression.

“What?!” Elaine stumbled in shock.

“This place was once filled with Fuego trees. For years, they blossomed here until eventually they all withered away, turning into countless flammable carcasses that eventually caused this entire region to burn. Leaving behind only ash and soot.” Zeke explained as he touched the ground, caressing it with his fingers.

“How do you know all of this?” Elaine wondered.

Zeke turned around and looked Elaine directly in the eyes.

“I’m just a hopeless nerd,” he giggled with a warm smile.

“I guess you are,” she smiled back,

And even though the two didn’t notice, Ulmak smiled as well.

The group continued venturing deeper into the Fuego graveyard until they reached a dead end.

“We can settle here,” Zeke said, pointing towards a large open area.

The group set up their camp. Ulmak prepared firewood and lit a campfire. Elaine assmbled the tents, while Zeke butchered the carcasses of beasts the group brought along.

“Are you sure that’s safe to eat?” Elaine wondered, glaring over at Zeke.

“Yeah, as long as I cut out the poison glands properly,” Zeke replied.

“And if you don’t’?” Elaine wondered.

“What?” Zeke paused, pretending to not understand what she meant.

“Cut it correctly,” Elaine explained.

“Then we die,” Zeke giggled while continued to work.

Elaine leaped up.

“I’m kidding,” Zeke giggled. “These beasts are susceptible to fire. So, all the poison remaining in the flesh should become neutralized when we cook it. Besides, it’s not strong enough to actually kill you,” Zeke paused in thought. “I guess It’d give you some diarrhea for a couple of days,” He explained.

Elaine released a sigh of relief and continued placing the tent covers on top of the metals rods she preciously screwed together.

Once Zeke finished butchering the beasts, he chopped the meat up into fine pieces. He made a stew by mixing the pieces with water and herbs he had gathered along the way.

“It’s so good!” said Elaine after trying the food.

“I’m glad you like it!” Zeke replied with a warm smile.

Ulmak’s face took on a serious expression.

“I don’t get it…” he said in a serious tone.

“What? What’s wrong?” Zeke questioned.

“In my life, I’ve met many contractors, yet almost none were as exceptional and knowledgeable as you. I do not understand how you are yet to receive a contract. Demons should be lining up to make you their inheritor.” Ulmak explained.

Zeke’s face took on a sad expression.

“To be frank, I don’t know. I’ve done everything I could. I trained until I couldn’t stand. And studied until I couldn’t think. But no matter what I did, I never received a contract. Maybe, It’s because I’m weak. After all, demons do value combat ability over all else,” Zeke explained, while poking the fire with a sick.

Elaine gently tapped Zeke’s shoulder.

“Me and you. We are a lot more alike than I at first would have liked to admit. I have been trying my best to become a contractor. But no matter how strong I got; I just couldn’t do it. I need to become a contractor. I must become a contractor. There’s something… Something that was taken from me and I need to become strong enough to get it back.” Elaine said with strong determination in her eyes.

“You two are exceptional. I’m sure that the three of us will be able to reach the king of contractors together.” Ulmak said with a warm smile.

“What about you?” Zeke asked. “From what I can tell, you’re already a contractor. Why do you want to meet the king?”

Ulmak’s gaze became vacant.

“You see, I am a prideful warrior. Unlike you, I had no issues becoming a contractor. But I have been unable to grow ever since. They say the contractor king is able to see the shape of one’s soul. I want to know what he sees when he looks into mine. What shape will it take? Will I be able to summon it if I know what it is?” Ulmak pondered.

“I think… It’s a spear,” Zeke said while looking up into darkness up above.

“Why?” Ulmak asked with a surprised expression.

“Because you remind me of one,” Zeke giggled.

Ulmak smiled.

“Maybe you’re right,” he said, peering towards the campfire.

“You see that smoke? The smoke from the campfire. It ends up rising to the top. Passing through various tunnels and crevices, pipes and ventilation tunnels and in the end, in escapes through the manhole covers. And yet no one above seems to notice or mind it, or even wonder about it’s origin. To the people residing up above, the smoke that we create here it simply doesn’t matter.” Ulmak said while looking into the distance.

“Not unless they end up choking on it,” Zeke muttered under his breath.

Ulmak started laughing uncontrollably as tears flooded his eyes.

“Alright, that settles it. I have decided. Starting from tomorrow, I will teach you how to use a spear.” Ulmak looked on as the rising smoke formed a tunnel spreading thin above the expansive cavern.

image [https://i.postimg.cc/8PKF1b59/33.png]

image [https://i.postimg.cc/Z5WW0yvR/34.png]