Chapter 11 Desperate Gambit

Iryoku adjusted the makeshift bag slung over his shoulder, the dull clinking of the children's bones accompaniment to their footsteps. Both he and Yumi paused to glance at the bag.

“We’ll make sure they rest properly,” Iryoku said quietly, his voice laced with determination. Yumi nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line.

They continued their trek through the dark tunnels, retracing their steps toward the place where their journey had taken its harrowing turn. As they walked, Yumi broke the silence.

“It’s weird,” she said hesitantly. “We didn’t see any of the monster’s hatchlings.”

Iryoku nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, I don’t feel anything nearby. Maybe the eggs broke without anything being born.”

Yumi frowned, her unease lingering. “Maybe… but it still doesn’t feel right.”

They arrived at the familiar drop—a hole in the wall leading to a seemingly bottomless fall. The sight of the dark abyss was unnerving, and the memory of their initial descent played fresh in their minds.

Iryoku peered up at the towering wall before them, where Alessandra, Reika, and Rhogan had last been seen. The hole was shrouded in shadows, distant and seemingly unreachable from their current vantage point.

“I could climb by myself and pull you up after,” Iryoku mused aloud, studying the rough surface of the wall. “But we don’t have a rope. Damn it…” He clenched his fist. “Shorty, remind me to get a rope in the future.”

Yumi puffed her cheeks indignantly and crossed her arms. “You were calling me by my name before! Why are you back to nicknames now?”

Iryoku smirked, his eyes flicking sideways to her breast. “Don’t sweat it,” he said casually, his tone teasing.

Before she could protest further, he took her hand and said, “Get on my back.”

Reluctantly, she climbed onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck and securing her legs against his sides. Her face burned as she realized just how close she was to him, her chest pressing firmly against his back with every movement.

What am I thinking? she chastised herself, shaking her head from one side to another as if trying to physically dispel the flurry of thoughts in her mind. No, no, no! I’m still hating him for being a bully to Sensei! But her face betrayed her thoughts. A deep crimson spread across her cheeks, her expression giving away the turmoil within. I still like Sensei more…

Iryoku, however, was entirely focused on the task ahead. His daggers served as makeshift climbing tools, biting into the rock as he began scaling the wall. Each pull of his arms burned with effort, and his breath grew heavier as the climb continued.

“Man,” he muttered between breaths, “you’re heavier than I thought.”

“I am not!” Yumi snapped, her cheeks puffing up in frustration.

He chuckled despite the strain. “Must be your big jugs, then.”

She glared at the back of his head. For a moment, she contemplated smacking him but decided against it, given their precarious situation. Instead, she tightened her grip and let out an exasperated huff.

After what felt like an eternity, Iryoku finally reached the top. With a final burst of strength, he propelled them out of the hole and onto solid ground. Both of them collapsed onto their knees, panting heavily.

As their breaths slowed, their surroundings came into focus. The tunnel before them bore clear signs of conflict—scratches marred the walls, debris was scattered across the ground, and the faint, acrid smell of char lingered in the air.

As they moved cautiously forward, Yumi froze, her eyes widening. “Iryoku… look!”

Lying ahead was a dead worm—a smaller version of the monstrous creature they had fought before. Its body was mangled, black ichor pooling around it. The sight sent a chill down their bones.

“Do you think there are more?” Yumi whispered, her voice tight with anxiety.

Iryoku’s grip on his daggers tightened. “we need to find the girls now.”

Yumi called out, her voice echoing down the tunnel. “Sensei! Reika!”

The silence that followed was deafening. They exchanged a tense look, the fear reflected in both their eyes.

Steeling themselves, they pressed forward, every step weighted with anticipation. Ahead, the faint light of the cave’s exit beckoned them, and they quickened their pace, tension coiling in their chests.

When they finally stepped into the sunlight, its brightness was overwhelming after so long underground. They shielded their eyes, blinking as their vision adjusted to the red morning glow.

The warmth of the sun should have been comforting, but their hearts remained heavy.

Once their vision adjusted, the scene before them sent a shiver down their spines.

Yumi frozen. Her gaze fixed on something. Iryoku's heart skipped a beat. He followed her line of sight, spotting two motionless figures lying near the edge of the forest...

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The cavern trembled with an eerie stillness after Yumi and Iryoku disappeared into the void. Alessandra stood frozen, her shield slack in her hand, as she stared at the gaping hole where the ground had collapsed.

“They are gone…” Alessandra’s voice trembled, her usual composure cracking.

Reika, stared at the hole with wide, tear-brimmed eyes. “Do you think… Do you think they’re okay?”

Alessandra clenched her teeth. “They’re strong. They’ll survive,” she said, more to reassure herself than Reika.

A low, guttural growl broke the heavy silence. Rhogan, the mighty spirit rhino, stomped a hoof against the stone floor and stepped closer to the two women, his massive frame moving protectively between them and the dark tunnel ahead.

Reika swallowed hard, her hands glowing faintly with a light spell she had cast earlier to illuminate their surroundings. “What’s happening now?”

Alessandra raised her shield and scanned the shadows. “Something’s coming. Reika, stay behind me and Rhogan.” Her tone was firm as she readied her mace.

Reika nodded, her fear giving way to determination. She adjusted her pointy hat, the gesture almost ritualistic, and took a step closer to Rhogan’s sturdy frame, the faint glow from her hands casting long shadows against the cavern walls.

Suddenly, a serpent-like creature burst from the side tunnel with shocking speed. Its serrated teeth glistened in the dim light as it launched itself toward Reika with its maw wide open.

“Reika, watch out!” Alessandra shouted, stepping between her and the worm.

The impact rattled Alessandra as the creature slammed into her shield. With a grunt, she swung her mace in a counterattack, but the worm retracted with a screech, burrowing into the ground before her strike could land.

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Rhogan growled fiercely, stomping his hooves as he charged the spot where the worm had disappeared. His massive horn struck the ground with a loud crack, but the creature was gone, leaving behind only disturbed earth.

Reika flicked her wrist to summon a burst of fire, but the sudden attack had broken her concentration, causing her light spell to fizzle out. Darkness engulfed them, and her flames barely grazed the retreating creature before sputtering out.

“I can’t cast both spells at once!” she exclaimed, frustration clear in her voice as she stumbled back, struggling to reignite the light.

The darkness began to encroach again, and Alessandra spoke under her breath. “Reika, light—now!”

Reika hastily reignited the spell, and the soft glow revealed the worst: more worms, identical to the first, slithered out from the surrounding tunnels. Their serrated teeth glinted in the light as they closed in from every direction.

“Oh no…” Reika’s voice cracked as fear took over. She stumbled back and fell on her butt, her hands trembling as the light flickered. “We’re going to die!”

“Get up, Reika!” Alessandra bellowed, her voice cutting through the panic. “I need you to fight!”

Rhogan charged again, his horn aimed at one of the creatures. He struck true, sending the worm flying back into the wall with a wet thud. But before the spirit beast could retreat, two more worms leaped onto him, their teeth scraping against his thick hide. Unable to pierce his magical armor, they hissed in frustration and burrowed back into the ground.

Reika scrambled to her feet, her breathing frantic as her mind raced. “Sensei, we can’t stay in here!” she shouted, clenching her glowing fists. We’re at a disadvantage here!. If we stay, we’re Easy prey!”

Alessandra hesitated, her gaze darting between the encroaching worms and the hole where Iryoku and Yumi had vanished.

“We can’t leave them…” Alessandra muttered under her breath, her heart torn.

“Please!” Reika pleaded, her voice trembling but determined. “We’ll come back for them. But we can’t help them if we’re dead!”

Rhogan let out a guttural snort, charging another worm and forcing it to retreat. Alessandra gritted her teeth, torn between her duty to her students and the reality of their situation.

“Fine,” she said at last, her voice hard with reluctance. “We’re retreating.”

She grabbed Reika’s arm and pulled her toward the exit, Rhogan following close behind with his ears pinned back and growls rumbling deep in his chest.

As they neared the cave’s entrance, Alessandra cast one last glance over her shoulder at the abyss where Yumi and Iryoku had fallen.

Please don’t die, she whispered silently, her heart aching as they fled into the light of day.

Alessandra and Reika stumbled out of the hole and into the barren wasteland surrounding the cave. Their breaths came in ragged gasps as they turned to look back at the dark pit from which they had emerged.

Reika clenched her fist, summoning a flicker of electricity between her fingers. “Let’s see how you like this,” she muttered, releasing a quick lightning spell into the hole. The spell crackled through the air, striking the writhing mass of worms just as they began to surface. The creatures screeched and recoiled, temporarily retreating.

“Move!” Alessandra barked.

The two women, with Rhogan guarding their rear, sprinted toward the edge of the barren land. The forest loomed ahead like a protective wall, its lush greenery a stark contrast to the desolate wasteland they had just escaped.

As they crossed the threshold into the trees, both stopped and looked back. To their surprise, the worms had halted at the boundary, hissing and writhing but refusing to enter the forest.

“Looks like they won’t follow us here,” Alessandra said, her voice filled with relief.

Reika doubled over, hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. “We’re…safe,” she managed between gasps.

Alessandra nodded, though her eyes remained on the cave. “Safe for now,” she said, her tone grim. “But we have to go back for Yumi and Iryoku.”

Reika straightened, glancing nervously at the cave entrance. “We need a plan,” she said, her voice still shaky. “Those things are too fast for either of us. And our attacks… they’re not swift enough to deal with them.”

Alessandra frowned, her hands tightening around her mace and shield. “Damn it,” she muttered, her frustration boiling over. “If Iryoku and Yumi were here, we could handle this easily. I hate to admit it, but that jerk is annoyingly competent in situations like this.”

Reika sighed and sat on the ground, her expression clouded with gloom. “I feel so inferior,” she confessed. “It’s true—we shouldn’t have come here. We’re just… normal people. We don’t know how to fight.”

Alessandra turned to her sharply. “Reika…”

Reika lowered her head, clutching her hat as tears welled up in her eyes. “When I first saw the magic of this place, something inside me lit up. I thought I could finally do something amazing—something that didn’t involve manners or being a perfect student. But now, seeing the reality… I just want to go home.”

Alessandra walked over to her and knelt down, placing her hand on Reika’s shoulder. Then, without warning, she gave her a light slap across the cheek.

“Oi, listen to me,” Alessandra said firmly, her voice a mix of authority and concern. “Look at me, Reika. We need you. All of us are in this together. If you stop trying, we’re all going to die. Do you understand that?”

Reika blinked, stunned by the slap, and looked up at Alessandra’s determined face.

“Now, stand up,” Alessandra continued. “I know you’re smart—smarter than me, honestly. You’ve got a brilliant mind. Use it. Figure out a way to overcome this. Because, I’ll be honest, that jerk was right about one thing—I’m not great with complex problems.”

Reika’s lips trembled as she looked at Alessandra. Her teacher’s unwavering resolve slowly rekindled her own courage.

“Sorry, Sensei,” she said softly, wiping her eyes. “I got scared. But…you’re right. We can’t give up.”

She stood, turning to face the barren land again, her gaze hardening. Rhogan, still vigilant, stood between them and the wasteland, his broad frame an unyielding barrier of protection...

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the barren land in a sinister twilight. Reika and Alessandra sat at the forest's edge, their forms silhouetted by the flickering glow of their carefully arranged bonfires. The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the occasional crackle of burning wood.

“This isn’t getting any easier,” Alessandra muttered, frustration evident in her voice. She clenched her mace tightly as she stared at the desolate expanse.

Reika, sitting cross-legged nearby, picked up a small rock. Her eyes glimmered in the fading light as she tossed it into the barren land. The ground exploded as one of the monstrous worms erupted, its serrated maw closing on the rock before disappearing beneath the surface.

“At least they’re still here,” Reika whispered, her unease clear. Her hands trembled slightly, though she quickly steadied them. “I just hope Iryoku and Yumi didn’t run into them...”

Alessandra frowned, her gaze fixed on the hole. “I know those two are alive, they’ll fight their way back. But we can’t just sit here hoping. It’s time to act.”

Hours passed, and darkness fully claimed the land. The bonfires now stood as the only source of light, casting dancing shadows across the ground. Dry branches and leaves lay scattered over the barren soil, carefully placed.

“It’s time,” Alessandra said at last, standing with determination. She turned to Rohgan, who stood nearby, his hulking form emanating an aura of quiet strength. “Rhogan, I know it’s dangerous, but we need you.”

The spirit rhino snorted, stepping forward with calm assurance. Alessandra climbed onto his broad back, gripping his armor-like hide as he moved into the barren land.

The moment his massive hooves touched the soil, the worms reacted. The ground trembled as one by one, they burst forth, their grotesque forms illuminated by the firelight.

Reika’s hands moved swiftly. Flames leapt from her fingertips, igniting the dry branches and leaves. The flames spread rapidly, creating a barrier of roaring fire that encircled part of the barren land.

“Hold on, Rhogan!” Alessandra called out as the worms began their relentless pursuit.

The beasts lunged at Rhogan, their serrated teeth scraping uselessly against his impenetrable hide. Alessandra ducked low, her armor clanking as she pressed herself against his back. The firelight cast terrifying shadows of the worms as they weaved and snapped, their movements unnervingly fast.

Rhogan maintained his pace, his powerful strides carrying him just ahead of the horde. Alessandra clung tightly, her breath coming in sharp bursts as she felt the air shift with each close miss.

“Almost there!” she shouted, her voice hoarse.

As Rhogan approached the fiery barrier, he charged through it, his form undeterred by the flames. The worms, driven by their hunger, followed blindly into the blaze.

Reika sprang into action. Her hands crackled with energy, and with a shout, she ignited the remaining dry branches behind them.

The flames roared to life, trapping the worms in a prison of fire. Their screeches pierced the night as they writhed and thrashed, desperate to escape underground.

Reika stood at the edge of the forest, her hands trembling with exhaustion but her resolve unwavering. Gritting her teeth, she raised her arm, supporting it with her other hand.

“Lightning Shock!” she screamed.

A surge of electricity erupted from her palm, the crackling bolts arcing through the air and into the fire. Sparks danced wildly, spreading through the inferno and stunning the worms. Their movements slowed, their bodies twitching as the electricity coursed through them.

The air was thick with the acrid stench of burning flesh and ozone. Alessandra, still on Rhogan’s back, felt the shock surge through her. She grimaced in pain, her body trembling as the bolts found her.

“Rhogan, keep moving!” she urged, her voice strained. The spirit rhino pressed on, unyielding to the chaos around him.

Reika’s legs buckled as she poured every ounce of her strength into the spell. Sparks flickered around her, illuminating her pale face as sweat dripped down her brow.

Finally, the lightning ceased, and Reika collapsed onto her back, gasping for air. Her vision blurred, and the world around her spun as exhaustion claimed her.

Alessandra slid off Rohgan’s back, her armor scorched and smoking. Her knees Gave out briefly, but she forced herself to her feet, staggering toward Reika.

“It worked,” Alessandra panted, dropping to her knees beside the younger girl.

Reika opened her eyes weakly, her gaze catching the flickering flames that consumed the worms. She let out a faint, exhausted laugh.

The two girls lay back on the cool forest floor, the night sky above them obscured by the smoke rising from the inferno. Their bodies ached, their breaths were ragged, but for the first time in hours, they felt the faintest glimmer of hope.

They had survived.