David eyed the narrow vent dubiously, his wings twitching as he considered the tight squeeze. The ornate stone grating had long since crumbled, leaving behind an opening that looked just barely big enough for a creature his size. A strange, luminescent moss carpeted the passageway, giving off a soft blue-green glow that reminded him uncomfortably of the weird deep-sea from his last few days with Marina.
"Well," he muttered, "at least it's not covered in more creepy crystal tech. Or bones. I've had enough of both for one day."
Captain chirped decisively and darted forward, their tiny form disappearing into the vent. Within seconds, they emerged with what could only be described as an enthusiastic squeak. The veteran Cuddlebug's tail wagged furiously as they gestured for David to follow, looking for all the world like a tiny sergeant who'd just discovered the perfect bar.
"Alright, alright," David chuckled. "I trust your judgment. Just... give me a second to figure out how to bat-igami myself in there."
As he studied the opening, Helpful decided to "assist" by repeatedly bumping against his wing, apparently trying to help fold it into a more compact shape. The result was about as effective as you'd expect from a creature whose problem-solving skills mainly involved headbutting things until they worked.
"Thanks buddy, but I've got this," David said, gently nudging the eager Cuddlebug aside. "Why don't you go help Captain instead?"
Helpful's ears drooped slightly before perking up at the suggestion, zipping off to join Captain who was already organizing the newer Cuddlebugs into defensive positions. David watched with amusement as Captain efficiently directed their impromptu squad, their movements precise and purposeful. The newer summons followed orders with almost comical seriousness, each one taking their position with synchronized head-bobs that reminded David of those desk-drinking bird toys.
With a grunt of effort, David managed to squeeze himself into the vent, his wings folded tight against his body before the space opened up slightly past the opening. To his surprise, the moss wasn't just glowy - it was possibly the softest thing he'd ever touched. Like memory foam had a baby with a cloud, then covered it in velvet.
"Holy shit," he breathed, rubbing his face luxuriously through the springy growth. "I think we just found the something awesome for once. Captain, remind me to grab some of this stuff before we leave. Claire would love-"
He cut himself off as Helpful faceplanted into the moss beside him, having apparently attempted to dive-bomb into it like it was a pile of autumn leaves. The tiny creature rolled onto their back, letting out a sound of pure joy as they wiggled deeper into the plush surface.
Captain watched this display with what could only be described as long-suffering patience before turning back to their security detail. With a series of sharp chirps, they positioned three Cuddlebugs ahead and three behind, their formation tight despite the narrow space.
"You know," David mused, settling into the surprisingly comfortable moss, "sometimes I wonder if you're actually the smart one here, Captain."
The Cuddlebug's expression somehow managed to convey 'Obviously' without changing a single facial feature.
David stretched out on the moss, his mind wandering back to the massive columns and their unsettling story. The luminescence from the strange growth cast everything in a dreamy blue-green haze, making it easier to picture the scenes he'd witnessed. Ancient lizard people discovering the secrets of the universe, building a civilization that made humanity look like kids playing with blocks, then... something.
A high-pitched sneeze interrupted his brooding as Helpful managed to inhale a face full of glowing spores. The tiny creature shook their head vigorously, sending tiny motes of bioluminescence dancing through the air. Several of the newer Cuddlebugs tracked the particles with laser focus until Captain's sharp chirp snapped them back to attention.
"Could it have been Omega?" David muttered, absently scratching behind Helpful's ears as they pressed against his side. "Big red certainly has the whole 'eldritch horror' vibe down pat..."
But no, that didn't track. He'd seen Omega's true form, or at least as much of it as his sanity could handle. A mass of writhing heads and endless crimson eyes was pretty...distinctive - the kind of thing that would definitely make it into your civilization's historical record if it showed up to ruin your day. The artists would have had a field day with that nightmare fuel.
And Xi? The fox-spirit that haunted his dreams with riddles and mischief didn't fit either. Whatever had attacked these people, it had been... wrong. The way the artists had depicted it, or rather, hadn't depicted it...
A soft thump drew his attention as one of the newer Cuddlebugs lost their balance, tumbling into another and setting off a brief domino effect that had Captain practically vibrating with frustration. The veteran summon quickly restored order, their tail lashing as they personally adjusted each guard's position.
"Dark Star cultists, maybe?" David mused, watching Captain drill their troops back into formation. "They're certainly nightmare fuel material, but..."
He trailed off, remembering the throne room. That hadn't been the aftermath of zealots with a murder fetish. Those warriors had died fighting something that scared them less than running away. Something that made holding their ground seem like the better option.
Helpful chose that moment to attempt burrowing into the moss, apparently convinced there must be something even softer underneath. All they managed to do was cover themselves in glowing particles, transforming into what looked like the world's tiniest disco ball.
David couldn't help but smile, briefly entertaining the idea of using his Aesthetic Refinement Mutagen on them. The mental image of himself a year from now, barely recognizable as a bat, surrounded by a swarm of impossibly adorable flying fuzzballs made him snort.
"Yeah, no," he chuckled. "The world's not ready for weaponized cuteness. Though I bet-"
He froze, a new thought striking him. The symbol he'd seen when they entered, that 'new' one in the System text. Another Overseer? One that apparently had something to do with gates and probably physics in general, given the whole 'reality goes brrrr' experience they'd had coming in.
Great. Because the entities we already have playing tug-of-war with reality isn't enough. Now we've had Gateway McGee joining the party.
Captain suddenly perked up, their ears swiveling toward something further down the vent. The newer Cuddlebugs immediately tensed, their formation tightening as they awaited orders. Even Helpful managed to look somewhat alert, though the effect was somewhat ruined by the brightness of their still-glowing fur.
"Right," David sighed, pushing himself up. "Break time's over. Let's see what other wonders of the ancient world are waiting to try and kill us."
Moving through the vent was like crawling through the world's most comfortable tunnel. David found himself actually enjoying the experience, which was probably a sign that his standards had dropped significantly since becoming a bat. The moss seemed to channel sound in a way that made his Echolocation particularly effective, the pulses bouncing back with crystal clarity.
"Now this is what I call surround sound," he muttered, sending another pulse ahead. "Really brings out the bass notes in potential death traps."
The passage branched occasionally, but David's Pack Sense pulled him consistently in one direction. He peered out through occasional gaps and grilles, catching glimpses of chambers that would have had archaeologists weeping with joy. Or possibly terror, given the state of some of them.
One room appeared to be some kind of laboratory, crystal devices scattered across workbenches in various states of dismantlement. Another looked like a meditation chamber, though the weird stains on the floor suggested something considerably less peaceful had happened there.
"Getting some serious 'murder mystery mansion' vibes here," David commented as they passed yet another room showing signs of recent User activity. "Complete with the world's worst housekeeping service."
Captain kept their squad moving in perfect formation, though David noticed they'd adjusted their pattern to account for the acoustic properties of the tunnel. The newer Cuddlebugs had even stopped bouncing into each other, which was probably some kind of record.
Helpful, meanwhile, had appointed themselves Chief Moss Inspector, carefully examining every patch they passed as if searching for... something. David wasn't entirely sure what criteria they were using, but they seemed very serious about it. The Summon was covered in what was probably unhealthy amounts of the glowing spores, but he hadn't gotten any notifications that he'd been affected by anything. David shrugged and decided to allow it for now, especially since they seemed to be enjoying themselves so much.
"You know," David sighed, watching Helpful grade another section of moss with an adorably stern expression, "I really should look into ranking up Nightshade Swarm. Special's been pulling its weight lately, could use some love too. Shame there's no upgrade tokens for- wait, what's that?"
A distant sound caught his attention - voices, carrying through the vent system with surprising clarity. He held up a wing, and the entire Cuddlebug squad froze instantly. Even Helpful managed to stop mid-moss-inspection.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"Captain," David whispered, "think you can get us eyes on whatever that is?"
The veteran Cuddlebug was already moving, selecting three of their most promising students with quick gestures. The chosen scouts moved forward with impressive stealth, their tiny forms barely disturbing the moss as they crept toward the sound.
David closed his eyes, focusing on the mental link he shared with his summons. The world shifted as multiple perspectives overlapped in his mind, showing him...
"Holy shit," he breathed, "is that an arena?"
Through the Cuddlebugs' eyes, he watched as two figures approached raised platforms surrounding a massive sunken floor. One looked like someone had asked a stegosaurus to attend a bodybuilding competition, all rippling muscle under armored plates. The other... David would have sworn they'd stepped straight out of a documentary about pterosaurs, their massive wings casting dramatic shadows in the crystal-light.
"Check out the edgelords," David muttered. "Ten bucks says they're arguing about whose evolution path is more hardcore."
As if on cue, crystals set into the arena's walls began to pulse with familiar energy. Transparent duplicates of the pair slowly materialized in the sunken area, and then...
"Oh, that's just not fair," David whispered as the copies began to fight. The stego's tail whipped through the air, launching crystalline spikes that could have pinned a truck to a wall. The pterosaur-looking User responded with wing beats that generated huge blasts of wind, scattering the projectiles like leaves in a hurricane. The arena was quickly obscured by a huge amount of dust and debris that the flyer seemed to be using to it's advantage.
"Now that's a training setup. Herold eat your heart out," he murmured, watching the battle with growing enthusiasm. "Wonder if the winner takes challengers..."
Captain chose that moment to deliver a very pointed nip to his wing, reminding David that they had slightly more pressing matters to attend to. Like finding Claire. And possibly not dying in an ancient lizard people's murder basement.
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you," David sighed, reluctantly turning away from the spectacle. "But we are definitely coming back here later. Probably with Claire. Definitely with popcorn."
The Cuddlebug scouts returned as they pressed onward, taking their places in formation with quiet pride. David noticed Captain giving them an approving tail-flick, which seemed to make their day.
"Right then," David said, sending another pulse of Echolocation down the tunnel. "Let's go find our friendly neighborhood dinosaur before she gets herself into anything too weird. Though knowing our luck..."
He trailed off as the Pack Sense suddenly intensified. Whatever lay ahead, Claire was definitely getting closer. David just hoped she was having an easier time navigating this place than he was.
Somehow, he doubted it.
The vent system widened into what appeared to be another junction, but this one was different. The moss grew thicker here, almost carpeting the walls, and the crystal formations seemed more... deliberate. David's Echolocation painted a picture of a space that was clearly meant for something more than just airflow. His muscles tensed almost painfully as the returning wave carried with it a silhouette crouched just beyond the doorway.
Captain was already mobilizing their squad when David caught the scent - feathers, predatory musk, and something else. Something familiar that tugged at his memory like a half-remembered dream.
"I was wondering when you'd make it here," a voice called from just around the corner, smooth and controlled despite the slight tremor underneath. "Sigma thought you might take the scenic route."
A figure stepped into view, and David's breath caught. Iridescent feathers shimmered in the moss-light, shifting between turquoise and magenta with each movement. The creature stood tall on powerful hind legs, a long tail held perfectly level for balance. Their build reminded David of the velociraptors from that movie his dad had loved so much, but far more graceful - and a lot more colorful. A wickedly curved talon on each foot caught the light as they shifted their weight.
But it was those eyes that sparked recognition - amber with rings of emerald green. He'd seen them before, during that weird gathering in the grey mists, when the Overseers had shown off their 'chosen' like prize pets at a show during the start of Second Wave.
"I... remember you," David ventured, noting how she held herself - like someone trying very hard to appear relaxed while standing next to a bomb. "From the...fog place. You were staring at me."
The feathered figure inclined their head slightly. "Kira. And you're the bat that had half of Sigma's analysts questioning their observations. They've been quite... entertained by your presence here."
David felt his fur stand on end. "Sigma's... here? On the island?"
Captain positioned themselves between David and the newcomer, their tiny form somehow managing to look threatening despite the size difference. The newer Cuddlebugs formed up behind them, while Helpful took their usual position of 'hiding behind David while trying to look brave.'
"Oh yes," Kira's beak curved in what might have been a smile. "They find your methods of circumventing gateway protocols particularly fascinating. Most Users can't even approach the gates without proper authorization, let alone... whatever it was you did."
"Right," David muttered, suddenly very aware of how enclosed they were. "Because we definitely needed another Overseer taking an interest in me." He didn't even try to stop his mane from flaring up aggressively at the thought, but thankfully managed to keep himself from snarling like a poorly trained dog. "Fuuuuuuck."
He noticed her talons clicking softly against stone as she shifted her weight again. The movement was too deliberate, too controlled. Like someone trying very hard not to look like they were ready to bolt at any second.
"If it helps," Kira offered, those emerald-ringed eyes never leaving him, "I'm just here to guide you where you need to be. Sigma's interests lie... elsewhere at the moment."
"And where exactly is 'where I need to be'?" David asked, watching as Captain subtly repositioned their squad to cover both exits.
"The same place you've been heading since you arrived," Kira replied. "Though perhaps by a slightly more... official route than these maintenance shafts."
Kira's composure cracked the moment David began moving from the vent, their emerald-ringed eyes going wide as he slithered into the room with predatory grace. One talon scraped against stone as they took an involuntary step backward, feathers bristling in what was clearly barely contained panic.
David noticed. Of course he noticed. It was kind of hard to miss someone looking at you like you were about to go full turbo-violence on them.
"Look," he sighed, trying to appear as non-threatening as a nightmare could, "I'm David. And I'm literally just here looking for my best friend. That's it. No murder, no mayhem, no..." He gestured vaguely with a wing at Kira's clearly terrified stance, "whatever you think I'm here for."
A strangled laugh escaped Kira's beak, equal parts hysteria and disbelief. "I'm sorry, your what?"
David deadpanned at her. "My friend. You know, that thing where two people hang out and don't try to kill each other? Usually involves sharing snacks, jokes, and making bad decisions together?"
"I... didn't think Omega's Brutes were capable of having friends," Kira managed, their tail still held rigid with tension.
"Yeah, well, Omega can go fuck themselves sideways," David growled. "I didn't exactly get a choice in that particular career path. More of a 'surprise, you're on team murder now' kind of deal."
Kira's jaw actually dropped, their whole body freezing like someone had hit pause on reality. "You... you can't just... that's Omega you're talking about!"
Even as the words left his mouth, David felt a twinge of 'oh shit' crawl up his spine. Between Xi's tendency to spill tea and Omega's apparent hobby of watching his every move like some kind of cosmic reality TV show, maybe talking shit wasn't the smartest move.
Then again, Omega's pretty much exclusively pro violence and aggression, so... task failed successfully? Hopefully? Shit.
"Actually," David mused, scratching behind his ear with a wingtip, "now that I think about it, they'd probably be more offended if I was polite about it. Nothing says 'respect' like threatening grievous bodily harm, right?"
Kira made a sound like someone stepping on a squeaky toy. "You're insane. You have to be insane. No one talks about Omega like that. Not even-" They cut themselves off, feathers rippling with obvious discomfort.
"Not even Sigma?" David finished, watching Captain herd the newer Cuddlebugs into a more defensive formation. Helpful, meanwhile, had decided Kira wasn't an immediate threat and gone back to examining the moss with scholarly intensity. "Speaking of which, what's their deal anyway? Because between Omega's murder-boner and Xi's cryptic bullshit, I'm not exactly thrilled about another Worldender taking an interest."
"That's... not something I'm at liberty to discuss," Kira managed, though their stance had relaxed slightly. Probably because David was making it really hard to maintain an appropriate level of terror while he watched one of his Cuddlebugs face-plant into a glowing moss patch.
"Right, right. Cosmic secrets and all that. So, about that 'official route' you mentioned?"
"Yes, of course. This way." Kira turned, then hesitated. "Your... Summons, they're coming too?"
David grinned, knowing exactly how his fangs caught the light. "Package deal. Don't worry though, they only bite if I tell them to."
Captain chose that moment to give Kira their most professional nod, which somehow made the whole situation even more surreal.
Kira watched with poorly concealed fascination as Captain organized their squad into a perfect escort formation. "I've never seen Summons behave like this. Most are just... mindless drones."
"Yeah, well, most people don't keep them around long enough to get interesting," David explained as they began moving. "These little guys are basically my family at this point. The longer they survive, the smarter they get. Captain here's been with me since pretty much the beginning."
The feathered User's eyes widened as Captain directed two of the newer Cuddlebugs to scout ahead with a series of precise chirps and tail gestures. "They're actually communicating. Not just basic commands, but... strategy?"
"Oh yeah, Captain's scary smart. Pretty sure they'll be smarter than me at some point, which honestly isn't saying much." David paused as Helpful bounced off a crystal formation they'd been investigating. "That one's... special in other ways."
"Fascinating," Kira breathed, their obvious curiosity finally overwhelming their fear. "And they all develop distinct personalities? Individual traits?"
"Eventually, yeah. The new ones start pretty basic - just following orders and staying alive. But give them time..." David trailed off as Captain shot him what could only be described as an eye roll. "See? That right there. Sass. They learn sass."
As they moved deeper into the complex, Kira's questions came faster, their initial terror forgotten in the face of new knowledge. "And their cognitive development, is it linear? Do they all progress at the same rate? What about-"
"You know," David interrupted, amused despite himself, "for someone who was ready to bolt at the sight of me ten minutes ago, you're getting pretty comfortable with the nightmare bat and his murder-fluffs."
Kira actually managed to look embarrassed, their feathers ruffling slightly. "Yes, well...curiosity tends to override survival instincts in my case. Sigma says it's both my greatest strength and a terrible character flaw."
"Speaking of terrible character flaws," David said, watching Helpful attempt to make friends with their own reflection in a crystal, "we should probably get moving before Claire manages to find something even weirder than whatever the hell this place is."
"Ah, yes. Of course." Kira straightened, professionalism returning. "Though... perhaps after we find your friend, we could discuss more about long-term Summon development? Purely for research purposes, of course."
"Sure," David chuckled. "Assuming we all survive whatever fresh hell this island has in store. And hey, maybe you can explain why Sigma thinks my particular brand of chaos is so entertaining."
Captain's expression perfectly managed to convey 'we're all doomed' without so much as a single ear flick.
David couldn't help but agree.