The tunnel was dark and constantly moving as the whale ate more and more prey. There were monster corpses flowing towards them from up ahead, some of them still trying to survive.

Upon meeting a particularly large three headed snake, Natalie opened her mouth and prepared to breathe lava. However, before she could roast the entire intestine and make the whale spit fire, Finn appeared in front of her and stabbed the snake dead. His knife absorbed some of the creature’s blood, while the goat horn on his head glowed slightly.

“Caroline may be right." The snake collapsed with him riding on one of its heads. “We’re in unknown territory; we should tread carefully. Wait here and keep the fire to a minimum. I’ll go see if we can actually escape.”

Finn disappeared. He teleported from one spot to another, more than 50 feet at a time, avoiding all mutants, be they dead or alive.

'It took about twenty minutes to slide to where we were, so if I beam my way through I should be out in less than 10. Something seems off though.'

Finn's instincts were right. After an hour and a half of teleporting towards the creature's mouth, he had yet to see it.

'What the hell, what the hell. There are fewer creatures coming in, but this place just doesn't end.'

From up ahead, Finn could see a new wave of monsters sliding towards him.

'Either this thing just ate or…'

He summoned a fireball, imbued it with enough mana to not be disturbed by the incoming monsters and let it float on the spot. Then, he teleported 50 feet away, again and again, past the horde of half dead monsters, accross what he believed was at least a kilometer.

Then, after taking a deep breath, he turned around. His flame was just 50 feet behind him.

Weird flesh monsters had gathered around it and were trying pointlessly to put it out.

'If Nunac had a pet… can I even get back to Natalie?'

He teleported near the flame, then past it, going back from where he came, deeper into the monster.

All this time Natalie and Caroline had been patiently waiting for him. Even after the better part of an hour had passed, they maintained their position and avoided or killed the incoming monsters.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"This is by far the most disgusting place I've ever been in," said Natalie.

"You have been fortunate." The two shared a look. "I know you've seen the cube's memories. Why do you keep my secret?"

"I'm not. There's simply no point in revealing it, yet."

"I am grateful."

"If you so much as think about silencing me I'll burn you inside out."

"I am not."

"We were there when your minions tried to invade Trident city. When Michael finds out…"

Suddenly, a crack appeared in the ceiling of the intestine, right above their heads. A sword pierced through it, followed by a shouting merman who immediately attacked.

His blade embedded itself inside Natalie's shoulder, who grabbed his throat and squeezed.

"Who are you?"

The merman grinned maniacally, looking at the cut he had made, waiting for Natalie to drop. However, the woman's grip on his throat only tightened. Lava burst out of her wound, squeezed the blade and healed the wound. Even her shirt restored itself. The merman's face turned pale.

"You'll suffocate him," said Caroline.

Natalie rolled her eyes and then slammed the merman onto the floor, forcing the air out of his lungs.

He gasped wildly as several of his ribs broke from the fall.

'Talk merman. You will tell me everything you know about this whale, and for every detail you leave out, I will cut something off.'

'How will you know?' asked Caroline.

Natalie gave her a look, and at the same time she sent a strand of lava which cut off one of the man's fingers.

The merman started talking. Some time later, Finn finally appeared, looking relieved and then a bit curious about the fingerless visitor.

"There's similar magic to Nunac's at play. The intestine grows endlessly if you go towards the mouth. We can't escape."

"I know."

"How?"

Natalie pointed at the merman who spoke rapidly: "This whale's the kingdom's inescapable prison. We can't leave and we can't kill it. If we damage it too much…"

Natalie opened her palm and shot a stream of fire, not much different from the hydra's firebreath at a random spot of the intestine.

Mere moments later, shadows could be seen approaching from the creature's depths. They were humanoid in shape, though a bit larger, and there seemed to be no end to their numbers.

"We need to leave," said the merman. "Once they surround you, there's no escape."

"Lead the way," said Natalie. "You're free to go." A strand of lava extended from her back and encircled the merman's neck like a noose.

The man saw her smile and gulped audibly. After taking back what was left of his sword, he cut a small pathway into the intestine.

"Small cuts don't alert the immune system. Come, scary ones. I will lead you to the other prisoners."