Alright..

I fucking hate walking.

Jesus that was a long walk, felt like a fucking marathon. I’m surprised as hell that those three managed to keep various conversations afloat during it all. I barely made a sound...

I’m buying a fucking horse next stable I see, but that means I need to get supplies for it.

Ugh…

This is why summons are superior! No extra cost and even if they die, you can resummon them. Therefore only temporary guilt and not permanent guilt.

Right now I’m rubbing my feet which are also soft like everything else and small. It’s kind of cute, not in a foot fetish kind of way.

We actually made a lot more progress than I thought we would, my Vigor went up entirely by ten points so that’s pretty good. Maybe I can actually level my stamina passively. That’s a nice thought for now.

Right, right. So, we’re in the woods, in a small clearing, the fire is burning nicely and Nephele and Damia are asleep. Artemis is on look out…somewhere.

I think she’s the kind of ranger that really likes tress you know? She never set up her bedroll around the fire. She did hunt as well, she’s really good at it, Artemis was done and cooking for us in under an hour. I’ll make the guess that she’s a bit under level thirty with speed and efficiency like that.

Now I’m not a complete idiot so, I’ve managed to set up my bedroll quite nicely and managed to unpack everything in my backpack without tearing anything or breaking anything. So that’s another win in the books.

So first off, we’ve got a map, which is sadly not a map of the entire island, but this region only, which isn’t necessarily bad, but I would’ve loved a world map, or well, nation map. I’d want to get an extremely detailed one, but that might cost me around a thousand drachma and I’m sitting at zero.

I’ve got my work cut out for me concerning that but moving on to the next thing I’ve got a compass, no idea how it works, shouldn’t be hard to figure it out.

Third thing we have is a tinderbox, not much to say about that, fourth thing we’ve got a bundle of torches which look cooler up close as I hold them. Cooler than I thought they would be to be honest, It's the little things you know? We’ve got rations and a candle as well.

And probably my favorite thing. It’s this little sticky substance called Combustion Sticks. Or in this area it’s called Prometheus’s Flame. But the community name of Promo’s Cum fits best. You simply take out the small stick which is about the size of my finger which is already small enough.

Hold it under a match for ten seconds and then apply it to the surface you want to remove. The stick melts and then give it another ten seconds before it goes boom. Some humans actually use these as makeshift bombs or use them for suicide bombers. Not the greatest variety.

But those are the main things in the pack, there are other smaller stuff, but I can’t be bothered with them at the moment. Assessing the situation for this tomb is what’s important right now.

I know for a fact that there are only going to be undead Pure Amazons down there, soldiers specifically, maybe one or two undead servants that provide minor buffs, the servants should be between level five and ten. The actual undead that I have to be scared of will definitely be between level fifteen and twenty.

Overall, not a bad thing since my party is pretty high level from my gut feeling, but the tomb on the map is one I’m not familiar with, so it might be more on par with the others levels. No matter the kind of tomb I’m severely underleveled currently.

There will be a boss at the end like in any game, should be around level twenty five and thirty, two handed weapon user I’m certain. That's like the most common type.

But that begs the question of the layout of the place. It could be extremely simple, or it could be a dammed maze. Since we are close to villages, I’d like to think that the layout is going to be simple and straightforward. You can't exactly make an offering if you get lost in a tomb right?

I guess I’d need to ask Damia for more information, but she wasn’t exactly revealing about the place. Please don’t tell me she’s bringing us here to kill us. I will not make it out alive if that’s the case.

I take another look over my sleeping companions. I don’t want to feel negative about stuff, but certain things can look too good if you get me.

I lay down and cover myself and stare up at the stars. Constellations were always cool in my mind, just a shame I can’t figure them out for shit. I blink a few times before deciding to sleep. I need to be ready for tomorrow.

Again, getting up early sucks. But once we were all up, we packed up and headed out rather quickly. Wasting time is not in the plans of anyone here from the looks of it.

“The tomb I’ve picked has been untouched for nearly four hundred years from my sources. It was partially dedicated to both Athena and Aphrodite. The Amazon that has been buried there has had her name lost to the ages, but tales say she was a great warrior.” Damia said

Great warrior huh? That’s basically a requirement for Amazons. Heh, funny joke…I think.

“How long do you believe this ruin should take us? A day? A few hours?” Nephele asks

“Slower the better…” Artemis chimes in

“A day, maybe a day and a half if we want to take everything.” Damia answers

That seems about right.

After that little information retrieval, we moved forward and by the end of the hour we reached the outside of the tomb. And it was big.

The entrance lacked any doors and it basically led into darkness from the outside. The height of the entrance was a little taller than Damia herself, so she wasn’t bullshitting with the tomb of an Amazon thing.

“I presume this is the tomb?” Nephele asks a bit sarcastically

Damia gave her a nod and began moving forward. The others didn’t hesitate to move with her. I followed behind but did notice something odd.

I saw footprints in the dirt going inside which doesn’t go along with the whole has been untouched thing. Certainly weird. Maybe I’m just seeing things. That could be it, right? Nerves.

+1 Detail Orientation

Shit. Nope, not seeing things. I should tell the-

Fuck they already went inside.

I’d pick up my own pace and moved inside the tomb walking into the darkness and soon I’d catch up with the others. The air does feel a bit different. And they’re oddly quiet. I don’t feel anything strange though.

“Damia..?” I’d call out

No reply.

“Nephele? Artemis?” I’d speak a bit louder

But again nothing, that’s…that’s not good. Not good at all.

I’d extend my hand beside me and summoned Talos. He materialized with no problem so there’s no anti-magic around us. And nothing is being drained.

I’d hurry a bit forward and got in front of the three.

Okay..that is not good.

All three of their eyes were pure white, all of their mouths open and lightly drooling, don’t do anything weird Ynnessa, you’re not that down bad, not yet at least. I reached forward and placed my hand on Nephele, but she didn’t stop, she just moved past me. Bit strong for a midget.

Think. Think. What could this be? Mind control is obvious, but it occurred extremely naturally and didn’t narrow anything down.

Poison? No, no, that would make them die quite quickly.

Toxins! There’s a toxin in the air which could only be tied to the venom that gets emitted from a snake, a very certain kind of snake. Fuck me, this is Gorgon layer. But the average Gorgon prefers places bathed in marble, this floor feels like stone. The texture gives that away.

The group came to a stop and before all of us there’s be three different paths. This design is too simple. Oh fuck!

I reach for Nephele, but it was too late. The floor beneath us opened and we all fell into darkness. Talos grabbed me as we all fell. I couldn’t see shit, but I knew what was going to happen, so I braced myself.

As quickly as the feeling of solid ground disappeared from below me it was just as quick before it reappeared under me. Me and Talos tumbled over the cold and dusty stone ground until we hit a wall. I slowly opened my eyes to glance around, but it is dark as shit.

I checked my HUDs corner, no health was lost from anyone surprisingly.

“It’s okay.” I told Talos who eased his hold over me

I slowly got up. I felt the cobwebs against my head and body. From the feel of things, I’m in the older parts of this fucking tomb. This is what I asked for, well not the Gorgon part. It’s probably an Amethyst Gorgon.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

It has purple eyes instead grey simple as that except that it can also control minds with toxins that are emitted from the snakes on its head and that’s not the only place it has snakes.

I slightly shiver. Can’t believe I’m going to see a thing like that. Creepy shit.

I took off my backpack and reached in to grab a torch. I decided to spare the matches and used a lightly summoned Firebolt to light it and then dispelled it. But would you look at that! We’ve got light!

This could be one of those cool book covers. A sexy Elf with a torch and in creepy tomb. One can dream anyways. Now, let’s see what we’re working with.

I raise the torch to the thicker parts of the many webs around me. The moment the fire of the torch came into contact with the webs little embers formed and everything began to burn away. Even on my clothes without damaging it.

Good news. There are no giant spiders here. If I couldn’t burn the webs, then we’d be in trouble.

Bad news. I see nothing but skeletons. I sigh.

I suppose summoning Talos like twice has made me a little desensitized to them. I take a whiff of the air and it still has the odd scent from above. The Gorgon has probably had the entirety of this place covered with that stuff.

But Gorgon being Gorgon and us being on this particular island there’s a factor of jealously that goes into play. Now I’m hot, like factually so I’m the most prized meal. And I say meal because I’m not human. That thing is going to fucking eat me whole if it gets me. If I was human, it would be a different story.

The others probably had their mind control undone by it for the reason of the hunt. But they can’t escape the way we came. All roads will lead to the main room where it waits. And the only exit is in that very room.

But I am surprised that the Gorgon can work a teleporting trap like that. And the other bitch thing is that it senses movement via the toxin it emits. So any movement I make it will know. Thank Azura it can’t read minds because then I’d be royally fucked.

“Look for an exit please.” I told Talos as I knelt over a mostly intact skeleton

Huh. That was odd, no pauses between my speech. Am I in the zone? Shit, I don’t know, but I won’t question it. But back to my newfound activity of grave robbing.

I reached out to the helmet of the skeleton and gently take it off and pull it close to me. So, it isn’t turning to dust, that’s relieving. The helmet seems like it’s in good condition. It doesn’t have any dents which gives me a clue what’s happening here.

I glance up, but the ceiling has no holes, it’s flat like Nephele.

Starvation, that’s it. All these people starved, but the Gorgon didn’t eat most. Hmm. I hold the torch away to my side and see more armor and some weapons even on the ground without skeletons or bone pieces. Makes sense. Something came inside to strip the meal of armor and weapons.

I can rule out rape because that’s a thing that every Gorgon goes against and doesn’t do. When they eat, they like purity. So, the women here with intact skeletons weren’t virgins. The ones that weren’t got some snake up their ass. God, Lamia fantasies are going to be ruined after this aren’t they?

I can stand in this room, so whatever comes for the virgins isn’t small. Hmm. Wait.

These tombs are deep, but the throwaway rooms shouldn’t be too deep since it wouldn’t make any sense and close range teleportation traps are much more effective if the two destination points are relatively close. So whatever comes, will come from below.

Okay, that should work. I’d reach down and picked up a rusty dagger which had a pretty big pommel. I hate to get these robes dirty, but I can’t wait around. I’d get down to a knee and lightly tapped the ground with the pommel. It’s solid, but I think I’ve got my exit location.

I look up to Talos who was inspecting the corners.

“Talos, tap the floor with your shield.” I told him

Without wasting a moment he got onto his bony knees and started doing the same as me. We continued tapping along the ground until we found a hollow point. And there it is, but that’s a bit odd.

It’s a very small point, my strength certainly isn’t enough to make a crack. I take a step back and motion to Talos to flex them Calcium muscles.

He’d place his sword aside and with both hands on the shield he’d slam down onto the hollow point making a light crack. He’d do it again and again until I could feel a light breeze from below.

Cave system probably, that might explain how a Gorgon got into this place, they aren’t a fan of light, not any light. Extra damage against fire that spreads I need to remember that.

As Talos chipped away at the hollow point which had the shape of rectangle to be honest a small thing has occurred to me. Gorgons reproduce asexually after they’ve eaten enough. Starvation wasn’t the only thing that killed these women. Baby Gorgons…

Dammit. Fuckers can’t petrify me since they don’t open their eyes until adulthood, but they are like Goblins in the sense that in numbers they will do horrid things to you. So now it’s two against who knows how many of those things.

I can imagine Damia being more well off than any of the others because of her sheer size and big ass weapon, but the others safety does raise a little concern with me. Oh, hey look, Talos finished.

I get closer to the exit and glance down, hallway, classic. The fall isn’t that long, but I do motion for Talos to go first who happily hops down without any issue and looks up to me.

“Help me a bit if you could.” I requested from him

With little difficulty and no setbacks, I was in the hallway, the torch still burning bright. I need to be weary of the torch as well. These particular ones last a while, but I only have ten, or well, nine now since I’m using this one.

Okay, again, let’s see what we are working with. That’s a dead end right there. At least I hope…

I do step towards the wall and reach out and touched solid wall, not an illusion, phew. Now.

Where the hell does this lead to?

“Be ready.” I tell Talos to which he readies his sword and shield

Maybe getting a new spell would’ve been more useful, I’m really limited at the moment. But hey, Firebolt and Heal should be enough for now. Calm won’t work on these things. If it’s below neutral alignment, then say goodbye to ninety fucking percent of Aura spells.

Alright, alright. Let’s move forward for now, I’ve got a hunch about these babies. Egg room should be near and that’s our destination.

Holding the torch up as we walked, I saw how the walls and floor were becoming more decrepit and signs of dirt and natural stone started appearing, so I’m near the cave system. Telekinesis would be so goddamn handy right now!

I’d suddenly stop the second I felt the floor beneath me shift to cave flooring. And low and behold I can see a faint glow. A purple glow. The thing with the different types of Gorgons is that their eggs glow, all of their eggs glow besides your normal Gorgon and non-glowing eggs are not really noticeable.

That’s how they are the most common.

I’d switch up my pace, almost trying to sneak in these mage robes, but my unmuffled ass was quiet enough to not draw any attention of any potential foes. Me and Talos reached the point of the glow and a clearing. Goddess have mercy…those…are a lot of eggs….

I’d need the Wildfire spell to clear this out easy, but like this it certainly isn’t going to be easy. Fuck.

Okay…

I got closer to the eggs. Rough estimate would be a hundred, but I’m most likely off on that number. So, you know how if the egg is dead then there’s no glow right? All of them are glowing. These are relatively recent.

“Start destroying them.” I’d glance to Talos who moved forward and with his shield destroyed one of the eggs

Hey look, I got XP for that, a little but still. I lightly slap my forehead. How did I forget that his kills are also mine and his XP is also mine. That makes things easy, a bit easier at least. But while he’s doing that, I should probably do the same. How durable is the torch I wonder.

I’m willing to get dirt and dust on these robes, but I’m not chancing on getting Gorgon baby goo between my boobs.

I raised the lit torch above my head and brought it down onto one of the eggs making it shatter and christ almighty that goo looks fucking disgusting and damn my fucking mind for imagining myself covered in that stuff. Good news is that I can break weak eggs?

I think I might just leave the smashing to Talos to be honest. I’m curious as to where the bones are of the dead. If I don’t see bones, then we’re going to have more than one problem. I think I need to get a bit deeper. Ugh, I’m going to have to walk through some goo.

One foot there, another foot there. Don’t spread to wide because you will fall, and the skirt won’t catch you. I do glance over to Talos who seems like he’s having fun with the egg destruction.

As I’m stepping between the soon to be abortions, I think I see a little clearing. Clearing within a clearing, heh. Now, the thing about the babies, they pile everything into one point and at the height of consciousness for the victims they start munching.

If you by some shit luck have the goo get into your body, you’ll feel paralyzed and overly sensitive. Babies drag you back while they emit and are covered with the goo and throw you in a pile. Wait until the climax of the goo and boom! Five course meal for the little freaks and you feel everything.

So, we’ve got some civilian clothing, traveling clothing and…are those robes? Like mage robes? I reach down pick up the thing. Looking it over I know this is a Novice grade definitely. I do transfer it to my inventory. You know damn well I’m going to sell it. Hmm? What’s this?

A bag? Covered in goo, but the bag seems mostly unharmed. It’s like a larger satchel, or average sized. I don’t know man…

By some miracle I managed to open the thing without having the goo touch me and get a peek inside. Well, that can’t be right unless I’m seeing things. I place the bag down and reach inside to pull the contents out.

I lay them down next to the pile of stuff and rub my chin with a light smirk.

Those are scrolls and spell books. The language is….readable. Were these crafted I wonder? Maybe the young mage wanted to test them out? Maybe a sacrificial offer? Multiple theories, but let’s see the scrolls.

Hmmm.

Speak with Dead, pretty basic. Invisibility Shield, another kind of basic scroll. Both last an hour, not a bad pickup. Let’s see the spells.

Bronzeskin? Not bad, I have been wanting to get a buff spell and it should work on Talos. Speak with Animals, that’s always handy I won’t complain. And finally, we have a Geomancy spell? Damn, nice. The name is Gaia’s Fist. Oh! That’s a nice one. Auto locking targeting spells are always great.

I glance back to Talos who seems to be making way with the abortion. Okay, you gotta stop with the abortion humor. But I do think I’ll take the time to quickly learn Gaia’s Fist since I need some more damage spells. Bronzeskin comes next hundred percent.

I glanced back to the pile, but I didn’t see anything else that I could use. I made my way back out from the dinner ground of the babies and found myself a comfortable wall near Talos and sat down. I can dust off the dirt later.

I put the scrolls and spell books into my inventory and open up the Geomancy spell book. Before I started reading, I looked up and just take a moment to look at this image that’s happening.

I’m sitting down, ready to learn a spell while my skeleton summon destroys the eggs whose mother we’re going to have to fight and kill.

I’m fucked up in more than ways than one, but that isn’t really new I like to think.

I’m confident that the others are fine, maybe moving a bit faster or slower. I’m just going to take my time to learn this spell while I passively get XP, hell I might even get to level three at this point.

Alright, study time!

It’s a bit thicker than the Rune book honestly, but that shouldn’t really be a problem.

I read the first line of the first page and stopped. I thought back to when I first learned a spell from a spell book. Shit, it’s been a hot minute. It wasn’t that long ago, but damn does it feel like it happened a while ago. Well, I’m in a better place now, mentally at least, I think.

But a tomb might be a better place than a prison, better than that prison at least. I guess it’s debatable.

I return my focus onto the page and continue reading the lines upon lines of knowledge that I sucked in. The sound of Talos crushing eggs slowly faded from my hearing as my focus was on the book completely.

I found myself reading a little bit faster than before, learning spells was a surprisingly easy thing all things considered, or maybe I just liked to read.

By the time I was nearing the last few pages of the spell book I noticed Talos just standing in front of me. Guess he was done.

“Rest.” I told him while I continued reading

I heard him move and then heard a light thud, probably them bony hips hitting the ground. I should be finished soon.

Reading through the last page I remembered that I can actually sell this which is a good thing. You know if you play your cards right you can get easily rich as an adventurer. Old stuff sells good.

+New Spell Learned

And there it is! I close the book and close my eyes. I gave myself a nod and had a really satisfied smirk on my face. Another point of the sexy elf girl.

I stood back up and rubbed my eyes and placed the book away. Looking over to Talos I beckoned him over to me. He did a pretty good job honestly.

I glanced up to check my HUD, my party members haven’t had a change in their health, that usually means that they’re fine, but I’ll need to weary.

We should move. I’m a bit itching to try out the new spell.

“If you see any drachma pick them up and transfer them to my inventory.” I glanced back to tell Talos who nodded

Moving away from the eggs I searched for a path to follow, there was a tunnel that looked Gorgon-made enough.

That’s my ticket to get into the place. I’d dust myself off and continued the dangerous journey.