Chapter 11: The Price Of Hunger (Part 1)
Cal snuck back to the ledge, his senses on high alert. He stretched his Essence Sense as far as it would go, detecting at least ten bugs within fifty feet of the ledge. It was about a ten-foot drop to the floor, and all the bugs within range stood eerily still, only occasionally shifting or scratching at the ground.
Feeding more essence into his Essence Sense, Cal felt the rune within his core space ignite, burning brighter as it drained more from his already fragile core. The extended range still wasn’t enough to locate the pool of water, but it gave him a clearer picture of his immediate surroundings. He closed his eyes, focusing on the faint impressions left by the first bug's memories, trying to piece together a path based on the details he had glimpsed.
The enhanced sense also revealed something that made his stomach drop—thirteen more bugs, and possibly even more beyond his range.
Cal’s mind raced. This wasn’t going to be a simple fight. If he made any noise, if they sensed him like before, he’d be swarmed in seconds. He needed to be smart, to avoid being overwhelmed.
Alright, Cal, think. If I can figure out their patterns, I might be able to get through without alerting them...or at least, not all at once.
He clenched his fist, feeling the slight tremor of his dwindling essence. This was a risk, but it was one he had to take.
He crouched lower, formulating a plan as he carefully mapped out the bugs' positions and the possible routes he could take. The path to the water would be dangerous, but he had no other choice.
Slowly, Cal reached into one of his new bags at his hip. He could feel the essence-filled core he’d just collected against his fingers, a heavy reminder of his dwindling resources.
Fuck it, I need the essence. Studying can wait until I’m safe and sound. Right now, I need to live. I just can't do this silently, so the only option is to do it fast, and I’m not fast enough on my own.
The urge to consume the essence was undeniable, almost intoxicating. The thought of its power flowing through him was too tempting to ignore. As he gripped the core and slipped it into his mouth, he felt the rush of essence filling him, seeping into the cracks of his large, broken core. The power surged through him, making him feel more alive, more potent. He could almost taste the strength it brought.
As the essence worked its magic, he heard and sensed the horde of bugs shifting up ahead and below a wave of essence washed over Cal. Their movements were frantic, he backed away from the ledge. One of the bugs began climbing the small drop, its head poking over the edge just in time for Cal to use it as a platform.
With a powerful thrust from his enhanced legs, Cal launched himself into the air. He sailed across the cave, his enhanced sense revealing the chaotic swarm of bugs below him as he descended. The cave’s depths loomed, a roiling mass of writhing creatures charging toward the tunnel entrance.
Cal landed with a heavy thud amidst the churning mass of bugs. The impact sent a jolt through his body, but he quickly rolled to his feet, gripping his homemade sword tightly as he scanned the swarming mass around him. The pool was somewhere in the distance, but he had to clear a path through the insects first.
With precision granted by his enhanced senses, he charged forward, moving with a speed and agility that surprised even him. He swung his sword, the blade slicing through the tough exoskeletons of the bugs with a satisfying crunch. The first two creatures fell with a screech, their bodies crumpling under the force of his attack.
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However, the fight took its toll. As he moved to strike the next bug, its clawed appendage scraped his side, tearing through the makeshift armor he’d crafted from the previous bug’s remains. The pain was sharp, and the wound stung, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on. The healing effect of his core worked quickly, but the process drew heavily from his already strained essence reserves.
Another wave of bugs surged toward him, their movements chaotic and disorienting. Cal swung his sword with all his might, cleaving through the swarm. The power behind his strikes was undeniable, allowing him to cut through entire bugs at once. Each successful strike was met with a burst of resistance as their exoskeletons shattered.
Despite his strength, he took more injuries—a jagged cut on his arm and a deep gash on his leg. Each wound was quickly mended by his core, but the healing drained him further. His core flickered, the energy reserves depleting with every use, and he could feel the weight of his survival pressing on him. He still had enough essence to last a day without combat but that means he had blown through more than three days worth of essence in only a minute or two, he needed to get to the pool, fast.
The bugs continued to close in, their chaotic movements creating a relentless tide. Cal fought through the swarm, carving a path with determined strikes. He could feel the intense pressure of their combined assault, but he forced himself to keep moving, each step driven by the need to reach the pool.
Finally, he pushed through the endless sea of the bugs and sensed a thick essence signature, indicating the pool’s presence. The air around it seemed to vibrate with a different kind of energy, though he couldn’t see it directly. Cal’s heart pounded with a mixture of relief and exhaustion as he pressed on toward the source of that feeling.
With the bugs charging behind him, their shrieks growing louder, Cal dove into the pool. The moment he entered the water, an intense wave of pure essence surged through him, overwhelming his senses. The sheer potency of the essence was like a blinding light, causing him to instinctively shut off his Essence Sense to avoid being overwhelmed.
As his senses cleared, he felt a profound relief. The strain on his core lessened, and a wide smile spread across his face. The feeling of pure essence was exhilarating, filling him with a rush of adrenaline and satisfaction.
“Yes! I did it,” he murmured to himself, feeling the essence coursing around him. “It feels... so good. Now it’s time to rip these fuckers a new one.”
He opened his mouth wide, intending to consume the essence directly from the water. But to his frustration, nothing happened. The essence remained inert, not responding to his attempt to absorb it. He frowned, realizing that the essence in the water wasn’t behaving the same way as the essence from the bug cores.
A spiked bug leg speared through Cal’s back, the cruel tip piercing into the hard ground beneath the pool. The sudden pain jolted him, and the force of the blow pushed him under the water. Gasping, Cal took in a large amount of the liquid, and his body instinctively began to regenerate. But the bug leg remained embedded in him, preventing his essence from fully healing the wound.
For a moment, Cal was paralyzed by the shock, his mind struggling to process the situation. Panic quickly set in as he thrashed violently, trying to free himself from the relentless grip of the bug’s leg. The pool, once a source of exhilaration, now felt like a trap.
The water around him turned red with his blood. The essence in his core dwindled rapidly, and as it approached empty, Cal felt a surge of panic. He clenched the bug leg with his remaining strength, trying to pull it out. His hands slipped through the blood-slicked water, and every movement seemed to only exacerbate his struggle.
Cal's breaths were ragged and labored, each inhale bringing more of the bloodied water into his lungs. The sensation of drowning was suffocating, and the essence in his body fought against the foreign substance, but the relentless bug leg and the water seemed to conspire against him. In a last-ditch effort, he cut off his core’s connection, stopping it from draining any further, though that meant healing would also stop.
As his vision blurred and the darkness threatened to overtake him, Cal fought to remain conscious, driven by the sheer will to survive. His grasp on the bug leg tightened, desperation fueling his resolve, but resolve wasn't enough and as his hands slipped off the leg a second time he slipped into unconsciousness.
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Cal's eyes fluttered open, and he squinted against the blinding blue light that filled the cavern. He was no longer in the pool but next to it. All across the bright room was hundreds of bug corpses, some cut into pieces and some with small holes in their heads. Cal’s body felt remarkably healed, the pain and fatigue of his recent battle seemingly vanished.
As his vision adjusted, he saw the group standing before him. The leader, with vibrant red hair and a confident smile, wore ornate armor that glinted in the blue light. Next to him was a small woman with sharp features and piercing green eyes, her brown curls glowing softly. She carried a well-worn satchel, suggesting frequent use.
A shorter, lean figure with neat dark hair and a keen gaze crouched nearby, his eyes reflecting curiosity and alertness. Beside him, the most imposing figure—a tall woman with a rugged appearance and a commanding presence—stood ready, her dark hair pulled back to reveal a serious expression.
Cal tried to move but found his wrists tightly shackled. The leader’s grin widened as he tightened the manacles.
“Well, well, look who’s finally awake,” he said cheerfully. “You had us quite worried for a moment there, but it seems you’re a bit more resilient than we anticipated.”
The small woman raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “Quite the little chase you put on. How’d you end up here anyway huh? Teleportation? Reincarnation? Huh?”
The imposing woman watched with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. “Don’t get too comfortable. We’ll have questions for you soon.”
The lean figure remained silent, his gaze fixed on Cal, as if trying to piece together the story of this stranger who had nearly perished.