“Want some?” X offered a piece of meat to Slllamagga. The disgust on her face was a clear answer. "More for me then,” he remarked.

"We don't eat human food,” stated Slllamagga.

“Grow up, food is food. Unless you eat literal crap.”

“Of course not, but anything humans have touched I will not eat it. Many of us wouldn’t, only those desperate enough...”

“Mhmm. But I’ve heard you do eat human meat, down here,” said X, gesturing to his crotch.

Slllamagga's anger boiled over. "Fuck you!" she yelled, marching towards the redheaded elf with clenched fists.

"Stop it, Sllamaga," ordered a female voice.

"Ferraine... I... it's not what everyone thinks!" retorted the half-mermyd bait.

“So how is it?” The redheaded elf chimed in. “What other meaning can we derive from ‘a human dick in your mouth’?”

“You little piece of—” Slllamagga was about to hit the elf when a bloodied orc cut in. "Shut it, Slllamagga."

"Heiran, are you hurt?" asked Ferraine, concern in her voice.

"This is not my blood. How are your wounds Ferraine?" inquired the orc.

"It stings like hell, but I'll live," she replied.

In his gluttony, X failed to notice that Ferraine had removed her hood. Upon closer examination, he observed a slender, stern being with dark gray skin, several horns protruding from her head, and one that stood out, starting from her right temple, spiraling up and over her shoulder, ending sharply. Her fiery red eyes matched her long, purple, almost red hair, pulled back into a ponytail. All things considered, she was a pretty decent creature.

Not long after, Orjas arrived with Yeres leaning on his shoulder.

"You better not forget about us! Squeal!" snorted Yeres.

"Still alive, Yeres," replied Ferraine.

Even though the human captain's sword had missed the yoinkolin's vitals and knowing that with her two hearts and other race-specific enhancements she'd survived, she lowered her gaze.

“Oink, Heiran, I know it was my fault. I’ve should’ve squeaited and—” Yeres tried to apologize, but Heiran silenced her with a gesture. "You want to die? Next time, do it on your own. I don't need amateurs endangering our missions." The orc scolded her.

“Fucking Yeeeres, going alone like a mad pork, theee fuck is wrong with you!” interjected Orjas.

X quietly studied both assassins. They had removed their hoods, revealing monstrous appearances similar to what he had seen in Saint Jaulea with the kinkat. Orjas had dark hair curling over exposed body parts and disappearing around his face, revealing a protruding mouth and disturbingly separated eyes. Yeres followed similar standards but with much less fur and porkish freaky features.

Yeres sat down beside Orjas. “Squeeally? Me? Fucking Orjas, oink, you let us get detected, you little squeat!” she accused him.

"She's right, Orjas. Things would've gone smoother if you hadn't let us get detected," added Ferraine.

“Maaaybe, we’ll never know. What’s important nooow is the loot! Yes, the loot! Isn’t it, boooss?” retorted Orjas.

The assassins’ attention turned to the dungeon gates, two massive sculpted rock slabs serving as doors. Heiran gazed at them intently. "But before going in, call Seijen down here. We need to get all the documents from this camp. You know the drill, get to it," he ordered.

His shadows scoured the tents for important documents and any shiny thing they could get their hands on. Seijen arrived with his carriage, and everyone began loading the loot. The midday star beat down on them. X and Slllamagga sat around the bonfire when another figure entered scene.

[Back to basics, huh. Did you enjoy that?]

More than that...

[What is it this time?]

I think I know why I'm here, wherever here is.

[This shall be interesting. Why?]

X laughed. With a full stomach, a blue sky above him, and a light iron scent in the air, he needed nothing else.

[I thought so.]

After another hour of searching the outpost, the assassins gathered around the bonfire to eat their own food.

“Is our job done?” inquired X. “We were bait back there, right?”

“Yes, Heiran, listen to him!” seconded Slllamagga. “We were good. I even helped you back there. Please, let me go, I’m—”

“That? We just wanted you to have fun,” replied Heiran. “The real use for you is down there.” The assassin orc gestured towards the dungeon’s entrance.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

After a short rest and some chatter about the lack of spoils, everyone readied themselves.

Ferraine called out, "Everyone gather 'round!" The sentient creatures obeyed, and Heiran addressed them, “From this point on, we race against time. We go in, locate the throne room, plunder it, and get out. No detours or idiocy."

“How long till the rest of the company returns?” asked Ferraine.

"Tomorrow at the earliest, but that's not my concern. Places like this are always watched by several actors, and with everyone here dead... well, the fastest we act, the better,” answered the orc, a hint of worry in his voice.

Orjas dismissed the worry with a grin, “You aaaalways worry too much. We’ll be fiiine and more importantly, riiich!”

"So be it. Get the baits, we go in." Heiran’s final words commanded everyone to action.

The imposing stone gates stood open, wide enough for them to enter. They found no need for torches or magic to light their way. Inside, they encountered signs of human activity—tools, rope, carts, shovels, and other items, as well as lit torches. The light failed to reach the ceiling, and the grand hallways were adorned with sculptures and foreign writing on the walls. Orjas led the slaves by their chains, while X marveled at the magnificent construction. Did humans build it? Or did the other creatures?

The vast hallways provided an eerie walk; the group felt minuscule deep within the mountain. Endless rooms, columns, statues, and diverting paths littered their way. They followed the well-lit main path until the light sources and human presence abruptly ended. The assassins lit their own torches, illuminating the unknown ahead.

“Oink! Now what?” snorted Yeres.

“The throoone room shouldn’t be far, I saaaw a map back on the outpost.” Orjas reassured his nervous companion.

"If it was on the map, then why is there no longer a lighted path?" Ferraine raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Caution. They didn’t want anyone going further ahead.” commented Heiran.

"That means the Herald is near," spoke Ferraine.

"Be ready," warned Heiran. "Double-check your equipment. We're up against a tier A, water element, behemoth."

"Good intel from the boss. We've got the explortents and dusted catalyst. The Herald will be easily dealt with.” Ferraine smiled with confidence.

“And baaaits, don’t forget our most important tooools,” Orjas teased the two captive beings.

"Heiran, I can help. Just let me go!" Slllamagga attempted to change her captor’s minds.

"And you wiiill, Slllamaga," baaed Orjas.

"Shut it, feralis!" she shot back.

“Oh, fiiish has teeth, but not much eeelse here,” said Orjas, looking at her front. “Or heeere,” he added, studying her back.

"To hell with you! Unchain me and I'll teach you!" exclaimed Slllamagga.

"Shut up and keep walking," commanded Heiran, and the team moved forward.

The pressure escalated as they made their way deeper into the dungeon. If anyone got lost, they would certainly wander the deserted halls forever, until hunger or whatever dwelt down there took them. The baits were relegated to the rear, their way forward dimly lit. Slllamagga had to proceed hands-first, struggling to avoid tripping over the various obstacles littering the ground.

"Stop!" Ferraine’s sudden yell echoed far and wide in the vast dungeon halls. She had been leading the group through these dark corridors, her race’s specific traits made her ideal for it.

“What is it, Ferraine?” asked Heiran.

"Orjas, are you sure this is the right way? My darksight can only take us so far," she stated.

“I dooon’t know... the map ended somewhere baaack...” bleated Orjas.

“What?” Ferraine turned to their leader. "Heiran, we have to be careful. This area seems unexplored, and the traps haven't been disarmed."

“Caaan’t be much longer. The throne room shooouldn’t be much farther away. This was a rather smaaall dungeon, a resting place beeefore Dragaranhel,” baaed Orjas.

"This doesn't feel right... I don't like this," said Ferraine.

"Squeeal! Abort?" Yeres preferred to be out of Dureld Dungeon.

“Whaaat!? Maybe you love scraps, but sooome of us have ambitions, go abooort yourself!” exclaimed the baakin.

"Sqeack you too, oink, Orjas," retorted Yeres.

“We’re already heeere, ready and prepared. It can’t be looong now. It can’t be that hard to find.... thiiis dungeon is small." Orjas glanced at his comrades in arms. "Come on Yeres, even yooou Ferraine. This is easy loot. This dungeon has beeeen cleared, by the looks of it, and most of the path back outside is liiighted. I’ve got the map in my head. We’ve neeever been in such an easier dungeon before.”

"We'll stay down here one more hour, and if we still haven't found anything, we'll get out. And we’ll be extremely careful in this uncleared part and— are you baits listening to what I’m saying?” Heiran raised his tone one frequency above his usual calm one.

Orjas pulled Slllamagga's chain. “Are yooou paying attention, mooollusk?”

"Of course I am, you little shit!" she exclaimed.

X had been silent throughout the journey inside the mountain, his gaze fixed on the glowing pipeline-like engravings along the walls, composed of scintillating foreign words. His attention landed on a big, round glowing object. Was it magic? Was it something else?

"Everyone, quiet!" Ferraine raised her voice.

"What is it?" asked Heiran.

"I thought I heard..." Her voice trailed off.

Once again, a small ringing noise.

"Wait, do you hear that?" questioned Ferraine.

"No..." replied Heiran.

“You elf back there, what are you doing?” Ferraine glanced at the redheaded elf.

X wanted to crack it, a globe of pure light. His nails scratched its surface,

“Whaaat are you looking aaat?” baaed Orjas.

"I don't know... something... Can't you see it? It's like a pedestal with a glowing egg on top..." X thought everyone could see it, but soon realized otherwise.

"Whatever it is, leave it alone," ordered Heiran.

"But it's too bright..." X's hand enveloped the glowing egg; it called to him.

"Crazies everywhere," commented Slllamagga.

“Squeearting with you,” snorted Yeres.

"A bright object in a dungeon... only the elf bait can see it. Could it be the Elves' Last Rites?" inquired Ferraine.

"Something only his elf sight can see..." Heiran followed her train of thought.

"Elves’ Last Rites... death’s warning!" remembered Ferraine.

“Oink! Trap!?” cried out Yeres.

“Worse!” replied Ferraine.

X took hold of the object, he felt warmth and a tingling in his hands.

“Bait! Leave it alone!” Heiran raised his voice.

“Shit!” Ferraine eyes opened wide. “Stop him!”

However, it was too late. The connection had been established, and their world began to swirl around them.