A Path Of Bone And Poison - Chapter 116 I.T. 19 Great Cavern

As the sand worm disappeared a large rock tunnel was left in its wake. We discussed it and decided to explore. As we descended, we found that there were only several feet of sand, but after that it became solid rock. The worm seemed to have burrowed through the rock, making a series of tunnels.

Utilizing Hylia’s steel threads and the skin of the sandworm we created a shelter of sorts that would prevent the entrance from being buried. The tunnel was extremely dark, but thankfully we had thought ahead and brought torches along with us. Sierra was rather annoyed when we asked her to light them for us, claiming that she was not a lighter. Even though she grumbled she did it.

As we explored further into the tunnel, we noticed that it opened into a vast underground cavern. The cavern was completely different from the barren world above. It was teaming with life, and even our torches became useless as there happened to be a species of fungus that grew on the walls and ceiling that provided a soft blue light. It was not the brightest but provided more than enough light to see by.

The cavern itself was an entire ecosystem and spread for miles around us. Large roots could be seen growing from the ceiling going down. What the connected to was unknown, as the descended much further down than we were able to see.

The roots provided area for life to grow, as many more plants grew from the roots, providing a kind of jungle theme. The sounds of animals and beasts could be heard, showing that the cavern was truly an environment where life could thrive.

We approached one of the large roots, as we got closer, we realized the massive size of them. We could easily walk side by side with our arms stretched out and never touch, and still have room for over 10 more people. Bases on the size we could only imagine what kind of plant it was, but because there was nothing above ground it was only logical that it was growing upside down.

We continued along the roots; the hard wood seemed to be covered in a purple moss. The moss could easily be confused with a type of grass because of its texture. Small mushrooms lined the edges of the roots, creating a type of natural barrier to prevent things from falling off the sides. The mushrooms were not only located on the sides but were also randomly located throughout the root system.

In places it was quiet dark, as the dense foliage blocked out the fungus around us that provided light. We avoided those darkened areas, as they were always accompanied by the sounds of rustling. We did not know what kind of creatures lived here, and it was better to not provoke them needlessly.

It took a couple of hours of descending for us to arrive at a place that the roots made a junction. The junction was a large are of land that was filled with mushrooms, making a small forest. The mushrooms were a mixture of colors, all of them bright colors. There was orange, green, pink, blue and yellow florescent mushrooms. The scene was rather shocking.

The florescent glowing mushrooms provided an abundance of light for us to see. As we explored deeper into the mushroom forest we began to signs of a crude civilization. There were small houses made at the bases of the large mushrooms. Small was relative, they were about a quarter the size of my shack back in town. The doors were half the size of a normal door.

They dwellings looked rather crude. Outside of each of them were small corrals. In these corrals were small worms that resembled what we had fought to get in here. I became anxious at the thought of more of the giant worms running around here. Their tough hides could only easily be penetrated by Bailey’s sniper rifle.

Only after traveling towards the center of the mushroom forest did we find the creatures who were tending to the worms. To my surprise I found that they were like goblins, only they had a large mushroom cap covering their backs. The mushrooms came in the same variety of colors we saw in the forest. They did not wear any clothes and walked around bare as the day they were born.

When we approached the goblinoid creatures did not show any form of hostility, rather they approached us with smiling faces. The image was rather odd, and the smiles seemed out of place.

The goblins kept a distance around us, they were seemingly waiting for something. Finally, another creature approached. I would have not called it a creature if it were not for the large mushroom cap on its back. As the creature approached, I could only look on in horror as I saw its face.

The half dwarven face was familiar, even with the changes that had been done to him. His eyes glowed with a bright purple light that matched the mushroom on his back. His voice had not changed as he looked directly at me.

“Yuri my friend, I was wondering when you would show up. Welcome to the city of ambient lights. Let me show you what our wonderful city has to offer.”

The smile that he gave me did not reach his eyes, and I could see his left-hand twitching oddly. He quickly grabbed the arm with his right hand, covering the movement with a bowing gesture. I could only look at him with caution as we approached.

Even as we came close Hunter did not act, rather the smile on his face became much larger. His eyes began to twinkle with florescent light. He moved his right arm, as if to put his arm around me, but I pretended to stumble and stepped away. Behind me I could hear a low growl coming from Lucifer, but I only waived my hand to silence him.

I smiled at Hunter but kept my distance as we walked. The goblinoids walking behind us in a large half circle. The girls were looking around, and I could feel the tension in the air. It was obvious that this was a trap, but I needed to know what was going on here.

Hylia was communicating with me mentally, her voice was steady, an obvious result of the training she had received from the temple.

“There are 13, no 15 goblinoids around us. 11 of them are obvious, making the half circle behind us. Two are behind the mushroom to the right in front of us, 1 to the left of us, and one two the right. From their location it looks like they are taking us to the group of five different colored mushrooms in front of us. If we are going to act it needs to be soon. Before they get us where they want us.”

I nodded, showing her that I had heard her. Aloud I spoke to Hunter.

“So, what happened hunter? You graduated four years ago? I can’t believe with your parties’ strength that you guys only made it this far?”

The smile on his. Face never left as he spoke, but his voice lacked any emotion, just like it had ever since we arrived.

“The Guardian of this place attacked us when we trespassed. I was barely able to escape. I ran wildly through the mushroom paths until I found my way here. The goblins have taken care of me ever since.”

“And you never tried to leave? To advance? With your strength making it to the next floor should not have been a problem.”

Hunter laughed. His eyes never blinking as he stared at the approaching mushrooms. “Now why would I want to do that? When such beautiful hosts keep making their way here?”

His words seemed to be a queue as the goblins behind us began to rush towards our location. The mushrooms on their backs began to release a wide variety of spores into the air. The vibrant colors swirling around us, not leaving room for us to see anything else.

Sierra did not hesitate and began to throw several fireballs at the ground around us. Flames began to dance at our location, burning the spores before they could cause us any harm. The look on Hunters face finally changed as this happened, his smile turning into a viscous snarl as an earthen hammer appeared in his hands.

The hammer glowed with a purple light, the source being bright purple veins that ran through the earth. The giant two-handed hammer swung down at me faster than I was able to react.

Thankfully Hylia was already prepared as several arrows penetrated Hunters arms and legs. The force of the blows pinning him against a mushroom behind him. The blood that flowed from his wounds was the same neon purple as his eyes and the mushroom behind him.

The fire around us grew more active as Sierra threw fireball after fireball at the goblins around us. Explosions soon joined the bombardment as Lucifer cast grenades repeatedly.

Those who were out of the range of the explosions were quickly taken care of By Leisha and Hylia. They had acted even before I could move. Their strength was truly amazing.

Loud screeches filled the air as the goblins began to burn alive. The screeching did not come from the goblins, rather it came from the mushrooms that grew on their backs. As the fire touched them, the mushrooms flew into the air, leaving behind their hosts.

Sierra switched focus as the mushrooms floated in the air, her fireballs landing one after another on the mushrooms. As the mushrooms began to burn, the goblins on the ground began to convulse, neon liquid began to foam from their mouths, tainted by the red of their own blood.

The goblins stood no chance of survival as they body slowly began to disintegrate. Soon the forest was completely silent, save for the sounds of our own breathing.