Chapter 45: Chapter. 45: Nest Of Frost

[You have entered a nest.]

The notification rang, and at that moment I realized why Glim was apprehensive towards it, though there was something else about the notification that I found weird. There was no such notification with the Boreal Kame and their nest, why was there one now? I didn’t really know.

[Well, that one time the nest kind of formed after you were inside of it? Good news though, it means there is totally a Guardian inside!] Glim chirped.

I didn’t really know whether it was good or bad, but it was too late to go back now. The ramp became steeper and my speed increased akin to an empowered arrow, the further I plunged into the darkness the more attention I paid to my surroundings, waiting for anything unusual; the small but smoothened indents, the oddly cyclical patterns lining the walls, and the small holes in the ceiling.

It didn’t take long before I saw ground, it glittered under Glim’s light, shimmering a yellowed black, seemingly moist. I slid down coursing the mana through the tip of the spear ⁠— Sharper ⁠⁠— in an instant I hit the ground, plunging the spear through it to cushion my fall, but unexpectedly it slid right through, the ground itself offered no resistance as my feet seemingly removed the yellowed shimmering substance. The spear scraped the solid rock ground as I struggled to not fall, Glim shone by my side seemingly waiting for something, there was a weird noise going on the background, it was scraping and crawling, and then, Glim spoke:

[Yeah, so I don’t know how to tell you this, but you landed on uhhh… It’s better I don’t say it actually.]

I took a deep breath at Glim’s comment, it really wasn’t worth it to ask. The entire place smelled odd to say the least, it was slightly unpleasant like a wooden room with trapped heat. The ground itself felt soft, it was coated by a weird layer of something, something that I didn’t want to know about. Looking around I noticed numerous sources of light, small and embedded on the wall, their light totally eclipsed by Glim’s. The entire place I was in was akin to a small dome, though I couldn’t really see too far ahead due to Glim’s light being right next to me.

“Glim, can you not light things up?”

It shook hearing me. [You-You’re telling me I should b-be something not bright?] It trembled. [But that is like my whole identity, I am Glim! A shining ball of light! You can’t do this to me!]

I shook my head. “I order you to not be a nuisance to my vision.”

[I can just uhh, scout ahead! Yes, I can do that! Does that work?] Glim asked with uncertainty.

“Sure.”

As per commanded, or rather requested, Glim floated forward and made it to the end of the dome. Its light spread, illuminating the farthest reaches of the cave, uncovering the deepest corners and all crevices. In an instant, the light shone, the ceiling glittered and wiggled⁠— the ceiling wiggled as my vision was filled by a wiggling mass of flesh; multiples all encroaching upon themselves, feasting on something. And soon, the sound I had been hearing became clear.

[Rime Larva. Lvl. 3]

[Rime Larva. Lvl. 5]

[Rime Larva. Lvl. 4]

My mind spaced out for a bit, and soon my thoughts gathered. The worms were about as thick as my arm, glistening with a blue after-color, and even though they were coalesced at a single point in the ceiling, I couldn’t help but wonder. What the fuck am I supposed to do? I took a deep breath and got to thinking. If I shot an Explosive Shot here, wouldn’t the cave fall in on itself? That would be my death sentence.

I crossed my arms, spear in hand. I could poke at the ceiling and slowly kill one by one till eventually all of them were dead. Unfortunately it was out of reach to just swing the spear like a sword. I could at most do small jumps and lunge the spear, swatting a couple of the ceiling at a time. My options were to shoot them with a bow, or maybe overcharge an arrow and use the explosive force to launch them off? Though it was a bit random where they would go and land.

[Blair, how about you go and explore before making any… rash decisions?] Glim’s voice sounded as if he were next to me. [This is just one chamber after all.]

I stopped, and looked into the distance where Glim floated. And as promised, inside the cave pocket there was another passageway, leading to a different space. A quick look at the wriggling mass of worms and I shook my head, there was no doubt in my mind that they were easy to kill, the only problem was how. I didn’t want to sit there for an indeterminate amount of time poking at them. With that in mind I walked towards Glim, appreciating how smooth the walls were in the meantime. The ground felt like mud underneath my feet with a stone layer underneath so it wasn’t particularly bad.

Glim patiently waited as I reached him, before advancing onto the next chamber on its own. The next chamber was mostly empty but expansive, the walls still glittered like a sparkling night sky. Though there was something in the middle of it, flesh? It looked like meat, glistening and moist, though it was mostly white and a pile of it. I inquired it, expecting a monster, but.

[Remains of Rime Larva.]

I looked at another chunk.

[Remains of Rime Larva.]

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And at another.

[Remains of Rime Larva.]

Every single piece of white thing, transparent materials were the remains of Rime Larvae. As I observed more closely, I saw small chunks of their skin flailed into the distance. I took a brief pause to look for danger, even though I had already scanned the room clear of it. I saw two more entrances to it, not counting from where I had entered. One was to my right, and the other in the front.

I made a decision and headed to the right one to check whether it was a dead end. Glim accompanied me though it was as quiet as ever. My footsteps resounded with the damp ground throughout the cave, all I could hear was the distant worm wriggling from the other room. I approached the other cave, and as soon as my footstep got within a certain distance an eerie rattle resounded⁠—echoing throughout the entire system with no direction. It sounded almost hollow. The room in front of me; it looked normal and unassuming, I could see the bioluminescent crystals from a distance, but still… I took a deep breath and Glim somehow finding my intent, dove into the room in front of me. But there was nothing. It was seemingly empty and relatively small. It looked… Normal? On high alert I approached.

Nothing.

Well, that was untrue, there were more larvae on the ceiling. The same thing, and the conglomerate of them looked a bit bigger than the other one. I dismissed the room, given that I had gone through the only entrance available. Quickly, I turned to the other entrance, and headed that way.

Once more, I was at a crossroad. There were two paths and both of their openings were just as wide. I hadn’t noticed it, but they were at least three meters in diameter and unnaturally round. Though I was in a nest after all… I sighed and picked a direction at random. This time, the tunnel itself also had crystals embedded on it which I found odd. Taking a closer look revealed not much, they were somewhat murky and radiated in a purple color under Glim’s light. Once more, I decided to inquire it.

[Mana Crystal (Basic)]

Huh? “Glim what uses do Mana Crystals have?”

[Well⁠— I am going to give you a hint since you’re making me nervous. Very nervous.] It coughed to itself. [A common advice in these situations is: Do not grab those crystals.]

Its voice changed at the end, more serious than ever. I stiffened a bit and soundlessly nodded. Most of the time Glim was not worth listening to, but this time it was serious. I turned and continued walking with Glim in front of me, and at that moment it spoke.

[So, I know what there is after this, and the entire place. Here is the thing Blair, even the monsters’ actual capabilities are unknown to me. So, I advise ultimate caution from now on. I’d hate it if you were to die, in a way it too would mean my death.] it chirped, its tone fluctuating.

Sure. I replied with my thoughts hoping they would reach Glim, and not a second later it bobbed but said nothing. I suppose it was its way of nodding. As I walked I saw the end of the tunnel, but it seemed to lead to a different space. I could see a faint purple light, and in the very distance the outline of another entrance. It didn’t take long before I reached the end of the tunnel, and stood before completely flat ground, rock visible on some parts and in others there were blue stains. I saw carcasses of bigger worms, their bodies as big as mine, and to the sides there was no cave, instead it seemed like an endless expanse, a pocket inside the mountain itself, the ceiling littered with mana crystals, and at the very top I saw a gigantic mana crystal, it was out of inquiry range, but it shone like an oil lamp, lighting up the rest of the space with a purple hue.

On the distant walls leading up to it, I saw small dots that moved upwards as well as some slithering towards it. Sometimes they would clash and some would fall. Just how far away was it? I shook my head and looked at both sides, for some reason the other entrance of the chamber looked isolated. It was akin to a mountain inside the mountain rather than something that seemed to go anywhere.

I decided to check out that place first, walking out in the open in the process. And then the scale settled in. The space ⁠— the pocket inside the mountain was nearly as big as I imagined the mountain to be, it was expansive, I felt as if I was walking atop a hill and seeing a completely new environment rather than being inside a cave or a chamber. I saw worms in the distance, and in the faraway distance something else with legs, though it had six. Once more, everything outside of inquiry range. Every time either of them got close to each other they would fight to the death, small screeches would enter my ears, though they were nowhere near as powerful as the one that had drawn me in.

I continued towards the other entrance, noticing more blue stains, but these were akin to puddles leading to it. Being more careful than ever, I moved forward, Glim floating in front of me like a guiding light, focused and admirable. Soon, we reached the entrance and as Glim illuminated the entire inside, I couldn’t help but pause.

My eyes widened as I stared. Big. A single thought in my mind as I looked at whatever thing that was, its body much bigger than the snake’s, it littered with gaping wounds with blue blood dripping from them. Cuts and nicks, its body a deep blue, net-like patterns running throughout. Small spikes filled what I assumed was its back.

[Guardian King of Rime. Lvl. 26]

I drew a sharp breath and began to walk out, and then the spikes on its back stood on ends and rattled. Once more it echoed throughout the cave, nearly piercing my ears, and at that moment, Glim began to shake. Soon I turned but the worm slithered, its hulking body rose and its gaping mouth opened. A pale crystal sat inside of it as it seemingly looked at Glim. And at that moment, Glim paused before shaking once more.

[This thing can sense mana. Run!]

Its voice rang and in an instant, the worm plunged towards Glim. The ceiling shook from its mighty strength, the seemingly sturdy ceiling broke and everything collapsed. My heart skipped, and I turned around, forgetting about everything. I looked at where I had come from, but I didn’t want to bet on it⁠— I didn’t. What if there was nothing but dead ends?

Instead I looked at the things that the worms had been fighting. If the Guardian was injured, then didn’t that mean there was something capable of injuring it there? It was a risk but, it seemed like my only choice...

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