Chapter 146: The Cave Marathon
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Chapter 146: The Cave Marathon
Jacks feet thundered on solid rock. The light had disappeared by now, letting only his weak darkvision steer him away from walls and outcroppings. Nauja was a step in front, running with large strides as she led him deeper in. Jack really hoped she knew the wayand that she could see.
A host of pursuers came after them.
The minotaur, Bocor, was at the front, charging on all fours like a bull. Smoke rose from his nostrils, the ground shook and moaned under his hooves and arms, and he boasted enough strength to run at the same speed as Jack and Nauja while wearing full plate armor and carrying a big-ass tower shield on his back.
Level 115 wasnt for show.
The rest of his team followed. Five people in all: a treant, three humans, and what looked like shimmering air but was actually an invisible person.
The cave angled downward. Jack felt the slope under his feet, sensed his momentum threatening to tip him forward. With his limited vision, all he could do was follow Naujas swaying back, her pale skin standing out just a bit in the darkness.
Sounds came occasionally from the left and right as if the wind was stopped by something. Jack imagined peculiar rock formations, but they could be dinosaurs plastered against the wall for all he knew.
Excluding Jack and Brockwho was carried by Jackeveryone else was over level 90. Their feet swallowed the distance at tremendous speed. It was like they were all racing motorcycles through the cave, which appeared endless.
They had crossed miles already. More than once, forks appeared in the path, Jack barely distinguishing the hints of lighter darkness that signified openings. Nauja always picked the one heading further down, and he didnt dare disagree.
By now, it was clear they were in an enormous, underground cave complex. Its sheer scale was stunning. Endless miles of caves stretching in all directions, twisting and bending around each other, crossing at a thousand different intersections. Cold fear gripped Jacks heart.
Even if we escape them, will we find the way out?
With his sight impaired, other senses flared up. He could hear the rasping of Naujas breath, the subtle change in his footsteps as they ran over different kinds of stone. His nose caught the moisture that suffused the caves, detected the slight hints of moss and rot in the air.
His breath was catching in his throat. His ribcage felt cramped. There was a limit to how far he could run.
Do you know the way? he finally asked Nauja, trying to keep his voice a whisper, but that was hard to do while running.
Down! she replied, without turning her head, nor giving any further explanation.
I thought youd give me up!
She snorted. I am no coward!
But you said barbarians never lie!
Deception is not lying. Theres a difference!
How is Nauja took a sharp right, and Jack almost slid ahead before barely managing to turn. How is there a difference?
Is this really the time!? She growled backward.
Why not? We have nothing else to do!
They did have something else to do: run. However, a chase was a battle of minds as much as it was of bodies. Their pursuers didnt know how tired Jack was. If he made them believe theyd exhaust themselves first, they might be demoralized, even stop chasing altogether.
Nauja growled again, not indicating whether she understood or not, while the minotaurs voice came from behind, washing over them in the narrow tunnels.
I am a minotaur! he roared. You will never outrun me!
If he was using the same trick as Jack, it was working. He heard the thunderous hooves behind him come faster, the entire party accelerating. They had fallen a bit behind since the start of the hunt five minutes ago, but they had remained within eyesight.
Brock! Jack yelled, keeping his eyes on Naujas back. Are they all there?
His mind released all unnecessary functions. All that mattered was to keep walking.
The footsteps drew closer. The stomps became crashes, then peals of thunder. Jack maintained a simile of hope, a tiny prayer that, even at the last moment, the pursuers would collapse. He kept going.
The thunderous footsteps paused. He heard a faint gasp. A flicker of hope welled up inside him. It had happened. They had experienced the same euphoria he had, then crashed down hard. Maybe this would make them stop. He just had to walk a little bit more. A little bit more.
He took another step and ran into a dead-end.
Brock started screaming, dropping down and dragging Jack backward. He barely stopped as a draft reached him from below. He forced his bleary eyes to focus. A lighter darkness was in front of his feet, a hole going down. He wanted to jump, but Brock was pulling at the back of his pants.
Deep? he managed to croak out.
Yes! Brock shouted. Yes!
At this state, a fall would leave them completely mangled. Easy pickings.
Jack wanted to laugh. This was it. He had tried so hard, pushed himself to the limit, endured this torture only to come within reach of escapebut be cursed with bad luck.
Now, even if the hole disappeared, his legs wouldnt carry him anymore.
This world hates me, he muttered, throat scratched with every word. It hates me!
A bestial, guttural scream tore through what remained of his throat, crashing into the stones only to disappear. Jack collapsed into a heap. His arms had some power still, but he couldnt stand. Nauja fell with him, and she tried to draw her bow, tried to nock an arrow. It manifested half-way, out of thin air, then winked out of existence. Her arms fell to the ground, defeated.
The footsteps approached. A shape rounded the corner. A bull. Noa minotaur. A hulking beast on all fours that slowly stood up as it saw him on the ground, releasing a triumphant roar.
A final hint of hope blossomed inside Jack. The minotaur was alone and exhausted, like them. Maybe they could take him.
But even that bit of hope was dashed as he saw the darkness flickering. The invisible one was here, too. And, a moment later, the shadow of a staff peeked through the opening.
I told you, the minotaurs rough voice filled the tunnel. He sounded exhausted but satisfied. You cannotescape.
Stubbornness welled up inside Jack. He wasnt going to just wait for death. There was a hole behind him. What was the worst that could happen? Smash his head on a rock?
If the minotaur wanted to take him, he had to jump exhausted into a hole.
Fuck you, Jack said, tilting back. He let his body topple, falling over the edge. Time slowed down. The shimmering darkness flickered. A dagger crossed the air, its familiar whistle echoing in Jacks ears like the calling of death.
Gravity was pulling him, but at their level, everything was happening too fast. Gravity was slow. He could see the darkness deepening as the dagger approaching his face, and he struggled to raise a hand to defend.
A staff smacked it out of the air. Brock stood before him, screaming in defiance and bitterness. He had been carried all the wayhe was fresh, but also too weak to help. These people were so far above him that he could do absolutely nothing.
Still, he tried.
The dagger veered off its path, only grazing Jacks ear instead of stabbing his eye. The minotaur roared. Somehow, he found the strength to lunge forward, raising his tower shield from its edge to bring it down like a club. However, Jack could see that the strike wouldnt be on time. He would fall before the shield did.
Brock, turned the other way, couldnt see that. He tried to smack the minotaurs side. The Staff of Stone whirled through the air, but in the end, he was just far too weak. Bocor let it land, not even bothering to defend, then took a hand off his falling shield and slapped Brock across the face. The strike wasnt strong, but it was fast, faster than the shield could fall. Simply an insult.
Brock was thrown aside by the strike, his cheek red, gaze frozen in surprise and rage. In that moment, the shield crashed down.
The little brorilla recovered, but he still didnt retreat. He thought Jack was behind him, defenseless. He roared in anger and threw himself forward, ready to give his life to defend his big bro. Jack grabbed his tail just in time. He dragged Brock along, pulling him just an inch away from the falling wall of metal that almost broke his head. The shield slapped against the rock floor, barely missing Jack and Brock as they were tumbling down the hole.
Brock hollered, throwing a poop at the minotaur as he fell. Bocors cry of rage followed them down the hole.
And they fell.
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Chapter 146: The Cave Marathon
Jacks feet thundered on solid rock. The light had disappeared by now, letting only his weak darkvision steer him away from walls and outcroppings. Nauja was a step in front, running with large strides as she led him deeper in. Jack really hoped she knew the wayand that she could see.
A host of pursuers came after them.
The minotaur, Bocor, was at the front, charging on all fours like a bull. Smoke rose from his nostrils, the ground shook and moaned under his hooves and arms, and he boasted enough strength to run at the same speed as Jack and Nauja while wearing full plate armor and carrying a big-ass tower shield on his back.
Level 115 wasnt for show.
The rest of his team followed. Five people in all: a treant, three humans, and what looked like shimmering air but was actually an invisible person.
The cave angled downward. Jack felt the slope under his feet, sensed his momentum threatening to tip him forward. With his limited vision, all he could do was follow Naujas swaying back, her pale skin standing out just a bit in the darkness.
Sounds came occasionally from the left and right as if the wind was stopped by something. Jack imagined peculiar rock formations, but they could be dinosaurs plastered against the wall for all he knew.
Excluding Jack and Brockwho was carried by Jackeveryone else was over level 90. Their feet swallowed the distance at tremendous speed. It was like they were all racing motorcycles through the cave, which appeared endless.
They had crossed miles already. More than once, forks appeared in the path, Jack barely distinguishing the hints of lighter darkness that signified openings. Nauja always picked the one heading further down, and he didnt dare disagree.
By now, it was clear they were in an enormous, underground cave complex. Its sheer scale was stunning. Endless miles of caves stretching in all directions, twisting and bending around each other, crossing at a thousand different intersections. Cold fear gripped Jacks heart.
Even if we escape them, will we find the way out?
With his sight impaired, other senses flared up. He could hear the rasping of Naujas breath, the subtle change in his footsteps as they ran over different kinds of stone. His nose caught the moisture that suffused the caves, detected the slight hints of moss and rot in the air.
His breath was catching in his throat. His ribcage felt cramped. There was a limit to how far he could run.
Do you know the way? he finally asked Nauja, trying to keep his voice a whisper, but that was hard to do while running.
Down! she replied, without turning her head, nor giving any further explanation.
I thought youd give me up!
She snorted. I am no coward!
But you said barbarians never lie!
Deception is not lying. Theres a difference!
How is Nauja took a sharp right, and Jack almost slid ahead before barely managing to turn. How is there a difference?
Is this really the time!? She growled backward.
Why not? We have nothing else to do!
They did have something else to do: run. However, a chase was a battle of minds as much as it was of bodies. Their pursuers didnt know how tired Jack was. If he made them believe theyd exhaust themselves first, they might be demoralized, even stop chasing altogether.
Nauja growled again, not indicating whether she understood or not, while the minotaurs voice came from behind, washing over them in the narrow tunnels.
I am a minotaur! he roared. You will never outrun me!
If he was using the same trick as Jack, it was working. He heard the thunderous hooves behind him come faster, the entire party accelerating. They had fallen a bit behind since the start of the hunt five minutes ago, but they had remained within eyesight.
Brock! Jack yelled, keeping his eyes on Naujas back. Are they all there?
His mind released all unnecessary functions. All that mattered was to keep walking.
The footsteps drew closer. The stomps became crashes, then peals of thunder. Jack maintained a simile of hope, a tiny prayer that, even at the last moment, the pursuers would collapse. He kept going.
The thunderous footsteps paused. He heard a faint gasp. A flicker of hope welled up inside him. It had happened. They had experienced the same euphoria he had, then crashed down hard. Maybe this would make them stop. He just had to walk a little bit more. A little bit more.
He took another step and ran into a dead-end.
Brock started screaming, dropping down and dragging Jack backward. He barely stopped as a draft reached him from below. He forced his bleary eyes to focus. A lighter darkness was in front of his feet, a hole going down. He wanted to jump, but Brock was pulling at the back of his pants.
Deep? he managed to croak out.
Yes! Brock shouted. Yes!
At this state, a fall would leave them completely mangled. Easy pickings.
Jack wanted to laugh. This was it. He had tried so hard, pushed himself to the limit, endured this torture only to come within reach of escapebut be cursed with bad luck.
Now, even if the hole disappeared, his legs wouldnt carry him anymore.
This world hates me, he muttered, throat scratched with every word. It hates me!
A bestial, guttural scream tore through what remained of his throat, crashing into the stones only to disappear. Jack collapsed into a heap. His arms had some power still, but he couldnt stand. Nauja fell with him, and she tried to draw her bow, tried to nock an arrow. It manifested half-way, out of thin air, then winked out of existence. Her arms fell to the ground, defeated.
The footsteps approached. A shape rounded the corner. A bull. Noa minotaur. A hulking beast on all fours that slowly stood up as it saw him on the ground, releasing a triumphant roar.
A final hint of hope blossomed inside Jack. The minotaur was alone and exhausted, like them. Maybe they could take him.
But even that bit of hope was dashed as he saw the darkness flickering. The invisible one was here, too. And, a moment later, the shadow of a staff peeked through the opening.
I told you, the minotaurs rough voice filled the tunnel. He sounded exhausted but satisfied. You cannotescape.
Stubbornness welled up inside Jack. He wasnt going to just wait for death. There was a hole behind him. What was the worst that could happen? Smash his head on a rock?
If the minotaur wanted to take him, he had to jump exhausted into a hole.
Fuck you, Jack said, tilting back. He let his body topple, falling over the edge. Time slowed down. The shimmering darkness flickered. A dagger crossed the air, its familiar whistle echoing in Jacks ears like the calling of death.
Gravity was pulling him, but at their level, everything was happening too fast. Gravity was slow. He could see the darkness deepening as the dagger approaching his face, and he struggled to raise a hand to defend.
A staff smacked it out of the air. Brock stood before him, screaming in defiance and bitterness. He had been carried all the wayhe was fresh, but also too weak to help. These people were so far above him that he could do absolutely nothing.
Still, he tried.
The dagger veered off its path, only grazing Jacks ear instead of stabbing his eye. The minotaur roared. Somehow, he found the strength to lunge forward, raising his tower shield from its edge to bring it down like a club. However, Jack could see that the strike wouldnt be on time. He would fall before the shield did.
Brock, turned the other way, couldnt see that. He tried to smack the minotaurs side. The Staff of Stone whirled through the air, but in the end, he was just far too weak. Bocor let it land, not even bothering to defend, then took a hand off his falling shield and slapped Brock across the face. The strike wasnt strong, but it was fast, faster than the shield could fall. Simply an insult.
Brock was thrown aside by the strike, his cheek red, gaze frozen in surprise and rage. In that moment, the shield crashed down.
The little brorilla recovered, but he still didnt retreat. He thought Jack was behind him, defenseless. He roared in anger and threw himself forward, ready to give his life to defend his big bro. Jack grabbed his tail just in time. He dragged Brock along, pulling him just an inch away from the falling wall of metal that almost broke his head. The shield slapped against the rock floor, barely missing Jack and Brock as they were tumbling down the hole.
Brock hollered, throwing a poop at the minotaur as he fell. Bocors cry of rage followed them down the hole.
And they fell.
Chapter 146: The Cave MarathonJacks feet thundered on solid rock. The light had disappeared by now, letting only his weak darkvision steer him away from walls and outcroppings. Nauja was a step in front, running with large strides as she led him deeper in. Jack really hoped she knew the wayand that she could see.A host of pursuers came after them.The minotaur, Bocor, was at the front, charging on all fours like a bull. Smoke rose from his nostrils, the ground shook and moaned under his hooves and arms, and he boasted enough strength to run at the same speed as Jack and Nauja while wearing full plate armor and carrying a big-ass tower shield on his back.Level 115 wasnt for show.The rest of his team followed. Five people in all: a treant, three humans, and what looked like shimmering air but was actually an invisible person.The cave angled downward. Jack felt the slope under his feet, sensed his momentum threatening to tip him forward. With his limited vision, all he could do was follow Naujas swaying back, her pale skin standing out just a bit in the darkness.Sounds came occasionally from the left and right as if the wind was stopped by something. Jack imagined peculiar rock formations, but they could be dinosaurs plastered against the wall for all he knew.Excluding Jack and Brockwho was carried by Jackeveryone else was over level 90. Their feet swallowed the distance at tremendous speed. It was like they were all racing motorcycles through the cave, which appeared endless.They had crossed miles already. More than once, forks appeared in the path, Jack barely distinguishing the hints of lighter darkness that signified openings. Nauja always picked the one heading further down, and he didnt dare disagree.By now, it was clear they were in an enormous, underground cave complex. Its sheer scale was stunning. Endless miles of caves stretching in all directions, twisting and bending around each other, crossing at a thousand different intersections. Cold fear gripped Jacks heart.Even if we escape them, will we find the way out?With his sight impaired, other senses flared up. He could hear the rasping of Naujas breath, the subtle change in his footsteps as they ran over different kinds of stone. His nose caught the moisture that suffused the caves, detected the slight hints of moss and rot in the air.His breath was catching in his throat. His ribcage felt cramped. There was a limit to how far he could run.Do you know the way? he finally asked Nauja, trying to keep his voice a whisper, but that was hard to do while running.Down! she replied, without turning her head, nor giving any further explanation.I thought youd give me up!She snorted. I am no coward!But you said barbarians never lie!Deception is not lying. Theres a difference!How is Nauja took a sharp right, and Jack almost slid ahead before barely managing to turn. How is there a difference?Is this really the time!? She growled backward.Why not? We have nothing else to do!They did have something else to do: run. However, a chase was a battle of minds as much as it was of bodies. Their pursuers didnt know how tired Jack was. If he made them believe theyd exhaust themselves first, they might be demoralized, even stop chasing altogether.Nauja growled again, not indicating whether she understood or not, while the minotaurs voice came from behind, washing over them in the narrow tunnels.I am a minotaur! he roared. You will never outrun me!If he was using the same trick as Jack, it was working. He heard the thunderous hooves behind him come faster, the entire party accelerating. They had fallen a bit behind since the start of the hunt five minutes ago, but they had remained within eyesight.Brock! Jack yelled, keeping his eyes on Naujas back. Are they all there?His mind released all unnecessary functions. All that mattered was to keep walking.The footsteps drew closer. The stomps became crashes, then peals of thunder. Jack maintained a simile of hope, a tiny prayer that, even at the last moment, the pursuers would collapse. He kept going.The thunderous footsteps paused. He heard a faint gasp. A flicker of hope welled up inside him. It had happened. They had experienced the same euphoria he had, then crashed down hard. Maybe this would make them stop. He just had to walk a little bit more. A little bit more.He took another step and ran into a dead-end.Brock started screaming, dropping down and dragging Jack backward. He barely stopped as a draft reached him from below. He forced his bleary eyes to focus. A lighter darkness was in front of his feet, a hole going down. He wanted to jump, but Brock was pulling at the back of his pants.Deep? he managed to croak out.Yes! Brock shouted. Yes!At this state, a fall would leave them completely mangled. Easy pickings.Jack wanted to laugh. This was it. He had tried so hard, pushed himself to the limit, endured this torture only to come within reach of escapebut be cursed with bad luck.Now, even if the hole disappeared, his legs wouldnt carry him anymore.This world hates me, he muttered, throat scratched with every word. It hates me!A bestial, guttural scream tore through what remained of his throat, crashing into the stones only to disappear. Jack collapsed into a heap. His arms had some power still, but he couldnt stand. Nauja fell with him, and she tried to draw her bow, tried to nock an arrow. It manifested half-way, out of thin air, then winked out of existence. Her arms fell to the ground, defeated.The footsteps approached. A shape rounded the corner. A bull. Noa minotaur. A hulking beast on all fours that slowly stood up as it saw him on the ground, releasing a triumphant roar.A final hint of hope blossomed inside Jack. The minotaur was alone and exhausted, like them. Maybe they could take him.But even that bit of hope was dashed as he saw the darkness flickering. The invisible one was here, too. And, a moment later, the shadow of a staff peeked through the opening.I told you, the minotaurs rough voice filled the tunnel. He sounded exhausted but satisfied. You cannotescape.Stubbornness welled up inside Jack. He wasnt going to just wait for death. There was a hole behind him. What was the worst that could happen? Smash his head on a rock?If the minotaur wanted to take him, he had to jump exhausted into a hole.Fuck you, Jack said, tilting back. He let his body topple, falling over the edge. Time slowed down. The shimmering darkness flickered. A dagger crossed the air, its familiar whistle echoing in Jacks ears like the calling of death.Gravity was pulling him, but at their level, everything was happening too fast. Gravity was slow. He could see the darkness deepening as the dagger approaching his face, and he struggled to raise a hand to defend.A staff smacked it out of the air. Brock stood before him, screaming in defiance and bitterness. He had been carried all the wayhe was fresh, but also too weak to help. These people were so far above him that he could do absolutely nothing.Still, he tried.The dagger veered off its path, only grazing Jacks ear instead of stabbing his eye. The minotaur roared. Somehow, he found the strength to lunge forward, raising his tower shield from its edge to bring it down like a club. However, Jack could see that the strike wouldnt be on time. He would fall before the shield did.Brock, turned the other way, couldnt see that. He tried to smack the minotaurs side. The Staff of Stone whirled through the air, but in the end, he was just far too weak. Bocor let it land, not even bothering to defend, then took a hand off his falling shield and slapped Brock across the face. The strike wasnt strong, but it was fast, faster than the shield could fall. Simply an insult.Brock was thrown aside by the strike, his cheek red, gaze frozen in surprise and rage. In that moment, the shield crashed down.The little brorilla recovered, but he still didnt retreat. He thought Jack was behind him, defenseless. He roared in anger and threw himself forward, ready to give his life to defend his big bro. Jack grabbed his tail just in time. He dragged Brock along, pulling him just an inch away from the falling wall of metal that almost broke his head. The shield slapped against the rock floor, barely missing Jack and Brock as they were tumbling down the hole.Brock hollered, throwing a poop at the minotaur as he fell. Bocors cry of rage followed them down the hole.And they fell.
