Chương 83: BtWB Book 2 Chapter 6

It was mid-morning by the time Bob finally managed to leave the ruins, scything his way through a legion of beetles as he made for the mountain pass; the road to reach it a barely-there dirt path surrounded by what appeared to be dense, towering pines. The unending swarm made his progress slow, it taking him a good four hours to traverse the five or so miles in question.

Once he did however, the path he was on very quickly began to rise in elevation; Bob shortly clearing the trees to receive his first glimpse of the world he'd been tossed into what felt like so long ago. And it was more beautiful than he could have ever imagined. The view stretched for what looked to be hundreds of miles; the ruins apparently having been located in the upper foothills of a massive mountain range.

The rest of them continued on down below however; vast rolling hills covered in patches of those same near-familiar looking conifers and dotted with the occasional pond or small lake. Their waters as clear and blue as the sky above them. And that, more anything else, was really what had him entranced. The vividness of it all.

Bob didn't know if it was his high perception stat or simply proof that starvation truly was the finest spice, but he knew he'd never seen a landscape more beautiful in the entirety of his existence. Every tree, blade of grass, and cloud in the sky seemed to shine with life; the colors they painted the world with far more vibrant than anything he could remember from his time on earth.

In the far distance, he could see where the path he was on connected to a greater road, but there were no other outward signs of civilization.

'Davin' had hinted that this area was far from the larger and more affluent population centers, but given how much he had skirted around the subject Bob hadn't been sure what to believe. Part of him honestly having a hard time contemplating traveling for months simply to buy one load of trade goods; modern-day logistics having made the idea laughable. Though, he supposed if you were going to be forced to spend that much time on the road, this is where you'd choose to do it.

That is, if it weren't for the minor pest problem.

'Bite!'

'Kill!'

'Rip!'

'Tear!'

'Kill!'

'Rip!'

'Bite!'

'Kill!'

'Bite!'

'Rip!'

'Bite!'

'Tear!' Bob paused slightly as a particularly large batch of beetles threw themselves at him; the creatures apparently not as efficient as ants in communicating threat assessments, given how regularly he was forced to do so. While he waited for them to finish learning the hard way that he wasn't an actionable target, he gazed out over the horizon; still feeling stunned by the fantasy-movie backdrop laid out before him. He considered checking in on his passengers during the break, but eventually decided against it.

The majority were already asleep, with the stubborn few 'keeping watch' certain to only be disturbed should he attempt any communication. A part of him itched to use up the mana he'd already regenerated on more 'additions' for his inner world, but the more responsible portions of him pushed against the idea. He'd already promised to wait for any 'suggestions' from his clients, after all. Something which, awe-inspiring vistas aside, might eventually end up making his trip a bit boring.

With all of his mana more-or-less earmarked for inner-world expansion, he'd be unable to distract himself with leveling or creating any Dimensional Path Skills; something which had been his go-to ever since selecting his second Class. Though, he supposed all that meant was that he'd be forced to fall back on older hobbies.

In an instant, his massive tongue whipped out at insane speeds to crush a swath of beetles lingering just beyond his aura's range; legs and mandibles flying scatter-shot around the area as each bug exploded on impact. The actual experience he received for the act being miniscule; each one only worth a fraction of a single point when spread across his three Classes. Luckily, Class experience wasn't what he was going for.

The gains to his Trait/Skill 'Crushing Tongue' were also low, but each fraction of a point meant so much more in its case. He doubted he could get it the point of evolution before reaching his destination, but five or six levels wasn't out of the question. He'd probably have to kill the things day and night if he wanted to hit that number but, given his artificial form made him an endless font of stamina, there was no point in not doing so. Well, other than the constant repetition possibly driving him mad.

Still, it was better than doing nothing; and at the very least he would be distracted by visits to check on his passengers and use up his slowly growing stores of mana. He wished he could also think of a way to mix it up by leveling 'Greater Toothless Grasp', but with the insects dying before he could get them to his mouth, it was kind of a non-starter. Either way, he intended to reach 'Peakspass' as a stronger creature than he was now.

If nothing else, his continued leveling of 'Sub-Dimensional Sight' and 'Sub-Dimensional Expansion' had him close to another level for 'Dimensional Mage'; its bonus experience gain not being quite as lucrative as that of 'Treasure Hunter', but still quite impressive. For now though, it was time to get moving again; carving a trail up the mountain through the endless swarm that already seemed to have taken hold of it.

Bob honestly wondering why Davin had suggested he head this way, rather than towards the direction of the main road. Perhaps it was a question he'd ask him as part of the 'basic information' he was owed. Bob thinking it might be best to call that particular deal due the next time he spotted the man awake. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. It not being wise to let verbal contracts linger, after all.

Vru woke silently. Breath steady in its rhythm as she listened to the soft sounds echoing around her, attempting to pick out any sign of a coming threat or possible concern. As she noticed the too-loud breathing of large bodies in the near distance, her hand instinctually slid towards the thin metal shiv hidden beneath her chest bindings; body preparing itself to lunge... That is, until the wild struggles of the pillow beneath her head violently reminded her of exactly where she was.

She sat up with a start, throwing the two other mimics she'd been using as a makeshift 'blanket' off to the side as she stared around the wooden room with a touch of strangled awe; mind not fully believing that the events of the last day and a half had actually occurred. Watching as the two monsters attempted to pull themselves away from her with their 'tongues' was eminently convincing however. As well as being a fairly poignant reminder of how absolutely insane she had acted over the last twenty-four or so hours.

Memories of the beetle attack, of Maruk's death, of jumping inside a verified Abomination and using its 'children' as canteens suddenly flashed through her head; Vru's eyes widening as she was confronted one by one with moments from what was obviously an intense mental breakdown. One which she had… actually ended up the better for?

After almost absent-mindedly collecting her 'blankets', Vru looked around the room; spotting the other slaves still sitting huddled and frightened in one corner, their lips chapped and their eyes red from a night of little water and sleep. The humans didn't look much better either, squatting exhausted in a circle while one of their members used what looked to be 'Household' Path magic to cook one of the giant mussels.

Vru noticing that the smoke and steam from the activity seemed to disappear before reaching the ceiling. Each and every sapient in the room looked to have just survived the worst night of their life; something which, given recent events, probably wasn't far from the truth. Heck, perhaps she should broaden that out to 'each and every creature' considering how desperately her new pieces of kit were trying to escape her presence. Whereas Vru felt like she had just awoken from the best sleep she'd ever had.

Her mind feeling clear and collected while her body seemed as though it had just been the recipient of a quality massage; each muscle feeling more like softened butter laying against bone rather than the stone-and-sinew she'd grown used to. Heck, she even felt well-hydrated. Though that was likely thanks to the partially emptied mimic still glaring at her from beside her 'pillow'; its singular eye screaming that vengeance would be had for the multiple degradations she'd put it through.

Not that she concerned herself with its dramatics, swiftly picking it up to drink down more of the strangely sweet water that 'Bob' had supplied them with. Though her like of it probably had more to do with the quality of their water rations in Slavestone than anything else; the massive mining operations often leaving them tinted red or even black some days. The smarter slaves learning that there are times when it's simply best to go thirsty.

Something that at least a few of her fellow goblins appeared to be feeling now as well, at least if the horrified expressions they were casting towards her were any indication. Though, perhaps that might be more due to the container she was using, rather than the water itself, Vru slowly realized. A soft voice within her positing that perhaps she might not be quite as clearheaded as she had previously claimed. Either way, she found that she didn't care.

Cowering like they were wouldn't accomplish anything; nor would the fake confidence and 'everything is fine' attitude of the human's leader. His attempts to ignore the creature whose stomach they already resided in doomed to failure before they even began. They were in an extreme situation; one which would likely require extreme measures in order to survive. And perhaps even more than that should one wish to benefit from them.

Vru had spent the greater part of her life making logical decisions, choosing the smart path over her own preferences to make her parents happy and move along the family business; but all that had resulted in was her and her loved ones being betrayed and enslaved. Life for her would be even worse should she either choose to head back or wait to be collected. Better to die in the attempt of pursuing something greater here than to live in continued and worsening debasement.

To live on like the goblins across the room. Creatures broken of all feeling but fear. No, she would manage to make something of this situation or she would die trying. Her even having a few new ideas for how to do so; most centering on the vows each of them had been forced to make before entering the monster's inner domain. It couldn't be anything but 'Geas' Path magic.

And if the creature was powerful enough to bind people with merely an oath – and she could still feel the binding lingering within her – then she could only imagine what else it could do. Imagine, and feel the faintest stirrings of hope rise within her for the first time since she'd lost her freedom. The sensation bringing the slightest of smiles to her face. Though it was quickly wiped away by another sensation making itself known.

Her bladder loudly declaring that it had been a solid day since the last time she'd relieved herself. Vru very quickly making her way towards the luckily currently-empty latrine.

Buddy drifted beneath the hole leading towards the upper chambers, listening in as creatures which an older portion of her brain demanded she kill made strange noises as they ate her food and stole her space. A small bit of her starting to think that maybe those older portions were making some good points. When her friend first requested that she leave the creatures alone, she hadn't minded.

The upper sections of her home were the most boring bits anyway; them lacking both glittering things to sort and a nearby source of food. She'd been mildly upset to miss out on cranking the noisy box, but it seemed fair enough to give someone else a turn. But now that they were here, she was finding that more and more areas of her home were suddenly being taken from her; two of the food-rooms alone now lost.

One claimed by the beasts' own voracious hunger, while another had just vanished; both it and its delicious denizens simply gone from their previous location. While she had no proof, she felt firmly that the noisy savages up above had something to do with the loss, it seeming all but certain given the timing. Most of them having collapsed into a satisfied slumber shortly after it had disappeared; likely sleeping off the feast they'd stolen from her.

And even now, with most of the awkward things awake, they still hadn't once used the noise machine! It was just sitting there, untouched, while she was forced to ration her remaining meals in case the larger food suddenly stopped making smaller food. Something she wouldn't even be surprised by at this point, given how terribly everything was going.

With a slight 'huff', she eventually lowered herself away from the hole to go grab herself a little snack; wanting a distraction from the sudden disastrous turn her life had taken. Once her friend came back from wherever he went to, they would be having words.