’’Thud!’’ ’’Thud!’’ ’’Thud!’’
The sound of heavy, slow footsteps came from inside the cave. Whatever was in there was coming out, and it seemed incredibly heavy.
Doriana tightened her grip on her wand, while Aster narrowed his eyes. They were eighty meters away from the cave entrance, yet he still couldn’t detect anything with his perception.
The sounds continued to draw closer with every passing moment. As they grew louder, Aster finally managed to pick up a signal.
’’I’ve detected something inside... It’s approaching,’’ Aster murmured, signaling for both of them to remain silent.
’’Thud!’’ ’’Thud!’’ ’’Thud!’’
’’It’s coming out now,’’ he whispered.
Then, a faint, mysterious glow appeared in the darkness of the entrance.
All my attention was focused on that spot. The light I could see was a faint cyan blue, growing brighter with every passing moment.
Then, whatever was inside began to emerge.
Aster froze in place, trying to understand what he was looking at.
’’Grrrr...’’
A hoarse growl came from the creature that had just appeared at the cave entrance.
’’What is that?’’ I asked, frowning as my heart began to beat a little faster.
’’I have no idea, my lord,’’ Doriana murmured beside me.
The two of them were huddled close together behind an elevated tree trunk, with only their heads visible as they watched the creature.
It had an elongated body, four legs, and a long tail.
Its skin was covered in metallic-blue scales. Small, irregular protrusions resembling crystals emerged from various parts of its body, glimmering whenever rays of light struck them.
Its reptilian eyes were silver, and its body was easily three meters long.
’’It looks like a giant lizard,’’ I said, studying its structure.
Doriana watched the creature silently for a while before murmuring, ’’It looks like some unusual type of salamander.’’
I turned to look at her.
’’A salamander?’’
She nodded.
’’Salamanders are reptiles that live in caves rich in natural elements.’’
She paused briefly before continuing.
’’Fire salamanders have red scales and live in volcanic regions.’’
’’Earth salamanders inhabit caves where the soil is rich in energy.’’
’’Water salamanders, meanwhile, live in the deepest parts of the oceans.’’
She turned her attention back to the creature.
’’They have physical differences that allow them to adapt to their respective environments. For example, water salamanders have gills and fins. But, generally speaking, they all share roughly the same physical structure... This one, however, is different. It does resemble a salamander, but it has many physical characteristics that distinguish it from the others. So I’m not certain it’s one, although it does look somewhat similar.’’
Aster looked back at the creature, which was slowly moving its head from side to side. Its eyes opened and closed vertically.
I narrowed my eyes.
’’Then what could it be?’’
’’We don’t know, but... it’s strong.’’
I raised an eyebrow.
’’Can you determine how strong it is?’’
’’Yes... based on its energy levels, I can.’’
’’Can I do that too?’’ I asked, considering the possibility.
’’Remember what I told you before? Druids are sensitive to mana.’’
She reminded him of what she had said when she was summoned.
’’So I can’t do it?’’
’’Well... you can learn, but it takes time.’’
She looked at Aster and smiled.
’’But if you want to learn, I have something that might help.’’
I smiled, satisfied with her answer.
I turned my attention back to the monster as it began to move.
’’Thud!’’ ’’Thud!’’ ’’Thud!’’
’’When I have time, you can teach me. For now, let’s get back to the important question... How strong is this monster?’’
Doriana studied the creature, analyzing its magical composition.
She continued examining it before adding, ’’Judging by its body structure, its greatest strength is probably its defense. Its scales are thick and resemble living metal. Its body is heavy, and its legs are short, so speed probably isn’t its strong suit.’’
The two of them watched the monster move slowly, taking one step at a time.
’’What about its physical strength?’’ I asked.
She pointed toward a part of the creature’s body.
’’There.’’
Her finger indicated the monster’s long tail.
’’I believe its tail is just as powerful as its defenses. It compensates for its heavy, slow body. And those spikes should be excellent for piercing things.’’
I swallowed hard, imagining what would happen if I were struck by it.
’Could my Graviton Barrier withstand a hit like that?’ I wondered.
’Probably not!’
I was still far too weak, and I didn’t want to test that theory.
’’My lord, I’ve been thinking,’’ Doriana murmured.
I turned toward her and waited for her to continue. Her eyes hadn’t left the monster for even a moment.
I looked back at the creature, waiting for her to explain her reasoning.
’’I think that if it’s a salamander, it might have undergone a mutation... Perhaps it’s a native species of this world.’’
’’To adapt to its environment?’’ I asked, realizing we were thinking along the same lines.
’’Yes,’’ she replied with a nod.
Meanwhile, the monster continued moving slowly in a specific direction.
’’Where is it going?’’
I soon found my answer when I noticed the direction it was heading.
It was coming straight toward us.
Doriana and I widened our eyes.
’’Could it be the owner of the territory where those fruits grow?’’ I asked.
’’It’s possible.’’
After a few more steps, the monster approached the tree where we were hiding.
Aster and Doriana held their breath as it passed beneath them.
’’Thud!’’ ’’Thud!’’ ’’Thud!’’
My eyes traveled across its back, which was covered in structures resembling spikes made from unknown minerals. Now that it was closer, it looked even larger and more intimidating.
My gaze shifted to its tail, which dragged along the ground, leaving marks as it slowly swayed from side to side.
A cold sweat trickled down my temple.
The monster continued toward the clearing where the fruits were growing, a few hundred meters away.
The two of us followed it with our eyes.
When it reached the clearing, the creature looked around once more. Then it approached a fruit-laden bush and opened its mouth, swallowing the entire bush along with its fruit.
Its teeth were large and sharp. As it pulled the bush into its mouth, it tore the roots straight out of the ground.
’’So it was him...’’ Doriana murmured.
’A monster this powerful... It’s no wonder there are no other creatures nearby. Nobody would dare live close to a predator like that,’ I thought.
I turned my attention away from the monster and back toward the cave.
Doriana looked at Aster and narrowed her eyes.
’’You want to enter the cave, don’t you?’’
Aster turned toward her with a crooked smile.
’’Am I really that easy to read?’’ I asked, genuinely perplexed.
’’As easy as an open book, my lord.’’
Doriana giggled.
’’Your expressions are very honest.’’
I let out a resigned sigh.
’’I need to work on that,’’ I murmured.
’’You certainly do,’’ she replied without hesitation.
I simply shook my head, smiling faintly.
’’So... why do you want to go inside?’’ She tilted her head.
’’Don’t you find it strange?’’
Doriana remained silent, listening attentively.
’’Even with all those fruits... they don’t seem like enough to feed a monster of that size,’’ I said.
She looked into the distance, watching the creature chew on the fruit-laden bush.
’’You’re right,’’ she murmured.
’’Sooner or later, those fruits will run out. Then it’ll have to go without that food source for quite some time, until the fruits grow back.’’
Doriana turned her gaze toward the cave.
’’It must feed on something else.’’
Aster nodded.
’’That’s exactly what I’m thinking.’’
’’And you think whatever it feeds on is inside the cave?’’
I nodded.
’’Yes... I think so.’’
I stood there, thinking for a moment. Then I turned my attention back to the monster.
’Will we have enough time? It’s slow, and it looks like it’ll take a while to satisfy its hunger.’
I watched the creature move toward another bush.
I turned toward the beautiful green-haired woman, who was watching me and waiting for me to say something.
’’Let’s take a look inside. We need to be quick!’’
’’All right,’’ Doriana agreed.
’’We’ll see what’s inside and then return to the fort to inform the others. Let’s go.’’
Aster began climbing down the tree carefully, holding on to the branches Doriana had created. She followed close behind.
Doriana jumped from one of the branches, and Aster caught her by her slender waist.
Her large, heavy breasts collided deliciously against his chest. Aster reveled for a moment in that soft texture.
’’Shall we?’’ I asked, my fingers pressing lightly into her waist.
She grew shy at their closeness but nodded.
Aster set her down.
After taking one more look at the monster, which was still feasting on the fruit, the two of them headed toward the cave.
As soon as they entered, darkness swallowed their field of vision.
’’It’s really dark in here,’’ I murmured.
’’Doriana... take my hand.’’
I stretched my arm backward.
She looked at my outstretched hand and took it, her cheeks turning slightly red.
As we moved forward, we could hear water dripping from the ceiling and striking the ground.
The floor sloped downward, descending gradually with every step and leading deeper into the cave.
Green moss covered much of the walls.
The stones scattered across the floor were smooth.
’’Be careful not to slip,’’ I warned.
Doriana tightened her grip on my hand and continued following my steps.
I won’t lie... I was excited.
Everything I was experiencing was new, and the anticipation made my heart race.
We continued descending as the passage grew steeper.
After several minutes, we began to notice a faint light.
Little by little...
Step by step...
The cave grew brighter until we finally reached a place that made my eyes widen and Doriana’s mouth fall open in surprise.
’’Woooow!’’ I murmured, completely caught off guard.
.....
Goodbye, my dear readers...