Threads of the Soul

Chapter 435 - 435: Not too bad

On the other side of the hill was a drop, almost immediately. It was a sheer drop, straight down, for hundreds of metres. While many of them could traverse this drop easily, through the power of flight, and others could drop down by the power of gravity, it was not something they could all manage so easily.Well... Everyone could drop down, but not all of them would survive it or walk away unscathed. That was the main dividing factor.

The drop led not into a hole, but a canyon. The blue grass giving way to tough packed dirt that had been reinforced by some unknown substance, giving the earth a slightly green tint. It stretched as far as the eye could see to either side, and was not a singular empty space. Instead it was a maze of cracks and crevices, hundreds of lines of canyons woven together to form a singular labyrinthine structure.

Lining these walls were countless holes of various sizes. Some of them were large enough only to fit a man's arm inside, not that any of them wanted to reach into the strange hole, while others were so large that it could fit two men standing on each others shoulders and still have room for them to stretch their arms above their head.

The same green substance that had stained the dirt overflowed from these strange portals into the dirt and had hardened until it almost seemed like they were making ramps, at least for those lower down to ground level. Many of these strange holes were, in fact, lining the walls at all manner of heights.

But none of them crept above the mark of 2 metres below the grass. Every one of them stayed below that invisible line.

The Quintet stood atop the hill, which they now realised was only formed because something had pushed the dirt up and out when the canyon maze was being formed, and looked down at the obstacle before them with a mixture of expressions.

Xander, the American, was the first to speak. He scoffed arrogantly, waving his hand dismissively.

"Pfft, This isn't so bad. Now if you want to see a real Canyon, you can just mosey on down to Arizona. Now that is what I would call a Canyon. This? It's nothing. Just a little drop, that's all."

The Russian Captain rolled his eyes, "It is not the drop that is the concerning part, you arrogant fool. It is what else lives down there."

He pointed to the numerous holes that lined the walls, causing the American to frown slightly.

"So it's a little swiss cheesed, so what? We go down there, find what's living in the caves and I turn them into swiss cheese too."

Xander pulled out one of his revolvers, spinning them on his finger.

"I wouldn't recommend that." A new voice spoke up. It was soft and delicate, yet with a hint of hidden danger and venom.

The American spun around to find a woman in a billowing black and red Gothic dress standing beside him, someone who had not been there a minute ago. Her large, pure black eyes reflected his own face back at him, all eight of them.

Xander let out a sharp yelp at the appearance of the monstrous woman, who simply let out a dainty laugh at his fear. Her pillowy lips spread into a gentle smile that was supposed to be reassuring, but was far from it.

"Oh I do apologise, I didn't mean to frighten you. I just couldn't help but overhear your little conversation and thought I would join in, even if my invitation seems to have gotten lost."

The strange woman let out another delicate chuckle, acting with complete politeness and manners, but her empty gaze shifted to Corvus as she stared at him like he was nothing but prey.

Underneath the hood, he narrowed his eyes. He could feel the predatory air around her and knew that she was some kind of mutated beast, an insectoid if he had to guess or perhaps even a spider.

Her gaze was unsettling, but for a strange reason he couldn't quite understand. It was true she was glaring like he was prey but there was something more.

Regardless, he eventually bowed his head slightly in a show of remorse,

"My Apologies my Lady, In our human ignorance we seem to have ignored yourself and your companion in our discussions. We came to that meeting on equal footing, and such should be the case even now.

Just because we were interrupted, doesn't mean we have any reason for such rudeness."

Even if the Lion-Centaur creature was lounging with the rest of the collective of leaders and seemed utterly disinterested in the conversation, Corvus still made sure to include it. Even if they were 'mere beasts' as little as such a reductive term could apply, they were still classed as leaders and had reached the class of Celestial.

While he might not know the full extent of what it meant to be Celestial, as the thunder god had so helpfully informed him, he did know that it was a relatively big deal on their world. At least in humans.

Beasts and Plants had more simple mutations, and often had easier time ascending through the rankings. Especially since they had always been embroiled in the 'Survival of the Fittest' for their entire existence, while humanity had pulled themselves away from such things to live in their wonderful 'society'.

A decision that many to this day still thought was a stupid idea.

He doubted that the three beasts that arrived, and had now been reduced down to two, were the only Celestials in whatever pack or horde they had created. So, for these 'Mere Beasts' to be Celestial and Leaders spoke volumes of their power and their cunning.

After all, Apex predators often stop evolving until they are forced to by their environment changing to not suit them. They are considered perfect, so they faced no pressure and had no reason to adapt.

So what happens when such a creature is forced to evolve even further, in a world that already suits it, and is given even more of a chance to hunt and prove itself? It was a terrifying thought and why Corvus showed them the respect they were very much due.

The Insectoid Woman let out a delicate, charming laugh again, fixing Corvus with that predatory gaze once more and left him even more confused as she went on to say,

"No need for you to apologise. I appreciate it though. Now, as I was saying, going in there would be... oh what do you call it? Ah yes, Suicide. You would be prey walking right into the waiting mouth of its predator.

Death would be the least horrible option. Those tunnels belong to a burrowing hive type creature. What it could be, I have no idea. But I have plenty under my command and they make such delightful soldiers.

However, as colonies they like to preserve their food, make it last for months to feed the young, or sometimes help birth them. Warm bodies make good incubators you know~"

She pinched the American's cheek like a doting grandmother as she mentioned the part about incubators, causing Xander to pull away and bat at her hand.

Corvus glanced at the cuff on his wrist before letting out another sigh.

"Well, Unfortunately we have no choice. We need to go down there, that's where the portal is. There is the option to wait for the next one, but I don't know how long or how far that will be.

If you need further convincing, I'd like to remind you that it will open whether we are here or not. The portals that have been opening all across your country, spewing out random monsters? It's because of this.

So if you don't want whatever in the hell is down there turning your cities into that, then I suggest we make sure we are the first and only thing through this portal."

Xander let out a low groan, holstering his revolver and gesturing to the crevice.

"Fine, Well if you want to do this then you can make some of your friends and send them down. Then spooky here, you'll lead us through since you know so much about this place."

The Insectoid snapped her head towards the American, her beady black eyes gleaming with murderous intent. Her mouth opened, passed her pillowy lips until her cheeks split apart all the way up to her ears to show her true mouth.

Her mouth extended from ear to ear and was filled with rows upon rows of finger sized, needle sharp teeth that numbered easily in the hundreds. A pair of razor sharp mandibles unfolded themselves, clicking threateningly.

Despite her mouth open like this, strings of viscous saliva connecting the two halves of her head, she still managed to talk. Her voice layered and sounded much more monstrous compared to the delicate voice from before.

"I wasn't talking to you, flesh bag, and I do not take orders from you either."

The American recoiled in horror, his face twisting with disgust and hatred as his hand reached for his gun once more. But before he could, Corvus had closed the gap and clamped his hand around Xander's wrist.

Xander gave him a confused, questioning look, but Corvus ignored him and focused on the Insectoid.

"Forgive his attitude. While it is a good plan, we don't have time for a full clear like that. We need to go in ourselves. Would you please do us so kind as to help us through with your expertise."

The Insectoids mandibles folded away before her real mouth closed. Her false, pillowy lips twisted into a bashful, pouting smile as she pressed her clawed hand against her mouth as if she was simply excusing herself for burping. Her voice once more returning to the delicate and seductive tone.

"Oh why of course. Anything for you Handsome~"