CHAPTER 55: THE FOOTPATH WITHIN THE GROTTO (1).

Nero kept walking through this strange, dark, damp world for some time before he stumbled across another Abomination— the Elkerling.

Even without Shadow Shift, he had realized he was capable of defeating one with relative ease.

He made sure to make use of the skill regardless, burning through his reserves of Ein Sof.

However, that didn’t matter.

After all, he had yet to achieve even basic mastery of the skill. His usage and understanding of it was still shaky at best and terrible at worst.

Still, it made him feel a bit fulfilled.

He had just gained another absolutely powerful weapon.

Walking down the side of the dark river, Nero had no idea how much time had passed.

Along the way, he slaughtered at least five more Elkerlings, each one just as damned and twisted as the first.

The creatures were true spawns of horror— abberations that were of this twisted world.

When he cut them down, Nero’s heart was as cold as steel.

Besides their bloodlust and seemingly inexhaustible hatred of humans, they were also seeds that spread the corruption of the earth.

From what he knew, the landscape of the world had begun its degradation hundreds of thousands of millennia ago. Back when the first Gryghori began to walk the path of corruption.

These vile beings twisted and reshaped the earth with their great powers, not just humans.

Oceans were turned into lakes of fire or putrid acid. All the water sources were corrupted.

The beasts of the earth and the wildflowers were twisted as well, turned into beings that were so profane, gazing at their forms would destroy the minds of mere mortals.

To make it worse, even in the relative absence of the Fallen Ones, their influence was not absent at all.

If anything, over the millennia, it had blossomed even more and more.

With more Abominations birthing even more twisted beings, they landscape continued to change to accommodate such creatures.

It was a rather strange relationship. One that forced humanity further and further away until they had been pushed back into their walled cities and towns.

In the end, the Land was of and for the Abominable and Tainted.

Nero let out a sigh as he sheathed his sword.

Besides the Elkerlings, he was yet to encounter any other type of Abomination in this place.

It was quite strange.

The Purple Evergrowth forest had been full of diversity— chimeras, humanoids, and even ghosts.

He had expected to see at least a few ghosts in this damp, cold and spooky place.

But there were none. Hopefully.

In any case, he decided to make camp.

Since he was so far below ground, there was a good chance the light he would be making was too dim to make it out of the ravine.

And even if it did, he couldn’t have cared less.

For one, he was absolutely starving.

He couldn’t quite prove it, but he suspected the time he spent unconscious had been quite substantial.

And while he didn’t think he was a sissy, one thing he absolutely refused to do, was eating the flesh of these Abominations raw.

He absolutely would not and could not do such for quite a number of reasons. Reasons he didn’t even want to think about.

And so, the making of a fire was in order.

’But where to I get the wood.’

Although his firestarter was still secure, unfortunately, he didn’t have a habit of lugging dry sticks and lumber all around.

He looked around him.

The bottom of the ravine was covered in all sorts of fungus and vines that had not tried to attack him.

Yet.

Hopefully...

There was nothing combustible around to use to make a fire.

Unless of course, he counted the clothes on his back. Abd those would burn out relatively quickly.

Nero sighed.

’Will I just have to eat it raw?’

Even the mere thought of it was sickening.

But if he was left without a choice, then...

He let out a sigh and continued walking. Perhaps he would find some luck up ahead.

Unfortunately, even after walking for so long, Nero found none whatsoever.

For some reason, the raviyseeme to stretch on forever relative to his understanding of time.

Bubbling sounds bounced off the damp walls as he filled his waterskin with the black water from the putrid river.

’I’m down to six uses.’ His expression was quite ugly.

Once the waterskin was used up, he would no longer have access to water. His plan had been to stock up with Divine Elixirs and the new Essence Pills.

Unfortunately, it seemed that would have to wait for a while.

He rose up and walked a few more steps.

Then he came to a screeching halt.

Nero’s eyes widened,

"This..."

Right up ahead, after a slight curve in the path, there was what looked to b a cave entrance.

Nero was instantly filled with caution.

Sure enough, resting at the entrance the cave, were three Elkerlings.

Despite laying in rest, the Abominations were still as terrifying and gnarly as ever.

Nero’s eyes widened, ’Thrre at once might be stretching it...’

He considered it for a moment then decided to try something out.

He took a moment to ready himself.

Then he picked up a rock.

Taking a few steps backwards, he took aim and threw with all his might.

The rock traveled swiftly through the air then smacked into the head of one of the resting Elkerlings.

The Abomination was instantly riled from its slumber, letting out a pained shriek as it searched for an assailant.

Nero briefly showed himself.

The other two Abominations slowly rose from their rest as well, but the first one was already ahead of them, launching itself forward furiously.

Propelled by pure rage it was unable to see the glint of enchanted steel.

Nero’s eyes were wide open, allowing for his focus to be boosted to the absolute maximum.

And then, an explosion of speed.

Rancid ichor splattered onto the ground.

Steam wafting off the soles of his boots, Nero sucked in a deep breath then exhaled sharply a moment later.

The Abomination, now a few meters behind him. No...

The Abomination had not moved a single inch.

Rather, it was Nero that had moved.

The Abomination remained still for a few more seconds.

Then its two bloodies halves fell onto the ground.

The Elkerling twitched for a few more moments, but a quick stab through the head sent it back into the cycle...