Chapter 14: Demon’s Lair 02
The cave was surprisingly bright, even though it wasn’t a Dungeon. Patches of luminescent moss clung to the rocky walls, emitting a considerable amount of light.
After about twenty minutes of advancing, I sensed a presence approaching from deeper within. What emerged was the same insect-like Demon I had encountered outside, but this one was larger and sported two heads. It seemed to be a higher-tier species.
Not wanting it to call for reinforcements, I dashed forward to close the distance. I intercepted several ice spears while charging in and slammed my shield against its head.
With a squelching sound, the Demon was sent flying, transforming into dark particles as it did.
“This shield really doubles as a weapon.”
I had felt this when I defeated that rampaging Demon earlier; the Immovable Fortress Wall was a vicious weapon in its own right. Considering the enhancement from my Skills, the impact alone was likely more powerful than a collision with a ten-ton dump truck.
I collected the Magic Stone and pressed further into the cave. There were no branches in the tunnel; aside from a few bends, it was a straight path.
As I obliterated another Demon, I noticed something peculiar.
The rocky surface ahead was unusually smooth. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to have been artificially shaped.
I had considered this possibility, but could there really be a civilization ahead?
Walking along the completely flat floor, I began to hear strange sounds. It was as if many creatures were moving about.
Ahead, I spotted a glow. It seemed there was a space filled with luminescent moss. My Presence Detection revealed a significant number of responses—over a hundred. A vast multitude of Demons appeared to be congregating in the expansive area beyond.
I crept forward, careful to remain silent. Encountering the Demons now would lead to disaster, but fortunately, that didn’t happen.
Reaching the end of the corridor, I arrived at the entrance to the wide space. From the presence I sensed, it seemed that the area below opened up significantly. This indicated that the corridor I was in connected to the ceiling of a large chamber.
I crouched low, peering over the edge to get a glimpse of the expansive area below.
“What in the world…”
Though I had anticipated something, the sight that unfolded was still shocking.
The chamber was about thirty meters deep and roughly twice the size of a soccer field. It was an unusually vast space nestled within the rocky mountains. The surrounding area was entirely artificially flattened, unmistakably not a product of nature.
And at the bottom, the entire surface was a pink hue—countless Demons writhing about. Most were the insect-like ones I had been fighting, but I could also spot about five of the larger spider-like Demons I had battled in Tolson. It was clear that this was the Demons’ nest.
However, that alone was somewhat expected and not particularly surprising.
The real issue lay with the strange structure affixed to the wall at the back of the chamber.
It resembled a colossal female statue. At first glance, it appeared to be a fusion of a clay figurine and a haniwa, evoking a sense of déjà vu, yet it was still a sight I had never seen before.
Standing about thirty meters tall, the figure was plastered against the wall in a spread-eagle pose. The wall surface between its legs had a glass-like, transparent sheen, suggesting that something special resided in that area.
I held my breath, captivated by the scene before me. Suddenly, the wall that appeared to be glass beneath the statue began to ripple like liquid.
Then, as the waves subsided, the wall bulged outward, and at its peak, a pink object—a Demon—slipped out.
“Is that… are Demons being born from there?”
After observing for a while, I became certain when another Demon emerged. It seemed that this was a facility for producing Demons. In a fantasy context, it could also be seen as a summoning mechanism, but either way, it was undeniable that this was the source of the Demons.
If that’s the case, should I destroy it? I briefly considered this, but I realized that my priority should be to continue observing. Destroying it might lead to unforeseen complications.
As I continued to watch, the Demons began to emit a series of metallic screeches, filling the vast chamber with their cacophonous cries.
When the volume of their voices peaked, all at once, the Demons began to scale the walls.
Of course, they were heading straight for the corridor where I stood.
Oh no… I thought, but it was too late. In an instant, the Demons surged into the corridor, rushing toward the exit—and then—
“What the…?”
The countless Demons completely ignored me, shield raised, and sprinted past toward the exit. A few stumbled over my shield and fell, but those following trampled over them as they continued forward. In less than a minute, all the Demons had rushed past me.
“Should I see what happens next?”
While it would be wise to investigate the room now that the Demons were gone, I decided it was better to prioritize following their movements.
With that judgment made, I took off down the corridor, chasing after the Demons.