Wanderlust Beastkin, Beauty and the Beastkin-Chapter 32: Battling the Sludge Worm

Suddenly, from the depths of the water, emerged the creature that lurked in the pond’s shadows. It was a colossal beast, a murky green mass dripping with sludge, and the air quickly filled with the foul odor of rotten eggs and stagnant swamp. Its form resembled a gigantic worm, complete with a cavernous mouth lined with layers of jagged teeth, sharp as swords and daggers. Its multitude of red eyes locked onto us, several fixating on me. Panic surged through me, and I instinctively turned to flee, but the bubble held me captive, causing me to slide helplessly against its surface, my escape thwarted as I slipped down.

Oliver’s gaze pierced through the shimmering barrier, a bittersweet smile dancing on his lips, a blend of sorrow and fierce resolve. His hand pressed against the bubble, and I mirrored his gesture, our palms separated by an invisible force that felt both fragile and unyielding. In that fleeting moment, a whirlwind of emotions flickered across his face, each one more poignant than the last, before he turned away, jaw set tight with determination.

From his backpack, which lay abandoned on the ground, he retrieved a handful of seeds, each one glistening with potential. With a swift motion, he scattered them around the bubble, a ritual of defiance. Then, with a flourish, he directed his hands toward the earth, unleashing a surge of vibrant green light that shot forth like a bolt of energy. The seeds responded, erupting into a chaotic tangle of vines, each adorned with menacing thorns, while monstrous pitcher plants twisted and writhed, their movements unsettling and alive.

Through a narrow gap in the encroaching foliage, I caught a glimpse of the chaos unfolding outside. The creature, a hulking mass of fury, slammed its massive form into the ground where Titus had just been, the earth trembling beneath its weight. But Titus was quick, leaping aside and transforming mid-air into his lion form, a blur of strength and agility. The tension crackled in the air, a prelude to the storm that was about to break.

Emerging from the shadows, the creature unleashed a flurry of vibrant green tentacles, launching them with a menacing grace toward the enigmatic figure adorned with green and pink hair. In a dazzling display, the man summoned a beam of radiant light from the horn nestled in his forehead, slicing through the writhing appendages with surgical precision, severing them in a single, blinding flash.

Seizing the moment, Titus sprang into action, his claws extended like lethal weapons as he leaped onto the creature’s back. With a fierce determination, he sank his claws deep into its flesh, tearing away a meaty chunk and spitting it aside with a defiant sneer. The creature thrashed violently, desperate to dislodge him, but Titus only dug in deeper, a fierce glint in his eyes.

"Get out of the way!" The hippocampus unleashed another burst of light from his horn just as Titus executed a flawless backflip, narrowly avoiding the onslaught. In an electrifying twist, the light morphed into crackling bolts of lightning, arcing toward the creature and sending it into a frenzy of convulsions.

Yet, after a cacophony of anguished screeches and wild thrashing, the creature’s fury ignited anew, its determination morphing into a vengeful rage. It charged at both Titus and the hippocampus, who lunged forward in unison, their blades poised to strike. With a swift thrust, the hippocampus pierced the creature with his horn, while Titus glowed a fierce crimson, flames flickering to life across his fur. With a roar, he unleashed a fireball that shot forth from his mouth, hurtling toward the monstrous foe with a fiery vengeance.

The creature emitted a spine-chilling screech, thrashing in torment as if the very essence of pain had taken form. Titus, undeterred, unleashed a barrage of fireballs, each one bursting forth in a fiery cascade, illuminating the darkened cave with a hellish glow. Meanwhile, his companion unleashed a torrent of electric beams from his horn, crackling with energy that danced through the air like lightning in a storm. The cave reverberated with the cacophony of their battle, a symphony of chaos that echoed off the damp walls, while I peered through the narrow opening in the foliage that Oliver had conjured, a makeshift barrier shielding me from the fray.

Then, as if the world had paused, an eerie silence enveloped the cave, leaving my ears ringing in the aftermath of the tumult. I leaned closer, and Oliver stepped aside, granting me a clearer view of the beast that had finally met its end. The two warriors were now working in tandem, straining to haul the lifeless creature from the depths of the water.

With the threat neutralized, Oliver sprang into action, scattering a handful of seeds across the ground, infusing them with a surge of rapid-growing mana. In an instant, vibrant vines erupted from the earth, coiling around the fallen monster and hoisting it from the steaming spring, depositing it with a heavy thud on the cave floor. Not one to waste an opportunity, Oliver sprinkled more seeds over the carcass, and the newly summoned plants eagerly set to work, devouring the remains with a fervor that was both unsettling and fascinating.

Once the feast was complete, Oliver commanded the plants to stand guard at the entrance, permitting only a sheep beastkin to enter. It was astonishing how much had transpired in such a short span since their arrival in this cave, yet here we were, already embroiled in a dramatic encounter that would surely be etched into our memories.

The three men huddled together, their voices a low murmur just out of my reach, igniting a simmering frustration within me. I strained to decipher their words, but the mystery only deepened, leaving me feeling like an outsider. Then, as if sensing my growing impatience, they turned their attention toward me, and I realized I was more entangled in their plans than I had initially believed.

They exchanged a few more words, their bodies shifting in a way that obscured any chance of lip-reading. The man with the water horse beastkin stepped forward, engaging in a brief conversation with Oliver, who stood like a sentinel beside a wall of verdant plants. With a decisive motion, Oliver parted the foliage, granting the other man a nod of acknowledgment that felt heavy with unspoken meaning.

Then Oliver stepped aside, allowing the man to approach the shimmering bubble. As he pressed his hand against its surface, a brilliant white light erupted from his palm, illuminating the dim surroundings. In an instant, the bubble detonated with a thunderous pop, sending ripples of energy cascading through the air, leaving me breathless and wide-eyed.

"Hey there! I’m Iravan, but you can just call me Ira," he said softly, a warm smile gracing his lips. I could tell he noticed my surprise; it was practically written all over my face. I had anticipated a more forward approach from him, as my past encounters with beastkin had led me to believe that was their usual style. But instead, he simply stood there, his gaze sweeping over me as if he were trying to decipher a puzzle. What on earth was he searching for?

Just when I thought I might regain my composure, a wave of relief washed over me, and my knees betrayed me, sending me tumbling into his arms instead of the cold, hard ground of the cave.

Oh, fantastic! Now I felt like some fragile princess who needed saving. What was happening to me?

I quickly shook off the embarrassment and attempted to find my footing again. "You can put me down now," I insisted, trying to sound more assertive than I felt.

"Stay calm; nobody will judge you if you need a little support right now."

His grip around me tightened, and I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me as dark spots danced in my vision, making it hard to catch my breath. "Get away... don’t... touch me."

I was gasping for air! Panic surged through me, and I began to thrash about, desperate to break free. It felt as if the walls were closing in, suffocating me. Memories flooded my mind of a time when I had lost control, when someone else dictated my choices, leaving me utterly powerless. I couldn’t breathe! I couldn’t breathe!

Tears streamed down my face. "Please, don’t touch me. Just let me go."

"Something’s not right; hand her over!" Oliver exclaimed.

"What could a frail male like you possibly do that I can’t?" came the retort.

"Strength isn’t the issue here. I’m a doctor!"

Oliver quickly snatched Perla away from Ira, but by that point, she was already descending into a whirlwind of panic that triggered a seizure. Her body began to convulse uncontrollably, limbs thrashing about wildly, while her head shook side to side in a frantic dance. Beads of sweat formed on her brow, and a vacant expression settled on her face, her eyes clouded and unfocused. Gradually, her movements shrank into tiny tremors, only to erupt again into more intense, larger shakes.

Coming Next Time: Night in the Cave