Swallowed

Rose's scream echoed through the cavern, mingling with the sickening sound of the worms swallowing. She stumbled, nearly losing her footing on the treacherous slope. Tears blurred her vision as she could only helplessly watch. If only she had gotten her hand on the crystal core. With the fire ability, she would at least had a fighting chance.

Faced with this horrific reality, Rose berated herself for her dark thoughts. How could she have seriously considered abandoning Luke, even if saving him might have doomed them both? Now, witnessing this before her very eyes, she understood that nothing was worse than losing someone close. How had she forgotten such a fundamental truth?

Her body, weak and aching, refused to obey as she struggled to continue up the slope. The burden of Luke's death weighed heavily on her, but she knew she couldn't give up—if she died here, what would become of her brother?

Gritting her teeth, she pounded her legs in frustration. "Move, damn it!"

Zen, incapable of offering physical assistance, hovered anxiously at her side.

The giant worm, momentarily distracted by its meal, refocused its attention on her. Its massive body writhed, propelling it up the slope with terrifying speed.

Rose's heart pounded in her ears as she forced her legs to move. Each step was agony, her muscles screaming in protest. The worm's putrid stench filled her nostrils, growing stronger with each passing second.

With a yelp, Rose collapsed into the dirt as her legs gave way beneath her. Adrenaline and fatigue waged war inside her, wracking her body and clouding her mind. When she tried to scramble up, even her arms betrayed her, incapable of providing support. She fell to the side, landing on her back, her vision blurring.

"Boss!" Zen's frantic shout barely registered as the hologram materialized before her. But it was powerless to help.

The giant worm loomed above, its massive body casting a shadow over her prone form. Rose's heart sank as the horrifying realization hit her—it was over.

She put up a last struggle, not willing to let this be her end. Her second chance at life couldn't end in the stomach of a freaking worm!

The creature lunged, its circular maw lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth snapping shut mere inches from her face as she pushed herself upward. Rose`s breath stopped together with her heartbeat.

Suddenly, a violent jerk went through the worm`s body, twisting it from side to side. Not able to keep its balance, it slithered down the slope, still thrashing violently. Its massive body writhed and contorted, as if fighting against an unseen force. Rose watched in stunned disbelief as the worm's movements became more erratic, its segmented form twisting unnaturally.

It's middle potion was blowing up like a balloon, a glow shining through its skin. With a sickening squelch, the worm's body burst open, revealing a figure covered in slime and viscera. Luke emerged, gasping for air, his eyes wild with terror and disbelief. Rose's jaw dropped as she watched the boy, whom she had believed lost forever, crawl out of the creature's remains.

Luke staggered towards her, his legs wobbly and his breath labored. Though it took him a while, he managed to claw his way up the slope. "Rose," he gasped, collapsing at her side. "I think I found that crystal core you were after." He opened his palm, revealing a tiny, dancing flame.

You can't be serious.

With a laugh, Rose collapsed onto her back, her eyes fluttering shut.

How were they supposed to find the crystal core inside the damn creature?!

Exhaustion consumed her, and she yearned for nothing more than a warm bath and a soft bed. The different emotions were overwhelming her - joy, anger, relief, frustration. Not sure how exactly she was feeling at the moment, she decided to blend them out.

With them both in this kind of state, it was best if they returned as quickly as possible. Rose was wary of encountering another monster. Although reports of multiple creatures in a single realm didn't surface until a year after their initial appearance, there was no way to be absolutely sure. At least they - or rather Luke - got his hand on the crystal core.

Abandoning any further search for spiritual liquid or rare elements, Rose propped herself up, meeting Luke's gaze.

"Let's go home," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The young man, still reeling from his brush with death and marveling at his newfound ability, nodded absently. He slipped his arms under Rose's, helping her to her feet.

Together, they struggled up the final meters toward the portal, with Zen floating silently beside them. The hologram's brows were furrowed, as if lost in deep contemplation.

Summoning their last reserves of strength, they hurled themselves through the portal. Their surroundings dissolved into a kaleidoscope of colors.

As they emerged on the other side, they collapsed onto the ground in a pitiful state. Both were nearly unrecognizable beneath layers of grime—Rose reeking of excrement, Luke coated in a viscous mixture of saliva and gastric juices.

As Rose looked up to see her older brother looming over her, she knew she was in trouble.