Belly of the Beast. (Prologue)

"And stay out!"

*Pierce*

"Argh!"

"No!"

"Damn you!"

*Slurp*

Cheo struck down a particular pillar when the entire tunnel of flesh shrunk and shuts tight, swallowing anyone who's inside. Leaving one tunnel left, Cheo sits back leaving me to fight anyone left. Compared to all those I faced before, they're peanuts in comparison as a single blow from my halberd easily tear them to shreds, maybe added with how they're barely wearing any armour.

"I think that's all of them for now."

I said as seeing the trails of corpse still left a bitter taste in my mouth. The whole behind us that I blown over has shrink and close by itself as we fight which let Cheo who's now taking care of the unconscious Chom-Chom stroke its head replying:

"Good job, I really wish we could just continue on but for one thing, Chom-Chom is completely lights out and I'm probably gonna pass out sooner or later too."

(Ah, right, unlike Juha and me who rested while we waited for them to fix and reorganize, Cheo hasn't even sleep or rested since we left the capital).

I nod replying:

"It's okay, I'll go alone. Since Admiral Hwang-So and his crew is already inside, I can just find them and tell him where you are."

"That would be great. Sorry, Sova... But, I'm gonna take a quick shut eye right here. And if you're confused on where to go, just head up, the princess usually control it up there."

(Wait, he's gonna sleep here?)

"A-Alright, but is going there easy?"

"Don't worry, with how strong you are, it'll be easy. As for me... I'll be the one to burn their bodies and catch up with you so try not to hurt yourself too much alright?"

Cheo leans towards the sleeping Chom-Chom and rest his head.

(He must've been pushing himself too much, especially even after he just finished recovering).

I look over the tunnel of moving flesh and small lights hanging over the ceiling like new year lantern decorations. I take a deep breathe and disperse my halberd as it won't fit. Slowly I walk over the path that the enemy has lay and wonder how could anyone even endure being in this place? It was only after the adrenaline and fear fades away that we realize the absolute heat I felt when we stay in this place. The steam and mist this place give is like being inside those sauna back at the guild.

When I reach the end of the tunnel, I am greeted by a multitude of more flesh tunnels, the sound of groaning and something huge dragging, grinding, and moving is unnerving. Even worse, this whole place is entirely like a tower. Almost barely any flat surface abd everything is vertical to travel. That would explain why all the soldiers inside are wearing thin clothes and wearing something akin to climbing gear.

"Donut and rabbits, where am I!?"

I grab one of the corpses gear and wonder how they do it as I never experience anything related to this kind of height.

"Um... Going up is the right way right?"

(I may not know how they control this beast but... That's one way to find out).

I see a hook and notice somewhere it can fit before I strap myself and notice my legs are shaking beyond belief, added with how even the flesh walls are wiggling and moving, plus the horrific stench, this place really just makes me want to go back and wait until Cheo wakes up.

*Slap*

I smack my own face shouting:

"Get yourself together! People are dying out there and you're the one who can make that happen less! Now stop shaking!"

I punch my own legs and stop it from shaking before I strap the hook and start putting my feet up. I grab some sort of suction tool from the corpse and start climbing. Using my experience from the rat and monkey techniques as experience, I suction first, then my legs before using the grappling and stuck it to another much further.

*Slip*

"Woah!"

My feet slip from something wet and I clutch the flesh feeling something warm rub all over me. The disgusting feeling wash across my body as I'm now covered not only in blood, mucus, saliva, and now whatever this is.

*Grit*

"Rrrgh! Get the fudge up!"

I shout to myself and start climbing again trying to get to the nearest hole.

*Fwoooh*

I hear something coming from one of the holes above, and not wanting to find out I quickly climb my way up when,

*Swooosh*

A pillar of green liquid burst from multiple holes and splash across my body.

"Aaah!"

*Slip*

"Oh, no!"

The liquid made everything wet and slippery as I try to grab and even claw the fleshy walls to no avail.

"That's it!"

I summon my halberd and try to plunge it inside when,

*Splooosh*

The walls open into a hole and burst forth another pillar straight to me, pushing me further away from the walls.

"Not again!"

With nothing to hold or land, I free fall across the depths. Diving across the endless depths, I lift my halberd and gather my power once more and ready myself.

[Immortal calamity dragon technique and silver tiger god technique combined, Armageddon path: Endless Twilight!]

*Swirl*

Ashes gather and swirl into a vortex around me when I see light at the end and hear sounds of countless people moving around. As my eyes captures a hint of surface I swing with all my might.

*BAM* *Psssh*

*ROOOAAAAR!!!*

"Bungongi-"

*Crash*

"Aaah!"

"Princess!"

"Song-Chisun!"

"Protect her!"

"Fire!"

*Bang* *Bang*

"[Lordow Eresfer]"

Before the dust and ashes even clears, bullets rain down on me as my notebook flips open and I cast a shield spell that surround me with a purple barrier. I pull my hand in before swinging it out expanding the barrier, blowing away the mist and soldiers surrounding me when I get a clear view of what seems to be the bridge and disperse my shield.

"Lucky me. I thought you'd be up there like Cheo said."

Even if I don't know who or what the princess name is but seeing how everyone is surrounding that single girl, I can easily tell she's the one.

Blood pours from the ceiling I violently make alongside multitude of unpleasant moisture as I'm being drench in such mixture. I take a few step forward which cause all the officers to pull out their swords when I say,

"Sorry for hurting and killing many of your people princess but... Can you please come with me quietly? I'll make sure this whole mess will end quickly."