Chapter 5: The One Living below Part 1

"Hreeee!!"

I hear hundreds of howls at my back as I continue to run away from those who chase us. Whity was at my wooden bag, alerting me every time one of them comes out to attack us from nearby bushes. I looked back and saw that the numbers of crawlers from before had just increased. 

Damn it. I have no choice but to keep going. I have no hope of winning against them for now. I'm still too weak. As I continue to run, I feel one of them getting closer. 

The nearby crawler then pounced at us but I just avoided it in time. It rolled through but I didn't look back. I keep running as stopping could spell the end for us. I look my way through my surrounding, trying to look for a way to outmaneuver them.

"Arf! Arf!"

I look at my side and one of them again was trying to pounce on me. I took my axes and slashed its eyes. I kicked it away for good measure before resuming my run.

"Hreeee!"

Its howl echoed with its brethren. As I passed through numerous trees, bushes, and avoiding attacks from the crawlers...I look onward and saw that we are nearing out of the forest. All I see from afar are the wide spread of luscious grasses.

Soon, I was out of the dreaded forest but I still continued to run. The grasses are as tall as my waist. The open field is vast like the ocean.

"Hreeeee!"

I looked back to check on our pursuers but they seemed to stop. I halted my footsteps and saw a few of them shaking in fear. What's going on?

"H-hreeeee"

One of them soon started to move backwards. Its companion followed soon after. They ran back to the forest like a pair of dogs with tail between their legs. I quickly got curious.

I look at Whity in the bag but was surprised to see him also shaking in fear.

...

I check the wide greenery around me. This place must be dangerous. I pulled out my shotgun in exchange of my ax on my other hand. Reloaded it and slowly walk through the grasses.

Step

Step

The sounds of the wind passes through me as the grasses was swayed by its forces. I surveyed my surrounding, looking for any potential threat.

...

The silence descended upon us. I could no longer saw any crawler from behind. Whatever that have lived in here. It must be deadlier to even bring fear to those things.

Step

Step

...

The walk so far is strangely peaceful. Nothing came out of the grasses yet. It's just the silence that greeted us. Except for the occasional winds.

Step

...

...

Snap

!

I was alerted by the strange noise. I quickly crouched and slowly readed my weapons. The grasses completely covered my form.

The atmosphere is tense despite the beautiful view of the tall grasses. I didn't move from my location and just waited for something to occur.

If I'm still alive right now, my heart would be beating so fast. Though, I'm technically half alive but you get the idea. I could feel Whity shivering inside the bag. Don't worry little guy. I'll make sure to bring us both to safety.

...

After a few minutes of waiting, nothing seems to pop up. I slowly stand up and look around some more. Whatever that thing was, I must still be careful.

With that, I slowly continued my walk. I wonder what kind of world this is? The zombies in here are a bit extraordinary. They are stronger and more durable. There are also other types of monsters in here like that wall zombie from that blooded hallway and those posted crawlers...haaaaah.

I have so much to do. I have to learn more about this place. Better grab a journal while I'm at it. And I totally forgot to bring one when I'm still at the city. Damn it. I better get a new pair of clothes too. That damn crawler teared my vest and pants. I look like a hobo. But the most important of all...

I have to get stronger. Strength boost through monster consumption is a bit dull and disgusting but it has its Perks. I wonder if there's a limit in this particular ability...hmm.

"Hreeee"

!

I heard the noise and quickly hid around the tall grasses. I traced where the noise come from and saw a crawler a few feet away from me.

What's it doing here? I gripped my ax and readed my shotgun but I remained in my position. I wonder why it's here?

The crawler in question is visibly eating something, unaware of its stalker. It happily munched on a carcass of a man, moaning in delight as it tasted the flesh.

A few feet away from it, the ground was suddenly rising like a little hill but it remained in position. At the center of it, there was long antenna that has an eye attached to it.

I took notice of the other one and felt a bit nervous. What is that? I saw it starting to move towards the unsuspecting crawler. I could feel the ground slightly shaking from its movement but the crawler didn't seem to take notice of this.

The ground suddenly stopped moving. I could see the small hill decreasing in size. The eye also went to the ground below.

"Arf"

Whity quietly whimpered.

"Shhhhhh"

It's alright buddy. Nothing will happen to you as long as I'm here. I look at the crawler still eating the corpse until the ground its standing is starting to shake. It finally took notice of this and tried to run to a random direction. However, before it could do anything, a giant mouth suddenly appeared from the ground. It swallowed the whole crawler up. A single eye was connected to the eye with its antenna. It rises to the ground like a water from a fountain.

I look at it and realized it's big as hell. It towered to frightening height of 50 feet. The body is rotten with a few of its organs being visible to the eyes. It has two long arms, they are quite thin and it's bones are getting visible to the skin. The head is shaped like a long cylinder. The mouth is so wide, it reached its neck. The eye can be barely seen from down here. The whole body looked like a decayed worm but has long arms. Its hands from what I observe could widely wrap around my body.

Holy Mother of God. What the hell is that thing?! This is one gigantic monstrosity. I have zero chance of escaping it. The best I could do is hope that it didn't notice me.

It twitched like an insect and started to sniff the air. I slowly tried to move away from it. My body is fully covered by the grasses. Whity seems to be silent for awhile. It must have fallen sleep from exhaustion.

It suddenly lowered itself but not to the ground below. It's stance is like those of a lizard. Saliva dripping from its mouth. I could see the single leg from a crawler hanging below. It's still munching up the crawlers corpse but it's eye is critically surveying the surrounding.

I'm now crawling to the ground. I didn't try to duck no more with my bag being possibly found out.

"Scrreeee"

It suddenly move. The ground shaking with its thunderous impact from its hands. The eye moving from its head like a separate entity.

I quickened my pace but not enough to make the grasses move. I could hear it surveying the ground from afar. Good thing though. As long as I could get far away enough, it would no longer be able to found us. Now I just have to...

"Rargjhs"

A zombie is right in front of me from a few feet away but it was missing both of its legs. It was laying back first into the ground. It's gaze is directed at the sky above.

Ah shit. You have got to be kidding me?!

Of all the crap that's about to screw me, this little guy just have to lay right at my sight.

OK, calm down. I have to be calm. I just need to plan for this. Alright. I can do this, I can do this. Let's go.

It doesn't seem to notice me so as long as I could get around it, I'll be alright.

I slowly crawled to the right side. Careful not to make some noise. The zombie is still laying in the ground looking extremely mesmerized by something.

I move like turtle right now. I have to be as quietly as possible. Alright, huff. As quietly as possible. Man, I feel tired despite being unable to.

Just a bit later, I realize that I'm halfway through. Yes! Ok, just a little more and I'm finally gonna get out of this situation.

Crunch

I look at where the sound came from and realize that I accidentaly broke a twig on the ground with my elbow.

...

Why me?