Abyss crawling part 5: Punishment

Both of them tried the second passage next to the one leading to the open arena. As they walked, hundred of eyes surrounded them. Terrifying disfigured creatures were watching them from afar. The whole area was engulfed in their bloodlust. Ilirielth felt extremely uncomfortable as if she was a little child walking among the lions. Though scared, she committed to not letting her sight loose on any of them. She couldn't help but constantly asked Ilirendil the same question to which his replies were also the same.

" They are out of your range right?"

" Yes."

" Don't worry, I'll keep close eyes on them."

" …"

Since Ilirielth knew about Ilirendil's stats she became a worried mother. She repeatedly asked whether he was tired or if he needed her to carry him. His physical strength was low but not to the point of being that fragile. Ilirendil sighed, he was a little regretful about showing her his stats. It seemed that his image in her eyes was an untouchable being. It might have been better if she continued to see him that way.

" Iliriendil, how can you be so sure that this is the work of the girl you mentioned?" - Ilirielth asked

She hadn't met that girl but by what he told her, that girl didn't seem to be human.

" Do you see those things?" Iliriendil asked, his tentacles pointed to the group of creatures. When Iliriendil walked toward them, they immediately retreat.

" Those things knew about my ability. They also seem to know the exact distance, which was not possible. Everything that confronted me was dead except for two, one was you, the other, you can guess it."

Ilirielth nodded, she had hope that the girl Iliriendil mentioned was an ally. According to what he told, that girl might be the owner of this dungeon and she might relate to why Ilirielth was here. Then what was her purpose?

Biologists almost didn't exist in this world, the only public case was an execution of a loathsome crime from hundreds of years ago. Most people wouldn't have noticed anything strange about the creatures, to their mind Mordox was just a place filled with monsters. In her case, Ilirienlth remembered all the monsters she encountered including Iliriendil were mostly hybrids. She felt uncomfortable at the fact that she could recognize the sign of anatomy performed upon those creatures. There was a person that she knew had done this abominable act. A person that was once closed to her.

' Is this the work of you…'

Ilirielth felt pain in her chest, if all of this were her torture for the things she had done to that person, then this might be a good way to atone for her sin…

" What wrong Ilirielth?"

" Nothing."

Ilirielth slapped herself. Whatever the truth she had to protect Iliriendil. While she was in her deep thought, her belly made an embarrassed sound. Iliriendil took a piece of meat from his space storage and gave it to her. She could tell at a glance what kind of meat this was.

" Please eat."

Iliriendil gave her a serious look, he seem to be worrying if she refuse to eat again. Unexpectedly, Ilirielth put the meat into her mouth and chew happily.

" Am I that good?" - He teased

" Y-Yes."

Iliriendil blushed. She then stared at his arm.

" It would regenerate right?"

" You saw my ability, it only took a few hours as long as I have something to eat."

Ilirielth smiled, she slowly enjoy 'eating her friend' like enjoying a good snack. After passing the tunnel of the second passage A new area unfolded, although it didn't look as vast as the previous area there was a serious issue. This area was a big lake filled with a red slime substance. Ilirielth didn't know what this thing was but it screamed poisonous to her.

She used her sword tried to measure the depth and it consumed the whole blade. She poured her mana into the sword and shoot but there was no sight that her sword ki had reached the bottom. Considering the density of the liquid, her sword ki could travel at least 6 meters.

Iliriendil dipped his hand into the liquid, it didn't seem to have any effect on him. Maybe she could touch it too, or else it would be very hard for them to pass this area. Just when she was about to touch the liquid, a soft whisper came to her ears.

" I wouldn't do that if I was you."

Sat by her side was a strange girl wearing a dark red gown, chin resting on hands. Just as Iliriendil told, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Her skin was so fair and not even a scratch on it. The girl's appearance didn't suit this place at all, there was something off, something eery and malicious.

" Get away from her!"

Iliriendil's shouted, he stared at the young girl with a look filled with anger and detest. Somehow it made Ilirielth a little happy. The girl laughed as she caressed Ilirielth's hair.

She wanted to jump away from this girl but her body couldn't move. Those small and delicate hands seemed like they would snap her head off if she tried to do so.

" Oh dear, why am I still alive? It seems that you have matured a bit, my love."

" Who are you and what do you want?" - Ilirielth

" [Chuckle], My apology, It's rude to not introduce myself to someone I just met. My name is Liliana, I'm your Iliriendil's one and only wife."

" What?"

Ilirielth looked at her friend dumbfounded. But after seeing the expression on his face, her worry quickly dissipated. ' This woman lied' she thought. The young girl Liliana sighed.

" Oh, I'm a bit hurt by that you know ~ any way, I overheard your little conversation, I couldn't believe my darling thought I'm a mastermind behind all of this. [Sobbing]"

" Are you not?"

" Sadly, yes, I was the mastermind after all ~ "

" I don't have time for your game."

Liliana smiled as she collapsed, leaving only a lifeless body. Right after that, the ground shook and something big emerged from the lake. It must be a hundred meters long. At first look, it had the appearance of an eastern dragon if not there were six eyes and thousands of mini limp on its body. The beast roared and with a swing of its giant tail, it created a tsunami of red substance coming toward Iliriendil and Ilirielth. They quickly ran back into the tunnel to avoid the attack and just barely made it in time before the whole place flooded with a poisonous red substance.

" [Sigh], that was close. Ilirielth?"

Ilirielth was trembling, there was a few drops of red liquid stuck to her left hand. They immediately tear through her skin and invaded her body. The effect was visible to naked eyes, her hand was swollen it became twice the normal size and something protruded from it. Thousands of mini mutated body parts: eyes, ears, mouths... began to grow on her left hand. No word could describe Ilirielth's fear and disgust. The mutated part spread quickly, climbing her arm to her shoulder but before it could enter her body. Blood flattered on the ground.

Ilirielth let out a painful scream as she looked at her arm in Iliriendil's hand. However, he was a little bit too late. This time it's not her left arm but her leg and her whole lower body began mutating. Ilirielth intended to cut off her legs but her sword was taken. Ilirielth watched horribly as her body began to become mutated into a disgusting figure. Water spurted out from every eye and mouth on her body.

" Stop!"

Iliriendil shouted at nowhere. Then a giggle came next to him.

" Oh dear, look at that. That was what happened after you —"

" Help her, please! I beg you." - Iliriendil gripped Liliana's shoulder.

" Such pathetic, dear. That sounded too sincere, I would prefer the fake attitude you had last time. " - Liliana said in a joking tone why pouting.

She walked toward Iliriendil and touched her body. The mutation stopped spreading but her lower body from belly to below didn't return to normal. Iliriendil was about to say something but Liliana gave a signal for him to be quiet.

" Did I not tell you, my love? It was such a pain to get killed every time I see you. This's nothing but a little punishment, the next time I won't be this easy ~"