Reunion

The sight of the different mutations didn't surprise Khan. His focus remained on the fact that the big leech was dead and didn't show external injuries. Its murky dark blood had flowed out of its mouth, which hinted at the presence of internal damage.

Those signs made Khan almost certain that a Niqols had killed the monster. The absence of external injuries matched the aliens' fighting style, and he couldn't find other explanations for its death in that unique environment. Of course, stronger predators could exist, but that felt unlikely due to how crowded the underground area was with leeches.

Descending through the hole felt inevitable now, but Khan didn't want to get down without ensuring a path back to the previous area. The current tunnel had yet to show passages to the surface, but the group didn't explore all of it. Moreover, keeping an escape path open was never a bad option.