Jigsaw puzzle

Let's see.

"They can be lit."

To ensure there would be no issue with the fog, I created a small pulley system where I tied a lit torch. By pushing it, the torch would go around the hole and back. If nothing happened, I could take the torches inside.

As for fireflies, despite providing good illumination, I would need a lot of them, something I couldn't gather quickly in such large quantities.

I just hope nothing explodes.

"Pull!"

Of course, I and the others will keep a distance to do this.

As we pull, the torch would soon reach the point where it would come into contact with the smell.

Anxiety grew higher as we approached.

Then finally.

"Did you hear or feel anything?"

"No, sir."

"Nothing here either."

"Great, you can continue."

Phew, when the torch reached the hole and there was no reaction, I felt much relieved.

At that point, the smell was quite strong.

With this, I can confirm that whatever that smell is, it's not flammable.

"Let's go, we're safe now. Let's see what's in that hole."

"Alright, boss."

...

"Take it slow."

"Boss, are you sure about this?"

"Don't worry, just keep going."

"But, I can't see anything."

"I know, but we tested it with Amy. There shouldn't be anything dangerous down there."

I had Aurelio go down the hole first.

Even though I had tested it before with Amy, I'm not certain there's nothing wrong with this hole.

This smell could be from an animal attracting prey or something like that.

So I can only use Aurelio as a guinea pig.

As he descended, I confirmed that it wasn't toxic down there either.

Then the rope swung.

At first, I was scared.

But then I recognized that it was for when you reached the bottom.

So, confirming everything was okay, we started descending.

When we got down, all I could say was that.

It's very dark.

Even with torches, you could barely see anything.

Everything I could see was about 5 meters away; anything beyond that was too dark to see.

"Stay together, and don't let your guard down."

"Start planting the torches."

I had envisioned this scenario.

So, I prepared many torches to be lit down here.

After preparing the torches at the descent location, I decided to explore.

"Everyone, follow me."

I chose a random direction and started walking.

With everyone forming a line behind me, it looked like a group of ducklings following their mother.

We continued like this for a short time.

Of course, every 5 meters, we planted a torch.

Now we could see a little better, but not much.

"What is this?"

That's all I could express.

In front of me was something I never thought I'd see, at least not here.

They were... drawings.

Not the rudimentary drawings of the tribe, but drawings like those of Michelangelo.

"Boss, are these drawings?"

"Sure looks like it."

"But they're much better than what artists do. Did another tribe live here?"

"I... I don't know."

"This is something I didn't expect."

"Maybe another had that dream of yours."

"Dream? Hmm, maybe."

This could confirm that there are others like me.

That crocodile was just a theory since it seemed to recognize a weapon and seemed to understand my speech, despite not being human.

"But if there was a tribe here, where are they now?"

"I'd like to know that too."

"Boss, what are these drawings? I've never seen anything like this."

"Let me see."