Chapter 32

The group's pace was significantly slowed. What should have been a day's journey to the Den turned into a grueling battle of attrition, with continuous waves of attacks hampering their progress.

It became painfully apparent that this was a deliberate tactic used by the fierce creatures that relentlessly blocked their way. The Hunting Party found themselves trapped in yet another bloody ambush.

The assault was relentless; wave after wave of Elder Gods surged forward, overwhelming the twenty-two members in a ceaseless onslaught.

Pale violet blood, limbs, and viscera filled the tunnels, creating a grotesque tapestry. The walls trembled, echoing the sounds of clashes, howls, cries, and screams. At this juncture, the Ntuli warriors exerted themselves beyond any previous battles, pushing their limits as they drew closer to the Den. Defeat was not an option after having come so far.

The elite of the Ntuli Tribe showcased their resolve and honor, facing the onslaught of Elder Gods with fierce determination. They slashed, tore, crushed, and annihilated their formidable foes, embodying the ferocious spirit needed to survive such relentless adversity.

At this point, they couldn't care less. They had yet to reach the Den, but they unleashed all they had on the relentless horde. The underground tunnel path was gradually filling with the piled corpses of their enemies. The tunnel itself groaned under the combined force of their battle; shocks and impacts ruptured the walls and even caved in the ground. The ceiling emitted a menacing growl as the tunnel trembled.

Simultaneously, the Captain issued a warning to his men with a booming voice, "It's a cave-in!" His loud call acted as the final blow; the tunnel collapsed around its occupants, and the ground tore open, swallowing the nearby area in a resounding rumble akin to raging thunder clouds.

The party members screamed and braced themselves for the painful fall and imminent crushing. At least, they thought, the attacking horde of Elder Gods would suffer a similar fate.

As the ceiling collapsed and the ground beneath his feet gave way, Huey let out a venomous curse. "I fucking hate caves!" His voice echoed into the distance as he plummeted amid a shower of heavy debris—rocks and sharp stones raining down around him, drowned out by the loud rumbling.

At that same moment, as Huey descended into the darkness, an Elder God fell straight toward him, using the momentum of its fall to spread its massive form and aim directly at its victim.

The creature screeched as Huey, clearly annoyed, yelled back. "You fucking piece of ugly shit! C'mere!" Adjusting his fall, Huey ricocheted off a sizable piece of debris and landed atop the Elder God like a surfer catching a wave through the void. The hideous abomination screeched in defiance, flailing its numerous limbs at its unwanted rider.

"Shut the fuck up!" Huey shouted as he brandished his weapon, Pointy, and mercilessly drove the long black blade through the Elder God's grotesque mass of flesh. The blade sliced easily through the creature's body, eliciting a pained cry. Huey's hands swiftly caught the attacking limbs and brutally tore them from the creature's body, ensuring his perilous ride continued unimpeded.

The fall was surprisingly short. Before the Elder God could screech again, its mutilated body smashed against the hard ground with a sickening squelch. Huey had already pulled out his sword and was now levitating above the bloody corpse, quickly scanning his surroundings.

Around him, rocks, boulders, and debris continued to rain down, and amidst this chaotic shower, some members of the Hunting Party were also descending. Amidst the tumult, a short yelp rang out as a silver-haired lady from the party fell right into Huey's arms, while he seemingly stood on air.

Her eyes were tightly shut, and her body instinctively curled up defensively in his arms. As Tyla slowly regained her senses and opened her eyes, Huey felt a twitch on the side of his face. What kind of development is this? he wondered, not quite sure what to make of the situation. Huey hadn't been particularly concerned about the other group members who had also fallen, but Tyla had been fortunate enough to land directly in his arms.

As soon as she realized her position, she stiffened. Noticing that the platinum blonde woman was actually quite cute, Huey flashed his most charming smile. "Oh my, it's raining angels," he said shamelessly, chuckling with equal lack of restraint.

Tyla recoiled from Huey's smile and, in a panic, reflexively shoved him in the face.

"L-let go!" she exclaimed, struggling until she fell from his arms and landed on her back a few feet below.

"Ow, ow, ow..." Tyla muttered, rubbing her behind. Her fair skin was marked with cuts and bruises from the battle and the debris, but she was relatively unharmed. She had skillfully dodged lethal boulders and used others to slow her descent before unintentionally ending up in Huey's grasp.

Huey, who had been levitating, slowly descended to the ground next to her. "You're welcome," he said sarcastically, causing her to jolt in surprise.

The other members of the Hunting Party who had landed nearby witnessed the scene; especially the men, who threw curses at Huey—the bastard who not only survived the fall but could apparently even fly.

Huey ignored Tyla's gaze and the curses from the others, focusing instead on surveying their new surroundings. What he found resembled a small, hidden civilization buried underground, with quaint houses crafted from stone and wood aligned neatly in rows. Despite the orderly layout, the entire underground village was in ruins. Buildings lay crumbled and toppled, streets and pathways were shattered and strewn with dried corpses, and the air was thick with a palpable "Mana" radiation.

"You guys!" a voice called out, breaking Huey's concentration.

"Warrior of the walls!" echoed another familiar voice, pulling the attention of Huey and the others toward Barak and the young man who served as the leading captain of the expedition. Both were covered in dust and bruises, their expressions stern; yet Barak seemed to have fared better than most.

Trailing behind them was a small group of wounded warriors, the survivors who had just barely managed to escape the fall and ensuing battle.

Tyla regained her composure and briskly approached the group, her face set into a cold, aloof expression once more, masking the turmoil from moments earlier.

Nearby, a piece of rubble shifted, and a slab of rock was flung aside as Isha, another member of their party, emerged from beneath it. Her body was battered, half her face pale and smeared with blood. Despite her evident injuries and light-headed appearance, Isha's eyes burned with an unwavering, fiery determination as she glared ahead.

Barak, addressing the situation with a note of dry observation, said, "It seems the tunnel collapsed."

Huey, unable to restrain himself, responded with biting sarcasm. "And who was it that insisted we travel through the tunnels because it was faster to reach the Den?" His voice carried a sharp edge, and his gaze remained fixed forward, showing no empathy as he awaited a response. 

"We hadn't anticipated facing so many battles along the way," the Captain replied, a trail of blood trickling from a wound on the side of his head. "The Elder Gods were persistent and relentless in their ambushes, and as a result, we've exhausted more than half our stamina as a group. Even if we hadn't, the group barely survived the tunnel collapse."

The hunting party had indeed performed admirably to reach this point without a single casualty—a feat not to be underestimated. However, they had suffered a massive depletion of energy and stamina due to the relentless waves of attacks. The tunnel collapse added to their woes, claiming the lives of many and inflicting severe wounds on others.

As a result, the group had lost half of their overall power. The current members were either too exhausted or too badly wounded to continue effectively, posing a significant liability. Furthermore, some members were still unaccounted for, compounding the challenges they faced in this dire underground environment.

A heavy silence enveloped the group following the Captain's grim summary. It was in this tense atmosphere that Huey's nonchalant voice cut through, his detached tone adding to the weight of his words. "That's why I told you... needless numbers would only serve as a liability." Huey's indifferent attitude was unsettling; everyone knew he was part of the expedition for his own reasons, yet they all shared a common enemy and plight.

Before anyone could respond to his critique, Huey continued, addressing Barak directly, "Big guy, it's time you face facts and cut your losses... Any more from here now would sincerely slow you lot down." His advice, though harsh, was clear to those listening. Yet, there was an undercurrent of meaning in his words, suggesting not just a strategic retreat but perhaps an urging for them to reconsider their approach or mission altogether, taking into account the changed circumstances and diminished strength.

Tyla frowned at him and asked warily, "What do you mean by that?" Ever since they had crashed into this region—formerly the last district bordering the Ntuli Tribe's territory but now ravaged and plundered by the Elder Gods—Huey had been scrutinizing the environment, barely sparing anyone else a glance for more than a couple of seconds.

He was as usual: cold, distant, and indifferent, just as Tyla had come to recognize him. Yet, his usual cold aura seemed differently acute this time. Unlike during their previous ambushes or his threatening episodes when his presence was overwhelming and oppressive, now it felt thin and sharply honed, making the air around him feel chillier than ever.

Tyla struggled to identify this new sensation emanating from Huey, as he had never shown anything like it before. That's why it took her a while to understand.

His eyes were fixed ahead, his usually distant aura now sharpened and thin, ringing him with an alertness that unsettled Tyla. Huey Blade was on edge. He was wary about something. 

Clearly, Huey sensed something significant about their location. But what?

His delayed words hung in the air, causing everyone who heard them to tense up. "Look around you," he finally said. "We are already at the Den."