We arrived at the edge of a massive cavern—truly massive.
Before us stretched a view we never could've imagined.
Far below, nestled in the rock that shaped a giant bowl, stood the underground city:
Gorvath, according to a half-cracked stone sign at the entrance.
It wasn't like a human city, of course. The buildings leaned in odd angles, some stacked like a giant ant colony.
The roads were paved with polished monster bones, and glowing mushrooms served as street lamps.
A small lava river flowed through wooden channels—why? No idea. For bathing? Cooking? Torture?
Creatures of all shapes and smells bustled about.
Some looked like winged lizards, others like robed rats, and one strolled by on eight legs with a single eye the size of a goat's head.
We hid behind a rock, watching from a safe distance.
"Is that a line?" Abu whispered.
"Looks like a market," Putih answered. "Are they selling… fried maggots?"
"Eh, someone's eating a glove…"
"That's not a glove. That's a living creature."
"OH…"
While the kids kept whispering about the weirdness, I focused on the city's structure:
Guard posts, hidden paths, quiet corners, and loud, chaotic centers.
This city was a labyrinth. But there was a system. The monsters here coexisted—roughly, and with a lot of staring—but it worked.
Suddenly, a booming voice echoed:
"ANNOUNCEMENT! THE ANNUAL TOURNAMENT BEGINS IN 3 DAYS!"
Monsters roared in excitement. Some started brawling on the spot. Others fainted—either from hype or PTSD.
I etched that into memory. A tournament?
Maybe… an opportunity to sneak in?
Belang suddenly rolled up fast. "Guards are making rounds. We have to retreat now!"
We rolled back to our cave, holding our breath. Thankfully, Putih's mist still masked our scent.
Once we reached the nest and Lurik sealed the entrance with one of his fake stone illusions, everyone collapsed.
"I'm mentally exhausted," Oyen said.
"I'm exhausted from almost becoming a snack for a spider in a tux," Hitam grumbled.
I looked at the kids.
They were scared. But they were curious. Just like me.
This city was hiding something.
And sooner or later…
we would enter it.
But for now, we needed a strategy.
A better disguise.
And—most importantly—a way to avoid being exposed as a rotten egg with kids who looked more like rejected magical toys.