Cyprian kept an eye on the slimy fat male and his shell toting opponent. It wasn’t till he reached the opening that either one seemed to realize their error. The slimy male’s cheeks bellowed in frustration as he stomped toward Cyprian, but it was too late. Cyprian waved a hand at them, wearing a smug smile, as he stepped backwards through the open door.
The portal slid shut sealing Cyprian in, and he took a deep breath.
One level down.
“Successful contestant there are five key cards that will lead to the next level. Find one and you will be that much closer to your prize,” the automated voice of the Overseer announced.
Cyprian did some quick math. There were only five access cards for roughly a dozen males. He started running down the dim corridor. Cyprian wasn’t the first competitor to reach this level, he needed to hurry. The general was forced to slow his stride when he realized the tunnel floor was becoming slick, as it made its downward descent. The floor grew thick and marsh-like, the deeper he went. Cyprian was surprised to find vines snaking along the stone walls of the passage. Pale blooms erupted wherever there were lights overhead.
The passage suddenly gave way. The hole had been obscured by the mass of growth. Cyprian gripped the vines as he fell, but released them when hundreds of tiny thorns bit into his palms. He hit the ground several yards below, landing in a crouched position.
Movement caught his attention, a second before a broad ax sliced the air. Cyprian leapt, grabbing hold of a vine. He ignored the stinging nettles, as he swung out of range of the surprise assailant.
Cyprian waited for the scaly bastard to lift his ridiculously large ax to launch another assault. The general swung, planting his boots in the warrior’s chest. The male went sprawling to the marshy floor, losing grip on his broad ax. The fool should’ve chosen a more balanced weapon. Bigger was not always better.
Something massive darted out from an adjacent corridor. The beast moved faster than Cyprian’s downed competitor. The creature’s giant jaws latched onto the scaly warrior’s leg and bit it off in a single bite. The beast lifted its head and swallowed its prize without bothering to chew.
The scaly warrior howled in pain as he scrambled back, desperately reaching for his broad ax. The doomed male was too slow. The four-legged beast lunged and bit a large hunk out of his midsection.
Cyprian stayed deathly still as he hung by the barbed vines. He studied the vile hairy beast as it consumed its meal. The creature resembled the massive metcor on Cadi, except its hair was green from moss and algae. The glutton’s long muzzle was three times larger than Cyprian’s head. As the beast crunched through the dead warrior’s spine, Cyprian got a good look at its razor-sharp teeth.
Time to make my exit, before it comes looking for another meal.
Cyprian grabbed another vine, with plans to repel to a safe distance, before making a run for it. With a huffing growl, the green metcor turned its head toward the ceiling. Cyprian froze. The beast reared on its hind legs and began nosing through the vines. Its tiny black eyes seemed to stare past Cyprian, as its nostrils flared. Something around the beast’s neck captured Cyprian’s attention.
The damn thing is wearing a collar.
But it wasn’t just a collar. There was a rectangular object dangling from the leather choker.
That must be one of the access cards. Mother of Kali, Cyprian cursed the twisted Overseer.
Cyprian held his breath as the giant muzzle got closer. He might have found one of the coveted keys, but he didn’t consider himself a winner. Just as Cyprian thought his number was up, the beast dropped back to the ground and continued with its macabre meal.
Obviously, it has poor eye sight, but how in torment did it not smell me with that massive snout?
Cyprian looked around, and noticed all the pale blooms on the plethora of vines. He couldn’t smell them, but he had to assume they put off a perfume that distracted the green metcor.
The beast took off as swiftly as it arrived, on the hunt for its next victim. A skull and bloody stain were all that remained of its prey.
Well, it looks like I’m stalking not just the other contestants, but the green metcor.
Before Cyprian dropped to the cavern floor, he took his knife and hacked through several of the vines. Once on the ground, he rubbed himself down with the pale flowers. The general scowled as the tiny nettles bit into his skin, but this was better than being dismembered by the vile beast.
Cyprian moved slowly, as he stalked down the passage, following his prey. Abrupt movement attracted the beasts. Cyprian stuck to the wall as he crept forward. He paused when he heard a horrific bellow that shook the corridor. The pained sound stopped an instant later. Cyprian’s steps quickened.