Chapter Text
They descended into the lush chamber with the armoured beast. They could shoot their Vengeful Spirit at and kill it, like the one in the Ancestral Mound.
In said chamber, the beast stood, blocking the entrance to the Pilgrim’s Way. Using all the Soul they had harvested, they shot triplet Vengeful Spirits at it. Just like the beast’s kin, it survived and spat acid and youths. Killing the little ones awarded the knight with Soul, and by using the beast’s own children’s Soul, they shot the Vengeful Spirit, felling the armoured creature.
They stared at the slain one, miasma erupting through its cracks. After it falls, the knight went through the pathway.
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The caverns after were flooded with bubbling green acid. Hopping from platform to platform, they reached the other side.
These lush, verdant caverns were a sight to behold. Grass and moss grew everywhere, and even the bubbling acid added to the atmosphere. Small masked flying bug infested the area. Before the knight could approach, they had already flown away.
On one platform, a bug meandered. Its carapace was hidden beneath layers of moss, covered in orange blisters. Orange fumes emanated from it. As the knight approached, the bug released more noxious orange fumes. It looked dangerous, so the knight decided to not inhale the gas with their lack of a nose. After waiting for the fumes to pass, they struck down the bug with their nail. The corpse in its wake started to glow orange, then, it burst into orange fumes, cracking the knight’s shell.
After focusing, they continued and saw another one. But it had a lack of those orange blisters and instead it charged at the knight. Its slain body didn’t explode.
The next platform had a fuming one too, and the knight immediately shot a Vengeful Spirit at it. When it died, it burst into the orange gases.
Continuing on these green paths, they saw a bunch of leaves shuffling. A bug appeared, covered in those leaves. Although adorable, their eyes had that orange glow. The knight slayed it with no remorse.
The next caves were filled with flying bug that flew away as the knight approached. Scaling the room led the knight to a bench with a beautiful scenic view of acid waterfalls. As they rest, all cracks in their shell disappeared. According to the map, they were no longer in the Forgotten Crossroads. They were somewhere else.
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The next chamber held something… On a ledge, a figure stood. She wore a sienna cloak and her shell was as ivory white as theirs. She faced in the opposite direction and in her hand, she wielded a needle, a rather uncommonly used weapon as they require much skill to wield with a truly deadly force. As they advanced towards her, she turned to face them. She stared at them before scurrying off. The knight was too small to reach the ledge. Curses. The only way forward, was downwards.
They continued diving through the caverns, slaying bug and beast.
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The room had platforms suspended on vines. Nail in hand, they cut said vines and dropped the platforms, allowing access to the rest of the cave. They’d even crush bugs standing beneath.
Suddenly, after dropping a platform down into a sea of spikes, they heard a familiar hum. They followed the tune and found who they expected: Cornifer mapping away.
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Isn't this a contrast from the Crossroads? Such a humid, lively place. The roads twist and turn in the most wonderful ways.
I've done my best to chart the area ahead, though I must admit some of the area's inhabitants proved quite a nuisance.
Would you like to purchase a map of the area?
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After buying the map for 60 Geo, they took a glance at it. This area was known as Greenpath. An uncreative name, but still charming. While talking to the cartographer, they kept hearing the whimpers of a Grub, but they couldn’t see it. Perhaps one day they’ll find it, but for now, they kept spelunking.
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After crushing two mossy bugs with a platform, they saw a particular pathway. The rock lining its wall were shaped almost like fangs. On entering the chamber, they found a large shrub with a large gaping hole in its front, lined with those fang-like stones. They approached it, and suddenly, six glowing white eyes appeared in the shadows of the bush, and a deep roar came from it.
Though startled, they advanced towards it.
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Tiny squib... You approach fearless. Are you a hunter like me?
Do you feel the urge inside, to stalk, to kill, to understand?
Then take it! My journal. It will aid you. At first the text may seem difficult to discern, but a learned hunter will come to understand its words.
Venture the depths of this land and slay its beasts. Prove yourself worthy to bear the mark of Hunter.
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This hunter spat out a journal, a Hunter’s Journal.
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Little squib! You may have overcome a few creatures, but you are only just beginning.
Don't delay, descend into the belly of this world and hunt down the life you find!
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They took a look at the journal. It had many entries, but the majority was unreadable. The Hunter did say they would start to understand as they hunt the beasts of this Kingdom. For now, they'd read one entry: the False Knight’s.
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A maggot driven mad by a strange force. Inhabits a stolen armoured shell.
Weak creatures love to steal the strength of others. Their lives are brief and fearful, and they yearn to have the power to dominate those who have dominated them.
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These entries explained much about the creatures of this kingdom. They will hunt everything in the kingdom. Every bug, beast and God.