Chapter 9: In The Darkness
"Huff… hufff…"
Slow and steady… Des had not forgotten the only way he knew to traverse the world of this Dungeon Floor.
His weak body crawled very slowly on the rough, hard ground. He could not see, but that was no problem for him since he had already memorized the direction he was heading to, and how long it would take for him to get there.
His head still pounded, but after experiencing this pain for some days now, Des felt he was pretty used to it already.
He could hear his stomach growling, feeling the bites that constantly made him squirm, but he kept his composure. His throat felt itchy, and he was also lightheaded—all of these natural consequences of starvation—but Des paid none of these any mind.
His only consolation was that he would inevitably reach his goal and find sustenance for himself.
Then what?
'Do I still have to wait for Explorers to get this far into the Dungeon Floor before I am able to leave this place?' He wasn't sure yet.
Des was initially speculative about it, but right now he was completely sure: this was definitely a lower Floor.
'Dredd and the others wouldn't have been defeated so overwhelmingly if it was an upper Floor… especially Dredd.'
He was an Adept, for crying out loud.
Yet, from just a single sight, he fled in the face of a single Horror.
'It just shows the gap in strength. There's also the fact that this place… despite it being so massive, with a powerful Horror occupying it… is not a Prime Premises.'
Every Prime Premises had a large pillar that extended to the ceiling, which would transport anyone who touched it to the next Floor. Of course, the Prime Horror had to be defeated first, but the Pillar still existed there.
'I see no Pillar. This place is just a normal section of this Floor. That means that thing is not even the strongest Horror on this Floor.'
Des didn't even think this was the 13th Floor. By his estimates, it could be close to the 20th Floor, but all of this was merely based on speculation and nothing else.
He needed more information to properly determine what this place was—though he didn't need as much to understand his current situation.
'I'm pretty much fucked.'
Stuck in a Dungeon like this meant certain death. Sure, he could prolong his death by taking resources and munching on rations to survive, but… how long could he survive on those?
'The supplies contain rations for a week's Exploration. But since that was for the five of them, I should be able to last for about two to three months if I manage the supplies well.'
After that… what was he going to do?
'No! Don't think about that right now!' He told himself as he kept crawling forward.
'I'll think of something within that time! Maybe I'll find another path to escape… or maybe I'll find even more resources that can last me another while. I don't care how long it takes… I won't die here!' Gritting his teeth and pressing forward, Des slowly began to find his courage.
Just days ago, he had been too frightened to step out, yet here he was!
'I'm doing it! I'm really doing it! I'll survive this!' Before he realized it, his cracked lips curled upward and he made a big smile despite the pain he was going through.
For the first time in a while, a bright beam of hope seemed to spark within him—filling him with so much warmth that gave him comfort amidst desperation.
'Yes! That's right! I will—'
~SWOOSH~
Des felt something race past him—almost like a slithering creature.
'H-huh…?'
~SNAP~
He heard a crack, very low and short, but it felt like disjointed bones being brought back into place.
~CRACK~
More sounds, like twigs snapping, or bones breaking, and then slithering sounds… all of them echoed very softly in the darkness.
It felt vivid, yet surreal.
'S-something is out there!' At this point, Des had to halt, partially petrified by the fear that accompanied the noises he was hearing, but also because he didn't want to gain the notice of whatever was out there.
The moment he stopped, the sounds also ceased.
'W-what's happening? I-is it gone?' Or… was everything just a product of his imagination.
Des wasn't sure, but he heaved a sigh of relief regardless.
The moment he set his gaze forward, ready to advance, he saw something right in front of him.
—A pair of eyes.
They glowed very dimly, enough so one wouldn't notice them from afar, but… up close, he could see them.
They resembled the eyes of an iguana, or some kind of lizard mutant. Des froze the moment he saw it, even though his body was stuck in a rather uncomfortable position, hoping the thing didn't see him.
How optimistic he was…
~SWUSH!~
Before he could even react to the whipping sound, or the stinging sensation he felt on his face, Des felt an eyeball being ripped out of his sockets.
"GAHHHHHHHH!!!" Even though he had promised himself that he wouldn't make any noise, no matter what, the raw pain he felt from losing an eye sent his body into panic, and his brain forgot all that it was supposed to.
Blood spurted out of the gaping hole, but none of that was noticed by Des.
After all, the moment he made that scream, he noticed a sudden surge of several iguana-eyes focused on him.
He was completely surrounded by whatever these things were—all without even knowing what they were and what they wanted.
No… that last part was pretty obvious.
These creatures wanted what every Horror desired—his excruciating demise.
~CHOMP!~
One of them bit off his feet, easily ripping it apart with its powerful jaw—all while Des was still trying to recoil from the pain in his eyes, as well as the shock of finding so many Horrors around him.
Overwhelmed by all of this, there was only one thing he could do.
"ARRGHHHHH!!!"
The gaping hole on his leg was licked by several tongues, each one rough enough to take particles with them for every lick they took.
It was like sandpaper grazing his meaty flesh, all while blood spurted out.
~SWISH!~
His right arm was lopped off by the sharp claw of this terrifying creature as he tried to shoo the Horrors away while covering his empty eye socket with his left limb.
The pain was overwhelming!
'G-guhh…aaahh…fuu..dad….ihgsc….ohehgue….ooire….!!!' His mind was a mess, and he could not even formulate any thought as more parts of his body was gnawed in his very presence.
There was no swiftness in their dealings, no consideration in their torture.
These Horrors knew no mercy.
He was already suffering more than enough, yet even more pain greeted him. While he was still struggling, writhing, begging, and shifting—pathetically, of course—one of the Horrors managed to reach his nether regions.
In one swift bite, it ripped off everything—from his dick, down to his balls.
Everything was gone in one powerful chomp and pull.
"ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
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[A/N]
Thanks for reading!
Well… that was unsettling. There are sure to be readers who hate to see a pathetic MC, but I don't think Des is pathetic. Besides, since you read the tag, you know he isn't Overpowered. This is a WeakToStrong story, so if you're interested in that development… do stick around and enjoy.
If not, please leave.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone