Chương 20: Into the Sewers
The smell would have been considered horrid to most, but to us, it wasn't all too bad. It wasn't too different compared to the outside scent of rotting bodies being piled on top of pikes. We stepped in the excrement and all sorts of disease-filled gunk. Even though I saw the map layout, these sewers were a lot more spacious that I would have imagined. But we still marched forward. When we reached a crossroad, we were stuck on where to go. There were two paths ahead, but splitting up would greatly lower our chances of survival as those dark elves would just pick us off one at a time. However, they left behind an intentional trail. They left a knife poiting at one of the paths.
"This is clearly a trap. Do they think we're stupid," Viking said.
"I'm glad you realized," I replied.
"Rude. So, Roach, what should we do? If you want to turn back, I won't stop you. But I'm gonna keep going. I'm gonna spring the trap and kill all of them myself."
"Of course you will. And I'll be coming with you, Viking. They don't know who they're messing with if they think they can take Hornet and use Cutter as bait without thinking they'd pay for it."
We kept going. Each time there was a crossroad, a knife was left behind specifically for us. Each one looked to be rusted or broken.
When we finally reached where we needed to be, a bright light flashed in front of us. For that moment, we were completely blinded. If they had shot their arrows, they would have killed us. But no. That didn't happen. The light slowly faded away as it was conjured by a dark elf witch. She wore black robes and had many tomes around her waist.
She lowered her hand as we readied ourselves for a fight.
However from every corner, more beings showed up in front of us. At first it was just a couple of dark elves. But their numbers grew. And it wasn't just dark elves. Dwarves carrying electric crossbows. Lizardfolk holding onto axes and swords. Mushroomfolk extruding sharp teeth and monstrous arms. High elves with their magical staffs.
But the one thing that shook me to my very core shortly appeared. Roaches. They came in pointing their electric crossbows and blades at us. I couldn't believe it. Not just other races, but my own on their side. I looked at their necks, but none of them had any collars to explain why they were under their control. I could comprehend the others, but not my own siblings - my brothers and sisters on the other side. They must have done something to them. Some kind of mind control. There was no other explanation.
A couple of dark elves appeared from behind us and aimed their arrows. We were surrounded, but Viking was looking for a fight. To his eyes, they were all enemies.
But I couldn't see that. I wasn't ready to see that.
"Soldiers, what are you doing?" I asked.
They were silent, but I could tell that they had no desire to shoot. I could see it in their eyes. They didn't look like mindless drones or slaves, but completely in control of their actions. Yet they aimed at us.
My disbelief turned to anger.
"You're all traitors. How could you abandon the Queen like this?" I exclaimed, but they stayed silent.
Viking roared, "Disgusting dark elves. Kill. Kill. Kill."
"We don't want to fight you," the dark elf mage said calmly with a pleasant smile.
Viking was about to start attacking, but I held him back. I wanted to know what they did to them. Those roaches must have been tortured or something to explain their behavior. I wanted to know. I needed to know.
"Don't want to fight us? Seems like you're the ones who are intent on fighting, terrorist. Where is she? Where's Hornet?" I said with a glint of anger in my eyes.
"You the ones who kill my brother!?" Viking yelled, "Answer me, elf!"
The mage didn't answer to either of us. Instead there was a voice from behind the crowd of terrorists. It was concise, clear, and overpowering. His voice was like that of a young man with nothing held back.
"Roach, come here. I wish to speak to you privately," he said as he hid in the shadows.
"Which one?" I asked.
"Of course I'm talking about you. That is still your name, isn't it, Roach?" he replied. I didn't recognize his voice. But he seemed to know me.
I looked over to Viking who was itching to fight. If I wasn't here, he may already have started to go on a rampage. He just didn't want to see me hurt either from them or from his own battle fury. I appreciated it.
"Please, Roach. Hornet is safe. She is with me," the voice said calmly, "I need to speak to you and you alone. Do not bring Viking with you. I heard what happened to Doc. I'm sorry for what happened to him. If it makes you feel safe, you may bring your weapons, but I promise I won't allow any harm to either of you."
I could sense sincerity from his voice. It was strange, but it felt like I knew him, yet I had no recollection of his voice. But when those words echoed within me, the more and more it felt like I could trust him. But I was skeptical. This may be some kind of elaborate plot to let our guard down. Some kind of dark magic. But from where I stood, it looked to me like we didn't have much of a choice anyways. There were so many arrows and crossbows pointed at us. Viking would probably be able to kill a bunch of them, but not even he would have been able to stop them all.
"Viking. Don't attack unless provoked. Also, If I don't make it back in ten minutes, then I want you to try and escape," I said as I sheathed my blade and put my electric crossbow on my back.
"And leave you here?"
"Yes. Can I trust you to do that?"
When Viking looked at my eyes, he knew that I was serious. As far as I was concerned, we were already dead. But if we died, then we would take these traitors with us. If Viking was able to get out and inform the general and our loyal siblings, we can mount an offensive against them.
Viking sighed. He relaxed himself and nodded his head.
I patted his back.
"Thank you, Viking," I said.
"Make sure you don't die. And if you do, don't take all of them with you. I want to rough up some of these guys myself."
I gave a smile and walked forward. A path opened among the horde of enemies. The others looked at me with gazing eyes, but the ones in front kept their eyes locked onto Viking. But he did nothing, but hold his axe tightly. He began counting aloud.
"one..two..three..four.." and kept counting digits to both relax and ready himself. Once he counted to ten minutes, he planned to immediately attack his rear and break through to the surface. Although, he wanted to fight the terrorists in front of him, he didn't want to break a promise. He continued to try and remain calm, but it was increasingly hard. Nonetheless, he made sure his aggressive side was put under check. Or he hoped that he could, otherwise those ten minutes would end sooner.
As I walked surrounded by enemies of many races, I got a layout of the base. It seemed to stretch for who knows. It looks as though they dug out the sewer systems and created their own little cavern within it. Bright, blue mushrooms and fungus grew on the sides.
I noticed that the dark elves looked at me with contempt, but the roaches were more in awe. The other races didn't seem to have one opinion or another. To my surprise, there weren't as many of them as I originally thought. Nonetheless, they all aimed their weapons. Some were steady, but others shook as if they were never trained as soldiers. At least all of the roaches knew how to carry a weapon. I had my weapons sheathed, and I didn't plan to unsheath them unless necessary.
There was a room dug out and reinforced with whatever materials they could scrounge. Some mushroomfolk guarded it, but the door was open. They didn't seem to mind as I walked right past them. Just some muscle, I thought.
When I entered the dark and gloomy room, the mushroomfolk gently closed the door behind me.
"Thank you for coming," the voice said. He took a step out of the shadows. He was a man cloaked and hidden in darkness. He wore a rusted, old knight's helmet and a hood. The rest of his body was hidden by his cloak.
I unsheathed my blade and asked him, "Who are you?"
He took off his hood, and proceeded to take his helmet off. And when I realized who it was, my eyes widened in surprise.
I quietly exclaimed one name. "Cutter?"
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