THEOS

Chapter 63: Sneaking into Holes

Chapter 63: Sneaking into Holes

Really? Luke frowned. Youre going to back out now?

Can you blame me? Are you seeing what I'm seeing? Lukeus pointed to the dark and gaping hole in the sandy dune. It contrasted sharply with the glimmering golden sand that stretched to the horizon.

An uncountable number of fluorescent eyes shined in the cloudy blackness and traced the path of their chariot in the sky. Alert, ready, and hungry. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

I dont exactly want to go in there either, but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. And I have to go in there.

Itll be fine Luke hedged, ignoring the skeptical looks the two brothers were giving him. What are they anyway?

I think they're bats. Said Rex.

No bats sleep during the day. Those things are definitely awake. Luke shook his head. The way their eyes glow, its kind of catlike actually. Do you know any uh cat monsters that live in deserts?

Sphinxes?

Theyre like harpies?

Rex cocked his head to the side. I think so

They arent, you idiot. Lukeus scoffed. It doesnt matter what they are. Wed be insane to go in there. Even if theyre weak, theres too many of them. Why dont we check on Heracles and see if hes okay first. We might not even need his storage ring. Why do we need his ring, anyways?

That Heracles isnt far, but the Quest was pretty clear. Get the ring, give it to him, and he calls his fleet. It didnt say we cant go there and talk to him first, but

This fucking sucks.

The Message, was pretty obvious. We get the ring first.

Na uh. Lukeus tugged on the reins, and Nutbutter flapped his wings. Flying them higher in the air, but contrary to his claim, he didnt immediately start flying towards where Heracles was either. Merely circling high above the cavern.

I have a plan. Sort of. Luke said eventually.

I can tell you right now, if your plan is me going inside that thing, you can forget it.

I think I agree with Lukeus. Going down there seems like suicide.

Not if we find a way to get the things out. We have explosive talismans right?

I have a bunch. Rex said.

Warrior or Mortal?

Both. Lukeus grinned.

And protective talismans?

My grandfather rules this entire island. My father, mother, sister, and half my servants are warriors. What do you think? Lukeus said, pulling a thick stack of them out of his pocket. Were rich.

I thought you guys didnt get any special treatment?

Not from Gramps, but our mother runs an entire sect. Besides, spoiling us with power is one thing, and keeping us safe is another matter entirely. Having enough talismans falls firmly in the latter category.

It makes things rather simple then. Whatevers in there isnt likely to be a Hero, so with the talismans none of us should die instantly. There's a lot of things in there, but I bet a few explosive talismans will have them scurrying like rats.

What if they fly? Nutbutter is quick but Im not going to risk him on something like this. Lets just go to Heracles, hes an hour that way. We still have plenty of time until your deadline runs out. More than enough to come back for the ring if we need to.

Who knows when Ill get the chance to get my hands on so many again.

Rex looked at Luke with pain in his eyes, as he reached into his robes. Instead of handing them over though, he split them in in two, and then gave Luke the smaller half.

Why are you being so stingy with them? Lukeus frowned.

What if we need some later?

... Thats a good point. Can I have some of mine back too?

Umm. Luke climbed to his feet, and subtly began channeling mana into his feet. Why dont you share the ones Rex kept. They seem like enough to get you out of a pinch. And you're pretty strong right? Stronger than me, so it shouldnt be a massive issue, right?

He only kept twenty of ea

Luke jumped. Straight into the air, and landed in the sky. Waving slowly as the chariot vanished from beneath his feet.

Okay, that was kind of cool. He grinned, stuffing his hand in his pocket, he slowly walked above the gaping hole in the ground.

Now for the protective talismans. I should keep a dozen or so as they are, in case I need to share them with someone later, or use them with people around. The rest though

He concentrated on his inventory, and ripped the tabs off the bottom. Activating them, and then sending them straight to his storage.

Explosives are a bit more tricky. I cant imagine a shorter fuse being useful all the time, but it cant hurt. Definitely helped in the tomb.

He ran his fingers through them, and stashed some of them in his pocket, and then placed the rest in his inventory. Staggering some of their fuses at different times before putting them in, but leaving the majority of them untorn.

Unlike the protective ones, the explosives were more useful when attached to projectiles, and he didnt want to preemptively activate too many. With the amount of them he had though, he still managed to get a decent number in both categories.

How should I do this now? Drop straight in, or lob some explosives in from the side. Or I can stand right above, and hope they just fly past me.

Actually, I dont even know if the things can fly.

Standing off to the side, but still in the air it is then. High enough that if they run out, Im out of their reach, but low enough that if they do fly out, they go past me, and not at me.

He nodded to himself, before cutting the flow of mana to his shoes, and letting himself freefall through the sky.

Mostly using his arms and the air rushing past him to guide his path through the sky. Something that he discovered, came a lot easier than he imagined it would be.

I cant believe a month ago, I was scared about climbing too high, and falling when I ran out of mana. Now I probably have enough, that I never need to walk on the ground again.

Alright. Be proud later. Right now, I need to focus.

As the dunes grew larger and larger in his vision, Luke righted himself in the air. Then running thrity feet above the ground, he stopped a hundred yards away from the gaping hole in the ground.

Summoning a hefty, fist sized rock hed picked up in the wilderness, into his hands, he affixed an explosive talisman onto it, before sending it back into his inventory. Repeating the process a dozen more times, he tossed his makeshift weapon in his hand. Getting used to its weight as he prepared to unleash hell onto the unsuspecting cave dwellers.

I kind of feel sorry for those chumps.

Waving to the chariot, now a small speck in the sky, cheerfully, he ripped the tab of the talisman and tossed the rock into the hole.

The second it left his hand, another projectile appeared in its place and trailed after its brother in the sky. Again and again until he had thrown half his arsenal.

The ensuing explosions sent sand blasting into the air, and the whole world seemed to rumble. Waves of cold air rushed out of the hole, and flattened his hat.

A roar echoed from within the cavern.

Im fucked. Luke thought to himself. His eyes widening in fear as they beheld the horror that he had awoken.