Spirit Taming

Chapter 486: Down We Go

"There are many patrols around the main caverns. Many of our people leave to hunt for materials and mushrooms." Purple was more or less silent, but he was sure to mention that they would not need to worry for the time being.

"This is the wilderness though. The moment that we left that city, wilderness." Clark had a more focused opinion about where they were even though they were technically still in a safer area. It was something about not having the entire group with him that put him on edge. He had also not fought beside Purple just against him.

"It will be fine as long as we keep track of where we are going. The maps are decent and there is no reason to stress out." Maria remedied the situation and made a point of where they were.

From what Clark could see, the carved signs on the side of the cave walls were enough for many to navigate the well traveled caves. This just came with many years of people exploring around the caves right by the city. Naturally, there would be some hidden things here and there but most places would be related to businesses or farms of sorts.

"Following that cave to the left will bring us to the mushroom farms. Apparently they bring rotting logs from above to give them even more nutrients. Apparently there are a lot of caves right around the city used to grow the basic staple mushrooms for people." Maria had found this an interesting fun fact. Especially since the other cities didn't eat mushrooms as heavily.

"It sounds like a lot of work to do that. Aren't there enough things that grow in the caves or the dungeons?"

Responding to Clark's question, Purple paused in his steps while considering things, "There are dungeons that do not have a cave environment near us. We can't harvest enough materials from them due to the caves that they are in. some dangers come with carving out caves to make transport routes."

Seeing that this was the reason, Clark couldn't argue at all. It made total sense that the people here would do whatever they needed to, to avoid a cave in. If there was even a small cave in nearby, then the city officials would need to rush out to explore and identify the threats. Even the smallest cave in could be a sign that a large one might happen. Or an earthquake could be approaching.

"Oh, there's the cute mushroom spiders that I heard about." Maria suddenly became a little more energetic spotting a small mushroom like spider crawling in to a crevice to hide from the group passing by. "I was told that they are harmless little beasts that just like to find damp places to hide and grow.

Someone tried to tell me that they are actually mushrooms that took over the baby cave spider bodies though. But that's weird."

'Mushroom spider- common

The mushroom spider is a beast that came from another dimension. Through odd time and space distortions, the dungeon these beasts came from no longer exists. It was considered a world of multiple super powered beasts that were captured using technology and no magical powers or energies.

The mushroom spider is actually a specific species of parasitic mushroom that will consume the brain of a baby cave spider. Normally they will only take over half the eggs laid by a mother to keep the species alive. When the mushroom spider releases spores the body is considered dead and the best food for baby cave spiders. It becomes a cooperative relationship to make the cave spider babies thrive.

There is no room for growth when it comes to the mushroom spiders. It lacks something from the world it is now part of to grow in to any other forms…'

While Clark nodded his head in agreement, he wondered how a weird beast like that could exist. It was only a few minutes of wondering though before he shook himself out of it. He was sure that there were plenty of people who would think that such a beast would be both good and bad, but for the moment, it had worked well in nature as it was and there was no reason to worry about it.

Especially since it wasn't like they were violent.

"This is looking a little more complicated now." Maria lost her focus on the mushroom spider too. She was instead, looking at the many caves that interconnected from where they were.

"Formed by water over many years, those smaller caves will flood when it rains. Water rushed through them to those three caves. You want to fo to that one because it is dry." Purple spoke like a veteran since he had been here before. He was certain that the two would be amazed by t also get very, VERY, lost if they were to attempt any explorations without a map or him to guide them to a degree.

"Then we head down through the dry cave. But after that we are splitting away from the green marked tunnels." Clark pointed out that they were leaving the well traveled areas. A sign that he knew would mean they were in very dangerous areas.

"We will also be in places where the caves shapes and size change more because they are less carved and more natural.' Purple nodded. A glint of purple light flashing in his eyes as he prepared himself. The climb down the cave would be needing a little extra energy for him to safely make it. Therefore, the beast and human pair had to start manipulating their shared body more.

"Crim, you and I will stick together for this entire trip. Having some armor is better." Clark called out Crim. in a few moments, Crim had taken the armor form. Clark wasn't surprised to see that crim had grown yet again after absorbing even more energy crystals. Not to mention the many dragon lilies that had started growing in the edens end taming space.

They had greatly helped strengthen the dragon type energy in Crim's body.

This left Clark wearing a full slime chest plate and the wings stretched a little before they melded back in to the chest plate as if they had not been there. "Good Idea, Crim will protect you from falling while I have Lit too." Maria did the same, but Lit's form had changed a little too.

The royal cloak form that Lit had taken as a princess jellyfish was similar, yet very different. The purple and yellow markings were very vibrant but seemed to make it hard to focus on Maria. A trick of the eyes in a way. The cloak also seemed to be radiating a very distinct healing and poison aura around Maria. Making it a warning along with a promise.

Dual in nature for a spiritual and poison type beast was odd but would both scare the weak beasts away and made some stronger potentially respect Lit a bit more.

The ropes were already set within the cave to climb down. The metal braid was made with unique materials for many people to travel down. It resisted very heavy weights. But Clark saw this as a good bit of training. He secured himself with a personal rope but did not let it slide down. He was using his muscles the entire time.

Twenty minutes later, the change they all felt was clear. The pressure had changed when they went deeper. And since they were not following the main path as most would, the group could sense the changes around them.

Less flowing air from other caves made the air stagnant to a degree. It also held the moisture around them. "So the cave in switched the airflow. I bet that means beasts that didn't live here before will move in.'"Clark sighed a little. This was an additional risk making him understand why some people would refuse to come here.

"Yes. You want to go deeper still?" Purple, reaffirmed their desire to go to the deep caves. But didn't push again when he saw how resolute they were. This was important to Maria and Clark.

With a nod, the group set off. The path toward the cave in that they would be moving around was simple. It clearly had been traveled a lot until recently. Evidence was everywhere. Pieces of wood from whatever those that searched the dungeon had brought with them. Small tools here and there that had broken.

Even a few pieces of damaged armor here or there. No matter where someone went, litter was a problem it appeared.

What stuck out were the sounds. Less than one would imagine. The sounds of beats in the wilderness would normally be in the distance. In this cave, all that was in the distance were dripping sounds of water that echoed throughout the caves. This wasn't unsettling though. What was unsettling were the small tapping sounds that had just started.

The small tapping of stone on stone that reminded Clark of scuttling legs.