After extracting his knife from the last spider’s slimy carcass, Grunk stood drenched in greenish blood and took a moment to ensure no more threats were lurking in the shadows. Satisfied that he was alone, he shifted his focus to finding a way back to Cygo, intending to secretly follow him in the quest for the weapon.
Grunk looked up, observing how the chamber he had fallen into stretched high, a beam of light from above illuminating the path for his ascent. Such a climb posed no challenge for him. Instantly, he rushed to the wall, and with a powerful grip, hoisted his immense body upwards. He began leaping from one edge to another, rapidly scaling the chamber with effortless grace. With a final, mighty heave, he launched himself up and through the air, ready to confront any threat that might be waiting.
Time seemed to slow as he soared. Midair, he surveyed the scene below–a grim tableau of dozens of slaughtered spiders scattered around. Landing with full force, he rammed his armblades into the ground to break his momentum. Sparks flew as the blades glowed from the friction, and he skidded to a halt a few meters later.
The floor was slick with the green blood of dead spiders, their limbs twitching in the aftermath. Cygo was nowhere in sight, yet the extensive carnage spoke volumes of his recent passage.
The trail ahead was clear. Glowing plasma impacts on the walls, still radiating warmth, left distinct greenish scorch marks pointing onward.
Near a massive door, a synthesizer –reminiscent of those back in the arena–was embedded into the wall. Grunk’s eyes lit up with recognition and a hint of delight. “Refreshments!” he shouted, his laugh echoing in the hollow chamber, appreciating a brief moment to revel in his situation. Without wasting any more time, he activated the synthesizer to restock his supplies, bracing himself for whatever challenges lay ahead in his relentless pursuit.
Grunk weighed his options carefully as he stood before the synthesizer’s interface, its holographic screen flickering with an array of potential modifications. The constant threat of spiders and other organic menaces in the dungeon prompted him to consider a specialized enhancement for his weapon.
Grunk prepared himself to confront whatever lay beyond the massive door. If Cygo had passed through it, he might find either his comrade or another gruesome scene of spider carnage. His massive arms tensed, eyes wide with determination, then Grunk grunted loudly and pushed hard against the door. With a thunderous crash, the door burst open, splinters of wood and shards of metal scattering across the floor.
Inside, to his surprise, he didn’t find the remnants of a battle but dozens of spiders, very much alive. The creatures–caught off guard– quickly spun around from the sudden intrusion. Their hisses filled the air, punctuated by the menacing clack of their pincers as they prepared to defend their lair. Grunk, now faced with an unexpected and formidable assembly of foes, readied himself for a fierce confrontation.
