Chapter 231: Metal Hatch

Rustle~Almost the second the now dead branch eater worm fell into the water, some of the branch eater worms from the large group just outside the half open metal door turned around curiously before starting to move over to investigate the situation in person.

Normally, this should have already resulted in them spotting Scaly, but it just so happened that the half open metal door had been open at an angle that the branch eater worms drawn over, weren’t able to spot her immediately-

Swish~

Giving her just enough time to rush back down the brick steps she had ascended seconds earlier to get out of the cramped tunnel she had spent the last fifteen minutes moving through. Doing her absolute best to stay hidden and remain out of sight while trying to keep her attention on the situation above.

After all, she understood very well that her situation would become desperate if she ended up being noticed by the branch eaters worms that had just made their way over to investigate the situation, as that would end up also attracting the attention of all the other branch eaters worms in the large room located on the other side of the half open metal door.

Hm? They became invisible? Did they notice me!? No... If they did notice me, they would have alerted the rest of the branch eater worms outside. For safety then? Hm... Indeed, they are far safer invisible...

Seeing the branch eaters worms using their invisibility almost the second they moved through the half open metal door, Scaly could not help panicking for a bit thinking they might have spotted her before relaxing again after realizing that they should have just made themselves invisible to avoid danger in case some other monster happened to be lurking inside the tunnel they just entered.

In a way, this level of cautiousness from the branch eater worms was understandable, as they were far from durable monster. Having a relatively weak defense. Relying entirely on their invisibility and large numbers. Alone, they were rather weak even if it was one of the stronger branch eater worms, she had seen in the swarm.

However, the invisibility of the branch eater worms was a problem in its own way, as she now didn’t have any way to tell when the branch eater worms left.

She could use her mist spell to detect them, but doing so would also end up exposing her.

Even if she wasn’t noticed using magic, the sudden mist would undoubtedly be strange and attract even more attention from the branch eater worms.

How troublesome...

Silently thinking this to herself as she observed the now empty stone platform that undoubtedly had a few branch eaters lurking on top of it invisible to the naked eye, Scaly could not help feeling a bit worried about her current situation. Not so much because she had once again been forced into hiding, but instead because she felt the exhaustion that had been building up since her escape started beginning to affect her. Drowsiness threatening to take over at any second and force her into a deep sleep.

To stop herself from accidentally falling asleep so close to the branch eater worms, she essentially had to force herself to stay awake by keeping her mind focused on the empty stone platform. Observing every part of the stone platform in great detail to avoid the drowsiness winning this silent battle that had already been raging for a few minutes.

As a result of this, she not only realized that there seemed to be some kind of metal hatch at the center of the platform, but she also spotted several strange markings on the platform itself.

The markings being awfully similar to the sigils that she had started noticing on the wooden crates she was floating on top of at the current moment.

Although this didn’t really help her get out of her current situation, it did present a potential path for her to escape through in case she was spotted by the branch eater worms. The only worry being that the metal hatch might be locked, or so she thought before she saw a small hole at the location where a lock should have once existed.

Now the main worry was where this hatch led to, as it going down into a dead end wouldn’t really help her much in her current situation either, but... There wasn’t really any better choice for escaping in case she was found by the branch eater worms, as going back the same way she had come would at most buy her a bit more time but wouldn’t help her escape from danger.

Not to mention, in her current state, trying to fight her way out like she did personally want to do wasn’t really an option.

Before ever having a chance at once again engaging in battle with these branch eater worms, she would have to find somewhere to recover her strength.

Rustle~

Splash!

Just as she was lost in her own thoughts observing the metal hatch, a familiar sound echoed out behind her... And turning around, she confirmed her fears, as she saw a dozen or so large branch eater worms at the edge of her vision. One of them accidentally attempted reaching a wooden crate too far away causing it to fall into the water.

From the reaction so far, it was clear that they hadn’t noticed her yet but considering that they were only going to get closer, it was only a matter of time.

Now she was truly trapped between a rock and a hard place.

Even if she could keep herself from falling asleep for a while, the branch eater worms wouldn’t give her the time to wait around.

Before those behind got close enough to notice her and potentially alert the branch eater worms currently hidden on the stone platform, she would have to make her move and try to reach the metal hatch that they were now guarding...

Water mist!

For this reason, Scaly didn’t hesitate for long, as she directly used her water mist spell, causing a thin mist to envelop the platform above. Allowing her to clearly see the position of the branch eater worms above.

However, instead of the five she had seen moving into the room earlier, she was shocked to discover that there were actually over a dozen branch eater worms hidden on top of the stone platform. Making it clear that they were more than prepared for any potential ambushes!

Swish-!

But... Even if that was the case, she didn’t really have much of a choice in her current situation, as she charged out of her hiding spot. Moving straight for the metal hatch while the branch eater worms were still in a confused state due to the mist that had suddenly appeared without warning.

Ptsh!

Ptsh!


[Gained 642 Exp]

[Gained 345 Exp]

In the process, she used her water blade spell to cut down two unsuspecting branch eater worms in her path before finding herself standing directly in front of the metal hatch-

Creaaak~!

And without any hesitation, she used her claws to pry open the metal hatch just when the branch eater worms spotted her and realized what had happened.

Rustle~

As a result, as Scaly managed to successfully pry open the metal hatch just enough for her to squeeze through before it closed shut behind her, the branch eater worms on top of the stone platform began alerting the swarm of branch eater worms on the other side of the half open metal door about the situation-

RUUUUUUMBLE-!

BAAANG! Splash!

And as a result, the large swarm surged forth with a terrifying might. Slamming the into the metal door with enough force to knock it off its hinges and into the purple water before filling up the entire stone platform in less than ten seconds.

Of course, although this display of power and response time was admirable, it did come with some problems. The main one being that the metal hatch Scaly had escaped through was now buried beneath the squirming mass of branch eater worms. Buying her some extra time as the branch eater worms who had just rushed into tunnel were being informed about the situation by those who had seen Scaly escape through the metal hatch at the center of the stone platform.

Creeeaaaak~!

But... As the branch eater worm swarm finally backed off enough to allow a few of the stronger branch eater worms to push open the hatch with great effort, they were left in disappointment upon seeing that Scaly had already disappeared through a smaller tunnel located at the bottom of the hole hidden beneath the metal hatch-

RUUUUMBLE-!

Not that this held them back for long, as the swarm soon surged forward into the small hole to chase after Scaly. At the same time, a few also split off to inform the rest of the branch eater worms spread throughout the city about the situation.