As Liam hurried off to seek help, the cave's chaos settled into an eerie stillness. The only sound was Nathan's slow, deliberate breaths echoing through the cavern. Alone in the depths, as he assessed his predicament.
"I should see if there's any other way from here," Nathan mumbled to himself, his voice the only company in the silence.
He tore a light ball scroll and summoned a ball of light, casting its gentle glow across the rough-hewn walls.
As he began to search the cavern's walls for any possible escape routes, he felt a subtle breeze caressing the back of his neck.
Nathan furrowed his brow in curiosity. "Wind? Could it be an opening somewhere?" he wondered aloud.
With his backpack slung over his shoulder, Nathan cautiously followed the direction from which the wind emanated. It led him to a sizable crack in the cavern wall.
Determined, he squeezed himself through the narrow passage, emerging on the other side.
Reaching the other side he sees a new tunnel stretched out before him, dark and foreboding, with water droplets dripping from the ceiling, creating delicate conical stone formations.
The faint sound of running water echoed through the underground passages, with the bioluminescent algae's faint blue light making a spectacle.
Nathan continued forward, the wind growing stronger as he ventured deeper into the tunnel. The path eventually opened up into a spacious cavern, a stark contrast to the narrow and unstable tunnels he had been navigating.
The sight that greeted him left him in awe.
Glimmerite ore, like a myriad of distant stars, glistened within the walls and ceiling, bathing the cavern in an ethereal radiance.
The luminescent glow illuminated the cavern's features, revealing the breathtaking beauty of the underground world.
The soft light danced on the walls, creating a mesmerizing display of colors and patterns.
Amidst the gentle echoes of his footsteps and the subtle drip of water, there was another sound—a soft, rhythmic munching, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of stones cracking. Nathan's curiosity was piqued, and he knew he had to investigate.
He followed the source of the sound, the floating light ball casting eerie shadows on the cavern walls.
As he ventured deeper into the cavern, he approached the origin of the mysterious noise, careful to make as little sound as possible.
And then, Nathan saw something that left him utterly astounded.
Not far in front of him was a creature unlike anything he had ever imagined—a colossal monkey, standing at a staggering height of approximately four meters. It was the very monster described in Brogar's rumors.
This gigantic creature had dark purple fur adorned with striking blue stripes that ran along its massive body.
Its face bore long whiskers, each one a vibrant shade of cyan-red, and its eyes gleamed with an intelligence that took Nathan by surprise.
The creature's long, powerful tail trailed behind it, a mesmerizing blend of patterns in various shades of purple and blue.
The creature's most striking feature, however, was its eyes—intense and fiery red glowing in the faint light.
As Nathan was captivated by the monkey's appearance, he mistakenly hit a rock on the wall, causing it to fall and create an echoing sound in the cavern.
Startled by the noise, the monkey leaped into action, swiftly turning toward Nathan, its large frame towering over him. It showed its teeth and stood on its two muscular hind legs, clearly ready to defend itself.
Nathan's heart raced as he cautiously brandished his sword, unsure of how the enormous monkey would react to his presence. The creature responded with hisses and a hostile stance, its gaze fixed firmly on Nathan.
Realizing that aggression would only escalate the situation, Nathan quickly sheathed his sword and raised both his empty hands in a gesture of peace. He maintained eye contact with the creature, conveying his non-hostile intentions.
"Easy there," Nathan spoke softly, his voice calm and soothing. "I mean you no harm."
The colossal monkey, while still wary, ceased its hissing and observed Nathan with a watchful gaze.
As the monkey hesitated, Nathan took a slow step back, giving the creature some space and reducing any perceived threat. He continued to speak in a gentle, reassuring tone.
"I mean you no harm," Nathan repeated, his voice carrying a tone of sincerity. "I'm just lost here. Can you understand me?"
Nathan, keen on building trust, decided to take a leap of faith.
He slowly reached into his bag, making sure to move deliberately and avoid any sudden movements that might provoke the creature.
The monkey resumed hissing and tensed up the moment it saw Nathan reaching into his bag, ready to defend itself.
"Wait, wait," Nathan implored, his voice gentle and reassuring. "I would like to be friends, so don't attack. I have something that you will like."
With great care, Nathan retrieved a portion of the food he had brought with him.
He sprinkled brown sugar and powdered mana stones onto it, creating an enticing aroma that filled the air.
Then, he placed the treat on the ground in front of the creature, all the while maintaining his non-threatening posture.
Stepping back slightly to give the creature some space, Nathan watched with bated breath as the monkey-like creature cautiously approached the offering.
It inhaled the sweet scent, and curiosity overcame its initial wariness.
With a swift movement, the creature made itself smaller, shrinking from a towering 4 meters to a more diminutive 0.5 meters in height cute little monkey. It then snatched up the treat and devoured it in an instant.
Nathan couldn't help but marvel at the creature's sudden transformation and its ability to adapt to its surroundings. As the monkey-like creature savored the treat, Nathan spoke softly to it, his voice filled with wonder.
"That's incredible," Nathan murmured. "You're not just any ordinary monster, are you?"
The creature, no longer hissing or displaying hostility, scampered back to Nathan and extended its small, open hands in a gesture that clearly communicated, "More, please."
Nathan couldn't contain his sense of accomplishment and the newfound bond forming between them.
He reached into his bag and prepared another treat, sprinkling it with sugar and powdered mana stones before placing it on the cute small hands of the monkey.
Nathan crouched in front of the transformed monkey, offering it more of the sweetened food.
"I have more, buddy, and I can give it all to you, but you need to help me get out of this place because I got lost here."
The monkey, after enjoying the delicious morsel, looked deep into Nathan's eyes with a curious and thoughtful gaze. It seemed to consider Nathan's proposal for a moment as if pondering the idea.
Nathan held his breath, wondering if the monkey would understand.
Then, unexpectedly, the creature let out a series of soft, inquisitive "ki ki" sounds, almost as if it were trying to communicate.
Nathan observed the creature's "ki ki" sounds with fascination, his heart racing with anticipation. It was as if the cute monkey was attempting to convey something to him, a form of communication beyond simple gestures.
Encouraged by the creature's response, Nathan nodded in understanding. "I see, you're trying to tell me something, right? Maybe you can lead me out of here?"
The monkey made a series of "ki ki" sounds again, this time with more urgency, and then turned and started to move deeper into the cavern, gesturing for Nathan to follow.
Following the monkey through the winding tunnels, Nathan found himself navigating the underground maze with renewed hope while being crouched down.
They moved up and down, left and right, through a labyrinthine network of passages.
After what felt like hours, Nathan spotted a faint glimmer of light up ahead. His heart quickened as he picked up the pace, the monkey leading the way.
As they emerged from the tunnel, Nathan was greeted by a sight that filled him with relief and gratitude.
Before him lay a lush forest, bathed in the soft light of the setting sun. A river flowed gently through the landscape, and the open sky stretched above.
Nathan couldn't help but let out a chuckle, a mix of joy and relief. "Oh, thank the heavens! I made it out. I was starting to get a bit scared in there."
Taking in the surrounding beauty once more, Nathan decided to climb a tall tree nearby and gazed out into the distance.
Monkey too following him, reached the treetop with him.
He shielded his eyes with one hand to get a better view. "Hmm, it seems like we're in the forest near Glimmerforge. I can even spot the city's entrance from here, using my aura eyes. But it's still a day or two's journey on foot."
The monkey, standing beside him, expressed its happiness with a series of joyful jumps and excited "ki ki" sounds.
Nathan smiled at his newfound companion and patted it gently. "Yes, my friend, you've been a tremendous help. I couldn't have done it without you."