The Underground Bloodhole exuded an eerie atmosphere, it's dark confines illuminated by a faint red glow emitted from the hard grainy walls.
Every step Amaris took on the cookie-like ground echoed through the empty underground, the sound of cracking filling the air. A thin layer of red dust covered her skin, its slight chill causing her hairs to stand on end. Amidst the silence, only her steady breathing could be heard.
The cave, resembling a clean mining tunnel, had enough space to accommodate at least 20 people in a row. However, there were no signs of mining activity. The smooth, red dirt tunnels lacked any tools or traces. It was as if the Underground Bloodhole was created by a powerful demon.
As Amaris ventured deeper into the depths, her senses heightened. The air carried a putrid blend of blood and decayed corpses, assaulting her nose. Strewn across the ground were a few lifeless bodies, some reduced to dried bones with remnants of muscle. The sight made her recoil, prompting her to cover her nose and scrunch up her face.
The unsettling scene only intensified as she pressed on. Small creatures resembling rodents or rats scurried in the corners of her vision. Their grey bodies appeared partially melted, with small teeth exposed. Three of them feasted on a corpse, greedily digging into the flesh.
Zaleck popped up in Amaris mind and said, "That is a rat demon. They normally group up together and attack their prey, but as you can see, it's already eaten. They aren't that strong, but are scary in mass groups."
Amaris nodded her head, her mind racing with plans for her next move. As she stealthily tiptoed past, barely a metre away from the rats, they twisted their heads and locked their gaze on her. Their pitch-black eyes, adorned with narrow slits, emitted a faint crimson glow.
One rat lunged at her, driven by a thirst for blood. With a swift dodge, Amaris narrowly evaded the attack, her heart pounding in her chest. Observing the rat closely, she noticed its feeble rank of 1, rendering it pathetically weak. Emitting a high-pitched squeak, the rat made another desperate lunge, aiming for her vulnerable neck. Opting not to exhaust her mana by utilising her Pink Widow soul possession, Amaris raised her arm, displaying her raw strength as she effortlessly crushed the rat in her grasp.
In an instant, the rat's life was extinguished, causing the remaining two rats to screech with fury as they charged towards her. Seizing the dead rat with one hand, Amaris hurled its lifeless body at the oncoming rodents. While one rat was struck by the corpse, the other skilfully evaded the projectile. Closing in rapidly, the second rat was abruptly cleaved in half by Amaris' gleaming dagger, showering her face with a crimson spray of blood.
The remaining rat halted, its eyes smouldering with hatred as it fixated on her. Emitting a piercing screech, it attempted to flee, but its escape was cut short as it met its demise in an instant. Amaris let out a weary sigh, wiping the blood from her face as she surveyed the lifeless rats strewn across the ground.
She diligently searched for soul rings, only to find none. A sense of incompleteness washed over her, causing her to shrug her shoulders nonchalantly, not dwelling on it for too long.
Suddenly, her gaze caught sight of a small, grey soul ring emerging from the rats' bodies. Though diminutive, it fit snugly on her finger, radiating a faint grey light. A smile crept across Amaris' face as she grasped the ring, her three yellow eyes fixated on its enchanting glow.
"Hey, would it hurt to swallow this soul ring?" Amaris asked Zaleck.
Zaleck popped up in her consciousness and said, "No, it shouldn't. Those rats don't have any attributes to them."
Amaris was reassured and swallowed the soul ring, feeling its grey essence entering her soul, slightly changing it. She felt a little of energy course through her, but she didn't break through the next rank because the rat was too weak for her soul.
She didn't want to waste her time swallowing soul rings, and continued deeper into the Underground Bloodhole, the air slowly getting colder and thicker with dust.
As she ventured deeper, she felt multiple soul rings appear in the distance.
Amaris's eyes lit up. She transformed into her Pink Widow form and headed towards the soul rings, a grin appearing on her pink face.
"Human, are you stupid?!" Zaleck yelled in her consciousness. Amaris stopped, startled by her sudden outburst.
"Soul rings only last for three minutes, and there is a shit ton of them here? Do you really think you're safe?" Zaleck said, her voice booming in her mind.
Amaris face paled a little and backtracked, but it was already too late.
"Huh? A little girl?" A deep male voice sounded, filling the whole cave.
Amaris froze in place, her body rigid as she heard the unexpected male voice. It didn't sound human to her ears. Slowly, she turned around, her heart pounding in her chest like a thunderous drumbeat.
As her gaze met his, the first thing she noticed were his eyes, as dark as the night sky, with a subtle crimson glimmer. Her eyes then travelled downwards, taking in the imposing figure before her. Standing six metres tall, he loomed just ten feet away.
Clad in a sleek black jacket with silver accents, adorned with intricate symbols and patterns, he emanated an air of mystery. Underneath the jacket, he wore a fitted shirt in a deep shade of blue or black. His hands were covered in fingerless gloves, hinting at his readiness for combat. Baggy trousers with tactical elements and knee-high boots completed his ensemble.
As he approached, he drew a slender silver rapier, pressing it against her throat. The sensation sent shivers down her spine, and she felt a trickle of sweat forming on her brow. The blade grazed her skin, causing a tiny droplet of blood to slowly trickle down her neck.