"So, those spikes are eggs?" I asked while pointing at the numerous spikes jutting out of the cliff wall.
"Yes, once they mature they will fell down and hatch into squids."
"Really? Just squids? Like an actual squid?" I commented while pressing a button on my grappling hook to lower us down to the fourth layer. "I didn't know normal creature exists in the abyss."
"It's not a normal squid, its species doesn't have an official name yet." Marulk replied.
I nodded a little, understanding more and more about the local fauna. "Wait just a bloody second..." I looked at the goblets below and the spikes up above in complete confusion. "How the heck do they get the eggs all the way up there!?"
Marulk chuckled a little. "It's still up for debate, but I think their eggs are actually airborne," he pointed at the small steam coming out of the goblets. "See? Those vapors probably carries the squid's eggs. It will then get caught on the spikes above where it will mature."
I nodded, even though I don't really understand what he's saying half of the time. "You're pretty smart, you could be a teacher."
"I would if you didn't drag me down here," Marulk replied simply.
"You still love me though right?"
"Of course."
We landed smoothly at the edge of one of the Goblets. The water glows green and white squiddy creature swam on top of it. "So uhh, what are these anyway? Acid?" I looked to my left and saw Marulk stepping calmly on to the Goblet.
"Hot water, it feels pleasant actually," he pointed at the third layer that are just above us. "the green glow came from the light reflecting the force field from above."
I looked up at the giant shaft that is the third layer. It's kinda hard to believe that we've traveled four kilometers down in just two days. Especially considering we've been taking frequent breaks for snacks and other stuff.
"Haios, there's something else I need to tell you," Marulk said suddenly, his expression embarrassed and a bit fearful. "I am very scared of the Fourth Layer's Curse, but I have a feeling that it will be unavoidable."
I slowly realized where this is going. "You wanna train yourself getting hit by the curse?" I asked him.
Marulk nodded a little. "Sorry, I guess it's a bit hypocritical of me for asking you to do this when I myself forbid you from abusing it."
"Hey, even Ozen used my power for training." I shot my grappling hook and lodged it at the edge of this goblet. Then I picked him up and lower the two of us down ten meters below the goblet. "You ready? We're in this together okay?"
Marulk nodded and I let the grappling hook pull ourselves back to the goblet. We both lay down at the edge of the goblet and held each other's hand. "So, uhh... How long until the curse kicks in?"
"You can't even feel it can't you?" Marulk muttered in amusement. He turned his face towards me and I can see that he's trying real hard to mask his pain. "An unbearable pain that causes dizziness followed by external and internal bleeding," blood trickled down his mouth with every word he said.
I myself slowly feels pleasure coursing through my body. It's almost similar to the one I felt during the last Thousand Man Pin installation, but not as extreme. "Hang in there Marulk," I said after realizing just how agonizing this can be to him.
"It hurts..." Marulk hissed as blood slowly trickled down his eyes and his ears. He strengthen his grip on my hand and start shuddering in pain. "Haios... Don't let go, please..."
I leaned my body close to him and stroked his body comfortingly. "It's okay, I'm not leaving you, just hang in there."
After about ten minutes, Marulk turned silent. I almost thought that I have to kill myself, but it seems that the curse is over.
Marulk looked at me with his bloodshot eyes and bloodied face. He smiled at me gratefully and closed his eyes. "Haios, now that I think about it, I don't think you have to reset," he wiped the blood of his face and slowly stood up. "This is nothing compared to Ozen."
Well, now that I really think about it, nothing can compare to Ozen. "So, should we continue then?"
The boy walked to the hot water on the goblet and start wiping the blood of his face. "Yes, but let's clean ourselves up first."
I looked at my reflection and realized that I am fully equipped for a Halloween party judging by the amount of blood covering my face. "Guess you're right..." I muttered before splashing my face with the warm liquid.
A squid swam past me. "By the way, can you eat this?"
Marulk nodded. "I'll cook some for you later, but for now we need a safe place to rest."
The two of us continued our way through the Goblets of Giants, we don't really know where we can rest but apparently we need to find a place as far away from the center as possible. Mainly due to the curse being more extreme and because an interesting fella called an Orb-Piercer.
"So, this Orb-Piercer thing has a five star danger rating?" I asked Marulk as I helped him jump from one goblet to another. "That's the highest danger rating on the currently documented creature right?"
Marulk nodded once again. "That's why I'm telling you not to engage it. It has taken the lives of hundreds of black whistles, I don't think even you will be able to defeat it." Well, if he said I cannot defeat it, then I won't be able to defeat it.
Suddenly, I heard a loud voice coming from the distance. I landed on a ledge at the very edge of the layer and looked at one of the biggest goblet. "Say, Marulk, is that the orb piercer?" I asked him while staring at a huge beast resembling a porcupine.
"Yes, that's the one," he put on his goggles and stared intensely at the creature. "Lord Ozen told me that the beast deep in the abyss has a powerful intuition," he leaned forward to get a better look. "But I think they only have the power of this fancy goggles I'm wearing."
"What? You mean they can see the curse?"
Marulk shook his head and removed his goggles. "Here, try it yourself and look at me."
I put on the goggles and saw soft blanket-like aura surrounding us from every direction. "Wow... You've been seeing this all this time?" I asked in wonder.
"Yes, now watch me closely," I looked at Marulk and noticed that the blanket aura suddenly shot out to my left. Marulk then put a hand over my left shoulder. "Did you see that? The force field is soft enough that your conscious thought is enough to shift and move it."
I took off the goggles and gave it back to him. "Oh, so that's how they predict your movement..." I looked back at Orby's territory only to find it nowhere to be seen. "Eh, where did it go?"
Marulk pointed at a goblet far away from us. "It sensed the presence of another delver and..." he gulped a little. "I don't know, there's not much we can do."
I held Marulk by his waist and jumped towards the nearest goblet. "Every life is precious, let's safe as many as we can," I said before jumping towards the next goblet.