As Ren stepped further into the dim sewer, he squinted at the faint green gleams reflecting back at him.
In the shadows, he could make out the shapes of fifteen—no, maybe twenty—lizards, each the size of a cat, crowding the passageway. They were all watching him with a collective, unsettling silence.
"Why do I get the feeling these guys aren't even the ones on my quest list?" Ren muttered, half-expecting some twist, and sure enough, the lizards began shrieking, each producing a low, eerie whistle that reverberated off the sewer walls.
Ren's stomach dropped as he realized this wasn't just random noise; they were calling for something.
Sure enough, an ominous thudding echoed from the darkness behind them.
"Oh, come on. This better not be what I think it is," he whispered, backing up.
Then, lumbering into view, a massive lizard with scales thick as armor and eyes glowing like emeralds towered over the smaller ones.
Ren's face went pale.
"Oh, lovely. It's lizard mom," he muttered.
He took a deep breath, fighting the urge to turn and run.
"Okay, I knew I was in an otherworldly sewer, but this is Jurassic Park levels of nope."
As the enormous lizard slithered forward, the smaller ones parted, forming a respectful path for their 'mom.' Each step of hers echoed like thunder in the narrow passage, and Ren could feel the vibrations rattling his bones.
"Great. So not only am I about to be lunch, but I'm going to get front-row seats to a family reunion," he muttered, glancing around, hoping for an escape route that wasn't filled with scales and teeth.
The lizard mom locked her gaze on him, hissing low. Her eyes were more intense than anything he'd seen in even the wildest fantasy movies.
"Right. Stay calm. They can smell fear... or is that sharks?" He shook his head. "Either way, I'm screwed."
He took a tentative step back, raising his hand as if he could somehow negotiate his way out.
"Okay, listen up. I just came for one lizard. No need to make this a whole Godzilla vs. Me situation. We can work something out, right?"
One of the smaller lizards tilted its head at him, like it was considering his words. Then, as if to add insult to injury, it let out a shrill screech, and the others followed suit, hissing in unison.
Ren sighed. "Guess that's a no."
The lizard mom charged, her tail swinging like a massive whip. Ren barely managed to dodge, feeling the whoosh of air as it passed.
"Yup, this is officially worse than all my school gym classes combined," he muttered, trying to think of an exit strategy that didn't involve becoming lizard food.
He scrambled backward, searching for anything useful. "Alright, plan B. Go full fantasy hero mode, Ren," he whispered to himself.
He summoned a spark of electricity to his fingertips, glancing at the water around them with a grin. "This might just be shocking enough to work."
Ren braced himself, watching the giant lizard mom advance through the shallow, filthy water. The smaller lizards lined the walls, waiting eagerly as if it was showtime.
"Alright, big momma," he whispered, cracking his knuckles. "You want to make this epic? Let's make this epic."
With a quick flick of his wrist, he sent a jolt of electricity into the water, lighting it up with a flash. The shockwave rippled through, stunning the smaller lizards that had been eagerly inching forward. A few of them tumbled back into the sludge, twitching and blinking in utter confusion.
Lizard mom, however, seemed more annoyed than anything, her scales shimmering as she shook off the charge like it was a mere mosquito bite. She hissed, locking her fiery eyes on Ren with a new, even more menacing glare.
"Of course. Why wouldn't you be immune to a simple zap?" Ren muttered. "Guess you're more Jurassic Park than Home Alone."
She lunged forward, and Ren barely ducked under her snapping jaws, feeling the rush of air as they clamped shut just inches from his head. He scrambled back, pressing himself against the sewer wall, thinking quickly. "Okay, Ren. Time to get creative."
Spotting a loose, rusty pipe overhead, he grinned. "Alright, nature documentary... this is how we take down the apex predator." He yanked it loose with a mighty pull, water spurting out of the pipe as he swung it down, aiming at the massive lizard's head.
With a satisfying clang, the pipe collided with the lizard mom's snout. She staggered back, shaking her head, her beady eyes full of outrage and surprise. Behind him, the smaller lizards started hissing louder, as if cheering her on—or plotting revenge.
"Anyone ever told you you'd make a great handbag?" he taunted, brandishing the pipe like a sword.
But just as he was about to make another swing, he heard the pounding of footsteps echoing down the sewer. A familiar voice called out,
"Hey! You, down there! You're supposed to get one lizard, not start a war with the entire colony!"
Ren glanced back and saw Skorn, making his way down the tunnel with a bemused look on his face.
"Oh, perfect timing," Ren quipped. "Care to join the party?"
Skorn chuckled, cracking his knuckles as he sized up the lizard mom. "Don't mind if I do."
He crouched, eyes glinting as he began to manipulate the dirt and stone around them, crafting makeshift barriers to trap the smaller lizards.
Ren smirked. "Guess lizard moms meet their match today."
With a final charge, they took her down together, Ren's sarcasm and Skorn's grit blending seamlessly in a bizarre but strangely effective teamwork,
Ren and Skorn emerged from the sewer victorious and covered in muck, the smell lingering despite their best efforts to shake it off. As they walked toward the guild to submit their quest, Ren glanced over at Skorn, smirking.
"So, drinks are on you, right?" Ren joked, wiping some grime off his jacket. "I mean, I practically saved you back there with my… incredible instincts."
Skorn snorted, rolling his eyes. "Please. I handled those lizards like a pro. You just added a little spark." He paused, then gave a shrug.
"But, sure. I could use a drink. Know any good spots?"
Ren perked up. "Actually, yeah. There's this inn I stayed at, run by this elf named Olivia. Nice place, solid food… but, uh, don't get too fancy with your words."
"Noted," Skorn replied, chuckling. "So she's the serious type?"
"More like… she's immune to sarcasm. Doesn't pick up on it at all." Ren smirked. "She's great, though. Just… literal."
By the time they reached the guild, the two were bantering back and forth, recounting their sewer adventure with all the added drama and flair they could muster.
At the desk, Ren and Skorn explained the situation to the guild clerk, emphasizing how they had to team up due to the unexpected swarm of lizards.
After some skeptical nodding and a quick review of the report, the clerk stamped their paperwork and counted out a neat stack of silver coins.
"Given the additional threats encountered," the clerk said, pushing over a small pouch, "you've earned a bonus. Total reward is 100 silver."
Ren's eyes sparkled at the sight of the coins. "Well, that's not bad at all."
They split the earnings outside the guild and made their way to Olivia's inn. As they stepped in, Ren caught Olivia's eye, giving her a wave. She greeted them warmly, directing them to a corner table.
They ordered their drinks, and soon enough, Ren and Skorn were seated with mugs in hand, swapping stories and laughing over the sewer fight.
"To our first adventure," Skorn toasted, lifting his mug.
Ren clinked his mug against Skorn's. "And hopefully, not the last. Here's to more gold and fewer giant lizards."
They laughed, settling into the easy camaraderie that came from a hard-won victory.