All, One, Everything.

Chapter 25: A new journey, a new enemy?

Preview: The two mentally heaved a sigh of relief as they felt that they escaped a calamity. While Pendra was inwardly crying tears of joy for surviving yet another day and glad that even its usually reckless master did not do anything rash in that strange and new environment.

"Whew, we finally left that scary place! I kept wondering how long we'd have to spend surrounded by strange vines and green grasses! I can finally try to explore this new place and taste new types of dishes!" Exclaimed Sunirae after they were quite a distance away from that strange place.

Pendra meaningfully glanced at its master and thought about what happened earlier. She's usually reckless and unrestrained, although she's smart and knows when to run, but it's still weird how she didn't try to stir up trouble earlier or even think of going back to take a bite.. Hmm, this sure is strange. Forget it, I better focus on the current journey and think of ways to increase my strength.

The duo increased their pace as Pendra's thoughts ran wild while the cheerful sunflower was looking forward to the new place.

The lighting in the surroundings was bad and only the reddish soil that is glowing is the source of light for most demons. Therefore, most demons have managed to adapt and evolve to the environment and developed organs that are specifically for traversing the harsh place and hunting prey.

One such example is a predator looking humanoid demon currently tailing two strange demons in its sight. The thin snake-like creature with a circular head is currently being strangled by that centipede? But why isnt it fighting back and walking ahead as if it can't see it? Could it be that it's blind? Thought the predator in glee. Weak creatures like this are usually hard to find even in the 2nd Level Of Hell. Even though most of them adapted to develop organs to live and survive in this place, not every species could keep up with the changes. This predator came from a demonic race that is especially good at adapting.

Their race evolved the muscles around the mouth to open wider as well as make the muscles tear through even the toughest muscles and rock-like bones of demons who rely on their physical strength greatly. Their eyes also evolved in the direction of having infrared sight. They could detect the heat of creatures lurking in the vicinity, especially in a place like hell where demons are tinged with sulfur and ash, they naturally emit heat as bright as fireflies in the dark, making hunting more convenient.

Therefore, when the predator saw this blind bastard walk through the burning plane, it immediately felt like hitting the jackpot! Hehe, looks like you will be my fourth prey today! Oh wait? What day is it today again? No matter! My belly can't wait to be filled with more meat from my prey! Though, that thing sure is thin and looks lacking.. Mulled the predator hiding behind the volcanic rocks 50 meters away from Sunirae and Pendra.

Meanwhile the two that were unaware of the danger were admiring the scenery of this new place. Volcanoes ahead, volcanoes on the left, eruption on the right, screaming from all around. Everything felt new and refreshing. The 1st Level also had volcanoes but not in such high frequency like in the 2nd Level, everywhere you look, you could see dark and reddish mountains with a crater releasing smoke and heat. The volcanoes are like lamp posts you can see in the dark environment while the ground is the lamp that provides little illumination. Little by little, the scenery became more lively and they started encountering other demons.

Right now, the two are facing a boar-like demon. Its two tusks are curved like scimitar and the tips are as sharp as spears. While its body doesn't look so strong, the amount of bloodthirst being released from the tusks shows how many demons it has hunted throughout its life.

The duo stopped in their tracks and Sunirae sneakily made her roots swim underground to prepare for the incoming charge. While Pendra got off Sunirae and burrowed in the ground, awaiting for an opportunity to strike.

. . .

Sh*t! These two bastards are actually in cahoots! No wonder I've been tailing them for an hour and that twig did not show any reaction. Are they actually a snake-centipede duo? But that twig looks like it has.. Leaves? What exactly is it? Thought the Predator in trepidation. Wiping his non-existent sweat on his forehead, he started lampooning his decision to sneak on this duo when he could have just gone and looked for another prey.

No way.. Impossible.. Could it be that they're like me..? Thought he while watching the fight in the distance. But thinking about how it was possible for him to exist, why wouldn't it be possible for another coincidence to happen?

After thinking of such a thing, he started feeling worried because he felt like this world might be more dangerous than he imagined.

. . .

The demonic boar let out a grunting sound and its hind legs kicked up the ground and started charging towards the delicious looking prey in front of it. Dust rose up the ground and the demonic boar lowered its head, preparing to mutilate the "serpent" in front of it when suddenly, a root broke out of the ground and pierced its vulnerable underside. A hole immediately opened in its stomach and blood came gushing out, stopping its mad charge. The demonic boar let out a high pitched shriek due to the pain when a new type of pain suddenly appeared in the hole in its abdomen.

Pendra very happily scuttled towards the hole the root pierced into, grinding through the skin, it widened the hole enough for its passage and started swimming inside and eating its innards.

More blood gushed at once and the demonic boar in front of Sunirae collapsed. Roots extended out of the ground from all kinds of places and pierced the poor boar into a sieve. The roots bulged unnaturally as blood and nutrients traveled through it and into the blood-red sunflower.

Everything happened so fast that right after the boar charged close to Sunirae, blood gushed out, and it collapsed. Then countless roots pierced it and it started shriveling, becoming an empty husk. Only its thin and blade-like big tusks were left intact while its body dried up before crumbling.

Then a black and shiny centipede covered in blood and bits of sticky stuff came crawling out from the dried up mangled carcass.