Kaelix slid down the twisting grey tunnel, the smooth surface guiding him through the darkness like a chute. He had been sliding for a few minutes now, the rush of air and the faint glow of the walls his only company. His body had adjusted to the descent, his enhanced reflexes allowing him to maintain balance even as the tunnel curved sharply at times.


    "This is taking a while," he muttered. "Hey, X, what should I expect when I hit the next layer?"


    "Not much difference compared to the outer layer," the XenoArch replied, its voice calm and analytical. "The terrain will be a bit different. You''ll see more rock formations and structures, unlike the barren flatness above. The density of creatures will also increase slightly."


    "That''s it?" Kaelix asked, though his tone suggested he knew better.


    "The creatures will also be stronger," the XenoArch continued. "The deeper you go, the more hospitable the layers become. Those in the outermost layer are typically weaker, exiled from the competition for survival in the inner layers. You''ll find their stronger kin deeper within."


    Kaelix frowned at the thought, recalling the monstrous creature he had barely survived earlier. If that was considered weak, what would these stronger ones be like? The idea tugged at his nerves, but he quickly ignored the thought aside. Worrying wouldn''t change anything.


    The tunnel began to narrow ahead, forcing Kaelix to tighten his form. He slowed his descent, bracing as he shot through the final stretch like a bullet. The tunnel spat him out into an open space, and with enhanced reflexes, he landed steadily on the rocky ground below, unharmed.


    Immediately, Kaelix dropped into a defensive stance, scanning the area and expecting danger. His eyes darted around, his hand twitching toward his side as if ready to draw a weapon that wasn''t there. But the sight that greeted him wasn''t an ambush—it was something far stranger.


    The two figures he had been following earlier lay dead on the ground, not far from where he had landed. Their bodies were sprawled lifelessly, and the massive creature they had been carrying was nowhere to be seen.


    Kaelix cursed under his breath and immediately dropped low, his instincts kicking in. He carefully studied the area, his senses on high alert. "Anything alive nearby?" he whispered.


    "Nothing," the XenoArch confirmed after a brief pause. "No signs of movement or life."


    Only slightly reassured, Kaelix slowly approached the bodies, his eyes scanning every shadow and crevice for potential threats. When he reached them, he crouched and got his first good look at the fallen duo.


    The first figure was a muscular humanoid male, his dark blue skin marked with jagged scars. His curled fangs protruded slightly from his mouth, and his build suggested he had been a formidable fighter in life. "An orc," Kaelix muttered, though the skin color threw him off. Orcs were usually green, weren''t they?


    The second figure was even stranger. His insectoid features were immediately apparent, his elongated limbs bent unnaturally beneath him. Two extra pairs of arms were tucked beneath a tattered cloak, and his exoskeleton had a dull, black sheen. Kaelix couldn''t identify the species and didn''t dwell on it for long.


    What caught his attention most was the cause of death. Both figures had long, black spikes driven cleanly through both their eyes. Their expressions were frozen in a mix of pain and shock, and dark fluids had pooled around their heads.


    Kaelix wrinkled his nose at the sight but didn''t hesitate. Gripping one of the spikes lodged in the insectoid''s skull, he yanked it free. The sound of tearing flesh and a gush of dark blood didn''t faze him as he studied the spike in his hand. His eyes narrowed as recognition set in.


    "These..." he murmured, his grip tightening. "These belong to that thing I fought earlier."


    The memory of the monster with the black spikes came rushing back. His body tensed instinctively, his eyes darting to the shadows again. "It can''t be the same one, right?" he asked the XenoArch.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    "Unlikely," the XenoArch replied. "That creature was severely injured and couldn''t have traveled here in its state. It''s more plausible that this was another of the same kind."


    Kaelix grimaced. "Another one? Great. And it''s probably stronger, too, since it''s in the inner layer."


    He exhaled slowly, easily calming himself down. Worrying never helps—that was his current life motto. The two figures were dead, and the creature that killed them was nowhere to be seen. For the moment, he was doing okay.


    "Well, they won''t be needing their clothes anymore," he muttered, crouching by the orc''s body. The padded armor the orc wore was sturdy and looked practical, though it was far too large for Kaelix''s frame. He made adjustments, tightening straps and rolling up excess fabric until it fit well enough. From the insectoid, he took the tattered cloak, draping it over himself for added concealment.


    He glanced at the leftover scraps and ripped them into strips, fashioning a makeshift carrier. Slinging it over his shoulder, he gave the bodies one last look. "Thanks for the gear," he said, his voice low and sardonic. "And thanks to the monster for leaving them intact."


    Despite his outward composure, Kaelix''s mind remained sharp. He wasn''t done here yet—there was still more to uncover.


    Kaelix crouched back down beside the orc''s body, his gaze flicking over the hulking corpse with scrutiny. His hand brushed against something cold and solid near the orc''s side, and he pulled it out—a small hammer, barely the size of his forearm. He turned it over, inspecting its craftsmanship. The tool was too diminutive to serve as a proper weapon, though it seemed sturdy enough to be useful for smithing or repair work.


    Kaelix snorted, holding the hammer up to the orc''s lifeless face. "What were you planning to do with this, big guy? Hammer nails into your enemies?" He chuckled darkly at the thought of the massive orc fumbling with the dainty tool. He wondered inwardly how it was able to even kill the armadillo-like creature from before.


    Shaking his head, he set it aside. "Not my style, anyway. I prefer weapons that keep my scrawny ass away from whatever is trying to kill me."


    Satisfied, he turned his attention to the insectoid. Its body was smaller but far stranger. Kaelix searched for weapons or useful items but found nothing at first glance. Just as he was about to dismiss it, something about the creature''s arms caught his attention. They were unnaturally segmented, and their angles seemed off, almost as if something was hidden inside.


    Curiosity piqued, Kaelix began to manipulate one of the arms, his fingers pressing into joints and crevices. With a soft click, a sharp, long, blade-like attachment sprang out from beneath the exoskeleton. Kaelix grinned as he twisted the limb, watching the blade glint faintly in the dim light. "Hidden weapons, huh? Now that''s more like it."


    Without hesitation, Kaelix ripped two of the insectoid''s arms free, ignoring the viscous fluids and ichor that splattered onto his hands. He wiped his fingers on his makeshift cloak and examined his prizes. The blades retracted and extended smoothly with a flick of his wrist, and their length and weight felt just right for his style of close combat.


    He tied the arms together with some of the spare cloth, ensuring they wouldn''t clatter around as he moved.


    Not forgetting the spikes, Kaelix returned to the insectoid''s head, yanking the other black projectile from its eyes before taking the ones from the orc. They slid out with a sickening squelch, but Kaelix remained unfazed. He bundled them alongside the insectoid arms, satisfied with his growing collection of tools.


    As he finished, something else caught his eye—a faint, crumpled edge peeking out from beneath the insectoid''s head. Kaelix tilted the body slightly and pulled free a bloodstained piece of parchment. Unfolding it carefully, he examined the crude markings. A smile tugged at his lips.


    "A map," he muttered. It was rough and damaged, the blood obscuring parts of it, but the essential details were still visible. Landmarks, pathways, and what appeared to be tunnel intersections were all marked with shaky lines. Kaelix could already picture the insectoid clutching it in desperation before death claimed him.


    "Thanks for the free loot," he said with mock sincerity, glancing back at the corpses. His grin turned sharp. "And if I ever meet the thing that killed you, I''ll make sure to give it a high five for contributing to my survival."


    With the area thoroughly looted, Kaelix finally sat back on his heels, surveying the two lifeless figures. A stray thought entered his mind, and he voiced it aloud. "Hey, X, think these guys would taste any good?"


    The XenoArch paused, clearly caught off guard. "Boy, are you seriously considering eating them? That is... unusual for a human."


    He shrugged. "I''ve never tried orc or this insect-like thing before. Could be an adventure." He tapped his chin, his voice light with amusement. "Probably shouldn''t, though. No fire to cook them with, and I''m not eating them raw. I''d want my first taste to be done right."


    The XenoArch responded with a tone that might have been incredulous. "Your concern is... culinary preference?"


    "Of course," Kaelix replied with a smirk. "I''m not a savage."


    He stood, brushing dirt and blood off his makeshift cloak. Before leaving, he raised a hand in a mock salute toward the bodies. "Thanks for everything guys. Your sacrifice won''t go to waste. I promise your clothes will live a noble second life."


    With that, he turned and walked away, the bloodstained map in one hand and his makeshift weapon bundle slung over his shoulder. His pace was steady, his determination unshaken. Ahead lay the unknown depths of the layer, but Kaelix was ready. Whatever awaited him deeper in this strange place, he would face it without problem.