The material world is not perfect. Though the Gods of Order refuse to admit it, the reality remains—this world is full of flaws. Countless streams of chaos energy beyond the world itself seep in through these cracks, spawning all manner of dreadful entities.
The great fissures in reality give birth to the Outer Gods; when these beings awaken from their ancient slumber, the cracks spread infinitely, and the entire cosmos can unravel.
Slightly lesser rifts spawn the Great Old Ones, each capable of destroying a world.
Smaller fissures breed myriad kinds of chaotic horrors—like the Color out of Space, the Hounds of Tindalos, and the Black Goat's offspring...
Hattie and her kin are technically among this last type. They just happened to gain greater intelligence and stable spellcasting abilities, as well as the capacity for humanoid form. Thus, they became known as "witches."
The Chthonian that Willo mentioned earlier, though worm-like in outward shape, is also one such creature. Their bodies are colossal, sheathed in magma-like heat able to bore through solid rock. An adult is capable of causing earthquakes; many ancient cities were destroyed by these monstrous worms!
Legend holds that the most formidable of these, the Great Old One known as Shudde M'ell, could trigger quakes strong enough to sink continents.
Thinking of the devastation wrought by such a worm, Charles's face grew grim. "Matriarch, are you saying this cavern was carved by a Chthonian?"
If that truly was an adult Chthonian...
Yikes.
Given the team's current strength, it wouldn't be impossible to fight one. With Theresa's power, soloing one would be no problem.
Besides, while Chthonians are powerful, they have an obvious weakness—they fear water.
As it happened, the first spell Charles learned in this world was Create Water. Both Hattie and Nidalee could also cast it. If it came to flooding the cavern, they'd have no problem drowning a Chthonian.
Unfortunately, they were still deep inside. If the creature triggered a collapse, no one would make it out alive.
Willo nodded, her expression grave. "Yes, our ancestors recorded among these mountains a slumbering host of Chthonians. Now, it seems they may have been disturbed by demon pollution."
"Even worse, some may have already fallen under the control of demon-worshipers…"
Charles drew in a deep breath, suppressing an urge to turn back at once.
Still, he managed a strained smile. "It's not so bad. Don't worry—Chthonians' weakness is obvious, they fear water, so they aren't difficult to handle."
"As long as the legendary Shudde M'ell doesn't appear, a normal adult Chthonian isn't so hard to beat, hah... hah...?"
He forced a laugh, hoping to ease the tension—only to see Willo's eyes grow even more dire.
A creeping sense of dread overtook him. "Wait—don't tell me..."
He watched as Willo's expression became conflicted and, after a moment, she tried to reassure him: "It's all right. Shudde M'ell sleeps deeply. Ordinary pollution would never be enough to wake it…"
Charles: "..."
Damn. So it really is beneath these mountains!
His scalp tingled. Shudde M'ell is not only a Great Old One—a true endgame boss—but in the early game, there's no way to encounter it: even late in the campaign, it only ever appears as a "foreseen" threat that has awakened and left its nest. Where it shows up is completely randomized!
He never expected the slumbering place of Shudde M'ell to be so close—right beneath the highlands near Liberl Port.
Trouble, indeed...
Now all he could do was hope, desperately, that Willo was right and this cataclysmic Great Old One would not be so easily roused by some demon presence...
With heavy hearts and full wariness toward the Chthonian threat, they pressed on, using their magical light to illuminate the path. Rounding a bend, they soon reached the great cavern lined with stalactites.
But unlike before, the darkness now threatened with unmistakable danger.
Some demons had not left, but rather hid within the shadows, waiting patiently for prey to wander in.
Charles and Willo exchanged looks, the same realization dawning. Willo turned and instructed another satyr, "Shaun, I'll watch the front, you cover the rear—don't let a single blind spot escape."
"Everyone, be vigilant—whatever you do, do not fall to a sneak attack!"
This warning put the entire party on high alert.
Charles called over his shoulder, "Theresa—give us light."
Theresa nodded, raising her hand and incanting: "Daylight!"
Buzz—
A pure white light blossomed near the center of the cavern's ceiling, instantly illuminating the entire cave.
Daylight, a third-level spell—no damaging effect, only the power to utterly dispel the dark.
With this dazzling brilliance, even the deepest shadows were stripped bare.
And in this flood of sunlight, the fiends lurking in darkness were finally exposed!
"Hiss—"
Accompanied by whispers of agony and spite, figures formed of half-translucent black mist, manifesting as upper-bodied humanoid demons, floated out from behind the stone columns. Their long tongues lolled slack; two black, talon-like claws stretched from their forms, their shapes wavering, just on the verge of vanishing from sight.
At one glance, Charles instantly recognized them.
Shadow demons—fiends whose strengths and vulnerabilities are equally obvious. Their bodies can become pure shadow, merging with darkness so completely that even those with darkvision cannot pierce their camouflage.
They can easily pass through solid stone.
But their fatal flaw: intense light—even artificial, not just sunlight—renders them fragile, their power greatly diminished. Radiant damage, especially Divine Smite, deals double harm!
No wonder they'd been hiding in the cave, poised to ambush—they were helpless in the broad, deadly light of the spell.
The Adventurer's Guild rates these creatures at challenge rating four; in dim conditions, even a fifth-level party can be wiped out. But under the protection of a bright, battlefield-wide light, a third-level team could slaughter them wholesale!
Luckily, they had Theresa—the perfect light-bringer. Swamped by the harsh illumination, the shadow demons' patience at last crumbled!
"Watch out—!"
Suddenly, Charles spotted a shadow demon, previously hiding in a column right beside Willo, lunge toward her, eagle-like claws aiming for her head!
He rushed to intervene, spellcasting already begun—but in that split second, he was too late.
"Danger!"
Intent on currying favor with the satyrs, Danche cried out, keeping constant watch on Willo. With a sudden leap, he tackled her out of the way—
"Ah—!"
Thanks to him, Willo evaded the shadow demon by a hair's breadth, but lost her balance and staggered aside—
"Careful!"
Charles darted forward, arms wide, and caught her—
BANG—
Willo crashed into his solid chest; fortunately, with his attributes increased, his slim frame now concealed strength to rival any half-orc present. Even with Willo's full weight in his arms, Charles stood steady as a rock. His left arm locked her in a safe embrace, while his right summoned four bolts of Eldritch Blast—
"Hiss—!"
The force of dissolution tore into the shadow demon's body, making it scream in torment. Face grave, Charles held Willo securely, retreating with her from the front lines while continuing to unleash blasts of Eldritch energy!
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