Chapter 9: Looking for Shelter.
His injuries might be half healed but he still hadn't done anything to quell his hunger.
The distant howls of unseen creatures made him rethink his thoughts of going out to get food, their cries sending shivers through his pitch-black scales.
In the quiet of his hiding place, Su Ping's mind churned as a thought cane to mind.
" That pig demon was quick to arrive, going by that, then it should mean that–" he muttered to himself, his voice similar to a low rasp that blended with the rustling of the wind.
"–My current position can't be too far from where I hatched. If I can find my egg, the shell or even the remaining fluid should be enough to stop this hunger."
With a flicker of determination in his glowing eyes, Su Ping set off, retracing his steps through the twisted terrain of the Abyss, his claws scraping against the rocky ground as he sought his way around this treacherous landscape.
On several occasions, he had to evade some Abyssal blood tree sprouts, fortunately his agility was good enough.
But on instances where he meet a situation forcing him to hide, like the time a distant roar sent him scrambling behind a boulder, his scales pressed against the cool stone as he waited for the threat to pass.
By the time he reached the spot where he had first broken free from his egg, his body ached, his shallow cuts throbbing with every movement, and his mana reserves were still recovering.
If not for his quick recovery of 2 points per minute, he might've risked opening up his injuries again due to this tireless searching.
But he felt as if fate had kicked him in the balls when he saw the ground where his egg was supposed to be, bare, save for a few scattered fragments of the shell, the viscous fluid that had once coated him long since devoured, the earth marked by the unmistakable imprint of large pig hooves.
" Damned Pig!!!!!"
Anger surged through Su Ping, his claws digging into the dirt as he snarled, his voice thick with frustration.
"That blasted pig demon ate everything!" he spat, his glowing eyes narrowing at the hoofprints, each one a mocking reminder of his vulnerability in this unforgiving world.
That pig had crossed the line! Not only did it take his tail but his little trace of food as well?!
From this very moment, Su Ping swore to kill that blasted pig in the most gruesome way possible!
The hunger gnawed again, snapping him back to reality, this time more harder, as if it was a relentless beast of its own, and Su Ping knew he couldn't linger in the open, exposed to the Abyss's countless predators.
' Should find shelter at least, I can't keep wandering about like this.'
With a weary sigh, he began to scour the area for shelter, his small form darting between jagged outcrops and thorny shrubs, their barbs catching at his scales as he moved.
The crimson sky loomed above, its blood-red clouds churning with an unnatural rhythm, and the purple moon cast eerie shadows that seemed to shift and whisper, as if the Abyss itself were watching him.
After what felt like an eternity, Su Ping stumbled upon a small cave, its entrance partially masked by a curtain of tangled, moss-like vegetation that hung like a tattered veil, its earthy scent felt like a kiss from heaven.
A chance to escape into solace from the Abyss's pervasive decay.
" Home sweet home."
He slipped inside, the cool, damp air soothing his battered scales, and found a small alcove where the stone floor was smooth and slightly concave, offering a semblance of safety.
Exhausted, he curled his lizard-like body into the space, he regretted not having his tail to wrap around himself as he lay down, the faint glow of his purple eyes dimming in the dark as he closed his eyelids.
The cave was silent, though the distant cries of demons, shrill, guttural, and far too close for comfort, kept his instincts sharp, reminding him that vigilance was his only defense in this hostile realm.
Despite his resolve, exhaustion won out, and Su Ping's eyes drifted into true slumber, his breathing slowing as he slipped into a fitful doze, the hunger and pain fading into the background of his weary mind.
The cave's darkness enveloped him, a fragile cocoon that offered the illusion of safety, but his respite was short-lived.
The sound of approaching footsteps, light but deliberate, jolted him awake, his eyes which glowed in the dark, snapping open as his heart raced, his claws tensing against the stone.
He pressed himself deeper into the alcove, his scales blending with the shadows as two figures entered the cave, their forms illuminated by the faint crimson light that seeped through the entrance.
They were fox demons, each the size of a normal fox, their sleek bodies radiating a predatory aura that made Su Ping's blood run cold.
The first was black with streaks of blood red running through its fur, its black sclera and red irises glowing like embers in the dim light, its muscles stiff and wary, as if it were perpetually on the hunt.
The second was white, its fur marred with similar blood-red markings, its eyes identical to its companion's, but its demeanor carried a quiet menace, a stillness that suggested it was the more calculating of the pair.
Both bared their fangs, their claws glinting as they snarled, their fur bristling in a display of territorial fury, the air filling with the sharp, musky scent of their agitation.
' How do I go about this now.'
' it's two against one... And to make matters worse, they're both Lvl 1 Elite units.'
Su Ping, cornered in their home, felt the weight of their gaze like a physical blow, their red irises locking onto him with a promise of violence, their snarls a low, vibrating threat that echoed off the cave walls, pinning him in place as the realization sank in that he hadn't found a new home but had trespassed into the lair of other's.