Chapter 170: Empty Space
The Myvnu Jungle was a bit of a hellscape, in Nicau's opinion—there was a reason Calarata hadn't named it, because there wasn't a reason to go there. A starving land of encroaching trees and hungering beasts, where death was expected. Hells, the only stable job in Calarata were those hired to beat the jungle back from crawling too close to the cove.
So no. Nicau did not particularly enjoy it.
In direct opposition, Chieftess was having the time of her life.
They'd crept over the flanks of the Alómbra Mountains in a dizzying amount of time, seeking to avoid any early risers of Calarata noticing the plucky band of kobolds traipsing their way through, and then slithered down to make it to the front of the jungle. Still that semi-avalanche to clamber over, though already plants were beginning to sneak through the cracks, emerald green against the grey. In under a year, the entire thing would be swallowed.
But for now, Nicau got to lead the kobolds up and over old stone and into a new land.
Chieftess' eyes were like twin suns, so bright and wide—every single thing she saw got her full attention, up until the next one, or the next one. The other three kobolds were equally amazed, trailing behind her, spears nearly slipping out of limp claws.
The jungle didn't start so much as swallow them; one instance he was clambering over rocks and the next it was moss-choked roots, underbrush choking all available space but for a thin path carved by small paws. Trees, flowers, greenery; an endless expanse of humid creation, the sweltering depth of a greenhouse.
Nicau would never say it out loud—hells, he wouldn't think it, either—but the dungeon had a long way to go before it could create things like this. Before it would create worlds.
By the kobolds' wide-eyed shock, they agreed. A dangerous paradise, spread before them like all the world's offerings.