I nearly puked when I saw the chamber filled with ocean of skeletal and decomposed bodies of various creatures.
The smell itself is....
I don't want to describe the smell as the word horrid seems tame.
Orm and Ghost both looked green in the face while Alpha began begging Lion for a spell that will take away his sense of smell in which Lion unfortunately declined.
Lion is not immune to the smell either as he himself looked green in the face too.
As for Sly.....
Well...
He vomited a lot.
Still, we continued to press on though everyone's steps are wobbly as they tried to avoid stepping on the carcasses.
Unfortunately for Sly, since he didn't watch where he was stepping as he kept on looking at the ceiling, stepped on something that burst....
Let's just say a "balloon" burst, showering "glitter" everywhere.
I can hear sounds of several curses from the pack, with numerous colorful curses from Sly that Ghost yelled at him, telling him that I'm listening.
Oh, don't mind me. I know much more colorful ones than what Sly is currently saying but I can't since I just saw the look Lion gave towards Sly.
Such a shame.
I used to be famous for having the most colorful mouth that made everyone, including my hardened veteran instructors at the training camp back in my previous world, turn red in the face.
Their curses are like baby talk to my ears.
....
There seems to be no end to the ocean of carcasses in which Lion decided to make us all float, much to our relief. Though Sly can fly, the tunnel is too small for him to use his wings. Same with Ghost as he needs a bigger space to use his ability to jump high.
Orm nearly cried out of thankfulness as his tail has numerous pretty "glitter" sticking on it.
Though I did not walk because the pack kept insisting that they will carry me, I still felt sick of the thought that as much as they tried to avoid stepping on the carcasses, they have no choice but to step on it most of the time.
Everyone gave a huge sigh of relief when all of us began to float in which Lion signaled for us to follow him.
I can feel Ghost holding my hand in which I interlocked my fingers with his, much to his delight though he tried not to show it.
Soon, we all arrived in an enormous, open space in which thankfully, there's no presence of carcasses.
I've got a bad feeling though.
Usually situations like this is when the boss finally shows up based on the fantasy online games I played before.
And I was right again as we soon heard a terrible sound of a deep, monstrous ROAR that echoed throughout the walls, making it sound more terrifying.
After hearing of what seems to be a beastly stomp on the ground as if the monster is slamming its fist or whatever, I can hear loud sounds of intense fire in which I began to panic.
Lion hurriedly went near me, nuzzling my face while signaling the rest of the pack to prepare themselves of an attack.
He gave me a tight embrace, telling me that I don't need to worry as he will make sure that I'm safe then he gave me a passionate but short kiss.
Oh, that Lion!
He did that on purpose!
With a huge mischievous grin, he was about to position himself into an attack stance when I immediately grabbed his shirt and pulled him towards me, giving him an intense passionate kiss that might make him moan if not for our life threatening situation.
He looked extremely aroused after the kiss in which I just raised my eyebrow at him.
The monster sounded closer to our location, giving Lion an annoyed expression on his face that he told me to wait for awhile as he will finish what I started as soon as the monster is dead.
But we have to get the magic stone first!
Lion gave me a look that seems to say that getting the blasted magic stone can wait.
Okay then.
....
As the pack tried to attack the monster, I realized that the monster's appearance seems familiar to me.
Right!
I remember now.
The monster that they are fighting against is an Ifrit, famous in the Netherworld as being wicked and dangerous.
It further proves my theory that a lot of demons are currently in this world and someone did open a portal in several places.
But why?
What are they planning?
And who is strong enough to open several portals connecting the two dimensions?
I have no answer.
Though the Ifrit is supposed to be a lower ranked demon, the pack seems to have a hard time killing it though not as hard time as killing Rahab or the demons they killed back at the snowy mountains nor the hellhounds.
But the difference is that they are trying to destroy only one this time.
Wait.
Did the demons get stronger somehow?
Rahab was a general.
The other demons and hellhounds are also low ranked demons yet it is understandable as they were facing numerous amounts of them.
But now they are only facing one low ranked demon.
ONLY ONE.
Curses.
How did they increase their power somehow?
Wait.
I know that someone is watching us, making sure that we did our job properly, though I overheard Sly mentioned to Lion that there must be several spies watching us as it is impossible for only one to watch us constantly.
There must be a demon among them.
And since demons gain huge power by feeding on negative human emotions, the one spying on us, especially me must be having a feast.
Not only my negative emotions but my blood as well.
Oh my goodness!
That time I was in the dark room! I fainted after being hit numerous times by that satyr in which he left me bleeding in the dark.
A demon must be having the time of its life by consuming my blood.
And demons are well known to be cannibalistic, eating each other as it can make them more powerful.
Now my head hurts.
No wonder I had too many unfortunate incidents.
It's crazy to think that I'm getting in some sort of misfortune despite trying hard not to get into trouble or my efforts in trying to defend myself.
My efforts seem useless.
But still, I have to try to fight back. If it weren't for the pack, especially Lion, I would've given up a long time ago as my mind is getting weary from all these misfortunes.
....
Orm is beside me as he tried to attack the monster using his ice magic which proved to be very useful. His water magic also has quite improved in which after sending a huge whirlpool magic attack towards the monster, trapping it, Lion sent a powerful lightning attack towards the monster, making it roar in pain.
This time, Alpha gave the finishing blow towards the monster by sending a huge energy blast that somehow made the monster explode, showering all sorts of guts and smoke everywhere, much to Sly's disgust as he hasn't yet recovered on what happened earlier when he stepped on a "balloon".
Ew!
Gross!!!
Now I want to bathe!
Ghost, Sly, Alpha and I began begging Lion and Orm for some water to bathe in but to our dismay, a huge portal appeared on our midst, signalling us to proceed to the next chamber.
Argh!
My body feels sticky and gross!
Despite Lion trying to reassure me that he won't mind carrying me, I did not let him carry me, same with the others as I don't want someone to touch me right now, especially if I'm covered with guts and who knows what else.
Then all of us stepped into the portal, much to our reluctance.
....
The chamber we are currently in is quite peaceful somehow and after the pack tried to check the safety of our surroundings, they agreed that it's safe in which Lion made some sort of pool for us to bathe in.
This time, I'm the first one to get inside the pool as I hurriedly took off my clothes without a care whether the pack is staring at me. Of course, I didn't go inside the pool directly as I asked Lion to give me a shower first using his magic, to wash away the disgusting stuff that is sticking on my hair and body.
I gave a chuckle while closing my eyes as I felt clean somewhat then hurriedly went inside the pool, exclaiming happily that I'm the first one this time.
Uh..
Due to my excitement, I failed to see that the pack is somehow breathing rather fast and trying not to look at me, especially Lion.
That's weird.
They usually have more self control with their emotions.
I continued observing them in which they cleaned themselves up and submerged their bodies in a separate pool.
Did I smell somehow?
The rest of the pack separating themselves from me while bathing is understandable, but Lion too?
Oh, well.
I really don't mind as it's been a long time since I bathe by myself.
I began singing some sort of a random song when suddenly, I heard a creepy voice trying to imitate me.
CURSES!
THAT GAVE ME A FRIGHT!
I know that it isn't one of the pack as they loved hearing me sing and as for Orm, he usually tries to blend in, NOT imitating me.
I don't want to see a creepy face right now!
But I did.
It looked horrible.
I screamed in which I glanced towards the pack for help but to my surprise, I saw several dark spirits surrounding them but they didn't seemed to mind.
In fact, they looked like they are extremely aroused somewhat.
Is this some kind of a sick play?
I ignored the creepy faced spirit following me as I tried to find my bag when I saw the pack's extremities being held by several weird, dead looking vines.
Oy!
I have read enough fantasy books to know that vines like that usually absorb your magical energy or life force.
As for the dark spirits, they may have put the pack into some kind of hallucination to distract them.
But they're not stupid enough to fall that kind of trick unless....
Unless the hallucination they have is one of their desires.
I seemed to remember Maelsa telling us the power of the magic stone in which he told us that the pack will lose control.
We must be nearing the location of the magic stone then.
It's obvious that the pack is losing control of themselves as they soon began panting and moaning.
What kind of desire do they have to start mo....
Oh.
I can hear creepy giggles from the dark spirits in which they whispered all sorts of teasing words into the pack's ears.
The pack began to groan and asked for more, not noticing that their arms are starting to change color.
I didn't check their legs though I have a feeling their legs changed color as well.
This isn't good.
I hurriedly took out my reliable detachable Buddhist staff in which I assembled in a flash. I tied up my hair into a knot and covered my body with a towel then held my best friend tightly with both of my hands.
I yelled a war cry of some sorts in which I began whacking the spirits, shouting all sorts of my best colorful curses which I usually reserve for those that deserved it.
The spirits began shrieking in pain but they can't touch me as I've become some sort of a wild woman that finds pleasure of hearing cries of pain.
Whack! Whack! Whack!
Take that!
I let out my frustration of the demons towards them in which they began to plead for mercy.
Uh, no.
Not until they release the pack first.
The creepy faced spirit asked me if I want to know what the desires of my companions are, in which I'm starting to get tempted.
I shrugged my shoulders and was about to whack it in the face when it began pleading for mercy and a break.
The creepy faced spirit hurriedly joined the rest of the dark spirits in which they told me that in exchange for mercy, they will show me....
I held my Buddhist staff above my head in which they began shrieking and instantly removed the vines that are holding the extremities of the pack.
Now I heard a loud moan from the pack in which I instantly turned my back as I don't want to know who made that sound.
Of course I can't recognize the voice as the rest of the pack made all sorts of arousal sounds.
I glared towards the spirits in which they shrieked in fright, that they soon began disappearing when I walked towards them.
When I saw the last of the spirit disappeared, I hurriedly changed myself into one of my clothes and went to the passageway before the pack came into their senses.
I carried my Buddhist staff for safety though.
....
After a few moments of waiting, I can hear the footsteps of the pack coming towards the passageway.
It feels awkward to see them.
Also, i definitely don't want to know what their desires are though there's only one kind of desire that comes into my mind that will make you....
Stop.
I don't want to think about it.
I began singing a song in which I tried to act normally when I saw the rest of the pack walking towards me in shamed faces.
With an innocent smile from me, I acted like nothing happened earlier and continued singing while walking towards the end of the passageway.
It was a long, silent walk for them.
....
Soon, the pack began panting again that Lion hurriedly used a spell in which a magic rope binded their wrists, assuring me that it will not break until he can feel the effects of the magic stone disappear.
As I held each end of the rope that is binding their wrists, it seemed like I'm some sort of a dog walker.
It's so funny!
The 5 of them seemed like dogs that kept panting yet obediently followed me around.
I held my Buddhist staff securely with my other hand while continuing to find a chamber that contains the magic stone.
It took a long time for me to find the chamber as I have a bad sense of direction sometimes, making us walk around in circles in which the pack doesn't seemed to mind as they have some sort of faraway look in their eyes.
Finally, we are inside the chamber that contained the magic stone in which I told Lion that he can remove their restraints in which he just stared at me with a blank look.
Oh boy.
I hope there's no monster that will appear or we will definitely die.
I tied the end of the ropes around my waist turn walked towards the magic stone.
So this is the control stone.
I can feel its power as the pack started to make all sorts of arousal voices in which I hurriedly took the magic stone.
That wasn't so bad.
Maelsa told me that the pack will lose control that made me afraid of my safety earlier in which to my disbelief, they did not touch me at all.
Especially Lion.
The influence of the magic stone towards them seems to be broken as they looked like they are back to their normal selves in which Lion removed their constraints.
The pack began cheering that the magic stone was found while I tried to remove the ropes that I tied around my waist.
Lion helped me while he nuzzled my neck when I started to feel strange.
Um.
This isn't good.
Maelsa told me that the magic stone will not affect me!
He's lying!
Oh, wait.
He did not say that it will not affect me, rather he said that it will not harm me.
No wonder he told me to enjoy.
And that the pack will lose control.
I'm in trouble.