Felodas thanked the ork as the final enemies were destroyed.
"Piquano, he was in the portal when it was destroyed!"
Felodas decided that the merman would find a way out, without being hurt.
"It's okay, I'm confident. You will still be paid. Let's keep going into the cave."
At that moment, Ralenth came swooping in.
She hastily morphed into her human form, and began speaking.
"There is a new port... Wait, where is your other companion?"
"Piquano... He is in another dimension to this, but I am sure he will find his way out. What were you saying?"
Ralenth continued. "There is another portal opened in Zantaric, this one closer to a village."
"We cannot reach it, we can hope Piquano exits that and warns them in time. For now we must push on, into the cave."
And with that, Ralenth took flight, and went to her own business once again.
Piquano has escaped his enemies, and was searching wildly for a new portal. This barren wasteland was nothing like he had ever seen, endless expanses of red. Small sacs of pulsating mass that looked like giant hearts hung limp from spires of rock. Pools of blood boiled in springs, simmering and popping. Small spider-like creatures roamed, living off small patches of black weeds here and there. Though they were harmless, they were still revolting, like a dark red banana peel spliced with an octopus.
Piquano continued through the nothingness, and eventually ended up in a place even quirkier than what he had seen already. In fact, this area was somewhat utopic, and dreamlike. It had more color. It was like a sanctuary of golden and silver flowers, as opposed to the red and black of the shit around it. It was beautiful. Until a giant man steeped out of it, and met eyes with Piquano.
Felodas and his companion pressed towards the cave, unbeknownst to what lurked within.
