Heavy Metal

Chapter 105 - 103 – Strange Cave.

"This makes it…"

"Fourth one."

Before Rusty could count, the glowing black light in his eye socket replied to inform him about the number of spider lairs that they had inspected. He was in the process of descending from one of the trees, his iron frame clanking softly as he landed on the ground. It became clear that finding a usable body would not be a straightforward task.

This was already the fourth attempt, yet the spider webs held nothing but half-eaten bodies, animal remains, and old skeletons. Rusty sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly as his metal limbs touched the ground. The forest seemed endless, and though his metal body granted him limitless endurance, the constant climbing and

Aburdon who was bored out of his mind muttered, his interest showing.

"Could there be other people here?"

"Those tracks aren't too fresh at least a few weeks old. They probably left already."

Alexander responded to Aburdon's question almost instantly, attempting to dissuade Rusty from investigating further. He knew the demon lord all too well and suspected he'd try to convince Rusty to take unnecessary risks. Meanwhile, Rusty crouched closer to the faint tracks on the cavern floor, his metal fingers tracing the shallow grooves. He wasn't an experienced tracker, but the markings clearly led deeper into the cavern. Perhaps there was something worth discovering ahead.

"Wasn't this spider-infested forest supposed to be off-limits to merchants?"

Rusty muttered, suspicion creeping into his tone. He'd spent enough time around humanoids to know they rarely put themselves in danger willingly. Using roads to transport goods was the norm; venturing into a forest thick with spider webs was downright reckless.

"It shouldn't be used, no"

Aburdon replied, his voice laced with disdain.

"But if cutting through it saves a few days of travel and spares them some toll fees? Greed makes people do stupid things."

"Sometimes it's not just greed"

Alexander added, offering another perspective.

"If someone's on the run, they might take a harder path to avoid pursuit. A forest full of spider monsters isn't just dangerous - it's a deterrent. Perfect for evading anyone chasing them."

Rusty considered this explanation as he straightened up, his glowing eyes fixed on the tracks. Whatever had happened here, it wouldn't make sense unless he investigated further. His curiosity was piqued, and despite Alexander's caution, he was already leaning toward delving deeper to uncover this mystery. The tracks could mean survivors - or worse, fresh danger.

"We're going deeper."

Rusty proclaimed in a resolute voice which caused his group to react in various ways.

"◝( ᵔᗜᵔ )◜"

"Typical."

"Hah, I knew you couldn't resist."

Gleam seemed eager to see what lay deeper inside, her antennae twitching with curiosity. Alexander, on the other hand, was clearly uneasy, while Aburdon gloated, pleased that something intriguing might finally await them. With the decision made, the group moved cautiously further into the cave, using the tracks as their guide. Rusty led the way as Gleam perched comfortably on his shoulder. Her mana reserves had replenished, allowing her to recast her silencing spell to keep those metal joints silent.

"Could this be some kind of hidden shortcut?"

Alexander wondered.

"The walls... they look worked on by someone. Not natural."

As they ventured deeper, it became clear he was right. What had seemed like a natural cave entrance gave way to a man-made tunnel. The walls had been deliberately enlarged, likely to allow larger objects or creatures to pass through.

"It could have been a mine"

Aburdon suggested a hint of greed in his tone.

"What if we stumble upon gold or precious gems here?"

"I doubt it"

Alexander replied dismissively.

"If there was anything valuable left, this place wouldn't have been abandoned so easily. Sure, the spiders make it dangerous, but with enough investment, adventurers or soldiers could clear them out. There's probably nothing worthwhile inside."

"At most, this is an escape tunnel, something a noble or merchant had built to flee without being seen."

"Why are you so sure? It could have been made by that Thieves Guild of yours to smuggle goods. What if there are some hidden treasures inside?"

Rusty listened silently, his thoughts focused on the tracks ahead. Whether it was treasure, danger, or merely an abandoned tunnel, there was only one way to find out: keep moving forward.

The faint grooves of the tracks continued, winding further into the tunnel and occasionally intersecting with strange, shallow scrapes that seemed too irregular to be natural. Gleam perched attentively on his shoulder, her antennae twitching as her tiny eyes darted from one shadow to the next. Aburdon's occasional mutterings of greed and speculation echoed faintly, while Alexander remained on watchful, ready to call out if he saw any danger.

"Can you two quiet down? Something doesn't feel right here."

The tracks they were following eventually led to a wider chamber, and the air grew heavier, carrying a faint, acrid scent of decay. Rusty's senses picked up a distant, rhythmic tapping sound that seemed to reverberate through the tunnel. It was faint but unnerving, like the slow march of a predator pacing just out of sight.

He stopped before entering the chamber as he saw something inside: several carriages, their frames webbed up in thick, silken threads, were scattered across the cavern. The carriages bore intricate designs that had long since dulled under layers of dust and cobwebs. Rusty approached the nearest one cautiously, his sword at the ready, while Gleam hopped off his shoulder to inspect the ground near the wheels.

"Carriages. Multiple."

Rusty muttered, his eyes scanning the chamber.

"This wasn't just a passing group. It was a convoy… like that one."

"They didn't just abandon their goods. Looks like there was a fight… Was it those spiders?"

The carriages were still loaded with boxes and various goods, though half were smashed or scattered. Something didn't add up. These merchants had made it this far, which meant they'd somehow handled the spiders outside - but here, they'd been overwhelmed. Those spiders hunted from treetops; ambushing was their way. They didn't nest in caves. So, what had drawn them here? Or was there something more at play?

" (｡•́︿•̀｡) "

"It's okay Gleam, stay calm."

Gleam scurried back to his shoulder after a quick survey of the ground, her delicate antennae twitching in erratic, agitated movements. Rusty reached up instinctively, offering a reassuring pat to calm her. But her unease mirrored his own, and for good reason.

There was something here, lurking in the shadows, watching, waiting. The air felt heavier now, a faint weight of danger pressing against his senses. The devastation around them told a grim story: whoever - or whatever - had done this was strong enough to annihilate an entire merchant caravan.

Half-crushed crates, spilled goods, and shattered wheels lay scattered like broken bones in a graveyard. The question gnawed at his mind: was the creature still here? If it was, had it already spotted them? and was he strong enough to beat it…