Tenebrous Wolf
Chapter 112: Taking a Detour

Chapter 112: Taking a Detour

Klaus already understood the severity of the situation, but hearing the words "I don’t think" made his spirits drop even further. No matter how he looked at it, the situation was completely out of his control, spiraling into something far worse than he had anticipated.

Faced with no way forward, the only path left was to turn back. But doing so would mean admitting that every struggle up to this point had been for nothing.

Moreover, turning back meant facing a gauntlet of monstrosities all over again. Seeking an alternative route was no better either; it was a dreadful and futile endeavor, with little chance of success. There was a strong possibility they’d find nothing at all or worse, fall prey to some unknown creature lurking along the way. Most terrifying of all, they risked encountering the very parasitic horror they were so desperately trying to escape.

So what was the appropriate course of action in this situation?

Glanced around, the rest of the group wore complicated expressions, visibly uneasy and shaken. They must have realized the gravity of the situation as well, because their faces reflected a grim mix of fear and uncertainty.

Deep in thought, Adrian muttered continuously under his breath, chewing on his fingernail. Morgan wore an uncharacteristically serious expression, a rare sight, while Seraphim maintained her usual unreadable gaze, though it was clear she was feeling the same amount of pressure.

Just like that, the silence thickened around them, stretching on as if time itself had come to a halt.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Klaus was constantly thinking of ways they could possibly salvage the situation. But no matter how hard he tried, if they couldn’t head east, things would inevitably become more complicated and dangerous for their small group.

Constructing a makeshift bridge seemed like the ideal solution, but searching for materials would leave their backs exposed to danger.

Even if, hypothetically, they decided to build a bridge, there were still several critical factors to consider, such as the length of the bridge and the amount of materials required — specifically, wood — to construct the bridge.

But where in the world were they supposed to find that kind of material in this empty, desolate terrain, surrounded by nothing but deadly and chaotic monsters?

Filling the hole with corpses seemed just as meaningless. Looking down into the bottomless chasm, it didn’t appear to have an end or even a bottom that could be reached by any stretch of logic or sacrifice. Of course, Klaus knew it wasn’t truly infinite, but it looked so deep that it might as well have been.

A few seconds later, he closed his eyes and took a slow breath, trying to calm the storm of thoughts raging in his mind. The terrain ahead was a sheer, death-defying drop into what felt like the depths of hell. The path behind was, if not outright suicide, a brutal gauntlet. And the alternative was uncertainty, shrouded in shadows and laced with death.

Whatever choice they made here would inevitably be a gamble. The only question was whether they’d survive or not.

Frustrated, he clicked his tongue.

’Tsk. What shitty luck I have. If it were just Briar and me, she’d fly us over. But with Adrian and Seraphim here, that’s not an option. Ughh... if only all four of us had wings.’

He paused.

’Wait, wings...’

Klaus’s eyes shot open, surprised and suddenly enlightened by a thought that, though reckless, might just be their salvation.

Clinging to that thought, he turned his gaze toward the group, still unsure if his idea was too bold. After a brief pause, he finally spoke:

"How about we head west?"

The group snapped out of their reverie and stared at him. Shock flickered across each of their faces.

Klaus immediately regretted opening his mouth. He shifted his weight uneasily, feeling like a fool. But truthfully, he had already expected this. Anyone who had witnessed the horrors lurking in that part of the Sunless Void would have reacted the same way.

Eventually, Adrian was the first to break the awkward silence. He blinked, then muttered,

"Are you crazy?"

What an expected reaction, Klaus thought, already resigning himself to his fate.

Realizing his words had come out harsher than intended, Adrian quickly backtracked and spoke with an apologetic tone.

"Sorry, that’s not what I meant. But you do realize most of the dangerous monsters are in the west, right?"

That was indeed the case, without a shadow of a doubt.

Looking back, when he and the succubus arrived in the desolate, labyrinthine terrain (more like she carried him), they had noticed scavengers feasting on a giant, whale-like creature to the west. The nightmare carapaces had come from the west, as had the Freshwither, the giant sea serpent, and even the bat-like Slayers. Every one of those damned abominations had emerged from that direction.

It was as if the horrors of the Sunless Void had been cast down upon the west.

And he was suggesting they all head in that direction. Naturally, anyone would think he was insane. But so what? He understood the severity of the situation just as well as the others, perhaps even more.

More importantly, the young Strider had already formed a plan to deal with their current predicament, no matter how insane it sounded.

He’d be damned if he just stood around and did nothing.

With that in mind, Klaus chose his words carefully and laid out his plan in a clear, organized manner.

"I know I must sound crazy to you, but hear me out. There’s no realistic way we can cross this chasm. Even if we try building a makeshift bridge, it’s unlikely to hold. And finding an alternate route would be a tedious process, that could ultimately end up being pointless, time-consuming, and ultimately fruitless. That’s why we need to be a little crazy."

He cast a brief glance westward before continuing.

"You guys remember the Carrion Slayers we saw two weeks ago near the cliffs? If we can track down their lair and have Morgan permanently bend the minds of four of them, we could ride them and not just to cross this chasm, but all the way to our destination. Am I wrong?"

A long silence followed.

No one said anything, but the expressions on their faces spoke volumes. Adrian looked as though he was trying to piece together whether Klaus was being serious or setting them up for a joke. Seraphim narrowed her eyes, as if trying to read something deeper beneath his words. Morgan, however, simply raised a brow, her gaze sharpening with intrigue.

Finally, Morgan broke the silence with a dry chuckle.

"Mind-controlling four Carrion Slayers like they’re docile pets... You really are insane." She paused then frowned slightly. "But I’ve done worse so that should be manageable I suppose."

Klaus let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

Moments later, Adrian interrupted with a deep frown on his face.

"Wait, hold on. Even if Morgan can do that, what makes you think they won’t shake us off mid-flight? Those things aren’t exactly known for their stability or sanity."

Klaus responded calmly.

"Which is why I said ’permanently.’ Are you forgetting that Morgan’s blood has a very unique property? If those bastards consume even a drop of it, they’ll eventually fall under her control. This isn’t a power that fights with their body or mind. Either way, I’m confident things will go our way if we plan carefully."

Still skeptical, the blonde Strider continued to speak his mind.

"Even if you say that, what makes you think we can actually find their hideout? All we know is that their territory lies somewhere in the west, but we don’t know where exactly or how far it is. What if we’re attacked by something above our rank on the way? I’m sorry, but no matter how you phrase it, this is just insane."

Following that, Klaus scowled then added a counter on his own.

"I know it’s insane. But tell me, what isn’t insane in this damned place? Staying here means starving to death or becoming prey for whatever’s sniffing around out here. Going back is a death sentence. So yes, heading west is a gamble — which may or may not work in our favor — but it’s the only choice that we can make considering the circumstances."

Adrian looked away, his mouth pressed in a thin line.

Sensing his weakness, Klaus seized the opportunity to press on with his logical thinking.

"You said it yourself, didn’t you? True, we don’t know exactly where their lair is, but we know it’s in the west. That alone gives us a direction. And don’t forget, I have sharper senses than most. If anyone can track them down, it’s me. I’m confident in that. Besides, each of us are unique in our own way. We wouldn’t have made it this far otherwise. So if we combine our strength, our minds, and our resolve... who or what could possibly stand in our way?"

Morgan gave a small nod.

"He’s not wrong. If I push myself, I can turn any kind of creature into glorified mounts. It’s risky, but... somewhat doable plan. Aren’t we the same people that slayed an awakened beast commander? So what’s there to fear?"

Adrian stared at both of them, then at the endless chasm again. He muttered under his breath:

"This is insane..."

A flicker of urgency crossed his face, and in the next moment, he turned quickly toward Seraphim and pleaded with a desperate voice:

"Please, talk some sense into those two. If we follow through with this plan, I just know something bad is going to happen."

Seraphim didn’t respond immediately. Her gaze shifted away, a slight frown forming on her face as she fell into deep thought.

For a few tense moments, silence lingered. Then, at last, she finally opened her mouth and said:

"I understand your concerns, Adrian. But you’re not the only one who feels the pressure of this decision. The reality is, we are trapped. This is not a simple choice between success and failure, but between survival and certain death. We’re in a place where every option we have is dangerous, and every path has its own set of risks."

She paused, letting the silence stretch for a moment. The tension in the air was thick, the group waiting on her every word.

"Whatever we decide, we need to make sure we’re all in it together. If we choose to move forward with this, we can’t afford to hesitate. Every second of doubt, every moment of weakness, will make this plan fail before it even begins."

Then, her eyes met Adrian’s.

"I’m not saying it’s the best option, but it may be our only option. If we wait for something better to come along, we may not get that chance."

She turned her gaze to Klaus and her expression softened slightly.

"And if you believe this plan can work, then we’ll follow you. But we need to commit, all of us, or it’s pointless."

The group fell into another long silence as everyone absorbed Seraphim’s words. Adrian looked conflicted, wearing a mask of frustration, indecision and a hint of betrayal, somewhat, meanwhile Klaus stood motionless, waiting for the final decision to drop. Still, even he couldn’t hide the tension in his posture.

Then, breaking the silence with calm finality, Morgan spoke.

"Well, sounds like we’re doing this," she said dryly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "If that’s the case, let’s get ready for the ride of our lives. Alright?"

Adrian’s shoulders slumped under the weight of their choice. He cast one last glance at the endless chasm and let out a long sigh.

"Ugh. Alright, let’s go with your plan. But I’m not making any promises about how I’ll feel later. And it wouldn’t hurt to keep an eye out for another way."

Klaus offered a small, relieved smile.

"Fair enough. We’ll take it one step at a time."

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