With a few THUDS.

The group jumped through the gap to the floor below. Down here, the flagstones were surrounded by only a few broken bricks and some still-wet footprints.

The sewers of Thousand Masts City had two levels in total.

It was said that the second level was mostly abandoned and had more monsters than the first, though no one knew if that was true.

Thus, there was no waterway beneath their feet, only a long, narrow corridor.

Colin stared at the floor beneath him.

Below this was the genuine Underground City. Many Adventurers made a living by gathering materials there, which was a testament to how high the monster density was.

After landing, the two Guards drew the short batons issued to them and unslung the Wooden Shields from their backs, ready for a fight.

Their equipment was actually quite good.

Both wore Steel Helmets, a Chain Armor Shirt under their blue uniforms, and Leather Boots comparable to Colin’s. All in all, their protection was quite complete.

He glanced into the darkness ahead.

"What kind of trouble might we run into?" a worried Colin asked.

"Besides a few goblin gangs and some smugglers, there might be monsters from the Underground City."

The old Guard added, "If we run into a monster we can’t handle, we’ll just retreat and wait for reinforcements. Now, tell me what you’re all good at so we can coordinate."

"I know two Cantrips, but they aren’t very powerful."

"Got a Catapult, Javelins, and an Axe. I can use ’em all."

"Then we should get along just fine." The old Guard smiled. "Let’s get started, gentlemen."

With that, he looked at the footprints on the ground and began to lead the way.

Just like on the upper level, the old Guard drew special symbols with chalk as he advanced so that reinforcements could follow them later.

Colin and Kase drew their own weapons and followed, while the other, younger Guard brought up the rear.

By the faint light of the oil lamp, the group pushed through the darkness, advancing along the underground corridor.

Compared to the sewer level above, there was almost no sound here. Aside from the echo of their own footsteps in the corridor, Colin couldn’t hear a thing.

The stench permeating the air, however, was just as bad as the level above. After just a few minutes, it felt as if your nose had ceased to exist.

All the ghost stories and horror movies he had seen in his past life suddenly flooded his mind.

Colin glanced at his companions.

Kase’s expression was completely focused, without a hint of fear. The old Guard leading the way moved with his usual clean efficiency, clearly unaffected by the environment in the slightest.

Seeing how his two companions were acting, Colin felt there wasn’t much to be afraid of anymore.

They walked a little further.

The trail of Kiran’s footprints ended at a tightly shut iron sewer gate.

"Where does that lead?" Colin asked.

"Another pipe. The sanitation worker probably wanted to take a different route back to the Surface." The old Guard looked at the iron gate as he spoke, noticing it was only pulled to, not shut tight.

He casually pulled the gate open.

The moment the gate opened, a thick stench assaulted them.

It was a mixture of rot and feces, an unbelievably foul smell that almost made it impossible for them to keep their eyes open.

Yet when they saw what was behind the gate, every one of them regretted their decision to force their eyes open.

The passage beyond was haphazardly piled with over a dozen bloated, pale corpses. These rotting, maggot-infested chunks of flesh were heaped together, their pallid mass completely choking the corridor.

It was a scene you would be hard-pressed to find even in a nightmare.

This was most likely a body-dumping site from a gang war; there was no other explanation for such a scene.

Colin didn’t need to look to know his own face must be as white as a sheet.

Waves of nausea welled up in him, only to be suppressed by his fear.

The young Guard behind him leaned against the wall and retched, throwing up.

"Morninglord above..." Even the experienced old Guard was stunned for a moment.

Kase crouched down, examined the bodies closely, and said, "These are recent deaths. Time of death is no more than two days ago, I’d guess."

The group fell silent for a moment.

Colin and the old Guard said in unison, "There might be Carrion Insects. We should retreat and wait for reinforcements."

The words had barely left their mouths when a strange noise came from behind them.

It sounded like a wet mop being dragged across a muddy floor, intermingled with a dense series of clicks.

Just hearing the sound made the hair on their arms stand on end.

They turned to see a giant slug, over a meter tall, appear at the end of the corridor behind them, blocking their retreat.

The creature had several thick tentacles on its face. The mouthparts on its head looked no different from those of a common small insect, but magnified to this size, they were utterly nauseating.

"Carrion Insect!" the old Guard shouted. "Quick, follow me!"

Before Colin could even start moving, he heard a sound he absolutely did not want to hear right now coming from behind him—the THUMP of someone falling to the ground.

Kase beside him swore, then turned back to hoist the fallen young Guard onto his shoulders.

’This Guard is a bit unreliable...’ Colin thought as he glanced back.

Seeing that things were under control for the moment, he continued running after the old Guard.

The group ran past the piles of corpses and into another narrow corridor.

They hadn’t gotten far when the sickening sound of a Carrion Insect crawling came from ahead of them again.

In despair, Colin, who was second in line, watched another Carrion Insect slowly materialize from the darkness.

"Dammit, prepare to fight!" the old Guard yelled.

As soon as he finished speaking, Colin heard a whistling sound from behind him.

The Guard on Kase’s back was dropped to the ground, and the Javelin and Axe in Kase’s hands were hurled violently at the Carrion Insect’s head.

The huge monster was badly wounded by the two hits, its greasy body twisting nonstop.

"You threw all your weapons?" Colin asked.

"I... I feel..."

Before he could finish, Kase fell to the ground with a THUD.

Colin could even feel the ground beneath his feet tremble.

"Kase? What’s wrong?"

Colin looked closely at his companion and saw a bloody welt on the back of his neck, and on the young Guard’s as well. It looked like a whip mark, and it was covered in a layer of shimmering slime.

"Something’s... not right..."

Kase mumbled, his normally gruff Half-Orc voice now faint and dying.

’Is this the Carrion Insect’s toxin?’

Colin quickly looked around them, trying to find the young Guard’s Shield, but his baton and Shield were gone, probably lost when he fell earlier.

From up ahead came the sound of a whip striking a Shield.

The Carrion Insect chasing them from behind also endured the pain and continued to crawl forward.

Colin recited a Spell.

A [Flaming Arrow] burst forth and smashed directly into the Carrion Insect’s face.

The damn thing let out another shrill scream as a cloud of white smoke exploded from its face.

After the scream, the damned bug shook its body and stubbornly continued to advance.

Watching the monster squirming relentlessly toward him, Colin’s hair stood on end, and his heart wouldn’t stop trembling.