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Hector didn’t think this was the time for banter. “What’s the next item?!”

‘Ah, I don’t think there is one in this pile. Just a bunch of coins and jewelry.’

“Agh!”

But Hector did know what to do next, at least. He had to get to the second floor.

He launched himself up with a materialized platform and landed with a heavy thud. From there, the treasure was straight ahead, so he bolted for it, able to maintain a full sprint with the vigor that he now felt flowing all throughout his body.

Still, this new level of awareness was difficult to get used to. In a good way, perhaps, but difficult nonetheless. He kept his attention focused firmly on the growing worm even while it was completely out of his line of sight beneath the rock under his feet. He barely even looked at the treasure and just let Garovel go over it for him.

“Anything?!”

‘Mm, nope, sorry.’

Hector wanted to scream.

‘Hey, you could always try that mace you picked up. Didn’t seem all that special to me, but Seyos called it the Moon’s Wrath, so it must have something to it, right?’

Hector hadn’t forgotten. “I’d have to get in close to attack it with this thing,” he said, trying to be calmer, “and I don’t think we want to do that.”

‘Oh yeah. If you get caught in that slime, you might not be able to get out, huh?’

That was his exact concern, yes. He still remembered some of the Rainlords getting swallowed up at the battle by the train. They’d managed to free themselves with an incredibly impressive attack from inside its gut, but Hector doubted that he would be able to pull off the same trick. Or maybe he could. But he didn’t want to put himself in a situation where he had to find out.

Nonetheless, he did take the Moon’s Wrath in hand once again. If he wasn’t able keep the beast away from him, then the mace would be a good option--if not the only option.

The worm was beginning to move now, Hector sensed. Its growth had finally slowed but still not quite stopped, and it was now the size of an office building. He could see a bit of it peeking over the second floor and squirming its way in his direction over the rock.

Time for the third floor, he decided. It was a good thirty or so meters above him, but he appreciated the extra distance between himself and the worm. He could sense it beginning to thrash around down there and climb up.

He went for the treasure pile.

‘Ooh! Grab that thing right there that looks like an orb on a tuning fork!’

He saw it and did so. “Okay, what does it do?”

‘It’s, ah, difficult to explain, but we’ll be able to find some really cool shit with it. It’s like a special kind of metal detector.’

Hector needed a second to find his words. “How will that help me kill the worm?”

‘Oh, it won’t. It’s useless for that.’

Hector sighed angrily.