*Notes: I changed the time the adventurer city has been moving. I had a reason before but changed it to 200 years.

Chapter 2

Althora which is one of the largest continents on the planet is so large that even when the populations were at their peak the people still didn't explore the vast majority of it. In the past, the continent was rich in diversity, as plants and animals dominated the land. When people first migrated to Althora from a neighboring continent they found prospects in claiming it as their own. Thousands of years later there were more than 4 billion people across Althora.

When Althora's environment started to wither, the populations began to go with it. As the lands started to lose their abundant resources, such as forests that spanned farther than you can see, and large inland seas that shrunk, the populace started to branch out into unknown territory in search of more. After the discovery of biomes they had renewed hope, and with a new goal to strive for they began to explore the lands even more zealously.

The people wondered why their ancestors never discovered the biomes before, but figured that maybe without the need for resources they never ventured far enough, or thorough enough, to find them. Not everyone could benefit from biomes, though. Wars broke out between nations and the land was scared with battles. Many independent cities joined under banners of larger countries and some fled. In the end, the scarce handful of useful biomes that were found were all monopolized by the larger countries. The lands eventually became quiet as some countries were defeated while others stabilized and fortified creating a balance.

While the larger countries were entering a time of stability and growth with their biomes, this leaves the rest of the people to adventure deeper into the lands of Althora, in hopes of finding their meal tickets. An adventurer conglomerate built from the remnants of many deserted cities, joined together to pioneer the remote lands of Althora. They built outposts and cities as they went to establish bases from which to scout and map unknown areas.

The continent became more barren and bleak as it started to resemble a high desert with few plants scattered about. The adventurer cities either had to divide into smaller groups or villages so that the people can support their numbers by living off the land, or they had to pick up and move for a more mobile lifestyle to support a larger population. An area of 100 square kilometers can only support a few thousand people and that's only if it has a water source nearby. Luckily, remnants of the old thriving ecosystem remained, as there were still quite a few rivers scattered about. Larger cities that have more than a few thousand will need to constantly move after they've depleted the area's resources.

Life once thrived but only a select few adapted well enough to the harsher climates to survive. The few beasts that did survive were stronger, with a lot of their food disappearing they became smaller, smarter, and also more attuned to mana in order to hunt their prey more efficiently. With the newfound strength, they weren't just more efficient at hunting their old prey, as they had a new abundant bipedal prey to hunt.

Sentient races have always had more control over mana than animals. Intelligence helps them manipulate the mana easier and bend it to their wills. Without their control over mana, they wouldn't be able to survive the harsher environments as easily as they have. There are two ways the sentient races use mana to strengthen themselves. The first way is about taking in the surrounding energy into their bodies to make their muscles, bones, tendons, denser and more flexible while also increasing their cognitive abilities and reflexes. The second way is to control the mana in the elements to mold them to attack or do their bidding. Magical circuits can also be used for a variety of things that are too complex for a normal sentient being to handle on their own. Even teleportation isn't out of reach, though it is very expensive to set up.

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Sentient bipedal race's PoV:

"Mack! Get your ass over here and help scout out this cave! Stop fooling around with your girlfriend you two need to get to work so we can head back sooner."

I got it, I got it stop yelling you might attract something scary you know... Who knows if an overgrown lizard might get an idea that it can take our group on. Besides me and Ema were just uh... checking our equipment. -Mack

Rob stop giving us a hard time. Why do beast-men have to always be so serious? We found this beautiful place why not enjoy it? We've been out here for two weeks now and we're getting ready to head back. I don't think that small cave will have anything either. Why don't we go rest by the river for a bit after the cave? We need to fill our water bags anyway. -Ema

Fine, but you better take this as seriously as I do or you might lose your lives. You humans always so flippant. Can't you see that surveying new areas is an important job? -Rob

Yea, yea, the new frontier the hope of us all finding the biome of our dreams.. but our city has been searching and moving forward for 200 years and hasn't found one yet. Who knows if we'll even find one in our lifetime. Also, while this job may be important, the only people who get stuck with it are the weakest and the freshest batch of recruits. Hell, the higher ups couldn't care less if our group died out here. -Mack

That's not true Mack, they send us out here to the relatively safe areas to prepare us for harder missions. I mean, this area has already been briefly scouted out ahead of time and determined safe, we're just doing a more detailed evaluation of the area. That shows they care about our lives, doesn't it? -Ema

Let's get this done, stop bickering and get in here! -Rob

The trio slowly enters the cave in a cautious manner with Rob in the lead, followed by Mack and Ema side by side. The cave is dark, so Ema uses magic to create a small luminescent orb of light strong enough to light up a few feet around of them.

Hey! what was that. I think I saw something shine a white light in the back of the cave. -Ema

It's probably just some water or something reflecting from our light don't mind it. -Mack

This cave doesn't seem too large, we should be able to finish soon. We need to thoroughly check every inch before we leave, but be careful you never know what lurks in places like this. After, we can head to the river like Ema said, and rest before we go back to the city. -Rob

Unknown to the adventurers they were being watched by a 6 eyed friend hiding on the ceiling. This black furry 8 legged creature is poised to strike at any moment but hesitates as there are 3 intruders. It patiently waits for an opportune moment as it watches the trio enter deeper into the cave.

Suddenly Ema gets spooked and jerks her head around looking for something.

Is anyone else getting a creepy vibe of being watched? I'm getting goosebumps and I'm starting to get freaked out here. -Ema

Rob turns his head to see Ema looking around frantically.

It is a little strange how we haven't seen any life yet. Usually, some kind of wolf settles into caves like this, but I haven't seen any indication that this cave has ever had anything living in it. - Rob

If there's nothing here that just makes our job easier, let's keep going and get this over with, I want to go to the river cuz I'm pretty thirsty. - Mack

I'm not sharing my water with you again. You always guzzle your water the fastest... Why don't you conserve a bit more instead of having me always share with you? -Ema

But I'm a thirsty guy what can I say... This dry heat doesn't make it any better. Come on just one mouthful to get rid of this dry-mouth I got. -Mack

I said no! Learn to conserve. -Ema

We're about at the end of the cave. Just a little more and we can head back. I think I can even make out what was shining earlier. It looks metallic like armor... let me see there's a figure back there, looks dead. -Rob

I wonder who would come here alone the poor guy looks like he just keeled over and died. I don't see any visible wounds. -Mack

Our city hasn't lost anyone recently in the area I wonder who it was. Perhaps it's a scout from another city in the past the bones don't look fresh. -Ema

Let's at least take the armor, it looks good and might be able to sell for a good price. -Mack

As Mack walks up to the corpse he suddenly feels his weight give and he finds himself falling into a deep pit.

What the fuck was that and... what am I sitting on. -Mack

Mack reaches for something sticking in his back and grabs hold. It feels firm but kinda brittle. He breaks it off and takes a look to find a human bone.

GET ME OUTA HERE! This place is a tomb! Fucking creepy! Get me OUT! -Mack

Hold on I'm going to lower a rope to hoist you up. - Rob

As Rob lowers the rope, the 8 legged friend drops silently from the ceiling and creeps up behind them. As it gets closer it lunges at Rob and bites his leg then quickly flees waiting for its poison to take effect.

AHHGGG MY LEG! SOMETHING BIT ME! -Rob

What was that!? All I saw was a blur. Are you ok Rob? Your leg is covered in fur I can't tell how bad it is. -Ema

I..think I'm in trouble. That was most likely a Merus. They're a type of rare spider that has extremely potent venom. I can't even feel my limbs anymore, my body is shutting down. Mack get the hell up here, I'll hold the rope! You guys need to get out as quick as you can! I can't walk anymore, I'm just dead weight. -Rob

The 6 eyed friend watches from above and starts moving ahead toward the exit of the cave.

I'm going to try and use water magic to draw out your infected blood, I don't want to lose you Rob- Ema

Fool if you let down your guard the Merus will strike at you too! Stay vigilant!- Rob

After Mack climbs out of the pit he grabs hold of Rob and puts him on his back.

Fool what are you doing leave me! -Rob

Like I could just leave you here! I'm not some coward who abandons people at the drop of a hat! We're getting out of here! Ema watch the rear we can't let that thing take us by surprise again! -Mack

The 6 eyed friend that scurried ahead spins a thin but strong thread across the path and patiently lies in wait. As Mack runs, he goes as fast as he can while carrying Rob awkwardly in a mad dash toward the exit, with Ema following behind. As the trio comes forward Mack trips on the trap the Merus left and falls flat on his face with Rob on top of him.

Noticing this chance the Merus quickly lunges out and bites him on the arm and vanishes much like what it did with Rob.

Ema seeing them both collapsed freezes up and stares on with a blank look.

FUCK! I don't want to die here! EMA RUN! We can't leave anymore, only you can get out before it gets you too! - Mack

The now unconscious Rob is pinning the weakened Mack down leaving them no other options. Ema wakes up and hesitates for a split moment before saying "I'M SORRY" and runs out with tears and snot lining her face.

The Merus watches as she leaves as its content with its harvest. It slowly wraps them up and now has enough food to last it for a long while.