Underground

The air was unexpectedly clean, not as murky as imagined—better even than the stench-choked Blackstone Fort.

A long iron chain ladder hung straight down from the opening above. Torches had been firmly nailed into the rock walls. Guk was the first to step onto the smooth stone, followed by five guards and Green Tooth. Fifteen or sixteen Black Snotlings had come with them as well.

Guk had originally intended to bring Crooked Mouth, but Green Tooth had insisted on coming. Lately, the fellow had become "obsessed" with all sorts of poisonous creatures—bugs, lizards, and the like. He had even tested their venom on his own body, claiming, "The deadlier, the better." Naturally, he had not wanted to miss an opportunity like this. Besides, he was quite interested in these warlike Black Snotlings and planned to bring more of them back to his own camp.

"Boss, this place is huge."

Covered in gaudy body paint, Green Tooth glanced into the distance. Jagged gray rocks covered the land, like Orks' teeth, stretching densely beyond sight.

Lights flickered in the darkness from time to time. They were Glow Mushrooms. Even this barren soil could not stop those hardy fungi.

"I think this place ain't right."

Crooked Mouth's words drew agreement from the nearby boys. This place was far too quiet, without the slightest breath of life. The Orks' inborn sharp senses had all picked up on its unusual nature.

"What's that?"

Darkness could not obstruct Guk's vision. He spotted an unusual color amid the strange rocks. Upon approaching, he found emerald-green crystals embedded in the stone. Curious, he casually broke one off.

"Boss, why's this rock the same color as me?"

Green Tooth came over too. It was his first time seeing a green stone.

"It ain't the same. This color looks way better than your skin. Also, stay away from me. You stink."

Guk examined the pure green crystal closely, then squeezed it in his hand. It was hard—harder than ordinary stone.

"I reckon this is good. Need some on my armor."

Guk's armor was nearly complete, but he had always felt something was missing. Only after seeing these stones did he realize what it was. He needed decorations. He needed to look more impressive. These green stones were perfect—a very Orky color.

"Remember this place. We'll come mine it later."

He tossed the stone to one of the Snotling bosses, who still looked confused, unaware that he had just been given another burdensome task.

Guk did not hurry deeper in. He led the Snotlings and boys around to survey the area first. One-Ear had said that there were several levels below, and the first was the Graystone Zone, a vast and extremely barren place.

It was undeniably vast; they could see that much with their own eyes. And it was truly barren. After circling such a large area, they had found little besides rocks, some Glow Mushrooms, and other mushrooms. Even moss was rare. This place was unusually dry. There were quite a few colorful stones, but they could neither be eaten nor used.

"Come on. Let's check below."

Countless natural tunnels connected the upper and lower levels. The path was difficult, with chaotic stone pillars on the ground and sharp stalactites overhead. Worse, the Snotlings had chosen a route that was damn low and narrow, forcing Guk to walk bent over.

After stumbling along for a long while, Guk smelled damp air. He knew they had reached the second level, the Blackfall Zone, where the Black Snotlings mainly lived.

"Boss! I hear water!"

The moment they emerged from the tunnel, Crooked Mouth's booming voice rang out.

"I ain't deaf."

Guk heard it too—the faint sound, like liquid sloshing.

He stomped hard on the ground beneath him. It was somewhat soft, like soil. Faint glimmers connected into a sea of light. Vast stretches of mushrooms grew on the ground, the rock walls, in cracks, even on the ceiling. There were even many green plants.

"Boss! Look!"

Following the sound, they explored onward. Beneath a protruding rock, a winding river appeared before Guk.

"What's this!"

It was Guk's first time seeing a river, and his first time seeing so much water. The liquid gave off a faint green glow in the darkness. It did not look deep; the pebbles on the riverbed were clearly visible, and many translucent things swam through the water.

"River!"

A Snotling said so.

"Can we drink it?"

When Guk asked, all the Snotlings nodded. He stared at the water, cautiously walked to the edge, and reached out his hand.

It was cool, but not with the harsh coldness of metal.

After hesitating for a moment, Guk scooped up some water and brought it to his mouth for a sip.

It was icy, but unexpectedly delicious.

He untied the waterskin from his waist, poured out the water inside, filled it with river water, and handed it to the curious fellows behind him.

"Tastes good!"

After one gulp, Crooked Mouth wore a blissful expression. Green Tooth hurriedly snatched the waterskin from his hand.

"Good!"

That was his concise praise. The other guards did not even bother with the waterskin. They simply ran to the riverbank, bent down, and stuck their heads into the river.

Something darted past Guk's eyes. He suddenly reached out, grabbed it, and held it before his face. The thing had no hands or feet, no skin or scales. Its head was sharp like an arrowhead, and its body was nearly transparent, its internal organs visible at a glance.

"What's this?"

He glanced at the Snotlings. Their shifty eyes had been fixed on the thing in his hand.

"Lots of juice. Tender. Tasty! But fast, hard to catch."

The Snotling answered while chewing on his finger, his eyes never leaving the creature.

Seeing him like that, Guk opened his mouth and bit down on it. Splattering juice instantly filled his mouth.

Just as the Snotling had said, it was tender and slippery, chewier than a slime Squig. Though its flavor was a little light, it was quite tasty—a food very fitting for a boss like him.

"Are there lots of Snotlings here?"

After tossing the leftover head into the Snotling crowd and causing a scuffle, Guk picked up one unlucky fellow who had failed to get any.

"Lots, lots! Here, there, everywhere."

The fellow pointed up and down. Guk had no idea where exactly he meant, but he understood the general idea. There were plenty of Snotlings nearby, anyway.

Guk had never thought much of Snotlings, not even One-Ear. But they were indeed useful. Getting more was always a good thing. If he brought all the Snotlings here into the White Hand Tribe, that would count as strengthening their forces in a way.

Sure enough, as he was thinking that, Guk suddenly noticed someone hiding behind a rock downstream, peeking at them. Though the fellow was very black and well hidden, Guk spotted those shifty eyes at once. It had to be a Snotling.

"You! Get over here!"

The instant Guk opened his mouth, the black little fellow turned and ran, which infuriated him.

"Chase him!"

A Snotling had actually ignored his words. Guk could not tolerate that. He led a group of Orks in hot pursuit toward the direction the Snotling had fled. Though the fellow ducked and weaved, trying to shake them off, Green Tooth's nose was keen. A Snotling's smell could not be hidden.

The Snotling ran while Guk chased. Following the river, they entered a river valley. After crossing a stretch of gravel shore, they arrived before a massive settlement.

The settlement consisted of many mud huts and walls, standing against the rock face beside the river. Clusters of buildings resembled brown mushrooms, and the scale was considerable. Its gate was made from the skeleton of some unknown creature. A large group of Black Snotlings gathered there, carrying ridiculous weapons, while some rode Jumpies.

"Stop!"

A Snotling in a black robe and pointed hat spoke up. He was much larger than ordinary Snotlings and rode an even larger red Big Hopper. Its color was redder than its extended tongue. All Orks knew that the more violent a Jumpy was, the redder it became.

"I told you to stop! Didn't you hear me?"

The sharper shout did not halt Guk's steps. He strode carelessly before the little runts and looked down at them.

"What'd you say?"

The immense difference in size brought overwhelming Oppression. Sola, the boss of the Sleepwine Tribe, could not help shrinking back. The Big Hopper beneath him nervously shut its huge mouth and kept backing away on its legs. If its master had not held it back, it would have run off long ago.

"We—we ain't slaves!"

Sola waved the stone halberd in his hand, looking fiercely defiant.

"I know! You want to take us away to be laborers!"

Countless pairs of eyes glimmered in the darkness. Before they knew it, a sea of Snotlings had surrounded Guk and the others. These fellows who had crept up on them all held two daggers in their hands.

"I'll never be a slave! Waaagh!!!!!"

The fellow actually imitated the boys' roar with some resemblance. Green arcs of electricity began to flash over his green stone halberd. It even had a little something to it.

"Ha ha ha!!"

Guk burst out laughing. Pointing at the stunned Sola, he laughed and cursed.

"You tryin' to make me laugh myself dead so you can be boss? A Snotling, zog me."

Unable to intimidate the boys, Sola began to feel guilty. He knew what Snotlings on the surface were like. He did not want that.

But this was Ork society. From the moment they had been discovered, they were destined to become part of its order. That was the meaning of their existence—to be born for it, and to die for it.

"You're kinda interesting. I'll let you off this time. You can follow me, as long as you don't cause trouble."

"I, I..."

In the past, Guk would have crushed a Snotling like this to death. But he had discovered that this Snotling possessed just the tiniest hint of Weirdboyz ability. That was quite rare. There might not be another one in the future. Even keeping him as a pet would make for a fine addition to the collection.

"...Yes, Boss."

After hesitating for a while, Sola immediately surrendered when he saw Guk prepare to draw the enormous blade behind his back, a weapon big enough to scare a Snotling to death. In the end, he obeyed his instincts, ears drooping beside his head as he resigned himself to fate.

Resistance? The fleeting thought in his mind was immediately extinguished. His courage was like a punctured waterskin, drained completely away.

A Snotling was still a Snotling.

"What's your name?"

"Reporting to Boss, Sola."

Following behind Guk dejectedly, he could feel that his underlings no longer feared him. They had found a new object of fear.

"Not tough enough. From now on, you're Sok."

Guk did not often name other Orks, so the boys all looked rather surprised at his words.

The Snotlings watched these big fellows enter the settlement cautiously. Their shifty yellow eyes were full of curiosity and fear. Those massive figures instinctively frightened them.

"Wait, something's here."

Guk stopped. He felt a tremor coming from beneath his feet, as if something were burrowing up from underground.

"It's—it's the big worm!"

The increasingly violent tremors sent all the Snotlings fleeing in panic. They ran for higher ground, while Sola clutched his head and fled for his life as well.

"Move!"

Guk suddenly kicked Crooked Mouth flying aside, then spun and dodged to the side. The ground where Crooked Mouth had been standing violently burst apart, and a long black shadow erupted from the earth amid a rain of dirt!