Chapter 189: Finding The Lamia
"Same here, but it also make things more suspicious. After all, there should be some sign of monsters. Here, not even a footprint of a Cave Wolf," another clone pointed.
Mutters can be heard from rest of the clones, before the leader of scouting team decide that was enough chattering,
"Enough," he said in authoritative voice. "Keep on searching for any clues. There should be some shed skins. Even if the Lamia themselves did not shed, the snakes under them should,"
The rest of the clones quickly agreed with the leader, before continuing their search.
-x-
"Do you think there are reasons why there are no monsters here?" one clone asked another, causing the copy of Alros to look at his fellow clone like he was stupid.
"Yes, one that start with L and end with amia," he pointed out, causing the clone that asked the question to look away, red painted his cheek.
"True, but do you think they will attack us?" the first clone asked.
"Unlikely, but it just assumption. Maybe they are more aggressive, who would know? What I know is that we should try to get as many tunnels check out before we return," the second clone reminded.
And so, the two clones continue to check the tunnels, unaware something had just passed them, their stalker hiding themselves quite well.
-x-
"All seem clear over here,"
"Same here,"
"Same,"
Repeat of the word same continue to be sounded by the other clones, to the point the leader felt like the word same imprinted in his mind.
However, in the midst of other clones giving his report, he almost an emergency call for help, almost.
"We need help! They are surrounding us!" a frantic voice filled the channel, causing some shocked gasps.
The leader immediately try to determine the whereabouts of the clones. The others, knowing what the leader of the scouting party is up to, immediately shut down their communication before heading straight towards the base of operation, knowing that could be in mortal danger.
As for the leader, he was busy trying to determine the whereabouts of the endangered team. As he listened, he immediately heard the clone saying, "We will do Plan Phyrric," he said before a powerful explosion, followed by static, occurred.
The leader sigh. The only upside is the fact they knew where the attack came from. "Looks like the report today will be interesting," the leader muttered, not wanting to be the one to tell the original the bad news.
-x-
"I see," contrary to popular believes, the original seem to not be affected by what he heard through the grapevine.
From the look on his face, he was excited. Then again, one of the monsters the original had been looking for is near, so if was not much of a surprise.
"Do you knew the exact location?" he asked. The clone nodded before pointing to certain direction. Aside from knowing the location, each clones have a fail sage, namely there will be two Phantom Wasps hidden.
When they are about to die, one Phantom Wasps will remain hidden inside the bodies as a way for the original to track their whereabouts, while another would remain hidden at the place of death, acting as a living flare for him.
"Let the way," the clone nodded before the two walked towards the last place the clone is heard from.
-x-
Unfortunately, the practice of leaving Phantom Wasps, which allow the scouts and Alros from not accidently explore another place again make it harder to find the Phantom Wasps they are looking for.
To remedy this blunder, some clones are called out to explore first before reporting. Doing so had prolong the search but there is nothing that can be done other than changing the policy.
With how hard it is to navigate a lot of areas, there is no planning to change the policy, though some extra changes might be added to make it easier.
When the clones returned, they continue, finding tracks beloging to his clones and monsters. With this new clue, they increase their pace, Alros eager to find the Lamia.
-x-
Soon, they arrive at the location of the battlefield. Aside from there being none dead bodies, either the monsters are them or something else happened, there is no way for them to tell the difference of the battlefield to the other tunnels. With one sole exception.
A Phantom Wasp emerged from the ceiling, the creature had been hiding there for quite sometime. The small monsters, relative to the other monsters of course, pointed to a certain direction.
Unfortunately, it would be hard to read the though the of the monster, so Alros asked where he spot the said monster. The Wasp flew towards a certain direction, which is behind is near the entrance where they have enter this part of the cavern.
"So, there should be an entrance or the Lamia covered it," he muttered before using his Mana Sense. The difference between the cave walls to the rocks created by magic is that the former will be saturated by mana while the latter will be made out of it entirely.
So, he could easily spot the difference. Even if they don\'t used spells, Alros could still sense some disrepencies like cracks and the fact different rocks stack on one another.
It did not take long before he find the entrance. With a swing of his claw, the rocks blocking the path was destroyed, allowing him to finally see the entrance.
Calling out some of his stronger monsters and letting the clone to return, the incubus pass through the entrance, preparing himself for an attack.
As he walked deeper and deeper, a slithering sound, masked by dripping water, get closer and closer to them. Seeing them entering the entrance, the monster prepared to strike.
However, before it could do so, the demon turned towards where it is before jumping towards them. Surprise by their attack, the monster in question, a Lamia find itself pinned. It tried to use it\'s tail to escape but Alros\' own tails pinned half of her body.
Alros smiled as he put his claw on the monster\'s neck.
"Please show me your home,"