D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad Chapter 2180 Calm Amongst the Explosions

Kat ---

Lily lifted her head from the dug-out passage just as another deafening explosion echoed. While not immediately threatening, its proximity on the surface made the sound agonizingly sharp to Lily's sensitive ears. Kat rapidly reformed and drew Lily into her embrace, her gaze sweeping the surroundings. Kat instinctively crouched low, seeking concealment, yet the arena's open nature offered little respite from view, even at a considerable distance.

The entire locale bore the grim visage of a veteran soldier's worst nightmare. The combat ground was reduced to barren earth, pockmarked with colossal craters. Only the terrain's extreme unevenness, hinting at a history of violent detonations, obstructed Kat's comprehensive view of the unfolding battlefield.

What was particularly striking was the presence of a monstrous entity within most of the craters. The closest one to Kat appeared as a vaguely humanoid elemental being, cloaked in black and dusted with ash. Distinct red lines pulsed visibly across its form, intensifying with each exhalation of its breath. Yet, 'vaguely humanoid' was perhaps the most fitting description.

While superficially resembling a person curled in upon themselves, the creature lacked any discernible legs. Its lower half dissolved into a substance akin to semi-molten magma, and its 'arms' seemed intrinsically part of its torso. Kat remained uncertain if these appendages could detach, but given the creature's overall amorphous structure, she surmised they could be separated and reformed at will, resembling more conventional limbs.

The pressing question now was their destination. Viable hiding spots were virtually non-existent. While the craters offered some cover, each seemed to harbor an explosive elemental. This implied a need to eliminate the inhabitant before utilizing the crater for shelter, but dispatching the elemental would inevitably betray their position and...

Kat's attention shifted to the center of their current crater. Conspicuously, it was devoid of an explosive elemental. *

Inevitably, another distant explosion erupted, mirroring the location of a visible crater, from which a thick column of ash billowed. Kat exhaled a weary sigh, disregarding the residual shockwave from the elemental's detonation. *

Lily attempted to extend her spatial awareness upward but detected no significant spatial anomalies. Regrettably, her visual and auditory perception far surpassed her ability to sense spatial distortions.

Kat paused her movements. *

Kat ascended into the air, Lily held securely in her arms. As she gained altitude, the spectacle of numerous distant explosions became starkly apparent. Now observing the entire process, Kat could readily discern which elementals were poised to detonate next. Their breathing quickened, the luminous lines across their bodies growing increasingly pronounced. Their forms began to distend, primarily their 'chests' swelling to more than triple their original volume before the blast.

Upon detonation, they appeared to momentarily disintegrate, unleashing fire and ash from where they stood. However, once the dust settled, the elementals reformed, curled and seemingly... serene. Despite lacking discernible facial features, they emanated a palpable sense of contentment post-explosion. This observation was particularly perplexing for an elemental devoid of a mouth, or indeed, any identifiable features. Kat was baffled by their apparent resilience to their own self-destruction and their compulsive need to explode so frequently.

It might have been understandable if it were a singular, anomalous monster exhibiting this peculiar behavior as a bizarre mutation. Instead, it strongly suggested a distinct species. It might even have been less peculiar if these were mere puppets controlled by Thyme, but they appeared to be genuine creatures, and Kat had no inkling of their combat capabilities beyond their explosive tendencies.

The scorched expanse of the arena stretched far and wide. From her elevated vantage point, Kat could confirm its termination, noting its predominantly circular shape. However, discerning what lay beyond its perimeter proved challenging. Thyme had evidently erected an 'illusion' that defied Kat's perception, predominantly manifesting in the lower regions of the potential barrier. Higher up, it dematerialized, revealing the sky. But was it truly the sky above, or yet another of Thyme's fabrications? Kat wouldn't dismiss the possibility of Thyme creating numerous pocket dimensions for these engagements.

This elaborate construct further complicated the search for the other individual trapped within. While the craters varied in size, Kat's higher perspective revealed that not all contained an elemental, and some housed multiple. Kat remained unsure if this arrangement was stable, as one explosion might incapacitate or displace another, but she had yet to witness such an event, indicating they were not immediately hostile towards each other. Frankly, Kat found this lack of inter-creature aggression unsettling.Kat's gaze swept over the surrounding structures. Not a single one stood whole, and though they might appear to be promising starting points, Kat and Lily hadn't originally been within them, assuming they were even considered above ground. Many were embedded in craters, their upper sections obliterated, revealing only jagged remnants and shattered interiors. Very little stir caught Kat or Lily's attention... it seemed their present adversary was adept at concealment. This realization irked Kat, leaving her uncertain of the next move.