Synopsis
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After traveling into the 4th layer of the “The Abyss”, The Goblet of Giants, the last chapter ended on Reg and Riko encountering an Orb Piercer. Riko warns Reg not to fight back against the Orb Piercer, as they can pierce through even steel. The Orb Piercer fires needles at the two, and Reg grabs Riko, and then successfully evades unscathed. Then, the Orb Piercer extends it's spikes and rushes at them. Reg and Riko themselves weren't hurt, but the Orb Piercer was able to tear the backpack, and their equipment goes flying out. Reg then realizes that the Orb Piercer can predict the it's prey's movements. The Blaze Reap lands right next to the Orb Piercer's foot, and it kicks it away. Reg recalls Ozen saying that the creatures on the 4th layer are much more cunning, and stronger. As the Orb Piercer approaches the two, Riko hands Reg the Scaled Umbrella and tells him Orb Piercers should be afraid of objects or creatures larger than it. The Orb Piercer charges at them, and Reg attempts to block it with the Scaled Umbrella, however, the Orb Piercer is able to break through it, and the spikes nearly hit Reg. When Reg looks for the Blaze Reap, behind him, Riko's hand was hit by Orb Piercer's poisonous spike and Reg panicked. Riko called Reg for help, Reg hurries to constrict the poison while the Orb Piercer waits for them to move; the Blaze Reap is submerged and he can't use the incinerator, otherwise he will black out for 2 hours. Escape is the only option for Reg, they can't run as Orb Piercer predicts their movements, he tries ascending the 4th layer however, the curse resides "that every hole of her body will bleed"; Riko tells him to ascend because she doesnt have much time left to live once the poison spreads to far; Reg grants her request and ascends to the 4th layer, with 800-meter altitude. After the ascension, Riko begins to hallucinate, as well as starts bleeding out of every orifice due to the curse of The Abyss. Riko begins to think that The Abyss' curse may not only be harming her, but as well helping her. She thinks that the poison will be drawn out by the bleeding. Reg attempts to wipe the blood from her eyes, but no matter how many times he wipes it, blood keeps gushing out. He tries to take Riko's glove off to check the wound, but she screams in pain due to her hand being so swollen. Riko tells Reg that he'll have to cut her hand off, or she will die. Tears fill in Reg's eyes. Reg goes with the plan to cut Riko's hand off. Riko tells him that he will have to break the bone of her arm, or else cutting her hand off with a knife would be troublesome as mentioned by a Black Whistle delver to Riko. Reg get a stone and put it under Riko's arm for breaking the bone and puts a stick of wood in her mouth to suppress the pain. He tightly ties a rope near her hand to prevent the poison from flowing over her body. Reg goes with a signal to break Riko's arm. By pushing through against the stone he breaks her arm, which causes Riko to scream out in pain. Reg regrets having to do it, but Riko remindshim that it is necessary to continue their journey to The Abyss's bottom. Reg's hand are trembling while trying to cut Riko's arms off, but he tries to stay focused. Then, small insects begin to swarm around Reg, and he tries to swat them away in a sort of sad-angry manner. Riko stops breathing in a midst of this. Reg sobs trying to revive Riko from dying and an unfamiliar voice comes from nearby. "You're noisy," and also tells him that Riko's heart is still beating, though it may stop any moment. Reg asks who the person is that directed her voice at him. The person almost reveals it's real name, but stops themself and just says "I'm just a fluffy stuffed doll. One that's here to comfort you guys."
The person instructs Reg to do CPR to Riko. She then begins to breathe, but the person says she will not regain consciousness anytime soon. Togther with Reg, they carry Riko to theier hideout and fetch some sticks for a splint. Later, Reg follows the creature, led him to the hideout. Inside the hideout, there is delving equipment, whistles, pickaxes, and much more. The person remembers it hasn't stated it's name yet, pulls down theier hood and introduce themself as Nanachi. They also tell Reg that they are what delvers call a Narehate.
Adapted FromEdit
- Volume 3, Chapter 18: Third Layer, The Great Fault
- Volume 3, Chapter 19: Poison and Curse
- Volume 3, Chapter 20: Nanachi
ReferbacksEdit
- Strains of ascension of the 4th layer
