As we crawled forward, I turned to Goldy and asked, "Hey, that huge space we were in before, when we were riding that flying thing—what was that place?"

  Goldy, still leading the way, replied without looking back. "Oh, that? That was the space between the 2nd Zone, the Echoing Hall, and the 3rd Zone. It's basically the last area of the 2nd Zone that connects to the 3rd Zone."

  I thought back to the vast, open area, its eerie echoes and the strange sense of weightlessness as we rode through the air. "So, we actually went from the 3rd Zone, up to the 2nd Zone, and then back down to a deeper part of the 3rd Zone?"

  Goldy nodded. "Yep! It was a shortcut."

  I blinked. "A shortcut?"

  "Mhm!" Goldy chirped. "If we had gone through the normal path, we would've had to fight our way through weaker monsters first. But since we got a ride straight to Mother, we skipped all that and landed in the deeper part of the 3rd Zone."

  I processed that for a moment before sighing. "So basically, we're in a way more dangerous part of the 3rd Zone than we would've been if we'd just walked here normally?"

  Goldy giggled. "That's right! Monsters here are way stronger."

  I stared at her. "...And that doesn't concern you?"

  Goldy tilted her head as if I had asked the strangest question in the world. "Why would it? We just have to get stronger too!"

  I sighed. Of course, that was her answer. "Well, I guess there's no turning back now."

  With that, we pressed on, deeper into the 3rd Zone, where stronger enemies awaited us.

  So all those monsters back in that huge space were supposed to be weaker monsters? Seriously? If those were the weak ones, then what kind of horrors are lurking around here? What, are we going to run into monsters that breathe fire, spit acid, or have some kind of death laser? Great. Just great.

  I swear, this whole "getting stronger" thing better come with some serious perks, or I'm going to file a complaint—with who, I have no idea.

  As I was lost in my thoughts about fire-breathing, acid-spitting, death-laser-shooting nightmares, one of my siblings suddenly tensed up.

  "Mine own bristles do hum with the whispers of the unseen. A tremor from the abyss, a vibration most delicate yet persistent… something doth draw nigh."

  I blink.

  What?

  Did… did he just say that? Who talks like that? What is he, some kind of Victorian poet? Oh, dear brother verily, I doth perceive a most unsettling disturbance within the aether!

  Before I could voice my thoughts, the whole group, especially Goldy, immediately snapped into a battle stance. I quickly followed suit. Whatever was coming, it wasn’t going to wait for me to finish my internal monologue.

  And then it appeared—a massive, towering snake-like creature, its bioluminescent skin shifting in mesmerizing patterns. It looked like someone had taken a deep-sea jellyfish, stretched it out, and decided, yeah, let’s make this thing a snake.

  I squinted. Great. A glow-in-the-dark death noodle.

  Goldy, ever the leader, stepped forward, her spikes bristling as she readied for battle. “That’s a Lumi Viper! Be careful of its hypnotizing skin!”

  Hypnotizing? Oh, fantastic. So not only was it big and probably fast, but it also came with a built-in light show designed to fry our brains. Just my luck.

  The Lumi Viper wasted no time and spat a stream of poison straight at Goldy. She reacted instantly, dodging with a swift, practiced movement, her body a blur as she closed the distance toward the snake.

  At the same time, the three siblings specialized in shooting spines did what they did best—firing off a barrage of hardened projectiles at the snake. The spines zipped through the air, some striking the Lumi Viper’s glowing body while others missed, clattering onto the cavern floor.

  Well, at least they aren’t just standing around, I thought, watching the fight unfold. Now let’s see if this thing is as tough as it looks.

  Victor, the ever eloquent brother, turned to me with his bristles still faintly trembling.

  "Dear Sister, might I entreat upon thee to partake in the noble fray alongside our esteemed Young Highness? Thy bristles and spines, no doubt, would prove most advantageous in the vanquishing of this most accursed serpent!"

  I blinked. Did he just ask me to jump into close combat in the most roundabout way possible?

  Well, two can play that game.

  "Ah, but of course, my most loquacious kin! How could I ever forsake our radiant Young Highness in her gallant endeavor? Verily, I shall lend my humble mandibles and bristles to this most fateful battle!"

  Victor actually nodded, seeming pleased with my response. Goldy, on the other hand, barely spared us a glance, too focused on the Lumi Viper, which was already recoiling from the earlier spine barrage.

  Alright, enough messing around. Time to get in there. I readied myself and rushed toward the fight.

  Goldy lunged at the Lumi Viper with precision, her spines glinting under the glow of the bioluminescent patterns. As Victor and I rushed in to assist, the rest of our siblings wasted no time positioning themselves strategically—four flanking from behind, three scaling the ceiling, and the last three continuing their barrage of spines from the rear.

  The Lumi Viper hissed, its shifting colors growing erratic as it recoiled from Goldy's relentless assault. I could feel the air hum with the vibrations of movement, my bristles picking up every slight shift in the battle.

  Victor, ever the dramatist, called out, "Beware, dear siblings! The wretched serpent shall seek to enthrall thee with its deceitful shimmer!"

  Right. Hypnosis.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  I narrowed my eyes, forcing myself to focus on the movement of its body rather than the mesmerizing patterns rippling across its skin. The last thing I needed was to freeze up mid-fight.

  Goldy dodged another spit of venom, her movements swift and practiced. Meanwhile, the siblings behind the Lumi Viper struck—biting and clawing at its body, forcing it to coil defensively. The ones on the ceiling prepared their descent, aiming for a synchronized ambush.

  Seeing an opening, I surged forward, bristles twitching, ready to strike. Time to see just how much I can really do.

  I lunged forward, bristles sharp with anticipation, and drove my spine into the Lumi Viper’s side. At the same time, two of my siblings flanked from behind, striking in unison.

  The attack landed—our spines piercing into the viper’s bioluminescent flesh, making it let out a sharp, hissing cry. For a moment, I thought we had it—until its body suddenly twisted and flailed violently.

  Oh.

  Before I could react, a powerful swing of its tail sent all three of us flying.

  Well, that’s unfortunate.

  I felt the rush of air as I tumbled backward, then—THUD. I crashed onto the cold cavern floor, bristles scraping against the rough surface. The impact rattled me for a moment, and I barely had time to register the ringing in my head before—

  "Dear sibling! Art thou still in one piece, or hath the cruel hands of fate delivered thee unto despair?"

  Oh, for the love of Mother.

  I groaned, rolling onto my legs, and turned to see Victor staring at me with deep, dramatic concern, his own bristles twitching with exaggerated worry.

  "Victor, please. I just got thrown, not staged a tragic demise."

  Still, I shook myself off, flexing my spines experimentally. Everything seemed intact. Which meant—

  I snapped my gaze back toward the Lumi Viper. It was still writhing, trying to shake off the pain from our combined assault. Goldy was already moving in again

  I let out a breath. "Alright, Victor. Less theatrics, more fighting. Let’s finish this thing."

  Victor and I steadied ourselves, facing the Lumi Viper as it coiled and shifted. Goldy, usually relentless, hesitated this time, her stance wary.

  The Viper, sensing an opportunity, suddenly flared its bioluminescent scales. The shifting colors pulsed in mesmerizing patterns, an eerie, hypnotic dance of blues and purples.

  I felt something tug at my mind—a heavy, drowsy sensation, like sinking into a warm, endless abyss. My limbs slackened, my focus blurred.

  "Ah… such resplendence, such unearthly allure!" Victor’s voice echoed through the haze, his tone filled with awe. "’Tis as though the very cosmos hath descended upon us, whispering secrets of the eternal! Might this be—nay, surely this must be—the divine artistry of fate itself!"

  Oh, for Mother’s sake.

  I barely managed to shoot him a glare, my mind sluggishly trying to resist. Not the time for poetry, Victor.

  But… I had to admit, the colors were… quite pretty…

  The Lumi Viper seized the moment. In one swift, fluid motion, it lunged at one of our siblings, sinking its fangs deep into their side. A sickening crunch echoed through the cavern. With terrifying strength, the viper flung them against the dungeon wall.

  Another sibling barely had time to react before the serpent struck again—this time using it's tail, coiling them, its coils tightening and then launching them through the air like a discarded husk.

  Then it turned to Goldy.

  She stood frozen, eyes locked onto the shifting lights, her usual sharp focus clouded. The viper reared back, ready to strike—

  Fwip!

  A spine shot through the air, striking the viper in the side. It recoiled with a hiss, its hypnotic glow flickering. The spell broke.

  Goldy blinked rapidly, realization dawning as she stumbled back, putting distance between herself and the creature.

  I gasped for breath, the weight of the trance lifting. My mind snapped back into focus, and as I turned to look at our fallen siblings, my gut twisted.

  Not again.

  Victor, beside me, shuddered. His usual dramatic flair was gone, his expression grim.

  We have to end this.

  Enraged, one of our flanking siblings lunged forward, his bristles flaring with a faint, eerie glow. Unlike the others, his spines weren’t just sharp—they carried venom. With a swift, practiced motion, he drove his venomous spike deep into the Lumi Viper’s side.

  The viper let out a shrill, hissing screech, its glowing patterns flickering erratically as it recoiled. Its body twisted violently, trying to shake him off, but he clung on, pushing the spike deeper.

  Goldy, now fully back to her senses, saw the opening. "Now! While it's distracted!" she commanded, her voice sharp and clear.

  The rest of us moved without hesitation.

  The siblings clinging to the ceiling took their chance. One by one, they dropped onto the Lumi Viper, their bristles flaring as they stabbed into its bioluminescent scales. The sudden weight and piercing strikes forced the viper to the ground, its long body thrashing violently against the cave floor.

  With a loud, guttural hiss, it coiled in on itself, its shifting patterns flickering like a dying ember. It tried to rise again, but with the venom from our sibling sinking in, the spines digging deeper, and the weight of multiple caterpillars holding it down, it was losing strength fast.

  Goldy didn’t waste a second. "Finish it!" she commanded, her eyes locked onto the struggling creature.

  I wasted no time. With the viper pinned down, its struggles growing weaker, I lunged forward, sinking my mandibles into its glowing flesh. A sharp, bitter taste filled my mouth, but I bit down harder, tearing at the flesh as Victor joined in beside me.

  "Ah, dear sibling, let us bring swift judgment upon this wretched beast!" Victor declared in his usual verbose manner as he sank his own mandibles into the creature’s side.

  The others followed suit, striking with their spines, biting, and tearing into the viper’s thrashing body. It let out a final, agonized hiss, its bioluminescent glow flickering erratically.

  Then Goldy stepped forward. She climbed onto its head, her bristles standing on end. Without hesitation, she drove her mandibles into its eye, biting deep and ripping it apart and she spits it out like it worth damn nothing. The viper's body spasmed violently, then went still followed by the bioluminescent scales, fading.

  Silence filled the cavern, only broken by the siblings’ heavy breathing. We had won.

  After a moment of silence, I prodded the viper’s motionless body with one of my spines. No reaction. Yeah, it was definitely dead.

  Just as I confirmed it, two of our siblings dragged the fallen ones toward Goldy. The rest of us gathered around them, forming a tight circle.

  Goldy, standing tall despite her wounds, looked over the two still forms. Her bristles twitched as she took a deep breath. “They fought bravely. Their strength carried us through this battle. We will not forget them.” She paused, then continued, her tone steady. “And to honor them, we will eat them.”

  I almost forgot cannibalism was a thing. Right. We’re bugs. Bugs do that. Still, the human part of me cringed a little. Not that I was about to argue. Food was food, and in this place, survival came first.

  As I watched my siblings tear into the fallen, I just… couldn’t do it. My mandibles twitched, but no matter how much I tried to convince myself, the human part of me still recoiled.

  So I just sat there, silent, as they ate.

  When they were done, Goldy turned toward me. Her glowing eyes studied me for a moment before she spoke. “You didn’t join us.”

  I stiffened. I needed an excuse. Something. Anything. “I… I’m sorry,” I said, lowering my head. “I just— I can’t. Not yet.”

  Goldy tilted her head, then let out a soft hum. “It’s alright,” she said, surprisingly gentle. “You have past life memories, don’t you? Maybe in that life, cannibalism was something frowned upon.”

  I blinked. That… was unexpectedly understanding.

  “Yes,” I said, relieved she wasn’t pressing the issue.

  As she turned back to the others, I stared at her, a little stunned. For once, she actually acted like an big sister.

  Goldy suddenly perked up, her usual energy returning in full force. “Enough weeping!” she declared, waving a bristle-covered limb. “Time to eat that damn snake and get our bellies full!”

  I let out a small sigh, shaking off the lingering thoughts. Yeah, I guess brooding over it wouldn’t change anything. Survival was survival.

  “…Alright,” I said, stepping forward. “Let’s eat.”

  And with that, I finally joined them.

  As I sank my mandibles into the Lumi Viper’s flesh, a strange taste spread across my mouth—somewhere between bitter herbs and liquid medicines. I grimaced.

  “…Tastes weird,” I muttered.

  Victor, of course, had to chime in with his usual speech. “Ah, the essence of the labyrinth’s offerings—an intricate blend of nature’s finest toxins and the faintest hint of despair. A meal fit for those who tread the perilous path of survival.”

  Goldy shot us both a look. “No complaining,” she said flatly, swallowing another chunk. “It’s what we have, and we need to get stronger. So eat.”

  I sighed but kept eating. Well, she wasn’t wrong.

  As we continued eating, Goldy suddenly turned to me, her antennae twitching with curiosity.

  "Hey, Nur. Why do you call me 'Goldy'?" she asked, tilting her head. "Most just call me 'Royal Sister' or 'Your Highness' and all that, but you never do."

  I swallowed a chunk of viper and shrugged. "It's too long. I’m not gonna say 'Royal' this and 'Royal' that all the time. You’re gold-colored, so... Goldy."

  Goldy blinked, then nodded. "Oh. That makes sense, I guess. Simple enough."

  Then she glanced at Victor, who was still chewing dramatically. "What about him? Why 'Victor'?"

  At that, Victor perked up, his bristles straightening. "Ah, indeed, Most Esteemed Sister! I too have contemplated the origins of this curious appellation thou hast conferred upon me. Pray, enlighten us forthwith!"

  I smirked. "Don't worry about it. Just something from my past life."

  Victor and Goldy exchanged looks, clearly confused, but I just kept eating. No way I was explaining the Victorian thing.

  As I kept eating, I noticed the other siblings glancing at each other, then at Goldy.

  One of them, a bristle-covered one, hesitantly spoke up. "Uh... so, can we call you Goldy too?"

  "Yeah," another chimed in. "Goldy’s easier to say than 'Royal Sister' or 'Your Highness' all the time."

  Goldy blinked, then grinned. "Sure! I don’t mind." She flicked her antennae happily. "Goldy it is!"

  Then, for some reason, they all turned to Victor.

  "And Victor... uh, Victor, right?"

  Victor, as if expecting this grand acknowledgment, straightened himself, his bristles quivering dramatically. "Ah! It pleases me greatly that you all would accept such a noble title! Very well, I shall bear this name with pride!"

  I rolled my eyes. Of course, he would take it like that.

  Then, a few of the siblings turned my way.

  "Uh... what about us?" one of them asked. "Can you name us too?"

  I paused mid-bite. "No."

  They all looked taken aback. "Why not?"

  I sighed. "Because I don’t know you that well yet."

  They looked a little disappointed but didn’t push the issue. Goldy just laughed. "Guess you gotta earn names, huh?"

  I just kept eating. No way I'm naming an entire brood right now.

  Goldy tilted her head. "You’ve been calling us names, but what about you? Do you have a name?"

  The others murmured in agreement, clearly curious. Even Victor, who usually had something overly elaborate to say, simply waited for my answer.

  I hesitated. I did have a name—Nur. It was something I instinctively thought of myself as ever since I hatched. But saying it out loud… it felt different.

  After a brief pause, I swallowed my food and nodded. "Yeah. It’s Nur."

  Goldy’s antennae twitched. "Nur, huh?" She repeated it, testing how it sounded. "That’s short. Simple." Then she grinned. "I like it!"

  The others seemed to accept it as well, some repeating it to themselves.

  Victor, of course, had to chime in. "Ah, a name as succinct as it is refined. Fitting for one as sharp-witted as you, dear Sister!"

  I rolled my eyes but let it slide. At least now I wouldn’t be just "Hey" to everyone.

  End of Chapter 9