Tom hadn't noticed earlier. Without a light source, he had been oblivious to the ground he was walking on. Now, the full scale of his mistake dawned on him. As far as the torchlight reached, all he could see was an endless expanse of scarabs. These weren't just random creatures; they were clearly the guardians of the nesting grounds he had so skillfully avoided earlier.

  But why were they awakening now? Had they somehow sensed his presence despite his precautions? Tom's thoughts raced as he tried to process the situation. Just as he began considering his options, a swarm of scarabs took to the air, their wings buzzing with an ominous intensity.

  Tom braced himself, crossing his arms defensively and preparing for the worst. He knew it would be futile to fight them—there were simply too many. If they attacked, he wouldn't stand a chance. He closed his eyes, steeling himself for the inevitable.

  But the attack never came.

  Instead, the scarabs circled him, their flight patterns chaotic yet purposeful. Smaller scarabs broke away from the main swarm, flying closer to him and orbiting just out of arm's reach. Tom had the urge to swat them away, but his curiosity held him back. Why hadn't they attacked yet? What were they waiting for?

  Moments later, a handful of the smaller scarabs landed in front of him and behind him, their glossy black eyes fixed on him intently. Unlike the maggots, these scarabs had eyes—two sharp, beady orbs that seemed to take in every detail. Atop their heads, small antennae twitched and swayed, as though testing the air around them.

  The scarabs' movements puzzled Tom until he noticed their antennae brushing against the patches of red slime still clinging to his body from the cocoon. They appeared especially interested in those areas, inspecting them with deliberate precision.

  Before Tom could react, several of the smaller scarabs latched onto him, gripping his limbs and torso tightly. Their wings began beating furiously as they attempted to lift him off the ground. Tom didn't budge. His weight, amplified by his golem body, made the task impossible for the small creatures.

  One of the scarabs released him and began beating its wings in a strange, rhythmic pattern. Almost immediately, four of the larger scarabs responded, flying toward him with purpose. They latched onto him effortlessly, their powerful wings generating enough force to lift him into the air.

  As the torchlight faded into the distance, Tom lost sight of where they were taking him. The only thing he could sense was the motion of being carried deeper into the cave. The vibrations of their wings reverberated through his body as they navigated the twisting tunnels. Panic began to rise in his chest. If they carried him too deep, there would be no way for him to find his way back. He would be hopelessly lost in the labyrinth.

  But what choice did he have? Attacking them would be suicide. There were too many of them, and he would be overwhelmed in seconds. His best option was to wait and see where they were taking him. Perhaps there would be an opportunity to escape later.

  In the pitch darkness, the only sound was the incessant buzzing of wings. Tom tried to stay calm, though the unknown pressed heavily on his mind. After what felt like an eternity, he noticed a change in the air. A faint glow appeared in the distance, growing steadily brighter as they approached.

  Unlike the faint shimmer of light he had seen earlier in the tunnels, this was something entirely different. It was vivid and intense, illuminating the cavern ahead like a beacon. Tom's curiosity momentarily overshadowed his fear. Whatever lay ahead, it was unlike anything he had encountered so far.

  As Tom flew closer, he finally saw the source of the light—a massive lake of molten lava stretched out before him, its fiery glow illuminating the cavern. But it wasn't the lava itself that left him speechless. Near the edge of the lava lake, Tom could see countless red-tinged scarabs engaged in a ferocious battle against towering figures. It took a moment for him to process what he was seeing—lava giants.

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  Spread across the battlefield were several lava giants, each engaged in combat with swarms of scarabs. The sheer scale of the fight was staggering. Each giant was surrounded by ten to twenty scarabs at a time, yet it was clear the scarabs were at a disadvantage. Despite their overwhelming numbers, the giants fought with brute strength, their massive fists and molten bodies scattering the scarabs like leaves in a storm.

  Tom watched as one giant swung its arm, sending a group of scarabs flying. The scarabs' charred bodies hit the ground, unmoving. The giants appeared unstoppable, their fiery presence dominating the battlefield.

  Tom noticed something peculiar—scarabs with more red in their shells seemed to last longer in battle. The completely black ones and those with only faint red markings fell quickly, while the brighter ones endured the giants' attacks for a few moments longer before succumbing.

  Before Tom could analyze the fight further, the scarabs carrying him abruptly dropped him in the middle of the battlefield. He hit the ground with a loud crash, the impact echoing through the chaos. His arrival immediately drew attention.

  Nearby, one of the lava giants turned toward him. Without hesitation, the fiery behemoth began charging straight at Tom.

  Panic surged through him. He wanted to run, but where? Lava giants and scarabs were everywhere, locked in relentless combat. A glance to his left revealed another giant. It had just annihilated a group of scarabs and was now heading toward him as well.

  With no escape routes, Tom realized he had no choice but to fight. He pulled out his brass knuckles, clenching them tightly as he prepared for the oncoming giant. To ready himself, he struck the ground repeatedly, activating his passive ability to build up power.

  As the giant drew closer, Tom finally saw its true size. It towered over him, at least twice his height. In the distance, he could see even larger giants, some three or four times his size. This one, it seemed, was one of the smaller ones.

  When the lava giant was only a few centimeters away, Tom sidestepped quickly, letting its massive swing hit nothing but air. Taking advantage of the opening, Tom delivered a series of punches to its side.

  As he struck, a question crossed his mind: Can I even hurt this thing? Its molten body looked impenetrable. Yet the moment his knuckles made contact, Tom felt something unexpected. The giant's body felt like sand—hard at the moment of impact but soft and malleable beneath the surface.

  Damage numbers floated above the giant:

  -170

  Tom was encouraged but noticed something troubling—he was also losing health. A small -1 hovered over his hand repeatedly. He quickly pulled his arm back and examined it. His hand seemed fine, but his beloved Deer Gloves, which had accompanied him since the start of his journey, were completely ruined. The once sturdy leather was now charred and disintegrating, bits of it flaking off his hand.

  Seeing the state of his gloves filled Tom with rage. Fueled by anger, he launched a relentless barrage of punches at the lava giant, dodging its slow but powerful counterattacks. He considered using kicks as well but hesitated—if the giant could destroy his gloves so easily, he didn't want to risk losing his shoes or leather pants.

  Strike after strike, Tom gradually whittled down the giant's health. He noticed something strange as the fight progressed—the giant was shrinking. Its massive form seemed to deflate with every hit, its size steadily decreasing.

  After a few minutes, Tom estimated the giant's health was down to the lower half of its total. By now, it had shrunk to about 2.5 meters tall. Its slower movements and reduced size made it easier for Tom to land precise blows while avoiding its attacks.

  Two minutes later, Tom landed a decisive punch. The giant's form wavered before collapsing entirely. Its body melted into a pool of lava, spreading across the ground. In the center of the molten remains, a small, glowing orb was left behind.

  Tom quickly grabbed the orb and stashed it in his spatial pouch. He wasn't sure what it was, but he wasn't about to let his hard-fought victory go unrewarded.

  As the lava began to cool and the battlefield continued to rage around him, Tom glanced at the orb in his pouch. Whatever it was, it had to be valuable—and he had a feeling it might be the key to understanding the mysteries of this place.

  Tom took advantage of the brief moment of calm to scan the battlefield. The other lava giant that had been charging toward him was intercepted by a swarm of scarabs, their relentless assault stalling its advance. Danger loomed in every direction; the chaos of the battlefield was unrelenting.