Chapter 76: An Empty Kingdom

The boys traverse the inner structure of the Bakunawa, keeping an eye out for any muscles or tendons that springs to life, trying to keep to themselves quiet and steady to not alert its presence. The more they traveled across the entrails, the more they would notice other things being consumed by its ceaseless hunger. Mainly, more of such ships, with most of them seemingly from different regions. Some from the supposed land that Harvard recognized, with a few holding the symbol of what he heard from the pirates: A Scarab beetle. Supposedly, Khepros itself. The rest of the ships, however, are locations he has not even heard of. Some with the symbols of a black ant, others bearing the symbol of a white four pointed star, and even some that seemed to be almost like a rival towards the city of Khepros, that being a Snake which stared upwards to the sun, consuming it whole. Harvard would feel a sudden unease by these symbols, implying that the beast has traveled far and wide for its supposed meals.

Solomon would take notice and pat him on the shoulder, non-verbally reassuring the Card Magician. Harvard would take notice and stayed calm, continuing further down the exploration. More and more they explored, more and more they found strange things stuck with its body: Corals and Reefs that spanned out as long as the Bakunawa's body itself. Trees that ingrained within the muscles as if it was the earth, drinking the nutrients from the beast. Rocks and stones that were once a grand castle, as well as a few buildings, giving the assumption that it ate an entire kingdom. A flag was seen waving amidst the buildings, one detailing that same Snake in specific. The smell was mostly evident here, almost rotten, and almost enough to cause the two to cover their mouths and noses when walking across the supposed barren land. "This is...." Solomon would mutter, starting to have a realization, before Harvard would finish his sentence.

"Yeah...And they're all gone....just like that....." The boys couldn't help but feel sorry for these people, even if they were at most just random strangers. The fact was, it consumed a whole Kingdom. So many lives would've been gone, and nobody even noticed it until now. The boys, just for a moment, felt a bit of weakness as they continued their travels. As if weight was placed upon their shoulders, burdening them, the more they remind themselves of the kingdoms they consumed. Yet, despite that, they, or at least Harvard, would trek onwards. "That's not gonna happen to us." He'd announce.

"What?" Solomon would ask, confused by what the boy meant.

"I said, that's not gonna happen to us. We're not going to simply stand idly and let it consume another. Nuh-uh...Not on my watch." In that glimpse, as they were just about to enter within the stomach, Solomon would notice a change within the boy's expressions. A Strong expression. An expression that is unwavering, like a soldier. The Biblical Sorcerer couldn't help but smile at this. He couldn't help but smile despite the disturbance. Whether it was just the child being dumb or reckless, he couldn't help but admire that side of Harvard. The shadow that loomed beside Solomon would whisper, helping the boy answer such a question he made for himself.

"Boy's got spirit. No doubt about it." With the shadowy demon's words, Solomon would nod. Indeed, he has spirit.

As the two would make their way to the stomach regions, the gastric acids being nigh impossible to breathe, Solomon would get to work on casting a spell through the supposed stomach muscles, letting it branch out, while the two moved out of the way from such gasses. Whilst they moved away, Harvard would be one of the few to witness the spell in motion, transforming the stomach itself slowly but surely into a waking garden. A lush field, with flora sprouting out, and the acids becoming into a clear blue water, slowly but surely making the area feel more organic. Harvard would be amazed at this transformation, looking towards Solomon for any explanation, to which he would provide by opening the Gigas and showcasing a specific section within the book. "....The Lord God planted a garden eastward toward Eden, and there he put the man he had formed" He closed the book as the information was fresh within the child's mind.

"WAIT, THIS IS THAT GARDEN?! I'm not really that knowledgeable on stuff like this, but that's SERIOUSLY what it is???" The boy asked, with Solomon nodding in affirmation to perpetuate him with full wonder. "Woah.....Since when the heck did you had something like THIS??" The boy asked.

Solomon simply chuckled as he'd have himself try to scale down the likes of the now made soil that encompassed the very veins and muscles of the stomach. "Harvard, Harvard, Harvard....You REALLY need to do some research. It's called "Book Magic" for a reason. Any story, no matter what it is, can be casted as a spell. Just depends on the right book you wanna use." He'd explain, before noticing something in the distance, signaling the child to come down, letting him see the same sight. A Supposed Tower out of solid stone, half digested, yet still well-preserved. The two shared a glance at each other, knowing full well that it might be something to investigate. It was peculiar enough that such a tower was swallowed with ease, but the factor that it stayed strong even through the acids provided much curiosity. Spell in tow, Harvard would try to cast an ice attack at the water itself, allowing the children to cross it carefully, taking in the oxygen that the newly grown plants provided, being much better than the toxic acids that almost damaged their bodies. "What you think is in there?" Solomon would ask.

"Well, remember what I said about there being a journey?" Harvard would reply, much to Solomon's annoyance, with the latter even raising an eyebrow at him.

"You're still riding on that coattail huh?"

"Ohhhhhh yeah, Absolutely! Though, you get my point, right? Why make it boring and do it by the books when you can just have fun with what you're faced with! Think about it, for all we know, that place has some crazy treasures hidden there! Stolas told me that-"

"Yeah, yeah, with the River, I get it. I still think it would've been simpler if you just summoned a monster and killed it with them.."

"But that's BOOOOOOOOOOOORING!"

"And yet, it's also effective."

"But it's BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING!!"

"And ye-"

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING!!!"

"Are you just gonna keep doing that?"

And so, they'd banter, with Harvard continuing to say such words, and Solomon trying to explain the supposedly better solution, whilst approaching the mysterious tower.