Copying Items
I pressed the button as told.
"Oh..."
The window split in two — one half a folder, the other a camera viewfinder. Since I was already in it, I held the flashlight in one hand and snapped a shot of the cave interior right away. Sadly, there was no shutter click to be heard.
(Photo of the rear with three passages)
(Photo of the front with five passages)
(Photo of the hole high above and the mud pit below)
So this is the place. What should I do first? Recommendations?
SaveMe's constant nitpicking annoyed me, but watching him steadily dish out information and tips, I figured he was just the type who welcomes newbies a little too warmly. Fine. You're my straw, then. Go ahead and die first.
Once again I loaded myself down with my gear and all its baggage —
"Wait, if I'm coming back anyway, can't I just leave this stuff here?"
I set down only the oxygen tank and connecting mask, which were heavy as death itself, and shouldered my pack again. Flashlight in one hand, camera window open in the other, I slowly headed for the First Passage.
Thud... thud...
"It's getting narrower..."
The First Passage grew tighter with every step, and its angle bent gradually downward, until at last it left nothing but a small hole in the floor barely big enough for two arms — and I could go no further.
I took a few photos, then tried shining the flashlight down into the hole, and —
Gurgle, glug-glug!
That ominous sound. Do you know what it means when a cave makes a noise like that?
"Damn it, I should've brought the oxygen tank!"
It was the sound of water flooding into the cave — meaning that unless I wanted to drown without any underwater gear, I had to turn back immediately.
Scramble!
I spun around and sprinted back the way I'd come, running like mad. Behind me, as I scrambled up the slope, water came gushing out in a whirlpool, licking through the cavern like a tongue searching every corner.
Glug, glug-glug!
But by the time I'd run until I was nearly out of breath and made it a fair distance back, the water gurgled, swirled inward again, and vanished from sight.
"Whew. Whew..."
That was way too close for comfort.
(Photo of the hole at the bottom of the narrow passage)
Turns out the First Passage was a waterway — near the end the water rose and I had to run. Halfway back it receded, but of course I'd left my underwater gear behind, so I bailed. Gonna grab it and try again.
After posting to the gallery, I headed back to the cavern and — wait. What?
"There are two oxygen tanks...?"
Found it. My Duplication Command.
(Photo showing four oxygen tanks)
Left this here, went to the first room, came back to two. Went again, came back to four lmaooo. For now I'm gonna leave my flashlights, food, and water here and shuttle back and forth to duplicate everything lololololol
The moment the newbie posted and dashed off, the gallery exploded into chaos.
That was, at least, until ThereAreManyOfMe commented on the photos he'd posted.
The instant that comment landed, the gallery went up in flames.
Gurgle, gurgle-gurgle!
"Ah, thanks for the copy~"
Utterly oblivious, camera window floating cheerfully at his side, he flitted in and out of the first room, thanking the receding sound of the water — then came back and opened the gallery, only to find:
"What the — why is it on fire?"
My gut told me the gallery was blazing with news of my demise. With no idea what was going on, I clicked through the threads, scrolling up and down, until I zoomed in on a photo I myself had posted — now covered in frantic warning scribbles — and finally understood.
"The mud is rising?"
Behind the rows of duplicated flashlights, rations, and water bottles, I shone my phone's light toward the spot where the mud pile from my fall sat — and there, something shaped like a human being appeared to be standing.
"Holy — you scared the hell out of me!"
(Photo of a mud human risen from head to knees)
Wait, is this for real??? What did I do wrong??? Of course it'd be the one corner of the map with this thing, and I had no idea, shuttling back and forth all those times;;; I aged ten years;;; A little warning would've been nice;;;
So startled by the standing figure, I'd snapped a photo and posted it to the gallery on reflex. The replies came pouring in instantly, as if they'd all been waiting.
I shoved the gallery window aside and took a single step toward the mud figure.
"It's not rising. If anything, it's sinking?"
I crept closer and observed, but the figure stayed frozen exactly as it was, not moving an inch. Strange — though it had no face, it somehow gave off the impression of being a little wistful.
"So now it's a time attack."
Small mercies, I supposed — the Wrong Action wasn't standing still, it was leaving.
But then, come to think of it...
Ignoring SaveMe's frantic protests, I rummaged through my pack and gripped the pickaxe. I stepped up to the mud pile and stared at the mud man jutting out from waist to chest.
Legs spread, hand wrapped around the pickaxe handle, I raised it slightly. Holding my stance like a golfer lining up the perfect hole-in-one, I could have sworn the mud man's nonexistent gaze turned toward me with a strangely pitiful look.
So, to put the poor thing at ease, I offered a few words of comfort.
"Don't look at me like that. Your opponent is me, after all."
And who might I be? A man who has explored beyond extreme caving, all the way into the Backrooms itself. Not by choice, granted.
Then I tensed both hands, swung the pickaxe far back behind my shoulder, and brought it down in one clean, satisfying arc.
Vwoooong—!