The vast cavern of the power source was a daunting sight, but the urgency of the situation and the collapse of the fissure left no time for contemplation. Kong's descent party, with Jiraiya among them, delved into the darkness surrounding the central structure, searching for a path deeper into the bowels of Hollow Earth.
The subterranean realm grew even stranger and more challenging. The tunnels became irregular, sometimes narrow and claustrophobic, other times opening into dizzying chasms or vast, echoing chambers. The bioluminescence shifted, becoming more intense in places, casting dancing shadows that played on the nerves. The primordial energy was no longer just a presence; it seemed to have patterns, flows, even zones of palpable turbulence that the Kongs instinctively avoided.
They found the source of new threats: not simple wild beasts, but creatures exhibiting alarming cunning and organization. In a network of interlocking tunnels, they were ambushed by a group of "Blind Burrowers," massive creatures with shovel-like jaws and grasping legs, who attempted to separate them using controlled tunnel collapses. It was a tactic that indicated an intelligence beyond animal instinct.
"It's not just one horde!" Jiraiya shouted, his youthful voice echoing through the tunnels. "They're coordinating!"
The battle was chaotic in the bioluminescent darkness. The Kongs used their strength to hold off the Burrowers, their roars echoing in the passages. Jiraiya moved with feverish speed, using his energy perception to sense the vibrations in the ground and predict where the creatures would emerge or where they would cause the next collapse.
He had to adapt his skills on the fly. A Burrower tried to trap the Kong leader by collapsing the roof of a tunnel on him. Jiraiya reacted instantly. He channeled a massive amount of primordial energy into his hands, visualizing the rock structure above the Kong. "Doton: Primordial Stabilization!" he shouted, punching the air. Energy surged from his palms, not to destroy, but to strengthen the rock, temporarily stabilizing the collapsing section. The Kong jerked free just in time, staring at Jiraiya with shocked eyes.
At another point, they stood before a chasm they could not cross. Leader Kong, with his strength, could have attempted to jump, but the risk was immense. Jiraiya felt the currents of energy crossing the chasm, forming invisible bridges of power. Recalling the air-walking exercise from his world and merging it with his understanding of wild energy, he concentrated energy beneath his feet and took a step. He did not fall. He was walking on energy, a translucent, unstable walkway over the void.
"This way!" he called to the Kongs. It was a risky feat, and maintaining concentration while guiding the giants was exhausting, but they made it across. The sensation of walking on pure energy was dizzying, like standing on the edge of the world. Mentally, he cataloged the experience: "Energy Floatation Technique - Unlimited Potential for Escapes and Surprise Attacks! Notes: Requires extreme control to avoid falling into the existential void or being sucked into the energy below."
The perversion, though subdued in this hostile environment, found a moment to manifest itself. As he crossed the chasm on the energy walkway, the sight of the Kongs climbing with surprising agility (and their lack of clothing) momentarily reminded him of a scene from "Icha Icha Interrogation Tactics," a connection so strained that he nearly stumbled. He mentally shook himself, "Not now, Jiraiya! Focus on not falling to your death into a lake of lava or whatever is down there!"
The threats weren't just beasts. They found areas where the energy seemed to have turned toxic, corrupting the flora and air, creating illusions, or disorienting their senses. Jiraiya's understanding of natural energies and his newfound connection to the island allowed him to detect these areas and guide the group through them, sometimes creating small "bubbles" of purer energy around them to mitigate the effects.
As they went deeper, they felt the primordial energy grow more concentrated, pulsing with a force that resonated with Father Mountain's own. It was as if they were descending into the very heart of his power. The distant sounds became clearer: deep, rumbling roars that were not those of Kongs or Skullcrawlers, but of greater Titans, either dormant or active in the depths.
Guided by the resonance of the energy and by an instinct that seemed to come from the pact itself, they arrived at a vast cavernous space. It was of an impressive scale, lit by crystalline formations that looked like stars in an underground sky. At the center of the cavern, there was no raw energy source, but a colossal and complex structure, seemingly natural in origin, but with a sense of purpose. It seemed like some kind of geological temple, formed by millions of years of energy flows and mineral growth.
Lying on the altar or central feature of this "temple" was what appeared to be a figure. Huge, inert, covered in crystalline growth and bioluminescent vegetation. The energy emanating from it was the purest and most potent resonance Jiraiya had ever felt. It was the energy of Father Mountain, not in its superficial slumber, but in its true resting place, at the heart of the Hollow Earth.
The group of Kongs stopped, emitting silent grunts of reverence and perhaps sadness. It was their ancestor, the island's protector, here, dormant in the depths.
Jiraiya stared up at the colossal figure, sensing the immensity of its latent power. The journey through the Abyss had been arduous, but it had brought them here. They had faced the threats of the Darkness and overcome them, thanks to the combination of Kong strength, shinobi intelligence, and the primordial power that now flowed through their veins.
This place wasn't just a landmark; it was the center of everything. The source of power, the resting place of the ancestor, and likely the source of the threats that stirred in the darkness. Jiraiya felt his purpose becoming clearer. The battle for the island's balance, for defense against the Darkness, began here, deep within the Hollow Earth. He mentally prepared himself for whatever this sacred and dangerous place might reveal.
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