Andy stared at the sky in disbelieve as it turned ink-black until only the cold sun remained, but not before there was an impressive display of light. If this was how it turned night here, it certainly was spectacular. A look around him almost made him think reality had vanished except for where they stood. Was there even a world to go back to? Was this perhaps a strange dream and did he still have to land in New Nemea? Taking everything in consideration, this being a very lively dream seemed to be the best explanation. He looked towards where the university was as the transformation began behind him, he hoped Tafans was okay. 

The clattering noise caught his attention and he looked back. His jaw dropped as he stared at what happened, unable to believe what his eyes were telling him. Scratch dream, this was an event worthy of a nightmare. 

The words of the centipede made him think about Alice in Wonderland, wasn't there a smoking caterpillar there who spoke in riddles all the time? Suddenly he felt his backpack get heavier and he stumbled back, surprised by the sudden weight. He lowered the backpack and put on the ground so he could open it and see what was there. 
"Oh hey, look, field-triage kits," he said as he rummaged through it, he could live with this 'you ask, we serve instantly' aspect of this world, reality, dream, whatever. He lifted a spray-bottle to examine it. "And this looks like that metal-dissolving spray. Cool." He put it back, but before he closed the backpack he took a small piece of licorice and put it in his mouth.