《Dungeon of Horrors: Flesh and Blood》


 Chapter 0: Prologue

    It was a deep night; you could barely see anything on the horizon with all the fog around. The wind was calm yet my entire body felt cold; what could it be?


    Maybe I was just nervous, or maybe I was just scared, I couldn''t take my eyes off the bonfire. That bright fire, It somehow made me calm. I could feel everything from within; my heart pumping, my lungs breathing... Immersing in that feeling, I was suddenly bothered by a nearby voice.


    "Axel... Axel! Are you with us Axel? "


    That voice kept calling my name but I didn''t want to answer. I was calmy collecting my thoughts, but after a long while, I felt forced to answer.


    "What do you want Luxor? " I asked in an annoyed tone. I was in no mood to talk.


    "Come on Axel, don''t ruin the fun, we''re having a nice conversation here. " Fun? That''s the last word that would ever cross my mind. When was the last time I actually had fun? I barely remembered how to put on a smile, not even mention laughing.


    "Hey Axel, what''s your deal? Tomorrow we have a tough day ahead of us, let''s enjoy the night. No one knows if we will live to see a new one." Even though I had no mood for fun, Luxor was right. Tomorrow would be hard to handle. My first dungeon exploration; only God knew which one of us would be alive to see it ending.


    "I guess you''re right Luxor. " I finally decided to join in since none of us could stop thinking about tomorrow. "Ho... Ho... Seems like our party newbie finally decided to speak. Good! "


    As a newbie adventurer, I was forced to enter the Guild Center of Emerald City and join a party to go on my first dungeon exploration. Of course, no one wanted to take me with them, a newbie adventurer like me except Luxor''s party, The Unbreakable Swords.


    "Okay so... Axel, we would like to know a bit more about you. Why did you become an adventurer little brat? "


    The words were like breaking a seal for me; remembering why I became an adventurer only filled my mind about bad memories.


    "It''s okay, you''ve just met us today, let''s make a deal. We''ll tell you about us then you will tell us your story, deal? "


    I felt like I was forced to speak about my past, but Luxor, Clyde and Asfi were awaiting my answer eagerly. "Deal. " I felt like my own body forced me to say these words, like there was something inside me that wanted to speak about my past.


    "Yeah!! " Everyone screamed that. Deep inside me, I was feeling happy, someone was asking about me.


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there."Then, ladies first. " Asfi was the first one to speak; she had a beautiful voice and her face was really pretty. Looking at her I couldn''t understand how a girl like her could be here, about to risk her life in a dungeon.


    "My story is simple; I was born an orphan and taken to a slave seller. As a woman I should have been taken as a slave or work as a prostitute, but since I was little I knew I was born to fight. There was something strong inside I couldn''t quite explain. Seeing this, the slave seller decided to bring me to Emerald City Guild Center, they were always looking for people; especially kids who they train into skilled adventurers and brawlers. "


    After Asfi told her story, Clyde decided to take the speech and be the second.


    "In my case, the reason to become an adventurer was to bring some degree of security for my family. You know, I have two brothers and one sister. I don''t want them to live in a world like this... Where you can''t sleep without thinking that this could be your last night. I want a bright future for them, I want them to live free and unfettered."


    Instantly after he was over, Luxor and his deep voice jumped into the conversation.


    "I guess It''s my turn now, I used to live in a small village far away from Virinium, yes... The first ones that suffered the first Crimson Night, I had a beautiful wife named Laura, she was all I needed in life. She couldn''t have kids, but still, we had a happy marriage. when the monsters suddenly appeared, of course, no one was expecting them,


    They appeared out of nowhere but fortunately, there was a neighboring town next to us so we could react before having all the monsters on us.


    My wife and I were planning to take horses and leave the town once we could evacuate


    The first several groups of houses in town were already burning and assaulted by goblins but we managed to evacuate a lot of people.


    Everything was going as planned so I decided to pick up the horses and leave with my wife but when I turned back, she was running into the village searching for someone. I panicked as I followed her inside of town, but everything was burning around. I had to face some small goblins but they weren''t a threat in small groups. I was screaming, searching for Laura, after reaching the houses. I found my wife with two little brats, a pink haired girl and a silver-haired boy. My wife used to be the town''s doctor, so I assumed she met these two kids due to her work. I scolded her for leaving like that and we were about to bounce as fast possible but one of the kids, the silver-haired boy left running back to his house claiming he was going to save his parents.


    My wife followed him without hesitating but then I witnessed a gigantic goblin coming out from an alley between houses, smashing the body of my wife with his club.


    The silver-haired boy ran to the forest and I, with tears in my eyes, could do nothing but leave my beloved town Tyr with anger and sadness... Saving the little girl pink haired girl. "


    After hearing Luxor I was shocked; my body was shaking. I couldn''t believe what my ears were hearing.But suddenly I could hear Luxor''s voice asking me a question.


    "Come on Axel... Don''t be shy now, It''s your turn; I''m sure you have a story you want to share as well, you silver-haired little brat. "


    I was really afraid to speak, but I made a deal, they would tell me everything about them and I promised to do the same in exchange. I wasn''t a little kid anymore, I would tell them everything.


    "Sure...I''ll tell everything from the beginning."

 Chapter 1: A Brand New Day

    I was deeply asleep as always. Usually, my mom was the one in charge to wake me up but... This day was a different one.


    The sunlight began to pass through my window right into my eyes so I had no choice but to wake up.


    I opened the bedroom door and as usual, I went to the living room to get some food for breakfast. When I arrived something unusual was waiting for me there. Something lifted me up easily.


    "Here is my boy!! " I couldn''t believe what I was just seeing. My dad, Siegmund, was waiting for me in the living room. "Did you plan to sleep all day? Hahaha... You remind me so much of myself back then when I was young. " I was speechless. My dad was a hard working man that barely showed up at home but today... He was right in front of me.


    "What''s the problem with that face Axel? Did you really think I was going to miss the 15th birthday of my only and beloved son? " I was really happy. The smile couldn''t get off from my face. I gave an emotional hug to my father and asked him. "Dad, where''s mom? "


    "She''s at Tyr right now, the neighboring town where your grandfathers live, we''re going to celebrate your birthday with them. "


    The happiness I was feeling at that moment was indescribable. The whole family was going to be reunited.


    "Hey Axel, I''m sure you''re hungry and your mom isn''t here, do you want to have breakfast? " I answered without hesitating. "Of course. "


    My dad brought me a glass of milk and some cereals, we were a poor family like the rest of the people that lived on there but at least we had food to eat and survive. In this world the blood you''re born with means everything. There isn''t any intermediate status, either noble blood and your right to live in the capital city of Virinium or poor like the rest of us with no right to enter the capital and just live outside it.


    I had a funny talk with my dad. He told me a lot of adventures he lived outside home but I wasn''t a kid anymore to believe any of them. Still, I enjoyed listening to him again, I barely remember when was the last time he spent time with me like this.


    "Axel listen to me, I''m going to Tyr right now to help your mom with the party setup. I''ll come and pick you up later at the sun fall. You can play outside with your friends until I come back. "


    I was really sad when I heard my dad was leaving again, I felt like it was too short but I smiled because I remembered I was going to see him again celebrating my birthday.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "Sure dad, I''ll see you later. "


    Dad was about to leave, he was opening the door when he suddenly stopped and said. "Oh... I almost forgot you can take with you that pretty pink-haired girl. Mom told me she lives at the house next to us and that you both are friends since you were kids... She also told me that you have a very good relationship. "


    My dad was smiling while saying that. I made an upset face because I knew in which way he was talking about it. Dad noticed my face and left home saying. "I love you, Axel. "


    And so again I was alone at home. I couldn''t stop thinking about my dad last words about my neighbor. Suddenly a noise invaded all my thoughts.


    *Knock... Knock... Knock... "


    I turned back and headed to the door and opened it.


    "Hello, Axel... Happy birthday!! "


    There she was, my neighbor. Her name is Martha and she lives in the house next to me, she''s one year younger than me and I know her since I was 5. She has beautiful longish pink hair and a sweet voice, her face is cute and she has perfect skin.


    I couldn''t stop looking at her with a blushed face but I had to answer otherwise I would look like a pervert.


    "Thank you, Martha! " That''s all I could say at that moment. She looked at me with an upset face. "That''s all? After I just came here to tell you this? " "You know... You''re my neighbor. You only had to walk a few steps to come here. " I answered her in a humoristic way, we both laughed.


    "What do you want to do today? " Martha asked with euphoria. "I don''t know... I didn''t think about any... " Without a chance to speak, Martha grabbed my hand and started to run. "Just leave it to me, I''ll give you my birthday present. " I just could smile and follow her into the forest.


    After a long way walking we arrived at the hill of a mountain. The views were so beautiful... You could see every town and city around even the big capital, Virinium.


    "This... This is my birthday present... My secret place. " I was so excited about being at this place with Martha. "Thanks, Martha, It was a nice surprise. " Martha blushed and smiled. "I''m so glad that you liked it. " We stared at the beautiful views when I noticed the sun was already falling down. I remembered about my father and the birthday party, It was time to go.


    "Martha, tonight... I''m going to celebrate a birthday party at my grandfather''s house at Tyr... My dad told me you could come if you wanted to. "


    Martha''s face changed to an excited one. "Yes! Of course! I''ll talk to my parents when we get back. " I was happy to hear that she accepted my proposal so fast. I was proceeding to leave back to the town but Martha suddenly grabbed my arm.


    "Axel... Wait please, I have to tell you something about me and you. " I was speechless. Hearing Martha''s words and seeing her face all blushed... My father''s words came back to my mind and had me wondering; Could it be?


    "You know Axel... We know each other since we were kids, you have been always protecting me from the other village kids and cleaning all my tears... Since a long ago I''ve been feeling something inside me, in my heart... "


    I couldn''t believe this was happening but I wouldn''t hesitate in this situation, I''m not a kid anymore.


    "Martha? What are you trying to say? "


    "The thing is... Since a long time ago... I like... " Suddenly, a big noise interrupted Martha. We turned back and saw a lot of smoke coming out from a nearby place. It was our town.


    I didn''t knew it back then but that day... That day was the last one I would had an smile on my face.

 Chapter 2: The First Crimson Night [Part I]

    A lot of smoke was coming out of our town. Martha was scared, I could notice it by only looking at her whole body shaking. I had a bad feeling about all of this but I had to calm her down.


    "Martha listen to me... Listen to me! " I finally got her attention. "Probably some accident occurred just that. Let''s go back, my dad will be probably there waiting for us. " It was all a lie. I was scared too but thanks to this I managed to calm her down.


    We arrived at the forest on our way back home but something was really unusual. Breathe was heavy and unlike any other normal night, the moon reflected a crimson light.


    By the time we arrived back to the town a lot of houses were already burning. Martha tried to run inside the town but I was fast enough to stop her. "What are you doing? Get back, we don''t know what happened here. " Martha quickly answered. "Axel you told me this was just an accident! What are you doing? Come on let''s help with the fire. "


    I grabbed her arm with all my strength. "No. I''m sure this isn''t an accident, just follow me. " We sneaked around the town carefully and hiding. Our objective was to arrive as soon as possible to our houses where our parents are waiting for us; An empty hope.


    The town seemed empty. Everything was burning but no one was there. Martha was grabbing my arm really hard as if I were some kind of hero.


    Walking through the main street we saw somebody lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood. We were scared but I had to find answers about what happened here so I approached him.


    As soon as I was close to him, his agonizing voice penetrated my head. "Ty... Tyr... They headed... Tyr... " I had a lot of questions. What happened? Who? Why? Where is everyone? But I realized this man didn''t have the time to answer all of them. I was about to speak but then this man interrupted me.


    "There... There are still a few of them... At the latest houses... " The man lost his conscience after saying these words and probably dead but... Martha and I were terrified. The latest houses are where our parents live.


    Martha started to run as fast as possible heading to her parent''s house, I couldn''t even react. I screamed her name but she didn''t turn back at me. She was already way far ahead so I had to run as fast as I could to catch her.


    She suddenly stopped. For a moment I sighed because I thought she realized how dangerous it was to run like that without being careful. I approached Martha with an upset face. "Martha... Don''t run like that away... It''s dangerous. " While saying this, I could notice she was panicking. Her eyes were terrified and her whole body was shaking. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Axel... Look there... " These words got me surprised but then when I turned my gaze to the front the real horror possessed my body; I really wanted to erase that image from my head.


    There they were, at the town''s exit. Everyone was crucified and their heads ripped off and separated from their bodies. I couldn''t move, my whole body was shocked and shaking but the most shocking part was that Martha was moving forward and approaching the corpses.


    "Da... Daddy? " I couldn''t stand it anymore, the scene and the smell were really disgusting so I started to vomit. All I could see was Martha staring at the corpse of her father, she was mentally broken. "Martha... Don''t look at it... Listen to me, we need to go now. " She didn''t answer. I approached her and grabbed her arm. "Martha! Wake up! We need to go now! "


    My words didn''t have any effect on her, she was a totally different girl from the Martha I used to know. Her face and expressions seemed dead, her eyes turned off and she couldn''t move. I didn''t know what to do so I decided to carry her on my back and head to Tyr.


    I couldn''t stop thinking about my family, I didn''t know if they were safe or they suffered the same fate as Martha''s dad. Before carrying Martha I decided to take a look at the corpses searching for my dad, he wasn''t there. Somehow I felt more relaxed but I noticed something. Only old men, men and boys were crucified, there wasn''t any female among them. I had hopes that my family was alright.


    When I was about to carry Martha something creepy could be heard. Some little noises and giggles. I turned back and saw some small humanoid forms. Their skin was green and their teeth sharp, they were carrying knives, bows and spears. I know what they were because of my father invented adventures. They were goblins.


    Dad used to tell me a lot of his adventures and the monsters he fought. Some of them were deformed beasts or similar to animals but there were monsters with a humanoid form like us, for example, the Goblins. Dad told me Goblins were cruel monsters that basically raid small villages. They have fun killing everyone and torturing men but they kidnap every woman to use them as playthings and reproduce. They aren''t a big threat in small groups or one by one but they usually attack altogether and they''re extremely dangerous.


    Remembering my dad words I knew which fate was waiting for me and Martha if these bastards caught us. I carried Martha on my back and started to run as fast as possible. I turned back and these monsters were just standing there and laughing. I didn''t understand them back then but as soon as I was approaching the town''s exit another small group of goblins was waiting for us.


    I didn''t know what to do. I was a powerless kid with a dead weight on my back. Goblins started to approach us with an evil smirk. I was scared, more than ever about this situation. They didn''t stop moving forward. Because of fear, I started to pee in my pants like a kid. One of the goblins was already in front of me, all I could do was accept my fate and hope for a quick death. I closed my eyes waiting for my execution.


    *Sound of a sword ripping off a head...*

 Chapter 3: The First Crimson Night [Part II]

    Darkness. That''s all I could see through my eyes at that moment; I am dead? This is the world after death? I truly believed my life was already over until I heard a familiar voice.


    "Axel! Axel! Come back, Axel! I need you to be with me... Come on Axel! " That voice... I was sure that the voice I was hearing was my dad''s voice but I thought this was all part of a dream. Suddenly something slapped me on my face with a lot of strength. My eyes opened quickly.


    "Axel... Thank''s God... Where the fuck have you been? I have been waiting so long for you. Come on get up fast. " My dad was calm and confident as if this wasn''t something new for him. I took a glance around me and all I could see was goblins corpses everywhere, my dad killed all of them with a sword. His sword was a big one and somehow I could feel the power on it.


    "We have no time left Axel. I''ll carry your friend on the horse, we''ll move to Tyr quickly. " Tyr... After hearing that name I could only ask one question. "Mom... Where''s mom? " Deep inside me, I didn''t want to know the answer. "I don''t know Axel... I''ve been waiting for you since the sun fall but you weren''t coming so I went to search for you around the forest. By the time I saw the smoke I had to make a choice and I decided to come here... Just at time to find you and your friend. "


    The horse riding heading to Tyr felt like the time was slowed down. My dad was calm as always, seeing him like that made me wonder if all the adventures he told me all these times were true and not the typical story''s to entertain a kid.


    "Axel, what happened to your friend? " With that question, a lot of flashbacks crossed through my mind remembering the whole scene in the town. "Her dad... " I didn''t need to say anything else. "I see... Poor girl. " Even hearing my dad talking like that made me feel like he has been living these experiences all his life.


    "Listen to me, Axel... I really think it''s too early for you to know about all of this but the situation has come over us. I''ll talk to you about everything after I find mom... Just listen to my orders for now, understand?. " I couldn''t imagine what was going on but I had to trust dad. "I understand dad. "


    We could already see Tyr on the horizon. From what I could see Tyr was in the same conditions as my town. The houses were already burning so I could guess that these goblins who attacked my town were already there.


    As soon as we entered Tyr we saw many corpses from goblins and citizens. Unlike my town seems like people on Tyr managed to react at the attack and people defended themselves. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    My grandfather''s house was near to the entrance. The house was shattered and outside a woman was waiting there. I could recognize her, she was Tyr''s doctor and her name was Laura. As we were neighboring town''s she used to come quite often to take a look at us.


    My dad stopped the horse and got off quickly to talk with Laura. I could hear them from where I was.


    "Laura... I''m glad you''re here, give me a report on the situation. "


    "Luxor and I could manage to evacuate half of the town. Especially women and kids, some of them decided to fight the goblins as much as they could to win some time for us. "


    "What about Helena? And her parents? "


    "I couldn''t arrive on time, Siegmund... Your wife was already gone and her parents... You know... They don''t need old people. "


    I was speechless; My mom... Is she gone?


    "Siegmund I know you''re going to search for her but you know we can''t follow you anymore like the old times... Luxor left that life long ago... "


    "It''s fine, I''ll be good at my own Laura. I just need a favor from you... Take these two kids with you. The boy is my little kid and she''s a good friend of the family. "


    "Sure thing Siegmund. Good luck and be careful... This isn''t a normal goblins raid. They seemed to be smart and well prepared. I''m sure there''s a leader behind this attack also we spotted two gigantic ones. "


    "Thanks, Laura. "


    My dad came back to carry me and Martha with him. "Listen, Axel... Your father needs to go and search for your mother okay? Please just go with this woman. She will take care of you and Martha. "


    Without noticing, I and Martha were already holding Laura''s hands and my father was leaving on his horse. "I''ll be right back Axel... Be strong my son! "


    As soon as he left another muscular guy with a deep voice appeared from behind. "Laura! Laura! What are you doing? Don''t you run like this again without telling me. " Laura answered. "I''m sorry Luxor but I had to come here. " I remembered that name from the talk she just had with my dad. He was Luxor, his husband.


    "Who are these kids? Nevermind we need to go right now, take your horse. " At this moment I couldn''t even understand anything anymore. My head was so confused... But I had one thing in my mind. Something I had really clear. I wanted to save my mom... I wanted to know where my father was going... All these stories my father told me, they weren''t lies. They were hiding something from me that I wanted to know.


    Probably at that moment, I made the worst choice I could have ever done. With all my strength I removed my hand from Laura''s and started to run heading to the forest. I turned back to see that Laura was following me. "Wait! Where are you going? Just come back here! " No... I didn''t want to come back. This was the first time I had something that clear on my mind. I kept running forward while looking side to side. Suddenly, crossing an alley I saw something terrifying. A goblin higher and bigger than the others was waiting on there.


    I tripped on a stone on the ground and screamed. "Watch out! Don''t come! " It was too late. By the time Laura heard my words, she was already surprised by the gigantic goblin. Without hesitating the goblin smashed her body with his club splashing all her blood on me.


    I wanted to vomit, I wanted to cry, I wanted to die and forget all of this but my body reacted all by himself and I kept running forward, soaked in blood.