《Twisted Destiny [Slow-Burn Dark Progression]》 Chapter 01 - Getting Eaten
Pain. Faint and distant, like a needle piercing through a thick haze. Was I alive? Darkness wrapped around me, dense and suffocating. It pressed against me like a smothering blanket, trapping me in limbo. My thoughts were fragmented, slippery as smoke. I had no sense of time, no memory of who I was or how I¡¯d ended up here. Only the void, cold and unyielding, pulling at the edges of my awareness. A voice whispered through the silence, soft and tempting. Let go. Sleep eternal. Let go. The words coiled around me, sweet and insistent, promising relief. I wanted to obey, to drift into the nothingness, but a gnawing ache in my chest pulled me back. The pain sharpened, red-hot and relentless. It spread through me, tearing at my awareness. Tearing at me. What...? I tried to think, to grasp the slippery threads of understanding, but my thoughts were sluggish, each one a fragile whisper. All I could do was feel. There was a tug¡ªa sharp, sickening pull¡ªand then the unmistakable sensation of something warm spilling out of me. The sound followed: a thick, wet slurping noise, grotesque and nauseating. The fog in my mind lifted, and I wished it hadn¡¯t. The horror clawed at the edges of my vision, forcing me awake. Shapes swam before me, blurry and shifting in dim light. My vision cleared slowly, dragging me back into a world I didn¡¯t want to see. The sound hit me first. The low, guttural slurp of something feeding. Flesh tearing. The gnawing sensation deep in my stomach, sharper now, made my breath hitch. My eyes drifted down, and my body froze. Crunch, slurp The creature was a nightmare made flesh: emaciated, its mottled skin stretched tight over bones that jutted at unnatural angles. Its maw gaped wide, jagged teeth gleaming as it tore into my abdomen with feral hunger. Blood¡ªmy blood¡ªpooled beneath me, soaking the ground. Its claws dug deep into my torn flesh, pulling at the shredded remains of my insides. I felt the wet heat of my own blood pooling around me, soaking into the ground. My chest heaved, but I couldn¡¯t scream. My limbs wouldn¡¯t move. The creature feasted on me, oblivious to my horror, each bite sending a fresh wave of cold, burning agony through my broken body. Each pull sent another wave of cold, burning agony through my body, but I was too weak to scream The voice whispered again, faint and alluring. Why fight? Let go and sleep peacefully. I wanted to listen. Wanted to surrender to the comforting pull of the void. The sensation of being eaten alive should have been unbearable, but there was only a dull, distant throb and it dragged me back to reality, sharper and more insistent with every passing moment. As I started regaining my senses the smell hit me next, iron and bile, thick in the air, mingling with the stench of decay. I could taste it in the back of my throat, the rancid odor of death and rot, mingled with the coppery tang of my own blood. I wanted to gag, but I couldn¡¯t even manage that. My body refused to obey, paralyzed by fear and weakness. The creature paused, lifting its head. Blood dripped from its maw as its hollow, yellow eyes locked onto mine. It didn¡¯t see a person. To it, I was just meat. There was no recognition in that gaze. No malice. No thought. Just raw, primal hunger. Move. My mind screamed commands, but my body refused. I was frozen, helpless as it leaned back down, teeth sinking into me again with a sickening crunch. I was dying. Slowly. Painfully.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Maybe I should just let go. The thought whispered through me, tempting and persistent. The voice in my mind urged surrender, sweet and relentless. Let go¡­ Let it end. But as the sweet voice called to me, something else stirred. A flicker of light. A memory. A boy stood before me. His face pale, streaked with blood and dirt, chest heaving with ragged breaths. He was terrified. His wide eyes, filled with desperation, stared into mine. I felt his fear as if it were my own, a sickening knot twisting in my gut. And then¡ªpierced. The boy''s chest exploded, a dark bony monstrous hand plunging through his ribcage. Claws wrapped around his heart, still beating frantically like a caged animal. Blood gushed, splattering the ground. His lips parted in a silent cry. His terrified eyes dulled, losing the light of life in a heartbeat. His body crumpled like a broken doll as the monster yanked its hand free, holding the heart aloft like a twisted prize. No! The weight of the memory crushed me, grief and guilt tearing through my chest. I knew that boy. Knew him deeply, though his name was lost in the haze of my broken mind. All I could feel was the unbearable ache of his death. I knew that boy. I knew him. But... who was he? Why did his loss feel like it was ripping me apart? The monster tore into me again, but the pain seemed distant now, overshadowed by the memory. The boy¡¯s lifeless body, the monstrous hand gripping his heart like a trophy¡ªit burned behind my eyes, an image I couldn¡¯t escape. My mind spun, unraveling, grasping for something¨Canything¨Cthat could explain why his death struck me so deeply, why my heart felt like it was shattering. Why? The word echoed through the hollow spaces of my mind, unanswered. Who was he? Why am I crying for him? I couldn''t let go. Not now. Not yet. There was something I needed to remember, something vital my heart clung to with its final beats. The voice urging me to let go was wrong. I couldn''t¨Cnot until I¡­ The question pounded in my skull, louder, demanding an answer. But the memory was slipping away, dissolving like mist, leaving only fragments¨Chis face, the claws, the blood-soaked ground. I tried to hold on, but the details blurred, darkness creeping at the edges of my vision. No. I have to remember. I have to. The voice in my mind¨Cthe one urging me to let go¨Cwas still there, but different now. Softer, sweeter, trying to comfort me. It''s better to let go... to sleep... it whispered. You don''t need to remember. You don''t need to feel this pain. Just let go, and it will all end... My heart thundered, each beat sending waves of heat and anger through me. Fragments of memory flickered¨Cfaces, names, flashes of light and shadow. Mom... Aria... Aunt Nora... Each sent a jolt through me, but they weren''t enough. I needed more. I needed to remember everything. My heart pounded faster, refusing to give in. Who am I? Why can¡¯t I remember¡­aghhhh! Edward. The name struck me like lightning, sharp and painful, searing through the fog. Edward¨Cmy friend. His face flashed before me, vivid and clear, as if he stood right there. I saw him laughing, messy hair falling into his eyes, that mischievous grin. And then... blood. His chest was torn open, a monstrous hand gripping his heart before ripping it free. I had watched him die. As that grief built, so did something else. It swelled within me, a powerful presence refusing to be silenced. The memory of Edward''s death shattered, falling away like broken glass. In its place, a new memory surged forward, burning bright. The sky... shattering. I could see it so clearly now like I was living it all over again. The world above me cracked, the sky itself splitting apart like fragile glass, and beyond it¡­ an eye. A titanic, monstrous eye, so vast that it seemed to swallow the heavens. It peered down at me, unblinking, its gaze freezing everything in its path. The air grew heavy, the ground trembled, and the world itself seemed to hold its breath under the weight of that gaze¡­ It wasn¡¯t just a look, it was a judgment, an all-consuming stare that pierced through flesh and bone, straight to the core of my being. But along with the terror came a name. Alexis. My name. Alexis Artoria Drakesier. The moment I remembered, The floodgates opened. Memories surged forward, chaotic and overwhelming. Faces and voices. Mom... Ari... Aunt Nora... Edward... Alice...Their names burned into me, each one a spark in the suffocating void. Edward is dead. The grief threatened to consume me, but from its depths, something else rose. A seething, violent hatred. My eyes snapped to the monster still tearing into my flesh, its maw smeared with my blood. The world around me trembled. The air crackled with energy, heavy and suffocating as if reality itself bent under the weight of my fury. The monster froze, claws still buried in me, its hollow eyes locking onto mine. It sensed the change, the power building around me. For the first time, I saw hesitation flicker across its grotesque face. But it was too late. The rage erupted, exploding outward in a violent wave. The ground shook, and the monster was flattened by the surge, reduced to nothing but flesh and blood. The power EXIRA as I remembered faded as quickly as it had come, leaving me drained, empty. My vision blurred, and I could feel my body collapsing, the strength leaving me as quickly as it had come. I hit the ground hard, my limbs numb, my mind spinning. Darkness crept in at the edges of my vision, pulling me down into the void once more. But this time, I didn¡¯t fight it. As the world slipped away, The last thing I thought before the darkness claimed me was their names, whispered like a prayer. Mom¡­ Ari¡­ Edward¡­
Chapter 02 - Fragmented Memories
As consciousness returned slowly, clawing its way through thick, suffocating darkness. The smell hit me first¡ªa heavy, metallic tang mixed with the sickly sweetness of decay. Blood and rotting flesh. The stench was so potent it turned my stomach, bile rising in my throat. I gagged, choking on the foul air, even with my eyes still closed. Then it all came rushing back. The monster. Its claws tearing into my body. The grotesque sound of my own flesh being ripped apart. The unbearable agony as it feasted on me. But I was alive. Somehow. How? My mind braced for the pain as I forced my eyes open. My vision adjusted slowly, revealing jagged cave walls painted in an eerie green glow. The light seeped from patches of moss, casting the cavern in shifting shadows that writhed like living things. I sucked in a breath¡ªa mistake. The stench of iron and rot slammed into me again, making me gag. My stomach churned, but something else stopped me cold. There was no pain. My fingers trembled as I dragged them over my stomach, expecting to find torn flesh, slick blood, and open wounds. But I found only smooth, unbroken skin. what?¡­.how?¡­ Dried blood clung to me, staining the remnants of my tattered clothes. The faint stickiness was all that remained of my injuries. My insides felt whole, untouched. I blinked, struggling to process what I was or wasn''t¨Cfeeling. I was healed. My breath hitched, But there was nothing¨Conly the faint stickiness of dried blood on my skin and the wet, tattered remnants of my clothes clinging to me. What the hell...? I should have been dead. Slowly, I pushed myself upright, every movement stiff and deliberate, half-expecting the agony to come rushing back. But it didn¡¯t. My back pressed against the cold, damp stone, and I stared at my trembling hands. Every movement was slow, and deliberate, as if any sudden shift would bring the pain crashing back. Thankfully the pain never came. The memory of the monster resurfaced: its claws, its teeth, the moment my body gave out as it devoured me alive. My head spun, confusion swirling like fog in my mind. None of this made sense. My memory was fuzzy. What had happened? How did I end up here? And then¡­ I glanced to the side. The creature¡¯s corpse lay crumpled nearby, flattened into a grotesque heap of twisted limbs and congealed blood. Its jaw hung slack, its mottled flesh still smeared with my blood. ¡­I did that. I remembered the rage, the surge of power¡ªwild and untamed¡ªthat had erupted from somewhere deep inside me. The memory of that power, that Exira, was as terrifying as the monster itself. I didn¡¯t understand it, didn¡¯t know how I had summoned it, but it had saved me. The cave was silent, save for the faint drip of water echoing in the distance. Shadows danced across the jagged walls, their movement unnerving, almost alive. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, drawing in slow, deliberate breaths. I need to think. To breathe. The foul air burned my lungs, but it didn¡¯t matter. I needed to think, to make sense of what had happened. I tried to piece it together, but my thoughts were a chaotic mess. My thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and fragments. Without thinking, I shifted into a more comfortable position, back pressed against the cold, damp stone. I focused on my breathing, drawing in slow, steady breaths. Meditation. The thought flickered in my mind, surprising me. I knew how to do this. My body remembered, even if my mind was still swimming in fragments of forgotten memories. Was it muscle memory? instincts? I wasn''t sure, but I didn''t care. It was something to hold onto, something to ground me in this nightmare. haaa¡­.fuu¡­ As I breathed in and out, the noise of the world around me¨Cthe distant drip of water, the hollow silence of the cave¨Cbegan to fade. My mind, still fractured and chaotic, started to calm. The frantic beat of my heart slowed, and the tension in my muscles loosened.Stolen novel; please report. For the first time since waking, I felt a sense of stillness. I focused on that feeling, letting it wash over me. My thoughts stopped racing. Maybe I didn''t understand what was happening. Maybe I was still lost in the dark, surrounded by death and monsters and memories that didn''t make sense. But for these few moments, I had control. I was alive. I was breathing. I took another breath, feeling the cold air fill my lungs. The trembling had stopped. My hands were steady now, my heart no longer thundering. I opened my eyes and stared into the dim glow of the cave. The shadows no longer seemed so suffocating, and the oppressive weight of the darkness had lifted, even if only slightly. I had control again. Maybe not over everything, but I had control of myself. And that was something. I started to piece it together, breaking down events in my mind, step by step, trying to make sense of it all. I had woken up here, in this cave, and a fucking monster had been feasting on me. I was too weak to even resist. I remembered the pain¨Cor rather, the absence of it¨Cthe numbness that had crept in as my life slipped away. But there was something else. Something more important. I dragged my fingers through my hair, the strands sticky with blood and sweat, and focused on what I did know. My memories. They were fragmented and incomplete. But they were there, just out of reach. As I lay there, dying, I didn''t know who I was. No name. No past. It was like a piece of me had been taken, ripped away, leaving me hollow. I shuddered at the thought. What kind of power could do that? What force could bury someone''s entire identity, leave them drifting in the dark without any sense of self? I almost gave in. Almost let myself go. That voice... sweet, soft, lulling. It had been so tempting, whispering to me, telling me to stop fighting, to let go. It promised peace, an end to pain, and an end to the struggle. And for a moment, I believed it. I wanted to give in, to stop resisting, to just... disappear. But then there was the shock. My name. I remembered my name. The name grounded me, anchoring me to some semblance of identity. It was the first shard of memory that had pierced through the haze. But there were others. And there were others. Mom. Aunt Nora. Ari. Aunt Nora¨Cher sharp smile, the way she laughed, always teasing. Ari... My breath caught at the memory of her. I couldn''t see her clearly, but I knew her. I felt her¨Cthe warmth, the closeness. Like a sister. Like family. Their names whispered in my mind, each one a lifeline in the darkness. I could feel their presence like echoes from another life. Warmth. Familiarity. But there were gaps¡ªgaping holes where the rest of my memories should have been. Every time I reached for them, they slipped away, leaving only frustration in their wake. I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms. The anger flared, sharp and hot, as I slammed my hand against the ground. The sound echoed in the cavern, a sharp contrast to the oppressive silence. Why couldn¡¯t I remember? What had happened to me? A sudden chill raced up my spine, pulling me from my thoughts. My hand instinctively went to my ear, brushing against the small, cold. An earring. The dragon-shaped metal was smooth, biting against my skin with its chill. And then, like a dam breaking, the memories surged. It came in flashes, fast and disjointed, like flipping through pages too quickly to grasp details but leaving behind feelings. The emotions hit me first. Laughter. Joy. We were sitting on a blanket spread over soft grass, the sun warm on our faces. Alice''s smile was radiant, her laughter like music as she sipped wine. Edward was beside me, enjoying his pizza and the sweet lullaby of music from our phones. The three of us together, happy. The kind of happiness that felt endless, eternal. The memory shifted. ¡­ The earth shook. I remembered the ground trembling beneath us, cups and plates on the picnic blanket rattling violently as if the world itself were tearing apart. We jumped to our feet, laughter gone in an instant. The sky... the sky was wrong. Dark clouds gathered, swirling violently as thunder cracked overhead. A sound like ripping fabric echoed through the air, followed by a deep, guttural roar. Something was coming. The memory shifted. ¡­ Monsters. They poured out of the sky like nightmares made flesh, emerging from a tear in the very fabric of the heavens, grotesque shapes with claws, fangs, and malice. We fought back, weapons in hand, but it wasn¡¯t enough. They overwhelmed us, their savage brutality unrelenting. The memory shifted again. ¡­ Edward. I saw him, caught in the grip of something monstrous¨Ca devil-like creature with wings of shadow and a twisted, grotesque smile. Its clawed hand pierced through his chest, fingers wrapping around his heart. I screamed. I tried to move, to reach him, but I couldn''t. All I could do was watch as Edward''s eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening in a soundless gasp as life drained from him. The creature ripped his heart from his chest. Another shift. ¡­ I was on my knees, sobbing, hands pressed to my face as the world crumbled around me. Thunder crashed in the distance, and the sky continued to tear, reality unraveling. I screamed, voice hoarse, calling out Edward''s name, but it was drowned by the deafening roar of the storm and the monstrous wails of creatures swarming around us. The memory shifted once more. ¡­ And then, I saw it. My gaze was drawn upward, past the chaos, past the storm, to the tear in the sky. Through that tear, staring down with malevolent intent was an eye. A titanic eye, impossibly large, gazing from some dark, otherworldly place. It was pure evil, its gaze sending a wave of dread crashing over me, suffocating me in its presence. I couldn''t look away. My body froze as that eye bore into my soul, and for a moment, everything stopped. The world went dark. The memory slipped away as quickly as it had come, leaving me breathless, and heart pounding. I touched the earring again, fingers trembling as I tried to ground myself, but the weight of the past pressed down like a crushing wave. Edward. ¡­ His name echoed in my mind. And that eye... another memory came, this time a poem. When the sky is torn asunder, And shadows stretch with growing thunder, The Eye of Devour peers below, Bringing forth eternal woe. Beware the gaze that sees your soul, For no mercy will it know. Its hunger vast, its darkness deep, In its stare, your end shall creep. Turn away, do not defy, For beneath its watch, all must die. A fate far worse than death awaits, Where hope is lost and time abates. When the heavens break and tremble, And the world begins to crumble, Seek no answers in the skies¡ª The Eye devours, and never lies.
Chapter 03 - The monster corpse
His name echoed in my mind. And that eye... another memory came, this time a poem. When the sky is torn asunder, And shadows stretch with growing thunder, The Eye of Devour peers below, Bringing forth eternal woe. Beware the gaze that sees your soul, For no mercy will it know. Its hunger vast, its darkness deep, In its stare, your end shall creep. Turn away, do not defy, For beneath its watch, all must die. A fate far worse than death awaits, Where hope is lost and time abates. When the heavens break and tremble, And the world begins to crumble, Seek no answers in the skies¡ª The Eye devours, and never lies. The words echoed in my skull, relentless and haunting. Each syllable pounded against my mind, a searing ache blooming behind my eyes and spreading like wildfire. I clutched my head, fingers digging into my scalp as if I could claw the pain away. The agony was blinding, a relentless hammer driving nails into my skull with every pulse. My vision blurred, the edges darkening with each surge. What the hell was that? The poem¡ªor was it a prophecy¡­ Did I know something would be happening to me¡­. The words dragged with them a creeping sense of dread. The Eye flashed in my memory¡ªgazing down from the shattered sky, its unblinking stare filled with malice. My breath came in short, ragged gasps, and the pain intensified until I thought my skull might split open. The questions churned, My breath came in short, ragged gasps as I clutched my head, the pain reaching a blinding crescendo. Then it came¡ªa sudden, icy chill radiating from my earring. The cold seeped into my mind, soothing the fire and smothering the pain. My breathing steadied as the relentless pressure lifted, leaving only a dull ache behind. I exhaled, trembling, the haze clearing just enough for more fragments of memory to surface. Flashes of her¡ªmy mother. And a name: Pairah. It carried weight, heavy with meaning, but the details remained elusive, slipping through my fingers like smoke. Then another memory broke through the fog. "You should never have accepted it, Alexis. This¡­ gift will cost you more than you realize." Her voice was sharp with frustration, her expression a storm of worry and anger. She stood over me, hands clenched at her sides, trembling. The memory blurred at the edges, and I couldn¡¯t hold onto it. What had I accepted? What gift worried her so much? My fingers brushed against the earring¡ªthe small dragon-shaped ornament cold under my touch. Was this it? The "gift" she had warned me about? It seemed too insignificant to bear such weight. Yet the chill it emanated, the way it tugged at my memories, couldn¡¯t be coincidence. I leaned back against the cold stone wall, closing my eyes. The faint green glow of moss painted shifting patterns on the inside of my lids. I ..I.. I need answers¡­. The thought cut through me like a blade, sharp and clear. What had happened to me? To my family? To Edward? And what was this¡­ thing that had been done to me?If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The names came to me again, weighted and familiar. Mom. Aunt Nora. Alice. Each one a tether to something I couldn¡¯t yet see but desperately needed to understand. And one truth stood out amidst the chaos: I needed to get stronger. Strong enough to stand beside my mother. I may have forgotten nearly everything, but this - this I knew for certain. My mother was the strongest being on earth. She was powerful, far beyond what anyone else could dream of. And I? I had been weak. Weak enough to watch the people I cared about die. I have to grow stronger. Strong enough to not give a fuck about anything. The thought burned in my mind. The flashes of Edward¡¯s death, of the Eye, of the monsters were all tangled up in that weakness. Not anymore. I pushed myself to my feet, every muscle screaming in protest. My legs trembled, barely able to hold my weight. The cave spun, jagged walls shifting like liquid, but I steadied myself with a hand against the stone. Pathetic. I sneered at my own frailty, my breath coming in slow, measured bursts. My body may have been weak, but my mind wasn¡¯t. Not anymore. Focus, Lexi. What would Mom say if she saw you like this? The thought steadied me. Another breath. Then another. The trembling eased, and I stood without leaning on the wall. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless. I began to stretch, rolling my shoulders and neck, ignoring the sharp cracks and dull aches rippling through my body. Painful, but necessary. Next came light movements¡ªsquats, steps, anything to wake up my muscles. The soreness was unrelenting, but I kept going. By the time I finished, my breathing was ragged, but my body felt alive again, if barely. I leaned against the wall, chuckling bitterly. Leaning against the wall again, I chuckled to myself. What would my gym buddies say if they saw me now? Taking this long just to warm up¡­ The faint glow of moss guided me as I began to explore the cave. My steps were cautious, deliberate, the jagged stones digging into my bare feet. The cavern wasn¡¯t large, but its distorted shadows made it feel like a labyrinth. I found a narrow passage in the far wall¡ªthe only apparent way in or out. A single passage? No other way¡­ how the hell did I even end up here? The thought gnawed at me as I scanned the walls for another exit. There was none. Someone¡ªor something¡ªhad brought me here. Teleportation? Some kind of ability I didn¡¯t understand? It was disorienting, the way the glowing moss cast everything in that sickly green hue, and before I knew it, I found myself back where I started, the monster¡¯s corpse. The stench of decay hit me like a wall, and I grimaced. Its bloated, grotesque form lay twisted on the ground, parts of its flesh burned and festering. Aunt Nora¡¯s voice echoed in my mind, calm and firm: "Always analyze them, Lexi. A post-mortem is your best opportunity to identify their vulnerabilities. Examine their skeletal structure, and observe how their body fails. Understanding this will make you more efficient in future encounters." ¡°Even if that may be disgusting work and you may even stink but it may help you to survive¡± I sighed, kneeling beside the corpse despite my revulsion. Reaching up, I tore a handful of glowing moss from the wall and fashioned it into a crude light source. The dim green glow illuminated the monster¡¯s massive, hulking frame. The thing was massive. Around six or seven feet in length, bulky, with broad shoulders and thick limbs. I hovered my moss-light over it, revealing its full, grotesque form. It was an ugly monster that for sure. Rotting flesh clung to its body in patches not sure if that¡¯s natural. Parts of its skin looked burned, charred in some places, while others were cracked and festering. I shook my head, trying to push the lingering nausea aside. I needed to focus. Ignoring the stench, I traced my hand along the corpse''s shoulder, feeling the leathery surface beneath my fingertips. It was firm, almost unnaturally so. Out of curiosity, I knocked my knuckles against it, expecting some give, but the skin didn¡¯t yield at all. Damn. This thing''s hide is tough, almost like armor only natural of course. I moved my hands toward its limbs, and that¡¯s when I noticed something that made me pause. Extending from its elbows were long, dirty white blades bone-like, roughly 30 to 40 inches in length, curving slightly at the tip. I leaned in closer, running my index finger very lightly along the edge. Almost instantly, I felt a sharp sting as the blade sliced through the surface of my skin. I jerked my hand back. Damn it is sharp. ahghh... I inspected the blade again. Both of the creature¡¯s elbow joints had these weapons embedded in them. Taking a deep breath, I reached out and grabbed one of the blades, trying to pull it free. It didn¡¯t budge. Figured. Frustrated, I turned to the other elbow and noticed that the joint there was barely hanging together. Flesh and sinew dangled loosely, and with some effort, I managed to pull the entire right elbow free. The blade came out with a sickening squish, the flesh giving way in my hand. uegh¡­.aeuk I exhaled and moved to the other side, gripping the second blade firmly before chopping it clean from the rest of the corpse. I inspected the cleaner bone blade, turning it over in my hands. It was a little shorter than a longsword, but it would have to do. I hefted it, testing its weight, then gave it a few swings through the air. The balance was off. Sighing, I muttered to myself, "These need work. The weight¡¯s horribly distributed¡­ no pommel to counterbalance, and the grip¡¯s nonexistent." Still, the blade¡¯s sharpness was impressive, dangerous even. I shifted into a stabbing stance, the familiar motion coming back to me as muscle memory took over. With a quick thrust, I drove the tip of the blade into the monster¡¯s corpse. It pierced the leathery hide with surprising ease, sinking in deeper than I had expected. "Yeah¡­ with a few adjustments, I could make a decent weapon out of you," I murmured, pulling the blade free and staring at it with a strange sense of appreciation. There was potential here. Satisfied for now, I moved to the second bone blade, cleaning off the remaining flesh stuck to it. Once both blades were set aside, I turned my attention back to the corpse. Kneeling down, I examined its face more closely. It had an elongated, almost reptilian shape, with slitted pupils that gave it a predatory look. Its maw, though, that was something else. The mouth was full of teeth. Too many teeth. They jutted out at odd angles, sharp and twisted, mutation and it had gone horribly wrong. I grimaced, feeling a deep unease as I stared at the unnatural formation. "Stuff from nightmare" I muttered. Bracing myself, I tried to flip the corpse onto its back. It was heavier than it looked, the weight straining every muscle in my body. With a final grunt, I managed to roll it over, the impact echoing through the cave. I wiped the sweat from my brow and stared at the grotesque creature. This thing weighs a damn ton. Now onto the difficult part
Chapter 04 - Monster Dissection 101
I circled the corpse with the moss ball in hand, its faint greenish glow casting eerie shadows that danced along the jagged cave walls. The monster¡¯s frame leaned more toward humanoid, with broad shoulders and a muscled build, but its proportions were grotesquely wrong. The limbs were massive, built for brute strength, while its legs seemed too short to properly support its oversized torso. Judging by its hunched posture, this thing likely used its long, thick arms to balance as it moved¡ªslow, deliberate, crushing anything in its path. I snorted, the absurd proportions pulling a wry grin to my face. ¡°Never skip leg day, huh?¡± The humor eased the knot of tension in my chest, if only for a moment. Still, a chill ran down my spine. Its legs were too short to match the oversized torso, but the bulk of its upper body left no doubt¡ªSpeed wasn¡¯t this thing¡¯s weapon; brute force was. If it had been fully functional, it could¡¯ve torn me apart like paper. With a sigh, I climbed onto its chest, testing the leathery hide beneath me. It was firm, almost unnervingly so, stretched taut over what felt like steel beams. Even with my full weight pressing down, the ribcage didn¡¯t budge. ¡°This thing¡¯s built like a damn fortress,¡± I muttered, tapping my knuckles against its chest. The dull, heavy sound sent an uneasy ripple through me. The thought made me uneasy. Survival wasn¡¯t a guarantee. If this was the kind of creature I was up against, I needed to know how to kill it¡ªand quickly. Gripping one of the bone blades I¡¯d harvested earlier, I planted my feet firmly on its chest. With a decisive motion, I drove the blade into its sternum. The hide split with a wet, tearing sound and I dragged the blade downward, carving a jagged line from its chest to its abdomen. As the incision widened, the stench of rot hit me like a battering ram. ¡°Ugh, hell.¡± I grimaced, pulling my tattered shirt over my nose in an attempt to block out the smell.. It barely helped. I widened the incision, slicing through layers of dense muscle. Each cut released another wave of foul air, thick and cloying. Forcing myself to focus, I leaned in, holding the moss ball closer to inspect the creature¡¯s insides. Its rib cage was massive, the curved bones thick and reinforced like steel girders. The heart, nestled low between dense muscle layers, was almost reptilian in design¡ªelongated and grotesquely overdeveloped, as though two hearts had fused together. The muscle tissue around it was dense, probably pumping blood through this massive thing¡¯s body with immense force, another clear indication of mutation in this monster, hope it''s just this one. ¡°Built like a fucking tank,¡± I muttered, my voice muffled under the makeshift mask. Stretching my neck and shoulders, I cracked my stiff joints, forcing myself to focus. The stink still clung to the air, thick and suffocating. I leaned back, wiping the sweat from my forehead, my mind racing with the possibilities. I needed to understand what I was up against. Studying this thing wasn¡¯t just a morbid curiosity, it was survival. I needed to understand what I was up against and worst of all is the next part I need to check what this ugly fuck eats. ¡°Not gonna be fun,¡± I muttered, wrapping strips of torn fabric around my hands for makeshift gloves. Leaning back into the chest cavity, I searched for the stomach. My fingers moved carefully, tracing the slick interior until I found the bloated organ. It was swollen, heavy, and covered in a slimy membrane. Steeling myself, I plunged my hands back into the cavity, gripping the stomach. It squelched beneath my touch, the texture slimy and unnerving. With a quick slice from the bone blade, I severed it free and pulled it out. The wet, squelching sound made my stomach churn. ¡°Disgusting,¡± I muttered, setting the organ carefully on the ground. With one swift motion, I sliced the stomach open. Even with the rag over my face, I gagged, bile rising in my throat as the half-digested contents spilled onto the cave floor.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Chunks of flesh, bones, and indistinguishable remains oozed from the opening, mixing with the dark, acrid fluid. I squatted down, holding the moss ball closer to the mess, trying to make sense of what this thing had been eating. I squatted down, my moss ball casting a faint greenish light over the heap of gore, trying to make sense of what this thing had been eating. Fish bones¡ªlong and needle-like¡ªpoked through the pile, alongside scraps of scales and fins. ¡°At least I might have something to eat,¡± I muttered. ¡°All I need is confirmation of a water source.¡± But then something else tumbled out¡ªwhich made my blood run cold. An eyeball. It rolled across the ground, perfectly intact, its surface coated in mucus. My breath caught as I stared at it, heart pounding. Its shape¡ªits slit pupil¡ªwas unmistakable. A slit pupil. The same shape as the monster''s own. I after some hesitation picked it up, holding it closer to the moss ball to get a better look. The eyeball was too familiar. The same reptilian iris, the same dull, sickly yellow. This thing, this monster was eating its own kind. The realization made my stomach churn. Cannibalism. ¡°Fuck,¡± I muttered, dropping the eyeball and wiping my hands on the rags wrapped around my wrists. If these creatures were willing to turn on each other, it meant two things. First, they were either desperate or ruthless enough to consume their own. And second¡ªthere were more of them out there. I clenched my fists, forcing the nausea down. This wasn¡¯t just survival anymore. I needed to prepare for whatever was coming. Focusing on the corpse, I began assessing what else I could salvage. First things first: the meat. The meat was quickly ruled out. Its mottled, discolored flesh reeked of decay, and rot had set into much of its torso. I wasn¡¯t about to risk poisoning myself. ¡°Yeah, no way I¡¯m touching that.¡± The hide, however, was another story. While some sections were burned or rotted, patches of the leathery armor were intact. Running my fingers over one of the unburned areas, I tapped it again. The tough, flexible texture could be useful. ¡°Leather¡­¡± I muttered, considering my options. ¡°Could definitely get some from the chest, back, arms, and legs. It won¡¯t be full-size pieces, but enough for smaller things. Grips, bandages, maybe a patch job for whatever clothes I can find.¡± Using the bone blade, I carefully sliced away strips of the hide, working around the decayed parts. The pieces were uneven and rough, but they¡¯d serve their purpose. The pieces were irregular, but they''d serve a purpose. I worked steadily, moving to the arms and legs, harvesting whatever I could. The skin was thick, but beneath that, the flesh was softer, and I grimaced as each slice of the blade sent small waves of that rancid stench into the air. Next, I turned my attention to the claws. Long, jagged, and sharp, they extended like blades from the monster¡¯s bony fingers. Each one was a natural weapon, more like a tool for killing than anything practical. ¡°These things aren¡¯t made for fine work with their hands,¡± I thought. ¡°More like weapons than tools.¡± ¡°These¡¯ll make good knives,¡± I muttered, extracting them one by one. The larger claws would serve as weapons, while the smaller ones might work as needles, awls, or even throwing tools. "I''ll take them all," I decided. I began methodically cutting each claw from the creature¡¯s bony fingers, laying them aside one by one. Some of them broke off easily, but others required a bit more effort to dislodge. By the time I¡¯d harvested the last claw, a small pile had formed beside me. My hands ached from the effort, but I wasn¡¯t done yet. The bones came next¡ªparticularly the femur and humerus. They were large, sturdy, and surprisingly light. Hollow in some places, they could be used as containers or supports for tools. ¡°Hollow bones¡­ should be good for holding things. Maybe even storing water if I seal them right.¡± My mind was already working through the logistics as I set to work extracting the bones. The femur came free with a series of gruesome cracks as I cut through the tendons and muscle. I pulled it out and hefted it in my hands. It was light but strong. After repeating the process with the humerus, I laid the bones beside the rest of my harvested materials, already considering how to put them to use. The next thought was less pleasant but necessary. I grimaced at the idea of grinding the bones down for powder, but I knew it was an option. Bone powder could be useful for a number of things: calcium supplements, fire starters, and even as a rudimentary abrasive if I needed to sharpen something. ¡°Fire,¡± I muttered, rubbing my chin. ¡°I could definitely use some bone powder for that.¡± As for the bone marrow itself, I wasn¡¯t going to risk it. There was no telling what kind of mutations or toxins this monster might carry. But fat, fat could be useful for starting fires, and it might be safe enough if I was careful. I knelt down beside the corpse again, beginning the slow, methodical process of extracting whatever I could. I worked in silence, occasionally glancing at the mess around me. The blood and organs were of no use to me, and I had no desire to test their properties. The less I dealt with the creature¡¯s insides, the better. Still, as disgusting as the process was, I¡¯m learning something important, something vital about these monsters. Finally, when I was done, I stood up and surveyed the pile of harvested materials. Leather, claws, bones, and a few other bits and pieces that might prove useful down the line. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was more than I¡¯d had before. ¡°This¡¯ll do,¡± I said softly, my voice the only sound in the cavernous space. I felt a strange sense of satisfaction, despite the grotesque nature of the task I¡¯d just completed. It was as though every step I took, every part I harvested, brought me a little closer to surviving. A little closer to answers. I took a deep breath, the foul air burning my lungs, and let it out slowly. My mind wandered to my family¡ªMom, Aunt Nora, Ari. I would find them. I would get stronger. But right now I need to set inventory right and make the blades usable in a fight. The better prepared I am, the faster I will be able to get out and reach back to my family.
Chapter 05 - Inventory and plans
After what felt like hours, I finally finished harvesting anything useful from the monster. My body ached, muscles stiff and sore from relentless work. Every joint screamed in protest, tendons strained with overuse, but I couldn¡¯t stop. Rest was a luxury I couldn¡¯t afford yet. Even in quiet moments, I had to keep moving and keep doing something productive. The corpse¡ªwhat was left of it¡ªwasn¡¯t doing me any favors. The stench had become unbearable, seeping into the very walls of the cave. Rot and decay clung to the air, sour and choking. I dragged the remains to the farthest corner, my muscles screaming with each heave. The body was disgustingly heavy, leaving behind a trail of filth, but at least it was out of my immediate space. Out of sight, out of mind. I wiped the sweat from my brow, breathing heavily. My next task loomed, and the thought of it lit a small spark of hope and warmth. Fire. The damp chill of the cave clung to my skin, seeping into my bones. The faint green glow of moss offered no warmth, only a cold, eerie light that set my nerves on edge. Darkness wasn¡¯t just a nuisance¡ªit was dangerous. I needed light, heat, and something to anchor my slipping sanity. But fire in a cave... not ideal. Even through my fractured memories, I recalled the risks. Poor ventilation could suffocate me before the flames warmed my skin. I needed a space with a high enough ceiling, something safe enough to handle a small, controlled blaze. The far corner of the cave, away from the corpse and its stench, would have to do. I needed one¡ªnot just for warmth, but to drive away the damp chill clinging to the cave. The moss''s faint glow was eerie at best; a proper fire would give me tangible light and heat. I could already feel my sanity slipping; darkness wasn''t good for my mental health. Using the monster''s bones as makeshift tools had already proven surprisingly effective. I dug a shallow pit into the dirt, about five inches deep, using jagged bone edges to carve through the loose soil. The work was slow and clumsy, but there was satisfaction in repurposing the remains of the creature that had tried to kill me. The pit ready, I scoured the walls for tinder. Moss and lichen would have to do, their oily texture promising a slow burn. They clung stubbornly to the stone, their faint glow fading as I ripped them free in clumps. I rolled the moss into loose balls, layering them carefully at the bottom of the pit. I glanced at the fat I¡¯d harvested earlier. It clung to my fingers, oily and dense, a faintly rancid odor wafting from it. Despite its stench, I knew it would burn well. Carefully, I smeared small amounts across the moss, hoping it would act as a crude accelerant. ¡°Here goes nothing,¡± I muttered, grabbing two of the monster¡¯s bones to use as fire starters. The smooth surfaces made it difficult to generate friction. My hands, already weak from exhaustion, stung with each attempt. Soreness crept up my arms, but I pressed on. Sweat beaded on my brow as I focused entirely on the task. The frustration was maddening, but time was on my side. ¡°Come on, you bastard¡­ light up.¡± A faint curl of smoke rewarded my efforts. My heart raced as I leaned in, blowing gently on the ember. A small flame flickered to life, feeble but steady. ¡°Yes,¡± I hissed, triumph rushing through me. The fat crackled as it caught fire, the moss glowing brighter as the flames spread. A small, steady fire burned, casting a warm light across the cave walls. I sat back, watching the flames dance, the heat soothing my aching muscles. As I sat there, letting my muscles rest, I marveled at how far I''d come in such a short time. I wasn''t even sure how long it had been since I''d woken up here¡ªhours, maybe days. Time felt warped in this place. For the first time in what felt like ages, I allowed myself to breathe. I¡¯m still here. Still alive. The air was still thick with decay, but the warmth of the fire dulled the sharp edges of my discomfort. Leaning back on my hands, I let the flickering light mesmerize me, the shadows twisting and swaying along the cave walls. I shook my head, dispelling the fog of warmth threatening to lull me into sleep. It was tempting to drift off by the fire, but I couldn''t afford that luxury. Not yet. My body was sending signals¡ªthirst, hunger¡ªgnawing sensations at the back of my mind. Manageable for now, but I couldn''t ignore them for long. I needed water, at the very least. Soon. Focus, Lexi. Don¡¯t get comfortable yet. Work comes first. Taking a deep breath, I drew in the warm air and let it out slowly. My mind settled, the haze of exhaustion lifting slightly as I entered a quick meditative state. Just a couple of minutes. I felt the warmth settling deeper into my muscles, the ache fading, replaced by a sense of calm. The fire crackled softly, its glow flickering behind my closed eyes. The world seemed to slow, the cave''s noises fading into the background. I focused on my breathing ¡ªsteady and controlled. This brief moment of stillness sharpened my mind, reset my focus. Deep in meditation, I recalled the moments leading up to the outburst: the chaos, the fury, the raw energy tearing through me like wildfire. Exira... The thought echoed, my subconscious latching onto it as I tried to rewind events. I needed to understand what had happened¡ªhow I''d summoned that power. Straining to remember, fragments of memories surfaced¡ªbits and pieces from long ago, when life wasn''t about survival but about learning, training, and family. A familiar voice drifted into my mind, soft yet strong. ¡°Lexi, sit here," Mom had said, her voice calm but firm. I remembered sitting next to Arisa, my little sister, her silky hair slipping between my fingers as I ruffled it, earning a playful swat. Mom stood before us, arms crossed, exuding her usual unshakable confidence. It was a lecture we''d heard many times, but this time felt different. She was about to reveal something deeper. "Alright, before we delve into combat, it''s high time I properly explain our house''s origin art." She paused, her eyes meeting mine, then Arisa''s. There was a weight beneath her words, making them feel heavier. "The name Exira was coined by your father¡­, who was also its first user." She rarely spoke of Dad, and when she did, her tone held a mix of pride and sorrow, as if mentioning him reopened an old wound. "Exira, in its most primitive form, is a type of mental manipulation¡ªor self-hypnosis, if you will," she explained. "It allows the user to assert dominance over others."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. I furrowed my brow, not fully grasping the depth of what she was saying. Mental manipulation? Dominance? It sounded abstract, detached from our usual combat training. Yet, as she spoke, I sensed the power of her words. "As you delve deeper into its mysteries, one truth remains," she continued. "Exira is fueled by pure emotions, but most importantly¡ªby one''s will." Her eyes hardened when she said that, gaze piercing as if daring me to question her. She wasn''t just talking about a technique; she was speaking of something fundamental, tied to who we were as House Drakesiers. "That''s the first tier of Exira," she said, her voice lowering to emphasize the gravity. "At this level, Exira is formless. It can mimic other powers, whether elemental or physical. But its most efficient use is asserting dominance over others." I remembered shifting uncomfortably, trying to process what she meant by "dominance." It sounded vague, distant from practical training. Yet I realized she wasn''t talking about physical strength or combat prowess. She spoke of something deeper¡ªwill. The raw power to impose your will upon others, to shape reality through sheer determination. "When you understand why that is," she said softly, "you will find your path to the next tier." I hadn''t fully grasped her meaning then. Nodding along, I tried to look serious but inwardly was lost in thought. What was my path? My core ability? "From there," she continued, "is an unknown path. I cannot tell you what yours will be, because every Exira user has different core abilities. Mine, Nora''s, Sebastian''s, Mathias''s¡ªwe all have unique Tier I properties." Her words hung in my mind as I slowly returned to the present. The memory stirred something inside me, something buried too long. Mom was right. Exira wasn''t just a power or technique; it was an extension of will, a manifestation of inner strength. A faint smile touched my lips as my determination hardened, like a blade sharpened on a whetstone. I had to get back to my family¡ªto Mom, Arisa, Aunt Nora. Even if my memories were fractured, I knew I had a family. I wasn''t alone in this world. They''re out there. Waiting for me. As my resolve grew, I felt something stir deep within¡ªa subtle vibration under my skin, becoming a pronounced sensation, like a presence reaching out from within. Exira. I sat perfectly still, breathing slowly, focusing on the feeling. The warmth of the fire on my skin, the steady beat of my heart, the cool cave air¡ªall faded into the background. I felt the power building, like a coiled spring ready to snap. It was the same energy from before, but now controlled, not wild and erratic. Exira... it''s responding. Mom''s words echoed: "Exira is fueled by your emotions... but most importantly, by your will." I understand now. It wasn''t about unleashing raw power; it was about controlling it, shaping it, bending it to my will. I''d done it once in rage and desperation. Now, I am calmer, more focused. I concentrated, trying to direct the energy, to shape it as Mom had said. I pictured my family, reuniting with them, standing by my mother''s side¡ªnot as a burden but as an equal. The more I focused on that goal, the stronger the feeling became. It was as if the very air pulsed with energy, vibrating in sync with my heartbeat. But as quickly as it built, the sensation began to fade, slipping out of grasp like sand through fingers. I clenched my teeth, frustrated but not disheartened. It was there. I just needed practice, to strengthen my connection. Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes. The fire still flickered, casting shadows on the walls. I hadn''t mastered Exira yet, but I was closer than before. Next time, I''ll be ready. Soon, I thought, clenching my fist. Soon, I''ll control it. And when I do... I didn''t finish the thought. No need. I knew what I had to do. With renewed resolve, I stood, a sense of purpose burning within. The path to mastering Exira lay ahead, and I was ready to walk it. All right, let''s get to work. First, I needed to assess my inventory. Slowly, I stretched my limbs, shaking off lingering stiffness. So what do I have on me? I mentally ticked off the items as I checked them. The earring was what I remembered first¡ªits familiar cold presence against my skin. The small metal dragon, curled into the shape of an eight. It had saved my life more than once, taking away pain during memory surges. But what else could it do? I needed to figure that out. Next, were the bone blades harvested earlier. I''d done makeshift work on them, testing weight and sharpness. Far from perfect¡ªhorribly unbalanced without proper pommels or grips¡ªbut lethal. I gave them a couple of swings. They''d do for now but needed improvement for long-term use. Task #1 Lexi, turn those two bone blades into workable blades. What else? My clothes were tattered, but functional enough for now. I¡¯d torn some strips of fabric to use as makeshift bandages, wrapping my wrists and hands. It wasn¡¯t ideal, but it was better than nothing, at least my pants survived. Sigh¡­ pretty limited let¡¯s see the artifacts I¡¯ve been ignoring till now. So, I have this bracelet on my wrist as a gift from Aunt Nora, one of the few things that survived whatever madness had brought me to this cave. The memory of her crafting it brought a faint smile to my face, even though the details were still blurry. I could remember fragments of those moments, her teaching me the basics of enchanting, her steady hands as she infused magic into the bracelet. I ran my fingers over its surface, feeling the small markings etched into it. There were three distinct symbols, but one of them had faded, almost completely blurred out. Three charges¡­ I recalled her explaining that the bracelet was enchanted with rejuvenation designed to heal the wearer in times of need. And that¡¯s exactly what must¡¯ve happened after my outburst with Exira. So, that¡¯s what healed me, well one mystery solved so many more to go. I concentrated, trying to connect with the bracelet, willing it to respond, but nothing happened. No magic stirred within me, no connection formed. It must¡¯ve been triggered automatically when my power surged out of control. Figures. Only works when I¡¯m fatally wounded. I gave a small, dry chuckle. Next on the list was the ring on my right index finger. A dark metal band, cold to the touch, with a dragon engraved along its surface. I turned it slowly in the dim light, recognizing it instantly. The Drakesier family ring. My heart lifted for a second as I gazed at it, the symbol of my house and everything it represented. It had been a part of me for as long as I could remember, but the joy was short-lived as reality set in. Great. It¡¯s only good for controlling House Drakesier¡¯s facilities and showing my authority¡­ which are nowhere near here. I sighed, feeling the weight of disappointment. As much as I wished it had some hidden ability that could help me in my current situation, it was useless out here, But it could help me immensely if I find any people. Finally, I reached for the pendant hanging around my neck, my fingers brushing the cool metal. The moment I touched it, a faint purple glow pulsed from within, and a wave of recognition hit me. The family heirloom. A spatial storage pendant, filled with everything I could possibly need. The realization sent a surge of excitement through me. If I could access its storage, everything would change. This cave would turn into a survival breeze, a ¡°pay-to-win¡± dream scenario. I closed my eyes, focusing, willing myself to connect with the pendant, imagining it responding. I mentally reached out with Exira, straining to activate it, hoping to tap into its hidden storage. Minutes passed. Nothing. The glow flickered weakly, but no door to a treasure trove opened, no magic responded. Frustration built. Come on... work! Still nothing. I sighed, dropping the pendant against my chest. For now, it was useless, just like the ring. I''d have to figure out how to access its power later. Maybe it required something I was missing, or my connection to Exira wasn''t strong enough yet. Either way, it wouldn''t help now. Fuck¡­Later. I¡¯ll deal with it later. For now, I had enough on my plate. Survival had to be on my terms, with tools I could actually use. I sighed, sitting back by the fire. Now that my immediate surroundings were secured, it was time to think about tools and weapons. The monster''s bones could be useful beyond blades. The femur or humerus could be turned into containers¡ªmaybe carve out a hollow for storage or use them to carry water. Speaking of water, I''d need a way to store it once I found some. If this cave system had fish, then water couldn''t be far. I ran my hands over the bone blades again, thinking of ways to refine them. A pommel to balance the weight, I reminded myself. Without it, any swing would be sloppy, and the force would be too concentrated in my wrists. Maybe I could fashion some sort of grip using the monster¡¯s hide. I¡¯d already set aside some leathery pieces from its chest and back small, but they¡¯d do for grips or even bandages if I was careful. It was just a matter of stitching everything together somehow. The claws I''d harvested would come in handy too¡ªsharp, durable, varied in size. Some could be small knives or throwing weapons; smaller ones could become needles or awls. Fine work wouldn''t be easy, but I didn''t need perfection¡ªjust function. Tools and weapons... check. But what about skills? I clenched my fists, the firelight casting long shadows over my knuckles. There was so much I didn''t remember, but I had to start somewhere. No more stumbling in the dark. I had to rebuild my skills, piece by piece. A flicker of resolve burned inside, echoing the fire before me. Tomorrow, I''ll start working on the tools. Then, I''d find water. And then... I''d figure out Exira to be combat-ready. One step at a time. I''m not going to die here. Not until I have my answers.
Shattered Reflections I : Clawing back memories
I closed my eyes, forcing my breathing to slow. Inhale... exhale. The dark cave around me faded, replaced by the steady rhythm of my heartbeat pounding in my ears. My mind was a swirling storm of fragmented images and sensations, flashes of something just out of reach. I pushed harder, focusing, like diving into a dark, endless ocean. Each thought felt slippery, like trying to hold water in my hands. I need my memories!... who am I exactly and why...why can¡¯t I remember¡­. FUUUUU! Taking one more deep breath to bring some control in the chaos of depressing thoughts, a familiar chill seeped deep in me, in my mind as I felt more at peace. I reached deeper, my fingers clawing through the murky haze. Shapes flickered at the edges of my consciousness ¨C shadowy figures, the faint sound of metal clashing, voices blurred and distant. They taunted me, pulling back every time I got close. ¡°No,¡± I growled, gripping the memory harder with sheer force of will. It felt like trying to lift a boulder with bare hands, but I refused to let go. My pulse quickened, a searing pressure building in my chest. The edges of one fragment began to solidify, its shape becoming clearer as I dragged it from the abyss. It resisted, clawing to stay hidden, but I wouldn¡¯t let it go. Not this time. Finally, with one final surge of determination, I seized it. The moment burst into focus, sharp and vivid, pulling me into its depths like a riptide.
The memory began to unfold... . . The first thing I remembered was cold steel against my neck. It wasn¡¯t real, not yet. Just a phantom sensation clawing its way into my thoughts, dragging with it a scene I couldn¡¯t fully piece together. Uncle Sebastian¡¯s voice was there, who¡¯s Uncle Sebastian¡­why do I know and remember my feelings but not the memories ¡°Preparation means nothing if you can¡¯t anticipate an ambush.¡± My breathing hitched. I felt the weight of his words, though they were barely tangible. Shadows flickered at the edges of my mind, teasing me with fragments of a memory just out of reach. My stomach twisted in frustration. I clenched my fists. Why can¡¯t I remember anything beyond this? Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to focus. Slowly, the fragmented edges sharpened, the haze parted, and I felt myself falling into the memory. . . Uncle Sebastian¡¯s blade was cold against my neck, the steel biting just enough to remind me how easy it would be to end me. ¡°Well, well,¡± his voice cut through the silence, calm and measured. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve learned a thing or two since our last session, young master. Being prepared is decent practice, but readiness is useless if you don¡¯t prepare yourself mentally for being ambushed.¡± ¡°Yes, teacher,¡± I replied, swallowing hard. ¡°It may be very difficult to be on edge when you are in a safe spot but for how long will you be safe there¡± The blade disappeared as quickly as it had come, and Sebastian melted into the shadows, his presence vanishing entirely. My heartbeat was loud in my ears as I stepped forward into the training room, my hand instinctively resting on the pommel of my sword. The vastness of THE DOME surrounded me mountain-sized dome, echoing space layered with enchantments. My eyes darted across the room, taking in every detail. I knew better than to expect anything straightforward here. Uncle Sebastian stood in the center, his posture relaxed but commanding. Dressed in his formal dark butler attire, he seemed to blend seamlessly with the dim light, an extension of the shadows themselves. ¡°Young master,¡± he said, his voice cutting through the quiet, ¡°no one will give you warnings in battle. Long gone are the days when knights and warriors clung to chivalry and honor. Today, survival is the only code.¡± With a flick of his wrist, a table and two chairs materialized out of thin air. ¡°Sit,¡± he instructed. ¡°We¡¯re talking today ¨C though you¡¯ll need your strength for sparring with your mother.¡± Suppressing a groan, I obeyed, sinking into the chair across from him. ¡°You¡¯ve got power, Lexi,¡± he began, leaning back. His tone was calm, but there was a weight behind his words that pressed against me like a vice. ¡°Strength. Potential. But raw power without control is meaningless. Instincts are tools. You wield them ¨C they don¡¯t wield you.¡± ¡°Rely too heavily on instinct, and you¡¯ll become predictable, a puppet to your own impulses.¡± ¡°Does that only come with experience, teacher?¡± I asked, even though I already knew the answer. ¡°For most,¡± he replied, gesturing toward the vast expanse of THE DOME, ¡°Yes, At this place we drill into soldiers to prepare for the worst. To teach them to hold their ground and not run when things go wrong. But you? Your path is different. It¡¯s not about holding your ground. It¡¯s about dancing with death. One misstep, one misjudged variable, and it¡¯s over.¡± His words settled heavily in the air between us. ¡°For that is the price for power, remember that¡± Leaning in as I saw a solemn expression on his face.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°I¡¯ve lost too many people who thought they were untouchable,¡± he continued. ¡°Tell me, young master ¨C the rule of my teachings.¡± ¡°Fear the Known. Beware of the Unknown,¡± I recited automatically. He smiled faintly. ¡°Good. Remember that. Your enemies, whether human, beast, or otherwise, always have hidden cards. And when cornered, desperation drives them to unimaginable lengths. Underestimating sentience is the quickest way to die.¡± I nodded, the weight of his gaze pressing down on me. ¡°Your mother¡¯s harshness?¡± he said after a pause. ¡°It¡¯s her way of preparing you. Peace is fleeting, Lexi. Calamity waits for no one.¡± The word hit me like a strike to the chest. My heart raced, my breath hitching as a cold, gnawing dread settled in my gut. Sighing Uncle Sebastian leaned back, ¡°As you are aware young master, I am a Rogue/Assassin Archetype and we prefer darkness, being in dark, in shadows to bring our foes to eternal darkness¡± ¡®That¡¯s edgy but ¡­¡±, I listened carefully disregarding various thoughts, ¡°Although you have yet to commit to an archetype remember these things which we tell you will become your core principles ¡° ¡°The paths are endless Lexi, but remember Exira is the only power that¡¯s truly your archetypes are just professions how you will mold your Exira will create the path that¡¯s only yours and as I and others have mentioned before, most of your battles will be unplanned, unknown you will be thrown into battles that you didn¡¯t choose to be a part of if you continue on your path to power¡± ¡°You will bleed, will be broken, and witness the death of both people you knew and your enemies¡± Uncle Sebastian met my gaze and said seriously, ¡°It¡¯s important to not drown in self blame and self pity that¡¯s disrespecting anyone who you¡¯ve known¡± ¡°I know talking about these things is easy, only when you are going through these will you understand all i hope you remember these words¡± I nodded seriously, personally, I can¡¯t even think of losing anyone in my family¡­ ¡°Now I have been teaching you and it¡¯s important that you understand your combat style is more of an ambush striker, right now you are a glass cannon with very high versatility and power but very little juice in the tank to keep pumping up the damage¡± ¡°As such you must never stretch the battle into one of endurance unless you are planning on going for full plate heavy armour and shield like Ser Mathias and being a tank knight archetype ¡° ¡°Which you are not and probably will never be, am I right to assume that Lexi?¡± ¡°Yup teacher, I would rather be moving around dodging than be sitting ducks¡± ¡°That''ll bring us back on topic, you must finish the battle quickly but never be hasty. If you stall with your build and take excessive time, what will happen? Can you guess ?¡± Well I¡¯m pretty I¡¯ll be dead but if I say that Uncle Sebastian will beat the hell out of me no matter how kind he is most of the time that will warrant a beating, a violent one at that Quickly shaking my head, I dumped those thoughts and thought of possible scenarios¡­ Man, I¡¯m only 17. How would I have those experiences¡­ damned kind old man ¡°Hmm,..Reinforcement, probably the enemy may also be stalling for time,...um Recovery rates,... Some hidden tricks, Ace..¡± Uncle Sebastian nods and continues, ¡° Indeed! You will learn with time or by injuries if you survive us ¡° I felt my eye twitch, these guys are my teachers and I respect them for that but all of them may have some screw loose when it comes to combat Uncle Sebastian continued, ¡°Remember Lexi, in a foreign land oftentimes it will be a hostile environment, never wait for an attack, take initiative, explore possible surroundings, and set them up for the battle if confrontation is inevitable¡± ¡°However, sometimes your initiation of an attack may fail even when you have the best cards in your hand, in such situations getting greedy and losing patience is akin to death.¡± Uncle Sebastian seriously said, ¡°Retreat after dealing as much damage as possible to avoid the enemy from giving a counterattack on you, even the ground between you and your foes.¡± ¡°Never give a hold of advantage to your enemy, no matter how small it is¡± ¡°Never face 50/50 odds¡± ¡° Weakness of flesh is very important¡±, With a sly grin, Uncle Sebastian continued, ¡±I¡¯m sure Lady Nora must have taught you the required skill for performing autopsy and appraisal on them.¡± ¡°Yeah She did, it was a horrific experience Uncle Sebastian¡± My face scrunched up recalling the experience that Uncle Sebastian chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s better you feel disgusted and reluctance now than when the times are desperate¡± ¡°Although It may seem useless now that there is tons and tons of information about nearly all the monsters seen in the gates and rifts we never what could happen in the future¡± Uncle Sebastian casually flipped a pocket watch out of existence and checked the time. Huff show off! still not teaching me that huh old man ¡°Lexi,¡± Uncle Sebastian¡¯s voice brought me back. ¡°Don¡¯t let that burden twist into darkness. Everything we do is for your growth. One day, you¡¯ll understand.¡± I clenched my fists under the table, my nails biting into my palms. ¡°The path you¡¯ve chosen isn¡¯t one of comfort,¡± he continued. ¡°It¡¯s pain, loss, and blood. But it¡¯s your path. And the only way forward is through.¡± He stood abruptly, conjuring a pocket watch out of nowhere, his movements smooth and practiced. He checked the time, then pocketed it just as quickly. ¡°There¡¯s still time,¡± he said. ¡°Breathe. Meditate. Process what I¡¯ve told you. I¡¯ll meet you at the sparring grounds.¡± And just like that, he was gone.
The memory shattered like glass, pulling me violently back to the present. I staggered, clutching at my chest as my breath came in sharp, ragged gasps. The cold sensation of the blade lingered against my neck, even though I knew it wasn¡¯t real. ¡°Damn it...¡± My voice was low, trembling with frustration. I pressed my fists against my temples as if I could physically force my scattered thoughts into order. The memory had been so vivid, so real¡ªbut it stopped abruptly, leaving me staring into a void of nothingness. ¡°What happened after that?¡± I hissed, my voice cracking. ¡°Why can¡¯t I remember?¡± I tried to steady my breathing, but the questions buzzed in my mind, sharp and relentless. Why did it all end there? What came next? What was I forgetting? My frustration twisted into anger. Anger at myself. Anger at the world. I slammed my fist against the nearest surface, the impact reverberating up my arm. ¡°This isn¡¯t enough,¡± I growled. ¡°I need more. I have to remember.¡± ¡°Fear the Known. Beware of the Unknown.¡± Clenching my teeth, I straightened, forcing myself to take a deep, shuddering breath. Inhale... exhale... I couldn¡¯t afford to break now. Not here. Not yet. There was too much I still needed to figure out¡ªtoo many gaps I needed to fill. ¡°What¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡± I muttered bitterly, almost laughing at the absurdity of my own words. ¡°She won¡¯t kill me... probably.¡± But the bitterness in my voice betrayed the truth. This wasn¡¯t about the fight ahead. It was about the shadows behind me¡ªthe ones I couldn¡¯t seem to outrun.
Chapter 06 - Gearing up
I laid the bone blades out on the floor before me, taking in their full length and trying to decide what to do next. Each blade, long and thin¡ªprobably around 30 to 40 inches¡ªhad a sleek, vicious look. They were slightly curved, their natural edges razor-sharp but not as sturdy as metal. The bone had a pale, sickly hue, almost as if it had been leached of color. Looking at the blades, a thought crossed my mind. This bastard was eating me alive. It should have made me shudder, but instead, a strange satisfaction welled up inside me. I smirked, gripping one of the blades tighter. "Tools are tools," I muttered, turning the weapon over in my hand. "And if I can make use of these..." My voice trailed off as I chuckled darkly. "Maybe I¡¯ll test them on its friends. Add a few more to the collection. Yeah, sounds like a plan." The base of each blade¡ªwhere they had connected to the joints¡ªwas thicker and jagged, rough from where I¡¯d hacked them free of the corpse. I studied the base more closely, gripping the blade a few centimeters above where the bone naturally thinned. "This should be where the handle starts," I muttered to myself. Reaching into the pool of blood still seeping from the carcass, I dipped my finger and smeared a mark where the grip should start. The dark blood spread like ink against the bone¡¯s surface, vivid and visceral. ¡°Guess using your blood to measure things is one way to leave a mark,¡± I muttered, chuckling. ¡°Too bad this bastard¡¯s blood smells worse than I do.¡± The dark humor kept me grounded. I needed that¡ªsomething to keep me from slipping into the abyss of madness. When you''re alone, surrounded by nothing but the echoes of your own thoughts, you need those moments of levity, no matter how twisted. I reached for one of the thicker bones from my pile, holding it up to the fire to inspect it. The marrow had dried out, leaving it hollow and brittle inside. Perfect. I set to work chipping away at the base of the bone blade, trying to carve out a rough grip. Each chip of bone fell like fragile snowflakes onto the floor as I carved out a rough grip. The motions were repetitive and rhythmic, my hands moving almost mechanically despite their lingering soreness. Bit by bit, I smoothed the jagged edges, feeling my muscles settle into the familiar pattern of work. After what felt like ages, I tightened my grip on the makeshift hilt and gave it a test swing. The blade was light, fast, but still felt... off. Too short, too crude. ¡°Not the size that matters,¡± I muttered, smirking. ¡°It¡¯s how you use it.¡± I moved on to the second blade, repeating the process with a little more ease. This time, the grip came together faster, and I was more satisfied with how it felt in my hand. When I finished, I held both blades up, admiring their crude craftsmanship. "Two bone swords,¡± I said with a grin. ¡°Dual-wielding would probably kill me faster than anything else in this cave... but at least I¡¯ve got options." The thought of wielding both blades like twin falchions or scimitars made me grin. If only I could remember the proper stances. My body still ached with the phantom movements of combat long forgotten. The muscle memory was there, but the techniques, the precision¡ªthey were buried deep in my mind. "Guess I''ll be fighting like a caveman for a while. Hack, slash, stab... rinse and repeat." "Could always throw one, maybe stab with one hand while slicing with the other." I mulled over the possibilities, imagining myself moving fluidly in battle¡­a silent dance of death. "Yeah, that could work." Setting the blades aside, I turned to the scraps of leather I¡¯d dried earlier. The monster¡¯s hide was tough and strangely elastic, with a rubbery quality that made it both durable and unnerving to handle. Passing the pieces over the flames, I burned away any lingering rot before wrapping them tightly around the hilt of one blade. I worked slowly, pulling the leather taut as I wrapped it, layering it for grip and reinforcement. To finish, I wove strips of moss and lichen into the wrap, creating a faintly glowing lining. The effect was subtle but useful¡ªa way to track my weapons in the oppressive darkness of the cave. "Last thing I need is to lose my only weapon in this hellhole." I chuckled again, shaking my head at the thought. The second blade received the same treatment. By the time I finished, I had two functional swords, both rough but serviceable. "Hmm, normally glowing swords would be a terrible idea, but with these moss patches everywhere, I doubt it''ll make much difference. It''s dark enough that those lizard monsters probably navigate some other way," I muttered, running a finger over the glowing moss lining. "Besides, I doubt I''ll need these makeshift blades once I''m out of here... or once I get my heirloom working." Once both swords were finished, I stood up, gripping them both and testing their weight. The first swing was clumsy. My arms felt heavy and sluggish. Trying to dual-wield the bone swords made me stumble slightly, and I had to quickly catch myself. "Okay, maybe not the best idea right now. One sword it is." Gripping the remaining sword, I adjusted my stance and slashed downward in a clean vertical motion. The air whistled faintly as the blade cut through it. The motion felt rusty, unrefined, but familiar. I slashed again, then stabbed forward, focusing on control rather than speed. I could feel old instincts kicking in as I adjusted my posture, raising the blade and slashing it downward in a clean vertical motion. The air whistled as the blade sliced through it, but the motion lacked the finesse I once had. I was rusty. Very rusty. "Again," I muttered, slashing the blade horizontally this time, followed by a quick stab. Each motion felt more natural, more fluid, as I focused on controlling the blade. I slashed again, then another stab¡ªquicker this time. The repetitive movements made my arms burn, but I pushed through it. Minutes passed, and the more I moved, the more my body protested. Sweat dripped down my forehead, and my breaths became heavier. It wasn''t long before I was huffing and puffing, the blade feeling like a dead weight in my hands. "Gods, I''m out of shape," I groaned, dropping the blade and doubling over to catch my breath. My muscles screamed in protest, and my lungs felt like they were on fire. How long had it been since I had trained like this? Weeks? Months? "Great. I can barely swing a sword for a few minutes without dying." I straightened up, wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand. But despite the exhaustion, there was something satisfying about the practice. I hadn''t fought in ages, and even though it was sloppy and unrefined, I could feel a small flicker of my old self returning.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it "Alright, that''s enough for now." I sat down beside the fire, letting the warmth soothe my aching muscles. The cave was still, the silence broken only by the crackling of the flames. I stared at the sword in my hand, turning it over in the firelight. Baby steps, Lexi. Baby steps. I shifted my attention to the two longest claws still attached to the monster''s grotesque, oversized hands. They were massive, almost ridiculous, but sharp¡ªjust what I needed to make a pair of knives. I twisted the claws from the finger bones, feeling the sickening squish as I pulled them free. "Guess this is better than the alternatives," I muttered, disgust evident in my voice. As I examined them, their potential became clear. They were short, but that didn''t make them any less dangerous. If anything, their serrations made them look even more vicious¡ªperfect for close encounters or gutting smaller creatures if necessary. Holding one of the claws, I repeated the process I''d used for the swords. I chipped away some of the base, shaping it to fit comfortably as a handle. The bones weren''t ideal for a grip, but it was workable. "Ridiculous-looking, maybe, but it''ll do the job," I said with a smirk, giving the knife a small twist in my hand. It wasn''t balanced, and the serrations looked crude, but that could come in handy for tearing through flesh. "Might not win any awards for craftsmanship, but these will do," I chuckled, giving the knives a little test swing. Satisfied, I set them aside with my makeshift swords. A small part of me wondered if I was ever any good at fancy designs¡ªI could almost hear Aunt Nora''s complaints seeing these creations. Chuckling to myself, I remembered there was still a lot to do. Next, it was time to make some tools. I sat down, pulling a few thin bones from the pile. "Needles first," I muttered, picking up one of the finer bones and beginning to chip it down with one of the monster''s claws. Getting them as thin as possible without snapping was a challenge, but the monster''s claws, though serrated, were sharp enough to get the job done. "Damn, these claws are really something. Almost like having a serrated blade," I mused as I worked, my hands deftly shaping the needle until it was fine enough to pierce through the leather. It took a while, but I ended up with a decent set of three bone needles. "These''ll do," I said, examining them in the dim light. They weren''t perfect¡ªnothing about this situation was¡ªbut they were good enough for stitching up leather or even minor wounds if it came to that. After piercing a very small hole at the base of each needle, I placed them into a small pouch I''d made earlier from scraps of the monster''s leathery hide. "Could''ve been worse," I mumbled as I rolled the leather pouch and secured it with some sinew I''d harvested. "Can''t have the needles piercing me." Next up: throwing weapons. I gathered a few of the remaining claws and carefully inspected each one. The claws were naturally pointed¡ªperfect for throwing¡ªbut I had to make sure their weight distribution was even. With some careful chipping and shaping, I turned five of the claws into makeshift kunai. "Five of these bad boys," I grinned, holding one between my fingers and giving it a test throw across the cave. It landed with a satisfying thunk into the cave wall. "Phew..." Now, for containers. I needed something to hold water if I ever found any, and maybe some of the other supplies I''d managed to gather. I thought a leather skin pouch would be better and could store more, but I wasn''t risking it with this leather. I grabbed two of the larger hollow bones¡ªthe femur and humerus bones, I think¡ªthat I''d set aside earlier, figuring I could hollow them out and seal them to make some crude containers. Using one of the claws, I chipped away at the bone, carving it out slowly but steadily. The tough bone resisted at first, but persistence paid off. Soon enough, I had a reasonably deep hollow in one of the bones. "Okay, now for the other," I mumbled, repeating the process until both bones were hollowed out. Next came the tricky part: sealing them. I had some leftover strips of leather I''d scraped from the monster''s hide, and I placed them over the openings of the hollow bones. To get a tighter seal, I''d have to melt some of the bone to act as glue. I placed the ends I wanted to seal over the fire, watching as the bone slowly began to soften and melt. "Come on, just a little more," I whispered, carefully removing the bone from the flames. Once softened, I pressed the leather strips over the openings and used the melted bone to seal the edges. It wasn''t pretty, but it seemed to hold. "Now for the test," I said, grabbing one of the containers and filling it with some of the monster''s blood. I sealed it tightly and watched to see if any blood leaked out. Nothing. "Good sign." After some trial and error, I managed to get three working containers. "Three''s better than none," I muttered, relieved that they were finally done. They weren''t pretty or elegant, but they were functional. At least now I had something to carry water in if I ever found any. I placed the containers aside and stretched my sore muscles. "They should hold around two to three liters of water, give or take." Now that I''d crafted all the tools I could, it was time to gear up properly. I had some leftover pieces of leather¡ªscraps, really¡ªbut enough for what I needed. First things first, I had to make some sheaths for the knives. The blades were short and jagged, so I''d need something sturdy to keep them in place, especially if I planned on keeping them close for quick access. I took the leather scraps and began stitching together a patchwork of sorts, wrapping and overlapping the leather to form a crude sheath. It wasn''t elegant, but it would hold. Using some sinew I''d stripped from the monster''s tendons, I secured the stitching. The sinew was tough, though working with it wasn''t exactly easy. I had to keep pulling it tight to make sure the leather wouldn''t slip. The whole process took longer than I would have liked, but once I was done, I had two makeshift sheaths that were functional enough. "Not too shabby, though really uncomfortable," I said to myself, holding them up to inspect the seams. The leather was rough, and uneven in some places, but it would do the job. I secured one of the sheaths around my ankle with more sinew, wrapping it tightly so the knife would stay in place without restricting my movement. I did the same with the second sheath, strapping it to my other ankle. Once both knives were securely in place, I gave a quick test¡ªdrawing and sheathing the blades as swiftly as I could. It wasn''t graceful, but it worked. With that done, I turned my attention to the kunai. I made a simple bundle by wrapping them in leather, folding the edges, and tying it up with sinew. "That should keep them from rattling around," I muttered, pleased with the compact bundle. I tied it securely to my belt, placing it at my side where I could reach it quickly if needed. Next, I needed some basic protection. I didn''t have any real armor, but I could make do with what I had. I took the remaining strips of leather and started wrapping them around my arms, elbows, knees, and legs. It was more about reinforcing vulnerable areas than actual defense, but anything was better than nothing. The leather was tough and, once tied down with sinew, it provided a bit of cushioning and protection. As I worked, I felt a small sense of accomplishment, like I was piecing together the bare minimum of what I needed to survive. I wasn''t fully equipped, but I was getting there. "Caveman now armored, huh huh," I chuckled, making sure the wraps on my legs wouldn''t hinder my movement. Tight but not too tight. I flexed my knees, testing the range of motion. "Yeah, that''ll work." Standing up, I felt the weight of my tools and weapons on me. It wasn''t much, but it gave me some confidence¡ªlike I was ready to face whatever else this cave had in store for me. The crude knives strapped to my ankles, the bundle of kunai at my side, the patchwork leather armor¡ªit all made me feel a little more prepared, even if I knew I was far from safe. "Alright, that''s done," I said, looking down at my handiwork. I rolled my shoulders and adjusted the makeshift bandages, ensuring everything was in place. My mind was already racing ahead to the next steps. There were still so many unknowns in this cave, and I had to be ready for anything. I sighed, feeling the weight of exhaustion creeping up on me. "Let''s get some quick sleep and move out tomorrow... or whenever I wake up," I muttered, not even sure if it was day or night anymore. Time was a blur down here. Setting up a quick line with bits of bone across the only passageway I could find, I pulled it tight, making sure the bones would clatter if anything tried sneaking up on me. "Shitty alarm trap," I grinned, "but it''ll do." I turned to the grotesque mess that used to be the monster I just gutted and harvested, its lifeless body still slumped in the corner. "Good night, you ugly corpse," I called out with a smirk. "Try not to haunt my dreams, alright?" I lay down near the fire, the soft glow flickering across the cave walls, and let out a weary chuckle as I closed my eyes.
Chapter 07 - First fight and memory
The cave was dark, and the fire had long since gone out. I blinked once, twice, trying to make sense of the blackness surrounding me. That was when I heard it, the faintest clink of bones. My eyes snapped open, instinct kicking in faster than thought. I didn¡¯t move. Not an inch. I lay there, muscles tense but perfectly still, listening. Another clink. Then a shuffle, followed by a low, guttural sound that sent a cold shiver down my spine. Something¡¯s here. I stayed frozen, forcing my body to remain as calm as possible while my mind raced, trying to piece together the situation. The moss on the walls gave off a faint green glow, enough to allow my eyes to gradually adjust to the cave¡¯s dim lighting. As my senses sharpened, I could hear more clearly now, the soft drag of something heavy scraping against the floor, followed by a hiss, deep and rattling, like a snake choking on rocks. How many? The noise had come from near the entrance. A glance at my bone line trap confirmed it had worked ¨C though now, instead of giving me a warning, it had attracted attention. The clinking of bones was drawing something closer. Something that walked with heavy, deliberate steps, crushing the bones underfoot. One monster, from the sound of it. At least for now. I took a slow, measured breath, keeping my chest movements minimal. My body wanted to react, adrenaline urging me to bolt or fight, but I forced it down, allowing logic and instinct to take control instead. Slowly, my fingers found the grip of my makeshift swords, feeling the familiar cold of the bone blades beneath my palms. I clenched my fists around them, firm but not too tight. I couldn¡¯t risk any sudden sounds. Focus. Breathe. Stay still. The creature drew nearer, its raspy breathing growing louder, echoing slightly off the cave walls. I could hear its claws dragging lightly across the stone, the sickening squelch of its steps. It was moving carefully now, cautiously. Smart enough to investigate Through the faint light of the moss, I finally caught a glimpse of it. A hulking figure, larger than the one I¡¯d killed earlier, its head lowered as it sniffed the air. Its breath came in quick snorts like it was trying to pick up my scent. Its skin was the same leathery texture as the other, burned and rotting in places, but this one looked even worse - larger, stronger, and maybe more experienced. It seemed to move with a purpose like it knew something was off. My heart thudded in my chest, but I controlled my breathing. Don¡¯t give it anything to work with. Stay perfectly still. The monster¡¯s head snapped to my side suddenly, and I tensed, every muscle ready to spring. But then I noticed its gaze, it wasn¡¯t looking at me. It was staring at the fire pit. My eyes narrowed as I realized what it was doing. The fire had burnt out, but not completely it was warm, warmer than the rest of the cave. The creature paused there, its slitted pupils dilating as it examined the remains of the fire. I could almost hear its brain working, trying to make sense of the lingering warmth. Heat Sensitive creature. It doesn¡¯t see the heat signature. But it knows something was here or something¡¯s out of place. A hiss escaped its throat as it leaned closer to the fire pit, its claws flexing against the stone floor. Slowly, I allowed my body to adjust, relaxing my grip just enough to avoid any unnecessary tension in my muscles. The slightest wrong move could set this thing off, and I couldn¡¯t afford that. Not yet. I shifted my gaze, focusing entirely on the creature¡¯s movements. It had noticed the carcass of its fallen kin. The grotesque body I had pushed into the far corner of the cave was visible in the dim light, and now the monster was making its way toward it. With each step, the bones beneath its feet clattered, adding to the oppressive sound of its heavy breathing. One wrong move and it¡¯s over. Stay still. Be patient. I suppressed any urge to spring into action just yet. It paused again, this time directly in front of the rotting corpse. I watched as it sniffed the air, then lowered its head to nudge the remains with its snout. A wet, guttural sound came from its throat, almost like a growl. The stench of decay seemed to agitate it, and I could see its muscles twitching, and tightening. It wasn''t just a mindless beast. This one had intelligence. Maybe not much, but enough to recognize that something wasn¡¯t right. I calculated my options. I could attack now while it was distracted by the corpse. But I didn¡¯t know how quickly it would react, or how much stronger it was compared to the first one I killed. One mistake, one misstep, and I could end up like the body lying in front of it. No wait, it will come to me following the heat trail. The monster stood still, looming over the dead body, as if contemplating what to do next. My heart hammered in my chest, my mind racing through every scenario. I needed to learn more about how these things were hunted. Is it vision, sound, or smell? All three? Its head whipped up again, its eyes scanning the area, and my stomach dropped. It knew something was off. I could tell by the way it moved, more alert, more cautious. Its snout turned in my direction, and I had to suppress every instinct to flinch. But then I noticed¡­ it wasn¡¯t looking directly at me. It was looking in the general area, but it wasn¡¯t locking onto me. It¡¯s not fully sensing me¡­ I remembered the moss. The glowing moss was everywhere. If these creatures hunted by sight, the moss would blend in with my glowing weapons. If they used scent, the decay of the corpse might overpower my own. If they hunted by sound, the lingering noises of the fire pit and their own movement might be enough to cover me for now. But then it took a step toward me. Slowly. Cautiously. No time left. It¡¯s getting too close. It sniffed again, loud and deep, as it stepped over the fire pit, the bones under its feet scraping along the stone. Closer. It was right there, maybe a few feet away. My muscles tensed, my breathing as steady as I could manage. I watched it with the eyes of a hunter, absorbing every detail of its body, how it moved, and how it reacted to the environment. If I could figure out its weaknesses, maybe I stood a chance. It took another step, then stopped. The only sounds in the cave now were its hissing breaths and the faint crackle of the lingering embers from the fire. It¡¯s time. With a slow, deliberate motion, I tightened my grip on the sword and waited for the right moment. One chance. That¡¯s all I had. One clean strike. Wait for it¡­ The monster lowered its head again, its dark, piercing eyes scanning the ground around the fire pit, just inches away from where I lay. My heart pounded in my chest, but my mind was calm. Focus. Every other thought, every worry about survival or escape, vanished. The only thing that remained was the creature in front of me and the quiet, deadly certainty that I had to act now. fuu~ The moment stretched on, each second pulling taut like a string ready to snap. The creature¡¯s jagged breaths filled the air, the faint glow of the moss casting eerie shadows across its leathery hide. I could feel the shift in the air as it moved, slow and deliberate, its hulking form creeping closer. It was almost on top of me now, mere inches separating us. One wrong move, one shift of its gaze, and it would see me. I willed myself to stay perfectly still, heart hammering in my ears. I could feel the power surging inside me, the raw, untamed force of Exira building with each heartbeat. It responded to my will, to the rising tension inside me, as if waiting for the right moment to unleash its fury. Now. Everything snapped into place. My will hardened, and in that instant, I felt Exira surge from deep within me, flowing like a torrent of energy through every fiber of my being. The monster¡¯s head jerked up, its nostrils flaring as it finally sensed me, eyes locking onto my position. Graaaaww!This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. It opened its maw to shriek, but before it could move before it could so much as twitch, I slammed my will into it, driving Exira forward with all the force I could muster. The monster froze, a violent shudder running through its body as my power locked it in place. Its limbs trembled, muscles spasming as it struggled to break free, but it was too late. It couldn¡¯t move, couldn¡¯t react. fu! In that same breath, my swords flared with the faint, purplish glow of Exira, the energy coating the bone blades as if they were extensions of my will. I didn¡¯t waste a second. With a sharp exhale, I swung my first blade in a quick, decisive arc, the edge biting deep into the monster¡¯s neck. The blade cleaved through the leathery hide and sinew with ease, cutting halfway through its throat. Blood sprayed, hot and thick, splattering across the cave floor, the creature¡¯s guttural shriek catching in its half-severed windpipe. But I wasn¡¯t done. huu In the next breath, I let go of the first sword, leaving it lodged in the creature¡¯s neck as I gripped the second blade with both hands. My muscles coiled, ready to strike, and in one swift motion, I drove the sword upward, straight through the creature¡¯s skull. The bone blade pierced through its thick hide and into its brain, sinking deep as the monster convulsed violently. Its shrieks grew weaker, more desperate, but I could feel the life draining out of it as the light faded from its eyes. In a final, choking gasp, the creature¡¯s massive body went limp. Its eyes, once filled with violent hunger, dulled and rolled back. Its limbs twitched once, twice, and then stilled. For a heartbeat, everything was quiet. The creature¡¯s heavy, dead weight collapsed onto me, its bulk nearly pinning me to the ground. I grit my teeth, shoving its corpse sideways with all the strength I had left. The lifeless body hit the ground with a heavy thud, blood pooling beneath it, mingling with the dirt and ash of the cave floor. I stood there for a moment, breath coming in ragged gasps, every muscle in my body trembling from the exertion. My eyes darted around the cave, Exira still coursing wildly through me, my senses heightened to the point of pain. Every sound was amplified, the soft crackling of the bones in the fire pit, the lingering echoes of the creature¡¯s final shrieks. But there were no more footsteps. No other movements. I stood, battle-ready, both swords now back in my hands as I scanned the entire cave, waiting for some another monster. My mind was still locked in that hunter¡¯s focus, every part of me prepared for another fight, for another attack. The energy of Exira was still flaring, still burning hot in my veins, making it hard to think clearly beyond the instinct to fight. The passage remained empty. No other monsters emerged. Fuuuu After several long minutes of nothing but silence, I finally let out a slow breath, the tension bleeding out of my body as I slumped back against the wall. My arms ached from the force of the blows, my legs weak from the adrenaline crash, but I was alive. Alive. The monster¡¯s corpse lay in front of me, still and lifeless. Blood dripped from the blade I¡¯d driven into its skull, pooling around the base of the hilt. I stared at it for a moment, my mind still trying to process the fact that I had survived. I reached up, running a hand over my face, trying to wipe away the exhaustion that clung to me. My breathing was heavy, ragged, but at least I was still breathing. The cave was quiet now, the oppressive weight of the darkness surrounding me, but it no longer felt quite as suffocating. ¡° Phew¡­ that went well, I think I did a good job ¡° I glanced down at my hands, still gripping the bone blades, their faint purple glow slowly fading as the last remnants of Exira ebbed away. My thoughts began to clear, the heat of the battle dissipating, leaving behind only the cold realization of what I had just done. I¡¯m getting better at this. I sat slumped against the wall, staring at the monster¡¯s corpse. My hands were covered in blood, it''s blood, not mine. And I killed it. I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the exhaustion pulling at me, but I forced myself to stay awake. There was no time for rest, not yet. I couldn¡¯t afford to be caught off guard again. Before I could move, my vision blurred as a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me. I blinked, trying to shake off the fog that had suddenly clouded over my mind, but then it hit ¨C a memory. Not like the fragmented, disjointed pieces I had been struggling with before, but a sharp, vivid recall, as if I was living it all over again. . . A young boy, no older than fifteen, stood panting heavily atop a boar-like creature, his small frame barely able to hold the weight of his sword. The beast lay dead beneath him, its blood staining the earth around them. The boy was drenched in sweat and blood, his legs trembling as he tried to catch his breath. He was exhausted, his grip on the sword faltering as he leaned heavily on it to stay upright. "Alex!" A stern voice called out, sharp as steel. He jolted upright immediately, nearly stumbling as he tried to snap into attention. "Yes, Mom!" he responded, his voice shaky but quick. Standing before him was not just his mom. Right now she is Artoria Drakesier, the head of House Drakesier, and the one the world calls THE ABSOLUTE. Her reputation was fearsome, and even now, Alexis felt the weight of it in every step she took toward him. Arms crossed, her eyes cold and assessing, she gave him a look that seemed to pierce right through him. ¡°How was the battle?¡± she asked, her voice firm, her gaze unwavering. ¡°What did you think you did wrong?¡± Young Alexis swallowed hard, suddenly feeling very small under her scrutiny. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. ¡°It was¡­ my first time fighting a real monster,¡± he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy. The creature was strong, and my sword¡­ it didn¡¯t even pierce properly.¡± Artoria¡¯s expression didn¡¯t soften. If anything, her gaze grew even colder, her lips pressing into a thin line. He quickly looked away, feeling the weight of her disappointment hanging in the air. "Is that all you have to say?" she asked, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade. ¡°I didn¡¯t know¡­¡± Alexis mumbled, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment, ¡°¡­that Exira could paralyze monsters. I was only using it for reinforcement, to make myself stronger, and for offensive spells¡­¡± Before he could finish, his mother cut him off, her voice cold and dismissive. ¡°It''s been over a year since you awakened Exira, hasn''t it? You can cast fireballs with it now, correct?¡± Excitement flickered briefly in Alexis¡¯s eyes as he nodded eagerly, completely missing the cold look in her eyes or the way Aunt Nora, who stood nearby, subtly shook her head at him as if warning him to keep quiet. ¡°Yes, Mom! I can control fire now, and even telekinesis! Watch, the fire burns really hot! See this?¡± He gestured to the beast beneath him, pointing to the charred hide of the creature. ¡°I burned this tusken boar all the way through!¡± Artoria¡¯s gaze remained hard, unreadable. ¡°So, you know a little about Exira, do you?¡± she said quietly, her voice laced with a cold detachment. She turned her head slightly toward Aunt Nora, who stood a few feet away, a concerned frown etched on her face. "Artoria... Are you sure?" Aunt Nora''s voice trembled slightly, clearly uneasy. "He''s still learning¡ª" ¡°I¡¯ll tone it down. Five percent of its full strength, no more.¡± Artoria''s voice was calm but firm as if her mind was already made up. ¡°He needs to learn and now¡± Alexis, oblivious to the tension between the two, felt a surge of excitement. His mother was going to show him something new! He grinned to himself, his exhaustion forgotten. Finally, he thought. I¡¯m going to learn more about EXIRA! Let¡¯s see what I can¡­ Suddenly, his mind went blank. His thoughts cut off midstream, vanishing into a suffocating void. There was nothing. No sound. No sensation. Just an overwhelming emptiness, like he had fallen into a bottomless pit. What¡­ What was I thinking? The blackness pressed in from all sides, suffocating, inescapable. It was as if everything he was, everything he had ever been, was being slowly stripped away. His dreams, his ambitions, his very sense of self,...gone, swallowed by the endless dark. What¡¯s happening? He couldn¡¯t move, couldn¡¯t speak. His thoughts, his identity, were slipping away like water through his fingers. It was like he was trapped in a place where time had no meaning, where nothing existed except for the weight of this terrifying void. No burdens here¡­ no responsibilities¡­ For a moment, a sickening sense of relief washed over him. The crushing expectations, the relentless training, the constant pressure to live up to his family¡¯s name ¨C it was all gone. Here, in this emptiness, he didn¡¯t have to be anyone. He didn¡¯t have to try. But something stirred within him. A spark of resistance. A flicker of power. The faintest pulse of Exira deep inside him, calling out to him, urging him to push back. To fight. Why should I fight? Alexis thought dimly, the emptiness wrapping around him like a shroud. It¡¯s easier to just¡­ stay here. But the power inside him wouldn¡¯t be ignored. It grew stronger, pushing against the darkness, its force building until it threatened to tear him apart. He could feel it now, burning hot in his chest, like a wildfire raging out of control. Responsibility¡­ The word echoed in his mind, cutting through the fog, stirring something deep inside him. Responsibility. The weight of it pressed down on him, the weight of his family¡¯s name, the expectations he had tried so hard to live up to. But with it came strength. Purpose. The very thing that Exira thrived on. Burden. The word struck him like a blow. His mother¡¯s voice echoed in his mind, her lessons, her expectations, the constant push to be better, to be stronger. To carry that burden. And with that, the power surged. The darkness shattered around him, breaking away like glass. Light flooded his vision, and in an instant, he was back in the training grounds. His knees buckled beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for air as if he had just resurfaced from drowning. ¡°Hah¡­ hah¡­¡± Alexis¡¯s breath came in ragged gasps as he hunched over, clutching his knees for support. His entire body shook with the aftershock of what had just happened. The crushing emptiness, the void¨Cit was gone, but the memory of it still clung to him like a shadow. ¡°Lexi!¡± Aunt Nora¡¯s voice was sharp, filled with concern, but before she could reach him, his mother¡¯s voice cut through the air. ¡°Stand up.¡± Alexis, trembling and disoriented, forced himself to rise. His legs felt like lead, but he obeyed. His mother stood before him, her expression as cold and unreadable as ever. But his mother didn¡¯t ask if he was okay. She didn¡¯t offer a word of comfort. Instead, she regarded him with the same stern, unyielding gaze as before. ¡°That,¡± she said coldly, ¡°was Exira. That was the power you¡¯ve been playing with for over a year. Do you understand now? This is what you¡¯ve been so eager to master.¡± ¡°Wasting its potential and powers all for just being fancy¡­look at the monster, sure you burned its side but how much damage did your Exira flames did¡± With a Swift motion, his Mom skinned the hide of the corpse,¡± See the fire didn¡¯t even reached deep all you did was give the monster burned scars, you imitated flames and thought it looked cool so it would do damage¡± Alexis swallowed hard, still trying to catch his breath. ¡°Young Victor, your friend who you are trying to imitate, remember his source is flames is not imitation but INTENTS like our is EXIRA, I¡¯m not saying your flames can not burn this monster to ashes. But that¡¯s if only you know what flames are and how they ignite rather than just conjuring flames out of air¡± His mind raced with the implications of what had just happened, the overwhelming sense of what Exira and Mom¡¯s revelation. The raw, terrifying power of it. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t know¡­¡± he managed to say, his voice barely a whisper. ¡°You didn¡¯t understand,¡± Artoria corrected him, her tone sharp as a blade. ¡°And now you do.¡± Alexis¡¯s legs threatened to give out beneath him again, but he held firm, gripping his sword for support. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but one thing was clear Exira wasn¡¯t just a tool, it wasn''t just another power to be mastered. It was something far more dangerous, and I swear I¡¯ll have Mom proud of me.
Shattered Reflections II : A family to cherish
Ting Ting. I closed my eyes, forcing my breathing to slow. Inhale¡­ exhale. Focusing on the fragments of the memories that came up. Just like last time Lexi¡­don¡¯t think too much let them flow¡­ The blood and filth of the cave around me faded, replaced by the steady rhythm of my heartbeat pounding in my ears. Goddamn, those are my memories! Why is it so hard to remember¡­ Ting Ting. The faint, rhythmic chime echoed through the storm in my head, pulling me closer to something tangible. Taking one more deep breath to calm the chaos of my thoughts. Easy Lexi¡­ deep breath and focus I reached deeper, clawing through the murky haze. Reaching the memory as the scene changed¡­ . . Ting Ting. I jolted awake, heart pounding, the remnants of a nightmare still clinging to the edges of my mind. For a brief moment, I was back there¡ªamidst the smoke and ash, that day when Dad¡­ The weight of it pressed down on me, suffocating, until reality slowly bled back in. Ting Ting. The sound of my alarm clock blared in the background, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to move. My body felt heavy, worn down from all the training and practice. I shut my eyes, willing the dream away, trying to slip back into the oblivion of sleep. Knock. Just as I was about to fall back, a soft knock echoed through my bedroom door. ¡°Master, are you awake?¡± a shy voice called out to me. ¡°Your alarm has been going off for a while now. May I come in?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Yes, please,¡± I mumbled groggily, my voice thick with sleep. I watched as the door creaked open, and a wild redhead appeared¡ªfirst a cautious glance, then the petite figure slipped inside, tiptoeing carefully. She noticed I was awake and smiled softly, making her way over with a steaming cup of coffee in hand. Layla¡¯s cute and shy demeanor was enough to make me forget about my morning grogginess. Although it was a daily occurrence, I couldn¡¯t help but get used to it. ¡°Good morning, Layla,¡± I said with a grin. She handed me the cup of coffee, and I took a sip, savoring the warmth and flavor. ¡°You know, Layla,¡± I continued, ¡°you don¡¯t have to ask permission. We¡¯ve known each other since childhood.¡± As I spoke, I noticed her cheeks turning a shade of pink. ¡°I know, sir,¡± she replied softly, ¡°but I can¡¯t help it. You¡¯re just too kind to me.¡± ¡°Well, no ¡®sir,¡¯ Layla.¡± I chuckled and patted her head gently. ¡°You¡¯re too cute for me to resist teasing you a little,¡± I said playfully. She smiled shyly and looked away, but I could tell she enjoyed our banter as much as I did. Layla is a shy and timid girl of about sixteen, with long, dark reddish hair cascading down her back in soft waves. Her big, doe-like eyes are a warm chocolate brown that seems to sparkle whenever she smiles. She is petite and slender, with delicate features. Her shy demeanor only adds to her cute and innocent appearance, but beneath her timid exterior lies a heart of gold and a quiet strength that belies her delicate frame. It¡¯s no wonder that I find myself drawn to her kindness and gentle nature and that she has become such an important part of my life. She is the daughter of Aunt Nora, who has been in my mother¡¯s service for as long as I can remember, and they are practically family.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Come on, Master,¡± Layla said, her impatience showing through her usually timid demeanor. ¡°Your mother has been waiting for you to join her for breakfast. You need to get freshened up and ready.¡± She had a cute pout on her face, and her foot tapped softly, impatiently. ¡°I made your favorite pancakes this morning, and they¡¯re getting cold. You don¡¯t want to disappoint your mother, do you?¡± Despite her impatience, there was still a hint of shyness in her voice and a gentle concern for my well-being. I couldn¡¯t help but smile at her, feeling grateful for her care and attention. ¡°Alright, alright,¡± I said, giving in to her coaxing. ¡°I¡¯ll get freshened up and be down in a minute. But you have to promise to save me some pancakes, okay?¡± She grinned and nodded, happy to have gotten her way. ¡°Of course, Master. You can always count on me.¡± I reluctantly got up from the bed, giving Layla a small smile before heading to the bathroom. ... As I passed by the mirror, I caught a glimpse of my appearance. Dark circles had formed under my pale blue eyes with faint purple sparks in them, making them look tired and haggard. My dark hair was a mess, sticking out in all directions. Despite my sharp features, my disheveled appearance made me look more like a wild ruffian than royalty. What are you doing, Lexi? Gotta keep up appearances, man. You are a Prince for god¡¯s sake. I sighed, realizing I had been working too hard lately, neglecting my health and well-being. But that was necessary ¨C if I didn¡¯t improve my techniques, Mom would beat the hell out of me again. ¡°Ugh,¡± I sighed. ¡°Ahem.¡± ¡°Master, hurry up!¡± I decided to take Layla¡¯s advice and moved on from all the dilly-dallying to freshen up, hoping it would make me feel better and more presentable. ... I made my way down to the dining hall, feeling more refreshed after my quick shower. My sister was already there, sitting quietly with a book in her hands. She looked up and gave me a small smile as I entered, her platinum blonde hair falling in soft waves around her cute round face. Despite her reserved nature, I could see the affection for her family shining in her big, blue eyes. Uncle Sebastian, the family butler, was busy preparing breakfast dishes on the table. Despite his age, which was in his fifties, he looked as fit and athletic as someone in their thirties, with his silver hair slicked back neatly. ¡°Good morning, Young Master,¡± he greeted me with a nod. ¡°Good morning, Sebastian,¡± I replied with a smile, taking a seat at the table. My sister looked up from her book and greeted me as well, her voice soft and gentle. ¡°Good morning, big brother.¡± It was good to be surrounded by my family, even if it was just for a short while. Bro, why am I being so melodramatic? The nightmares, probably¡­ As we sat down to breakfast, the grand doors to the dining hall opened, and in walked a woman who commanded respect and attention. It was my mother, Artoria Aurae Drakesier, the current ruler of Europa. She was tall and athletic, with a fit, toned figure that spoke of her battle-hardened past. Her cold and distant nature was well-known to those outside the family, but to us, she was a stern but loving mother. With her long platinum-blonde hair and pale blue eyes, she exuded a beauty befitting of an Empress. Walking beside her was Aunt Nora, her closest confidant and aide. Noralyne Heart, the House Saintess and Advisor of the Drakesier Royal family was a sweet, motherly figure who loved to spoil my sister and me like her own children. Aunt Nora¡¯s long, dark crimson hair fell in curls around her bespectacled face, and her fit figure spoke of a life spent serving our family. Together, they took their seats at the table, joining Layla and Sebastian in our morning ritual. ... The world as we knew it had been forever altered fifty years ago when World War III erupted. Almost every country resorted to nuclear warfare, leaving the world in ruins. The fallout caused uncontrollable mutations in all living beings, particularly animals. Then came the voice, resounding in every being¡¯s mind as cosmic energies flooded the world, leading to a cataclysmic event. The sky turned dark, and space itself tore open, birthing rifts that housed countless monsters. What had once been a prosperous world turned into a desolate battleground, ravaged by fate and time. This was the Darkest Night. ... ¡°Good morning, Mom!¡± ¡°Good morning, Aunt Nora!¡± Both my sister and I spoke at the same time. ¡°Good morning!¡± Mom said with a warm smile. As we began to eat, the conversation turned to our plans for the day. Mom informed us she had a meeting with foreign dignitaries and would be away from the castle after my training. ¡°Ugh,¡± I groaned, knowing escape was impossible. Sensing the mood, Aunt Nora promised to take us to the market to buy clothes for the World Gala. My sister, engrossed in her book, perked up and asked if she could come along. Aunt Nora smiled. ¡°Of course, my dear. We¡¯ll make it a little one¡¯s day out!¡± Sebastian added his usual witty banter, making us all laugh, and Layla nervously suggested lemon tarts for dessert. We all agreed it was a wonderful idea, turning the conversation to our favorite flavors. It was a simple, warm family moment we all cherished.
Chapter 08 - Diving deeper into cave
I held my head as the pain from the memory intensified, my skull throbbing as if it were about to split open A sharp, throbbing pain lanced through my skull like someone was driving a spike straight into my brain. Just as I thought I couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, the chill from my earring washed over me, soothing the sharp ache and leaving a strange sense of calm in its wake. fuu¡­fuuu I exhaled, slumping down against the cold stone wall of the cave, staring at the monster¡¯s corpse. Its grotesque body was a reminder of the violent, bloody moments I had just lived through. My gaze shifted to the fire pit, now little more than ashes and remnants of charred wood. A thought sparked in my mind. I could have lit that fire with Exira. A small, bitter laugh escaped my lips. So much effort was spent on making fire from scratch, and yet, with a single thought, Exira could have done it for me. There were so many things I didn¡¯t fully understand about this power, so much potential I was barely tapping into. I closed my eyes, trying to digest the memory that had forced itself into my mind. Mom¡­ Aunt Nora¡­ Their faces were so vivid like they had been standing right in front of me moments ago. My throat tightened, and I felt the sting of tears welling up. But I quickly shook them away. No, not now. Not here. I took a deep breath, forcing my racing heart to steady. The adrenaline was still there, surging beneath the surface, but I needed to control it. I leaned my head back against the stone and delved deeper into the memory, picking apart the details I had almost lost in the rush of emotions. Exira¡­ it can paralyze, or¡­ I frowned, the memory from the training ground playing in my head. Not paralyze. That¡¯s not the right word. What I had felt under my mom¡¯s Exira wasn¡¯t just a simple stun or incapacitation. It was more than that, something far more terrifying. It was¡­ nothingness, I lost the will to continue and awaited death My skin crawled as I remembered the feeling. That deep, black void that had swallowed me whole, leaving me floating in emptiness. No thoughts, no emotions, no sense of time or place. Just¡­ nothing. It had taken every ounce of my willpower to pull myself out of it, to fight against that crushing weight of oblivion. And yet, that was her Exira at only five percent. I couldn¡¯t help but shudder at the thought. My mom¡¯s power was terrifying, a force that could reduce someone to a hollow shell if they weren¡¯t careful. I had always known she was strong, one of the strongest in the world. And me? I was barely scratching the surface. ¡°Five percent¡­¡± I whispered to myself, shaking my head in disbelief. That was her toning it down for me, for a demonstration. I dug deeper into the memory, focusing on the key detail I had missed before. Exira paralyzes or stuns anyone subjected to it at base raw level, I thought, trying to piece together what my mom had taught me. But as I replayed the memory, I realized it wasn¡¯t just about paralysis. The more I thought about it, the clearer it became. No¡­ it wasn¡¯t just stunning. It was a lack of feeling. It was nothingness. Complete and utter emptiness. That¡¯s what made it so terrifying. It wasn¡¯t just about freezing someone in place. It was stripping away their very sense of self, reducing them to nothing but a blank slate. It wasn¡¯t physical control, it was domination, utter domination. I remember now¡­ Mom had said something to that effect during one of our training sessions. From somewhere deep in my memory, her voice echoed, a sharp reminder of the lesson I had almost forgotten. Anyone who hasn¡¯t forged their will can¡¯t resist Exira¡¯s effects. It gives us full dominance over those with weaker minds or weaker wills. I thought back to the monster I had just fought. It had been stunned, frozen in place by my Exira. But I hadn¡¯t used it to its full potential. No, I had only tapped into a fraction of its true power. The monster¡¯s will was weak, its mind driven purely by primal instincts. If I had focused harder, if I had used Exira the way my mom did, I could have reduced it to nothing more than a mindless husk, unable to resist at all. But that¡¯s dangerous and risky. I''ll attempt to replicate and remember when coming across another monster who isn¡¯t a threat, I reminded myself. Still¡­ A part of me couldn¡¯t help but feel excited at the prospect. Eixra isn¡¯t about brute strength. It¡¯s about willpower, I reminded myself. That¡¯s what made it so dangerous and so valuable. No matter how strong someone was, if their will wasn¡¯t strong enough, they couldn¡¯t resist it. Even if they could deal out more destructive damage, even if they were physically stronger, it would still grant me dominance. I exhaled slowly, trying to let the weight of that realization sink in and not getting ahead of myself. Being grounded in my current situation is better. This wasn¡¯t a power to be used carelessly. My mom had demonstrated that clearly enough. But if I could learn to control it, to wield it as skillfully as she did, then maybe¡­ just maybe, I could close the gap between us. One day, I thought, clenching my fists. One day, I¡¯ll be able to stand beside her. But for now, I needed to stay focused. There was still so much I didn¡¯t know, so much I had yet to master. I couldn¡¯t let the memories distract me, not when I was still stuck in this cave, surrounded by unknown dangers. I pushed myself to my feet, glancing at the monster¡¯s corpse once more. The battle had taken a lot out of me, but I wasn¡¯t done yet. Not by a long shot, I need to quickly harvest this ugly fuck of the materials and move on, staying here will not lead me nowhere. I worked quickly, skinning the monster¡¯s hide with my knife, the rough serrations making the process slower than I liked, but still effective. The hide was tough, leathery, and surprisingly thick, almost like natural armor. Every now and then, I would glance around, making sure nothing else had wandered into the cave. I couldn¡¯t afford to get caught off guard again. As I cut away, I focused on taking the claws and the bone-blades from the creature¡¯s limbs. They had served me well in battle, and I wasn¡¯t about to leave without making use of them. But the hide was important. It could serve as makeshift protection or something to craft with later, so I made sure to skin as much as I could. My hands were slick with the monster¡¯s blood, but I kept moving, rolling up the hide with the bones tucked inside, fashioning it into a rough backpack. I used what sinew and moss strings I had left to tie it together, slinging it over my back. The weight was uncomfortable but manageable. Once I was ready, I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Time to move on, I thought, glancing down the dark passage leading deeper into the cave. I had no idea what awaited me, but I couldn''t stay here any longer. I had to keep going.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. I took a few steps into the passage, the rough stone walls closing in on either side, jagged rocks making the space tight and claustrophobic. The air was cold, damp, and it smelled faintly of decay. I paused, something tugging at the back of my mind, a memory. Exira¡­ I can use it for more than just battle, I remembered. My mom had shown me how to channel Exira into my senses, to heighten them, but it wasn¡¯t easy. The efficiency was terrible, it would drain me too quickly if I wasn¡¯t careful. Still, in this darkness, with danger lurking in every shadow, I needed every edge I could get. Closing my eyes, I focused on the energy inside me, feeling the familiar surge of Exira flowing through my veins. This time, I guided it to my eyes, willing it to enhance my sight. I didn¡¯t push too hard, just enough to sharpen the outlines of the cave around me. The darkness wasn¡¯t as absolute now, the moss glowing faintly along the walls providing a bit more detail. It wasn¡¯t perfect. The strain on my energy was noticeable, but it was manageable for now. Better than nothing, I thought as I continued down the passage. The walls were jagged, scraping against my arms as I moved cautiously, placing my hands against the cold stone to feel for any signs of moisture or vibrations that could hint at movement it must have been at least an hour of finding my way in the passage which would sometime open into small caverns or sometimes multiple paths,I kept on moving straight. That¡¯s when I heard it. A deep, wet crunching sound. Followed by a disgusting slurping noise that sent shivers crawling up my spine. My muscles tensed, and I froze in place, listening. The noises were faint but unmistakable, it was those ugly lizard monsters feasting. More of them? I thought, my heart pounding as I crept forward. My steps were slow, and deliberate, each one taken with the utmost caution. The passage opened up ahead, the space widening into another cave. I peered into the dim light, my enhanced vision picking out the details of the scene before me. Two more of those ugly monsters, their hulking, grotesque forms hunched over a third. It took me a moment to realize what was happening, and when I did, a wave of nausea hit me so hard that I nearly gagged. They were eating one of their own. The poor creature was still twitching, its limbs jerking weakly as the others tore into its flesh, ripping chunks off with disgusting wet sounds. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay silent. My body wanted to react, to recoil in disgust, but I had to keep control. My mind raced as I tried to assess the situation. The monsters hadn¡¯t noticed me yet. They were too focused on their grisly feast. Okay, think, Lexi, I told myself, taking a slow breath to calm the rising panic. Two of them. This is different. You can¡¯t rush in like an idiot. They¡¯re distracted, but that won¡¯t last forever. The smell of blood and rot filled the air, almost suffocating in its intensity. I could feel my stomach churn, but I fought the urge to gag, keeping my breathing steady. The last thing I needed was to give myself away. The monsters continued tearing at the twitching body, their jaws cracking bones with ease. It was brutal, and savage, these creatures had no concept of mercy, no sense of anything beyond their hunger. This is what I¡¯m dealing with, I thought, my grip tightening around my swords. Mindless, primal beasts. They¡¯ll tear through anything, even their own kind, without a second thought. But that also meant they weren¡¯t smart. They wouldn¡¯t be anticipating me. I just had to be careful and calculated. If I could strike at the right moment, I could take them down before they had a chance to react. Still, the sight in front of me was unsettling. My body was tense, every nerve on edge as I watched them devour their own kin. The twitching of the half-eaten monster¡¯s body, the way its eyes were still dimly lit with life even as it was torn apart, it was a sh*t show, a reminder that there was no such thing as peace in this cave. I couldn¡¯t let myself hesitate, though. This was the world I was in now. These were the kinds of creatures I had to deal with. And if I don¡¯t take them down, I¡¯ll end up just like that thing they¡¯re eating. I took another slow, steady breath, adjusting my stance and preparing for what came next. The monsters were still distracted, still feasting. I had the element of surprise. It was time to act. I took a deep breath, the cold, damp air filling my lungs as I centered myself. My heart was racing, but I couldn''t let it cloud my focus. I had to be calm, and calculated just like Mom and others taught me. Fear was natural, but in the face of monsters like these, it was also a liability. And I couldn¡¯t afford liabilities right now. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, feeling the energy of EXIRA stirring deep within me. The familiar surge flowed through my body, reinforcing my muscles, sharpening my senses, and, most importantly, coating my blades in that faint, eerie glow of power. The hum of the energy coursing through me was grounding, centering. This isn¡¯t my first time doing this, I reminded myself. I can handle them. But I wasn¡¯t foolish enough to underestimate these creatures. Not after everything I had already seen in this cursed cave. I placed my tools and luggage down gently, careful not to make any noise. The soft scrape of sinew against the stone floor was the only sound as I crouched low, moving like a predator stalking its prey. My body moved instinctively, the energy of Exira guiding my steps, making me lighter, quicker. I was silent, nearly invisible in the gloom. As I crept toward the two lizard-like monsters, their grotesque forms still feasting on the twitching remains of their brethren, I scanned the cave for any other threats. Two passages ¨C one to my left, the other near the monsters. But no signs of other creatures. Just these two. Good, I thought, tightening my grip on my swords. Just these two. I honed my mind to a singular purpose. Survive. Kill. My will sharpened, and my focus narrowed. The faint purple glow in my eyes grew brighter as I activated Exira¡¯s most devastating property that I know for now, paralyzing the mind of the weak. I knew this would only work if I did it quickly, with precision. My mother had drilled it into me there was no room for hesitation, no room for second thoughts. As the invisible pressure descended on the two monsters, they froze mid-motion, their grotesque heads snapping up with startled grunts. I didn¡¯t give them time to react. In the same breath as the one where I unleashed my power, I was already on the closest monster. Move fast. Don¡¯t hesitate. Just like training, I thought, my body moving on instincts and muscle memory. My first sword slashed across its leathery neck, opening a deep wound that oozed dark blood. The creature let out a guttural hiss, but it didn¡¯t have time to do much else. My second blade plunged deep into its head, the force of the strike driving through my skull and brain. Dead. With a dull thud, the monster dropped to the ground, lifeless. Its body convulsed once, and then stilled. I was already springing back, the wet sound of my blade pulling free from its flesh the only noise that followed me. The second monster was different, though. I could tell just by looking at it. There was something in its posture, size, and color, the way its eyes flared with that same madness and rage I had seen before, but more controlled. More dangerous. For a moment, doubt crept into my mind, but I shoved it aside, my mind already feeling heavy and severe pain creeping up due to excessive use of Exira. No time for doubts. I was already in motion, my body twisting as I brought my sword down in a heavy downward slash, aiming for the monster¡¯s skull. My mind was blank except for the movement, the strike, the feel of the blade cutting through the air. It would be over in one clean hit ¨C just like the last one, but then. Fuck! The monster, still locked under the pressure of Exira, should not have been able to move. Yet, in the split second before my blade connected, it let out a grutal roar that reverberated through the cave, shaking the very ground beneath me. And in that moment, its body twisted, breaking free from the paralysis. My blade, instead of cleaving its skull, slashed deep into its shoulder, carving through flesh and bone but missing the kill. My heart skipped a beat as I felt the impact of the strike reverberate up my arm. The monster bellowed in pain, but it was far from finished. Fuck..Fuck..Damn it! Before I could even react, the creature¡¯s claws lashed out with terrifying speed, catching me completely off guard. Pain exploded through my body as its talons tore into my stomach, ripping through flesh and muscle like paper. I gasped, biting down hard on my lip to stop the scream that threatened to erupt from my throat. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth as I forced myself to stay silent. Stay focused. Stay in control. But the pain was overwhelming. I could feel my insides spilling out, the warmth of my own blood soaking my clothes. My knees buckled slightly, and for a split second, I thought I was going to collapse, the wet feeling was disorienting. Snapping my gaze back towards the monsters and parrying its strike was barely doable like me this f*ck is also hurt. We both were merely a few meters away, struggling, waiting, and watching. Die so soon, I couldn¡¯t. I wouldn¡¯t.
Chapter 09 - Ambushed???
Time seemed to slow as I swung my blade down, the weight of it cutting through the thick air of the cave with a deadly intent. My eyes locked with the monster''s, and what I saw sent a chill down my spine ¨C a wild, untamed fury, and something more dangerous. There was rage, yes, but there was also a raw, almost primal intelligence buried in those eyes. It wasn''t just a beast. This thing knew it was in a fight for its life. Fight for survival. My blade was halfway through its arc, the shimmering purple glow of Exira flaring along the edge. The monster was still trapped under my power, frozen in place as the pressure bore down on it, but something felt wrong. My instincts screamed at me to stop, to move, but I was committed too deep into the motion to pull back now. Just as the blade was about to meet its skull, the creature roared. GRROOOWWWRRR! It was a sound unlike anything I¡¯d heard before deep, guttural, and filled with an unholy rage that rattled the walls of the cave. The force of it shook the air, and in that split second, its body twisted, breaking through the grip of Exira with sheer willpower. My heart lurched as the tip of my sword veered off course, no longer aimed for its head. No! The blade sank into the monster¡¯s shoulder instead, carving through thick, leathery skin and embedding itself deep in muscle and bone. Dark, viscous blood sprayed out, coating my arms, but the creature barely seemed to take notice. The impact should have staggered it, should have dropped it but instead, it looked at me with even more fury, as if the pain only fueled its madness. GRRRAAWR! I didn¡¯t have time to react. In the same breath, the monster¡¯s claws came slashing toward me, faster than I thought possible. My mind barely registered the movement before I felt it ¨C the sharp, searing pain of claws tearing through my abdomen. Ughhhhk Time stopped. My vision exploded with stars, and my breath caught in my throat as agony shot through my body. The claws, like serrated blades, ripped through flesh, muscle, and organs, the wet, sickening sound of my own body being torn open filling my ears. I bit down hard on my lip, the taste of iron flooding my mouth as I fought the scream that threatened to escape. Don¡¯t scream. Don¡¯t show weakness. Stay alive. fuu¡­fuu¡­fuuu I could feel the warmth of my blood spilling out, soaking through my clothes and pooling at my feet. Taking quick small breaths in succession as I tried to control my breathing and my body. My guts, my intestines, were hanging out, slick and wet. The pain was blinding, overwhelming every sense, but I forced myself to focus. I couldn¡¯t afford to lose control. Not now. I stumbled back, clutching my stomach with one hand, trying to keep my insides from spilling out completely. Every movement sent fresh waves of pain crashing through me, but I didn¡¯t let myself scream. I couldn¡¯t give the monster the satisfaction. Fuu..huuu..fu My breath came in ragged gasps as I looked up, seeing the creature discard my blade like it was nothing, letting it stay embedded deep in its shoulders, my blood dripping from its claws. It let out another roar, its eyes gleaming with triumph, as if it knew it had me. As if it knew it had won. But I wasn¡¯t done yet. I wasn¡¯t going to die here. Not like this. The monster let out another vicious roar, a sound that echoed in the hollow cavern, making my blood freeze in my veins. It lunged toward me, claws outstretched and eyes blazing with a crazed hunger. I barely managed to raise my sword in time, parrying the strike at the last second, but the force of the blow rattled my entire body. My arms shook as if they were about to snap, the impact vibrating down into my bones. Too strong... too fast. Before I could even catch my breath, I saw the monster¡¯s elbow blade sweep toward my feet, a deadly arc. I jumped back, just barely dodging it, but I wasn¡¯t fast enough. Pain exploded in my calves as the blade grazed my legs, ripping through flesh like paper. I stumbled, biting back a curse as blood poured from the new wounds. Dammit! Fucker¡­ I tried to retreat, to put some distance between us ¨C anything to buy myself time to think, to breathe. But the monster wasn¡¯t having it. It was relentless, closing in on me like a predator toying with its prey. Another powerful strike came at me, and when I blocked it, the impact was worse this time. My arms trembled under the force, my grip on the sword weakening as I struggled to hold it steady. I¡¯m losing ground... My stomach screamed in agony, the pain almost unbearable as I clutched it with my free hand. My intestines felt like they were about to spill out. I could barely keep my grip on the weapon. The blood loss, the fatigue, the constant pain, it was all becoming too much. I couldn''t hold on much longer. The monster roared again, this time with a sound that was almost gleeful, as if it knew I was at the end of my rope. Its eyes gleamed with triumph as it lunged again, faster than before, claws slashing toward me with deadly precision. No... no, no, no... Time seemed to slow. My thoughts raced, frantic, as I desperately searched for a way out. I couldn¡¯t block this one. My arms were too weak, too shaky. There was no way I could dodge either, not with the way the monster was bearing down on me. I felt cornered, trapped. My body was screaming in pain, but my mind wouldn¡¯t stop. I can¡¯t die here. Not like this. There has to be something... anything... But nothing came. Only the burning agony in my stomach, the exhaustion in my limbs, and the monster¡¯s wicked grin drawing closer, its claws inches from my flesh. Fuck this shit! My vision blurred for a moment, the world dimming as the monster¡¯s face filled my gaze ¨C its bloody maw twisted into a grotesque grin, anticipating the kill. Its claws, soaked in my blood, rushed toward me in what felt like slow motion, a death sentence I couldn¡¯t escape. No. A surge of anger flared within me, an ember of defiance that refused to be snuffed out. I wasn¡¯t going to die here. Not yet. Not like this. Now! With every ounce of willpower I had left, I let go of the sword. It clattered to the ground, useless for now. The monster¡¯s grin widened, thinking I had given up. It had me, cornered, helpless, broken. But it didn¡¯t know what was coming next. My eyes locked onto the beast, and in that heartbeat, everything became clear. The pain, the fear, the uncertainty ¨C all of it disappeared, replaced by a singular, burning focus.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. EXIRA. With a mental command, I summoned it. My hand clenched tight, and I felt the power swell inside me, violent and wild. Purplish flames ¨C intense, searing, burst forth from my hand, surging with a raw energy that pulsed through my veins. The monster¡¯s grin faltered. Its eyes widened in shock, its claws still mid-air, but it was too late. I swung my hand diagonally upward, the flames roaring to life as they engulfed the creature in an instant. A deafening screech filled the cave, the monster¡¯s body convulsing as the flames consumed it. Its claws missed their mark, swiping through empty air as it recoiled, thrashing and rolling in a desperate attempt to douse the flames. The stench of burning flesh filled the air, thick and choking, as the beast let out another ear-splitting scream. Got you. I watched, breathless, as the flames licked across its skin, the purple glow illuminating the cave in an eerie light. The creature writhed on the ground, rolling in a futile attempt to extinguish the fire, but Exira held strong, feeding off the creature¡¯s own life force, growing hotter and more intense. The battle wasn¡¯t over, not yet, but in that moment, I had turned the tide. The creature was no longer hunting me. It was fighting for its life. And I wasn¡¯t going to give it the chance to recover. With a steady breath, I steeled myself. The pain in my stomach, the trembling in my arms all faded into the background. All that mattered now was finishing this fight. I needed to move, to end the monster writhing in flames on the ground. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the pounding pain in my head and the agony of my torn stomach, and reached for my sword. My fingers brushed the hilt, but before I could get a firm hold, a sudden, terrible instinct flared through my mind¨Ca blaring alarm, amplified by Exira. down..now! Without thinking, I threw myself into an awkward roll forward. I barely had time to process what was happening before I heard the whoosh of something slicing through the air right where my head had been a second before. A shiver ran down my spine as I scrambled to my feet, breaths coming quick and sharp. Another one. Another damn monster. I turned, finding myself face-to-face with a smaller but equally vicious creature. Its scales were a darker, muddier green than the larger one¡¯s, and its yellow eyes glowed with a predatory intelligence. It snarled, circling me like a wolf eyeing wounded prey, its jaws pulled back to reveal rows of jagged teeth. My heart hammered against my ribs, every beat sending a fresh jolt of pain through my body. The wound in my stomach burned, a raw and open agony that was nearly blinding. I could feel my intestines pressing against my hand where I¡¯d tried to hold them in, feel the wet warmth of blood slicking my fingers. Focus. Breathe. Don¡¯t let them know how hurt you are. I took a steadying breath, forcing my gaze to sharpen, my focus to harden. The two monsters were now both in my sight: the smaller one prowling in front of me, watching, waiting for an opening; the larger one, still thrashing in pain as the purple flames from Exira licked at its flesh, seemed to be shaking off the fire with brutal determination. I have to act fast. This wasn¡¯t just a fight anymore; it was a race against time. The larger monster would break free from the flames any moment now, and when it did, I¡¯d be facing two deadly creatures with an already failing body. The smaller creature let out a low, guttural snarl, dropping lower to the ground, and began moving in a wide arc around me. It was sizing me up, testing me, searching for any weakness. My body felt heavy, my vision wavered, but I couldn¡¯t show it¨Ccouldn¡¯t let this thing see just how close to the edge I was. Alright, Lexi, I told myself, just stay calm. It¡¯s just two of them. You¡¯ve faced worse... right? The lie tasted bitter, but it steeled my nerves, holding me together when everything in my body was fraying. I adjusted my grip on the sword, trying not to think about how the monster had almost taken my head off. A few inches closer, and it would have all been over. It wouldn¡¯t happen again. The bigger one stopped thrashing, its snarls quieter now, more focused. It was starting to regain control, even as the flames flickered along its skin, subdued but not entirely extinguished. I could see its rage mounting, the hate in its eyes aimed squarely at me. They both wanted blood, and I was running out of time. The smaller one hissed, crouching lower. It was ready to lunge. Alright... if I move carefully, I can get into position to strike the big one before it can fully recover. But the small one... damn it, that¡¯s the problem. I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off either one for a second. Every moment they were both standing was another second closer to my death. My hand was pressed against my stomach wound, warm blood still trickling over my fingers, and I could feel the dizziness creeping in. But I¡¯d fought through worse. I had to believe that. Only one shot. I realized, eyeing the two beasts closing in. I could reach one, but the other would be on me the second I moved. Exira, I thought, steadying myself, I need you now. My muscles tensed, gathering every ounce of energy I had left as I called on that familiar, searing power. I took a breath, letting it anchor me. Exira, I thought, steadying myself, I need you now. I tensed, gathering every ounce of energy I had left, my entire body coiled in a single purpose. As that familiar surge of raw, scorching power flooded through me, my vision seemed to sharpen, the edges of the cavern walls blurring as my focus narrowed to the beasts before me. I focused on the smaller monster, feeling the rush of power surge and build within me. Full strength, I reminded myself, my teeth gritting. No holding back. Memories of my mother¡¯s teaching flashed before me. She¡¯d always said Exira was more than raw power; it was a force tied to my very will, a manifestation of my desire, my focus, my absolute drive. Her voice echoed in my mind, calm and firm: "Exira answers the strength of your resolve, Lexi. If you want something fiercely enough, it will come alive for you, it will become unstoppable." That was all I needed. I willed Exira to respond to my deepest desire¨Cmy need to survive, to win, to make it out of this nightmare, to go home. I wanted it with every fiber of my being. And it answered, surging like fire through my veins, filling me with a strength I didn¡¯t know I had left. I locked eyes with the smaller one, honing in on it with all my focus as a pressure descended. Both monsters seemed to waver under the pressure, their movements slowing, as if caught in a web. Pain crashed into me, blinding and raw, and I tasted blood, the metallic tang hot on my tongue as I coughed. Ignoring the sickening pain in my stomach, the pressure on my chest, I forced myself to keep going. This has to end here. The world dulled to shades of gray as I focused every ounce of my will on the creature, every drop of that dark, burning power pressing down on it. I have you, I thought, feeling its life force, its faint, animalistic mind. It was almost like sensing a candle¡¯s flickering flame in a vast, dark void. I concentrated hard, pushing Exira deeper, tightening my hold on that flame and with a burst of pure, raw power, I crushed it. The monster collapsed to the ground, lifeless. I didn¡¯t give it another thought; I could feel the bigger creature¡¯s presence still looming, its gaze fixed on me, those horrible greenish-yellow eyes reflecting some ancient, primal rage. I locked eyes with it, feeling a surge of power as Exira intensified. It was as if I was staring down not just a beast, but a force of the cavern itself, an avatar of the darkness. The creature shrieked as another crushing burst from Exira surged into it, shaking its head in a frenzied attempt to resist. The pain was crippling, but my will was harder. I have to end this now. The monster froze under the pressure, thrashing against the invisible force, but I was already moving. This is my moment. With every ounce of focus and strength, I lunged, my blade raised, and watched as it flared with a blinding purple flame, alive with Exira¡¯s full power. Time slowed. The edge of the sword seemed to blaze like fire as I slashed downward, and the blade bit deep into the monster, cleaving through its tough hide and into its very bones. I felt the impact ripple up my arm as I carved through it, splitting it in two. A final burst of flames erupted from the blade, extending beyond the monster¡¯s body, searing a deep slash across the cave floor and walls. For a moment, the creature¡¯s massive form twitched, as if it couldn¡¯t comprehend what had happened. Then, in a wet, brutal collapse, its halves fell apart, each hitting the stone with a sickening, final thud. I staggered backward, the cavern spinning around me. My breath was ragged, each inhale dragging fire through my chest. It¡¯s over, I thought, the relief heavy and aching. My vision blurred, darkness tugging at the edges, but I couldn¡¯t fight it anymore. My knees buckled, and I fell back, slumping against the stone wall. I could see the last sparks of Exira fading from the sword, the purple glow dimming until the blade was ordinary once again. The cavern grew dimmer, my senses dulling, and I felt the cold of the stone against my skin. I let myself go, the world slipping away, darkness claiming me as my mind drifted into a welcome, silent void. fuu..I..lived¡­
Chapter 010 - Aftermath and continuing on
The first thing I felt upon waking was the rancid stench¡ªblood, rot, decay, everything fetid that lingered in the aftermath of death. My head throbbed, pounding from the inside like a hammer, and I groaned as I grabbed it, the pain flaring every time I moved. As fragments of memory started piecing themselves back together, snapping me to the moment of that fight, that final desperate stand against the monsters. I managed to sit up, chuckling dryly as I inspected myself. My hands brushed over my stomach, my sides, my arms¡ªevery part of me where those beasts had clawed or struck. There wasn¡¯t a single wound left, not even a scar. "Guess I can¡¯t die just yet, huh?" I muttered, wincing as even speaking seemed to reignite a dull ache. But I couldn¡¯t deny the relief. This is turning into a pattern, I thought. Waking up to an impossible situation, with no clue where I am or why. Looking at the bracelet one more symbol faded away leaving only one more charge. I laughed, the sound echoing back at me. The day I¡¯d woken here¡ªwas it a day ago? Two? It felt like time was running together, and I had only the memories of this place: a cave, monsters lurking, and a lot of near-death moments. When I first woke up here, there had been no memories, no sense of who I was or why I was even alive, just that terrible realization of being prey to some hideous, hungry creature. My chest tightened, and I had to laugh again at the absurdity of it. ¡°If they¡¯d been beautiful women instead of grotesque beasts,¡± I muttered with a smirk, ¡°or even just remotely humanoid¡­ Then at least there¡¯d be a story to tell, right, Vic?¡± I stopped cold, the name lingering on my tongue. Vic, Victor. It felt familiar like part of me knew who I was talking about, but when I reached for more, I found¡­ nothing. Just a vague image of red hair, little more than a shadow flickering in my mind. It gnawed at me, the feeling of something I should remember, someone I should know well. But as quickly as it came, the memory slipped away, leaving an ache I couldn¡¯t quite place. A chill spread through me, the same cold sensation that had stopped the pain in battle, and I knew without a doubt that it came from the earring. This little piece of metal had been more than just jewelry; it was protecting me, shielding me from memories that weren¡¯t mine, thoughts that kept trying to worm their way into my mind. Mom warned me not to use Exira like that, I recalled, faintly hearing her voice in the back of my mind. Reaching out with Exira to touch the mind of another. Fortunately, these ugly ass monsters had weak minds. It¡¯s dangerous, she¡¯d warned when you touch another mind. If you aren¡¯t careful, their thoughts and memories can leech into your own. The images from the battle replayed, the rush of Exira flooding through me, feeling that creature¡¯s small, barely existent mind give way beneath my will. If it had been stronger, I could¡¯ve lost myself in it. The danger of Exira was clearer to me now than it had ever been. I sighed a weariness setting in. I¡¯d only just started recalling these things, piece by piece, and each one felt like the barest fragment of a much larger whole. ¡°Some of the most crucial uses of Exira,¡± I muttered, shaking my head. And I¡¯m only just now remembering how to wield it, I thought, biting back a frustrated laugh. It was a strange irony¡ªwaking up here, piecing myself together from memories I didn¡¯t know I¡¯d lost. I had no idea who I used to be, yet here I was, learning from instincts that felt older than I could recall. I planted my hands firmly on the ground and pushed myself to my feet, though it was a shaky effort. My legs wobbled, nearly giving out under me, and a surge of nausea hit as I straightened. One step at a time, I reminded myself, taking in a slow breath, forcing it to be steady. Channeling just the smallest amount of Exira to support myself, to stabilize my movements, I felt the familiar hum of energy trickle through my veins, lending me enough strength to stand, even if only barely. The cave walls around me blurred slightly, the edges hazy as my vision struggled to refocus. ¡°Can¡¯t stay here,¡± I whispered, the sound of my voice grounding me in the present. ¡°Not if I want to get out of here¡­ reach back to my family.¡± Leaning against the wall, I let my hand brush over the stone, rough and cold under my fingertips. But that was something, at least¡ªa reminder that I wasn¡¯t just some lost soul. I was a survivor. Whatever else I¡¯d been, I was that. As I steadied myself, I felt that odd, intangible sense of strength, almost like the echo of a memory just out of reach. Mom¡¯s voice played through my mind again, her face a blur in the memory, but her words firm. ¡°Exira is more than just strength, Lexi. It¡¯s a part of you, bound to your will, your instincts.¡± My instincts. Those, at least, I could trust. No matter what else I¡¯d forgotten, my instincts had gotten me this far, guiding my hand, helping me survive each fight, each twisted creature that came at me. And if my instincts said to keep going, to test what I knew of EXIRA, then I would. I¡¯d already pushed it further than I should have, but there was no denying its power or the bond that tied it to me. ¡°Alright,¡± I muttered, feeling the faint stir of strength in my limbs. ¡°No more reckless outbursts. I need to learn control. Practice.¡± The word felt strange on my tongue like it was something I hadn¡¯t done in a long time. But it felt right. Whatever else lay beyond this cave, whatever memories I still hadn¡¯t recovered, they would come to me, in time. For now, it was enough to know that I had the power to fight, to make my way forward, to survive. I glanced down at the place where I¡¯d fought that final monster, where the stone was scorched with the last traces of my Exira fueled flames. My pulse quickened, that same thrill and fear returning as I took in the sight. It was proof that I had more strength than I¡¯d thought, and though that power was dangerous, it was also mine. With a tired groan, I pushed myself up from the cold stone floor, glancing around to locate my weapon. There it was, a few feet away, half-buried in the rubble from our battle. I dragged myself over and picked it up, sighing as I looked over the damage. The blade was dented, chipped, and cracked along the edge. It looked as exhausted as I felt. "Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d make it through that," I murmured, giving the blade a faint smile.¡°But thanks for holding up.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. I ran my thumb over the worn steel, feeling its rugged surface. We¡¯d gone through a lot together, and though I could feel its limits, it had done its part, and I owed it some gratitude. In a way, this blade felt like an extension of me¡ªworn, battered, but somehow still holding on. "One more battle down," I said, tucking it into my belt, even though it barely resembled a sword anymore. I¡¯d have to find a new weapon soon enough, but for now, it was better than nothing. With that done, I turned to the corpse of the monster who¡¯d nearly ended me. It was in two clean halves, the flames having burned through it with a raw, relentless energy. I chuckled, the absurdity of it catching up to me. "Not so tough now, are you?¡± I muttered with a smirk, eyeing the beast. Up close, it was even bigger than I¡¯d realized. " A variant? Or an Elite¡± The thought of it being a higher-class monster, an elite sent a chill through me. If this was what I had to contend with, there could only be worse things waiting deeper in. Elite monsters¡­ and if they have elites, then there¡¯s likely a lord. The image of something even bigger, something nastier lurking in the shadows sent a grim shudder down my spine. My confidence wavered a bit as the thought settled in. "Damn it,¡± I muttered under my breath, feeling a knot of dread tightening in my chest. ¡°If this is the level of elites I¡¯ll probably do fine but¡­ I feel like this ugly mf was on the lower end of elites¡± The possibilities tumbled through my mind, each one darker than the last. My eyes lingered on the split halves of the creature, its hide leathery and tough. These things were resilient, armored almost naturally, and I¡¯d had to push myself to the brink just to get this one down. If there were more of these¡­ I shook my head, trying to dispel the rising dread. I took a few steps closer, examining the beast¡¯s limbs. One of my old swords was still embedded in its torso, the hilt protruding from a mess of scorched flesh and charred sinew. I took hold of the hilt and gave it a firm tug. It took some effort, but eventually, the blade slid free with a sickening, wet sound. At least this one¡¯s still intact, I thought with a faint sigh of relief, eyeing the edge. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it would do until I found something better. My gaze shifted to the creature¡¯s bone blades, jutting out from its elbows like deadly extensions of its own body. They were impressive, almost double the length of my sword, sharp, and sturdy-looking. I crouched down, inspecting them more closely. ¡°These things are nasty,¡± I muttered to myself. The blades had a faint sheen like they¡¯d been hardened over time, perhaps from whatever twisted adaptations these creatures had developed to survive. It made sense, though. ¡°You probably use these for ambushes,¡± I said, almost like I was talking to the creature itself. ¡°Lying in wait, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, then hacking your way through anything that gets too close.¡± I could picture it, the way they¡¯d used those elongated, jagged blades to clear the path in close quarters, the lethal combination of claws and bone cutting through flesh with brutal efficiency. I gripped one of the blades and pulled, feeling the resistance as it remained lodged in the creature¡¯s arm. With a grunt, I applied more force, eventually wrenching it free. It was heavier than I expected, but it had a balance to it that felt almost¡­ natural. I weighed it in my hands, testing the feel. It wasn¡¯t ideal, but it might work as a makeshift weapon. If nothing else, it was sharp¡ªrazor-sharp, in fact. I could still see the faint edge where it had sliced through the air during our fight, its surface stained with my blood. The thought stirred a wry chuckle. How poetic, I mused. The weapon that nearly killed me might just end up keeping me alive a little longer. I held up the bone blade, examining it more closely. The natural curve was unlike anything I¡¯d wielded before, but it had a certain appeal¡ªa primal, deadly elegance. ¡°Alright,¡± I said, gripping the blade and lifting it with both hands. "Guess you¡¯re coming with me.¡± With some effort, I worked that one free too, taking a moment to hold both of them, feeling their weight, their rough, deadly surface. These things were more than just weapons. I knew that feeling well. That relentless drive, that needs to keep pushing, no matter how battered or broken. Holding those blades, it was almost like I could feel a connection, a kind of grim respect. These monsters, as horrible and deadly as they were, had their own purpose, their own instincts. And now, their strength was mine. With the blades secured, I took a deep breath, letting the damp, heavy air of the cave fill my lungs. There was no guarantee I¡¯d make it out of here alive, but I¡¯d made it this far. I¡¯d fought my way through monsters, survived near-death more than once, and was piecing together memories I hadn¡¯t even known were lost. After securing the bone blades, I straightened up and cast one last look over the massive corpse, its bisected form lying still in the dim light. What¡¯s that? I noticed something glinting inside the beast¡¯s remains¡ªa tiny flicker of light-catching my eye through the gore, squinting at the faint shimmer. Stepping closer, I knelt down to get a better look. As I sifted through the split flesh and viscera, I saw it: a pale, blood-smeared hand, its fingers curled, poking out from within the creature¡¯s torn stomach. My own fingers froze. I¡¯d seen many horrors since waking up in this damned cave, but this was something new. A human hand, severed or bitten off at the wrist. And on one finger, a small ring caught the light. The sight sent a shiver through me, mingling horror with an odd sense of hope. A ring... on a human hand. Carefully, I gripped the pale fingers and tugged the hand free, doing my best not to think too hard about what I was holding. The skin was still supple, the flesh eerily intact. Whatever it was about the monster¡¯s stomach, digestion hadn¡¯t yet set in. That meant this was recent. Fresh. ¡°No not fresh..ugh what am I even saying¡± I muttered darkly, trying to quell the nausea rising in my stomach. My attempt at humor rang hollow, and I grimaced, feeling an icy dread settle in my gut. But then another thought broke through: This hand was fresh. The owner might still be alive. Hope flared in my chest, flickering alongside the grim curiosity that had been driving me. Whoever this hand belonged to, maybe they were somewhere nearby, waiting to be saved or waiting to be found as a body. I took a closer look at the hand, trying to find anything that might give me a clue. The ring was delicate, and simple, with a castle of sorts engraved on it. I brushed a thumb over it, frowning. Who are you? I shifted my gaze to the torn body of the monster. There were no other remains nearby, no shredded clothes or other fragments of belongings that I could see, but that didn¡¯t mean there wasn¡¯t someone else here. Whoever it was, they¡¯d been unlucky enough to cross paths with this creature, but if the body hadn¡¯t yet begun to break down¡­ maybe they wouldn''t have been dead for long. ¡°Well, feels like a fortune cookie¡­yeah no that doesn¡¯t feel right,¡± I said to the corpse, bitterness creeping into my voice. And I suppose now I have a choice to make. I clenched my jaw, the weight of that decision settling over me. This place was already a hellhole, filled with creatures I could barely handle on my own. But leaving without at least trying to search for a survivor? That sat even worse with me than the smell of decay. I forced myself to take a deep breath, ignoring the stench as best I could. I was going to need every bit of focus and energy I had left if I was going to track down whoever this hand belonged to, my gaze scanning the surrounding stone walls. It wouldn¡¯t be easy, and I had no guarantees that I¡¯d even find anything. But I had to try. The hand looked small and delicate¡ªpale and smooth. Too smooth for a man, a female hand then perhaps. A pang shot through me at the sight, an odd, protective instinct I hadn¡¯t realized I had. Maybe it was just a kid. Someone who got dragged down here. My fingers tightened on the hilt of my remaining weapon. I¡¯d been through too much here to let someone else suffer the same fate. But questions piled up in my mind as I thought about it. How did they even end up here? And who were they? Whoever this was, they had no business being in a place like this, and neither did I. But I was here, and as long as I was, I could try to make a difference. Standing up, I focused on my Exira, letting a faint pulse of power spread through my limbs, clearing away the lingering pain and exhaustion. It wasn¡¯t much, but it sharpened my senses, giving me the clarity I needed. Alright, I thought, trying to steady myself as I took in the surroundings again. Whoever you are, wherever you are¡­ I¡¯ll find you, and then get out of this shit hole.
Shattered Reflections III : Exira
I leaned against the cold cave wall, staring into the oppressive darkness. The memories I¡¯d managed to unlock so far felt like pieces of a shattered mirror¡ªeach fragment sharp, vivid, and haunting. But beyond those fragments? Just a blur. A haze of half-formed thoughts and sensations that slipped away every time I reached for them. My fists clenched as frustration bubbled to the surface. Why can¡¯t I remember? The people, the moments, the connections¡ªthey felt real and vital, but there was always a wall I couldn¡¯t break through. ¡°Damn it!¡± I growled, slamming my fist into the cave wall. The sharp pain shot up my arm instantly. ¡°Ouch¡­ Ahhh!¡± I hissed, shaking my hand and glaring at the offending rock as though it were at fault. I couldn¡¯t help it. " Hahaha,¡± laughter bubbled up, soft and bitter at first, then growing louder. ¡°What an idiot,¡± I muttered between chuckles, shaking my head at my own stupidity. Punching a wall. Great plan, Lexi. now my hand hurts. Taking a deep breath, I slid down to sit on the rough cave floor. Closing my eyes, I focused on steadying my racing thoughts. Inhale¡­ exhale. The sharp sting in my knuckles faded as I turned inward, searching for calm. And there it was. A flicker. Another memory, faint and distant, calling out to me. . . ¡°Alright, before we delve into combat, it¡¯s high time I properly explain to you about our house¡¯s origin art. The name Exira was termed by your father, who was also the first user of it.¡± ¡°Exira, in its most primitive and barebones form, would be a type of mental manipulation, where the user can assert dominance over others.¡± ¡°As you delve more into its mysteries, one truth remains¡ªExira is fueled by one¡¯s pure emotions, most importantly, one¡¯s will.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the first tier of Exira, where it is formless and can be used to do literally anything. It can mimic any other power, be it elemental or physical, but what it is most efficient at is asserting dominance over others.¡± ¡°When you realize why that is so, you will find your path to the next tier.¡± ¡°From there, it¡¯s an unknown path. I cannot tell what yours will be, since every single Exira user has different core abilities. Me, Nora, Sebastian, Mathias¡ªwe all have different Tier I properties.¡± Aunt Nora stood up and moved to stand beside Mom. ¡°Even Daemon and Rose have different Tier I properties, Lexi, and they are vastly different from mine or Mathias¡¯s abilities.¡± Aunt Nora held out her hand, and a white light formed. ¡®So cool, I miss Daemon and big sis Rose. She was so reliable to have around. When are they returning from the battlefields?¡¯ ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lexi¡­ They both will probably be back in a few months and are okay.¡± ¡®Are they mind reading, or am I that obvious¡­?¡¯ Aunt Nora chuckled. ¡°Your face tells everything, Lexi. You should really practice your poker face.¡± ¡°Ahmm, Nora, you didn¡¯t interrupt me just for that.¡±Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Mom¡¯s stern voice froze even Aunt Nora. ¡°Umm, of course not. Lexi, look, this is my Exira Tier form.¡± A bright light erupted from her hands. Though bright, it was not blinding. ¡®It feels so relaxing¡­¡¯ ¡°Comfortable, isn¡¯t it, Lexi?¡± ¡°Yes, Aunt Nora, it feels comfortable.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Exira. Even at Tier I, it affects your mental state and more. This is the core aspect of Exira. Regardless of what form your powers take, it will always carry an aura or evoke emotions.¡± Nodding vigorously, I felt captivated by EXIRA. Mom and the others had always been tight-lipped about it, so any new information was a gift. ¡°My core abilities are Heal, Lexi. That¡¯s all there is to it.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s more than enough for now, Nora.¡± ¡°Now, Alexis, you have never experienced EXIRA combat-wise, so a quick rundown of Tier 0 EXIRA. Ready?¡± ¡°Artoria¡­ are you sure¡­?¡± Aunt Nora¡¯s worried voice interrupted. ¡°I will tone down the strength to around 5% for the demonstration. It¡¯s better for him to get used to it.¡± ¡®Yay, finally! I could learn more¡­ Let¡¯s see what I can lea¡­r¡­n¡­¡¯ Alarm bells rang in my head. I could feel all my thoughts and dreams leaving¡­ Gone. ¡®What was I thinking¡­ nothing¡­¡¯ I don¡¯t know how long I was in that state when a surge of power rose from within me, pushing back the¡­ ¡®To push back¡­ push¡­ what?¡¯ ¡®Am I under threat? Why can¡¯t I just stay here? There¡¯s no burden, no responsibilities here¡­¡¯ The power surged more¡­ ¡®Burden, responsibility.¡¯ These words struck a chord, and the power surged madly, threatening to burst as all my thoughts, dreams¡­ no, myself, came rushing back. ¡®Pop.¡¯ The darkness broke away, and the view of the training ground returned. Mom, Aunt Nora, Ari, and Uncle Sebastian were all there. Huff¡­ Huff. I grabbed my knees, breathing heavily. ¡®What the f¡ª just happened? The darkness¡­ the emptiness¡­¡¯ Looking around, I saw Ari sitting beside me, unaffected. She tilted her head cutely to one side. ¡°Brawther, are you okay?¡­ Your face is very pale, like you saw a ghost.¡± Ari¡¯s cute, baby voice broke me out of my stupor as she patted my head in a comforting manner. Chuckling at her antics, I shook my head and saw Mom¡¯s calm gaze locked on me. Aunt Nora¡¯s worry was visible. Closing my eyes and taking deep breaths to calm my pounding heart. ¡®That was scary as hell! That power surge¡­ that was Exira. It broke me out, or else I would have been lost there.¡¯ ¡®Scary¡­ That¡¯s too scary.¡¯ Shaking my head and gently squeezing Ari¡¯s tiny hand gave me immense relief. ¡°That was the brunt of Exira on your foe. And calm down, Nora, he¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°As I said, it was only 5% of my Exira strength, though I used a technique to multiply the effect significantly.¡± ¡®Techniques¡­ And that was really only 5% strength? I¡¯ll reach that level too.¡¯ Seeing my confusion, Mom clarified: ¡°Exira at its base, first form, is just mental manipulation¡ªyour will, your desires, asserting dominance over others. Like all things, it has a horrible efficiency rate until you reach Tier I. Until then, to truly make use of Exira as more than a parlor trick to impress or stun-lock an enemy, you need techniques.¡± ¡°As for how the interaction occurs between Exira and your enemy, that¡¯s up to you to test and figure out the strength and percentages.¡± ¡°You have just awakened your Exira. Not to mention, you haven¡¯t even been in combat against a true enemy where death is just a misstep away.¡± Lost in thought, I watched Mom walk past me onto the training field with her sword, warming up. Taking the cue, I got up as well. Aunt Nora patted my back with a reassuring smile. ¡®At least Aunt Nora is here. She would fix me real quick.¡¯ Sigh. Joining Mom, I picked up my training sword and began warming up for the inevitable thrashing. ¡®Mom¡¯s preferred weapon for training was the claymore¡ªlong, heavy, broad and frankly, I¡¯m happy she went with a strength weapon rather than her original longsword.¡¯ ¡®Mine was a simple longsword ¡ªdecently broad and long, built for speed.¡¯ . .
Chapter 011 - Finding the Hand owner
Time was a luxury I couldn''t afford, but with a real, tangible link to another human being, I was damn well going to take the risk. The thought of someone else trapped in this hellhole pushed me forward. The more prepared I was, the better my odds¡ªespecially with whatever nightmares lurked deeper down. I tightened the makeshift sling on my back, gathering up the bone-leather bundle that had become my survival kit. It was heavy, but the weight was oddly comforting¡ªa reminder that I wasn''t empty-handed against the horrors here. Glancing over the fresh monster corpses, I grimaced. Digging through their rotten guts to scavenge materials wasn''t exactly my idea of fun, but necessity didn''t give a damn about my comfort. "Alright," I muttered, eyeing the mangled bodies. "Let''s see what goodies you''ve got for me." The stench was overwhelming, but I swallowed down the bile rising in my throat. Using my blade, I started slicing into the leathery hide, pulling it taut to keep it as intact as possible. The skin resisted, tough as old boots, but I gritted my teeth and kept at it. This hide was coarser and thicker than the others¡ªmaybe it''d offer more protection against whatever else wanted to tear me apart. The real treasure, though, was the bone blades. I hefted a particularly large, jagged piece, sizing it up with a nod. "You''ll do nicely," I said, testing its balance. With a bit of work, I could fashion it into a crude longsword. Not exactly a masterpiece, but beggars can''t be choosers. As I worked, I realized I was talking to myself¡ªa habit I''d picked up in this damn silence. "Long enough for reach, heavy enough to bash some skulls..." I murmured, running my thumb along the edge. "Not bad for a DIY project." I fashioned a rough hilt out of sinew, tying it around a shorter bone to create a primitive guard. After a few adjustments, it felt solid in my grip. "One down, one to go," I muttered, moving on to the next blade. The memory of the severed hand flashed in my mind, pushing me to work faster. Who the hell are you? The question gnawed at me, my hands moving on autopilot as I carved and bound the materials. The urgency was like an itch I couldn''t scratch. With both blades secured, I inspected my handiwork. They were crude, sure, but they''d hold. And right now, that was all that mattered. Better reach meant better chances of staying alive. I gathered some leftover hide and started patching up my tattered clothing. "Fashionable," I snorted, glancing down at the ragged layers. But at least it''d add a bit more protection against stray claws and jagged rocks. "Good enough," I said, tying the last piece around my shoulders. The patchwork armor wasn''t going to win any style awards, but down here, function trumped fashion. Adjusting the weight on my back, I secured the bone-leather bundle. Each scrap I added felt like another layer between me and the abyss. "A poor man''s armor," I smirked. "But it''ll have to do." Before setting out, I swung one of the new blades experimentally, testing its weight and balance. "Not too shabby," I admitted. These would do some real damage. "Time to find your owner" I whispered, glancing at the severed hand resting nearby. Fully prepared, I set the hand and ring before me, crossing my legs as I steadied my breath. My eyes traced the pale, lifeless skin, the delicate glint of the ring still clinging to the finger. Whoever you are, I''m coming for you. I''d made it this far¡ªno way in hell was I stopping now. Closing my eyes, I let Exira flow through me. Its energy pulsed in rhythm with my heartbeat¡ªa powerful, elusive force. Each inhale ignited a quiet blaze within; each exhale calmed the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind. This wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d tried to seek out someone¡¯s essence, but it was the first time I was doing it after the amnesia. Still, I let the Exira work, its threads weaving and whispering, searching for a match to the essence left behind in this small, cold hand. Gradually, the dark cavern around me began to glow faintly as a lattice of threads took shape, each one alive with a soft, otherworldly shimmer. This was no ordinary sight; this was the realm of the Exira. Each thread represented something ¡ªa life, a trace of energy, a remnant of power all connected somehow to the world around me... Focus...Lexi, I reminded myself, forcing myself to return my concentration to the hand. I couldn¡¯t let myself get lost in the sheer scope of what I saw. This place was vast. Exira revealed so much, yet all of it would only overwhelm me if I didn¡¯t direct it toward my goal. Taking a deep breath, I channeled all my focus on the hand. I reached out mentally, feeling the faint pulse of essence embedded in the ring and hand, seeking out any trace that would lead me to its owner. And then, gradually, I began to sense something, a thread, dim yet distinct, quivering softly as it responded to my focus. My pulse quickened. This was it. I focused harder, narrowing my vision until all I could see was that single, faint thread. It pulsed gently, like a heartbeat, calling out to something far beyond this cavern. A memory flashed¡ªMom''s voice, gentle yet firm. "Let Exira guide your steps, Lexi. Don''t force it; trust it." I exhaled, letting her words ground me. Slowly, the thread glowed brighter, steadying as if acknowledging our connection. Opening my eyes, I rose to my feet, rolling my shoulders to shake off the stiffness. With the thread etched into my mind, I packed my gear, pocketed the ring, and spared one last glance around the cave. "Time to move." The narrow passage I followed was nothing but jagged rock and shadow, winding deeper and deeper, forcing me to stoop and sidestep sharp stones jutting from the walls. With each step, I felt that faint connection pulsing ahead, a beacon guiding me through the darkness.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°One step closer,¡± I muttered, willing myself to stay focused. The thought that I might not be alone in this place pushed me onward with a strange mixture of dread and anticipation. My journey through the passage continued in silence, my steps echoing faintly off the walls. The silence felt oppressive, each breath magnified in the confined space. ¡°An hour of walking through this place¡­,¡± I muttered, feeling a bit of the fatigue seeping into my bones. But I pressed on, my hand occasionally brushing the cold stone walls to steady myself. Eventually, I found myself facing a dead-end, the pulsing thread of essence leading me straight to it. Confusion crept in. ¡°This¡­ can¡¯t be right.¡± I traced my fingers along the cold, unyielding wall, searching for any crack, any hidden passage. But there was nothing. Just stone. Frustration welled up, mingling with doubt. I took a step back, staring at the wall, feeling that faint pulse still tugging at me, urging me forward. Did I mess up something? Or maybe¡­ I knelt down, pressing my palm against the wall and channeling Exira into my fingertips, letting it flow outward, searching for any hidden essence that might reveal an entrance, nothing just a wall. Standing in front of the wall, I muttered to myself, ¡°Maybe a hidden door¡­ or maybe a sealed passage.¡± For a moment, hope surged through me. But the longer I stared at the stone, the more it looked unbreakable, unyielding. I tried everything that came to mind, every trick I knew with Exira, channeling energy, attacking the wall with a quick, concentrated burst¡ªbut nothing made so much as a dent. With every failed attempt, the wall stayed stubbornly silent. My fists clenched, my frustration mounting as I felt the familiar pang of doubt creep in. "Son of a bitch!" I cursed, slamming my fist against the stone. Pain shot up my arm, but I welcomed it¡ªit was better than this maddening dead end. "Alright, think," I told myself, taking a slow, controlled breath. This wasn''t the first time something seemed impossible. Closing my eyes, I let Exira flow within me, concentrating on directing it outward, allowing the familiar warmth to wash over my limbs as I visualized it. This time, I shifted my focus from brute force to something subtler, something that required patience. I needed to feel beyond the wall, to search for any indication of space, an opening, any detail that might reveal a way forward. Gradually, I let Exira seep into the stone, my awareness following it. It was difficult, the stone was dense, cool, resistant¡ªbut I was beginning to feel something faint, a slight change in the energy on the other side. "There''s something¡­," I whispered, excitement creeping in. It wasn''t directly ahead¡ªit was higher up. I tilted my head, sensing the vertical distance. Not a door¡ªa damn opening above me. I stepped back, assessing the situation, letting Exira gradually expand out around me. It was like I¡¯d created a small bubble of awareness, almost as if I were seeing the cave with a new sense beyond sight and sound. With Exira, I could feel everything around me in great detail, the subtle shifts in the stone, the minute air currents, even the faintest vibrations. My sphere of perception extended upward, feeling my way around the rocky walls, and finally found the spot that confirmed it. But now comes the hard part. I glanced at the wall, calculating the distance to the opening. It was easily seven or eight meters up¡ªa distance that, without some serious creativity, was impossible to reach. My hand instinctively went to the bone knives I¡¯d salvaged earlier. I studied them, noting their weight, the sharpness of their edges, and the odd comfort they provided. Channeling Exira into the blades, I focused on stabilizing their structure, feeling the power settle into their edges, solidifying them. I needed to be careful with the energy, too much and the blade would shatter on impact; too little and I¡¯d be left climbing barehanded. Testing my weight, I dug one blade into the wall, the bone sinking in just enough to hold firm. ¡°Not bad,¡± I murmured, giving it a testing tug. With a second blade, I carved out another hold a few inches higher and grinned despite myself. This would be my makeshift staircase. Not exactly elegant, but functional. "Up we go." I started the ascent, my fingers gripping the bone handles tightly as I climbed one step at a time, each stab of the blade met with resistance from the dense rock. My heart raced, the height growing with every foothold I created. Despite the chill of the cave, sweat beaded on my forehead, and I clenched my jaw, refusing to let myself look down. The rhythmic pattern¡ªstab, step, reach¡ªbecame almost meditative, each move forcing me to focus entirely on the task at hand "Don''t you dare slip," I warned myself, teeth gritted. The rhythmic pattern¡ªstab, step, reach¡ªbecame a mantra, blocking out the screaming protest of my muscles. Mom''s voice echoed in my mind again. "Patience and control, Lexi. That''s where true strength lies." I snorted. Halfway up, the muscles in my arms started to burn, the effort of holding myself against the wall and stabbing new footholds taking its toll. I took a deep breath, shifting my weight carefully as I made my next move. The weight of the bundle slung across my back shifted uncomfortably, but I ignored the distraction, determined to reach the top. After what felt like an eternity, I reached the edge. With a final heave, I pulled myself up and collapsed onto the cool stone floor, gasping for breath. "Made it," I panted, a weak laugh escaping me. "Hell of a workout." As the adrenaline started to fade, I sat up, taking in my new surroundings with a measured breath. The opening was narrow, barely enough to stand. I took a step forward, crouching as the ceiling lowered, eventually forcing me to my knees. The stone pressed in from all sides, scraping against my shoulders as I crawled forward, the rough, cold surface pressing against my palms. The air was thick and stale, damp with an earthy smell that reminded me just how far below the surface I was. "Almost there," I whispered, crawling through the tight space. My body ached, every muscle protesting. But a faint light ahead spurred me on. At last, the tunnel ended. I eased myself toward the edge, peering out into what lay beyond. Below, a larger cavern spread out, shrouded in shadow. My eyes adjusted, picking out details as I squinted into the darkness. Stone pillars lined the cavern walls, jagged and sharp as if formed in a rush of molten rock long ago. But what drew my attention most was what lay directly across from me. Or rather, who? Taking a slow breath, I slipped down from the ledge, dropping a short distance and landing with a soft thud. I straightened, dusting off my hands, but my gaze remained fixed on the figure slumped against the wall across the cavern. At first, it was only a vague outline¡ªa still form, almost part of the rock itself, but as I drew closer, details became painfully clear. The owner of the missing hand slumped against the wall, a pool of dark blood pooling beneath him, congealing on the rough stone floor. I felt a deep sense of dread settle in my stomach as I sighed, kneeling closer to check for a pulse. what¡­. But just as I reached out, I froze in shock, my breath hitching in my throat. Long, pointy ears protruded from beneath the matted hair, a distinct feature that marked him as something other than human. My heart raced as I processed the implications. Shit An elf¡­I don¡¯t have memories of elves being on Earth¡­
INTERLUDE I : Lore Journal I
Historian Mira Vyexil Journals of House Celeste
One of the oldest surviving records of the time of CATACLYSM
Salvaged Entry 1: The Awakening of the Earth "None of us saw it coming. When the Earth stirred, we thought it was just a tremor. As if we hadn''t already had enough ¡®natural disasters¡¯ to deal with. Then the sky, yes, the sky broke open like some kind of bad joke. I swear, if I hadn¡¯t seen it myself, I would¡¯ve called it absurd. But no, the ground began to shift too, and we realized we were living on a planet that was alive. Aware. And just like that, we were punished for centuries of treating it like a disposable doormat." Looking back, the beginning of the Cataclysm feels almost unreal. I mean, how do you even prepare for the Earth itself turning sentient? Spoiler alert: you don¡¯t. At first, the tremors were mild. We chalked it up to regular tectonic activity. "Oh, it¡¯s just the Earth doing its thing," we said. You know, the usual geologist chatter. Then, of course, came the day. Fifty years ago, and I still have nightmares about it. The tremors turned violent like the planet was waking up from the world''s worst hangover. The sky didn¡¯t just crack, it shattered. The Earth didn¡¯t just shift; it groaned, as if it had been asleep for eons and was now stretching, cracking its back, and saying, ¡°You humans have overstayed your welcome.¡± People who were there say they felt the ground move differently. Not like an earthquake, but like the planet was actually shrugging us off. A few survivors I interviewed described it as... unsettling. Yeah, that¡¯s one way to put it. I¡¯d have called it "Oh my gods, we¡¯re screwed."
Salvaged Entry 2: The First Signs We should¡¯ve known something was wrong. The air, for starters, had this heaviness, like when you¡¯re about to get bad news but you don¡¯t know it yet. It pressed down on us like the atmosphere itself was giving us a warning, a slow build-up to the cosmic punchline. The birds stopped flying. That should¡¯ve been the dead giveaway pun intended. And the animals, well, they weren¡¯t exactly subtle. Restless, nervous, like they knew something we didn¡¯t. Which, frankly, they did. The trees though, that''s where it got creepy. Marsha Elins, a tough survivor, one of those ¡®I¡¯ve seen it all¡¯ types, told me how the forests in America started acting... off. "The trees... they started to grow in ways I''d never seen before," she said. It wasn¡¯t just the branches twisting unnaturally¡ªoh no, it was worse. She swore the leaves were watching her. Now, I don¡¯t know about you, but if I¡¯m walking through a forest and the foliage starts eyeing me, I¡¯m running. But she stuck it out. Until the roots broke free and started moving. Yeah, crawling like snakes. That¡¯s when Marsha decided it was time to pack up and leave. Smart woman. The reports kept pouring in.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Africa¡¯s deserts shifting like sand dunes with a mind of their own, swallowing entire villages whole. The Amazon? It didn¡¯t just grow, it became hungry. Vines pulling people in like they were on some kind of aggressive plant crusade. There¡¯s no real way to describe that level of bizarreness except it sucked. And then the animals followed suit. The predators got bigger. Some sprouted extra eyes, others grew talons sharper than steel. The prey, well, they evolved too. Horns, spikes, fangs where none had ever been before. Like nature was giving us a reality check: ¡®Survive this, if you can.¡¯
Salvaged Entry 3: The Fall of Civilization So, you¡¯d think the whole world turning into a nightmare would be the worst part, right? Wrong. The real kicker was watching civilization collapse like a sandcastle in the rising tide. One-quarter of humanity just... poof. Gone. They didn¡¯t even have time to react. Cities crumbled. Buildings, with all our marvelous ingenuity, couldn¡¯t withstand the Earth¡¯s tantrum. Skyscrapers fell like toys. And let¡¯s not talk about the floods. Rivers and lakes rebelled against the dams, breaking free and swallowing whole regions. I met a soldier once, Lieutenant Gregor Sloan, stationed in the Australian outback. The guy survived, but barely. "We tried to maintain control," he said, "but the beasts came first. Mutated kangaroos..." And, look, I tried to keep a straight face, but mutated kangaroos? It sounded like something out of a child''s twisted wet fantasy. But he wasn¡¯t joking. They were massive. And when the land started breaking apart? Convoys, people, everything just swallowed whole. The Earth, literally and metaphorically, had had enough of us. Australia, like so many other places, became a no-man''s land. Entire continents poof. One day they were there, the next, they were nightmares on a map. And then the Hydra oh, we¡¯ll get to that monstrosity later claimed the entire region. Those who made it out still can¡¯t talk about it without breaking down. Heads for days, each one more terrifying than the last.
Salvaged Entry 4: The Energies Then, amidst all the madness, humans stumbled onto something because we always find something, don¡¯t we? We realized that this weird energy, the one warping everything, could be... used. Yeah, some bright minds figured out that we could interact with it. Not me, though. I just wrote about it. The kids were the first to change. Ironic, right? The youngest ones adapted quickest, feeling the energy like a second heartbeat. Some could manipulate it, shaping it, like some kind of primal magic. People were scared of them at first, of course. Nothing new there. If something¡¯s different, humanity either fears it or tries to destroy it. Marla Chen, a researcher out of Beijing, documented the shift. "It was the children," she wrote. "They could feel it, bend it. For those who couldn¡¯t? They died." She¡¯s blunt like that. Either you evolved, or you didn¡¯t. And if you didn¡¯t, well, nature wasn¡¯t waiting around.
Salvaged Entry 5: ##$!@@ The Earth had officially reclaimed itself, and we were left with a choice to evolve or perish. I guess we managed to survive, barely. But the world we knew? It¡¯s gone. Forever. Now, it¡¯s a living, breathing thing, and we¡¯re just trying to stay on its good side. The Cataclysm wasn¡¯t just the world changing. It was the Earth¡¯s way of saying, ¡°You had your chance. Now it¡¯s my turn.¡± And so, here we are. A new era. A terrifying one, but hey, we made it this far, right? Let¡¯s see how long we last.
Chapter 012 - The Elf
What in nine hells¡­ The sight of the elf¡¯s body felt like a blow, a shock that rooted me to the spot. I stared, unable to look away, as disbelief tightened my chest. The elf¡¯s figure was so still, a haunting quiet draped over him in death, his once-lively form now cold and empty. But what shocked me were those ears¡ªpointed, slender, unmistakably inhuman¡ªwere the most striking feature, casting everything I thought I knew into doubt. I stepped closer, almost against my will, as if seeing him up close would explain away what my mind refused to accept. "No... that can''t be right," I whispered, barely recognizing my own shaky voice. I was sure there were only humans on Earth. There were monsters yes, intelligent beast races yes but no Elfs¡­only in fairy tales of long forgotten past had their mentions. My memories were shattered, scattered in fragments that I could barely piece together. But I knew this much¡ªor at least I thought I did. Every instinct screamed to stay back, to keep a distance from this disturbing revelation. But curiosity, or maybe denial, pushed me forward. Trembling, I reached out, my fingers brushing against the pointed edge of his ear, as if merely touching it would somehow confirm it wasn¡¯t real. But the skin was cool, firm. The ear didn¡¯t vanish or dissolve; it was solid, undeniable. ¡°It¡¯s real¡­¡± I muttered, fingers jerking back. A tremor ran down my spine, unease clawing its way through me. ¡°This¡­this isn¡¯t a trick.¡± The words echoed hollowly in the cavern, offering no comfort. My own memories, hazy as they were, insisted that elves didn¡¯t exist, that they were nothing more than myth or legend. But here, slumped against the wall, was undeniable proof to the contrary. My hand reflexively rose to press against my temples as if I could press the confusion out of my skull. Fragments of memories, distorted and foggy, flickered through my mind. There had been incursions¡­ yes those invasions that happened decades ago¡­ they had different races..ughh. Of all the fragments of my memories, one was the clearest when the sky shattered and that¡­eye¡­ and then darkness, those events were just before I woke up here I think. And yet, everything I remembered, everything I thought I knew, felt like it was slipping away under the weight of this one encounter. Did an incursion happen? ¡°What else¡­what else do I not know?¡± I whispered, my voice taut with the strain of trying to hold onto my sanity. A tightness settled in my chest, and I took a shaky breath, but even that did little to calm me. It was like looking down into a dark abyss, knowing there was more to be uncovered, but terrified of what I might find. How could I trust my memories now? Exira flared within me, reacting to my turmoil. The energy surged wildly, filling my veins with a thrumming power that seemed to echo my thoughts, growing more unstable with every passing second. I clenched my fists, struggling to rein it in, but it felt like trying to contain a storm with my bare hands. "Stop... Stop Dammit," I muttered, but the surge continued¡ªchaotic, relentless. The walls seemed to close in, shadows deepening, and my mind spiraled with questions I couldn''t answer. What if the cataclysm had broken more than just the world¡¯s surface? Or What if¡­ I¡¯m not even on earth?... And then, like an icy breath, a chill radiated from my earring. The metal dragon coiled around my ear, cold against my skin, and with it came a sudden clarity, a stillness that cut through the storm of my thoughts. My pulse slowed, my breathing evened, and Exira finally settled, retreating from the edges of my mind. I inhaled deeply, closing my eyes for a moment, letting the strange calm settle over me like a balm. The earring¡¯s chill lingered, grounding me, reminding me that panic would only lead to destruction. Slowly, I opened my eyes, my gaze returning to the elf¡¯s lifeless body, the unsettling truth that lay in front of me. I wasn¡¯t going to get answers by panicking and thinking about this useless stuff. My memories were incomplete¡ªthat was clear. They were like pieces of a puzzle scattered across my mind, fragments of a past I had no control over. I wasn¡¯t whole, and the more I fought against that reality, the more I would slip. But every time I fought to death, fought with Exira the memories came back¡­little by little¡­ fuu~ ¡°Fine,¡± I whispered, exhaling slowly. ¡°Fine. Maybe there are things I don¡¯t know¡­ things I can¡¯t remember yet. But I¡¯ll find the answers.¡± I forced myself to step back from the elf¡¯s body, my gaze lingering on the pointed ears one last time. He had secrets, too, stories locked away that would never be told. Rest in peace, whoever you were As my resolve solidified, my thoughts and will seemed to converge, blending into a singular, focused purpose. I could feel Exira aligning with me, its energy condensing into a smooth, steady flow that circled around me, lending clarity to my mind and calmness to my body. It was as though my thoughts themselves were now part of Exira¡¯s current, every swirling doubt and curiosity feeding into a steady, unwavering direction. "Damn dragon earring saves the day again," I muttered, touching the cool metal pressed against my skin. I mentally offered a quiet thanks. Its chill had steadied me when I needed it most. I took a slow, deep breath, letting it fill my lungs and then exhaled, allowing the clarity Exira provided to settle into my bones. My gaze shifted back to the elf, the unyielding presence of his still form resting against the stone wall. His appearance was otherworldly handsome and ethereal, most of all unsettling even in death. Kneeling closer, I extended a hand, fingers brushing against his neck to check for a pulse, though I already knew the truth. His skin was icy, the chill of death settled deep. No pulse. He''d been gone for days, his life snuffed out long before I arrived. Slowly, I allowed my gaze to travel over his features, studying him with an intense curiosity that was only sharpened by Exira¡¯s clarity. His skin was pale, nearly white, a pallor that reminded me of ice or polished marble, utterly devoid of the warm tones typical of human skin.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. His face was lean and sharp, each angle almost unnaturally defined, giving him an ethereal beauty that was stark and cold. His pointed ears were longer than I¡¯d realized, more exaggerated up close, almost knife-like in their slender shape, adding to the strange, haunting allure of his appearance. Even slumped against the wall, the elf¡¯s height was impressive. I gauged he was at least six-foot-five, maybe even taller. In life, he must have had a striking, imposing presence, one that would have turned heads, elicited a mix of curiosity and wariness. Now, all that presence, that life, was gone, leaving only a silent form clothed in dark leather and shadow. Reminding just how dangerous the cave is, I¡¯m fortunate that I didn¡¯t run into any hordes or big groups else I might have joined him too. fuu The armor he wore caught my eye next. It was a peculiar kind of armor, like nothing I¡¯d ever seen before or was used to from my memories, the style was more medieval. Dark leather, almost black, but with a sheen that suggested a kind of reinforced quality. My fingers drifted over it, testing its resilience. To my surprise, the leather felt firm yet flexible, its surface smooth but with a hint of rough texture. I pressed a bit harder, noting how it resisted the pressure. It was crafted to withstand impact, that much was clear, but it felt like it could also absorb strikes without restricting movement. No tech¡­pure craft. Curiosity nudged me to test it further, so I unsheathed one of my bone knives, the familiar weight comforting in my hand. I gave the armor a light slice, watching as the blade skated over the surface, barely leaving a mark. I tried again, pressing a bit harder, but the leather seemed to resist even more. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s enchanted and it was specially built for someone agile, someone who needed both protection and mobility in equal measure probably for a scout type. It''s nice quality It is reinforced at key points, too: metal plating over the chest and shoulders, sections designed to cover vital areas without hindering the wearer¡¯s range of motion. The pants matched the armor in both color and material, a similar dark leather that looked deceptively simple yet was anything but. The plating extended down to his thighs and shins, covering areas that would be critical to protect in combat. The armor design was minimalistic, plain in its aesthetics, but there was a kind of elegance in its simplicity. Every piece seemed placed with purpose, crafted for someone who valued efficiency over style. That tells a lot about the creator. Over the armor, there was a dark leather cloak, long and plain with a hood, dark purple leather was used to reinforce the edges. Its material was thicker than I¡¯d expected, likely weatherproof, offering another layer of protection. The armor looks well thought out and not only pleasing to the eye but also extremely practical for hunting and exploring. ¡°This guy entered this cave willingly, so probably a hunting party or an explorer. Judging by the stuff I¡¯m sure it¡¯s former that means there must be more of the party and some probably still alive¡± My eyes trailed to his remaining hand. His fingers were long, and calloused, evidence of years spent wielding a weapon or working with skilled precision. Yet there was only one adornment on his entire body¡ªa single ring on his left hand. I examined it closely, noting its simplicity: a plain band with a single gemstone embedded in the center. The stone was dark, almost obsidian, with a faint glint that caught the dim light. I wondered if it held some significance or was merely a personal token. A dark leather backpack rested beside him, matching his armor¡¯s material. I reached out, fingers brushing against the leather, noting its texture. Like the rest of his gear, it was practical, designed for durability rather than aesthetics. It felt sturdy, and reinforced, like it had been built to endure rough terrain and harsh conditions. ¡°Well now the hard part¡­¡± After a few moments of silent observation, I closed my eyes and knelt by the elf¡¯s side. It felt strange, praying over a being I¡¯d only just encountered a stranger in every sense¡ªbut there was an undeniable pull that urged me to honor him. The quiet, only being I saw other than those ugly monsters, even in death, deserved recognition. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you were, or what brought you here,¡± I murmured softly, voice barely a whisper in the chilled air, ¡°but I hope you find peace, wherever you¡¯ve gone.¡± ¡° I would get your personal belongings to your kin and put your gear to good use. Thank you truly ¡± The stillness around us seemed to deepen, as if the cave itself were listening. The usual persistent drips of water, the whispers of drafts through unseen cracks, all seemed to still for a heartbeat. Then, breathing deeply, I steeled myself for what I had to do next. Survival required that I strip him of his armor, of anything that might serve me. My fingers hesitated at the clasps of his cloak, feeling almost like an intrusion, a final insult to his dignity. But practicality forced my hand. This armor might save my life. This armor, for all I knew, was meant to endure against things I had yet to face. Working carefully, I stripped the elf of his belongings, handling each item with a kind of gratitude, in the slow, deliberate motions. The dark leather cloak came off first, its weight solid in my hands, more than I¡¯d expected. Then, I unclasped the plated chest armor, marveling at the way the pieces connected. The metal didn¡¯t have the cold, lifeless shine of steel, but instead a burnished finish that seemed almost alive in the dim light. Removing it was an exercise in patience, each section coming undone with a soft, echoing click. Every time I undid a strap or latch, the quiet seemed to thicken, growing heavier. The pants followed, along with the shin guards, and finally the gloves. Bit by bit, he was stripped down to a plain undershirt and trousers. ¡°Yeah not touching your undergarments at least mine survived as well¡­I should wash, mine real quick though when i get the chance ¡° Shaking my head, I studied the ring, the dark gemstone resting in its center. Was it a token of rank? A reminder of someone he¡¯d loved? Or simply a symbol of his people? The gemstone seemed to hold a glint that caught even the faintest light. After gathering everything and putting them in either my sack of leather bundle or the backpack, I hefted the elf¡¯s body, surprised by how light it felt. The weight was almost nothing¡ªa strange contradiction given his size. I moved further down the cave, the steady, cool draft Exira had shown me earlier guiding my steps. Maybe there was an opening nearby, someplace where he could rest in peace rather than burning within these suffocating tunnels. I wasn¡¯t about to turn this confined place into a charred grave. The echo of rushing water grew louder as I walked, drowning out even my own footsteps. The sound was unmistakable¡ªa waterfall, hidden somewhere beyond the twists and turns. My heart quickened at the thought. Real water, fresh and untainted. After another turn, the source revealed itself: a small waterfall trickling from the rock wall into a pond. Relief coursed through me as I put the elf¡¯s body down, positioning him gently in a quiet corner, just away from the pool. A sigh escaped me as I stood back, letting my gaze linger on his form for a few more moments. Exira pulsed in my veins, a steady, calm warmth that felt almost like it was watching over me. I took a steadying breath, then closed my eyes, summoning Exira. It surged through me, strong and fierce, brightening with my intent. Extending my hand, I directed its energy toward the elf¡¯s body, letting it flow freely until it caught. The flames that Exira conjured were intense, yet strangely warm, igniting with a ferocity that didn¡¯t falter. They spread quickly, engulfing the elf¡¯s body, transforming it into an ethereal pyre in the darkness of the cavern. Shadows flickered along the cave walls, thrown into dancing shapes by the light of the blaze. The fire burned quickly, consuming him until nothing remained, not even ash. When the last of the flames died away, I stepped back, feeling an odd sense of finality. The air was still again, the cave silent as ever. I turned away, letting my eyes fall on the pile of gear I¡¯d collected¡ªthe armor, the ring, the cloak, even the sturdy leather backpack which I¡¯ve yet to open but water first. Only then did I turn back to the pond, ready to quench my thirst. The urge to dive in was strong, but I caught sight of my ragged, filthy reflection and held back, not wanting to defile the only clean water I¡¯d seen in¡­ well, however long it had been. I knelt instead, cupping the cold, fresh water in my hands and drinking deeply. Laughter bubbled out as I took each sip, the coolness spreading through me like a balm. Kneeling beside the items, I ran my hand over the armor¡¯s surface. The leather felt smooth, the metal plating solid beneath my fingers. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to use them to their full potential ¡± Exira surged with odd calm as another memory came¡­
Chapter 013 - Memory and new shiny stuff
¡° I¡¯ll make sure to use them to their full potential ¡± As the words left my mouth, Exira surged with odd calm as another memory came. . . The memory flickered to life like an old, cherished film. I was sixteen I think, seated on the floor of Aunt Nora¡¯s study, surrounded by a jumble of scrolls and strange artifacts. The air was thick with the scent of ink and something spicy that lingered in the corners. Aunt Nora was there, her crimson hair cascading like a waterfall around her shoulders, framing her striking features. She was known to the world as the White Saintess, a title that carried weight and reverence, but at home, she was playful, full of mischief. And god how much I miss her teasing. ¡°Lexi,¡± she said, a wise glint in her eye, ¡°let your Exira flow towards the sword. Let it encompass the item with the intention of reading its origin. Focus your will, and the enchants will reveal themselves to you. C''mon, try it.¡± I nodded, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling within me. ¡°Yes, Aunt Nora.¡± fuu I took deep breaths, centering myself. As I closed my eyes, I let the familiar feeling of Exira surge through me, weaving its way toward the sword placed before me. It was an ordinary-looking blade, but I was determined to finally read its enchants so Aunt Nora may start teaching me how to actually enchant the items. As my Exira connected with the metal, I felt a shift in my perception. The shape morphed in my mind, threads swirling like smoke around the sword, forming a spiral that beckoned me closer. ¡°Yes, very good, Lexi,¡± Aunt Nora encouraged, her voice a gentle nudge. ¡°Stay in that state and will your mind to see its origin, its memories.¡± I concentrated harder, grappling with the intent. The threads flickered, and I struggled to grasp the meaning hidden within them. There was a moment where I felt a sensation¨Ca sharp feeling, like something piercing through. It was so vivid, so real, yet I couldn¡¯t fully comprehend it. ¡°It clicked,¡± I thought, the connection snapping into place. ¡°Stabbing... or was it piercing?¡± The clarity was fleeting, like smoke slipping through my fingers. I opened my eyes to find Aunt Nora smiling at me, her expression filled with pride. ¡°So, how was the experience?¡± she asked, her tone encouraging. I hesitated, trying to find the right words. ¡°It was... not really clear, Aunt Nora. But I felt a stabbing or piercing sensation or intent from it.¡± Nodding, Aunt Nora¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Good! That¡¯s one of the enchants. Now, what¡¯s the word for that feeling? Not in English...¡± ¡°Ferro ¡­ no that¡¯s the sword right?, I think,¡± I replied, recalling the old term. ¡°Penetrans¡± ¡°Good! Very good, Lexi,¡± she beamed. ¡°Next, we will go through what you¡¯ve learned and then finally, some enchanting.¡± As I sat there, the memory intertwined with the present, and I regained a piece of my own. . . Why didn''t my memories come when I fought something? But why, I hadn¡¯t battled anything. All I did was pay my respects to the elf¡­ unless Exira is the one actually restoring my memories while the earring suppresses any chaos that may result from it¡­no chaos from my emotion, my desire and my will. Everytime I fought it was near death, desperate to survive as after every fight I accepted something about me and forged my will to move. My will is all that matters With the sudden revelation, I felt calm. I sat there for some time just sitting and doing nothing, thinking nothing as I basked in the calmness. With newfound clarity, I glanced down at the leather armor and gear I had collected from the elf¡¯s lifeless body. The smooth texture of the leather beneath my fingers was reassuring, a tangible connection to the skills Aunt Nora had imparted. Could I use Exira to feel the history of these items? The thought excited me, igniting a spark of determination. With a deep breath, I let my Exira flow once more, guiding it towards the leather, the sound of water oddly satisfying and calming. This time, I focused on reading its origin, I closed my eyes, allowing the energy to envelop me, the flow becoming smoother as I practiced. ¡°Restituo¡­Durabilis¡­yes that¡¯s it mild self-repair and durable along with protection very faint not enough for intent but there¡± Opening my eyes, I exhaled slowly, the memories lingering in my thoughts.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Thanks for this, It¡¯ll come along nicely¡± I whispered, feeling an odd connection to the fallen elf. Now that I got some of my memories back the armor was, okay not that strong. I ran my fingers over the engravings on the metal plating and leather surface, channeling Exira to inspect the enchantment further. It was basic. Efficient enough, sure, but without much finesse. ¡°Decent materials,¡± I muttered, my voice echoing slightly. ¡°What¡¯s with enchants? the quality of leather and raw material this armor is made of is top notch yet the enchanter botched it¡­either the owner made these enchants himself or the level of enchanter is low¡± I sighed. I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that it should¡¯ve been more, that this piece could have held greater potential with the right enhancements. ¡°But since I don¡¯t have the memories of enchanting anything, just the feeling I can¡¯t tell if it should be doable easy or difficult to do¡± I stared at it for a long moment, trying to piece together fragments of what I knew. It wasn¡¯t much, but some things were clearer now, especially around enchanting and crafting, skills Aunt Nora had painstakingly taught me. The memory drifted back, sharp and clear: she¡¯d shown me how enchantments could work together, layering their effects to create a synergy that was more powerful than any individual spell. I smiled wryly, remembering something about the concept of set effects. Enchantments that didn¡¯t just do a job but complemented each other in such a way that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. This armor had the quality for that but no such enchant, maybe some financial problems or the others can¡¯t be nitpicking too much the armor as it is, is a boon to me. ¡°Hmm, considering its current enchants it would be a mortal 2 ¡ï ranked gear ¡° The ranking systems she¡¯d explained flickered in my memory. I muttered them under my breath, feeling the familiar cadence of her teachings. ¡°Mundane, Mortal, Overmortal, Immortal, Divine¡­¡± Each tier marked not just strength, but also the range and potential of what the enchanted gear could achieve. The words brought a grin to my face as another fragment of memory surfaced ¨C Aunt Nora scoffing as she described how House Zhao, of all people, had formalized these rankings. I could almost hear her voice: ¡°Those Zhao bastards and their endless obsession with nirvana, with enlightenment through ranks and power.¡± She¡¯d laughed then, a sound that had always seemed so odd coming from someone the world called the White Saintess. And here she was, almost mocking those lofty ideals. With a soft chuckle and shaking my head, I hefted the armor. ¡°Guess the mortal tier is all we get today.¡± Though I was quite happy at least it had some enchants on it and very practical at that. I folded it carefully, laying it alongside the other stuff I¡¯d taken. Despite its limitations, it was still leagues better than the ragged clothes I¡¯d been wearing since the moment I woke up in this nightmare. I pulled at the torn shirt clinging to me. Discarding the rags felt like shedding a layer of the past few agonizing days. I laughed as I realized my underwear had survived most of it unscathed. ¡°One small victory,¡± I murmured to myself. I crouched down by the edge of the water, forming a ball using exira and dipping the remaining cloth and scrubbing it as best I could. Seeing the water ball change as it became dirty and ughh , I flinged the water at the far end of the cave, not bothering to think of it. Exira had really become much smoother to control with the more memories I unlocked. However, it still puts a stain on my mind using Exira for any fine work. Scooping water in my hands, I poured it over my face, relishing the coolness against my skin. Seeing the wet underwear which I was sure in hell not wearing without drying, I had an idea seeing my newfound fluidity in controlling Exira. I tried to conjure just the warmth of the flames without any flames I remembered Aunt Nora showing me how to focus my will, reminding me to respect Exira, not force it. ¡°Think of it like a stream, Lexi,¡± she¡¯d said. ¡°You guide it, not command it.¡±. Then I tried with steam, the water in my hands grew slightly warmer as I practiced, and a surge of satisfaction washed over me. I leaned back, watching the steam rise gently from my hands, and chuckled. "I guess all those lectures are paying off," I muttered to myself, a small smile tugging at my lips. Even here, in this desolate cave, her teachings felt close, Aunt Nora¡¯s steady voice guiding me through each step, each process. The thought brought a sense of grounding I hadn¡¯t realized I¡¯d needed. A shiver ran through me, but this time, it wasn¡¯t from the cold. Wearing clean clothes¨Cwell, at least my underwear¨Cwas a small but gratifying victory. It was a strange comfort, but one that reminded me of home and normalcy. ¡°Now I¡¯m ready to tackle the world,¡± I chuckled, knowing how ridiculous I probably sounded. The laugh slipped out without permission, something that felt almost¡­ childlike. Hadn¡¯t felt that way in ages, and yet, here I was. After a moment, I turned my attention to the armor laid out on the rocks, taking in the dark leather sheen of it. Now that I could examine it up close, it looked cool, the way it caught the faint light filtering in from the cave¡¯s opening above. I picked up the chest piece, feeling its surprising sturdiness despite the natural give of the leather. No matter how I examined it, the armor was high quality, plain but undeniably functional. ¡°Whoever made this, sure had taste,¡± I murmured, turning the piece over in my hands. Just tough, practical leather with reinforced plating where it mattered. Slipping the armor on was more awkward than I¡¯d expected. The size difference between me and the elf was noticeable; he had been taller, and broader, a fact that left the armor sitting a little loose around my shoulders. Not loose enough to throw me off balance, thankfully. I tightened the straps, trying to get it as snug as possible. ¡°Not bad,¡± I mumbled, giving an experimental roll off my shoulders and stretching out my arms. A little big, but it wasn¡¯t cumbersome. No rattling, no sliding. I shifted around, threw a few punches, and swung my arm with an imagined blade. Satisfied, I strapped on the leg armor, adjusting the buckles until they felt secure. The cloak was the last piece, heavy and dark with enough length to drape across my shoulders and fall well past my knees. The fabric was surprisingly soft against my skin, a strange relief after everything I¡¯d been through. Adjusting the cloak, I pulled the hood up over my head, testing its weight and coverage. ¡°Not bad at all,¡± I said, almost proud of how I looked now. From looking like a beggar and a hobo, I now looked somewhat decent. The cloak hung well, long enough to cover me but not so long it¡¯d trip me up in a fight. I drew the bone blade from its makeshift scabbard at my side, giving it a few test swings. Even with the new armor on, my range of motion felt decent. Nothing snagged, nothing shifted out of place. Satisfied, I took a long, final drink from the pond, filling myself with the water¡¯s coolness and grounding calm. Then, I returned to my spot by the edge, laying out everything else I¡¯d gathered. Now came the real task of sorting through the elf¡¯s belongings, piecing together anything useful from the haul I¡¯d stumbled upon. ¡°Let¡¯s see what is in the booty I gained ¡±
Chapter 014 - Sorting through the booty
Sitting cross-legged by the waterfall, I took a deep breath, letting the peaceful rhythm of water cascading down rock walls soothe my nerves. The sensation of the cool air, the soft padding of leather against my skin, and the gentle weight of my new armor made me feel a strange sort of peace. After so long, it felt like I was finally clothed, sheltered against the world. The quiet satisfaction seeped into my bones. ¡°Let¡¯s see if I find anything useful in the booty I gained ¡° I glanced down at the small trove of items I¡¯d collected, spread out on the ground before me. There wasn¡¯t much, but each piece held potential¨Ca backpack filled with all the things the late elf had carried, a leather bundle with bone and other small keepsakes, and two long, curved knives. Not exactly a bounty of treasures, but in a place like this, even the smallest advantage felt like gold. The blades were well-balanced but disappointingly plain¨Cno engravings, or enhancements, just clean, functional steel. I shrugged. They might lack enchantments, but I wasn¡¯t complaining. Sighing, I reached for the backpack, turning it over in my hands to take in its details. The design surprised me. It was modern, almost strangely so, with a decent locking strap mechanism that held it closed. As I flipped open the strap and unbuckled the front flap, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a slight excitement at the idea of discovering something useful or maybe even¡­familiar. I checked the main compartment, but before diving in, I noticed two smaller pockets at the front. Starting with the first, I unbuttoned it and reached inside, my fingers grazing something thin and papery. Curious, I pulled out what seemed like a parchment. It had a few words scrawled across it in a language that looked entirely alien to me. I tilted it in the faint light, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar script, but nothing clicked. Behind the parchment were a few photos, worn but still intact. Holding them up close, I leaned back and let the mossy light ball I¡¯d conjured illuminate them better. The first picture made me pause. The late elf, the one I¡¯d found slumped and lifeless, was captured here in a far more joyful moment. He stood with two other elves, all three of them in casual clothing and laughing, holding what looked like beer mugs. Their faces were bright with happiness, almost radiating warmth through the faded image. I couldn¡¯t help but smile at the picture, despite the pang of regret I felt. These people had a life once, friendships, laughter¡­ My eyes fell to the next photo, and I blinked in surprise. A woman, also an elf, her beauty was undeniable, even in the dim cave light. Her blonde hair framed an elegantly angled face, and her emerald eyes glinted with life, mischief even, as she looked at the camera. I could feel my face heating up, realizing I was staring a little too hard. "Bro, don¡¯t go making eyes at your savior¡¯s possible girlfriend," I muttered, shaking my head. But her presence was striking, and I had to admit. Finally, I picked up the last photo, and my face morphed into a frown as I studied it. The same elf as the one I¡¯d found dead, alongside the blonde elf, but now he was in hunting gear, his expression focused and intense. He stood in the foreground, and behind him loomed a colossal, shadowy structure¨Ca towering black pillar that seemed to reach for the sky, visible even at what looked like a great distance. I squinted at the photo, feeling a cold shiver pass through me. The pillar wasn¡¯t familiar; none of my memories held any trace of a monument like this. And judging by its scale, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d forget something so enormous. Just the sight of it sent a jolt of unease through me. I tried to ignore the frantic questions bubbling up, but the more I thought about it, the more the picture began to feel like a lead weight in my hand. A pillar of black that is tall¡­ what did it mean? My breathing quickened as panic started to edge in, the vague thought of something missing, something I should know, whispering at the back of my mind. I closed my eyes and forced myself to breathe deeply, counting the seconds until the feeling began to ease. The chill of my earring returned, its familiar cooling sensation brushing across my mind like a calm hand on a restless shoulder. It brought me back from the edge, steadying my thoughts. Another possible memory gap. But panicking wouldn¡¯t fill it in any faster. I put the photos back inside the parchment and returned them to the pocket, letting out a sigh. All this place had shown me so far were memories I couldn¡¯t fully trust and glimpses of truths that made my head spin. I leaned back against the cold stone, pressing my head back and focusing on the simple rise and fall of my breath, letting the last traces of panic ebb away into the cavern¡¯s chill. The noise of the waterfall grew steady again, that soft, endless rhythm grounding me as I looked over the items once more. I reached into the other pocket, hoping for something useful, maybe even a clue. My hand closed around a small leather pouch, the edges soft and worn from years of use. I carefully pulled it out, noting how it was rolled up tight, and began to unfurl it. As the layers came undone, my nose caught a faint, salty aroma that made my stomach grumble in anticipation. Meat. Dried, salted strips of meat. I couldn¡¯t help the grin that spread across my face; it had been so long since I¡¯d tasted anything that remotely resembled actual food. ¡°Ohh thank the lords, also weren''t elves supposed to be vegetarians¡± I muttered, my voice low and a little teasing, as if the elf¡¯s spirit could still hear me. Without hesitation, I grabbed one of the jerky strips, eyeing it briefly before bringing it to my mouth. It was thin but substantial, preserved just enough to keep its texture and flavor intact. As my teeth sank in, I was hit with a wave of saltiness, sharp and comforting all at once. The taste of salt felt like a rare treat. Somehow, even with the slightly leathery texture, the meat was juicy, bursting with flavor as I chewed. I hadn¡¯t even realized how much I missed that taste¨Cthe way food, real food, could make you feel alive in ways that stale bread or dried roots never could. "Mhm," I mumbled, savoring the first strip longer than I probably needed to. The salt had softened the toughness of the meat, making it oddly tender despite its dried state. The tangy, preserved flavor lingered on my tongue, filling me with a strange kind of gratitude for this small comfort. It wasn¡¯t a feast, but it was nourishment, real nourishment. I felt almost¡­ normal, just sitting here eating in the quiet of the cavern, letting the flavor settle into my bones.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. After a few moments of savoring, I reached for another piece, then another. By the time I was done, I had devoured three strips, feeling my energy slowly creeping back to life with each bite. It was hard to resist eating more¨Cthe flavor was so tempting, the salt still dancing on my tongue, but I forced myself to pause. There was a surprising number of strips, around forty-seven by my quick count, all neatly rolled and packed. They were meticulously bundled, each piece rolled tightly into itself, probably rationed for journeys or days when hunting didn¡¯t yield results. The late elf had been prepared, and now, I¡¯d have to be smart enough to ration what was left. I couldn¡¯t let hunger or nostalgia take over. Sighing contentedly, I reached down and grabbed some water, letting it wash down the remnants of salt and jerky that still clung to my mouth. The coolness of it felt refreshing against the salt, and I took a deep breath, feeling the odd comfort of a satisfied stomach, a feeling I¡¯d forgotten I could have. Sitting here, leaning back with the echo of the waterfall murmuring nearby, I felt almost like I was in some hidden oasis, a reprieve from everything, just for a while. As I rummaged through the pouch again, my fingers brushed against something else¨Cthree small bundles, tied tightly with a simple knot. Curiosity piqued, I pulled one of them out and carefully undid the thread, revealing a few small white grains in my palm. Salt. I let out a small laugh, Salt was more than just a spice; it was survival, preservation, and comfort. And somehow, this late elf had been carrying a few small bundles, each preserved like a tiny treasure. I knew I¡¯d need to use it sparingly, but it was more than welcome. I quickly checked the other bundles and grinned when I found one of them held something red, powdery, and when I tasted it, it burned with a slight kick. Spice, simple but potent. How long had it been since I¡¯d tasted something spicy? Setting the pouch aside, I rolled up each bundle carefully, retying the threads and stashing them safely back in the pocket. ¡°He dived into the cave prepared for exploration and I¡¯m sure he was not alone, a party judging by the gear¡± , feeling an odd kind of respect for the elf. With the pouch securely back in its pocket, I closed the button, running my fingers over it to ensure it was tightly fastened. After sifting through the front pockets, I turned my attention to the main compartment of the bag, tugging it open with cautious excitement. The first thing that met my gaze was a diary, feeling the cover was leather-hard leather. It was thicker than I''d expected, its cover smooth and polished yet sturdy. The pages seemed white in the dim light,it was too tempting me to just scribble on them. It had a simple locking mechanism on the side, keeping it neatly closed. A ribbon attached to the diary served as both a bookmark and a holder for a small dark colored pen. Setting the pen aside for now, I flipped through the pages. The first ten to fifteen were filled with dense handwriting in some foreign language. Here and there, I noticed small illustrations¡ªsketches, perhaps, of plants or symbols but nothing sparked any of my memories. As I flipped through, a few loose pieces of paper slipped from between the pages, and I carefully unfolded them. They looked like documents, with unfamiliar stamps and signatures. Both of them bore the same inked emblem ¨C a mountain-like design etched in thick, black lines. I squinted, hoping the image might trigger something, but nothing surfaced. Sighing, I set the documents aside and focused back on the pen. It was sleek, capped tightly at the top, and when I removed the cap, I saw it had a fountain design. well I see why not¡­ Not being able to keep my curiosity at bay, I scribbled in the back of the diary, and felt oddly satisfied seeing the ink flow smoothly across the paper. Haha that was refreshing¡­look at my abstract masterpiece. Laughing at my antics, I kept the diary aside and pulled out a metal canteen. Its weight was a surprise, considering it sounded empty when I shook it. Maybe it was made from some unusually strong material to avoid leaks, a sturdiness that felt reassuring. I placed it next to the diary and continued my rummaging, feeling around the inside of the bag. There was a smaller, chained pocket sewn into the bag, hidden from casual sight. I fumbled with the clasp before finally pulling it open. Inside, I found a small metal cylinder, just five or six inches long, with something sloshing softly inside when I shook it. ¡°What could this be?¡± I murmured, examining the cylinder closely. One twist of the cap later, a rich earthy smell hit my nose. The liquid that oozed from the cylinder was dark and thick¡ªink. I capped it quickly, a little giddy with the thought of having real ink on hand. ¡°Great now I have both ink and paper, I will write a rising star novel¡± Shaking my head and laughing at the silly antics I was doing, I pulled out a slim, metal card next, about the size of a credit card, with a faint dragon-like logo engraved on its surface. Some words were etched below the dragon in the same foreign language as the diary. When I attempted to examine it using Exira, I felt an unexpected sensation ¨C a faint pulse like a heartbeat, tugging at my senses. It seemed to point me in a particular direction, as if guiding me. ¡°Well, I guess that sorts out which way I¡¯m going,¡± I muttered, amused but relieved to have some kind of lead, however odd it was. The last item I pulled out looked like another cylinder, though it was longer and much more industrial in appearance than the ink container. On one side, it had a small, circular white stone embedded in the metal. It had a hand grip carved along its side, and the opposite end was sealed shut. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± I murmured, running my fingers over the cool metal. I was about to put it aside when a thought struck me. Maybe it was enchanted? Using Exira, I focused on the item, noticing a soft flow of energy centered on the stone. I turned it over in my hands, fiddling with the design, until, quite unexpectedly, a brilliant light shot out, blinding me as it illuminated the entire cavern. My heart leaped into my throat as my vision whited out, the sudden brightness right up against my eyes. ¡°Arg! fuck!¡± I yelped, dropping the cylinder as my head jerked backwards strongly hitting the cave walls. Spots danced across my vision, half-cursing, half-laughing as I tried to shake off the blinding light. ¡°Of course¡ªof course it¡¯s a damn torch!¡± I said, laughing at my own idiocy as I rubbed at my eyes with one hand and head with another. ¡°Of all the ways to find out¡­fuck that hurts¡± It took a moment for my vision to clear, and when it did, I found myself chuckling at the absurdity of the moment. I hadn¡¯t felt such a ridiculous kind of shock in quite some time. Looking at the damn torch it looked and felt durable and long-lasting. I flipped it off, letting the darkness fold back in around me as my eyes adjusted. The cave was fully lit, all the colors and details were fully visible, best of all the brightness was just right. ¡°Well,¡± I muttered, grinning to myself as I had a ridiculous thought running upto the monsters and blinding them while screaming, ¡°Let there be Light!¡±
Shattered Reflections IV : Artifacts
The cave air was cool, tinged with the faint metallic tang of the forge''s dying embers. I flexed my fingers, still sore from the last few projects, and stared down at the scattered tools and materials on the workbench. The weight of not knowing gnawed at me Sure, I could do things ¨C work metal, craft artifacts, even channel Exira when I focused hard enough ¨C but the how and why still eluded me. I hated it. Hated feeling like I was fumbling around in the dark, relying more on instinct than understanding. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. ¡°If I¡¯m going to survive this world, I need more than just a knack for figuring things out,¡± I muttered to myself. ¡°I need answers.¡± That was when Aunt Nora walked in, her arms laden with shimmering materials, her expression somewhere between amused and determined. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you looking all broody today,¡± she teased, setting her load down with a flourish. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lexi. By the time we¡¯re done, you might actually understand what you¡¯re doing.¡± I looked up, raising a brow. ¡°Oh, great. Another one of your ¡®you¡¯ll thank me later¡¯ lessons?¡± She smirked, holding up a chunk of Oretheon. ¡°Absolutely. Sit up, kid. You¡¯re about to get schooled.¡± And that was how it began. . . . The forge was quieter than usual, the lingering warmth of the flames providing a cozy backdrop as I sat at the workbench, fidgeting with a small chunk of Sallowstone. Aunt Nora stood across from me, sorting through a pile of materials with her usual practiced ease. ¡°You¡¯ve been doing pretty well so far, Lexi,¡± she said, glancing at me with a smile. ¡°But you¡¯re at the stage where knowing how something works isn¡¯t enough. You need to understand why it works the way it does.¡± I sighed, leaning back in my chair. ¡°Is this one of those ¡®life lessons disguised as an explanation¡¯ things? Because I¡¯ve had a long day, Aunt Nora.¡± She smirked, holding up a chunk of shimmering Oretheon. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be dramatic. This is important. We¡¯re talking about the ranking system for enchanted gear and artifacts. It¡¯s foundational knowledge if you want to create anything worth a damn. So sit up and listen.¡± I groaned but straightened in my seat. ¡°Fine. Enlighten me.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± she began, setting the Oretheon down and leaning on the workbench, her tone shifting into teacher mode. ¡°There are two key ways we classify enchanted items: Rank and Stars. Rank tells you the maximum limit of what an item can do¡ªhow much change it can bring at a physical or metaphysical level. Stars measure the quality and uniqueness of the item¡¯s effects.¡± She paused, waiting for me to acknowledge. I nodded. ¡°Okay, so ranks are about power levels, and stars are about how refined or special the item is?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± she said with a satisfied smile. ¡°Ranks are pretty straightforward. We¡¯ve got five of them, going from basic to godlike. Let me dumb it down for you.¡± She raised her fingers one by one as she listed them off. ¡°First, there¡¯s Mundane. This is your baseline¡ªno real enchantments, just slightly better than regular stuff. Think of it as having minor effects, like keeping a blade sharp longer or keeping your bread warm.¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Wow, magical bread warmers. Truly, the pinnacle of enchanting.¡± She flicked my forehead lightly. ¡°Focus, Lexi. Next is Mortal. These are practical, everyday-use enchanted items that can make a noticeable difference, like a sword that never dulls or armor that slightly enhances your stamina. It¡¯s where most craftspeople operate.¡± ¡°Sounds boring,¡± I muttered, rubbing my forehead. Aunt Nora grinned. ¡°Then you¡¯ll love Overmortal. That¡¯s where things get interesting. This rank represents items that can bend or even break the normal rules of reality ¨C and one of the core identities of an overmortal gear is that they would show signs of forming an ego¡± I leaned forward, intrigued. ¡°Umm, an Ego ¡­. Like an old man talking¡± ¡°Hold your horses,¡± she said, wagging a finger, ¡°Ego is more like little mental intuitions you get from the item, like in danger it will give you warnings and stuff more like a 6th sense¡± ¡°Proper sentient ego is only seen in the top immortal tier or divine tier artifacts¡± ¡°After Overmortal comes Immortal. These are the kind of items legends are written about. Weapons that can cut through dimensions, artifacts that can manipulate time, or armor that makes the wearer invincible to certain attacks. At this rank, you¡¯re no longer just affecting the physical world but touching the metaphysical.¡± I blinked. ¡°And then there¡¯s Divine, I¡¯m guessing?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Aunt Nora said, her expression growing more serious. ¡°Divine artifacts are on a whole other level. These are items that fundamentally alter the world around them, capable of rewriting reality itself. They¡¯re so rare that most people won¡¯t even see one in their lifetime.¡± ¡°Rewriting reality?¡± I repeated, incredulous. ¡°Yes,¡± she said, nodding. ¡°But Divine items come with their own risks. Wielding them is as much about understanding their power as it is about surviving their effects. Misuse can destroy the wielder¡ªor worse.¡± ¡°Now,¡± she continued, ¡°let¡¯s talk about stars. These don¡¯t measure power directly but rather the item¡¯s quality, craftsmanship, and uniqueness.¡± ¡°So a five-star Mundane item could be better than a one-star Overmortal item?¡± I asked. ¡°Exactly,¡± she said, pleased with my quick understanding. ¡°Think of it this way: a one-star item might be functional but clunky or unstable, while a five-star item is like a masterpiece. Even a mundane five-star sword could outperform a poorly made Overmortal sword in the right circumstances.¡± I nodded slowly. ¡°Got it. So stars determine how well something does what it¡¯s supposed to do.¡± ¡°And how elegantly it does it,¡± she added. ¡°The difference between a one-star and a five-star item is like the difference between a rock and a diamond. Both are hard, but only one will catch your eye and endure the test of time.¡± ¡°Okay, Lexi, let¡¯s simplify this further for you,¡± Aunt Nora said, her eyes twinkling mischievously. ¡°Mundane items? They¡¯re like a helpful neighbor who¡¯ll hold your ladder steady while you work. Mortal items? A friend who¡¯ll lend you a hand when you¡¯re struggling. Overmortal? That¡¯s your buddy who brings a bulldozer to clear the path for you.¡± ¡°And Immortal?¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Immortal is your childhood hero showing up with a magical army to fight your battles. Divine?¡± She leaned closer, her grin widening. ¡°That¡¯s the gods themselves deciding to rewrite the rules of the game in your favor.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Okay, that actually makes sense.¡± She flicked my forehead again. ¡°It should. I¡¯ve only been teaching this for years.¡± As she walked me through the details, Aunt Nora¡¯s teasing never let up. ¡°I¡¯m surprised, Lexi,¡± she said with mock seriousness. ¡°You¡¯re actually paying attention for once. Usually, you¡¯re too busy daydreaming about saving the world or whatever it is you do.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± I protested though I couldn¡¯t hide my grin. ¡°I¡¯m taking this seriously. Kind of hard not to when you keep whacking me every time I lose focus.¡± ¡°Good,¡± she said, smirking. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s hope for you yet.¡± But as the conversation settled into a comfortable rhythm, I found myself reflecting on what she¡¯d said. The ranking system wasn¡¯t just a technical framework¡ªit was a reminder of the limitless potential and risks of enchanting. One day, I¡¯ll craft something that matters, I thought, clenching my fists. Something worthy of those higher ranks. Aunt Nora¡¯s voice broke through my thoughts. ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself, Lexi. Start small, master the basics, and work your way up. You¡¯ll get there.¡± I met her gaze, her calm confidence steadying my resolve. ¡°Yeah,¡± I said. ¡°One step at a time.¡± And with that, we returned to the workbench, ready to create something extraordinary.
Chapter 015 - Venturing out
Reaching back into the bag one last time, my fingers brushed against something cool and sturdy. I tugged it out and brought the torch closer, its light casting a metallic gleam over the object in my hands. "A mask?" I muttered, rotating it to get a better look. Plain and nice-looking mask. The craftsmanship was striking¨Cdesigned to cover the lower half of the face, reinforced with thin but strong metal plates that added a faint sheen across its surface. Every seam was polished smooth, each curve and line suggesting meticulous handiwork. It felt tough yet surprisingly lightweight as if meant to protect without hindering movement. "What''s your story?" I wondered aloud, running my thumb along the edges. I set the mask on my lap and let Exira flow through it, reaching out to sense any latent energy or enchantments within. Almost immediately, a word whispered from the depths of my mind: "Respira." It felt as if the word was woven into the very fabric of the mask. Focusing harder, another command surfaced: "Filtra Aerem." "A breathing enchantment?" I grinned as realization dawned. "So you filter air, huh? That''s damn handy." I couldn''t help but think back to toxic battlefields and suffocating camps. Maybe the previous owner had faced similar hellholes and wanted some protection. The enchantment felt strong, with no signs of wear. Whoever crafted this intended it to last. Placing the mask against my face, I adjusted the straps around the back of my head. The fit was snug but comfortable, the weight barely noticeable. "Yeah, you''ll do just fine," I said, my voice slightly muffled. Setting the mask aside, I looked over the rest of the gear, taking stock of everything I''d gathered, the backpack, the weapons, the strange metal card with its faint pulse of direction. Leaning back against the rock wall, I stared up at the dark ceiling of the cave, a smirk creeping across my face. "This is gonna be interesting," I mused. For the first time in ages, I wasn''t just surviving¨CI was piecing together something bigger. An urge surged through me to start writing, to document all of this before it slipped away. Reaching into my belongings, I pulled out the diary, flipping to a blank page near the back. Unscrewing the cap of the pen, I began jotting quick notes.
Current Inventory:
A Diary
Leather-bound with thick pages. Early entries were filled with foreign scripts and sketches. Loose documents inside with mountain symbols stamped in ink.
Water Canteen
Durable metal, empty but sturdy enough to take a hit.
Metal Card
Engraved with a dragon and unknown script. Emits a pulsing signal when I use Exira¨Clike it''s guiding me somewhere and I believe its a key item.
Mask
Reinforced metal covering the lower face. Enchanted with Respira and Filtra Aerem¨Cair filtration. Good for nasty environments.
Torch
Small cylinder with a white stone. Uses any energy as a medium, I believe it has its own battery and needs just kickstarting to produce a bright light. Note to self: Don''t blind yourself again.
Ink Cylinder
Metal container filled with thick, earthy-smelling ink.
Meat Jerky
Forty-seven strips¨Cmake that forty-four. Gotta ration these.
Salt and Spice Bundles
Three small pouches¨Ctwo salt, one spice mix. Adds flavor to the otherwise bland.
Weapons
Pair of curved knives¨Csharp but unenchanted.
Armor
Light armor for torso and legs, complete with a cloak. Slightly loose but offers solid protection.
Finishing the list, I leaned back against the cold stone wall, letting the pen hang from my fingers as I read over the words. There was something calming about seeing it all laid out, each item a small piece of stability in this unpredictable world. The quiet sound of the waterfall in the background seemed to ease the last bit of tension from my shoulders. For the first time in a while, I felt content. Everything was still, and for a moment, I allowed myself to savor that quiet, reassuring calm, mind at ease as I rested against the rock, letting myself settle in the midst of these small but hard-won victories. I shifted my focus to the metal card, which lay in my hand, faintly warm, pulsing as though alive. The subtle throb felt like a heartbeat, urging me forward. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°What are you pointing me toward, huh?¡± I muttered, lifting the card closer to inspect it. The sensation intensified, tugging my focus toward a distant point, somewhere beyond the waterfall. Taking a deep breath, I tapped into my Exira, letting it flow from my core and channel into the card, feeling the strange energy pull at me like a compass. All right, I thought, feeling a spark of determination as I pushed myself up and adjusted the armor and cloak. Let¡¯s see where you¡¯re taking me. Glancing over at the roaring waterfall, I quickly realized the card was pointing somewhere on the other side, beyond the veil of water. The constant rush reminded me of the sheer force I¡¯d need to get through unscathed. Seeing the mist swirling, an idea came to mind. Taking a deep breath, I focused inward, gathering Exira to wrap around me in a thin layer to shield against the water. ¡°Ugh,¡± I groaned softly, feeling the immediate strain on my mind as I tried to mold Exira into a barrier. Okay, just focus, I told myself, taking a few steadying breaths. In my mind, I pictured a transparent, square-like shield above me, keeping the water at bay as I moved forward. Concentrating on the intent, I felt Exira shift, forming something just barely tangible, invisible but present. I took a slow, cautious step forward, and the barrier seemed to hold, pressing back the mist and water as I drew nearer to the waterfall. ¡°Let¡¯s hope this holds,¡± I whispered, as I approached the waterfall, peering into the surging wall of water, squinting as I stepped closer. Just as I was about to step through, a new sound pierced through the crashing noise of the falls. Low, guttural, unmistakable¨Cthe sound of that detestable breed of monster. I need to name them soon I froze, heart quickening as I honed my Exira, letting its energy spread outward, feeling along the edges of the space around me. The presence was clear now: one creature, lurking close, near the waterfall but on the other side. Probably thought it was safe there, I mused. It must be drinking. The energy from Exira showed me the outline¨Ca large, hunched figure, lapping up water on the far side of the falls. Judging from its shape and the faint reverberation of its sounds, it seemed to be alone, thankfully. I took another slow breath, feeling my heartbeat steady, adrenaline already starting to edge out my earlier calmness. ¡°Just one, huh?¡± I whispered to myself, a small grin tugging at my mouth. ¡°Might be a good time for a little experiment.¡± I steadied my Exira, channeling the flow until I felt a calm, measured power at my fingertips. Let¡¯s see if this works, I thought, shifting to focus my energy further. Knowing I had only one shot at getting the element of surprise, I stood just out of sight, concentrating as Exira reached out in a thin, delicate line toward the beast¡¯s figure in my mind¡¯s eye. There was a small thrill in the air, a feeling of control I hadn¡¯t felt in a while. I could feel every muscle in my body prepared, calm before the storm as I breathed out slowly. Letting Exira flow, Alexis stepped through the waterfall. The sensation of energy around him was like a gentle but protective barrier against the rush of water. The moment he crossed out of the waterfall¡¯s range, he released his hold on Exira, feeling the last traces of moisture settle over him before the shield disappeared. A snarl echoed from across the rocky floor as the monster took note of him, an immediate, guttural sound of hostility and warning. Before the creature could move, Alexis¡¯s Exira surged, pulsing through him and locking the beast in its place. The creature¡¯s limbs stiffened as if held by unseen chains, its face contorted with frustration as it strained and snarled, muscles twitching but unable to obey its urge to attack. ¡°Good,¡± Alexis muttered under his breath, stepping closer while keeping his focus on Exira. He watched with a steady gaze as the monster¡¯s eyes tracked his every movement, filled with both rage and fear. Alexis stopped a few feet away, watching the creature intently. Let¡¯s see how much power this thing can handle, he thought, feeling a spark of anticipation light up his senses. Taking a steady breath, he decided to test the raw strength of Exira, keeping his focus on controlling just how much force he¡¯d use. He let Exira flow through him at its most minimal, controlled state¨Cthe base level, he¡¯d decided to call it. It was just enough power to keep the creature paralyzed, though it still trembled slightly, clearly struggling against the invisible hold. Alexis observed every shake and snarl, noting how the creature¡¯s muscles strained as it fought to break free. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ manageable at this level,¡± he muttered, feeling a mild strain in his mind but one that felt sustainable. I could probably keep this going for a few minutes, he calculated, feeling how the slight resistance tugged at his concentration. The creature let out a loud, guttural snarl, louder and more frantic, its claws dragging across the stone floor in a desperate attempt to reach him. Alexis felt a bead of sweat trickle down his brow but kept his calm, letting his Exira flow in that steady, base-level stream. The creature¡¯s claws, razor-sharp and tipped with bone blades, scraped against the stone, grinding with an awful sound that echoed off the cave walls. A small, confident smirk appeared on Alexis¡¯s face as he watched. ¡°You¡¯re tougher than I thought,¡± he murmured, feeling the thrill of control flow through him. If I want to push it, maybe it¡¯ll show me more¡­ yeah struggle you piece of shit. I took a step back to gain a wider view, my eyes never leaving the monster as he observed its movements. It was still suppressed but noticeably more active now, shaking against the force of Exira, its snarls louder, its claws clawing and scraping as it tried to pull itself closer to him. Its teeth were bared, jagged, and stained, every inch of it radiating malice as it fought against his hold. I watched the monster with a sense of calm, keeping my Exira tight around it, my mind pulsing with the strain but still steady. The beast snarled again, louder this time, its claws dragging against the cave floor as it began to pull its body forward, inch by inch. Malice dripped from its eyes, burning with a focus that was locked onto me. I kept my distance, circling just out of reach, confident the Exira would hold. Nothing it does is breaking through. Then, with a brutal jerk, the monster twisted its body. I felt the Exira waver for a heartbeat¨Ca flicker that passed too quickly to register as a real threat. Just a fluke, I thought, feeling my confidence surge. I readjusted, focusing my Exira again, watching its slow, labored movements. It was shaking now, struggling under the hold, but there was a dangerous glint in its eye that hadn¡¯t been there before. Suddenly, with a guttural roar, the beast tore free from the Exira¡¯s grip, lunging toward me, claws extended. ¡°Damn!¡± I barely had a second to move as it came barreling forward. Instinctively, I threw myself backward, my heart slamming against my ribs as I saw its claws flash past, too close.
Chapter 016 - Testing 1..2..3..check…
The monster burst free with a savage roar, claws slashing wildly through the air. "Shit!" I barely had time to hurl myself backward as its talons sliced inches from my face. My heart pounded against my ribs¨Chow the hell did it break free? No time to dwell on that. I had to focus. I landed hard, skidding across the rough cave floor. Pain shot up my leg, but adrenaline drowned it out. The beast''s eyes locked onto mine, seething with fury. Its massive body trembled, muscles rippling from the strain of shattering my Exira hold. ¡°Close call,¡± I muttered, steadying my breath, trying to drown out the pounding in my chest. The monster''s eyes narrowed, still trained on me, furious, and locked on its target. Its body trembled slightly, likely from the strain of breaking out of the Exira. It won¡¯t break free again. Not if I strengthen it this time. Channeling my focus, I felt Exira''s energy surge, thickening in the air around us. Hold still, you bastard. With a practiced hand, I let the energy lock back around the creature, pouring in just enough strength to keep it locked down. The beast snarled, snapping its jaws as it tried to move but found itself frozen again, limbs trembling under the Exira¡¯s weight. I could feel it struggle, but the increased hold was taking effect, rooting it to the spot. ¡°That¡¯s more like it,¡± I said, watching it with renewed calm. The heartbeat in my chest still hadn¡¯t settled, but my mind was steady, and focused. I took a few deep breaths, my heart still racing, but I forced my body to calm. Inhale. Exhale. I shut my eyes, focusing everything on the flow of Exira pulsing through me, that strange energy I had barely started to grasp. The monster was subdued again, but I couldn¡¯t let my guard down. It broke free once. Not again. I needed more control. Focus. This is just a test. I can do this. Exira swirled around me, thick and heavy like a cloud I could shape with my will. Its strength at the base level wasn¡¯t enough¨CI knew that now. I had to push it further, and make it stronger without losing control. I steadied my breathing, shallow but controlled, forcing my heart rate down even as the adrenaline still rushed through me. Stay calm. Test it. Nothing else matters right now. I could feel the Exira¡¯s power, a steady current that I carefully built up, layering it bit by bit until it felt twice as strong as before. Strong enough to hold the monster down without exhausting myself too quickly. This was what I called level two, a balance between strength and endurance, something I could maintain¨Cthough not for long. Two minutes, maybe. I could feel the strain creeping in already, a faint pressure at the back of my mind. ¡°Two minutes,¡± I muttered under my breath, reminding myself. That¡¯s all I had at this level. I opened my eyes slowly, looking at the monster. It wasn¡¯t snarling or thrashing anymore, but its body trembled, just slightly. There was a tension there, like it was caught in a trap it couldn¡¯t understand. No movements this time, no violent surges. My hold was stronger, and it knew it. ¡°Good,¡± I said quietly, more to myself than anything. I stepped closer, cautiously, keeping my eyes on its head. The monster¡¯s gaze followed me, but it couldn¡¯t move. Its body was completely locked down by the Exira. I could feel its awareness, though¨Cit knew I was there, but it couldn¡¯t do a damn thing about it. ¡°Let¡¯s see how strong this really is.¡± I reached out, my hand hovering near the side of its head. The monster twitched, its body trembling harder now, but still, it didn¡¯t move. I knocked on its skull, the sound of a dull thud under my knuckles. The creature flinched, but it didn¡¯t react beyond that. Nothing but a prisoner now, trapped under the weight of my power. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re not going anywhere,¡± I said, my voice low, and cold. But there was something else¨Ca flicker of doubt in the back of my mind. What if it breaks free again? The thought slipped in, unwelcome. No. Not this time. I could feel the strain growing in my head, a dull throb that spread with each passing second. I couldn¡¯t hold this level forever, but I didn¡¯t need to. This was a test. I could manage two minutes. Just two minutes. My hand stayed on the monster¡¯s head for a moment longer, feeling the faint tremor in its body, the helplessness in its stillness. The cold air of the cave brushed against my skin, but I barely noticed. My mind was sharp, focused, and calculating. I had to be. There would be time for questions, for looking back, but not now. This is working. I can control this. I moved back slightly, my eyes never leaving the creature¡¯s form. Its trembling continued, but the panic in its eyes had faded. There was no fight left in it, at least not for the moment. I let out a slow breath, forcing the tension in my own body to ease, even as my mind buzzed with the strain of keeping the Exira at this level. The energy was strong, but it was also volatile, and I could feel it pressing against the edges of my control like water threatening to break through a dam. Two minutes. That¡¯s all you¡¯ve got. Keep it together. I clenched my fist, feeling the energy pulse again in response. It felt good¨Cpowerful, even¨Cbut it was also dangerous. Too much and it could spiral out of control. Too little, and I¡¯d be back to where I started, with a monster ready to tear my throat out. ¡°Not yet,¡± I whispered. ¡°You stay right there.¡± The creature made no sound, no movement. Just the faint tremor running through its body. I glanced at its claws, still sharp, still capable of tearing through flesh, but useless now. The weight of the Exira was enough to keep it still, to keep it under control. But I knew better than to get comfortable. This was only level two.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. I took a shallow breath, feeling the pressure building in my head again. A slight headache, nothing more for now, but it was a reminder. I couldn¡¯t stay at this level for long. The energy thrummed through me, steady but demanding. Two minutes. I took another deep breath, feeling my pulse steady, my control sharpening as I found my balance. My mind was in sync with the Exira now¨Cno distractions, no doubts. I opened my eyes and locked onto the monster¡¯s trembling form. Its body shook under the pressure of the energy surrounding it, but that wasn¡¯t enough. Not for these creatures. Not for this thing. ¡°Let¡¯s see how much you can take,¡± I muttered under my breath, feeling the cold edge of my own voice. I wasn¡¯t going to stop until this monster was nothing but a heap of flesh and blood. I focused, letting the Exira pulse out stronger, pushing the flow until it became more solid, more real. The air in the cave shifted, thickening with its essence, almost like you could taste it. I kept my gaze on the monster, watching, waiting for the change. It was trembling harder now, its body shivering under the weight of the energy. More. I pushed the strength up another notch. The trembling stopped. The monster went still. Perfectly still. Its eyes, wide and feral, were locked onto mine, but the fight had drained out of them. It just stared at me now, motionless. Frozen. I could feel it, like a faint hum in the back of my mind¨Cthe moment when the Exira became too much for it. I stopped increasing the pressure and let the energy level out. Even, controlled. I closed my eyes for a second, feeling the flow. The Exira was raw, powerful, but difficult to manage at this level. My mind reeled under the weight of it, like a hammer pounding inside my skull. If the strain before had been a faint pulse, now it was a full-on assault. Damn it. I gritted my teeth, taking deep, steady breaths, trying to keep my focus. The pressure was pushing back now, my head throbbing like I was about to break under it, but I couldn¡¯t stop. Not yet. I looked at the monster again. It was still¨Ctoo still. There was no movement now, except for its faint, shallow breaths. I watched it closely, waiting for something¨Canything. Seconds passed. Nothing. Then I saw it. The blood. Dark, almost black, oozing from its eyes, its nose, its mouth. It started slow, barely a trickle, but then more. The thick liquid leaked from every orifice, pooling beneath it. I watched, unblinking, as the blood dripped down its face, staining its fur, the ground turning slick and wet. There was no sound except the steady drip of blood hitting the stone. I clenched my fist, feeling the Exira¡¯s weight in the air around me. This was level three, a strength that was palpable, real. I had pushed the energy to the edge, and the monster couldn¡¯t handle it. I could feel the strain on my own body too, the pressure mounting in my skull, but it didn¡¯t matter. The pain didn¡¯t matter. Only this. ¡°Look at you,¡± I whispered, my voice cold, almost detached. The thing was barely alive, and that¡¯s exactly how it deserved to be. ¡°Weak. Pathetic.¡± It didn¡¯t respond, of course. It couldn¡¯t. It just stood there, a trembling, broken shell. I stepped closer, watching its chest rise and fall, each breath faint, labored. Blood poured freely now, thick and relentless, pooling under its lifeless eyes. I didn¡¯t flinch. I didn¡¯t even blink. This is what you deserve. The Exira¡¯s flow had smoothed out, stronger than ever but more controlled now. Level three strength. I could hold this¡­ for a little longer. My body was protesting, the headache growing worse with each second, but it didn¡¯t matter. Not with this thing in front of me, bleeding out like the animal it was. A few more seconds passed, and the monster¡¯s body gave in. Slowly, it collapsed, its legs folding beneath it until it crumpled to the floor. The blood pooled faster now, thickening in a dark, viscous puddle under its lifeless body. But I could still hear it breathing, faint and shallow. It was still alive, though just barely. I stared down at it, cold eyes tracing the wreckage I had caused. The once-massive beast was nothing more than a broken husk, too weak to even snarl, too broken to fight back. ¡°Not so tough now, are you?¡± I whispered, my voice laced with venom. The Exira thrummed through me, its strength flowing steady and heavy in the air. I could feel the weight of it pressing down on the monster, suffocating it, but I didn¡¯t release it. Not yet. The creature was as good as dead, but I wanted it to feel every second of this, to suffer the way it deserved. I took a deep breath, the air heavy and thick in my lungs. The pressure in my skull was unbearable now, each pulse of pain like a hammer slamming against the inside of my head. But I couldn¡¯t stop yet. Not now. I forced myself to step back from the monster¡¯s lifeless body, dropping into a combat stance just in case. My fingers tightened around the hilt of my sword, knuckles white with strain. One last thing. I exhaled slowly, releasing the Exira all at once. The energy fell away, fading like a heavy fog lifting. Instantly, the pounding in my mind began to ease, the sharp edges of pain dulling as the Exira¡¯s presence dissipated. For a moment, I stood there, taking in the strange silence that followed. No more tremors, no more snarls¨Cjust the faint echo of my own breathing. Focus. My eyes locked onto the monster, its body sprawled out in a pool of blood. It wasn¡¯t moving. Its chest barely rose, the last traces of life flickering out. I didn¡¯t move. Not yet. My attention was sharp, unwavering, watching for even the slightest sign of movement. But there was nothing. No twitch, no flinch, no sign of fight left in it. I walked forward slowly, each step deliberate. My boots splashed through the puddle of blood as I approached the beast, its massive form slumped on the ground. It didn¡¯t react, didn¡¯t even acknowledge my presence. Its eyes were dull, the light gone, but I could still hear the faint rasp of breath slipping from its throat. Just finish it. Without hesitation, I drew my sword. The cold metal glinted in the dim light as I brought the tip to the creature¡¯s head, hovering just above its skull. My grip tightened, and for a split second, I paused, feeling the weight of the blade in my hand. ¡°Too easy,¡± I muttered, shaking my head. ¡°You should¡¯ve put up more of a fight.¡± I pressed the sword down, piercing through the monster¡¯s skull in one clean motion. There was no sound, no struggle¨Cjust the final stillness that came with death. I pulled the blade free, wiping the blood off on the creature¡¯s fur. Cold eyes stared back at me, empty and lifeless. ¡°Good riddance.¡± I stepped back, glancing down at the body, a bitter chuckle escaping my lips. It reminded me of something I hadn¡¯t felt in a long time¨Csomething buried deep in the memories I barely held onto. Mom¡¯s Exira. I sheathed my sword, the metallic scrape echoing through the cave as my thoughts drifted back. I remembered the weight of her power, how effortlessly she had controlled it, how it had crushed me without even breaking a sweat. I¡¯m finally getting closer to that level. ¡°Though she did say¡­¡± I whispered, the words more to myself than anyone else, ¡°That was only five percent of her base strength.¡± I snorted, a small, humorless laugh bubbling up in my throat. ¡°Five percent¡­¡± For a moment, I let myself think about it¨Cwhat it would be like to reach that level, to command that kind of power without feeling like I was tearing myself apart. But the thought wasn¡¯t bitter this time. It was something else. I¡¯ll get there. Just wait. With renewed determination, I clenched my fist, the pain in my head already fading to a dull throb. I wasn¡¯t done. Not by a long shot. Mom. Ari. Aunt Nora. I could picture their faces, the people I needed to see again. I¡¯ll make it home soon. I promise. I turned away from the body, my steps steady and sure. My mind was clear, the path ahead more certain than ever. ¡°Just you wait. I¡¯m coming back.¡±
Chapter 017 - Exira
Back behind the waterfall, I settled in with my torch casting a small, warm circle of light around me. Leaning back against the stone wall, I took a bite of the jerky, savoring the smoky saltiness as it mixed with the cold gulp of water I¡¯d just had. I hummed a tune without thinking¡ªsome familiar melody I couldn¡¯t place. It¡¯s from my family, I thought, certain about that much. I could almost feel someone close to me humming it once, a gentle sound. With a small grin, I swayed my head from side to side as I took another bite. The small break felt good. After finishing off my snack, I ran my hand under the water trickling down the stone and washed away the crumbs, marking off three jerky strips in my inventory. I leaned back, eyes closed, trying to gather my thoughts from my little experiment. So now a million Drakos question, What have I really learned? I had to make sense of it all, somehow piece together what Exira was and what it meant. Exira¡­where did it even come from? I grabbed my diary and flipped to a fresh page, labeling it ¡°Exira 101.¡± Something about seeing it there in my handwriting made it feel more real. I tapped the pen against the paper, trying to find the right words. Memories came, faint and blurry, yet distinct enough that I could feel them. Aunt Nora¡¯s voice, explaining the basics, guiding me to connect with the strange resonance of an item. Every item has its own song, she¡¯d told me, you just have to listen. Mom¡¯s voice was there too, soft but sure, teaching me not to just use Exira, but to wield it wisely, conserving my strength, making it a part of me. I scribbled down phrases, catching whatever I could from those memories. Each lesson started with finding a thread of energy and building up that thread with focus and intent, guiding it until it responded. And when I was back in that cave, with a monster feasting on me, something in me had latched onto Exira without even knowing my own name. In that moment, when I was desperate, my mind and my resolve had aligned, drawing out that power like a final, raw weapon. Exira is the manifestation of my will, my desire, and my resolve. The words felt right as I wrote them down. Not ¡°fancy¡± or ¡°clever,¡± but true, and that was what mattered. Sitting back, I let out a breath, feeling the weight of that truth settle in. Exira is a part of me, something deeper like my essence. Every time I used it, I had more and more of my will hardened. Like just now I was experimenting on the damn monster, I remember myself when I just woke up her in this damn cave, I was afraid, cowering in fear, reluctant to fight the monster but now¡­ Snapping out of my thoughts, I leaned forward, focusing on the list I needed to create. If Exira was going to keep me alive down here, I had to know exactly what it could do¡ªand what it would cost me to use it. I quickly started jotting down points, getting straight to the basics. ¡°Alright¡­ Level 1 or weak strength,¡± I murmured, underlining it as my thoughts turned back to the previous fights. My pen scratched across the page as I wrote:
  1. Effects: At this level, Exira stuns and paralyzes any living entity it¡¯s exerted on. Simple, but effective. The creatures with weaker wills seem to crumble under it instantly, unable to resist even for a moment. ¡°Good,¡± I noted out loud, satisfaction creeping into my voice. Level 1 had been useful for holding the monsters off while I planned my next moves.
  2. Duration: I tested this one enough to know the limits pretty well¡ªat least five minutes if I¡¯m pushing it and if the target doesn¡¯t resist too much. But if other factors come into play, like the creature¡¯s strength or how much energy I have to spare, it could shift. ¡°Five minutes, give or take,¡± I muttered, adding it next to the line.
  3. Resistance: The creatures that lurk here, especially the larger lizards, seem to shake off the Level 1 effect around the one-to-two-minute mark. ¡°They¡¯ll be free sooner if I don¡¯t keep the pressure on,¡± I wrote. Not exactly reassuring, but at least knowing that timing might save me from being ambushed again.
  4. Mental strain: So far, I¡¯d barely felt any strain keeping Level 1 active. I¡¯d gotten used to its weight on my mind¡ªa manageable, familiar weight. The lack of strain let me push it further if I really needed to. Good to know.
Sitting back, I glanced over the list, nodding to myself. ¡°That¡¯s Level 1 sorted,¡± I murmured, feeling a small twinge of pride. Even if I hadn¡¯t fully regained my memories, I knew Exira. I¡¯d proven I could make it work for me, twist it to my needs. Taking a quick sip of water, I looked down at the next line I¡¯d written: ¡°Level 2 or low strength.¡± Just thinking about it brought a faint ache to my temples. Flexing my wrist to ease some of the tension, I leaned in again and started writing:
  1. Effects: At this stage, Exira restricts any major movements. The creature is beyond just stunned or paralyzed¡ªit¡¯s almost¡­ immobilized. Thinking back to the monster I¡¯d tested on, I could see its claws scraping feebly against the ground, dragging itself. After a few moments under Level 2, even that small amount of movement became impossible. I remembered the look in its eyes¨Cwild and terrified, yet unable to do anything but tremble. I almost laughed, then caught myself. ¡°No point in sympathy,¡± I muttered, my hand scrawling over the page. ¡°You¡¯d do the same to me in a heartbeat, wouldn¡¯t you?¡±
  2. Mind Effects: There was something else, too, something beyond just physical control. Under Level 2, that beast hadn¡¯t been able to track me, even when I was right in front of it. I could see its confusion as it stared off into the distance, unable to sense me. It was as if Exira reached into its mind, clouding it from within. ¡°You couldn¡¯t even see me,¡± I whispered, feeling a chill of satisfaction creep up my spine. Good. That¡¯s an edge I need to keep.
  3. Mental Strain: This level wasn¡¯t without its price. There¡¯d been a faint, annoying throb at the back of my head while I held it. Not exactly comfortable. But it hadn¡¯t been bad enough to distract me, not yet. I¡¯d have to watch out if I pushed it too hard. I scribbled this down with a frown, tapping the pen against the paper as I mulled it over. If the headache worsened, I¡¯d need to be cautious. I couldn¡¯t afford to waste energy on pain.
  4. Duration: Two to two-and-a-half minutes, max. Half of what Level 1 gave me. Any longer, and I¡¯d be courting trouble, pushing myself right to the brink. I stared at the line, feeling a grim satisfaction settle in. If Level 1 was for holding creatures at bay, then Level 2 was for subduing them when I needed them completely still. Shorter, sure, but with that added strength, it was a tradeoff I could work with.
I flexed my hand again, feeling the faint ache. It was nothing compared to what I¡¯d been through, but the reminder was there all the same¡ªa little bit of wear every time I pushed myself further. Still, I could use it. I could control it.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Reading back through my notes, a thought crept in, almost uninvited: Would I have even been able to do this when I first woke up? I took a breath, letting the sound of the waterfall drown out that nagging thought. No need to look back. I¡¯d been afraid then, sure, cowering in the dark as those monsters circled around me. But now¡­ Taking out another piece of jerky, I took a quick sip of water and chewed slowly, savoring the hint of salt that grounded me for a moment. With a deep breath, I continued, focusing on the page in front of me. ¡°Level 3 or high strength,¡± I muttered, underlining it. Just thinking back to this level made me uneasy, but if I wanted to know my limits, I couldn¡¯t shy away from it. I wrote with quick strokes:
  1. Effects: At this stage, Exira causes total paralysis of mind and body. It¡¯s like freezing them in time. I remembered the way the creature had slumped, all movement stopping in an instant as it fell victim to this level of force. There hadn¡¯t been a single twitch. No struggling, no snarling¡ªnothing.
It was as if it had given up on the spot, every ounce of willpower drained from its mind. I could still see the creature¡¯s blank stare, frozen in place as the tremors faded. The thing had just¡­ stopped. No other way to put it. ¡°Completely frozen,¡± I muttered, nodding to myself. I noted, its will, its essence, bled dry. And then, like an empty shell, the monster slumped down, bleeding from its eyes, mouth, even its claws. Its body, nothing more than a husk with its mind obliterated.
  1. Mental Strain: This is the worst part. Level 3 Exira feels like someone¡¯s beating on my head with a hammer, and it¡¯s not just a dull ache¡ªit¡¯s enough to blur my focus. I frowned, remembering that splitting pain. It wasn¡¯t the kind of headache that went away with deep breaths. I¡¯d felt it digging into my mind, knocking on the edges of my control, demanding every ounce of my concentration to keep from falling apart.
There was no room for distraction, no margin for error with Level 3. Even the faintest lapse, and I knew it could all come crashing down. ¡°Full focus only,¡± I wrote, pressing the words hard enough that the pen dug into the paper.
  1. Duration: A sigh slipped out as I wrote. Barely a minute. Maybe less. It was all I could manage before the strain clawed at my mind too hard. A single minute to keep something utterly paralyzed, to empty it of thought, of resistance. Useful, yes, but dangerous. My limits were clearer than ever. If I went beyond that minute, there was no telling what kind of toll it would take on my mind.
Sitting back, I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the tension in my jaw. I hadn¡¯t expected Level 3 to be so intense. I¡¯d experimented cautiously, yet the effects still rattled me. In a way, knowing just how strong it was gave me confidence. But there was a fine line between confidence and recklessness. If I was going to survive, I needed to tread carefully. I have limits, I reminded myself. This power is mine to wield, but only if I keep control. With that thought, I jotted down one last note under the list: Experimentation Summary: ¡°That¡¯s all I could get out of the monster,¡± I wrote. The creature had lost any value as a test subject the moment its mind was wiped clean. There was no will left in it, no essence to resist or struggle. Just a hollow, bleeding body. And I couldn¡¯t risk drawing in more of those creatures, not while I was still figuring things out. Sighing, I leaned back against the stone wall, rolling the stiffness from my shoulders. The weight of exhaustion settled over me, but there was a sense of satisfaction, too¡ªa knowledge of where my power could take me if I used it wisely. As I closed the book, I felt the need for one last note, something to capture the most important aspect of what I¡¯d learned so far. ¡°IMPORTANT NOTE,¡± I wrote at the bottom of the page in bold letters, underlining it twice for emphasis:
  1. Anyone with a weaker will cannot evade Exira¡¯s effects¨Cthey¡¯re trapped under its hold, without question. The stronger an entity¡¯s will, the easier it is to resist and even break out. It¡¯s like a test, a ¡°Will check,¡± I mused, tapping the end of my pen. I chuckled dryly, the analogy somehow grounding me. Like a twisted little game of endurance.
  2. True Skill: Exira is not just a weapon. It¡¯s a true skill. Once it manifests, it¡¯s not something that can be brushed aside. Once I exert it, there¡¯s no reversing it. The duration, the control¨Cthat¡¯s all down to my will.
Looking over my notes, I felt a strange sense of calm settle in. Exira wasn¡¯t some mystery hanging over me anymore. It was mine, a part of me I was beginning to understand, to harness. A faint chuckle slipped out of me as I looked over my notes one last time, savoring that sense of direction. ¡°At least now I¡¯ve got some purpose with Exira, not just swinging it around like a club.¡± Unga bunga magic, I mused, laughing quietly at my own joke. Brilliant. With a sigh, I flicked my pen closed and tucked everything away, sparing a glance at my inventory sheet. ¡°Right, jerkies¡­ I really need to stop going through these so quickly,¡± I muttered, knocking three off the list and making a mental note to ration them more carefully. They were a comfort, sure, but comfort was a rare commodity down here, and I¡¯d already felt the pinch of hunger creeping in once. I shook my head, shoving the bag shut. ¡°Get it together, Lexi,¡± I muttered, knowing this place would eat me alive if I didn¡¯t start thinking ahead. Hopping up, I stretched, feeling the satisfying pull in my stiff muscles. The thought of those monstrous claws, those bone-like blades I¡¯d left on the creature¡¯s corpse earlier tugged at me. I had to get those¨Canything sharp and tough enough to wound was a weapon worth scavenging. ¡°Let¡¯s see if I can¡¯t salvage something useful,¡± I said to myself, slinging my pack over my shoulder. The rush of the waterfall faded as I stepped out from behind it, torchlight bouncing off the damp, rocky walls. But the sight that met me was¡­ off. I blinked, then rubbed my eyes, the torchlight flickering around the empty space. The monster¡¯s corpse was gone. ¡°Da Fuck¡­¡± I rubbed my eyes, half-expecting my mind to be playing tricks on me, but when I shone the torch again, I saw nothing. No hulking, defeated body slumped where I left it. Just emptiness. Frowning, I stepped closer, the torch casting long shadows over the cold stone. A dark smear of blood marked where the body should¡¯ve been, dried and heavy against the ground. My gaze trailed over the blood, my pulse quickening as I noticed something else¨Ca thick, smeared trail stretching away from the spot, leading deeper into the shadows. Blood streaks. Drag marks. A chill washed over me, sending an uneasy prickle up my spine. Who¡­ or what could¡¯ve dragged that thing away? And when? I forced myself to breathe slowly, steadying the shaking in my hands. The blood trail stretched forward, winding into the darkness, disappearing around the bend of the narrow stone corridor. Did something come while I wasn¡¯t looking? While I was right there? The thought made my skin crawl. I swallowed, feeling the cold, creeping weight of dread settle in my stomach. The shadows seemed darker somehow, the silence thicker, pressing in around me. Whatever took that body, it wasn¡¯t done yet. And now it was on me.
Chapter 018 - Unsettling encounter
I lowered myself slowly to a crouch, reaching out with one hand to feel the tacky blood with my fingertips. Cold. Fresh enough to say it hadn¡¯t been gone long. "But this cave was empty when I checked it... wasn''t it?" I whispered to myself, a knot forming in my gut. The quiet pressed in, the only sound a faint, echoing drip somewhere off in the distance. Was something else down here this whole time? My stomach tightened, but I forced myself to stay still, breathing in slowly. A few deep breaths steadied me as I glanced over the dark stains again. The trails leading into one of the passages, were dark and eerily quiet. For some reason as I looked towards the passage Exira, starting surging tingling like it''s letting me know something. ¡°Damn it¡­¡± I muttered, standing back up slowly. I felt my pulse quicken, and every instinct told me to start backing up. "Fuck." Fortune favors the bold huh Lexi, Let¡¯s go this card is tugging in that same direction have to go anyways. With a torch and sword in my hands, I followed the blood trail a few feet deeper into the cave. Focusing on every detail as I moved deeper into the cave. "Fuuu..." I exhaled, trying to steady my nerves. Taking a breath as Exira flowed at a steady level, below Level 1, let¡¯s call this Level 0 yea that''s it. It was light enough to keep active indefinitely, and I can raise the level to 1 pretty damn fast this way. Only a minute had passed when the air shifted, thickening with a sickening smell that twisted my gut. ugh The stench of decay hit me like a wall, and I instinctively covered my mouth, grimacing as my stomach turned. Seems like I¡¯m close to some shithole of a dining area for these ugly mf monsters. Yeah that reminds me. Stopping to gather myself, I pulled out my mask and strapped it on. Immediately, the air changed. It was crisp, clean, almost like standing on a mountain cliff, where each breath came cool and sharp. I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply, letting the fresh air chase away the lingering rot. "Ahh, that''s better," I sighed. "Man, I''m taking a nice long vacation after I get out of this shit-stained cave." But then a sound drifted down the passage¨Csoft, faint crunches, the wet rip of flesh and bone, undercut by snarls that echoed along the stone. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled, and I stilled, gripping the torch tight for a moment. "Sounds like a goddamn feast going on," I muttered. "Of course, this damn card has to point me through this mess." I bit back a curse, willing myself to stay calm as I ramped Exira up to Level 1. The flow surged, steady and quiet as a shadow around me, sharpening my awareness to every creak and drip in the cave. Moving quickly, I flicked the torch off. Darkness swallowed everything, leaving only the faint hum of Exira as my guide, as I tucked it back in securely. There is a high chance of undergoing a fight, haaa better stretch and warm up my body. Now that I remember I think I pulled my muscles and had severe cramps¡­ it¡¯s all thanks to the adrenaline rush and Aunt Nora Artifact that I can still fight. I stopped in my tracks. My body felt tight and stiff, not from the tension of the moment, but from the weariness that crept in after hours and possibly days being in this cave. If a fight was coming¨Cand I knew it was¨Cmy body needed to be ready. No matter how strong Exira was, I couldn¡¯t afford a sluggish move. I needed to loosen up. I bounced on the spot for a moment, just light on my feet, testing the rhythm of my own breath. It was shaky. Too tense. I started with some light punches. Nothing serious, just slow jabs into the empty air, focusing on form and getting the blood moving again. Each swing felt a little more controlled, the air hissing with each punch. Come on, Alexis. Focus. Torso rotations came next, rolling my shoulders, feeling the subtle strain as the muscles stretched. I turned slowly, one way, then the other. It wasn''t much, but my heart was already thudding harder in my chest. Even this is taking more out of me than it should. A quiet frustration settled in. I need to push through this. I kicked out my legs, low front kicks that felt more like they were waking up my body than serving any combat purpose. It was functional though. My breath was already heavier, each exhale a reminder that even a simple warm-up wasn¡¯t to be underestimated. It hit harder than I wanted to admit. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. My body wasn¡¯t in top shape¨Cnot after everything¨Cbut I couldn¡¯t afford to dwell on it now. My legs turned with the motion as I added some turning kicks, loosening up my joints, focusing on the fluidity. My breathing was ragged by now, but it wasn¡¯t the kind of exhaustion that would break me. It was a reminder, though, of how much strain my body had been through. I gritted my teeth, pushing through. I could feel the weight of Exira, like it was simmering beneath my skin, waiting for my command. But I held back. This was just the warm-up. Nothing more. Taking a deep breath as I took a few sips of water to stay hydratedI pulled my swords free from their makeshift sheathe, feeling the familiar weight settle in each hand. My heart pounded, sending that familiar rush of adrenaline through my veins as I tightened the straps on my bag ¡°Let¡¯s see what I¡¯m dealing with¡­and if possible just sneak through¡± I murmured, shifting my grip, mentally going over everything I might need. Every part of me focused inwards, centering on the pulse of Exira flowing just beneath my skin. In the stillness, I sank deeper into the Exira, letting it expand just enough to reach around me, a quiet awareness that tickled at the edges of my senses. The crunching sounds grew louder with each step, that horrible tearing noise mixing with the low snarls and heavy, wet chewing. I clenched my jaw, swallowing back the urge to gag as the memories of me getting eaten flashed. Focus, Lexi. Forget the smell, the sounds. Just¡­ tune in. Slowly, I let Exira reach further, feeling for any shift or tremor, any signal in the air. It was faint, but there ¨C several presences, just out of sight, their energy like weak sparks against the darkness. Not particularly strong, but alive and moving, huddled around something. More of those things? Or something worse? Keep it quiet. Keep it controlled. I stayed crouched, every muscle in my body tense as I edged forward. The passage opened up into a cavern, and as my gaze adjusted, my stomach clenched at what I saw. Four of those smaller, lizard-like monsters were dragging mutilated bodies, tossing them onto a grotesque heap of their own dead kin. Piled one over another, the bodies formed a sickening mass, blood and gore dripping from the heap and pooling into a dark, viscous puddle beneath it. The stink was overpowering, worse than anything I¡¯d faced yet in this cave¡ªa rotting, metallic stench that turned my stomach. The four creatures finished their task and then moved to the edge of the cavern, standing eerily still with their heads lowered. No snarls or shrieks, not even the raspy breathing I¡¯d come to associate with these things. Just... silence, as though they¡¯d been switched off. I fought the urge to gag, focusing on keeping my breath steady. Focus. I willed my Exira up to Level 1, fully engaging the power as I shut down the instinct to recoil. A cold surge from my earring swept through me, leaving my mind in perfect, emotionless clarity. No room for revulsion, no room for fear. Just observation. Scanning the scene with Exira pulsing steadily, I picked up something else, something heavy and monstrous, pulsing with a presence that felt like a heartbeat in the air. I zeroed in on the source, and my instincts flared as I caught sight of it¡ªtowering above the pile of corpses was a hulking mass, a monster that made the others look like bugs by comparison. My blood ran cold as I took in its bloated, grotesque form. It was¡­ enormous. Covered in a glistening dark green skin stretched taut over rolls of fat and twisted muscles, the creature loomed like some perverse idol in the center of this ghastly chamber. What the hell¡­ Its massive hand pressed down on a fresh corpse, and with a sickening crack, the chest shattered like brittle wood. The thing leaned down, its wide, hideous maw snapping open to reveal row after row of jagged, yellowed teeth. It chomped into the corpse, sending splatters of some strange, glowing green liquid across the stone floor. The liquid sizzled upon contact, releasing a thin, hissing mist as it melted into the rock. Acid. My skin crawled at the sight, a primal alarm sounding in my head as I watched. I stayed as still as stone, Exira wrapped tightly within, containing even the smallest movements. One wrong step, one sound, and I¡¯d end up just like that corpse¡ªchomped and melted. Just then, a stray splash of the acid caught one of the smaller monsters. The liquid touched its leathery skin, and within seconds, the flesh bubbled and dissolved, peeling away in wet, gooey strips. The creature let out a high-pitched scream, twisting and writhing, but the others stayed motionless, as if locked in place. No attempts to flee, no reaction at all¡ªjust trembling with their faces pressed into the ground, like some twisted form of worship. What are you? The acid-spewing monster¡¯s presence filled the cave, a pulsing wave of raw, oppressive hunger. There was no intelligence there, no spark of cunning or malice, just pure, unthinking appetite, radiating like an aura around it. The lesser monsters shook harder, pressing their heads to the floor as the behemoth¡¯s massive hand swung out, faster than I¡¯d have thought possible. In one fluid movement, it caught the wounded creature in its grip and brought it to its slavering maw. No¡­ The word resounded in my mind, almost on instinct, as I watched. The massive monster¡¯s hand curled around its smaller kin, and with brutal efficiency, it folded the creature in half, snapping its spine with a sickening crunch. Then, with a gruesome wet sound, it shoved the twisted form into its mouth, crunching down, bone and flesh alike turning to pulp in its jaws. The crunching reverberated through the cavern, filling the air like the sound of boulders grinding together, and each bite only increased the green acid dripping from its maw. Watching the brutal, horrifying display, a bead of sweat trickled down my temple. The raw, guttural violence of it made something cold settle in the pit of my stomach. I¡¯d faced monsters before, but this¡­ this was different. This creature didn¡¯t just kill; it obliterated, savored, took pleasure in the utter destruction it was inflicting. Chills¡ªthat¡¯s what this was. That sharp, skin-crawling dread as every nerve in my body screamed to turn, to retreat, to get as far from this monstrosity as possible. My pulse quickened, and I made my mind to backtrack, just as quietly as I¡¯d come. Then¡­ silence. Breaking out of my thoughts, I focused back on the cave and felt my stomach drop. The creature¡¯s face was twisted in an unspeakable grin, its eyes locked directly onto mine. Gore, blood, and acid still dripped from its mouth, trailing down its bloated jaw, as its dark eyes bore into me, empty but alive with a chilling malice. I stayed frozen, my heart hammering as our gazes held, and in that instant, every dark instinct screamed the same thing Fuck
Chapter 019 - Uncertain fight
An uncanny silence gripped the cavern as the beast¡¯s face twisted into that horrible grin. Acid dropped steadily from its maw, sizzling on the stone below. Every instinct, every fiber of Exira screamed at me to move, so I kicked back with every ounce of strength I had, throwing myself into a quick, desperate roll to put distance between us. Boom. The floor where I¡¯d just been exploded, pierced by something fast¨Ca blur of movement. I forced myself to hold steady, swallowing down the pulse of raw fear that clawed its way up my throat. My gaze shot to the point of impact, and a sickening realization dawned on me. The monster¡¯s tongue. That thing had just tried to impale me with its¡­ tongue. A few minutes ago, I¡¯d seen it catch one of the smaller creatures the same way. That tongue was impossibly quick and coated with a deadly acid. The stone floor where it landed was now an ugly, pitted mess, the rock melting as if it were little more than wax. Focus, I told myself, gripping my blades. The monster loomed over me, its massive, grotesque form barely shifting, as though it were just waking up to a new level of interest in me. Its eyes narrowed, and it made a noise¨Csomething close to a growl that sent a chill down my spine. Then, the creature let out a roar that thundered through the cave, rattling the stone walls around me as it rose, its monstrous body filling the passage. ¡°Oh, hell no. Not here,¡± I muttered, watching it sluggishly lift itself up, every movement dripping with sadistic anticipation. The space was too tight. I needed room to move, to dodge, to survive. My gaze sharpened as I focused Exira to Level 2 for a single heartbeat, just enough to give me the push I needed. I lunged forward, my body thrumming with power, blades flashing in a single quick strike as I darted away from the monster¡¯s reach. I didn¡¯t stay to see if it hit its mark. In the next breath, I turned and sprinted, sprinting like hell back toward the open cave and the waterfall. For a few breaths, there was nothing but my pounding footsteps, the slap of my boots against the cold stone. Then a roar, low and furious, shook the tunnel behind me, followed by the thunderous echo of its pursuit. I poured every ounce of focus into each step, forcing myself forward as the air seemed to vibrate with its presence, a monstrous rhythm of rage closing in fast. Just keep going, I told myself, heart hammering against my ribs. But Exira flared in warning, and I threw myself to the side, lunging right in mid-sprint. A sizzle filled the air as a bright, sickening green liquid struck the wall next to me, melting the rock on contact. My pulse spiked. I stumbled, pushing off the wall to keep moving, barely in time to dodge another splash of acid that hit just behind me. My skin prickled with the heat, and then a sharp pain ripped through my back. I gasped, feeling drops of acid searing through my armor, biting deep into my skin. ¡°Aghhh!¡± The pain was excruciating, like someone pouring fire into my veins, burning and burrowing. Exira surged instinctively, rising to snuff out the acid¡¯s corrosive bite. The acid hissed, neutralized by Exira, but not without a cost¡ªmy head throbbed, sharp and unrelenting. I stumbled, the mental strain forcing me to clench my teeth, barely managing to keep my balance as I pressed forward. Keep it together, Lexi. The pain was a blaring reminder of how close I was to death, of the thin line I was running here. I bit my lip, channeling the ache into pure focus, pouring every ounce of willpower into each step. The path ahead opened up, the faint glint of the waterfall catching in the distance. With one last burst of speed, I propelled myself forward, feeling the creature¡¯s acidic breath right at my heels. My heart raced as I broke through the tunnel, skidding across the damp stone before launching myself into the water below, diving deep into the pond. I let myself sink, the cold water closing in around me, muffling the sounds of pursuit. The chill spread through me, but I welcomed it, knowing it would throw off the creature¡¯s sense of heat, mask my scent. As I sank into the cold depths, the chill seeped through my skin, almost numbing the burning pain on my back. Exira hummed within me, each pulse drawing me deeper into focus, allowing me to push the throbbing pain in my head to a distant echo. The steady ache was there, but dulled, like a shadow in the background. Above, the monster¡¯s roar reverberated through the water, distorted and twisted, echoing in waves around me. Heavy thumps shook the cave, one after another, each step closer and louder, a relentless force coming straight for me. It would be here in a matter of breaths. I could run. The thought slipped into my mind, a fleeting option that faded as soon as it appeared. There was nowhere else to go. The path I needed lay beyond that monstrosity, beyond this impossible obstacle blocking my way. I knew that if I turned now, if I gave in to the urge to flee, it would only lead me deeper into a pit of monsters just like this one. No, I thought, gritting my teeth. This thing wasn¡¯t just a threat¨Cit was a test, a brutal reminder of what lay ahead, and what would keep coming if I wanted to survive and grow stronger. The path is littered with blood, I told myself. And if I¡¯m to walk it, I¡¯d better be ready to add more. I took a deep breath instinctively, only to realize that I could actually breathe. I blinked, half-laughing. It wasn¡¯t just a filter¨Cit allowed me to breathe underwater. That discovery should have filled me with relief, but all I felt was a strange calm, a sense of focus sharpening within.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. I glanced up. The creature loomed above the edge of the pond, its warped figure barely visible, a massive shadow as it stilled, sniffing the air. The sight should have sent a bolt of fear through me, but I felt nothing. Only an icy determination, a sensation that seemed to originate from the earring against my skin, a chill spreading through my blood, settling into every fiber of me. My goals¨Creturning home, standing beside my mother, gaining the strength to face whatever came next. That¡¯s what mattered. Nothing else. My vision sharpened, and a strange clarity settled over me, a quiet realization that thrummed through me with each surge of Exira. That creature above, with all its massive size and acid-coated strength, was just another obstacle. A barrier. And I would tear it down like any other. I wasn¡¯t afraid of it. I wasn¡¯t going to run. I focused harder, feeling Exira build within me, a force that swelled like a wave, rising and waiting. My gaze fixed on the edge of the pond, on the twisted, bloated form of the creature. It would never expect an attack from below. Noticing the monster''s hulking figure from beneath the water, I let Exira guide my senses, its energy mapping the creature''s every grotesque detail. Eyes closed, I steeled my mind, feeling the world around me fade into a void where only the beast and I existed. Colors dulled, sounds muted, and all that remained was the pulsating presence of the monstrosity above. Now. I slammed all my Exira at Level 3, unleashing its full force upon the creature. A searing pain sliced through my mind, but I embraced it, channeling the agony into raw power. In that heartbeat, I propelled myself upward, bursting from the water with a surge of energy. My swords ignited with purple flames, casting an eerie glow that danced across the cavern walls. "Fuuu..." I exhaled sharply, drawing in a breath as I swung both blades in a wide arc. They sliced through the monster''s legs, carving deep into the thick, rubbery flesh. Dark ichor spurted from the wounds, the stench of its blood mingling with the acidic fumes in the air. Blood trickled from the corners of my eyes, my vision blurring as the strain of Exira gnawed at my sanity. Biting down hard on my lip, the metallic taste grounding me, I drove both swords into the beast''s back. With a fierce twist, I tore them free, ripping open a gaping wound. The monster let out a deafening roar, a sound that reverberated through my bones. Its massive form teetered before crashing into the water, sending waves crashing against the cavern walls. I landed unsteadily on the slick rocks, knees threatening to buckle beneath me. Coughing, I struggled to steady my breath. Each inhale was a fire in my lungs, the air thick with the acrid smell of acid and decay. Something''s wrong. Exira pulsed erratically within me, and a cold dread settled in my gut. My instincts screamed¨Ca piercing alarm that cut through the haze of pain. Before I could react, a sudden whoosh sliced through the air. From the churning waters, the monster''s tongue whipped forth¨Ca slick, barbed appendage moving faster than thought. It coiled around my ankle with a wet slap, the acidic slime searing through armor and flesh alike. "Ahhh!" I gasped, a jolt of agony shooting up my leg. The world tilted as I was yanked off my feet, crashing hard onto the unforgiving stone. Desperation clawed at me as I dug my fingers into the rocky ground, nails scraping uselessly against the slick surface. No, no, no! The tongue pulled taut, dragging me toward the edge of the pool. My fingers scrambled for a hold, catching briefly on a jagged edge before slipping free. The monster''s grotesque face broke the water''s surface¨Ceyes filled with a malevolent hunger, its grin wider than should be possible. Panic surged, cold and suffocating. I swung my free leg, striking at the tongue, but it only tightened its grip, the acid burning deeper into my skin. The scent of charred flesh filled my nostrils, bile rising in my throat. "Let... go!" I snarled, raising one sword and hacking at the vile appendage. The blade bit deep, dark fluid spraying forth, but the monster didn''t relent. Instead, it gave a violent tug, pulling me into the icy depths. Water engulfed me, the shock stealing the breath from my lungs. The world became a distorted blur of shadows and swirling currents. Bubbles streamed from my mouth as I fought against the pull, muscles screaming in protest. Focus, damn it! I forced myself to calm, the mask filtering air even here, beneath the surface. With a surge of defiance, I summoned what remained of my Exira, channeling it into my arms. The pain in my head was a hammer, each pulse threatening to shatter my concentration. Through the murky water, the monster''s silhouette loomed closer, a dark mass of writhing limbs and gnashing teeth. Its wounds leaked clouds of inky blackness, tainting the water around us. I gripped my sword tighter, the purple flames flickering weakly in the crushing depths. With a silent snarl, I slashed again at the tongue, severing a chunk of the fleshy tether. The beast recoiled, a muffled roar vibrating through the water. But its grip remained. My lungs burned, the mask''s filtration struggling against the sheer depth and pressure. Spots danced at the edges of my vision, each movement sluggish, like wading through tar. This can''t be it. A fierce determination ignited within me. I wouldn''t die here¡ªnot dragged into the abyss by this abomination. Seizing the moment, I kicked free, pain lancing up my leg as torn muscles protested. I propelled myself upward, each stroke a battle against the weight of the water and the dragging pull of exhaustion. Above me, the surface shimmered¨Ca distorted window to safety. I reached for it, lungs screaming, the world narrowing to that single point of light. Then, a shadow eclipsed the glow. The monster surged upward, its jaws snapping inches from my foot. I twisted, narrowly avoiding the razor-sharp teeth, but the motion sent me spiraling off course. No! Desperation fueled my limbs. I swung my sword in a wide arc, the blade connecting with one of the creature''s eyes. A burst of dark fluid clouded the water, the monster''s roar a muted thunder. Using the recoil, I pushed off its massive head, forcing myself upward one last time. My hand broke the surface, followed by my body as I gasped in a ragged breath. The air was a knife in my chest, but I couldn''t stop. Behind me, the water erupted as the beast breached, its gaping maw snapping shut where I''d been moments before. I stumbled onto the rocky ledge, collapsing to my knees. Pain radiated from my leg, the acid''s burn relentless. A low growl rumbled from the pool. I looked back, meeting the monster''s one remaining eye. It glared with hatred so intense it felt like a physical blow. "You''re not... getting me... that easily," I panted, pushing myself to stand. But before I could move, the tongue lashed out once more, snaring my wrist. The slick, burning grip pulled tight, dragging me back toward the edge. Not again! I fought against it, heels digging into the stone. The beast''s strength was overwhelming, each pull relentless. My sword slipped from my grasp, clattering uselessly behind me. As I was pulled closer to the darkness below, a cold realization settled in. This was a battle I might not win. With one final yank, I was pulled back into the icy embrace of the water. Darkness enveloped me, the frigid depths swallowing my scream.
Chapter 020 - A fight in dark
A sharp grunt escaped me as I was yanked backward into the freezing water, my head cracking against the rocky edge on the way down. Damn it! My vision blurred, a smear of red clouding the murky water around me. Pain shot through my leg where the monster¡¯s tongue had coiled tighter, searing even through the water. I could feel it¨Ca slow burn gnawing away at my skin, digging deep. Just when I thought I couldn¡¯t bear it, a familiar chill trickled down from my earring, snapping me out of the haze. Everything sharpened, all the panic and pain shoved down into something cold and manageable. Survive. Get out. Kill this thing. Nothing else mattered. The Exira rose within me, a pulse of sheer defiance pushing back against the agony. Gripping my sword with every ounce of strength I had left, I raised it and hacked down hard at the tongue wrapped around my leg. The blade cut through with a sickening tear, and the pressure around my leg released as the tongue recoiled back into the darkness. A grunt of relief almost escaped me¨Calmost¨Cuntil I felt a new sting. It was everywhere. Shit. The water around me had gone acidic, thin plumes of the monster¡¯s corrosive blood mixing with the depths, biting at my skin through what was left of my armor. ¡°Damn you, you ugly sack of bile!¡± I cursed under my breath, kicking backward to gain some distance. But the water churned with acid, every movement leaving a faint, burning trail along my skin. This bastard¡¯s not going down easy. Just as I steadied myself, something flickered in the darkness¨Ca pair of sickly, greenish-yellow eyes glaring through the clouded water. You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. Before I could react, another slick appendage latched onto my other leg, yanking me down with brutal force. Hell no, not like this, I thought, clenching the sword tighter in my grip. But every inch of my body was on fire, the acid eating into my armor, my skin. Even as I struggled, the cold grip of dread settled in. I was sinking, and with every second, the monster was drawing me closer to whatever awaited in the shadows below. The bastard was trying to drown me in its own acidic soup. With a surge of determination, I forced Exira into my limbs, letting it push back the burn as best it could. The pain dulled, replaced by a focused, almost mechanical numbness. Stay sharp, Lexi. Don¡¯t let it drag you into the depths. I kicked hard, but the thing only tightened its hold, dragging me down faster. The water turned darker, shadows swallowing any trace of light above. I thrashed, feeling the acid slicing across my skin like a thousand tiny knives. My pulse hammered in my skull, but I shoved the panic down, gritting my teeth. Let. Go. You miserable piece of filth! I growled, wrenching my body around to bring the sword down again, aiming for where the tongue had coiled around my leg. But it was slippery, the damn thing writhing every time I tried to get a clear shot. Come on, just one good strike. The eyes loomed closer, staring at me with a twisted sort of hunger. Another chill radiated from my earring, icy and grounding, and in that instant, I felt everything else fade¨Cthe pain, the panic, even the cold of the water. Exira surged to a new level, my will honing in with deadly intent. I didn¡¯t need finesse. I just needed to hit hard.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. With a snarl, I swung again, and this time the blade met flesh, cutting deep. The monster¡¯s tongue slackened, releasing me. Without wasting a second, I kicked upward, lungs screaming for air as I forced my body to rise, to fight against the pull of the depths. But before I could break free, I felt the familiar sting wrap around my waist. The damn creature had latched onto me again. You relentless son of a¡ª A new thought jolted through me¨Ca desperate, insane idea. Let it pull you, just for a second. I tightened my grip on my sword and let the tongue drag me back toward the monster. I could feel the acid tearing into me, burning deeper with each second, but I pushed the pain aside, focusing on the pulsing Exira within me, my only weapon now. The monster¡¯s eyes were close, gleaming with a twisted, insatiable malice. Its jaws opened wide, teeth glinting as I felt the suction of its mouth pulling me down. The water around me wasn¡¯t just cold; it burned. Every inch of my skin screamed in pain, the diluted acid seeping into every pore, clawing past even the Exira shield. My eyes squeezed shut as the raw agony rolled over me in relentless waves. Focus. Don¡¯t give in. Keep calm, I reminded myself, breathing through the agony as my earring emitted that familiar chill, settling the edges of my mind. I forced myself to stay still, letting the monster pull me closer, deeper into its lair. The pain was a relentless roar, but somewhere in that dark, burning abyss, I found a single anchor: the unyielding will to kill this thing. The rage, the instinct for survival¨Call of it melded into one purpose. You¡¯re not getting me, bastard. I felt Exira surge within me, a power rising from some hidden well of pure defiance. It grew, stronger and stronger, a torrent building with every heartbeat. My mind strained, each second dragging me closer to breaking. The monster¡¯s claws clenched, yanking me down faster, its vile eyes locked on me. I opened my own eyes, glaring right back, every ounce of my hate meeting its gaze. But I needed more than just strength. This wasn¡¯t about stunning it¨Cit needed to be eradicated. I remembered, then, that moment when I¡¯d managed to reach into the essence of the monster, connecting with the twisted darkness that made it what it was. With a deep breath, I reached out through Exira, forcing my will forward, tearing through the water to grasp at the creature¡¯s very origin. Darkness surrounded me. No sound, no light, just an overwhelming presence of pure malice. Images¨Cmemories, instincts, and rage¨Ccame at me in a frenzy, the monster¡¯s psyche trying to consume and obliterate my own. No. Not today. My mind stayed rooted, the chill from the earring grounding me, pushing back that storm of darkness. Then, everything froze. A cold force radiated out from me, meeting the monster¡¯s essence and snuffing it out in a silent, merciless wave. I gritted my teeth, locking my focus as I felt the monster¡¯s origin pulse under my grip. With a calm that felt like a blade, I crushed that darkness, shattering its connection to the beast in a brutal silence. My vision cleared, and there it was, the monster¡¯s face inches from mine, its expression warped in some grotesque snarl of fear and anger. Its body thrashed, but I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword, drawing Exira into every inch of the blade, feeling the force burn along its length as cracks spread across the steel. "Die," I snarled, voice low, my words more of a command than anything else. The Exira pulsed, the sword humming with power, its blade barely able to contain the raw energy surging through it. Holding onto the last strands of my consciousness, I summoned every ounce of power left in me, enchanting the blade to tear apart the monster from the inside out. The sword¡¯s light grew until it glowed with a blinding, deadly brightness, practically vibrating in my hand. Without a second thought, I released it, letting it fly toward the monster¡¯s chest, aimed true with the intent to destroy. The blade struck home, stabbing deep, embedding itself into the creature¡¯s core. A heartbeat of silence followed, the water around us eerily still. Then, everything exploded. Exira erupted in a cataclysmic surge, ripping through the monster¡¯s body. Its chest shattered outward, chunks of flesh and bone scattering into the water like a gory storm. The blast sent shockwaves rolling through the depths, a violent, spinning torrent that dyed the entire cave in a sickening greenish-red. I tried to hold on, but the force of the blast slammed into me, launching me backward with the pressure of a tidal wave. My entire body screamed in agony as I was flung through the water, my skin burning anew as the acidic remains seared into every exposed inch. My mind teetered on the edge, the pain finally breaking through Exira¡¯s defenses, a relentless surge of fiery torment. The world spun, blood clouding my vision, the green-red storm a blur as I was tossed through the cavern. My mind faltered, every thought drowned in the flood of pure, raw pain. And then, silence.
Chapter 021 - In the depths
My eyes fluttered open, a dull numbness washing over me like a suffocating blanket. "Ugh..." I groaned, every muscle aching with a distant throb that echoed through my entire body. Blinking slowly, I tried to focus, but what I saw made my skin crawl. Darkness. Not just a shadow or a night sky¨Cbut endless, oppressive darkness stretched out in every direction. Like someone had poured ink over everything, drowning it all in this suffocating black. Somehow, though, I could still see¨Cbarely. Shapes loomed in faint grays, as if the dark itself had a light of its own. I was draped in a dark robe, heavier than anything I remembered wearing, almost choking in its thickness. ¡°What¡­ the hell?¡± I muttered, voice hoarse, and the words drifted, echoing through the void in a way that made my skin prickle. It was like the sound of my own voice didn¡¯t belong to me here. My words twisted and faded out like whispers swallowed up by the darkness itself. Where am I? Standing slowly, I glanced down, half-expecting to see solid ground, but there was only water¨Cstill, black as oil, yet I was somehow standing on it. I kicked the surface, expecting a splash, something. But the water just rippled, smooth and silent, leaving no trace of disturbance. ¡°This place¡­ doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± The thought crept into my mind, unwilling, as if the darkness itself had planted it there. Fuuu. I took a deep breath, the chill in the air clawing at my lungs. Instinctively, I reached for Exira, calling on that familiar power to ground myself, but instead, a wave of pain smashed into my skull. It felt like a hammer had driven itself right between my eyes. Shit! ¡°Argh!¡± I doubled over, clutching my head as my vision flared red. Blood trickled down, hot and thick, painting everything in crimson streaks. I crouched there, trying to breathe, but every heartbeat was like a sledgehammer driving deeper and deeper into my skull. What the hell is wrong with me? Slowly, the pain ebbed, retreating like a wave, leaving me shaking, bloody, and exhausted. I pushed myself upright, wiping the blood from my eyes. The darkness around me stayed silent, oppressive, pressing against me with a suffocating weight. But I needed to move¨Csomewhere, anywhere other than this spot that felt like it was crushing me. With my head still throbbing, I took a few tentative steps, feeling the slickness of the black water beneath my feet. Every step rippled out in faint waves, but there was no direction, no path, nothing but endless dark stretching out around me. Each step I took felt like walking further into an endless void. Is this real? The thought came unbidden, crawling up my spine. Was any of it real? The monsters, the cave, my own damn name¡ªall of it felt distant, slipping through my fingers like sand. ¡°No, no, I¡¯m not¡­ losing it,¡± I muttered, clenching my fists. But the doubt clawed at me, insistent, relentless. What if none of it was real? What if this was all there ever was¡ªthis void, this nothingness? No. Focus Lexi. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to latch onto something, anything to steady myself. But every memory was like a faded picture, details slipping away the more I tried to hold onto them. Was it a cave I woke up in? Or was that just¡­ something else? My own name started to feel slippery, like I was forgetting the shape of it. The more I tried to remember, the harder it was to breathe, my chest tightening with a cold, creeping panic. Enough. I stopped, sucking in a breath, then bit my lip until I tasted blood, feeling the sharp sting ground me, keep me in the here and now. Who am I? The answer barely surfaced, just a whisper in the back of my mind. Alexis¡­ Artoria Drakesier. But the pain lashed out again, slamming into my skull, a spike of agony that left me reeling. ¡°Argh!¡± I gripped my head as the blood ran down, hot, thick, soaking my hands. It seeped from my eyes, my nose, even my mouth. Each breath was like inhaling shards of ice. But I didn¡¯t stop. I reached for Exira again, drawing it out even as it tore through my mind like a wild animal. Push harder. Don¡¯t stop. I clamped down on the pain, forcing the Exira to strengthen, expand, fuel me. Every cell in my body screamed, my vision warping as the red haze thickened, but I held my ground, letting the pain mold me, define me. ¡°I¡­ am¡­¡± The words barely escaped through gritted teeth. My vision blurred, the world swaying, spinning, but I didn¡¯t let go. Even as I felt like I was drowning in blood, I clung to that single truth, forcing it out in a guttural, hoarse scream. ¡°I am Alexis¡­ Artoria Drakesier! And I will¡­ reach back¡­ home¡­ Mom¡­¡± The darkness around me shuddered, like it had heard me. Cracks split through the void, faint, like lightning against a blackened sky. I could feel the edges of reality tearing, unraveling around me. Light seeped through the cracks, harsh, searing, as the world dissolved, splintering under the weight of my resolve. And then, just as quickly as it had come, the darkness shattered.
¡°Cough¡­ damn it¡­¡± The sound came from deep in my chest as I sputtered, choking out water, every breath burning down to my lungs. I lay sprawled out on the floor, drenched, barely able to move. My limbs felt like lead, and my left leg¡ªit burned, sharp and insistent, every nerve screaming at me. Slowly, I tried to piece together what had just happened. The fight, the damn monster, the water¡­ and that place. Was that real? I clenched my fists, feeling my nails dig into my palms, forcing myself to focus on the present, on the feeling of the cold cave floor under me. I pushed up onto my elbows, taking a good look around. It was another part of the cave, darker but quieter, with the faint, hollow echo of dripping water nearby. Not the same water source, though, I noted as my eyes adjusted to the dimness. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Great. Just fantastic.¡± I huffed, struggling to sit up fully, my body protesting every movement. As I settled against the cold stone wall, a wave of pain rolled over me. My left leg throbbed, the skin feeling raw, sensitive to even the slightest shift. A quick glance confirmed what I¡¯d suspected: my skin was pale and red, burned from the acid, patches of it tender and shiny. Hell, even just breathing makes it hurt. With a wince, I raised my hand, studying my palm. Redish pink and blotchy, but at least it wasn¡¯t falling off. The damn acid had done a number on me. I let out a sigh, forcing myself to focus, and looked down at my wrist. The bracelet was still there, the faint glimmer of its last charge intact. Thank god, I thought, relief washing over me. ¡°Alright¡­ one last save for when I really need it.¡± Glancing down, I took in the state of my clothes, clinging damply to my skin. The fabric had been eaten through in places, almost melted. I could feel it sticking to the burns, irritating them further, but the wetness somehow dulled the worst of the pain, cooling the fire that simmered just below the surface. Still, it was shredded, barely hanging together. Not that I was planning on giving any fashion shows down here. Rifling through my bag, I breathed out another sigh of relief. Everything was intact, still surprisingly dry. A few damp edges, but nothing major. The bone bundle and both swords were gone, though. ¡°Damn. They really served well,¡± I muttered, mentally cursing the loss. Time to think about replacements¡­ again. I reached out instinctively for Exira, only to stop as a sharp pain shot through my head, cutting off any attempt at focus. It was like my brain was being wrung dry, every thought twisting and snapping as I tried to concentrate. ¡°Guess that¡¯s a no-go for now,¡± I grumbled, pressing the heel of my palm against my temple. I¡¯ll have to give it some time. With my back against the wall, I took out a few jerkies from my bag. The inside of the bag was dry, which was nothing short of a miracle. I bit into one, savoring the rough, salty taste as I chewed slowly, each bite grounding me back in reality. Between bites, my mind drifted back to the fight, and¡­ that place. That empty darkness. Was that place¡­ my origin? The thought twisted my stomach, making me feel more unsettled than I¡¯d like to admit. I clenched my teeth, remembering the black void and the weight of those memories and feelings, all that blood and pain. It hadn¡¯t just been an illusion. No, it was¡­ something more, something darker. Or maybe, I thought, as a memory surfaced, it was because I tried to touch the monster¡¯s origin. A faint recollection of Mom¡¯s voice echoed in my mind, her stern tone warning me of the dangers. She¡¯d said there were consequences to connecting with the essence of a being, especially a sentient one, and even more so if that being was stronger than me. ¡°Dire consequences,¡± she¡¯d called it, her face dead serious. ¡°Yeah, well¡­ guess I learned that one the hard way,¡± I muttered, chewing on another strip of jerky. My head throbbed faintly as I thought back, and I took another breath to steady myself. Every beat of my heart was a dull ache, reminding me of just how far I¡¯d pushed things. And that place¡­ the memory of it sent a shiver through me. Just what was that? It felt like I¡¯d been staring into the edge of something¡ªmyself, maybe, or something much worse. I shook my head, feeling the lingering dread settle deeper. Whatever it was, I didn¡¯t want to visit it again anytime soon. Not if I could help it. huuuu I let out a long, tired sigh and pulled out the metal card, feeling its cool weight in my hand. The tug was unmistakable, stronger now and definitely closer. ¡°Well, well,¡± I muttered, allowing myself a half-smile. ¡°Looks like this little thing might actually lead somewhere.¡± I pushed myself up, gritting my teeth as a sharp ache shot through my left leg. Every time I put weight on it, the pain flared, jagged and relentless. Great. Just what I needed. I took a moment to steady myself, inhaling through clenched teeth. ¡°No rest for the wicked, huh?¡± With a quick breath, I closed my eyes and summoned Exira, letting it flow in a steady, level 0 strength throughout my body. The energy rippled, dulling the pain just enough to make movement bearable. Better. Not perfect, but hell, I¡¯d take what I could get. Slowly, I tested my footing, stepping lightly on my left leg. The pain was still there, a dull throb, but the relief Exira provided was enough to make it manageable. Step by awkward step, I hobbled forward, following the card¡¯s insistent pull. Can¡¯t believe I¡¯m trudging through this place in this state. A quick inventory ran through my head. I had the throwing knives and two of the small blades I¡¯d taken from the elf. Not much of an arsenal. And I couldn¡¯t even rely on Exira past a few seconds at level 1 strength; the last encounter had made that painfully clear. ¡°Yeah, nothing dangerous about this situation at all,¡± I muttered, rolling my eyes. But even with every rational thought telling me to stop, to find a place to rest, I kept moving. Wherever this thing is pulling me, I thought, glancing down at the card in my hand, it better be worth it. After what felt like an eternity of careful steps and gritted teeth, I reached a small, narrow opening in the wall. The card tugged insistently in my hand, practically vibrating. So it¡¯s in there¡­ or above? I looked up, squinting to make out a hole high above me, similar to the one I¡¯d found near the elf¡¯s body. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡± I muttered, rubbing a hand over my face. The idea of climbing up there in my condition was laughable at best. And yet here I am, staring at this damn hole like an idiot. I looked down at my leg, still throbbing under Exira¡¯s effects. ¡°Alright, Lexi. Let¡¯s think this through.¡± I eyed the walls, rough and jagged, perfect for climbing if I had both my legs working with me. With one injured? It was going to be a gamble. ¡°Perfect, just what I wanted,¡± I muttered, feeling the familiar twist of frustration. ¡°Let¡¯s get one thing straight,¡± I told the darkness. ¡°The moment I get out of this hellhole, I¡¯m not climbing anything for a long, long time.¡± With a resigned sigh, I set my bag down, carefully adjusting the straps to secure it across my back. I tested a few handholds, feeling the stone bite into my fingers. This is gonna hurt like hell. As I grabbed hold, I muttered, ¡°Alright, if I¡¯m gonna do this, let¡¯s do it.¡± It took every ounce of grit and grim determination, but after what felt like a damn eternity¨Cten or maybe fifteen minutes? I finally heaved myself up through the opening. Each step was a surge of pain, every inch a reminder of how close I was to just collapsing. I¡¯d used my knives like makeshift pitons, stabbing and climbing my way up. Now, wincing and cursing under my breath, I let myself down to the floor on the other side, landing hard and feeling the shock ripple through my battered body. ¡°Ah¨Cfuck,¡± I hissed, clutching my side, my hand instinctively pressing against the burning throb in my leg. Barely made it up here in one piece, I thought, willing myself to stay upright. And then¡­ I looked up. And froze. There, slumped against the wall, was another figure¨Ca form that shouldn¡¯t have been there. Pointed ears, unmistakably elven features, skin a shade lighter than the last one I¡¯d found. But this one¡­ this one was different. This one was still breathing.
Chapter 022 - Another living being
I crouched down, keeping my movements slow as I reached the elf slumped against the wall. He was twitching faintly, breath shallow and irregular. As I got closer, I took in the sickly pale tone of his skin. I checked for a pulse, letting out a breath I hadn¡¯t realized I was holding when I found one. It was weak, but steady enough. Not just a hallucination, I thought, relieved. He¡¯s actually alive. But damn, he was cold. His skin had a dampness to it, and his clothes looked about as thin as the rags I was wearing. Probably hypothermic. Lucky bastard didn¡¯t just freeze on the spot. I set my bag down and glanced around, sizing up the situation. The cavern was big, bigger than I¡¯d initially thought. No chance of any heat lingering here for long. I reached for the cloak I¡¯d been wearing, wincing as it peeled away from the burns on my skin. ¡°Damn it,¡± I muttered, feeling the sting settle in as I eased it off. The last thing I wanted was to make things worse for myself, but leaving him like this would be a death sentence. ¡°Alright, buddy,¡± I whispered, settling the cloak over him. ¡°Let¡¯s warm you up.¡± Slowly, I focused my Exira, guiding the energy through the cloak, careful not to let the pulse get too strong. Every time I pushed the energy even a bit, my head pounded, the wounds had yet to heal. You¡¯ve got this, I told myself, forcing the warmth to build up. After a few minutes, I could feel the cloak holding the heat, radiating enough to keep the elf from turning into a corpse. ¡°Good enough,¡± I sighed, pulling my hands back. I took a step back and sank down against the opposite wall, keeping my eyes on him. ¡°Now what?¡± The elf didn¡¯t move, just lay there wrapped up, breathing shallow. I caught myself scanning the rest of the cavern, looking for anything I might have missed. I¡¯d just started to reach for my bone bundle, the one with everything I¡¯d painstakingly gathered, when the reality hit me. ¡°Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake,¡± I muttered, running a hand over my face. The whole damn kit is back in that other cave. Somewhere, along with the remains of that acid-spitting monstrosity, probably burning to a crisp. I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, the irony just rich enough to take the edge off. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s just perfect,¡± I said to the empty cavern. With a sigh, I grabbed the torch, clicking it on just enough to cast a low, steady glow around us. The light was faint, enough to see by, but it would have to do. ¡° So, it¡¯s just you and me now,¡± I murmured, glancing at the elf. You¡¯re alive, but I doubt you¡¯re in any shape to be helpful right now. Settling back, I let the silence seep in, my gaze flickering between the elf and the cave walls. There wasn¡¯t much to do now but wait, and that meant trusting that this stranger, whoever he was, would be worth the trouble. I shifted against the cold stone wall, wincing as I brushed my hand over my skin. It stung like hell¨Can irritating, prickling sensation that just wouldn¡¯t fade. The burns from that acid were still fresh, leaving my skin an angry shade of reddish-pink. Like I needed more pain right now, I thought, shaking my head. But oddly enough, the chill in the cave helped. The cold bit into me, numbing some of the pain. Letting out a slow breath, I settled into a meditative state, trying to calm my body down and get a handle on everything that had happened. Every muscle aches, every thought seems frayed around the edges. That fight, I mused, the acid beast¡¯s image flashing in my mind. I huffed, a rueful grin slipping out. ¡°Ugly as hell and then some,¡± I muttered, my voice echoing softly in the cavern. That acid-spewing monster was the first real elite I¡¯ve seen of this lizard race. And it wasn¡¯t just brute strength¨C intelligence and unique properties. I closed my eyes, the memories playing over again in my mind. If I¡¯d faced it head-on? No way. I wouldn¡¯t have come out unscathed. I rolled my shoulders, feeling the lingering burn and weight of exhaustion. \ "Let¡¯s be honest, if I¡¯d gone all out, I¡¯d be tapping into that last charge right about now, probably using it to keep my guts inside or my leg attached." I let out a dry chuckle, letting the thought settle in. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Lucky, that¡¯s all it was. Stupid luck." But despite everything, there was something else underneath. Something that hadn¡¯t let go since the moment I¡¯d plunged back into that water, ready to tear that bastard apart. I felt alive. Alive in a way that was sharper, more real, even with the pain clawing at my skin and the exhaustion seeping into my bones. It wasn¡¯t like any other feeling, not since...well, not in a long time. I let my head fall back against the wall. ¡°No sane person should feel like that,¡± I muttered. ¡°Umm, was I dropped as a child?,¡± I laughed softly to myself, the sound bouncing back in the silence. It was a strange, twisted humor, but it was the only thing that made me feel lighter, like some unseen weight had lifted off my shoulders. After a moment, I exhaled and opened my eyes, glancing across the cavern to the elf still wrapped up in my cloak, twitching faintly. I let out another small laugh, quieter this time. " So what¡¯s your story, huh? Guess we¡¯re both stuck down here, keeping each other company, for better or worse." I shook my head, closing my eyes again. In this grim, damp place, it was the small things that kept me going¨Cmaybe just barely. ¡­ Time passed. I let out a long breath, feeling the weight of everything lighten just a bit. Sometimes just getting the thoughts out made the load feel more bearable, like releasing a tightly wound spring. My hand reached instinctively for the earring on my left ear, the only one I wore. It felt cool under my fingers, that solid, familiar metal that had somehow kept me steady through all this hell. ¡°Thanks, I guess,¡± I murmured, running my thumb along its edge. How many times had this thing saved me now? I couldn¡¯t even count. Every time the world felt like it was spinning out of control, or I was about to lose it completely, it would kick in. There¡¯d be this sudden chill, like icy water down my spine, and everything¨Cpain, fear, anger¨Cwould just go silent, blanked out like a smothered flame. I sighed, rolling my head back. Yeah, a damn double-edged sword, I thought. It wasn¡¯t all roses and salvation. With every chill, every calm it brought, I felt myself slipping further into something colder, something¡­ detached. Like I was losing a part of myself each time. The moments right after felt hollow, like all that emotional weight was scrubbed clean but at the cost of something I couldn¡¯t name. Doesn¡¯t matter, though. Not really, I told myself. In this hellish cave, with these damn monsters, having something that kept me sharp, kept me focused¡­ I wasn¡¯t complaining. But then there was¡­ that place. The Limbo, I thinks that''s the name of that place¡­the final gateway to origin. I felt a shudder at the memory, that void of endless black, echoing and stretching in every direction. Even thinking about it now felt surreal, like a half-remembered nightmare that didn¡¯t quite belong to me. It wasn¡¯t just darkness¨C I really don¡¯t remember anything else but I¡¯m damn sure touching one¡¯s mind or origin using Exira, they would be there too and at an advantage. I could hear my mother¡¯s voice, her warnings from years ago, every word dripping with that serious tone she only used on things that mattered. ¡°Touching a being¡¯s origin is a sacred act, Alexis. It isn¡¯t to be done lightly, and never without purpose,¡± she¡¯d told me. ¡°If you ever connect to a living being¡¯s origin, you¡¯ll be dragged in, and if you¡¯re not prepared, it can consume you.¡± I ran a hand over my face, exhaling. She¡¯d made it sound like some untouchable taboo, something that could cost a person everything. Yet there I was, dragged in by that acid-ugly fucking obese bastard, barely holding on. For a split second, I¡¯d felt¡­ in control. Just for the briefest heartbeat, I¡¯d been able to bend that darkness to my will, to command it. And then it all went to hell, and I felt like I was drowning, like it was swallowing me whole. ¡°Not doing that again,¡± I muttered, clenching my jaw. Unless I was better prepared, I¡¯d be an idiot to touch another origin. I¡¯d need a whole damn contingency plan, a rock-solid way to keep myself from slipping back into that nightmare. The elf stirred suddenly, coughing and gasping. I jolted, barely realizing I¡¯d drifted off myself. Blinking, I moved toward him and reached for my water bottle, uncapping it quickly. Steadying him in a sitting position, I lifted the bottle to his lips. "Easy now," I murmured, watching as he sipped in small, instinctive gulps. His breaths were shaky, and he coughed, his eyes still closed, as if he hadn¡¯t fully come yet. ¡°Here, take it slow,¡± I whispered, rubbing his back as he choked down another mouthful. It took a few moments, but he eventually relaxed in my hold, the coughs subsiding as he swallowed. I eased him back against the cave wall, making sure he was settled, his chest rising and falling in steady breaths. The glow from the moss cast a soft, muted light around us, painting everything in greenish hues, and I found myself studying his face. The elf¡¯s features were sharper, more angular than a human¡¯s, with those pointed ears marking him as something other than human¡ªjust like the other elf I¡¯d encountered. Tall, pale, with an almost ethereal look. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what his story was, how he¡¯d ended up in this hellhole. The cuts and bruises on his body were visible even through his torn clothes, but none of them looked life-threatening. As I probed further with Exira, though, I could sense a faint pulse, his life force struggling to hold on, like a thread fraying at the ends. His energy was slowly fading¨Cpoison, maybe, or some kind of internal damage. Not good. ¡°Damn,¡± I muttered, leaning back against the wall beside him, mind racing. Poison... Another thing to add to my mental list of dangers. Everything here seemed to be designed to kill, like the whole place was hellbent on draining me down to my last breath. My own body wasn¡¯t holding up well either. I could feel the toll¡ªevery ache, every bruise. Weeks without real sleep, constant battles, Exira draining me every time I used it. Food was sparse, too. The jerkies helped, but they weren¡¯t much against the punishment my body had been through. A slight cough jerked me out of my thoughts. The elf¡¯s eyes fluttered open.
Shattered Reflections V : Price of gift
I closed my eyes, forcing my breathing to slow. Inhale... exhale. The dark cave around me faded, replaced by the steady rhythm of my heartbeat pounding in my ears. My mind was a swirling storm of fragmented images and sensations, this time I felt a ping, and reaching it a storm of memories played out in a blur until I had a memory . . ¡°Alexis, that¡¯s why Pariah is a class S priority threat. You don¡¯t even realize it, but you''re thankful and glad for the earring you received. Those are the karmic threads holding you.¡± "Lexi!" A shiver ran down my spine as Mom¡¯s words echoed in my mind, a chilling reminder of how easily I had been manipulated. The most frightening part wasn¡¯t the Pariah¡¯s deception, but my own reaction, being grateful for his ''gift.'' Manipulated by fate itself, and bound by threads I didn¡¯t even know existed, all because I hadn¡¯t repaid the price. The hold it had over me was firm. "Lexi!" I jolted awake from the spiral of thoughts haunting me since that encounter. How could I have let myself be so easily fooled? How had I fallen into his web so unknowingly? ¡°Ouch!¡± I muttered, rubbing my temple as Aunt Nora¡¯s fingers snapped against my forehead. The sharp flick pulled me out of my daze. Her eyes were sharp and stern only when talking and working at her craft did she take on this persona, as she sighed and crossed her arms. "I¡¯ve been calling you for a while now." ¡°Ouch!¡± she flicked again. Damn that stings¡­ Her piercing gaze met mine, arms crossed as she exhaled sharply, clearly losing patience. ¡°Lexi, I need you to stay focused,¡± she said, her tone a blend of reprimand and concern. ¡°I know your mind¡¯s been elsewhere, but we¡¯re here for a reason. You can''t let yourself get lost in those thoughts forever, not with what we''re doing today.¡± I blinked, slowly pulling myself from the lingering shadows of the Pariah¡¯s manipulation. Aunt Nora always knew how to cut straight through the fog in my mind, even when I didn¡¯t realize I was stuck in it. She tilted her head slightly, eyes softening for a moment before her voice regained its no-nonsense edge. ¡°Now,¡± she continued, ¡°do you even remember why we¡¯re here together? Or were you too busy thinking about that cursed earring?¡± I let out a sigh, I didn''t even bother to reply knowing that would lead me into more trouble, and to her credit no one, not even her, had been able to figure out these earrings. I can¡¯t take them off, and neither can I use them yet I think. I did get the feeling that in due time I¡¯ll be able to use them. This led to the trouble that I now realized fated item or not I was supposed to have the accursed earring right now. The feeling from the earring was difficult to explain but with Exira, I get that they are waiting for some trigger, what exactly no idea. Not to mention the weight of recent events still clinging to me, but I forced myself to refocus. ¡°Yeah, I remember,¡± I replied, a faint smile tugging at the corner of my lips despite everything. ¡°We¡¯re here to craft those artifacts... for Edward, Alice, and Aunt Mel and possibly one more if any materials are left.¡± Nora¡¯s expression softened slightly, though a hint of a smirk played at her lips. ¡°Good. That means I haven¡¯t completely lost you to your brooding.¡± She stepped forward, uncrossing her arms and gesturing to the materials spread across the workbench.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Let''s get to it. I¡¯m not going to do all the work while you sit there sulking." Aunt Nora leaned against the table, crossing her arms with a knowing smile. "Alright, Lexi," she began, her voice teasing but with a touch of challenge, "since you¡¯ve been so deep in thought, let¡¯s see if you can still remember why we''re here. What''s the crafting process I taught you again?" I blinked, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts of the Pariah. Aunt Nora¡¯s sharp gaze was on me, and I knew she wasn¡¯t going to let me off easy. Scratching the back of my head, I smirked. "Pfft, come on, Aunt Nora. You¡¯re really testing me now?" "Maybe I am," she replied, her smile widening. "Or maybe I¡¯m just making sure you didn¡¯t lose any brain cells during that... incident." Ouch, she is really savage¡­ . . The memory shifted as another scene played out . . The dining room was warm and inviting, the golden glow of the chandelier casting soft light on the polished wood of the table. Outside, the chill of the evening crept in, but the thick stone walls of the manor held it at bay. I sat with Mom and Aunt Nora, the comforting aroma of tea and freshly baked biscuits filling the air. My body ached from head to toe, a dull reminder of the day¡¯s hunt. The tea in my hand was laced with some medicinal blend Aunt Nora had prepared ¨C its warmth seeped into my sore muscles, relaxing me with every sip. A plate of biscuits sat in front of me, their flaky texture melting into sweetness with a hint of spice. It was almost enough to distract me from the tension I felt under Mom¡¯s watchful gaze. Almost. The day had been¡­ eventful. The hunt itself was exhilarating. Tracking prey through the forest, moving with calculated precision, the thrill of taking down targets with a combination of skill and Exira. For the most part, I had done well. But when the excitement overtook me, I got overconfident. Too much confidence in Exira, too little focus. I still remember the moment everything shifted. The energy I was channeling surged uncontrollably, pulling me deeper and deeper into that strange limbo-like space. My senses dulled, my thoughts slowed, and for a terrifying few seconds, I couldn¡¯t tell where the real world ended and the power began. If it hadn¡¯t been for Mom... The image of her sharp, commanding presence cutting through the void was still fresh in my mind. She¡¯d pulled me back, her Exira wrapping around mine like an unyielding tether. Even now, I could feel the lingering effects of that limbo ¨C the cold emptiness that threatened to swallow me whole. I shuddered, taking another sip of tea to steady myself. Mom sat across from me, her posture as perfect as ever. She didn¡¯t need to say anything; her piercing gaze was enough. Aunt Nora, seated beside her, was quieter than usual, watching with a subtle smile that hinted at amusement and concern in equal measure. ¡°So, Alex,¡± Mom began, her tone deceptively calm. ¡°How was today?¡± Unknowingly, I shuddered again. I knew that tone. It was the prelude to a lesson¡ªor a lecture. Possibly both. I also knew what Mom hated most: arrogance. And today, I had been arrogant. ¡°I¡­ learned a lot,¡± I said carefully, setting down my cup. ¡°Made a lot of mistakes.¡± Mom¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but the slight raise of her eyebrow told me I wasn¡¯t off the hook yet. ¡°Alex,¡± she said, her voice steady and deliberate, ¡°on the path to attaining power, everyone makes mistakes. What¡¯s important is how much you learn from them¡ªand whether you¡¯re willing to set aside your pride to grow.¡± Her words hit like a hammer, as they always did. There was no venom in her tone, no harshness, but the weight of her expectations was enough to make me squirm in my seat. ¡°Yes, Mother,¡± I replied, my voice low. ¡°Exira is a mysterious power,¡± she continued, her gaze never wavering from mine. ¡°We all, even I learn something new about it every day. It¡¯s only natural for someone on this path to make mistakes. But making the same mistake, Alex will cost you dearly.¡± I nodded quickly. ¡°Yes, Mother.¡± Her eyes softened just slightly, but her posture remained firm. ¡°Good.¡± Aunt Nora finally chimed in, her voice lighter but no less pointed. ¡°Lexi, you¡¯ve got talent, no one¡¯s doubting that. But talent without humility? That¡¯s just a recipe for disaster.¡± She reached over and slid the plate of biscuits toward me with a teasing smile. ¡°Eat. You¡¯ll need the energy for tomorrow.¡± I glanced at her, grateful for the small reprieve, and picked up another biscuit. The silence that followed wasn¡¯t uncomfortable, but it gave me time to reflect. Mom was right ¨C again. Aunt Nora was right again. My overconfidence had almost led to disaster today. If Mom hadn¡¯t been there, I might still be stuck in that limbo, or worse. As I finished the last sip of tea, its soothing warmth spreading through my body, I looked at Mom. ¡°I¡¯ll do better,¡± I said, my voice steady this time. Her lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile. ¡°See that you do.¡± And just like that, the weight of the day felt a little lighter. The aches in my body, the sting of my bruised pride, even the fear of what might have happened ¨C it all faded, replaced by a quiet determination. Tomorrow will come. And with it, another chance to prove myself.
Chapter 023 - Mr. Elf speaks alien
¡° Haah,¡± a soft cough snapped me out of my thoughts. I blinked, realizing the elf was waking up. Suppressing a yawn, I hadn''t noticed how tired I was. I grabbed my water bottle and moved closer to him. Let''s hope you''re friendly, I thought. The last thing I needed was more trouble. Gently, I helped him into a sitting position, slipping an arm behind his back. His body felt light, almost fragile. ¡°Easy there,¡± I murmured, supporting his weight. He coughed again, a dry rasp that echoed faintly in the cavern. Poor guy must be parched. An idea struck me. Focusing quietly, I channeled Exira at level 0 strength, letting a calming energy permeate the air around us. Maybe this will make things a bit less tense. I uncapped the water bottle and brought it to his lips. ¡°Here, drink,¡± I said softly. He hesitated for a moment before accepting, his hands slowly rising to support the bottle. As he drank, his sips turned from cautious to eager, draining the water hungrily. I kept a steady grip to ensure he didn''t choke. As he drank, I studied him more closely. His skin was unnaturally pale, almost luminescent in the soft glow of the moss that lit the cave. High cheekbones, sharp jawline, and those unmistakably pointed ears¨Cdefinitely an elf. Cuts and bruises marked his skin, but nothing appeared immediately life-threatening. He finished drinking, and I gently pulled the bottle away, capping it before setting it aside. ¡°Better?¡± I asked, not really expecting a response. He leaned back slightly, and I adjusted the cloak around him, making sure he was warm. Then, slowly, his eyes fluttered open. I froze. Bright emerald eyes met mine¨Cvivid, piercing, and filled with confusion. They were stunning, almost otherworldly. For a moment, I was caught off guard, my words lost. Well, damn. ¡°Uh...¡± I stammered, trying to find my voice. He continued to gaze at me, those green orbs reflecting the faint light of the cave. There was confusion there, but no fear or hostility. I realized I was still holding onto his shoulder and quickly pulled my hand back. ¡°Sorry,¡± I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. Smooth move, Alexis. He glanced around slowly, taking in the cave''s surroundings¨Cthe glowing moss, the rocky walls¨Cbefore his eyes settled back on me. His brow furrowed slightly as if trying to piece together what was happening. ¡°It''s okay,¡± I said softly, raising my hands slightly to show I meant no harm. ¡°You''re safe.¡± He didn''t respond, but his posture relaxed just a fraction. I wondered if he could understand me at all. Probably not, I thought. Figures we''d speak different languages. An awkward silence stretched between us. I cleared my throat, trying to think of what to do next. ¡°Do you need anything else?¡± I asked, gesturing toward my pack. ¡°Food, maybe?¡± He looked at the pack, then back at me, eyes still filled with that perplexed expression. Slowly, he shook his head. ¡°Alright then,¡± I murmured. ¡°Just let me know.¡± As if that''s going to happen. I settled back a bit, giving him some space. The Exira''s calming effect still lingered in the air, making the atmosphere feel oddly peaceful despite the circumstances. He shifted slightly, winced, and brought a hand to his throat. I noticed how gaunt his fingers looked, the skin almost translucent. He must have been down here a while. ¡°Thirsty?¡± I asked, holding up the water bottle again. He seemed to understand, giving a slight nod. I handed it to him, and he drank more slowly this time. As he handed the bottle back, our eyes met again. Those emerald eyes¡ªsharp yet vulnerable. They seemed to search mine as if seeking answers. ¡°I''m Alexis,¡± I said, pointing to myself. ¡°Al-ex-is.¡± He watched me carefully, then parted his lips as if to speak. A soft, melodic sound came out¨Ca word in a language I didn''t recognize. It flowed smoothly, even though his voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°Sorry, I don''t understand,¡± I said, shaking my head. He frowned slightly, a hint of frustration crossing his features. Well, this is just fantastic. I sighed internally. Stuck in a cave with an elf I can''t communicate with. What could possibly go wrong? He seemed to pick up on my exasperation, his expression softening. He gestured weakly toward himself and said something else¡ªa single word that might have been his name. I tilted my head. ¡°Is that your name?¡± I asked, pointing at him. He nodded slowly. ¡°Alright,¡± I said with a small smile. ¡°Easier said than done.¡± He attempted a faint smile in return, though it looked more like a grimace. Still, it was something. I glanced at the cuts on his arms and the bruises along his jaw. ¡°You''re hurt,¡± I said, pointing gently to his wounds. ¡°May I?¡± I mimed wrapping a bandage around his arm. He looked down at his injuries as if noticing them for the first time. After a moment, he gave a slight nod. ¡°Okay,¡± I said, trying to sound reassuring. I rummaged through my pack and pulled out a small piece of cloth. It wasn''t much, but it would have to do. I moved closer, carefully wrapping the cloth around a particularly nasty cut on his forearm. He winced slightly but didn''t pull away. ¡°Sorry,¡± I murmured. ¡°This might sting a bit.¡± He watched my hands as I worked, those emerald eyes observing every movement. I could feel his gaze but tried to focus on bandaging the wound properly. Once done, I sat back on my heels. ¡°There. That should help for now.¡± He lifted his arm slightly, inspecting the makeshift bandage, then looked back at me and gave a small nod of gratitude. ¡°Don''t mention it,¡± I said, waving a hand dismissively. At least we''re making some progress. I settled down beside him, leaning against the cave wall. The silence returned but felt less awkward this time. The soft glow of the moss bathed the cavern in a gentle light, casting long shadows. My stomach growled softly, reminding me it had been a while since I''d eaten. I reached into my pack and pulled out a piece of jerky. Glancing at the elf, I held out another piece to him. ¡°Hungry?¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. He looked at the offered food, hesitated, and then accepted it cautiously. He sniffed it briefly before taking a small bite. ¡°Good?¡± I asked, taking a bite of my own. He chewed slowly, then gave a slight nod. It was hard to tell if he actually liked it or was just being polite. I chuckled softly. ¡°Yeah, it''s not exactly gourmet, but it keeps you going.¡± We ate in relative silence, the quiet punctuated only by the distant drip of water somewhere deeper in the cave. As we finished, I couldn''t help but feel a bit more at ease. Having another living being nearby¨Ceven one I couldn''t fully communicate with¨Cwas a welcome change from the isolation. I glanced over at him. He was leaning back, eyes half-closed, the exhaustion evident on his face. ¡°Get some rest,¡± I said softly. ¡°We''ll figure things out when you''re feeling better.¡± He looked at me one last time, those emerald eyes reflecting the faint light, then closed them slowly. His breathing evened out as he drifted back to sleep. I sighed, leaning my head back against the wall. What have I gotten myself into? But despite the uncertainty, I felt a small flicker of hope. ¡°Maybe we''re not so screwed after all,¡± I muttered to myself. ¡°Guess we''ll find out,¡± I whispered, the soft echo of my voice fading into the depths of the cave. **** I remember sitting at Aunt Nora''s cluttered kitchen table, the scent of fresh herbs and old parchment filling the air. Sunlight streamed through the open window, casting warm patches on the worn wooden surface. I was young then¨Cfeet barely touching the ground, swinging idly as I scribbled nonsense on a scrap of paper. "Lexi," Aunt Nora called her voice lilting with that familiar teasing tone. She leaned against the doorway, arms crossed with a sly smile playing on her lips. "Suppose you find yourself needing to talk to someone who doesn''t speak the same language. What would you do?" I looked up, eyebrows knitting together. "That''s easy!" I declared, puffing out my chest a bit. "I''d use Exira! It can do anything! Like Mom" She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Oh, is that so? And how would Exira help you communicate with someone who doesn''t understand your words?" I tapped the end of my quill against my chin, thinking hard. "Well... I''d just, you know, send my thoughts to them using Exira. Like mind-talking!" Aunt Nora''s eyes sparkled with amusement. "Mind-talking, hmm? Quite the talent for someone your age." I grinned widely. "I''m gonna be the best at Exira someday!" She walked over, ruffling my already messy hair. "I''m sure you will be. But not everyone can receive thoughts through Exira, especially if they don''t know how to use it themselves." I frowned, the confidence wavering a bit. "Then... maybe I could use Exira to make pictures in the air? Like illusions! They could see what I''m thinking!" She sat down beside me, her long skirt rustling softly. "A creative idea," she admitted. "But what if you''re too tired to use Exira? Or what if the place you''re in dampens your abilities?" I blinked. "Places can do that?" She nodded. "You won''t always be able to rely on it." I huffed, crossing my arms. "Then what am I supposed to do?" Aunt Nora smiled gently. "Sometimes, you have to get a bit more... traditional." "Traditional?" I echoed, tilting my head. She reached over and picked up a stick of charcoal from the table. "If you have time and access to paper or something to write with, you can start decoding their language. Take notes, listen carefully, and look for patterns." I wrinkled my nose. "That sounds like a lot of work." She laughed softly. "It can be, but it''s rewarding. You''ll learn so much more about them in the process." I doodled aimlessly on the paper. "What if I don''t have time? Or paper?" "Then," she said, tapping the charcoal against the table, "you can go caveman and communicate using drawings." I snorted. "Caveman?" "Yes," she grinned. "Draw pictures in the dirt, use gestures, act things out if you have to. It''s amazing how much you can say without words." I considered this, imagining myself waving my arms around like a madman to get a point across. "Won''t they think I''m weird?" "Perhaps," she admitted, eyes twinkling. "But better to be thought odd than to be misunderstood entirely." I sighed dramatically. "I guess that makes sense." She leaned in closer. "Communication is about more than just words, Alexis. It''s about connection. Sometimes, the effort you put into understanding someone speaks louder than any language." I looked up at her, absorbing her words. "Have you ever had to do that?" She nodded, a distant look in her eyes. "Many times. I once spent months among the Silaran tribes that took refuge here after the incursion ??? ???. We didn''t share a language, but we found other ways to communicate. By the end, we''d taught each other so much." "Wow," I whispered. "That sounds... kinda cool." "It was," she smiled softly. "And you, my dear, might find yourself in similar situations one day." I grinned mischievously. "Think I''ll meet aliens?" She laughed outright at that. "Perhaps! And when you do, you''ll know just what to do." I tapped the charcoal against the paper thoughtfully. "So, pay attention, look for patterns, and if all else fails, draw pictures?" "Exactly," she affirmed. "And remember, patience is key. Don''t get frustrated if you don''t understand right away." I shrugged. "I guess I can try." She ruffled my hair again. "That''s my Dumb Lexi." Shaking my head and bothering to retort, I glanced at the array of notes and doodles scattered across the table. "Maybe I should practice," I mused. "That''s a wonderful idea," she encouraged. "Want me to teach you some basics in decoding languages?" "Yes, please!" I exclaimed, enthusiasm returning full force. She stood up, retrieving a worn book from a nearby shelf. "Let''s start with common symbols and gestures. They''re often the foundation of any language." I leaned forward eagerly as she opened the book, pages filled with strange characters and diagrams. "These are used all over the world," she explained. "See this one? It represents water." I traced the symbol with my finger. "Looks like waves." "Exactly," she nodded. "And this one means ''home'' or ''shelter.''" I studied the simple drawing of a house. "That makes sense." "Once you recognize these, you can begin to piece together meanings, even if you don''t understand the spoken words." I grinned. "It''s like a puzzle!" She smiled warmly. "Yes, and you''re quite good at puzzles." We spent the next hour going over various symbols and gestures, the room filled with my excited chatter and her patient guidance. Every new discovery felt like unlocking a secret code. "You''re a quick learner," she praised. I beamed proudly. "Maybe I''ll become a language master!" "Maybe you will," she agreed. "The world could use more bridges between people." I tilted my head. "Bridges?" "Figuratively speaking," she clarified. "People who connect others, who help them understand one another." "Oh," I nodded. "That sounds important." "It is," she said softly. "Never underestimate the power of understanding." I yawned suddenly, the day''s excitement catching up to me. She noticed and chuckled. "Perhaps we should call it a day." I rubbed my eyes. "But I''m not tired," I protested weakly. "Of course not," she teased. "But even future language masters need their rest." I relented, gathering up the papers. "Can we do more tomorrow?" "Absolutely," she promised. "We''ll make a scholar of you yet." As I stood up, a thought struck me. "Aunt Nora?" "Yes, Alexis?" "Thanks for teaching me," I said earnestly. "I think... I think it''s really cool." She smiled that warm, gentle smile that made everything feel right. "You''re very welcome. And thank you for being such an eager student." I shuffled my feet, suddenly shy. "Goodnight." "Goodnight, dear one," she replied, placing a soft kiss on my forehead. I headed towards the door, pausing to look back at her. She was tidying up the table, humming a soft tune. The firelight cast a golden halo around her, and for a moment, I felt a surge of affection and gratitude. "Sleep well," she called without turning around. "Maybe Exira isn''t the answer to everything," I mused quietly. "But it''s still pretty awesome." I climbed into bed, the sheets cool against my skin. Staring up at the ceiling, I felt a mix of excitement and contentment. Tomorrow held new lessons, new challenges, and I was ready to take them on. "Watch out, world," I whispered into the darkness. "Alexis Artoria Drakesier is coming." ¡°Muwhhaawa!¡± A soft breeze rustled the curtains, and I drifted off to sleep, dreams filled with symbols, adventures, and the endless possibilities that awaited.
Chapter 024 - Cavemen talk using crude drawings
As I pulled the diary from my bag, I caught the elf''s eyes narrowing. His gaze flickered from the bag to the armor I was wearing. Ah, crap, I thought. He''s putting two and two together. Slowly, I extended the photos toward him¨Cthe ones I''d found earlier. His Gaze sharpened as I saw he had put his guard up, his body was tense and he was probably readying himself. Need to defuse the situation¡­ I placed the torch closer to him, its dim light casting flickering shadows across his face. He glanced at me momentarily, suspicion and pain etched into his features before his eyes dropped back to the photos. A soft, choked sob escaped his lips. The sound hit me harder than I''d expected, stirring an uncomfortable knot in my chest. Feeling like an intruder, I stood up and grabbed my water bottle. "I''ll... just go refill this," I mumbled, not that he''d understand me. He didn''t look up as I slipped out of the cavern, his focus entirely on the memories clutched in his trembling hands. Outside, the air was cooler, the distant drip of water echoing softly. I knelt by a small pool, letting the bottle fill slowly. "Well, that could''ve gone better," I muttered. Of course, he''s upset, you idiot. You''re decked out in his dead friend''s gear. I splashed some water on my face, the cold seeping into my skin. It helped clear my head a bit. The first chance he gets, he might try to gut me, I realized. Wouldn''t blame him, either that¡¯s what I would do. I looked at my reflection in the rippling water. The exhaustion was clear¨Cdark circles under my eyes, cuts, and bruises in various stages of healing. You look like hell, I thought grimly. Running a hand through my damp hair, I sighed. "Gotta fix this mess somehow." Standing up, I capped the bottle and lingered for a moment, staring into the darkness. Part of me wanted to just keep walking, and avoid the inevitable confrontation. But I knew that wasn''t an option. Coward''s way out isn''t gonna help anyone. I kicked a loose pebble into the pool, watching the ripples spread out and fade. "Alright, man up," I told myself. "Go back in there and try to make things right." The walk back felt shorter, my footsteps echoing softly. As I approached the cavern entrance, I took a deep breath, steeling myself. Just explain it to him... somehow. Re-entering the cave, I saw the elf still hunched over the photos. His shoulders trembled slightly. The sight made me hesitate. Damn it, this isn''t easy. I cleared my throat softly, announcing my presence. He glanced up, eyes red but alert. There was a hardness there now, a defensive glare that hadn''t been there before. I raised my hands slowly, palms open. "Look, I know you probably don''t understand me, but I need you to know I didn''t... I didn''t harm him." Great start, Alexis. Real smooth. He said something in his language¨Ca sharp, clipped phrase that I couldn''t hope to decipher. But the tone was clear enough: distrust, accusation. "Okay, okay," I murmured, nodding slowly. I pointed to the armor I was wearing, then to the photos in his hand. "Your friend," I said softly. Then I mimed sleep, pressing my hands together against my cheek and closing my eyes. After a moment, I shook my head slowly, trying to convey the finality. His eyes followed my gestures, a flicker of realization crossing his face. He looked back down at the photos, his jaw tightening. "I found him," I continued, pointing to myself, then miming walking and stumbling upon something. "He was already gone." I pressed a fist over my heart, hoping he''d understand the gesture of respect. "I''m sorry." He stared at me for a long moment, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife. Finally, he looked away, his gaze distant. The anger seemed to ebb slightly, replaced by a profound sadness. I exhaled slowly. At least he doesn''t look like he''s about to attack me. I sat down a few feet away, giving him space but staying close enough to show I wasn''t afraid.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it "I tried to... give him a proper send-off," I added quietly, not sure why I felt the need to keep talking. He glanced at me, then back at the photos. Gently, he traced a finger over one of the faces, a faint smile ghosting over his lips before fading. The silence stretched between us. I rubbed the back of my neck, searching for something¨Canything¨Cto say or do that might bridge the gap. An idea sparked. I rummaged through my bag and pulled out the diary again. Flipping to a blank page, using the pen, and laying the diary open on the ground between us, I drew a simple figure¨Ca stick man with spiky hair to represent me. Next to it, I drew another figure lying down, eyes closed. He watched me carefully, his eyes flicking between the drawing and my face. I pointed to myself, then to the stick figure standing. "Me." Then I pointed to the other figure. "Your friend." He nodded slowly, indicating he was following so far. I drew a small fire beside the lying figure, with lines to represent flames. Then I gestured widely, mimicking flames rising up. "Fire," I said, pointing to the drawing. "I... made sure he was at peace." His eyes narrowed slightly, processing the information. He said something else¨Cthis time softer, the edge gone from his voice. I shrugged apologetically. "I wish I understood you." He pointed to the drawing, then to the armor I was wearing. He raised an eyebrow, waiting. I nodded. "Yes, I... took these from him." I patted the armor lightly, then pointed to myself and made a walking gesture. "I needed protection to survive down here." as I showed him the state of myself and the armor. He seemed to consider this, his gaze thoughtful. After a moment, he reached out and tapped the drawing of the fire, then placed his hand over his heart and bowed his head slightly as he spoke. ????? ??? I took that as a sign of gratitude¨Cor at least acceptance. "You''re welcome," I said softly. We sat there in silence for a while, the tension easing little by little. I offered him some of the dried meat from my pack and this time he accepted without hesitation. As he ate, I couldn''t help but feel a small spark of hope. Maybe we can make this work after all. After some time, the elf seemed to have calmed down. He glanced over at me, his eyes clearer now, and gestured toward the diary lying beside me. I picked it up and handed it to him along with the pen. He motioned for me to sit next to him. I hesitated for a moment, then slowly moved to sit beside him, keeping Exira channeling internally at level 0, just enough to stay alert without straining myself. The elf opened the diary to a blank page and began writing something. When he finished, he turned the book toward me. Strange symbols sprawled across the page¨Can elegant, flowing script that meant absolutely nothing to me. I squinted at it, shaking my head. "Sorry, I can''t read this," I said instinctively, then mentally kicked myself. Idiot, he doesn''t understand you. He sighed, a hint of frustration flashing in his emerald eyes. A light cough escaped him, and he wiped a speck of blood from the corner of his mouth. Without missing a beat, he flipped to another blank page and began drawing instead. He sketched five stick figures standing before what looked like a cave entrance. Then he crossed out two of the figures, drawing crude monsters next to them¨Cjagged teeth and claws. I watched as he illustrated a fight, the two figures falling to the creatures. "Your party?" I mumbled, piecing it together. Realizing I''d spoken aloud, I snapped my mouth shut. Smooth, Alexis. Real smooth. He glanced at me but continued drawing. This time, he showed the remaining three stick figures splitting off into different passages, scratching lines through certain entry points. He coughed again, harder this time, a small fleck of blood staining the page. He wiped it away with the back of his hand, undeterred. I studied the drawings, trying to make sense of them. "So you got separated," I thought aloud. "And the entrance...?" He drew rocks blocking the cave entrance, emphasizing it with heavy strokes. Then he looked at me, his expression somber. "Blocked off," I murmured. "Figures." He wasn''t done yet. The elf drew a mountain with waves at its base, then added circles deep beneath the waves, pointing to our current location. I stared at the drawing, my brain working overtime. "Wait... are we underwater?" I blurted out, forgetting for a moment that he couldn''t understand me. He looked at me, eyes meeting mine, and nodded slowly. "Well, shit," I whispered, running a hand through my hair. "Trapped under the damn ocean." He tapped the drawing again, then pointed upwards, mimicking a climbing motion with his hand. I nodded. "So there''s a way up through the mountain?" I asked, half-hoping he''d miraculously understand. He seemed to catch my meaning, giving a slight nod. I let out a heavy sigh. "Great. Just when I thought this couldn''t get any worse." He watched me carefully, perhaps sensing my frustration. I glanced at him, noting the exhaustion etched into his features. "Alright," I said, nodding more to myself than to him. "Guess we''re in this together." He offered a faint smile, the corners of his mouth lifting ever so slightly. I pointed to the diary, then to the map he''d drawn. "This helps. Thanks." He inclined his head, acknowledging the gesture. An awkward silence settled between us. I fiddled with the edge of my sleeve, the fabric rough against my fingertips. "So, uh, what''s your name?" I asked out of habit, then chuckled softly at my own stupidity. "Right. Language barrier." He tilted his head, curious. I pointed to myself. "Alexis," I said slowly. "Al-ex-is." Understanding flashed in his eyes. He pointed to me. "Alexis," he repeated, his accent giving the name a melodic lilt. I smiled. "Yeah." He touched his chest, about to speak, but a rough cough cut him off. I waited as he caught his breath. He tried again. "El''Serith," he said softly. "el-ser-ITH," I echoed. "El''Seriith, It¡¯s nice to meet you, really"
Chapter 025 - Crude information
The elf suddenly broke into a violent coughing fit, his body shaking uncontrollably. "Hey, easy there," I said instinctively, moving to his side. I rubbed his back gently, grabbing the water bottle and bringing it to his lips. "Drink up," I urged, tilting it carefully so he wouldn''t choke. He took a few shaky sips, the coughing gradually subsiding into ragged breaths. As he leaned back against the cold cave wall, catching his breath, I noticed something that made my stomach twist¨Ca web of faint black veins creeping up the side of his neck, pulsing ominously under his pale skin. "What the hell is that?" I muttered under my breath. I reached out and pointed at his neck. "Are you... okay?" I asked, forgetting for a moment that he couldn''t understand me. His eyes followed my finger, and upon realizing what I was indicating, a shadow crossed his face. He offered a faint, weary smile and shook his head, dismissing my concern. Before I could press further, he picked up the journal lying between us, clearly avoiding the topic. Flipping to a blank page, he began to draw. I watched as he sketched a simple stick figure lying flat, then drew a bold X over it. The message was grim and unmistakable. I sighed, a knot tightening in my chest. "So it''s like that, huh?" I whispered. The weight of the situation settled heavily between us. He glanced at me briefly before turning to a fresh page. This time, he drew a more detailed humanoid figure. Beside it, he sketched a small circle, shading it thoroughly. Finishing, he looked up at me expectantly, tapping the shaded circle. I frowned, scratching the back of my head. "I don''t get it," I admitted. "What are you trying to tell me?" For a few minutes he frowned and then he seemed to realize my confusion. A look of determination flashed in his eyes as he flipped to another page. He drew five dots around the humanoid figure, then pointed emphatically at the shaded circle again. His gaze locked onto mine, urging me to understand. "Five... points?" I murmured, trying to piece it together. "What does that even¡ª" Before I could finish, he lifted his hand. Flames burst to life in his palm, red-hot and blazing. "Whoa!" I exclaimed, instinctively shielding my face. The heat washed over me, irritating my already sensitive skin. "That was surprising," I muttered, peering through squinted eyes. Despite the discomfort, I focused, letting Exira enhance my perception. There it was¨Can unfamiliar energy radiating from within him, manifesting as the fire dancing in his hand. Just as quickly as it appeared, the flame flickered out. The elf doubled over, coughing violently, a spray of blood staining his pale lips. "Damn it," I cursed, moving to support him. "You''re pushing yourself too hard." He waved me off weakly, his breathing ragged. We waited in tense silence until his coughing subsided. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but a resolute expression remained. "You''re one stubborn son of a..." I bit back the rest of the sentence, exhaling sharply. After a few moments, he returned to the drawing. He sketched a flame beside the humanoid figure, drawing a line from the flame to the figure''s head. He tapped the drawing, then pointed to his own temple. "Fire... mind?" I guessed aloud. "Your power comes from your mind?" He nodded slightly, though I couldn''t tell if he truly understood me or was just hopeful I''d catch on. Without missing a beat, he circled another area on the figure¨Cthis time around the chest or perhaps the core. Clenching his fist tightly, he gritted his teeth and gestured for me to pay attention. "Alright, show me what you''ve got," I said, leaning in. A subtle shift occurred. This time, the energy emanated differently¨Cless concentrated, more dispersed. Through Exira, I observed the flow originating from deep within him, spreading outward and concentrating in his clenched fist. It was similar to before, yet fundamentally different. Understanding hit me like a bolt. "Wait a second," I murmured. "You''re showing me two types of... energy? One from the mind, one from the body?" He watched my face intently, searching for any sign of comprehension. I pointed to the flame he''d drawn connected to the head. "Mind," I said slowly. Then I pointed to his clenched fist and the circled area on the figure. "Body." A spark lit in his eyes. He nodded vigorously, a relieved smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Finally, making some progress," I said with a small grin. "So you''re trying to tell me about your... pathways of power?"Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. He tapped the five dots he''d drawn earlier around the humanoid figure, He tapped his chin thoughtfully, then pointed to the five dots around the humanoid, ¡°So you have 2 of those 5 points of power¡± As I used my fingers to gesture the numbers. He shook his head as he drew again. Seeing the confusion still plastered on my face, El let out a low grunt to grab my attention. He circled the next point on the humanoid figure he''d drawn, tapping it insistently. Then he pointed directly at his eyes, widening them dramatically before glancing around the cave. I squinted, trying to piece it together. "Eyes? Sight?" I mumbled. "Wait, you''re saying this point affects vision?" He nodded eagerly, a hint of relief crossing his tired features. "Alright, so mind powers, physical strength, and now... enhanced vision?" I muttered, more to myself than to him. "That''s pretty damn handy." El offered a faint smile, seeming satisfied that I was starting to catch on. He then circled the remaining three points on the drawing and shook his head slowly, his expression turning somber. It was clear he hadn''t unlocked those abilities yet¨Cor maybe he couldn''t. Before I could ask¨Cor rather, gesture¨Canything else, a harsh wheeze escaped him. El doubled over, a violent coughing fit wracking his body. "Hey, easy there!" I exclaimed, moving closer. I placed a steadying hand on his back, feeling the tremors coursing through him. As he lowered his hand, a fit of wheezing and coughing overtook him. "Hey, easy there," I said, moving closer to support him. He hunched over, each cough wracking his frail body. I grabbed the water bottle and held it out. "Here, drink." He took a few sips, the coughing gradually subsiding. It was obvious that this little presentation had taken a toll on him. The dark veins creeping up his neck seemed more pronounced now, a grim reminder that time wasn''t on his side. I watched him carefully, a knot forming in my stomach. Damn it, he''s worse off than I thought. The urge to ask him a million questions burned inside me, but I held back. Communication was still a barrier, and I didn''t want to overwhelm him. We sat in silence for a moment, the only sounds our ragged breaths echoing softly in the cavern. I glanced down at the sketches spread out before us, my mind racing. Five points... but only two unlocked? And the others are still out of reach for him or there are some requirements to unlock them?? Ahh so much I don''t know¡­wait¡­ An idea sparked. I picked up the pen and drew a new human figure, marking five points just like before. Then, I added a sixth point, looking up at El questioningly. "Only five points?" I asked, pointing to the extra one I''d added. He shook his head firmly, lifting his hand with fingers spread wide¨Cemphasizing the number five. The gesture was forceful, leaving no room for doubt. "Alright, got it. Just five," I muttered, scratching out the extra point. "But how do you get them?" I circled the five points on the drawing, then looked at him expectantly. He seemed to consider my question, his eyes narrowing in thought. After a moment, he nodded, understanding dawning on his face. Taking the journal from me, he began to draw again. This time, he sketched a series of skulls and a stick figure wielding a sword. One by one, he crossed out the skulls as the figure appeared to defeat them. He paused, then randomly circled one of the skulls, shading it heavily until it seemed to glow on the page. He drew a line from the glowing skull to one of the points on the human figure. "Wait," I whispered, leaning in closer. "You get these points from... killing monsters?" He looked at me, then continued drawing. This time, he illustrated a much larger skull surrounded by what looked like flames or some kind of aura. "A boss?" I guessed. "An elite monster?" He nodded emphatically, tapping the drawing for emphasis. "Fantastic," I sighed. "So I have to take down big, ugly bastards to unlock these powers." El wasn''t done yet. He drew waves representing water and placed a point deep below them. Next, he sketched a mountain with flames and marked another point within it. Lastly, he drew an area with lightning striking down, adding a point there as well. He handed me the journal, watching as I examined the new drawings. "Locations," I murmured. "Specific places tied to these points." I traced my finger over the images¨Ca deep sea location, a fiery mountain, and a stormy area struck by lightning. The pattern was clear. "So it''s not just killing monsters," I said thoughtfully. "It''s also about going to these places." El nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. I looked back at him, a mix of excitement and dread swirling in my gut. "You''re telling me that to unlock these powers, I need to face off against elite monsters and venture into godforsaken places?" He didn''t need to understand my words; the expression on my face said it all. He simply gave a solemn nod. "Great," I muttered sarcastically. "Because my life''s not complicated enough already." Despite my sarcasm, a spark of determination ignited within me. This was a path¨Ca dangerous, possibly suicidal path¨Cbut a path nonetheless. I glanced over at El. "Thanks for sharing this," I said quietly. "I appreciate it." He met my gaze, his emerald eyes reflecting a depth of understanding. For a moment, the language barrier didn''t seem so insurmountable. I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "Looks like we''ve both got our work cut out for us." He chuckled softly, though it quickly turned into another bout of coughing. I reached out to steady him, concerned, tightening my chest. "Easy, don''t push yourself." He waved off my worry, but I could see the strain wearing on him. The black veins on his neck seemed more pronounced now, a grim reminder that time wasn''t on our side. "Listen," I said firmly. "We need to find you help. Medicine, a healer¨Csomething." He looked at me with a resigned expression, then pointed back to the stick figure he''d crossed out earlier. "Don''t give me that," I snapped, surprising myself with the intensity. "I''m not about to watch you keel over without a fight." He offered a sad smile, placing a hand over his heart. "Thank you," he whispered in his own tongue, the meaning clear even if the words weren''t. I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling up. "Damn it, there''s got to be something we can do." Sighing and shaking his head El took the diary as he drew again with shaky hands.
Chapter 026 - Ways to power
I nodded, trying to show El that I was keeping up. He drew a stick figure on the page, shading a circle near it¨Canother power point, I assumed. Then he sketched arrows from the circle pointing toward the stick figure, miming an absorbing motion with his hands. "Wait, so... you absorb these points?" I blurted out before catching myself. Damn, he can''t understand me. El noticed my confusion. He nodded thoughtfully, then took the page back. He drew two human figures side by side¡ªone bold and solid, the other outlined with dotted lines. Pointing to the bold figure, he gestured between himself and me. Then he closed his eyes and pointed to the dotted figure. I furrowed my brow. "Invisible? Or... inside?" I mumbled. Is he talking about an inner self or one''s physical self and the other is something that represents??? El watched me, eyes searching mine for any sign of understanding. I glanced back at the drawings¨Cthe solid figure must represent our physical bodies, like his enhanced strength and vision. The dotted one... could it symbolize something non-physical? The mind or spirit? The source of his flame ability? A light went on in my head. "So, the bold figure is physical powers, and the dotted one is mental or spiritual powers?" I asked, half hoping he''d magically understand me. He gave a small smile, nodding as if to encourage my line of thought. "Alright," I said, nodding back. "I think I''m getting it." He gestured for me to let him continue. I handed the journal back, and he looked at me intently, as if gauging whether I was ready for the next part. El pointed to one of the power points he''d drawn in front of the two figures. He mimed the flame again, indicating that this particular point was associated with fire or perhaps the mind. I nodded slowly. "So each point corresponds to a different ability or element," I murmured. "And we can acquire them by... absorbing these power points into either our physical or mental selves?" He seemed to sense my growing understanding and nodded more firmly this time. "That''s... actually pretty damn cool," I admitted, a hint of excitement creeping into my voice. He offered a faint smile, the weariness in his eyes momentarily replaced with a spark of hope. "So, these points¨Csome enhance physical abilities like strength and vision by granting aspects or traits like elementals or night vision and stuff¡­" I pointed to the bold figure, "and others enhance mental or elemental abilities, like your fire." I tapped the dotted figure. El nodded again, his expression indicating that I was on the right track. "Alright, got it," I said, feeling a surge of determination. "Let''s see where this goes." He looked relieved as if a significant barrier between us had just been bridged. El began by meticulously dividing the bold figure¡ªthe representation of the physical body¡ªinto distinct sections. He circled both legs, connecting them with a dotted line, and placed a single mark beside them. I leaned in closer. "So both legs count as one slot?" I muttered under my breath. He glanced up at me and gave a subtle nod. "Alright, got it," I thought. He moved on to circle the stomach area, adding a double line next to it. Then he marked the heart, followed by the neck or throat. Next, he drew circles over both arms, pairing them together, and then circled the mouth, nose, and a pair over the eyes. Finally, he shaded the entire body and added a number beside it. I counted silently. "A lot of spots huh..," I realized. But confusion crept in. "What the hell does all this mean?" I wondered, scratching my head. El noticed my bewilderment. He pointed to the bloodstains on the floor from his earlier coughing fits. "Blood?" I whispered. Then it clicked. "These points correspond to vital parts of the physical body." "Ten physical points," I repeated, nodding slowly. "But why are they important?"Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Before I could ask, El shifted gears. He circled the flame he''d drawn earlier and lit a small fire in his hand. The sudden burst of light made me blink. Then, he crossed out several parts on the physical body diagram: the entire body, the blood, nose, and mouth, and he lightly crossed the eyes and heart. I frowned. "Why is he crossing those out?" I muttered. My confusion must have been obvious. He looked at me, then reignited the flame in his hand. Holding it steadily, he showed me his palm¡ªcompletely unburned. He gestured toward the physical body drawing and then sketched flames surrounding the entire figure. "Wait a minute," I said, gears turning in my head. "You''re showing me that the flame doesn''t harm you physically." He pointed to the crossed-out parts again and then to his hand, emphasizing that it wasn''t burned. Realization dawned on me. "Oh, I get it now! The power point grants new traits or aspects to the user, but it would be stupid to assign something like fire¡ªwhich naturally burns¡ªto certain physical parts of the body." He gave a slight nod, a hint of a smile on his lips. "So assigning fire to, say, the blood or the heart could be disastrous," I mused. "But if it''s properly integrated, it enhances without harming." El tapped the shaded circle over the entire body and then gestured around himself as if enveloped by an invisible aura. "An aura?" I guessed. "A protective layer?" He nodded, confirming my suspicion. "This is wild," I muttered. "So the flame power can be used to create a protective aura around the body, but you have to be careful where you channel it." He pointed back to the diagram, specifically at the eyes and heart, which he''d lightly crossed out earlier. "Assigning fire to the eyes or heart is risky," I said aloud. "But maybe not entirely off-limits if done carefully?" He gave a so-so gesture with his hand. "Alright, noted," I said. "Proceed with caution." I looked back at the ten physical points he''d marked. "So these are potential slots where powers can be applied," I thought. "But compatibility matters." El began drawing symbols next to each point¡ªsome I recognized as elemental signs, others were unfamiliar. He pointed to the arms and drew a symbol resembling strength, then to the legs and sketched speed lines. "So powers like enhanced strength and speed can be assigned to these parts," I concluded. He nodded, then pointed to the eyes and drew a small lightning bolt. "Vision enhancements," I said. "Maybe even lightning-based abilities." He smiled, clearly pleased that I was following along. "But how do you know which powers are safe to assign to each point?" I asked, more to myself than to him. He tapped his temple, indicating thought or knowledge. Then he pointed to himself and then to me. "Experience?" I guessed. "Or maybe intuition?" He shrugged, then drew a question mark beside the symbols. "Trial and error," I muttered. "Fantastic." El suddenly coughed, a harsh, grating sound that echoed in the cavern. Concerned, I reached out. "Hey, you alright?" He waved me off, but the strain was evident on his face. "Maybe we should take a break," I suggested. He shook his head firmly, pointing back to the diagram. "Stubborn, aren''t you?" I said with a smirk. He chuckled weakly, then pointed to the non-physical figure he''d drawn earlier¨Cthe one outlined with dotted lines. He circled it and then drew symbols around it: a flame, a wavy line that might represent water and a swirl for wind. "Elemental powers," I realized. "Assigned to the non-physical aspects." He nodded, then pointed back to the physical body and drew a barrier between the two figures. "A separation between physical and non-physical powers," I mused. "They operate differently." He pointed to the flame in his hand, then to the non-physical figure, emphasizing the connection. "Your fire ability comes from your non-physical power points," I said. "Whereas your strength enhancements come from the physical ones." Another nod. He gestured for me to look back at the diagram, then pointed to the crossed-out parts again. "Assigning incompatible powers to the wrong points can harm you," I said. "Or even be fatal." He tapped the crossed-out heart symbol, then mimed a heart stopping. "Death," I whispered. "Got it." A heavy silence settled between us. The weight of this new information pressed down on me. "Thanks for the warning," I said softly. "I''ll be careful." He offered a weak smile, then leaned back, clearly exhausted. I glanced around the cavern. "We should rest," I suggested. "You''ve pushed yourself enough." He didn''t protest this time, closing his eyes briefly. I sat beside him, lost in thought. "This whole system of powers is more complex than I imagined," I pondered. "But if I can navigate it properly, it could be a game-changer." I looked over at El. "You''ve risked a lot to teach me this," I said quietly. "I won''t let it go to waste." He opened his eyes slightly, meeting my gaze. There was a depth of understanding there, a silent acknowledgment. "Get some sleep," I told him. "We''ll figure out our next move when you''re feeling better." He nodded faintly, settling into a more comfortable position. I leaned back against the cold stone wall, staring up at the faint glow of the moss above. "So much for a simple survival mission," I thought wryly. "Now I''m knee-deep in mystical power dynamics." A sardonic grin spread across my face. "Just another day in the life, huh?"
Chapter 027 - The way to escape
Sighing, I rested my back against the cold, damp wall, my eyes tracing over the sketches El had painstakingly drawn. "Hmm, the power system of these elves," I muttered. "Even with just the bare basics, it could be potentially useful for me." My gaze settled on one particular drawing¡ªEl''s depiction of killing boss-type monsters to obtain these mysterious power points or essences. The thought struck me: that massive acid-spewing elite monster I fought earlier might have had one of these essences. "Damn," I whispered under my breath. "Might''ve missed out on something big there." There''s no saying that monsters can''t tap into this power system. After all, they''re a race too¨Cjust lacking sentient intelligence. "Maybe they''re instinctively drawn to these essences," I mused. "Or perhaps the essences influence their evolution." On that thought, I realized El wasn''t surprised that I was human. He was more cautious about a stranger wearing his friend''s gear. "That must mean they''re used to seeing humans," I thought aloud. "And the fact I had no knowledge of the elf power system was normal to him." Maybe humans and elves interacted regularly, or at least knew of each other''s existence. "Haa," I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I guess with time, and as more of my memories return, I''ll understand the situation more." Looking back at the drawings, I noticed there were two main aspects to this whole ''slotting of powers'' concept: Physical and Soul¡ªor Ethereal. The physical slots seemed to drastically change the genetic structure of the body depending on the ''slotted essence of power.'' "Hmm, essence has a nice ring to it," I thought. "Let''s call these things essences." The soul or mind aspect was more mysterious, sounding like it was geared towards magic and mysticism. "Figures," I muttered. "Physical enhancements and mystical abilities¡ªtwo sides of the same coin." I frowned, deep in thought. "I''ve killed plenty of normal monsters, yet none of them had essences." So either these essences are rare drops, or there''s a specific criterion a monster must meet to qualify. "Probably an elite or a boss would satisfy these needs," I concluded. "Great, more slaughter." The idea of hunting down more of those grotesque creatures didn''t exactly thrill me. But if that''s what it took to gain strength and survive, then so be it. "Survival of the fittest," I whispered. "Or maybe just the most desperate." I glanced over at El, who was resting peacefully. "He wasn''t shocked to see a human down here," I reflected. "Maybe humans venturing into these caves isn''t uncommon." That could mean there were settlements at worst and a city nearby at best or groups nearby¨Cpossibly even a way out of this underground maze. "Still," I thought, "the fact that he didn''t expect me to know about their power system suggests that it''s unique to elves¡ªor at least not commonly shared with humans." That made me wonder: would it even be possible for me to harness these essences? Or was I chasing a dead end? "Only one way to find out," I told myself. "But first, I need to recover and plan my next move." I shifted uncomfortably, the cold seeping into my bones. The burns from earlier still stung like hell, and my muscles ached from overexertion. "Can''t keep going like this," I admitted. "Need to find a safer place to rest¨Cor better yet, a way out of this damn cave." But the thought of those essences kept nagging at me. If I could obtain them, maybe I could accelerate my healing, enhance my abilities, or even unlock new powers. The possibilities were tantalizing. "Wait," a realization struck me. "If that acid monster had an essence and I didn''t even check..." I clenched my fists in frustration. "Damn it!" I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "No point in beating myself up over it now," I reasoned. "Next time, I''ll be better prepared." I looked back at the sketches, focusing on the section about slotting essences into the physical and ethereal parts of the body. The physical aspect seemed to alter the body at a genetic level. "That explains the drastic changes," I thought. "Probably why El is so damn strong." The soul or mind aspect, on the other hand, was more elusive. "Sounds like magic or some mystical crap," I mused. "Not exactly my area of expertise." I chuckled dryly. "Then again, waking up in an underground cave with no memories wasn''t on my to-do list either." I rubbed my eyes, fatigue beginning to take its toll. "I need to rest," I admitted. "But I can''t afford to let my guard down." My stomach growled softly, reminding me that I hadn''t eaten in a while. Digging into my pack, I pulled out a piece of dried meat. "Not exactly gourmet, but it''ll do." As I chewed, my thoughts drifted back to El. "He didn''t freak out when he saw me," I recalled. "Just wary because I had his friend''s gear." That likely meant humans and elves coexisted to some extent. "Maybe when I get out of here, I''ll find some answers," I hoped. "Assuming I don''t get myself killed first." I sighed, leaning my head back against the wall. "So, more elite monsters to hunt," I muttered. "More risks, more chances to die horribly," I smirked. "Just my luck."This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. But deep down, a part of me was excited at the prospect. The chance to grow stronger, to unlock new abilities¡ªit was tempting. "Guess I''m a glutton for punishment," I chuckled. I glanced over at El once more. "I wonder if he can be saved," I thought. The black veins creeping up his neck were a bad sign. "Maybe one of these essences could help him." But that was a problem for another time. Right now, I need to focus on surviving and figuring out my next steps. "One thing at a time," I reminded myself. "First, get out of this hellhole. Then, worry about power-ups and saving the world." I closed my eyes, letting the ambient sounds of the cave wash over me¡ªthe distant dripping of water, the faint rustle of unseen creatures. It was oddly soothing. "At least I''m not alone anymore," I thought. "Even if communication is a challenge." A small smile tugged at my lips. "Who would''ve thought I''d be teaming up with an elf?" I felt a flicker of determination ignite within me. "Alright, Alexis," I told myself. "Time to get your act together." Opening my eyes, I stared into the darkness ahead. The path was uncertain, fraught with danger and the unknown. "But hey," I whispered. "When has that ever stopped me?" With a final sigh, I settled into a more comfortable position, preparing to catch whatever rest I could. "Cough. Cough. Cough." El''s sudden, harsh coughing fit snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked over to see him doubled over, blood speckling the ground beneath him. "Damn it," I muttered, scrambling to his side. "Hey, take it easy." I placed a hand on his back, feeling the tremors wracking his frail frame. He continued to cough violently, crimson staining his pale lips. Panic surged through me. "Hold on," I said, grabbing the water bottle. I lifted it to his mouth. "Drink," I urged softly. He took a few shaky sips, his breathing ragged and uneven. I gently patted his back, hoping to ease his discomfort. As he began to calm down, I noticed the black veins creeping up his neck were now spreading across his face. His skin had turned a sickly shade of purple, making him look like death warmed over. "What the hell is happening to you?" I blurted out, then clenched my jaw in frustration. He can''t understand you, idiot. El took a deep, shuddering breath and reached for the paper and pen. "Whoa, maybe you should rest," I said, placing a hand on his arm. He shook his head stubbornly, determination flashing in his eyes. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he ignored it, focusing entirely on the frantic strokes of his pen. I watched as he drew a large circle, shading a massive diamond shape inside it to make it stand out. The way he emphasized it made me think it was glowing or important somehow. Then he sketched an enormous skull beside the circle, adding countless smaller skulls within the larger one. My stomach twisted. This can''t be good. He wasn''t finished. On one edge of the circle, he drew wavy lines¡ªwater, perhaps¡ªwith an arrow pointing upward. He grasped my hand suddenly, his grip surprisingly strong despite his weakened state, and pointed emphatically at the shaded diamond inside the circle. "Wait, what does this mean?" I asked, scanning the drawing. "Is this a place? An object?" I looked back at him, but his eyes were filled with urgency, not answers. He coughed again, more blood speckling the page. The sight of it sent a cold dread creeping up my spine. "Easy there," I murmured, handing him the water bottle once more. He took it with trembling hands, but his focus never left the drawing. "Are you trying to tell me to go here?" I pointed to the circle with the diamond. He nodded weakly, then tapped the massive skull and the smaller ones inside it. "Great," I muttered. "So it''s crawling with whatever nightmares those represent." I racked my brain, trying to piece it together. "Is this... a place filled with monsters? And you want me to go there?" He pointed again to the arrow by the water lines, then gestured upward. "An exit? Up through the water?" I guessed. "Is that our way out?" He gave a slight nod, his eyes pleading. "So you''re saying that beyond this horde of horrors, there''s a way to the surface?" I asked incredulously. "And you think we can get there?" He didn''t respond verbally, but the look on his face said it all. Time was running out. "Why the hell would we risk that?" I snapped, then immediately regretted it. "Sorry," I sighed. "I just... I don''t know if we can make it." He clutched my hand tighter, his skin cold and clammy. He pointed once more to the glowing diamond shape, then to himself, and finally to me. "You need me to get something there," I realized. "Something that can help you." He shook his head, then broke into another fit of coughing, this time more violent. Black veins pulsed visibly under his skin, and his complexion turned an alarming shade of purple. "Hold on, damn it!" I exclaimed, feeling utterly helpless. I supported him as he doubled over, blood dripping onto the cavern floor. "There''s got to be something I can do." He attempted a weak smile, but it quickly turned into another grimace of pain. He started to draw again, his movements frantic and less coordinated. His hand shook so badly that the lines came out jagged. He sketched a mask over the skull, then pointed to me. "Me?" I asked, pointing to myself. He nodded, then pointed to the mask and back to the drawing. "You want me to wear a mask? For protection?" I guessed. He coughed violently, unable to answer. His condition was deteriorating fast. "Shit," I muttered under my breath. "We don''t have time for charades." I grabbed the paper, trying to make sense of his scrawls. "Big scary place filled with monsters, something valuable in the center, water leading up¡ªprobably our exit¡ªand you want me to go fetch this thing to help you." He started coughing again, more forcefully this time. Blood spewed from his mouth, and he clutched his chest as if in immense pain. "El!" I shouted, panic rising in my chest. "Hold on!" He collapsed onto his side, his body wracked with spasms. I knelt beside him, lifting his head gently. "Stay with me, damn it!" His eyes flickered, the black veins now spreading across his face like a dark web. He gasped for air, each breath a tortured effort. "Think Alexis, think," I berated myself. "There has to be something I can do." But I knew deep down that I was out of options. He grasped my sleeve weakly, his eyes locking onto mine one last time. He mouthed something inaudible, his lips barely moving. He started violently coughing again, the sound echoing ominously in the hollow cavern.
Chapter 028- Farewell El
I helped El sip some water, my hand gently rubbing circles on his back as he struggled to catch his breath. I focused my Exira, letting it flow subtly to create a calming atmosphere around us. Slowly, his coughing subsided, but the sight that met my eyes made my stomach churn. The black veins had spread further, weaving an ominous spider web across his skin. When I touched his arm, it felt like ice¨Chis temperature had plummeted. "You''re freezing," I muttered, concern tightening my chest. I glanced at his face; the sickly purple hue had deepened, making him look like a shadow of himself. "This isn''t good." "Is there any way to help you?" I asked, even though I knew he couldn''t understand my words. The desperation in my voice was unmistakable. El coughed lightly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He slowly shook his head, eyes calm and resigned. Taking the diary from my hands, he began to write. Each stroke of the pen seemed to sap more of his dwindling energy. I watched him write for what felt like an eternity. The silence between us was filled only by the scratching of pen on paper and the distant drip of water echoing through the cavern. A lump formed in my throat. "He''s writing his final note," I realized, the thought hitting me like a punch to the gut. I could see his life force fading; Exira showed me the already faint pulse of his life dimming at an alarming rate. "Haa," I sighed, turning my head away. I blinked rapidly, trying to stave off the tears threatening to spill. "Get a grip, Lexi," I scolded myself. "You''ve known him for a few hours." But damn if those hours hadn''t felt like lifelines in this hellish abyss. After days¨Cor weeks¨Cin this godforsaken cave, any form of contact was a godsend. I craved the warmth of companionship like a parched man craves water. "Am I really about to lose the only friend I''ve found down here?" The thought was unbearable. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. "Not fair," I muttered under my breath. "This world is a twisted joke." A gentle touch on my shoulder snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. I turned to see El looking at me, a surprised expression on his face. Then he smiled warmly, eyes soft despite the dark veins marring his skin. I felt a hot flush of embarrassment. "I''m not crying, man," I blurted defensively, hastily wiping at my eyes with the back of my hand. "Just got some damn dirt in my eyes, that''s all." He chuckled softly¨Ca raspy, strained sound but genuine nonetheless. His eyes held a knowing look, and I couldn''t help but crack a small smile in return. "Here you are, with both your foots in your grave, and you''re worried about me." He patted my shoulder lightly before returning his focus to the diary. I watched as he continued to write, each word seemingly heavier than the last. Part of me wanted to snatch the pen away, to tell him to rest, but I knew this was important to him. "Wish I could read what you''re writing," I thought, frustration gnawing at me. "Maybe it''s a way to help you. Maybe it''s your story." I sighed again, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "Dammit, language barriers suck." I glanced around the dimly lit cave. The glow from the bioluminescent moss cast eerie shadows on the walls, making the place feel even more otherworldly. "Never thought I''d miss fluorescent lights," I mused wryly. El finally set the pen down, his hands trembling slightly. He closed the diary and held it out to me, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine. "For me?" I asked, pointing to myself. He nodded slowly. I took the diary gingerly. "Thank you," I said softly. "I''ll keep it safe." He leaned back against the wall, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. The black veins pulsed faintly, a grim reminder of his deteriorating condition. I opened my mouth to speak but closed it again, realizing how useless words were right now. Instead, I reached out and squeezed his shoulder gently. He looked at me, a faint smile still lingering. There was a peace in his eyes that both comforted and unnerved me. "How can you be so calm?" I wondered.. "Useless," I muttered, kicking a loose pebble across the cavern floor. It skittered and clattered, the sound echoing hollowly. El watched me quietly, his gaze steady. He reached out and grabbed my hand as I passed by, stopping me mid-stride. I looked down at him, meeting his eyes. "What?" I asked, my voice harsher than I intended. He simply squeezed my hand, his grip weak but reassuring. The gesture said more than words ever could. I swallowed hard, feeling the sting of tears again. "You''re telling me it''s okay," I realized. "That you''re at peace with this." "Well, I''m not," I snapped internally. But the fight drained out of me as quickly as it had flared up. I sank back down beside him, exhaling a shaky breath. "Sorry," I mumbled. "I just... I hate feeling helpless." He nodded slowly, his eyes understanding. "Guess we''re both in over our heads," I said, attempting a weak smile. He tilted his head slightly, a curious expression crossing his face.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "Not that you can understand me," I added with a rueful chuckle. "But talking helps, you know?" Silence settled between us, but it wasn''t uncomfortable. It was the quiet of shared burdens, of mutual acknowledgement of a situation neither of us could control. I leaned back against the wall, staring up at the jagged ceiling. "Funny," I thought. "In all the stories, the hero always finds a way. There''s always some last-minute save, some miracle cure." But this wasn''t a story. This was a harsh reality, and it sucked. "You''re a good man or elf, El," I said softly. "Glad I met you, even under these messed-up circumstances." I settled back, the diary clutched in my hands. "I''ll read it later," I promised silently. "Maybe it''ll help me make sense of all this." Time seemed to blur. Minutes felt like hours, and I found myself drifting in and out of restless thoughts. El reached out once more, his fingers brushing against my arm. I looked over, and he pointed weakly toward the tunnel ahead. "You want me to go," I stated. He nodded, the effort visibly taxing. "Not without you," I said firmly. He shook his head, a hint of frustration in his eyes. "Stubborn elf," I grumbled. "You''re not getting rid of me that easily." He gave me a pointed look, then closed his eyes, clearly exhausted. I exhaled slowly. "Fine," I whispered. "We''ll rest for now." I leaned back against the cold stone wall, staring blankly at the scattered drawings and notes before me. El shifted beside me, his breathing shallow and ragged. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him holding out the folded papers and photos¨Cthe ones I''d found on his fallen comrade. "You''re giving these back to me?" I asked softly, taking them from his trembling hands. His gaze was steady, eyes glistening with something I couldn''t quite place. Before I could say more, he grasped my hand, his touch cold as ice. Slowly, deliberately, he placed a ring into my palm¨Ca simple band etched with intricate designs that seemed to dance in the dim light. "What''s this for?" I muttered, confusion swirling in my mind. But El didn''t respond. Instead, he began muttering under his breath, strange words in a language I couldn''t understand. The ring in my hand started to glow, a soft light emanating from the engravings. My eyes widened. "Wait, what are you doing?" He coughed violently, a spatter of blood staining his lips. The black veins on his face pulsed and spread like dark tendrils. Panic shot through me. "Goddamn it, stop! You''re hurting yourself!" I moved to grab his shoulder, to shake him out of whatever he was doing, but he shook his head firmly, a warm smile playing on his lips. His eyes met mine, filled with a mix of determination and peace. He pointed to the blood splattered on the ground, then gestured to the ring in my hand. "You need my blood?" I asked. He gave a slight nod. Gritting my teeth, frustration boiling inside me, I pulled out my knife. "Dammit, fine. If this is what you want." I pressed the blade against my fingertip, a sharp sting as it sliced through skin. Blood welled up, dripping onto the glowing ring. "Buzz." A sizzling sound filled the air as the light from the ring intensified, then abruptly faded. The ring slipped from my grasp, landing softly on the ground. El reached out, closing my hand around it. His touch was weak, but his eyes held a serene relief. "What did you do?" I whispered, staring at him. "What the hell am I supposed to do with this?" He didn''t answer. Instead, he leaned back, his breathing slowing, eyes half-closed but still watching me. "El?" I said, a knot forming in my stomach. "Hey, stay with me." He smiled faintly, a hint of mischief in his gaze. It was like he found my confusion amusing. "You''re a real piece of work," I muttered, shaking my head. "Leaving me with more questions than answers." His hand slipped from mine, falling limply to his side. Panic surged. "No, damn it, don''t you dare." I pressed my fingers to his neck, searching desperately for a pulse. There¡ªa faint, unsteady beat. "Come on, man," I urged. "Don''t check out on me now." But he just looked at me, eyes filled with a peaceful resignation. "Why?" I demanded. "Why give me this?" I held up the ring, frustration, and helplessness crashing over me. He simply closed his eyes, his breathing shallow. "Fine," I snapped, shoving the ring into my pocket. "I''ll figure it out myself." Silence settled over us, heavy and suffocating. I sat there, anger and sorrow warring within me. "This isn''t fair," I whispered, clenching my fists. "First person I meet down here, and you''re..." I couldn''t finish the thought. I glanced down at him. His face, despite the dark veins and pallor, looked calm. At peace. "Thank you," I said softly, the words barely audible. I didn''t know what else to do. I felt useless, powerless. All the damn Exira in the world, and I couldn''t save him. But regrets wouldn''t change anything. I stood up, pacing restlessly. "I need to do something," I muttered. "Can''t just sit here." No response. I checked his pulse, pressing two fingers gently against the side of his neck. Nothing. Not even the faintest flutter. I took a deep breath, focusing my Exira to scan for any lingering traces of his life force. The void I felt confirmed what I already knew: he was gone. "Sigh." The sound escaped me, barely more than a whisper in the oppressive silence. I settled down next to him, the cold stone floor seeping through my clothes. The ring he''d given me still rested in my palm, surprisingly warm against my skin. I stared at it, a swirl of conflicting emotions churning inside me¨Cgrief, anger, confusion. Too many damn feelings at once. I gazed up at the dark ceiling, the jagged rocks casting twisted shadows. How long had it been since this nightmare began? Three days? Four? I couldn''t even recall anymore. Time had lost all meaning in this godforsaken place. Edward''s death flashed in my mind¨Cthe shock, the helplessness. Possibly everyone else was gone too. The horrifying conclusion settled like a weight on my chest. "Why can''t I access the ambient energy?" I muttered, frustration seeping into my voice. "Why is my heirloom pendant useless?" I clutched the pendant "Why, despite so many days, has no one from my house come?" The questions spilled out, each one stabbing deeper. "Why haven''t I met any other humans till now? Why..." "Why... Why... Why... Why... Why..." The word echoed eerily in the cavern, each repetition more strained, more desperate. It felt like the walls were closing in, the darkness pressing tighter. "Fuck!" The curse ripped from my throat, raw and unfiltered. I clenched the warm ring in my fist, the edges digging into my palm¡ªa sharp reminder of reality. "Pull it together, Alexis," I snarled at myself. "Losing it won''t help." I took a deep breath, forcing the chaos in my mind to settle. Whatever happens, happens. I''ve made it this far; I can keep going. I just need to focus on getting out of this shithole. Slipping the ring onto my right index finger, I felt a subtle warmth spread from it, coursing up my arm. "Alright," I whispered, channeling Exira through the ring. The energy flowed smoothly, more easily than before. A faint hum resonated, barely audible but vibrating through my very bones. My eyes grew cold, a steely determination hardening within me. "No more distractions," I told myself. "Time to find a way out." I stood up, casting one last glance at El''s still form. "I''ll make this right," I vowed quietly. "I won''t let your sacrifice be in vain." Turning away, I steeled myself against the surge of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. Grief could wait. Questions without answers could wait. Right now, survival was all that mattered. "Here''s to not dying today," I muttered sarcastically, At least humor was better than despair.
Shattered Reflections VI : Crafting session
I slumped against the cave wall, sweat dripping from my brow and mixing with the grime on my skin. My arms felt like lead, and my breaths came in ragged gasps. The fight had drained me ¨C not just physically, but mentally. I had no idea how my powers actually worked, and no clear path to prepare or progress. I was just reacting, stumbling forward with nothing but a knack for figuring things out on the fly. And I hated it. I hate not knowing. Clenching my fists, I forced myself to take a deep breath. Inhale¡­ exhale¡­ Slowly, I let the tension bleed out of me, the familiar rhythm of meditation calming my frayed nerves. As I sank deeper into myself, the sensation came again¡ªsubtle, like a whisper just out of earshot. A memory calling to me, faint but persistent. . . I rolled my eyes but couldn¡¯t help grinning. ¡°Alright, alright. First, we make the mold. That¡¯s the blueprint¨Cthe shape and form of whatever we¡¯re crafting.¡± ¡°Good, go on.¡± Aunt Nora nodded, her eyes glinting with approval. ¡°Then we move to the forging part, actually crafting the item into that desired shape. That¡¯s where it gets tricky depending on the material.¡± She leaned closer, mockingly serious. ¡°And after that?¡± I raised a brow, pausing for dramatic effect. ¡°Activating the material so it can be receptive to the enchantments. You coat it with an energy-conductive layer.¡± Aunt Nora chuckled. ¡°Not bad, keep going.¡± ¡°And finally, you lay down the enchantments we want on the artifact.¡± I gave her a look, half-relieved I¡¯d remembered everything. She gave me a small flick on the arm, smiling. ¡°Well done, Lexi. Looks like there¡¯s still some hope for you after all.¡± Aunt Nora tapped her chin thoughtfully, eyeing the materials we¡¯d gathered. ¡°So, Lexi, what exactly do you plan to use these artifacts for? What¡¯s the purpose behind them?¡± She glanced at me, her curiosity genuine. I leaned over the workbench, thinking for a moment before answering. ¡°I¡¯m aiming for something defense-based, like shields at their core, but with a little extra. I want them to have healing properties, maybe some mind-calming or relaxing enchantments too.¡± I shrugged, feeling a bit unsure. ¡°You know, something that could keep the people I care about safe and in good shape. They¡¯re workaholics and outright refuse any extravagant help¨Cone of the reasons the materials are only of decent quality.¡± Aunt Nora smiled, nodding approvingly. ¡°A thoughtful approach. Some people have their own pride, and their lives are entirely different from yours. Give them time, Lexi. Not like you accepting gifts from random strangers with criminal vibes.¡± I could feel my eye twitch. She is not going to let this go¡­ ¡°Shields with healing and mental protection, huh? That¡¯s a nice combination. Sounds like you¡¯re looking out for them in more ways than one.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± I replied. ¡°Edward and Alice¡­ they¡¯re going to need something like that. And Aunt Mel works too hard at her diner. I don¡¯t want to just protect them from physical harm, but also from, you know¡­ stress, mental strain.¡± ¡°Wise choice.¡± Aunt Nora¡¯s eyes twinkled with approval. ¡°Alright, so what shape are you thinking? A bracelet? A ring? What?¡± I glanced at the materials I¡¯d picked up earlier from the bazaar, recalling their qualities. ¡°I was actually thinking of making them into necklace-like pendants. Magical silk for the activation base ¨C it¡¯s got excellent energy conductivity, right?¡± She raised an eyebrow and quickly appraised the silk. ¡°Hmm, you¡¯re right. This stuff has good conductive properties. It¡¯ll serve nicely as a base for the activation layer. What about the metals?¡± I pointed to the pile. ¡°Mitir, Sallowstone, and Oretheon. They are all good conductors, and they¡¯re durable too. For the enchantments, I¡¯ll use two rubies and an emerald as the cores. They should bind everything together pretty well.¡± Aunt Nora¡¯s eyes lit up, impressed. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve put some thought into this. Good choices all around. Let¡¯s get to work on that necklace pendant, then.¡± We got to work as the forge blazed to life, its intense heat filling the room until the air itself seemed to ripple and distort. The light from the molten flames cast dancing shadows across the walls, creating a warm, almost hypnotic atmosphere. Aunt Nora, ever the professional, handed me a sturdy pair of gloves, their thick leather worn with use. I slid them on and grabbed the pieces of Mitir, feeling the weight of the metal even through the gloves. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get this right,¡± I muttered, placing the Mitir in the crucible and watching it slowly liquefy under the heat. The once-solid, silvery metal glistened as it began to melt, pooling at the bottom like quicksilver, every ripple of molten material mesmerizing to watch. ¡°Steady now, Lexi,¡± Aunt Nora¡¯s voice pulled me back to focus¡ªa calm but firm reminder. ¡°When you pour the metal into the mold, keep it even. You don¡¯t want uneven links, or else someone¡¯s gonna walk around with a lopsided necklace. That¡¯d be tragic.¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. She shot me a teasing grin, but there was real craftsmanship behind her words. I smirked back, steadying my grip as I poured the shimmering liquid into the mold. Using EXIRA helped maintain tabs on things. The chain links began to take form as the Mitir flowed into place, the metallic surface gleaming under the flickering light of the forge. ¡°Can¡¯t have Alice walking around with a crooked piece of junk, right?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Aunt Nora chuckled, her voice rich with amusement. ¡°And poor Edward¡­ you know he¡¯d never hear the end of it if his sister¡¯s jewelry looked like something a toddler slapped together. No pressure though.¡± I laughed but focused on the task at hand. As the Mitir cooled, it hardened into solid chain links, each one smooth and flawless. The metal had a slight iridescent quality to it, catching the light and reflecting soft hues of blue and silver. Satisfied with the result, we moved on to the Sallowstone and Oretheon, both of which had slightly different textures and densities. We heated them carefully, melting them down to form the sockets that would eventually hold the rubies and emeralds¡ªthe heart of the enchantments. The Sallowstone in particular had a faint glow to it, even before being enchanted. Its natural energy resonated with something deep within me, as if it were alive, pulsing in rhythm with the forge¡¯s flames. Aunt Nora noticed it too and smiled knowingly. ¡°Always love working with Sallowstone,¡± she commented. ¡°Feels like it¡¯s got its own heartbeat, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I nodded, watching as the Oretheon and Sallowstone melded together in the socket mold. ¡°Almost makes me feel like we¡¯re forging something more than just an artifact. Like it¡¯s alive, or something.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Aunt Nora said thoughtfully, ¡°in a way, you¡¯re right. These materials have their own essence, their own life force. That¡¯s what makes them perfect for enchanting.¡± With the physical crafting finished, we moved on to processing the magical silk. It was delicate work. We ground the silk into a fine, shimmering powder, its pale strands catching the forge¡¯s light like dust caught in a sunbeam. I took my time coating the chain and socket with the powder, carefully layering it until both pieces shimmered with a subtle glow. ¡°This stuff is amazing,¡± I muttered, more to myself than to Aunt Nora. The silk clung to the metal in a way that seemed almost supernatural, fusing with it as if becoming one entity. ¡°You¡¯d think something like this light would just blow away, but it sticks like glue.¡± Aunt Nora gave a small, approving nod, inspecting the coated pieces with a practiced eye. ¡°That¡¯s the beauty of magical silk. Once processed, it¡¯s not just for show¡ªit¡¯s highly attuned to energy flow. Perfect for enchantments. Now that it¡¯s bonded to the metal, this thing¡¯s going to conduct energy like a dream.¡± The hardest part was done. We¡¯d shaped the raw materials into the base of something powerful, something meaningful. The satisfaction of creation filled me as the forge¡¯s warmth faded and the pieces solidified. Aunt Nora stretched, rubbing her arms as she eyed the work with an approving smile. ¡°Not bad, Lexi. Now, while these beauties cool down and settle, let¡¯s talk about the next step: enchantments. Got any brilliant ideas?¡± I leaned back, thinking about the possibilities. The excitement of what came next was palpable, but I kept it cool. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got a few ideas, but let me think for a moment.¡± "So, I¡¯m thinking the core enchantment will be protection, like a shield that can auto-detect threats and manifest when needed. I want it to be strong, with some mild healing and a calming effect for the mind as a bonus." "Hmm, not bad," Aunt Nora mused, nodding thoughtfully. "That could definitely work. Now, tell me the specific enchantments. I¡¯ll apply them since you¡¯re not quite there yet with your skills. But pay attention when I¡¯m enchanting, use Exira to get a feel for the feedback." I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as I focused. I let my mind sink into the knowledge, recalling the lessons Aunt Nora had drilled into me over time. I could feel the threads of power slowly coming together, weaving themselves into a larger picture in my head. After a moment, I heard Aunt Nora¡¯s expectant voice break through the quiet. "So, Lexi, what have you come up with?" Huu¡­ I took a deep breath, calling upon Exira, focusing the energy to infuse my words with intent as I spoke. ¡°Protego... no, that¡¯s not quite right... Aegis... Yes, Aegis Sentientia.¡± ¡°Aegis Sentientia for the core, and Sana¡­¡± ¡°Very good, Lexi!¡± Aunt Nora¡¯s voice rang with approval, slipping easily into her teacher mode. ¡°It seems all those lessons and books weren¡¯t for nothing. Aegis Sentientia will form an auto-shield, but remember, it''s not just Sana, Lexi.¡± I smiled slightly, appreciating her praise as she continued, ¡°Considering recent events and the fact that these are for your friends, I¡¯ll let you off easy this time. Watch closely, I''ll finish them for you.¡± With that, I felt her Exira surge, filling the entire room with its powerful presence. The strength was unmistakable, but unlike Mom¡¯s raw dominance, Aunt Nora¡¯s Exira commanded a sense of reverence, as if it demanded respect rather than fear. ¡°Lexi! Focus!¡± Her sharp voice jolted me back, and I quickly directed my Exira towards observing, letting my awareness slip into a deeper focus. Everything around us seemed to fade away, leaving only her and the items she was about to enchant.
¡°Aegis Sentientia, Praesidia Inimicus, Sana Corpus, Serenare Mentem!¡±
Aunt Nora¡¯s soft voice echoed through the air as the energy around us converged, flowing towards the three pendants in front of her. I watched closely, sensing the intent behind each word, each gesture, as she molded the enchantments with flawless precision, weaving them into the fabric of the items. I understood what she was doing, and felt the power behind it, but putting it into words was impossible. The glow around the items faded, leaving behind three pendants, radiating with immense power and purpose. Damn... even with subpar materials, she managed to turn these into an overmortal tier gear. . .
Chapter 029 - El’s Gift
hhaah¡­ I watched as the flames consumed El''s remains, the fire crackling softly in the oppressive silence of the cavern. The heat licked at my face, but I barely felt it. "Damn it all." I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms until the pain grounded me back to reality. No time for wallowing, Lexi. Get your shit together. I slipped the ring El had given me onto my right index finger, its unfamiliar weight a constant reminder of his final moments. Exira surged through me as I channeled it into the ring, and to my surprise, an inventory of its contents flashed in my mind. Convenient enchant I thought, arching a brow. A spatial storage ring. Finally, something that¡¯ll make carrying all this crap a little easier. Thank you, El for this¡­ Time to see what I¡¯ve got, I thought, rubbing my palms together as a messy list of items appeared in my mind.
RING
Dried strips of meat x 25 and Bread x 10 Raw meat chunks x 5 ~ 3 kg each Water canteen x 2 [E] ~10L each Spices (assortment) Bundles box
Diary Insignia Map I Pair-card
Photos Spare Clothes Leather Armour keys
Energy Crystals x5 Spyglass Bow Arrowsx240 quiver loaded
Ropes Sewing kit Cloaks Longsword
Light Shield Spear Rings x3 Pendants x2
With this new supply, I¡¯d have food and essentials covered. Finally, I could stop rationing those damn juicy jerky strips. Plus, with a ring like this, I¡¯d be able to move faster and more freely, leaving more room for anything else I might pick up along the way. Settling into a cross-legged position, I took out the journal I¡¯d grabbed from the previous elf, setting it on my lap. Grabbing the attached pen, I flicked it open and allowed Exira to flow through the ring again, bringing up the list once more to make notes as I inspected each item. First up, food supplies. ¡°Spices!¡± I couldn¡¯t help a grin, and it felt strange to realize how much excitement that word sparked. Even after everything, the thought of elevating my food beyond dried meat was honestly thrilling. No more bland rations, just something with actual taste. At least I had that much to look forward to. Setting the food entries aside, I opened the journal, scanning the entries for anything else useful. I flipped through the pages, skimming for anything that stood out, any illustrations or maps that might reveal more about this damn cave or where it led. The writing was all in a language I couldn¡¯t read, which made it feel frustratingly alien, but that didn¡¯t stop me from hoping something useful was buried in here. Flip, flip, flip. My fingers brushed across the smooth pages until I hit a section that caught my attention¨Ca map. My heart skipped, and I leaned closer. There were mountains drawn to the west and a sea alongside. The layout of the land seemed far larger than anything I¡¯d recalled seeing before, and I studied every mark, every line. There were notes scribbled around the edges of the sea. Dammit, I thought, narrowing my eyes. If only I could read this, but then I saw something that nearly made me laugh. A cave. Circled, under the sea. I sat back, shaking my head in a mix of disbelief and exasperation. ¡°So this cave really is underwater, like El said,¡± I muttered aloud, grimacing. Well, damn. This map could¡¯ve saved me a lot of guesswork if only I¡¯d gotten my hands on it earlier. Still, I kept going, fingers flipping through the pages quickly, looking for any other drawings or maps, anything that didn¡¯t require me to read an entire language to decipher. Unfortunately, the further I got, the less helpful it seemed.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Flip, flip, flip. I reached the end, and my heart sank. No other illustrations, no more maps. Just alien writing taunting me from the pages. I shut the journal with a sharp exhale, rubbing my temples to ease the tension building there. ¡°Well, guess that¡¯s that,¡± I muttered, the journal resting on my lap as I collected my thoughts. At least I¡¯d gleaned something useful¨Ca layout of the cave system, a confirmation that I was, in fact, somewhere under the sea, and a faint hope that with this new supply, I¡¯d last a little longer. Setting the journal aside, I flexed my fingers and closed my eyes for a moment, letting Exira flow around me, a soft, steady hum that helped keep my nerves at bay. "Huh," I muttered, picking up the insignia that caught my eye. It was another one of those emblems¨Cthis one depicting a castle silhouetted against a sun or moon. "Probably some sort of badge or medal from whatever organization these elves belonged to." Curiosity piqued, I focused Exira on the badge, letting the energy flow through me to sense any hidden enchantments. "Wasn''t expecting this to be enchanted," I mused. "Let''s see what secrets you''re hiding." Sweeping Exira more thoroughly over the insignia, I tried to derive the meanings of the enchantments. Intentions and fragments of words floated in my mind. "Ego... identity¨CIdentitas," I thought aloud. "So the first enchant is probably proof of their identity." I concentrated harder. "There''s another... hmm, something about opening... reveal... no, to open: Aperio." "I see," I said, turning the insignia over in my hand. The formation of runes became clearer under Exira''s influence. "Aperio Identitas. Acts as identity proof and possibly opens locks or doors for entry." I grabbed my journal and jotted down the details.
Item #1: Insignia [E] (Aperio Identitas) [Passive Enchant Type]
"Could come in handy," I noted, slipping the insignia into my pouch. Next were three dark blue rings, each adorned with a different-colored gem¡ªwhite, red, and blue. "Alright, let''s see what you guys do." Ring #1 (White): I picked up the white-gemmed ring and closed my eyes, focusing. Taking deep breaths, I channeled Exira to enter pseudo-attuned state. "Huu..." As I delved deeper, the intentions of the enchantments flashed by in fragments: breathe... denial... none. "Wait, Respiratio for breathing and Nullus for none," I realized. "And there''s another enchant... Arca¨Cstore energy." "So this ring allows me to not need to breathe as long as it has energy stored," I concluded, a smirk forming on my lips. "Would have been awesome if not for my mask, still a pretty solid find" I paused, considering. "But it''s a concentration-type enchant, meaning any other flow of energy could negate or weaken the effect. ¡° I scribbled down the details.
Item #2: Breathless Ring [E] (Respiratio Nullus Arca) [Concentration Enchant Type]
Ring #2 (Red): Repeating the process, I picked up the red-gemmed ring and entered the attuned state again. Intentions flowed: fire... hot... no, warmth... yes, warmth. "Ignis? No, that''s fire," I thought. "Foveo¨Cthat''s it. Warmth." "This ring keeps the user warm and probably offers protection against cold sources," I mused. "hmmm" I jotted it down.
Item #3: Warmth Ring [E] (Foveo) [Passive Enchant Type]
Ring #3 (Blue): One more to go. I held the blue-gemmed ring, letting Exira reveal its secrets. Intentions surfaced: purify... no, weaker... cleanse... Mundo. "Ah, so this ring cleanses," I realized. "Should be able to purify water for drinking, cleanse wounds " I added the entry.
Item #4: Cleanse Ring [E] (Mundo) [Concentration Enchant Type]
"Phew," I exhaled, leaning back. "Nice collection of rings El had¡­" But a nagging thought wouldn''t leave me alone. "El¡¯s party were fully prepared for this cave," I pondered. "So what happened..." I paused, memories flashing back. "The elf, when he was drawing or telling me about the Lord-class monster, he was shaking. I dismissed it at the time, but now it seems they clashed with the big bad of this place, and that led to their downfall." A heavy sigh escaped me. "Great. So there''s a bloody boss monster lurking somewhere down here." I shook my head, trying to push away the creeping dread. "No use freaking out now." I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the fatigue creeping into my bones. "Alright, what''s next?" I muttered next up was a pendant made of silver-like metal. There were no gems, just a simple silver half-moon attached to a delicate chain. "Interesting," I mused, turning it over in my hand. The craftsmanship was minimalist but elegant. "Probably not just for show." Channelling Exira, I focused on the pendant, letting the energy flow through me to read its enchantments. Fragments of intent surfaced in my mind: coolness... light... divine... "Wait, that''s the moon," I realized. "Luna." I dug deeper: gift... boon... blessings... "Benedictionis," I recalled from Aunt Nora''s lessons. "Luna Benedictionis." "Moon''s Blessings Pendant," I whispered. "Must be a buff-type enchantment. Enhances some aspect of the user." Healing? Regeneration? Enhanced reflexes or strength? "Maybe it boosts stealth," I pondered. "But if that were the case, they''d have used ''Noctis'' for the night." Grabbing my journal, I jotted down the details.
Item #5: Moon''s Blessings Pendant [E] (Luna Benedictionis) [Passive Enchant Type]
"Scribble, scribble," I muttered, the sound of pen on paper oddly comforting. Setting the pendant aside, I rummaged through the pouch again. Next up was a dark-rimmed monocle with a short chain and a nosepiece. The glass was a thin crystal. "Hmm," I examined it closely. "The design is minimalist but feels... classy. I love it, though it''s neither comfortable nor practical." I held it up to my eye. "Not for combat, that''s for sure," I chuckled. "But I bet it''s got some tricks." "Probably meant to reveal things¨Ctracks, clues, traps," I guessed. Fumbling with the monocle, I closed my eyes and entered the Pseudo-Attuned State (PAS), letting the intents flow through me. "...truth... VERITAS? No, too strong. More like reveal... appear... ''Apparere''... yes." Another intent surfaced: tracks... no, hidden... "Occulta." "Hu!" I exhaled sharply, exiting the PAS. "Just as I thought," I said aloud. "This enchantment allows the user to see hidden mundane aspects¨Clocate tracks, find traps" "Well, that''s kinda useless for me," I admitted. "Exira lets me do the same stuff, but maybe this could help me see things from a different perspective." I noted the entry. Item #6: Revealing Monocle [E] (Apparere Occulta) [Concentration Enchant Type] "Damn, only six items in and I already feel drained," I grumbled. "Come on, Lexi, these items are simple. Lowest combinations of enchantments." I could almost hear Aunt Nora''s teasing voice. "She''d sulk hearing I got tired just from this," I muttered with a smirk. "Hahh," I sighed, wiping away the moisture gathering in my eyes. "No time for that." Focusing back on the task, I pulled out the next item¡ªa small cylinder. With a light jerk, it elongated to about 30 centimeters. "A spyglass," I realized. Peering through the lens¡ªagain made of thin crystal¡ªI saw... well, nothing. It was dark, and there was nothing in the cave to zoom in on. "Huh," I shrugged. "Figures." I concentrated, sensing enchantments. "Let''s see... yeah, this feeling is familiar." The intent surfaced: unbreaking. "Unbreaking enchant, though it''s the lowest tier," I noted. "Well, that''s underwhelming." Spinning the spyglass in my palm, I wondered aloud, "It''s the most lackluster enchanted item so far. But it''ll be useful once I get out of this godforsaken den and start exploring." I jotted down the details. Item #7: Trusty Spyglass [E] (Unbreaking I) [Passive Enchant Type] "Let''s keep going," I encouraged myself. Next up was another pendant. This one was simpler, made of the same silver-like metal, but without any symbols or gems. Just a plain, smooth surface. "What''s your deal?" I whispered, channeling Exira once more. Intentions floated up: protection... barrier... shield... "Defendo," I recognized. "But what''s the context?" I concentrated harder. "Defensive enchantment, probably wards off minor attacks or curses." "Scribble~" I added the new entry.
Item #8: Protective Pendant [E] (Defendo) [Passive Enchant Type]
"Not bad," I nodded. "Could come in handy." I leaned back, stretching my sore muscles. "This is taking longer than I thought," I admitted. I picked up the Warmth Ring and slipped it onto my finger. A comforting warmth spread through my hand. "That''s better," I smiled faintly. Glancing at the monocle, I decided to tuck it safely into a pocket. "Might as well keep it handy." ¡°Still a decent amount of gear remaining to appraise¡­fuuu¡± I glanced back once, the fading glow of El''s makeshift pyre barely visible. "Rest easy, El," I whispered. "I''ll make sure your sacrifice wasn''t in vain."
Chapter 030 - Appraising loot
"Munch... Munch..." I tore into the dried meat like a ravenous wolf, the salty flavor exploding on my tongue. "Finally," I sighed, leaning back against the cold cavern wall. "Real food, or at least something close to it." I took a swig from my canteen, the water washing down the jerky and soothing my parched throat. "God, that''s better," I muttered, patting my stomach. It wasn''t full by any means, but at least the gnawing hunger had subsided a bit. Days or was it weeks?¡ªhad blurred together in this godforsaken cave. No bed, no proper rest, just endless darkness and the constant threat of something nasty lurking around every damn corner. My muscles ached, a dull throb that never quite went away. Overusing Exira was taking its toll, but what choice did I have? It was either that or end up as some monster''s snack. "Alright, Lexi," I told myself, wiping my hands on my tattered pants. "Time to see what else El left behind." I eyed the assortment of items spread out before me, my gaze landing on a set of dark clothing¨Ca cloak, shirt, and pants, all lined with fur on the inside. I picked up the cloak, running my fingers over the supple leather. "Damn, this is nice," I whispered, impressed by the craftsmanship. The material was high-quality, both sturdy and flexible. The shirt and pants matched perfectly, each piece meticulously made. "Nice," I whispered, impressed by the craftsmanship. The shirt and pants matched perfectly, each piece meticulously made. Excitement simmered as I closed my eyes and entered the Pseudo-Attuned State (PAS). The intents started to flow. "...shielding... Aegis?" No, the intent was too vague, too weak. I delved deeper, staying in PAS. "Think, Alexis, think," I muttered. Protection, maybe? "Protego," I whispered, and as soon as I formed the word, the connection snapped into place. A soft hum resonated from the cloak. But there was more. I could feel it. I went deeper, searching for additional enchantments. Filtering out Protego took effort; this was what made enchanting and appraising with PAS so damn difficult. "Fuuu," I exhaled, concentrating harder. New intents surfaced. Long time... eternal... no... preserving... close. "Enduring," I murmured. "Perpetua." That constant, unyielding endurance that harmonized with Protego. "There are still more enchants," I muttered. "Fuuuu." Taking a deep breath, I threw myself back into the state. "Hidden... disappearing..." My brow furrowed. "Umbra? No, that¡¯s shadow-related. Occulta? No, doesn¡¯t quite fit." I pushed deeper. "...Obscuro..." The connection intensified. "Yes, Obscuro, but it¡¯s incomplete... more of a layering technique..." I felt a grin form. "This gear just shot up in value with a superimposing enchant." "Obscuro... what follows?" I racked my brain. "Me...? No." The intent felt like a layer of Obscuro... Veilum. As soon as the words formed, they snapped into place. "Obscurio veilum," I whispered. "Whuu! That¡¯s exhausting." A headache throbbed behind my eyes. "Now that the big one¡¯s out of the way, the next intents are clearer," I said to myself. "Restituo... Unbreaking." "Aegis Protego Obscurio veilum Restituo Unbreaking," I recited, the full enchant rolling off my tongue just as a sharp pain knifed through my head.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Heukk!" I gasped, grabbing my temples as the world tilted. Splashing water over my face, I let the coldness dull the pain. "Fuuu," I breathed out slowly. "Damn, Aunt Nora warned me about this. Enchanting complex gear isn¡¯t a joke." I chuckled weakly. "Guess I got too deep into it." Without realizing it, I¡¯d fully attuned the armor, crossing the line from pseudo-attuning. Risks of the PAS method, I reminded myself. Channeling Exira into the cloak, I was met with a surprise¡ªthe shirt and pants shared a link with the cloak. "It¡¯s a set item," I realized. A grin spread across my face. "Jackpot." I grabbed my journal, jotting down the entry with a note about the risks for future reference:
Item #8 [ARMOR]: Noctis One-Set [E] (Aegis Protego Obscurio veilum Restituo Unbreaking) [Passive Enchant Type]
"Next up, some weapons," I muttered, rubbing my hands together in anticipation. The longsword was next. It had a gleam to it even in the low light, a solid weight and a perfectly balanced feel. As I lifted it, I could sense quality. "Alright, let¡¯s see what you¡¯re made of." Closing my eyes, I entered the Pseudo-Attuned State (PAS) again, letting the enchantment¡¯s intentions flow to me. The first to come through was the essence of steel¡­ no, too basic. Ferro¨Cyes, that was steel in the old tongue. Ferro...and I think ¡­enduring... Durabilis¡­yeah. Next intent is it cut¡­no¡­Sharpness¡­I pushed for more¡­Acutus and it is unbreaking. "Ferro Durabilis Acutus Unbreaking," I recited under my breath, savoring the sound. "Decent for an early build," I smirked, making a mental note of its reliability. I jotted down the details in my journal.
Item #9: Longsword [E] (Ferro Durabilis Acutus Unbreaking) [Passive Enchant Type]
Setting the sword aside, I picked up the shield¡­ I entered PAS again, and the intentions surfaced quickly. Protection¡­ shield¡­yeah that intent should be¡­Aegis. Then¡­huh¡­big..larger..no¡­expansion¡­ Expansio. "Aegis Expansio," I whispered. An image took shape in my mind¨Ca shield that could switch between a compact bracer form and a full shield at a moment¡¯s notice. When not in use, it would sit comfortably on my forearm. But by my command, it would rapidly expand to provide full coverage. "Now that¡¯s nifty," I grinned, strapping it onto my forearm. "Compact, efficient, and practical." I made a note of it in my journal.
Item #10: Expanding Shield [E] (Aegis Expansio) [Passive Enchant Type]
"Alright, what¡¯s next?" I muttered as I pulled the spear out.. I picked it up, chuckling. "Let me guess, you expand too?" Entering PAS again, I focused on its intents. hmmm¡­Piercing¡­ Penetrans¡­.and¡­Durable¡­ Durabilis. And finally..oh its expanding¡­ Expansio. "Penetrans Durabilis Expansio," I whispered. In my mind¡¯s eye, I saw the rod transforming into a full-length spear, the tip razor-sharp, built for maximum penetration. When not in use, it would compact back into a smaller, easily portable size. "Noice" I nodded in appreciation, making the final entry in my notes.
Item #11: Spear [E] (Penetrans Durabilis Expansio) [Passive Enchant Type]
"Well, that¡¯s a solid arsenal," "Sigh." "Guess I¡¯ll have to be extra careful moving forward." At least now, I was better prepared. I glanced down at the armor pieces, feeling a rush of gratitude and something like determination. "Alright. Time to suit up." Slipping into the Noctis armor set felt like sliding into a second skin. The cloak settled snugly around my shoulders, the fur lining adding warmth and comfort. The shirt and pants fit perfectly, like they¡¯d been made just for me. And no sense walking into the unknown without checking what my new gear could do. Focusing on the shield, I willed it to expand, watching with a satisfied grin as it unfolded into a full-sized shield, the metal gleaming even in the dim light. Retracting it back to bracer form, I flicked the spear sharply. It extended smoothly, forming into a razor-sharp weapon. "Alright, what''s next?" I muttered, eyeing the remaining items laid out before me. My gaze fell upon an elegantly crafted bow, its wood polished to a deep sheen and adorned with intricate carvings. "Let''s see what you''re hiding,muwhhhaa" I said, picking it up. The bow felt balanced, almost eager in my hands. Closing my eyes, I entered the Pseudo-Attuned State (PAS) once more. "Guide... that''s ''Dirige''," I whispered as the first intent surfaced. "Speed up... ''Accelerare''." The energies flowed smoothly. "And strike... ''Percute''." "Dirige Accelerare Percute," I recited softly. An image formed in my mind of arrows flying truer, faster, hitting harder than ever before. ¡°Yeah good item, it''s just that I don¡¯t think I¡¯m any good with a bow..¡±
Item #12: Longbow [E] (Dirige Accelerare Percute) [Passive Enchant Type]
Chapter 031 - Hidden shiny stuff
Finishing the appraisal of the gear, I pulled everything back into the ring, then pulled the sword back out into my hand, feeling the familiar weight before slipping it back in. Out, in¡ªagain. I repeated the action, over and over, letting the summoning feel as natural as reaching into my own pocket. Thirty times, at least, in and out of storage. By the end, I felt that faint, insistent strain in the back of my mind, like an itch I couldn¡¯t scratch. Alright, thirty is about the limit for now. With a sigh, I noted the time it took: two full seconds. Two precious, brutal seconds¨Can eternity if I¡¯m caught in close combat. The sword in my hand felt right, solid, but every time I tried to picture it appearing perfectly, it still wavered. At best, it dropped an inch off-center¨Cclose enough, maybe, but not good enough. Summoning wasn¡¯t just about the mental image, Even the smallest lapse in concentration, and the weapon would be just far enough away to leave me scrambling. I muttered under my breath, the familiar rasp of my own voice keeping me grounded, ¡°Good luck, Lexi¡­ better shave off that time, or this sword¡¯s going to be the death of me, not the monsters.¡± A thought flickered through my mind, unbidden and unpleasant¡ªOr maybe I won¡¯t even get that chance. I leaned back against the cold stone, eyes closed, letting my mind drift to El and his group. The image of them as he portrayed them, once whole, equipped, prepared, slowly pieced itself together. Each of them should have been outfitted with decent gear, every weapon enchanted, every piece meticulously maintained. For a party of five, they were well-prepared and I would have to be even more vigilant¡­can¡¯t no won¡¯t go into a fight which I¡¯m 100% sure of. No more 50-50. I looked down at the ring on my hand, feeling its cold metal bite against my skin. Here I was, still breathing, still holding on, while they were nothing but dust and bloodstains. Maybe I¡¯m just too damn stubborn to die. Maybe it¡¯s a type advantage. Maybe I¡¯m just barely scraping by because of my Exira and I have to admit even what broken Exira I¡¯m using still outclasses the monsters. What a cheat skill. The thought wasn¡¯t entirely comforting, but it was true. Exira felt almost like a cheat sometimes, something that kept me one inch above the void. The power that surged through me, making my reflexes sharp and instincts keener than they had any right to be, had its own rhythm. It was like holding onto a thin thread above a pit, feeling the strength run out each time I reached for it. I couldn¡¯t rely on it forever. ¡°Can¡¯t really be banking on this,¡± I muttered, pressing the edge of my thumb into my palm. ¡°If I meet something really really damn strong or worse¡­ Well, it¡¯s over, isn¡¯t it?¡± My voice echoed against the stone walls, hollow and small in the vast space. But saying it out loud kept me steady, a faint tether to sanity. I¡¯ve seen things with power far greater than anything Exira could offer me. Some creatures, monsters from whispered myths and half-forgotten nightmares, could crush me without even seeing me as a threat. Sighing as I channeled Exira into the ring along with my thoughts as the enchant on it worked and a new updated list appeared in my mind. El''s RING
[FOOD and Rations]
Dried strips of meat x 25 and Bread x 10 Raw meat chunks x 5 ~ 3 kg each Water canteen x 2 [E] ~10L each Spices (assortment) Bundles box
[Items]
Diary Insignia Map I Pocket watchIf you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Photos Spare Clothes Spare Leather Armour keys
[Key Items]
Energy Crystals x5 Trusty Spyglass LongBow [E] Arrowsx240 quiver loaded
Ropes Sewing kit Cloaks Longsword
Expanding Shield [E] Expanding Spear Revealing Monocle [E]
With Exira flowing through me, I glanced back inside the ring, assessing its contents but there, at the edge of my awareness, something odd lingered. It was faint, almost hidden behind the familiar list, a strange shadow that didn¡¯t match anything I¡¯d put in there. I felt a pull, a tingling awareness running down my spine. ¡°What the¡­ that¡¯s definitely suspicious,¡± I muttered, focusing harder. It wasn¡¯t showing up in the ring¡¯s usual inventory; even the enchantments on the ring weren¡¯t detecting it. But I felt it, the barest outline of something, like it was caught in the fold of another plane. I tried to dig deeper, focusing Exira around it, my awareness wrapping through the storage dimension, prodding against its edge. At first, the strange object didn¡¯t budge, resisting, holding firm in some pocket of space like it wasn¡¯t meant to be found. But the sensation was there. As I tuned up Exira to level one, the object finally seemed to respond, stirring in that hidden space until it moved slowly, pulling free of its confines and landing in my hand. The strange resistance registered at the same moment that knowledge slipped into my awareness: a hidden compartment. Cleverly enchanted and masked, it was woven seamlessly into the ring¡¯s space, a trapdoor inside a trapdoor. I chuckled softly, more in admiration than disbelief. ¡°Now that¡¯s an impressive enchantment,¡± I murmured, feeling the weight of it in my hand. ¡°Most wouldn¡¯t even have the means to pick up on it¡­ unless they¡¯re tapped into some kind of mental, soul, or spiritual power.¡± Shaking my head, I shifted my focus to the object resting in my palm. To anyone else, it would look like a simple piece of junk metal¡ªplain, dull, even slightly corroded along the edges. But with Exira still running through my senses, I could feel the dense, intricate magic radiating from it, layered upon layer, until it nearly overwhelmed my vision. The enchantments seemed to be burning right into my mind, sending faint tremors up my arm. I blinked and turned my gaze aside, cutting off Exira abruptly. The sheer force of the enchantments was disorienting. This isn¡¯t just any regular fragment¡­ It¡¯s easily over mortal-tier. Maybe even immortal-tier. ¡°Damn,¡± I muttered, unable to stop the grin from spreading across my face. ¡°Aunt Nora¡¯s lessons always come through.¡± Her words on appraising enchanted items ran through my mind as I studied the artifact again. There was no mistaking it¨Cthis wasn¡¯t complete. Even now, I could sense the gaps in its power, like there were three more pieces to this relic that I¡¯d need to bring it fully to life. Whatever this was, I¡¯d stumbled onto something big. A treasure and, if I were honest, a headache of a quest. With a low chuckle, I slipped the fragment back into the hidden compartment, patting the ring lightly. ¡°Alright, ¡®Runic Fragment,¡¯ you¡¯ll stay safe here for now.¡± But then, as the cold settled back over me, my eyes drifted down to the pendant resting against my chest. My fingers found it, tracing its familiar edges. It had been with me as long as I could remember¨Can heirloom passed down through the generations in House Drakesier. My father¡¯s¡­ no, our House¡¯s pride. I let Exira flow through my hand and into the pendant, feeling its cool surface warm slightly under my touch. But nothing happened. It didn¡¯t respond, not even a glimmer. I¡¯d tried dozens of times before, pushing my energy into it, hoping to unlock the divine-tier enchantments woven into its design. But it remained stubbornly silent, a beautiful, silent thing with no intention of revealing itself. I know you¡¯re real, I thought, frustration bubbling up, but why won¡¯t you acknowledge me? I narrowed my focus, willing Exira to pulse just a bit harder. It was a technique Aunt Nora had drilled into me¨Csometimes enchantments required patience, finesse, and persistence. But no matter how carefully I channeled my energy, the pendant¡¯s response was nothing but cold silence, as if it rejected me. The prince of Drakesier, shut out by his own heirloom. My teeth clenched. I could feel my thoughts pushing in tighter, narrowing, burning with a single-minded focus. Just one hint¨Cone flash of acknowledgment¨Cand I¡¯d be closer to unlocking the power I knew it contained. The divine-tier enchantment lay dormant, locked within its depths, just waiting for a touch to bring it to life. I felt my pulse quicken as if I were teetering on the edge of something¡ª ¡ªand then my thoughts slipped, scattering away from the pendant like a sudden gust had swept them aside. I blinked, my focus jolting back to the dark, damp cave walls as if I¡¯d just woken from a strange trance. Why was I¡­? My gaze drifted back to the ring, the weight of the fragment still lingering in my hand¡¯s memory. I shook my head, a strange haze lifting. ¡°Yeah¡­ alright. Focus on what¡¯s important, Alexis.¡± I muttered, brushing the pendant back under my shirt and clenching my hands into fists to steady them. But as I moved away, the strange feeling of being cut off from the pendant lingered something which I could put more focus on for some reason. Huh¡­where was I..? . .
Shattered Reflections VII : The Bazaar
I closed my eyes and let out a slow, deliberate breath. Inhale¡­ exhale¡­ My heart still rattled from the day''s restless pace, began to steady. The world around me faded as I slipped deeper into myself, reaching for the calm at my core. The gentle hum of Exira buzzed faintly in my consciousness, like a whisper just out of earshot. Somewhere, just beneath the surface, a memory stirred ¨C calling out to me. I focused, pulling at the threads of sensation. The edges of the memory were slippery, refusing to form clearly, but I didn¡¯t push. Not yet. Patience, I reminded myself. Forcing it would only break the fragile connection. Another breath. Inhale¡­ exhale¡­ Slowly, the memory began to sharpen, its details emerging from the haze like a sunrise breaking through the mist. . . Grr¡­ The engine hummed softly, a comforting melody blending with the rhythmic purr of tires on asphalt. A gentle breeze slipped through the slightly cracked window, carrying the scent of earth and greenery. I glanced outside, watching the scenery blur past¡ªa mix of vibrant greens and blues. Trees stood tall on either side of the road, their leaves swaying in a synchronized dance with the wind. I loved this. The peace, the serenity. But as I looked down at my wrists, at the faint, curvy stitch-like patterns that had become a part of me, a heavy sigh escaped my lips. A near-death experience... well, almost. The pain had been real and immense. And yet here I was, enjoying a calm ride, savoring the swaying trees and the wind. It felt weird, but oddly soothing. ¡°La-la, La-la-la¡­¡± I heard Layla humming softly, her melodic voice weaving a calming rhythm. Beside her, Ari was trying to imitate her tune, her soft, off-key humming bringing a smile to my face. Heh, my sister is way too cute. I shook my head, brushing away the lingering stress from yesterday¡¯s sparring session. There is no point in dwelling on that disaster. Instead, I decided to focus on more important things¡ªlike what color I should choose for my next outfit. . . . ¡°Look, look, brother!¡± Ari¡¯s excited voice broke through my thoughts. ¡°We reached the place! Yay! Shopping!¡± Her enthusiasm was infectious as our surroundings changed. The forest gave way to open farmlands, with towering mountains framing the horizon. And there, standing tall amidst it all, was The Bazaar¡ªa skyscraper so grand it pierced through the clouds, its massive form a testament to architectural brilliance. The farmland surrounding it was just as awe-inspiring. Aunt Nora had once told me it thrived thanks to the spirit residing within The Bazaar, its presence blessing the soil. The terraced steps of the mountain farms created a picturesque landscape, their lush greenery contrasting against the gray stone of the mountains. As we drove past, I watched farmers tending to their work. It was refreshing to see their diligence, and even more amusing to notice how quickly their expressions shifted when they recognized the car. Excitement rippled through them. Kids and adults alike huddled together, their admiration unmistakable.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Reaching the gates of The Bazaar, we passed rows of local farmers selling their fresh harvests¡ªbright vegetables, exotic fruits, and herbs I couldn¡¯t even name. Inside the car, Ari and Layla were practically bouncing with excitement. If the doors hadn¡¯t been locked, they probably would¡¯ve bolted straight into the market. Aunt Nora and Uncle Sebastian, on the other hand, remained composed, ignoring the girls¡¯ obvious giddiness. I rolled down the window further, letting the lively sounds of the market spill into the car. The distant chatter of people, the rhythmic clatter of shopping carts, and occasional bursts of laughter created a lively backdrop. Vendors shouted their specials: ¡°Fresh out of organic farms!¡± ¡°Get your melons! Nice and big!¡± ¡°Juiciest peaches! Taste now!¡± As people noticed the insignia on our car, their reactions were instantaneous. Whispers spread like wildfire. Heads turned, eyes widened, and a ripple of awareness swept through the crowd. ¡°...Is that Prince Alexis?!¡± ¡°Kyaaa! It¡¯s him!¡± ¡°Quick, get a picture! This is going on social media!¡± I felt my eye twitch. Just when I praised you guys¡­ And thank god we don¡¯t have paparazzi here anymore. Still, there was something heartwarming about their enthusiasm. Even if the attention wasn¡¯t always welcome, the genuine admiration in their faces reminded me of the connection we shared with these people. As the car came to a stop, the Manager of The Bazaar approached, his towering figure cutting through the crowd. He was a distinguished man, standing at 6¡¯3¡± with a well-built physique. His white three-piece suit, adorned with subtle gold patterns, contrasted sharply with the scars etched into his face. Despite his intimidating appearance, there was an air of hospitality about him. ¡°Welcome to The Bazaar, Your Excellencies,¡± he greeted, his voice firm yet respectful. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to see the royal family, the White Saintess, and the Harbinger all in one lifetime.¡± Aunt Nora stepped forward, her EXIRA radiating a pale, soothing light that bathed the area in warmth. ¡°And your reputation precedes you, Loid. Glad to see you haven¡¯t lost your touch,¡± she replied, her tone both teasing and authoritative. Her display had the desired effect. ¡°Wah!¡± ¡°So pretty!¡± ¡°I admire Her Excellency so much!¡± I scoffed internally. Show-off. Uncle Sebastian, ever the voice of reason, cleared his throat. ¡°Perhaps we should head inside and complete our shopping.¡± Thank you, Uncle Sebastian. Too many eyes. Let¡¯s just go in and get this over with. Loid, the Manager, nodded. ¡°Of course, Lord Harbinger. I will not delay you further.¡± Turning to me and Ari, he added, ¡°Your Highness, it is an honor to host you at our humble bazaar.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± I replied, offering a polite nod. ¡°It¡¯s always a pleasure to connect with the heart of the community.¡± . . The Manager introduced his grandchildren, Misha and Justin, as our guides. They were twins, barely fifteen, with striking purple eyes and cyan hair. ¡°We greet Your Excellencies,¡± they said in unison, their youthful voices tinged with excitement. Cute kids, but not as cute as Ari. I glanced at them, appraising them silently. Their hands were smooth, lacking calluses, and their builds suggested minimal physical activity. Probably mages¡ªor crafters, considering their connection to The Bazaar. Exira flared lightly within me as I prodded their energies. Aunt Nora noticed my little trick but chose not to comment. . . . We entered the grand elevator, its glass walls offering a breathtaking view of the sprawling farmlands and the bustling market below. ¡°I¡¯ll take Her Excellencies to Amber Boutique,¡± Misha said confidently. ¡°And I¡¯ll escort His Excellency to Kingsmen Fine Clothing,¡± Justin added with equal poise. I sighed. Shopping, huh? Well, at least it¡¯s something to look forward to.
Chapter 032 - Memory and preparing
The memory surfaced like a whisper in the dark, slipping into my mind without warning, creeping over me like a cold mist. The scene flickered, hazy at first, then sharpened as I sank deeper into the dream. I was back on the training grounds, my mother¡¯s voice clear, steady, and cutting through my confusion with her usual, unyielding calm. ¡°Exira, at its base form, is just mental manipulation,¡± she explained, her gaze piercing, pinning me in place. ¡°It¡¯s the assertion of your will, your desires, onto others. And like all things, it¡¯s horribly inefficient until you reach Tier I.¡± Her words seemed to echo, layering over each other, disorienting, yet I clung to them. My mother continued, her tone almost clinical, unbothered by my barely contained frustration. ¡°To truly make use of Exira as more than a parlor trick, to make an impression or, at most, stun-lock an opponent, you¡¯ll need techniques,¡± she went on, her gaze steady and unrelenting. ¡°How Exira interacts with your enemy¨Cthat¡¯s up to you to test. You¡¯ll need to learn its strength, its limits, and what percentage of yourself you can give.¡± I wanted to say something, to tell her I understood, that I could handle it. But the words stuck in my throat. I haven¡¯t even faced a real enemy¡­ not one where death was just a heartbeat away. My mother¡¯s eyes softened briefly, a fleeting expression, then she stepped forward, her hand on her sword as she moved toward the training field. I watched her walk, her stride as smooth and purposeful as ever, the powerful calm radiating from her. She unsheathed the massive claymore on her back¨Ca weapon as imposing as she was, broad, heavy, demanding absolute precision and strength. The sight of it sent a thrill of dread through me, familiar yet deeply unsettling. I felt a reassuring hand on my shoulder, and I turned to see Aunt Nora, her smile warm and encouraging. She patted me on the back, her expression telling me more than words ever could. At least Aunt Nora¡¯s here¡­ The thought settled something in me, grounding me for the battle ahead. I could feel her quiet confidence, her belief that I¡¯d pull through. Taking a deep breath, I hefted my own training sword¡ªa longsword, nothing flashy, but quick, light, perfect for my speed. My fingers tightened around the hilt as I moved to stand beside my mother on the field. The weight of expectation settled on me, heavy and unshakable. Focus, Lexi¡­ focus, I reminded myself, steeling my mind, locking away the doubts, the fears. I fell into a familiar battle stance, feeling my body tense, then release, honing in on the instincts I¡¯d drilled into myself. Each breath slowed, grounding me, as I gathered my emotions, my will, channeling them into a single, focused point within. The familiar surge of power hummed beneath my skin, Exira stirring awake, thrumming, expanding, wrapping itself through my muscles, my veins, sharpening my senses. This is it, I thought. If I can¡¯t bring Exira fully under my control now, I¡¯ll never survive the real thing. Across from me, my mother shifted, her gaze cold and detached, like a blade held against my throat. She was watching, waiting, poised to test every boundary I could push. And I knew¡ªshe would use every ounce of strength she believed I could withstand, nothing more, nothing less. She was going to push me right to the edge, to force me to learn. Focus, Lexi. There¡¯s no room for error. I tightened my grip, took another breath, then lunged forward, feeling Exira channel through me, amplifying every motion, every reflex. My mother met me head-on, her claymore sweeping toward me with an unyielding force. I blocked, barely managing to keep my footing as the weight of her swing rattled through my bones. But I pushed back, gritting my teeth as I adjusted, pouring more of Exira into my body. Then, without warning, she shifted, her next strike faster, harder. I stumbled, nearly losing my balance as the impact sent me sprawling backward. Pain flared through my shoulder, and I scrambled to my feet, forcing Exira to steady me. I could feel my pulse racing, the tension building, each heartbeat louder than the last. ¡°Real battles will have variables beyond your control,¡± she said, her voice calm as she stepped forward, unfazed. ¡°Manipulating those variables is the only way to secure victory. Control your mind, Lexi. Control the field.¡± Her radiant blue eyes bore into mine, their steady, unshakable calm a stark contrast to the chaos brewing within me. There was a detached authority in her gaze, one that demanded submission, demanded obedience, and I fought against it, swallowing down the urge to falter. ¡°There will be pain far more intense than this,¡± she continued, her tone cold, impassive. ¡°If this level of suffering makes you lose your reason, your will to stand, then¡ª¡± My arms began to tremble more and more, feeling loose and difficult to move. Clang¡­ fuck! It happened so quickly that I barely registered it at first. One moment, I was gripping my sword, the clash of steel ringing in my ears, and the next, an overwhelming pressure locked me down, denying me any action. Thum, thum. My head rang like a bell, and I willed my Exira to respond, but it only managed to alleviate the headache before snuffing it out completely. I suppose the match ends¡­ damn¡­ wait¡­ wha¡­ I thought the match had ended, but I caught sight of Mom¡¯s cold gaze as she moved in with a swing. Slice In the blink of an eye, a flash of pain so sharp it barely registered coursed through me. Thud Splash My body staggered back on instinct, locked under Mom¡¯s Exira, but it wasn¡¯t until I glanced down that my heart froze. My hands¡­ they were gone. I stared in disbelief, blood pouring from the stumps of my wrists. The reality didn¡¯t sink in at first¡ªthere was only a surreal numbness as if it were happening to someone else, not me. But then¡­ the pain hit¨Ca burning agony that shot up my arms like fire. Argg My body wanted to collapse, but it stayed frozen. The grunts tore from my throat before I could stop them, barely audible. Arghhh I wanted to scream, but all I could manage were ragged gasps, struggling to breathe through the haze of pain and her Exira still bearing down on me. My mind raced, grasping for some way to make sense of it, but all I could think was, How can this be happening? I tried to move, to do something, but all I could do was cradle the bleeding stumps, feeling the warmth of my own blood gushing down. Tears blurred my vision, my chest heaving as fear set in. I frantically screamed in my head for Mom to stop, for Aunt Nora to come quickly. Shuaa All my thoughts came to a halt as the presence of overwhelming Exira intensified, denying me the ability to think. ¡°You have improved since the last spar. However, your mentality of ending everything in one strike is nothing but a child¡¯s fantasy,¡± she said coldly. ¡°YOU ARE NOT AN ASSASSIN, ALEXIS.¡± ¡°Your fascination with mixing every single technique might work against novices, but any experienced opponent would lop your head off, not just your hands.¡± The voice grew colder and appeared closer as the presence of Exira became overbearing. I could feel my bones creaking under the pressure. But what it brought was an unnatural clarity to my mind amidst the overwhelming pain¡ªridiculous amounts of pain¡­ ¡°Going all out against an opponent you know far outclasses you could have been a smart move, but¡ª¡± ¡°But you threw everything at me from the very start, showing no aces, holding no cards in reserve, no good strategy. Did you honestly expect to overwhelm me?¡± Splurt¡­ splurt Blood kept gushing out of my wounds, a grim reminder of all that had transpired. I could almost see my face pale as life drained from me, yet, screaming internally, I forced my head against the pressure to meet Mom¡¯s gaze, knowing full well she wouldn¡¯t let me go. ¡°Alexis.¡± Shuaa The EXIRA was even more intense now. If before it was pure physical pressure, now it was downright terrifying, filled with the killing intent of my mother¡­ no, the Ruler and Matriarch of House Drakeseir. ¡°There will be unknown variables in a real battle, variables far beyond your control but manipulating them will make you come out victorious. There will be pain; I guarantee it will be much more intense than what you are experiencing now. If this much makes you lose your reason, your will to stand, then¡­¡± Splurt¡­ Grr Damn¡­ she¡­ wants an answer?¡­ fu*k, ahh! Gritting my teeth, I summoned whatever remained of my Exira and matched her gaze. ¡°Y¡­.YES!... MoTHEr!¡± A sharp, jarring pain tore through me, and the scene shattered¡ª . . I jerked awake, gasping, my body drenched in sweat, the cold air of the cave seeping into my skin. My chest heaved, each breath harsh and ragged as I looked around, grounding myself in the present, the dark, damp stone walls a stark contrast to the vivid memory that had just swallowed me whole.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Just a dream¡­ a memory. But the ache in my hands felt real, as if that incident happened recently. . . Splash. I stepped out of the water, droplets streaming down my skin as I took in the chill air. That last dive had been refreshing, a shock to the system that wiped away the fatigue of the last few days. After sleeping, an actual, solid sleep for once¡ªand freshening up, I could almost believe I was a different person. Almost. Muscles felt looser, my thoughts clearer. The burns that had plagued my skin were barely there anymore, just faint patches where the raw, angry red had smoothed into pale, healing flesh. I could only guess that the blessing of the moon pendant had something to do with it. ¡°Maybe it works without needing moonlight¡­¡± I muttered, glancing down at the pendant. ¡°Or it just has some strange condition I haven¡¯t figured out.¡± Shrugging off the mystery for now, I stretched my arms over my head, feeling my muscles pull and wake up. Time for a proper warm-up. Stretching my neck in wide, slow circles, I felt the familiar burn start in my shoulders, rippling down to my chest. Next were my arms, loosening the joints, rotating my elbows and wrists to ease out the stiffness. Each movement sparked a little reminder of the fight that had come before, the aches, the bruises. But the soreness was easing with every stretch, every breath. I moved through each exercise without hesitation: shoulder rotations, arm swings, leg stretches. The muscles in my legs protested, but I ignored the discomfort. I swung one leg back, then the other, feeling the strain ease into something more fluid, controlled. The steady burn crept through me, a good, grounding ache that reminded me I was still alive, still capable of movement, of fighting. Finishing the last of the stretches, I took a deep breath, let the air fill my lungs, and jumped back into the water, savoring the cold that stole away the heat of exertion, easing the soreness I¡¯d built up. For a few moments, I just floated, letting the weightlessness carry me, the gentle push of water against my skin a welcome balm. The pendant glinted faintly at my chest, pulsing with a cool, steady energy. I could feel its subtle work within me, knitting my body back together, fueling the healing that had started from within. I looked at my skin¨Cit was pale, healed, no angry red burns left. A small grin tugged at the corners of my mouth. ¡°Guess you¡¯re more useful than I thought,¡± I murmured to the pendant, giving it a quick pat. Finally, I pulled myself out of the water, reaching for a cloth to dry off. The damp chill of the cave settled around me, but it was familiar now, almost comforting. With quick efficiency, I toweled off and grabbed the spare clothes I¡¯d scavenged from El¡¯s stash. A bit loose, maybe, but after some adjustments, they fit well enough. The real excitement hit when I lifted the Notics armor set. I¡¯d modified it just enough to fit my frame, adjusting the straps, padding where necessary. Donning the armor was an experience in itself. The cool, sleek material settled over me, hugging close to my body without restricting my movement. I flexed my arms, feeling the joints respond smoothly, each movement unhindered. The weight was perfectly balanced, just enough to remind me it was there but light enough to feel like a second skin. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see what you¡¯re made of,¡± I said, grinning as I threw a few quick punches into the air, each one slicing through the dim, damp air of the cave. Shadowboxing in the dark, I felt the way the armor absorbed and redistributed the force of each punch, like a perfect extension of my own strength. ¡°Yeah¡­ this will be fun.¡± After testing the armor, I turned my attention back to the ring. I needed to keep practicing with it until summoning became second nature. Let¡¯s get this down, I thought, slipping into the rhythm of pulling the sword out, holding it, feeling its weight, and then slipping it back in. After a few dozen repetitions, the motion felt smoother, more instinctive. It would still take a second or two to summon, but each practice cut down the time. I figured it was time to test summoning smaller items, like arrows. After all, in a fight, I¡¯d need to be able to grab them on the go, rather than fumbling around with an entire quiver. ¡°Alright, come on, arrow¡­¡± I muttered, focusing on pulling a single arrow from the ring. My mental energy zeroed in, Exira wrapping around the image of the arrow, trying to materialize it. Nothing. I took a deep breath, then tried again, a bit more forcefully. Again, nothing. Frustration simmered beneath the surface, but I didn¡¯t let it distract me. It¡¯s just a process, I reminded myself. A skill like any other. Try again. Twenty minutes passed, each attempt more focused than the last. But no matter how carefully I pictured it, I couldn¡¯t summon a single arrow. I even tried storing a few arrows separately, away from the main bundle in the quiver, hoping it would make them easier to retrieve. But that just made it worse. The effort of visualizing one individual arrow was starting to exhaust me, my head throbbing from the strain. ¡°Hah, of course it¡¯s not that easy,¡± I grumbled, leaning against the cave wall, rubbing my temples. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll just take the whole damn quiver out if that¡¯s what it takes.¡± Pulling out the entire quiver was fast enough, so it wasn¡¯t all bad. But there was something infuriating about not being able to grab a single arrow on its own. More practice, I told myself, clenching my fists. It¡¯s all about fine-tuning, control. With a sigh, I let myself sink back, feeling the ache settle into my bones. My thoughts flickered back to the pendant, still cool against my chest, a quiet reminder of some deeper mystery I hadn¡¯t yet unlocked. The cave was dark, silent save for the faint drip of water somewhere in the distance. But in the quiet, I felt something stir in me¡ªa sense of readiness, of anticipation for whatever lay beyond these walls. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll figure this all out,¡± I whispered to the shadows. ¡°One step at a time.¡± I took one last glance at my hand, the ring gleaming faintly in the dim light. The Notics armor hugged close, the pendant resting near my heart, a silent, unwavering presence. Whatever the coming battles held, I knew I was as prepared as I could be. Satisfied, I took a quick mental inventory, running through the artifacts and items stored within the ring. Everything''s in place.
Equipped Gear
ARMOUR Attuned Noctis ONE-SET Armour [Mortal Tier ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï] (Cloak,torso,pants,boots) E: (Aegis Protego Obscurioveilum Restituo Unbreaking)
ATTUNED ARTIFACTS The sole earring ????????? Aunt Nora¡¯s blessed Bracer for dumb Lexi [Overmortal Tier ¡ï¡ï¡ï] (Regen, stealth) E : (????? ??????) Drakesier Heirloom [Divine Tier ????] E :(??????) El¡¯s Gift (Spatial Ring) [Mortal Tier ¡ï¡ï] E : (??$#$#%????) Moon''s Blessings Pendant [Mortal Tier ¡ï¡ï] E : (Luna Benedictionis)
ENCHANTED GEAR Mask Trusty Spyglass Warmth Ring (Foveo) [Passive Enchant Type]
WEAPONS Longsword [Mortal Tier ¡ï] E : (Ferro Durabilis Acutus Aeternum) Expansio Spear [Mortal Tier ¡ï¡ï] E : (Penetrans Durabilis Expansio) Expansio Shield [Mortal Tier ¡ï¡ï] E : (Aegis Durabilis Expansio) Longbow [Mortal Tier ¡ï] E : (Dirige Accelerare Percute)
El''s RING
[FOOD and Rations]
Dried strips of meat x 30 and Bread x 10 Raw meat chunks x 5 ~ 3 kg each Water canteen x 2 [E] ~10L each Spices (assortment) Bundles box ]
[Artifacts]
Runic Fragment (hidden) Warmth Ring [P] E: (Foveo) Breathless Ring [C] E: (Respiratio Nullus Arca) Cleanse Ring [C] E: (Mundo)
Protective Pendant [E] E: (Defendo) Revealing Monocle [C] E: (Apparere Occulta) Trusty spyglass [P] E: (UNBREAKING I)
Key Items]
Diary Insignia x2 Map I x2 Metal card x2
Photos x2 Documents [U] Elf¡¯s Drawings keys
[Items]
Energy Crystals x10 Spare Clothes Ropes Sewing kit
Cloaks [E] Spare Leather Armour Torch
[Armaments]
Daggers x2 Arrowsx240 quiver loaded
I took out a strip of jerky and bit down, chewing slowly as I went over each detail in my mind. One last roll call before heading out. ¡°Alright,¡± I muttered to myself, ticking off each item on my mental list. ¡°Gear? Check.¡± I glanced down at the glinting edges of my gauntlets, adjusted the straps around my shoulders. Everything was secured and ready for quick access. I tore off another piece of jerky, feeling the toughness in my jaw as I chewed, savoring the salt. Food eaten? Check. The taste was a welcome shift from the bland rations I¡¯d been stuck with. It was the little things that kept you sane. I took a deep breath, letting my senses settle in the dim quiet of the cave. Rested? Check. After the sleep and the wash, my mind felt clearer, my body recharged. It was a rare sensation out here in these hostile lands, and I wanted to make the most of it. Moving to my pack, I hefted one of the water bottles, the cool weight reassuring in my grip. Each one was filled to the brim. Water bottles, all filled. Check. I looked out at the mouth of the cave, where shadows stretched and beckoned. The time had come. ¡°Alright, Alexis,¡± I said to myself, taking a final breath to steady the nerves that began stirring in my chest. ¡°Let¡¯s move out.¡±
Chapter 033 - Delving back in
Following the direction El had last pointed out. Each step echoed faintly, and I winced, knowing that stealth was my only shield down here, I kept to the shadows, the damp stone walls pressing in on either side. The path was rough, twisted in places, as if it had been chiseled out by claws rather than tools. The air was stale, each breath thick with the earthy scent of moss and mildew. I forced myself to ignore the tightening in my chest, the prickling awareness that this entire escape plan relied on a half-remembered sketch and whatever scraps of El¡¯s knowledge he¡¯d left behind. Not that I didn¡¯t trust him. Still, I couldn¡¯t shake the nagging feeling that he¡¯d ¡°forgotten¡± a few crucial details¡ªlike the reason the only escape route just happened to be near a monstrous boss-type creature. Because of course, it was. Apparently, if there¡¯s a hellish, near-impossible path out of this place, that¡¯s the one I get to take. With a sigh, I paused and pulled out the page from my ring, ducking low and lighting a torch so I could examine it under the faint orange glow. His sketch wasn¡¯t exactly what I¡¯d call reassuring. A few scattered lines, crude outlines of landmarks, but the essential details were there¡ªor at least as close to ¡°essential¡± as El¡¯s sketching skills allowed. ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s break this down,¡± I muttered to myself, squinting as I turned the paper in different angles, hoping for some hidden clarity that never materialized. At the center of the cave, marked with a dark, heavy line, was a large crystal of some kind. El had scrawled something like ¡°boss¡± near it, the word barely legible, the ink smudged and faint. So, the creature wasn¡¯t just near the crystal¡ªit was sort of guarding it??. Great. Around the crystal, he¡¯d marked little dots that I could only assume were smaller monsters, scattered like a field of mines across the cavern floor. My eyes traced the path he¡¯d drawn, a shaky line that wound around the crystal, curving in a wide arc to avoid what looked like the densest clusters of monsters. And then, in the far corner of the map, a single ¡®X¡¯ stood out, scratched into the rock face like a beacon of hope¡ªor maybe doom. Next to it, a faint line squiggled downward, with a small symbol that vaguely resembles waves. I exhaled sharply. Of course, the exit would be underwater. Because why not add the possibility of drowning to the list of dangers? Just once, I¡¯d like things to be straightforward. But no¡ªhere I was, planning to sneak past a horde of monsters, slip by a boss, and swim through some underwater passage, all without getting myself killed. Stuffing the paper back into the ring, I took a deep breath, trying to steady the tension in my shoulders. Focus, Lexi. One step at a time. I moved forward, my steps silent, calculated. The crystal would be the key landmark, unmistakable even in the dark depths of the cave. With any luck, I could stay far enough from the boss and its minions to avoid detection. And if I couldn¡¯t¡­ Well, that wasn¡¯t a scenario I wanted to dwell on. Then, up ahead, a faint sound caught my attention¡ªa low, rumbling noise, the kind that could easily be mistaken for shifting earth, if not for the strange, rhythmic quality. I froze, instinct taking over as I dropped into a crouch, my body pressed low against the rough ground. Notics armor responded instantly, amplifying the silence of my movements, blending me into the shadows. I strained my ears, focusing on the sound. It was faint, barely audible, but unmistakable¡ªgrowls, deep and guttural, layered with a faint scraping that could only mean claws against the stone. My heartbeat quickened, a rush of adrenaline flooding my veins, sharpening my senses. The monsters were close, possibly just around the next bend, and by the sound of it, they weren¡¯t alone. Slowly, carefully, I inched forward. Every step felt measured, and deliberate, each one bringing me closer to the source of the noise. Crouched in the darkness, I could feel every heartbeat thrumming in my ears, each one a steady countdown to the clash I knew was coming. The passage was cold and damp, pressing in around me, amplifying every distant snarl, every scrape of claws on stone. I stretched my senses to their limit, Exira coursing through my body, sharpening my awareness until every sound, every flicker of movement, was like a spark against my nerves. Sounds are getting close. Probably more than one. The rumble of their growls echoed, growing louder with each passing second. No wait¡­ the monsters are running toward me¡­hmm Moving forward, still crouched, I eased my way into a slightly more open section of the cave. Here, I had room to maneuver, space to strike without getting boxed in. I let Exira expand, feeding it through my limbs, flooding my eyes, and strengthening the very core of my senses until it felt as if my body had become one seamless weapon, honed, lethal. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself, my focus sharpening to a razor¡¯s edge.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Not cheesing the fight with Exira¡­well not unless I can manage, I¡¯ll just hone my weapons with Exira. Just skill. Just the blade and what I can do with it. With Exira humming in my veins, I slowly unhooked my torch, snuffing it out in one swift motion and sliding it back into my belt. I dropped my sword quietly on the ground and slipped out the rod I¡¯d kept sheathed on my back. With a quick flick of my wrist, the rod extended, morphing smoothly into a spear, the weight solid and familiar in my grip. I took a deep breath, steadying my heartbeat, feeling every muscle tense, every nerve sing with anticipation. Taking a few deep breaths, I calmed my mind and centered myself, entering a battle trance Stretching my arm back, I shifted into a throwing posture, muscles coiled, body aligned, every inch of me primed to strike. Exira pulsed through the spear, crackling in faint purple sparks along the shaft, sharpening the weapon¡¯s edge, and strengthening its weight. Seconds stretched into eternity as I waited, every sense focused, every ounce of my will channeling into that one point of release. Then¡ªmovement. A burst of noise erupted from the passageway to my side as two hulking forms dashed into view, their mottled skin glistening in the dim light, fangs bared, claws extended, tearing forward with mindless aggression. They hadn¡¯t seen me yet, their eyes fixed forward. Fuuu~ I released the spear, my breath catching as it left my hand, Exira propelling it forward with deadly speed. Swish. The spear flew, leaving a faint purple trail as it arced through the air, embedding itself with a crackling burst straight into the chest of the first creature. The impact was enough to lift it off its feet, sending it crashing back against the cave wall with a sickening thud. The spear pinned it there, sparking with Exira¡¯s power, the creature¡¯s limbs twitching in spasms as the glow faded from its eyes. Now¡­fuu The second monster froze, staring at its fallen kin, momentarily stunned by the sudden death. I didn¡¯t waste a second. Grabbing my sword from the ground, I poured Exira into the blade, feeling it hum to life, a faint violet glow emanating along its edge as I bolted toward the creature. It turned, its eyes narrowing, a snarl escaping its throat as it swiped at me with a heavy claw. The swing was fast, but I was faster, ducking under it, my shield rising instinctively to meet the attack. Clang. Sparks flew as claws met metal, the impact reverberating up my arm, but I held steady, forcing the creature off balance. I didn¡¯t hesitate, switching my grip on the sword, and sliding seamlessly into a thrusting stance. I drove the blade forward, Exira¡¯s power burning along its edge as it sank deep into the creature¡¯s flesh. A howl tore from its throat, an ear-splitting wail that filled the cavern, raw and furious, but I didn¡¯t let up. I twisted the blade, cutting deeper, severing muscle, shattering bone, until the fight in the creature faded, its weight collapsing to the ground with a final shudder. Its corpse slumped at my feet, lifeless, blood pooling around it. I exhaled sharply, adrenaline still surging, my grip tightening on the hilt as I scanned the shadows. Then, a low growl echoed through the cave, rough and ragged, dragging my attention back to the first creature. It was still alive¡ªor barely. The monster had managed to wrench itself free from the spear, stumbling forward, blood pouring from the wound in its chest. Its breaths came in weak, wheezing gasps, but its eyes were locked on me, burning with the last embers of defiance. It staggered forward, its body heaving, mouth open in a snarl that was half-roar, half-dying scream. Alright, I thought, shifting into a battle stance, sword raised, eyes steady on my opponent. One more time. Hold¡­ The creature lunged, throwing its entire weight into one last desperate attack, claws extended, teeth bared in a furious snarl. Now I sidestepped, sliding my foot forward in a half-circle, keeping my balance as I pivoted, swinging my blade in a swift, clean arc. The edge sliced through its neck, smooth and fast, the blade¡¯s Exira-infused glow leaving a faint trail in the air as it passed. Slash. Thud. The monster¡¯s head rolled, hitting the ground with a heavy, final thump, its eyes staring blankly into nothingness. Its body followed, collapsing into a lifeless heap, the last remnants of rage flickering out like a snuffed candle. I took a deep breath, letting the tension seep from my muscles as the cave fell silent once more. The echoes of the fight faded, leaving only the faint drip of water and the dull throb of my heartbeat pounding in my ears. The entire battle had lasted mere moments¡ªa flash of movement, steel, and Exira¡ªbut the weight of it lingered, pressing down on me. I retrieved the spear from where it was still embedded in the wall, wiping the blood off on my sleeve before retracting it back to its compact form. Hmm¡­fuu did well I think¡­ I glanced down at the corpses, their twisted forms lying motionless on the stone floor, the faint smell of blood and death hanging in the air. The creatures hadn¡¯t stood a chance. But then again, neither would I if I had been a fraction of a second slower if I¡¯d hesitated even once. I wiped my sword and sheathed it, my gaze traveling across the darkened cavern. No sound, no movement. I let my guard down just a fraction, but the sense of unease remained, a lingering reminder that this was just the start. The boss monster El had warned about still lay ahead, waiting, somewhere in the depths of the cave, guarding that crystal and the only way out.
Chapter 034 - Another Elite battle
Wiping the blood off my sword, I took a steadying breath, letting the last traces of adrenaline ebb from my veins. I slipped the blade back into its sheath, the faint metallic hiss echoing softly in the silence of the cave. Reaching into my ring, I pulled out the torch and struck it to life, a weak, white glow spilling out to illuminate the scene. The bodies of the two monsters lay twisted and still on the stone floor, their massive forms casting long shadows against the walls. I crouched down beside them, letting my gaze roam over their corpses, every detail coming into focus. Something about their injuries seemed¡­ wrong. ¡°Wait¡­¡± I muttered, leaning in closer. The injuries weren¡¯t all mine. Some were shallow, slicing across sinew and muscle, clearly intended to wound, not kill. Others ran jagged and deep, almost surgical in their precision. These weren¡¯t the chaotic marks of a creature in a frenzy¡ªthey were deliberate. ¡°What the hell¡­?¡± All the injuries were deep but not deep enough for them to die or become unable to move. Something was playing with them¡­ As I recalled my recent encounter with the acid spewing lizard elite¡­he was too playing and ordering the normal lizard monsters¡­ Frowning, I adjusted the torch, angling it to get a better look. The first monster had a particularly nasty slice along its shoulder, deep enough to expose the bone. The second monster had claw marks running down its side, as though something had raked it with claws twice as large as its own. These weren¡¯t defensive wounds. They weren¡¯t the marks of a creature fighting for its life. Yeah, something probably an Elite class was playing with them or maybe punishing them. They were running, did the Elite let them run or did they escape¡­ NO¡­did the elite let them go purposely¡­ A chill settled over me, prickling the skin along my arms as I processed the implications. Facing another elite. Or maybe something even worse. I swallowed, feeling my heart quicken, my pulse hammering against my ribs as the thought of another encounter sank in. Great, I thought, feeling the familiar weight of dread settle over me. As if this place wasn¡¯t bad enough. fuuu Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I forced the rising anxiety back down. Now wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on hypothetical threats; I needed to stay sharp and focused on the here and now. ¡°Let¡¯s finish the task at hand first,¡± I glanced back down at the corpses, the raw, brutalized flesh stark against the cold stone floor. Waste nothing, I reminded myself. Okay, the bones are super helpful taking all of those¡­get to work Lexi¡­ Crouching beside the first monster, I pulled out my small but sharp knife and set to work, slicing through tough sinew and thick muscle, pulling free the largest, sturdiest bones. The claws came next, thick and curved, each one nearly as long as my hand. I separated them carefully, my blade slipping between cartilage and bone with practiced ease, each claw clicking softly as I stored it in the ring. The process was quick but methodical, each piece was carefully examined before I stowed it away. As I worked, I kept my senses stretched, Exira pulsing faintly in the back of my mind, a silent alarm ready to jolt me into action at the slightest hint of movement. The silence in the cave felt unnatural, almost oppressive as if the darkness itself was watching, waiting. My eyes darted to the passage, the faint glow of the torch casting wavering shadows that twisted and danced along the walls. Stay focused, I reminded myself, forcing my attention back to the task. Anything that can keep you alive is worth the effort. Once I¡¯d gathered everything useful from the corpses, I wiped the blade clean on the edge of my sleeve and sheathed it, straightening up and scanning the scene one last time. The bodies lay gutted and hollowed, stripped of anything that could serve a purpose. The smell of blood and decay hung thick in the air, mingling with the earthy dampness of the cave, creating a scent that clawed at the back of my throat. I forced myself to ignore it, pushing the torch forward to light my path as I moved cautiously toward the darkened passage ahead. Thanks, El for the ring¡­no carrying luggage around is a lifesaver. With every step, I stretched Exira out, letting it expand like a net around me, attuning to every faint vibration, every subtle shift in the air. My heart hammered in my chest, the weight of my discovery pressing heavily on my mind. The memory of those wounds¡ªintentional, a mark of something that hunted not for sustenance but for control¡ªlingered like a dark shadow in my thoughts. fuu A faint shiver ran down my spine, and I tightened my grip on the torch, casting a wary glance back over my shoulder. The corpses were now mere shadows in the distance, twisted and indistinct, half-obscured by the darkness. I forced myself to keep moving forward, ignoring the prickling sensation at the base of my neck. One step at a time, I reminded myself, my voice a faint whisper in the dark. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. I kept my breathing low, controlled, each breath slow and steady as I moved forward in the dark, Exira flowing outward like a net around me. The torch remained tucked away, its light too much of a risk, too obvious a beacon in this murky abyss. Only Exira guided me now, tendrils of awareness extending into the shadows, feeling every inch of the space ahead, catching the faintest shifts in the air. A sound reached me¡ªquiet at first, but unmistakable. A wet, sickening crunch, followed by the slurp of flesh and bone being ripped apart. I froze, every nerve on edge, and turned Exira up to level one, amplifying my senses further, sharpening them to deadly precision. As I crept closer, the sounds grew louder, more visceral, echoing off the stone walls until each bite, each squelch of torn flesh, seemed to vibrate through my bones. I moved with deliberate caution until I reached the edge of a wide opening in the cave. Staying low, I pressed myself against the rock wall and peered around the corner. The scene before me made my stomach twist. Corpses littered the ground¡ªbroken, twisted bodies, their limbs bent at unnatural angles, their flesh torn and mangled. And in the center of it all stood a towering creature, its frame lean and muscular, like some twisted mockery of a human. Its long, bony arms ended in serrated bone blades jutting from its elbows, their edges glistening with fresh blood. It stood upright, unnervingly humanoid, but its head was elongated, a grotesque snout filled with mismatched, jagged teeth, each one glinting with bits of flesh as it chewed. Yellow eyes, cold and predatory, swept over the corpses before settling on me with a terrible, focused intensity. My heart plummeted. An elite. Damn it, an elite. I felt a chill crawl up my spine, a primal part of me screaming to turn and run. But there was no time. The creature let out a guttural hiss, its tongue lashing out wildly as it tossed aside the corpse it had been feeding on, the body skidding across the stone floor like a discarded rag. It lowered its head, glaring at me with a feral intensity, those yellow eyes burning with savage intelligence. ¡°Shit!¡± was all I managed to get out before it lunged. The ground shattered and exploded where I¡¯d been standing, chunks of rock exploding outward as I rolled to the side, barely dodging the strike. I sprang to my feet, bringing my shield up just in time to deflect another swing. The force of the impact surged through my arm, a raw shock of pain that numbed my fingers as I staggered back, trying to put distance between us. ¡°Damn it,¡± I muttered, tasting blood as I felt the sting of a fresh wound. A quick glance down revealed a thin slash across my stomach, blood seeping through the torn fabric. I tightened my grip on my sword, forcing myself to ignore the throbbing ache. The creature¡¯s bone blades extended from its elbows like twin scythes, gleaming in the dim light, and I cursed my luck. Of course, I had to run into an elite monster with the skill to wield those blades like a natural weapon. Its movements were fast, precise, every swing measured, every lunge calculated. I circled it, keeping low, trying to read its movements. My mind raced, calculating the best approach, my senses heightened by Exira¡¯s influence. I felt the familiar strain start to press against my mind, but I pushed it down, forcing myself to focus. No time for hesitation. If I don¡¯t get this right, I¡¯m dead. fuuu The creature lunged again, and I parried with my shield, absorbing the impact. Sparks flew as its blade clashed with metal, a high-pitched shriek that set my teeth on edge. I struck back, swinging my sword toward its midsection, but it dodged, slipping just out of range with an agility that seemed impossible for something so massive. I cursed under my breath, barely managing to sidestep as it retaliated, its blade narrowly missing my face. Blood pounded in my ears, my pulse racing as I blocked another attack. ¡°Fine. You want to dance? Let¡¯s dance,¡± I growled, pouring more Exira into my body, and pushing it to level two. The power coursed through me, dulling the pain, sharpening my reflexes, and turning each movement into a fluid, lethal strike. Fuuu With Exira coursing through me I felt time slowing down, I could perceive all but it is difficult to maintain since using Exira at level two actively felt like someone hammering on my head. fuuu The creature lunged again, its blades coming at me from both sides in a pincer-like maneuver. I threw my shield up, catching one blade while sidestepping to avoid the other. I had been honing my sword with Exira ever since the fight began and sensing an opportunity, I swung my sword in a downward arc, aiming for its torso. The blade hissed with purple energy, crackling as it sliced through the air, and for a split second, I saw an opening. Haaaa¡­got you fucker¡­ I struck, and my sword connected, cutting a deep gash along its side. The creature let out a guttural scream, staggering back, but before I could press the advantage, it twisted, swinging its remaining blade toward me. I barely had time to block, the impact sending me reeling back, the breath knocked from my lungs. ¡°Not¡­good enough,¡± I spat, wiping blood from the corner of my mouth as I adjusted my stance. The creature snarled, yellow eyes blazing with rage as it lunged at me again, closing the distance in a single bound. I brought up my shield to block, but this time I was ready. As its blade clanged against my shield, I pushed Exira to level three ignoring the increased pain in my head, as I felt the raw, intense power surge through me, every nerve humming with energy. Channeling more into my sword, the blade igniting with a fierce, violet glow, crackling with energy as I twisted, slashing with everything I had. The blade connected, biting deep into the creature¡¯s flesh, slicing clean through its left arm. The severed limb fell to the ground with a sickening thud, blood spraying across the stone floor in thick, dark arcs. The creature howled in agony, its eyes wide with rage and pain, but it didn¡¯t back down. Instead, it lashed out, a wild, frenzied swing that I barely blocked in time, the force reverberating through my entire body. Gritting my teeth, I pushed back, holding steady against its onslaught. The creature¡¯s strength was monstrous, every strike heavy, each one a battering force that strained my shield and my endurance. But I didn¡¯t let up. I couldn¡¯t afford to. One mistake, and I¡¯d be dead. With a surge of Exira, I steadied myself, pouring every ounce of focus into my next move. I waited for the right moment, feeling the creature¡¯s rhythm, its patterns, reading the tension in its muscles as it prepared to strike again. The instant it moved, I channeled Exira into a final, devastating blow, the power surging down my arm, through my sword, amplifying the force until it was nearly unbearable. My blade arced through the air, connecting with the creature¡¯s torso with a fierce, brutal impact. The violet energy of Exira exploded on contact, a crackling burst that sent shockwaves through the creature¡¯s body. It went rigid, its eyes widening in shock as the light in them began to fade. Like a puppet with its strings cut, it slumped to the ground, its body convulsing once before going still, the last remnants of life slipping away. I stood over the corpse, breathing heavily, my chest rising and falling in sharp, ragged breaths. The cave was silent once more, the only sounds were my own heartbeat and the faint crackle of Exira fading from my blade. I let out a long, shaky breath, the tension slowly easing from my muscles as the reality of my survival sank in. ¡°Finally,¡± I muttered, wiping sweat from my brow as I took one last look at the fallen creature, its twisted form slumped on the stone floor, lifeless. Falling down on the floor as I breathed heavily, The fight though barely lasted a few minutes had burned through my endurance. Every muscle felt like they were burning, Forcing myself to sit I took out my water bottle and took slow small gulps of water. As I felt my body calming down I downed the water. Haaa¡­.haaaaa Still breathing heavily as I had a thought why the fuck did I not placed the elite under Exira lock and then finished it. Dumb Lexi indeed¡­
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Hello Dear Readers! I''d like to thank you all for the support, especially those of you who have left comments, as well as those who have followed and favorited!, I love to read your comments and respond to them so do go wild in the comments section, and some honest reviews would be nice too. So I''ve recently been up editing the backlog that I do have to make them ready for Patreon, currently we are at 30 chapters ahead of Royal Road but I can promise you all this, So for the time Twisted Destiny is on Rising Stars, I''ll be posting double chapters every single day for those of you who sign up to Patreon.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. The goal is to have 40 - 50 chapters ahead of Royal Road by the end of my RS run! (I hope ?^>?<^ ?) I really enjoy writing this story, and whilst it may not be perfect (far from it), I have come to love it so yeah it would be a dream come true to write full time and not worry about studying DSA anymore (man I have started hating completive coding .....TT.TT) Twisted Destiny will be a long novel, just the book 1 is around 100+ chapters long and most of my chapters are 2K average. I mean its better to set your sights high, This dumb author can hope.... ?^>?<^ ? Thanks again everyone ¡Ä,,,¡Ä ( ?? ¡¤ ? ?) / ¤Å? Love u all~
Chapter 035 - Harvesting and Thoughts
"Damn," I muttered, my voice echoing faintly in the silent cave. My muscles screamed in protest, the lack of proper diet and nutrients was already a pain and now with constant exhaustion and injuries, I¡¯m sure whether I survive or not I¡¯ll be a walking skeleton. I closed my eyes, willing the spasms to ease, letting my body remember what it felt like to relax. "Just... breathe," I whispered to myself, each word a struggle. Minutes passed in a haze of labored breaths and searing pain. Slowly, agonizingly, the burning sensation began to ebb, and my muscles loosened, control returning to me bit by bit. I again pulled out a canteen and took a few sips of water, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat. I dug out a strip of jerky, tearing off a piece and chewing slowly, each bite grounding me, restoring a fragment of my strength. The taste was bland, almost cardboard-like, but I didn''t care. Food was fuel, and I needed every bit of energy I could get. As I rested, I forced myself to look at the creature I''d killed. Now that I wasn''t fighting for my life, I could take it in fully. The elite''s form was lean, far more so than the usual hulking beasts I''d encountered. Its body was compact, almost athletic, with taut muscles rippling under mottled gray skin. It was built for speed and precision rather than brute strength and also the last elite I faced was more towards the ability route while this one was on the physical route. Great¡­ that just increased my odds of being a snack¡­ "Fucking hell," I breathed, my gaze tracing the length of its bone blades. Serrated edges gleamed dully in the faint light, each blade nearly as long as I was tall. If I hadn''t managed to block or dodge when I did if my focus had slipped for even a second... I shook my head, trying to dispel the gruesome image of my own head rolling across the floor. Yeah truly a dance with death¡­yet I feel so good¡­am I weird in the head¡­ I glanced down at my stomach, where the creature''s blade had left its mark. The armor was torn, a jagged gash marring the dark material. But to my surprise, the fibers were slowly reweaving themselves, a faint shimmer of enchanted energy dancing along the edges. My skin beneath was mending too, the wound sealing itself, though faint traces of blood still smeared the area. "Nice," I muttered, a hint of a smile tugging at my lips despite the lingering pain. The Unbreaking enchantment was doing its job, working in tandem with the armor''s restorative properties. The realization lifted my spirits¡ªa small but crucial reminder of how far I''d come, how much this armor had already saved my ass. Phew~ It feels much better and¡­entertaining no..thrilling now that I¡¯m in better gear and can engage in proper combat¡­ I leaned back against the rough stone wall, chewing thoughtfully on another piece of jerky. My thoughts drifted to the armor itself. It was an incredible find, beyond anything I could have imagined scavenging in this hellhole, and seeing its potential, Yeah I¡¯m 100% upgrading you when I get the chance noctis¡­ I glanced back at the creature, my eyes lingering on the menacing bone blades once more. And yet, I thought, shivering slightly, even with all of this, it was close. Too close. That damn thing¡¯s agility, its precision¡ªif I hadn¡¯t had Exira amplifying my reflexes, my stomach wound might¡¯ve been my last. Just like when I hadn¡¯t noticed the initial slash, the same could¡¯ve happened to my neck. I could practically feel the cool touch of a blade against my skin, slicing through before I even registered the attack.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. I looked away, suppressing a shiver. This elite was different from the others I¡¯d faced. This one was pure physicality, a creature that relied on speed, skill, and those damn bone blades. It''s good that I finished the bastard fast enough¡­ I¡¯m sorely lacking in the endurance department right now¡­ I forced myself to refocus, pushing aside the flash of past terror. That was then; this was now. Here, I¡¯d won. Barely, maybe, but a win was a win. After finishing the meager meal. Rest time was over. I had to move ahead. I pushed myself to my feet, rolling my shoulders to ease the last traces of tension. My body still felt heavy, weighed down by the residual strain of Exira, the headache was still there but I could feel it will subside in a few moments. Taking out my torch, I cast its light over the corpse. The shadows stretched and shifted as the white glow washed over the creature''s grotesque form. It was taller than I''d realized, its elongated limbs and jagged bone blades giving it a menacing silhouette even in death. I knelt beside it, studying the details one last time. Its claws were sharp, honed to deadly points, and I considered taking a few as keepsakes, or perhaps materials for crafting. Standing over it, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder how many more were out there. Elites like this one, lurking in the shadows, waiting to rip apart anything foolish enough to cross their path. My armor would only protect me so much, and Exira, as powerful as it was, had its limits. Pushing it to level three had nearly drained me, and I couldn¡¯t count on that kind of strength for every fight. My martial prowess was something I still took pride in, even now, with only fragments of my memories left. The image of the battle flickered in my mind, and with it, a half-formed memory¡ªa flash of myself in training, swift, deadly, unstoppable. It was strange, almost surreal. I couldn''t remember the details, but I knew¡ªdeep down¡ªthat Alexis before amnesia would''ve handled this monster without breaking a sweat. I was missing so much crucial information, experiences, and techniques. I chuckled quietly, the sound hollow in the silence. ¡°Guess I used to be something,¡± I crouched beside the creature¡¯s head, tilting the torch to get a closer look at its face. It was ugly in a way that felt almost deliberate, designed to evoke fear, every inch of its elongated skull a nightmare-made flesh. Its jaws were wide, impossibly so, and filled with teeth, each one a serrated, jagged edge, all mismatched and cruelly sharp. I could only imagine what it would¡¯ve felt like to be caught in those jaws. The creature was a killing machine, built to rend and tear, to leave nothing but ruin in its wake. Drawing out the new set of knives I¡¯d acquired, I began the grim work of harvesting the creature. The knives sliced through flesh and muscle, their edges sharp and precise, each cut methodical, every motion smooth from years of practice. My hands worked almost automatically, first severing the bone blades at the elbows, their dense structure making each cut an effort even with enchanted steel. These blades would be useful, valuable¡ªeither for crafting or for trading if I ever found a place to barter. Once I¡¯d set the bone blades aside, I moved on to the claws, prying them free one by one, each one almost as thick as my own fingers. They were hard as stone, the points razor-sharp, and I could practically feel the faint, lingering trace of the creature¡¯s power within them. I turned one over in my hand, feeling the weight of it, the texture, imagining how it might serve as a weapon or component, how I could use it to craft something deadly of my own. Curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to go deeper. Pulling out my knife, I drove it into the creature¡¯s chest, slicing down through layers of muscle, peeling back flesh to expose its insides. The thick, sinewy tissue resisted, each layer tough and fibrous, but I kept going, prying open the chest cavity until I reached the rib cage. I paused, glancing at the exposed bones, at the twisted structure within. I cracked the ribs apart, the sound echoing in the stillness, and finally exposed its inner organs. Despite the elite¡¯s terrifying appearance, its insides were remarkably similar to the regular monsters I¡¯d fought. The same twisted organs, the same dark, pulsing mass of veins and sinew. Nothing about it seemed special, nothing that would explain its enhanced strength or intelligence. I huffed in frustration, wiping my hands on a rag as I glanced over the creature¡¯s open chest cavity. So maybe the physical structure isn¡¯t what gives them their power. My mind wandered to El¡¯s words, the cryptic hints he¡¯d dropped about essence and power points. He¡¯d told me that killing an elite or boss would yield an ¡°essence¡±¡ªa source of energy, something powerful. He¡¯d implied I¡¯d know it if I found it, that it would be obvious. But standing here, staring into the creature¡¯s chest, I saw nothing. No glowing core, no strange organ thrumming with power, no hidden source of its strength. Does it even exist physically? Or is it¡­ something else? El words¡­or rather the drawings implied that I would know if there is an essence¡­haa guess my luck is not that good. I reached out, pressing my fingers along the edges of its internal structure, feeling for anything unusual, anything that might indicate a concentration of energy. Nothing. The monster¡¯s body was a dead thing, no different from the countless corpses I¡¯d encountered... Yeah well, eventually I¡¯ll get it right now I need to find the Boss place and get the hell out of this place¡­
Chapter 036 - Reaching the BOSS CAVE
Sighing, I wiped the blood and grime off my hands using a tattered piece of my old clothes, the fabric barely enough to soak up the mess. Once I¡¯d cleaned up, I tossed the soiled rag onto the floor and set it alight, watching as the flames consumed it. No sense leaving a trail for anything else to follow. The flickering light cast eerie shadows on the cave walls, shapes that seemed to writhe and twist before vanishing into darkness. "Time to move," I told myself, adjusting the straps of my pack. The weight felt heavier somehow, burdened not just with supplies but with the knowledge of what awaited me. El¡¯s instructions had been vague, but he¡¯d said that this tunnel would eventually lead to the final cavern¡ªthe one that held both the boss monster and, hopefully, the exit. I steeled myself, mentally running through everything I knew, trying to picture the layout from El¡¯s map as I began my trek deeper into the dark. Time seemed to blur, the passage of minutes or hours indistinct. My thoughts drifted, filled with half-remembered fragments of a life I couldn''t fully recall. Faces without names, places without context. It was maddening. "Focus, damn it," I snapped, shaking my head as if to clear it. "Can''t afford distractions." The silence around me was thick, pressing in from all sides as I moved quietly, each step cautious, every sound muffled by the armor¡¯s enchantments. There¡ªfaint vibrations in the ground, subtle but unmistakable. Something large was moving nearby, its steps rumbling through the stone, each one sending a faint tremor up through my boots. I crouched instinctively, my armor¡¯s passive enchantments cloaking me, blending my presence with the shadows. Moving slowly, I kept my body low, inching forward with painstaking caution as the vibrations grew stronger. The air was thick with the faint, acrid scent of monsters¡ªmusk and rot, tinged with the metallic tang of old blood. Stopping and pausing to press a hand against the wall. The stone vibrated under my touch, a steady pulse like a distant heartbeat. Unease prickled at the back of my neck. I crouched, slowing my movements, every sense on high alert. The silence was no longer empty; it was filled with the promise of something vast and dangerous. Moving cautiously, I edged forward until I saw a faint glow ahead¡ªa dim, reddish light that bathed the tunnel in an otherworldly hue. "Well, that''s not ominous at all," I muttered sarcastically. Reaching the end of the passage, I pressed myself against the wall, taking a deep, steadying breath. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! "Alright, Lexi," I told myself. "Moment of truth." What I saw made my stomach lurch. Fuck me¡­ In front of me lay an immense cavern, stretching out into a vast, hollow darkness. Stalactites hung like jagged teeth from the ceiling far above, casting twisted shadows in the dim, phosphorescent glow that seeped up from the stone floor. It was so vast that it felt like looking out over a nightmarish landscape, rather than an enclosed space. And I wasn¡¯t alone. Not even close. I was perched on one of many openings along the cavern walls, like holes in an ant burrow. Dozens of these passages dotted the walls on my side, each one opening out into the cavern, creating a network of entryways that reminded me of some grotesque hive. But what held my attention, what set my pulse hammering in my ears, were the creatures filling the cavern below. Hundreds of lizard monsters sprawled across the cavern floor, their bodies rippling with muscle, their scaled skin glinting dully in the faint light. Some were small, skittering creatures, their heads twitching as they prowled through the shadows, sniffing the air. Others were massive, towering brutes with claws that dug deep grooves into the stone as they moved, their eyes cold and unfeeling, like machines programmed solely for destruction. "Fuck," I whispered, a cold sweat breaking out across my forehead. "This is bad. Really fucking bad." Fuuu¡­breathe in and breathe out Lexi They were everywhere, scattered across the floor, some pacing restlessly, others gathered in clusters, growling and snapping at each other. The air was thick with the sound of their movements¡ªclaws scraping against stone, low, guttural hisses, and the occasional shriek as one creature asserted its dominance over another. And at the center of it all, rising like some terrible monument, was a massive crystal formation, its surface jagged and uneven, pulsing faintly with a dull, reddish glow. The boss monster. I clenched my grip on the stone wall, my knuckles turning white as I took it all in. This¡­ this was going to be a bloodbath. There was no other way to describe it. If I wanted to get to the exit, I¡¯d have to wade through that sea of monsters, each one as lethal as the ones I¡¯d already faced, maybe more so. And the boss¡­ I didn¡¯t even want to think about what kind of creature guarded that crystal. But there was no turning back. This was the way El had mapped out, the path I had chosen. My hand tightened around the hilt of my sword, the weight of it grounding me, reminding me of every fight I¡¯d survived to get here. Alright, Alexis, I thought, a cold determination settling over me. No other choice but to forward. "The boss monster," I realized, dread settling in my stomach like lead. "And the exit''s probably on the other side." I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. This was a nightmare. There was no way I could fight through that horde¡ªnot alone. "Think, Alexis," I urged myself. "There''s gotta be a way." Options were limited. I could try to sneak through, but with that many monsters, stealth seemed like a pipe dream. One misstep, one stray sound, and I''d be torn apart. "Maybe I can create a distraction," I considered. "But with what?" My mind raced, cycling through possibilities. Then, an idea sparked. A very dumb idea¡­ a start atleast.
Chapter 037 - The BOSS cave
Okay before I get over myself and do something stupid, I need all the information I can get¡­ need to sort to map the area In the center of the cavern, rising like some twisted monument, was a massive, pulsing pillar. Its surface gleamed with veins of crimson and dark, inky blue, the colors swirling in patterns that seemed almost alive, writhing and shifting with each heavy pulse of energy. Even from where I crouched in the shadows, a good distance away, I could feel the raw, untamed power radiating from it, each pulse sending a faint, prickling sensation across my skin. It was like standing near a storm, close enough to feel the crackle of lightning, the charge in the air just before it strikes. The sheer quantity of energy was staggering. I could barely imagine the strength it would take to control that kind of power, to harness it, and the thought alone made me uneasy. And that¡¯s when I saw it¡ªthe creature coiled around the pillar. It was impossible to miss, a monstrous behemoth curled protectively around the pulsing stone, its scales glistening in the faint light like polished obsidian. The creature was massive, easily the size of a school bus, its body thick and muscular, wrapped tightly around the pillar in an almost possessive embrace. Thick ridges of bone protruded along its spine, each one ending in a razor-sharp edge that gleamed faintly, a natural armor that spoke to the countless battles it must have survived. Its head was lowered, resting near the base of the pillar, its massive jaws parted slightly to reveal rows of jagged, uneven teeth, each one honed to a deadly point. My chest tightened, my breath catching as I took in the sight. There was no mistaking it¡ªthis was not just a boss type, I¡¯m sure that¡¯s an Overlord class of this species. The aura around it was unmistakable, an oppressive force that made the air feel thick, and heavy, as if I were wading through water rather than breathing. Even from this distance, I could feel the weight of its presence pressing down on me, a silent reminder of the power it held, of the absolute authority it commanded over everything in this cavern. No other monsters dared to come close to the Overlord. In the immediate vicinity around the pillar, the ground was bare, as if marked by an invisible boundary that none of the lesser creatures dared to cross. Hmmm¡­this could be very helpful But beyond that line, scattered a few meters away, I could see clusters of other monsters, each one smaller, hunched, and focused intently on the pillar, their faces tilted upward, their eyes half-lidded in a strange, almost trance-like state. They were absorbing the leftover energy radiating from the pillar, drinking it in like starving animals. And these weren¡¯t ordinary creatures either¡ªThese were elites, easier to identify since they were so diverse in looks. The elites shifted restlessly, their eyes occasionally flicking toward the Overlord as if checking for any sign of movement. But the behemoth remained still, its massive body coiled around the pillar like a dragon guarding a hoard, utterly unbothered by the lesser creatures around it. It was as if the Overlord had sunk into a state of deep, meditative stillness, resting, recharging¡ªwaiting.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It''s almost in a trance-like state¡­ I doubt it is meditating then¡­evolution¡­ A shiver crawled up my spine. Every instinct in my body screamed to turn back, to put as much distance as possible between me and that thing. But I forced myself to stay focused, scanning the cavern for any sign of the exit El had mentioned. My gaze shifted to the right, to where El had said the exit would be hidden. I pulled out my spyglass, pressing it to my eye as I scanned the wall, searching for any hint of an opening, any sign of an escape route. I zoomed in, adjusting the focus carefully, my eyes tracing the rough, uneven stone, each crack and crevice in the dim glow. But no matter how hard I looked, there was nothing there¡ªjust a stretch of bare rock, with water trickling down from a small fissure near the top, creating a thin, continuous stream that pooled at the base of the wall. I frowned, adjusting the spyglass again, focusing on the water. This can¡¯t be right. El had been clear about the location, about where the exit would be. But all I could see was a solid wall of stone, and just the water, seeping out in a slow, steady trickle. ¡°Damn it,¡± I muttered under my breath, lowering the spyglass. I scanned the area one more time, my mind racing through the possibilities. Is it a hidden passage? Some kind of illusion? Or did El get it wrong? The last thought was unsettling, a cold twist of doubt settling in my gut. If the exit wasn¡¯t here, if El¡¯s information was wrong, then I was trapped¡ªtrapped in a cavern full of monsters, with an Overlord that could tear me apart if I so much as breathed too loudly. Wait¡­ water. The thought snapped into place, an uncomfortable certainty settling in the pit of my stomach. I pulled out El¡¯s drawing, squinting at the rough lines in the dim light, focusing on the marks he¡¯d left on the right side of the cavern wall. A thick cross marked the area near the trickling water, the lines dark and jagged, with crisscrossed shading scribbled around it. I¡¯d glossed over it before, assuming it was just another of El¡¯s erratic notes, but now¡­ the pieces started to click together in my mind. I pulled out the previous maps, laying them side by side, comparing the paths, the symbols, and the scribbled notes. As I scanned them, a realization dawned on me, creeping in with cold finality. I gritted my teeth, a low curse slipping from my lips as I pieced it together. ¡°Fuck.¡± The exit wasn¡¯t a hidden passage or a concealed door. It was water. An underwater exit. My stomach twisted as the implications sank in. We were deep underground, trapped in a network of caverns buried beneath the weight of a mountain. And if El¡¯s map was accurate¡ªand it was beginning to look like it was¡ªthe level I was on sat below sea level. Which meant that to escape, I¡¯d have to dive into those waters and somehow navigate my way through a submerged passage, potentially stretching far beneath the surface. A wave of frustration surged through me. I¡¯d been using the mask nonstop, relying on it to filter the air, unaware of the actual oxygen levels down here. For all I knew, the cavern¡¯s air could be dangerously thin, or worse¡ªsaturated with toxins. If I was going to dive into those waters, I¡¯d have to be prepared, both mentally and physically. This wasn¡¯t something I could just rush into; one mistake, one miscalculation, and I¡¯d be dead, drowned in the cold, black depths with nothing but darkness for company. I glanced back at the cavern, watching the swarm of creatures milling around, the elites scattered in their trance-like state near the Overlord¡¯s pulsing pillar. For a moment, the absurdity of it all hit me. Here I was, standing in the heart of a monster-infested cavern, with no idea how to proceed¡­ No choice, I reminded myself, exhaling sharply. But if I¡¯m going to survive this, I need a plan. Slowly, I began to back away, careful to keep my movements silent, my presence cloaked as I retreated back into the shadows of the passage. I¡¯d need time to rest, to think, to prepare for what lay ahead. And if I was going to face it, I¡¯d need to be ready.
Chapter 038 - Brewing plans
I retreated into a narrow alcove I¡¯d noticed earlier, tucked into the jagged walls of the passage leading to the Overlord¡¯s cavern. The space was tight, barely enough to sit comfortably, but it was far enough from the main cavern that the oppressive growls and hisses faded to a dull background hum. I sank against the stone, its cold surface pressing into my back, and let out a long, shuddering breath. The flicker of a torch broke the darkness as I lit it, setting it down beside me. The soft, wavering glow was a fragile comfort in the suffocating black, just enough to hold the shadows at bay without drawing too much attention. The tight space felt like a coffin, but it was a temporary reprieve¡ªa pocket of stillness in this endless storm of monsters and madness. My hands shook as I pulled out my diary, the worn leather cover a small anchor to sanity. It was battered, stained from countless encounters, but it held every plan, every strategy, every desperate scribble that had gotten me this far. I flipped to a blank page, gripping my pencil tightly. ¡°Alright, Lexi,¡± I murmured, steadying my breathing. ¡°Think.¡± I began by sketching a rough outline of the boss¡¯s cave, marking the edges, trying to capture the scope of the space from memory. In the center, I drew the pillar, thick lines to represent the pulsing, ominous energy that radiated from it. The Overlord was next, coiled around the base of the pillar like a nightmare come to life. I sketched a large skull over its figure, shading it heavily to capture its presence, its sheer size, its aura of authority and threat. Even on paper, the figure seemed to loom, larger than life, a reminder of what lay between me and my escape. I paused, pressing the pencil¡¯s point against the page as I mentally retraced my steps through the cavern. About some distance out from the Overlord, I marked a smaller skull¡ªone of the elites I¡¯d seen clustered around, their heads tilted up, drinking in the energy like leeches. I circled the skull, drawing faint lines radiating outward, trying to capture the way those creatures. With a grimace finally, I added dots to represent the swarming lesser monsters¡ªthe chaotic horde that filled every crevice of the cavern. Finally, I extended a line from the pillar to the right side of the cavern, where I¡¯d seen the trickling water. I marked the wall with an ¡°X¡± to indicate where I believed the exit was hidden. I estimated the distance¡ªmaybe 200 meters from the Overlord, give or take a few, but I had no way of knowing for sure. It was a guess, based on little more than intuition and memory, but it would have to be close enough. I sat back, staring at the map as the torchlight danced over it. My makeshift blueprint of hell. ¡°Fucking great,¡± I muttered, rubbing my temple. ¡°How the hell am I supposed to get through that?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I muttered, almost to myself, a humorless smirk tugging at my lips. ¡°I¡¯m fucked.¡± It was one thing to face down an elite in a narrow passage, to take on a monster that I could see, that I could measure and prepare for. But this? A cavern full of creatures, an Overlord coiled around a source of unimaginable power, and a maze of obstacles between me and the potential exit? It was a level of insanity I hadn¡¯t expected. But there was no going back. The thought of retreating, of cowering in this hollow until I was discovered, was even worse. I¡¯d been staring at the crude drawing pinned to the wall for what felt like hours, trying to pry some semblance of a workable plan from the chaotic lines and scribbled symbols. I traced each mark with my eyes, over and over, testing every angle, every approach, racking my brain for a solution that didn¡¯t end in my death. But no matter how I looked at it, every option circled back to one single, reckless idea¡ªa plan so insane, so suicidal, that it seemed more like a whispered taunt in the back of my mind than an actual strategy.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. The kind of plan that would only work if everything went perfectly, if I moved with absolute precision if luck held just long enough to see me through. The kind of plan that¡¯d leave no way back. Once I started, there¡¯d be no second chances, no retreat, just a mad dash through the heart of a monster¡¯s den with my life hanging by a thread. I let out a low, bitter laugh, slumping against the wall as I ran a hand through my hair. It¡¯s been almost a week, I thought, feeling the weight of each day pressing down on me. A week of wandering through dark, twisting passages, of facing down creatures that should¡¯ve killed me, of battling and scraping and surviving in this cursed labyrinth with no end in sight. My body was battered, and bruised, every muscle ached with a dull, relentless pain. I¡¯d fought, bled, lost track of time and direction, and there hadn¡¯t been a single hint of escape. Every damn path seemed to lead deeper into the darkness, every tunnel spiraled down into another hellish encounter. And even if I wanted to turn back, to retrace my steps, that wasn¡¯t an option. Sighing, I glanced back at the drawing pinned to the wall, the flickering torchlight casting shifting shadows across the page, making the marks dance and twist like mocking faces. I¡¯d been here for at least five hours now¡ªresting, eating, drinking what little water I had left, forcing myself to snatch brief, uneasy naps as my body screamed for respite. I¡¯d tried every trick I knew to come up with a better plan, something that wasn¡¯t a suicide mission, but nothing else fit. Nothing else even came close. This is madness, I thought, the words echoing in the back of my mind as I looked at the rough lines I¡¯d drawn over and over. A straight path, directly through the heart of the cavern, past the Overlord and his minions, weaving through a sea of monsters to reach the far wall and dive into the water, hoping that the hidden exit lay beneath its surface. I leaned back, pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes, trying to clear my mind. The chance of death on this plan was higher than anything I¡¯d faced so far, higher than any gamble I¡¯d taken. But the longer I sat here, the more I felt the walls closing in around me, a relentless, crushing weight that reminded me with every breath that this place would kill me if I stayed. If I hesitated. I¡¯d survived battles that pushed me to my limit, and encounters with monsters that would haunt me long after I escaped. I¡¯d clawed my way through, each step a reminder of my own mortality, each fight a battle against the odds. And yet here I was, faced with the bleak reality that the only way forward, the only path to freedom, was a plan that bordered on suicide. I clenched my fists, feeling a surge of frustration rise within me, raw, seething anger that burned away the exhaustion, if only for a moment. No escape, I thought bitterly. No mercy in this damned place. It¡¯s kill or be killed, survive or die forgotten in the dark. I need to get out¡­even if it kills me. With a weary sigh, I pulled out a fresh page from my journal and smoothed it against my knee, the edges already smudged with faint traces of soot and dirt. I held my pencil loosely, staring at the blank page as the enormity of what I was about to do sank in. The plan, if it could even be called that, hovered in my mind¡ªa series of reckless steps strung together with the desperate hope that maybe, somehow, I¡¯d make it through in one piece. I took a deep breath and began writing, scratching out the words with a dry, humorless smirk.
Mission: Stupid Lexi and His Mission Impossible. Goals:
1) Don¡¯t Die 2) make way and reach the pillar while no dying to the boss and elites 3) Blow the energy pillar and not die to the boss while delivering the payload 4) Run like my ass is on fire, have around 200 meters to cross and blow the wall too. 5) survive the blast 6) survive the underwater pressure 7) live to see another day,...hopefully ¡°Alright, Lexi,¡± I muttered to myself, a wry smile tugging at my lips. ¡°One death-defying step at a time.¡±
Chapter 039 - Prep cuz chances of death 99.9%
Current Inventory :
El''s RING
[FOOD and Rations]
Dried strips of meat x 24 and Bread x 7 Raw meat chunks x 5 ~ 3 kg each Water canteen x 2 [E] ~10L each Spices (assortment) Bundles box ]
[Artifacts]
Runic Fragment (hidden) Warmth Ring [P] E: (Foveo) Breathless Ring [C] E: (Respiratio Nullus Arca) Cleanse Ring [C] E: (Mundo)
Protective Pendant [E] E: (Defendo) Revealing Monocle [C] E: (Apparere Occulta) Trusty Spyglass [P] E: (UNBREAKING I)
[Key Items]
Diary Insignia x2 Map I x2 Metal card x2
Photos x2 Documents [U] Elf¡¯s Drawings keys
[Items]
Energy Crystals x5 Spare Clothes Ropes Sewing kit
Cloaks [E] Spare Leather Armour Torch
[Armaments]
Daggers x2 Arrowsx240 quiver loaded
Mission: Stupid Lexi and The Mission Impossible Goals: 1) Don¡¯t die. It seemed like a simple enough start, but I could practically hear my own voice mocking me from the page. If I was listing ¡°not dying¡± as an objective, I knew things had already gone south. 2) Make my way to the pillar and try not to get shredded by the boss or the elites along the way. I could picture the Overlord coiled around that pulsing column, its massive, armored body a fortress of scales and muscle. The elites were another problem, feeding off the pillar¡¯s energy like it was a damn feast. I¡¯d have to slip past them without being seen, without triggering their instincts to attack. This alone felt like a death sentence, and yet, somehow, it was only the beginning. 3) Blow up the energy pillar while not dying to the boss as I deliver the payload. I grimaced as I wrote it. This part was more theory than anything solid¡ªa desperate, half-baked idea based on a gut feeling that disrupting the pillar would throw the monsters into chaos. But that meant getting close, dangerously close, to the Overlord. Let¡¯s hope it¡¯s too slow to kill me before I can pull this off.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. 4) Run like my ass is on fire¡ª200 meters to cross and blast through the wall. This part was as simple as it was terrifying. If I survived the pillar explosion, I¡¯d have mere seconds to cover 200 meters, with every monster in the cavern likely tearing after me. And if I made it to the wall, I¡¯d have to set off a blast strong enough to break through solid rock and dive into the water without a moment¡¯s hesitation. 5) Survive the blast. A short, grim note. The force of the explosion would be immense, and there was a very real possibility I¡¯d be caught in the shockwave, especially if I misjudged the distance or my timing. 6) Survive the underwater pressure. I didn¡¯t know how far the tunnel would go, how deep I¡¯d have to dive, or how long I could hold my breath. The pressure would be crushing, and if I ran out of air before finding the exit, there¡¯d be no second chances. The thought of drowning in that dark, frigid water sent a cold shiver down my spine. 7) Live to see another day¡­hopefully. The last words hung on the page, a thin thread of hope in an otherwise impossible plan. I wasn¡¯t asking for much. Just one more day, one more chance to make it out of this nightmare and back into the world above. Somehow. I stared at the page, the list of goals scrawled out in my messy handwriting and felt a strange sense of calm settle over me. It was madness, yes. Every step of it was pure, reckless insanity. But there was a clarity in seeing it written down, a purpose that steadied my nerves and sharpened my resolve. If this was going to be my last stand, then I would make it count. I folded the page and tucked it back into the journal, resting it against the wall beside me. Then I took a deep, final breath, centering myself as I felt the torchlight flicker beside me, the warmth and brief comfort in the cold, dark passage. Time to work¡­ Going over the goals again, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that I¡¯d completely lost it. No sane person would even entertain this plan, let alone commit to it. There were a hundred different problems with it¡ªeach one a reason to turn back, to admit defeat. I rubbed my temples, feeling the strain settling in, a dull ache that pulsed behind my eyes. ¡°Stop bitching, Lexi,¡± I muttered to myself, pinning the goals page to the wall, the words a stark reminder of what I was about to do. I grabbed another page, smoothing it out before putting pencil to paper again, the lead scratching against the surface as I listed out the issues in brutal honesty. Problems: 1) Survivability is fucking low. I let out a dark, humorless chuckle as I wrote it, the understatement almost laughable. Between me and the pillar was a sea of monsters¡ªa couple hundred, at least. And they weren¡¯t just the usual fodder. No, they were elites, dozens of them, each one powerful enough to rip me apart if I so much as stumbled. And then there was the Overlord, that behemoth coiled around the pillar, a creature that radiated pure, primal power, a presence that felt like death itself. Each one of them would be more than happy to tear me to pieces, to crunch through bone and sinew, and feast on whatever was left. Huff¡­even with Exira, this was madness. I¡¯d need every ounce of it, every burst of strength and speed just to make it through the elites. A quick surge at Level 1 might buy me a couple of seconds, enough to slip past a few, but I¡¯d need to push Exira to its absolute limits just to stun the Overlord. And stunning it was all I could hope for. The idea of actually wounding that beast was a joke¡ªa delusion that would get me killed faster than anything else. I sighed, running a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of the plan pressing down on me. This was suicide, plain and simple. But the path was set, and each step was one I¡¯d have to take if I wanted any hope of seeing the surface again. 2) I need to make a bomb. Probably more than one. I grimaced as I wrote it. I¡¯d barely scraped by in my battles so far, relying on skill, Exira, and sheer luck. But to break through the horde and reach the exit, I¡¯d need something bigger. I needed a way to disrupt the pillar, to throw the monsters into chaos, to create enough of a distraction that I could make a break for the exit. The problem was, that I had no idea where to start. I¡¯d never made anything like this before, never needed to. But the pieces were slowly coming together in my mind, a faint spark of an idea that was just out of reach, waiting to be grasped. I sighed again, massaging my temples as I turned to my ring, searching through its contents with a mixture of frustration and hope. The first thing I pulled out was a handful of energy crystals. I held one up, examining it in the torchlight. The crystal was cold, smooth, its surface faintly reflective, shimmering with a subtle inner glow. As I studied it, I felt a familiar prickle of energy, a faint but unmistakable signature that reminded me of the energy radiating from the pillar itself. These crystals¡­ they contain energy, I realized. The elf party must have ventured into this hellhole to mine them, risking everything to extract these rare fragments of power. That was the only explanation. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was a start. I counted the crystals¡ª5 in total. Each one seemed to pulse faintly with stored energy, a dangerous, latent power that, if unleashed, could be devastating. I ran a finger along one, feeling the cool surface and the hum of potential just beneath. There was enough here to make a bomb, maybe even a few, if I could figure out a way to set them off. I scratched my stubble, turning the idea over in my mind, and piecing it together with each new thought. The first requirement was energy. Check, I thought, glancing at the crystals. That part was covered. Next, I¡¯d need a triggering mechanism¡ªsomething to destabilize the energy and create a blast. Something to make these crystals volatile enough to explode on command. I felt a faint grin tugging at the corner of my mouth as the answer clicked into place. What if I tamper with the enchantments? Each item I¡¯d gathered along the way had some level of enchantment, a protective charm or enhancement woven into it. If I could overload those, if I could push the enchantments beyond their breaking point, it might create the instability I needed. I dug deeper into my ring, pulling out 3 rings I had and some other stuff. A plan began to take shape, rough and raw, but workable. I could embed each crystal with one of these rings, tampering with the enchantments to create a volatile chain reaction. The idea was simple: overload the enchantments, force them to destabilize, and trigger an explosive release of energy. ¡°Yes,¡± I murmured, barely above a whisper. This could work. I¡¯d have to be careful, and precise. A single misstep and I¡¯d blow myself up in the process. But if I could pull it off, if I could get the timing right, this could be the edge I needed. I looked down at the crystals, a sense of grim satisfaction settling over me. Each one was a weapon now, a tool for survival. I could already imagine the explosion, the rush of energy tearing through the monsters, the wave of chaos that would buy me those precious seconds to reach the wall. But there was no room for error. I¡¯d have to test each one, and carefully push them to their limits without setting them off prematurely. Each crystal had to be perfect, and each trigger calibrated just right. This wasn¡¯t just about brute force¡ªit was a delicate balance, a calculated risk with no margin for failure. I exhaled, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on me, a mix of dread and exhilaration tightening in my chest. This plan was insanity, a reckless gamble with my life on the line. But it was also my only chance, my one shot at escaping this cursed place and seeing daylight again. Sitting cross-legged on the cold stone floor, I spread out the crystals, rings, and tools from my ring in front of me, arranging them with meticulous care born from equal parts exhaustion and focus. The flickering torchlight cast shadows across the makeshift workspace, the faint hum of energy from the crystals buzzing at the edge of my senses. I took a deep breath and set to work. The first bomb was the slowest, every movement careful, and deliberate. I started by embedding a ring into the surface of the crystal, wedging it in deep enough to stay secure while leaving room for the enchantments to interact. With my knife, I scraped along the edges of the ring¡¯s engraving, tampering with its stability, and forcing the dormant energy to strain against its constraints. The crystal pulsed faintly, a warning that I was treading on dangerous ground. My hands were steady, even as my heart pounded in my chest. One slip, one mistake, and I¡¯d end up scattered across the cave in a burst of raw energy. I smiled grimly as the first bomb came together, the crystal humming faintly as the ring¡¯s enchantments began to fracture. It wasn¡¯t pretty, but it would work. Setting it aside carefully, I moved on to the next, falling into a rhythm as I repeated the process, embedding, tampering, and stabilizing just enough to keep the crystals intact until I needed them to blow. When all 5 bombs were finished, I wrapped them tightly in scraps of cloth, creating makeshift satchels that I could carry without risking accidental detonation. Each one was a ticking time bomb, pulsing with barely contained energy, and I felt a small flicker of pride as I tucked them into my pack. One problem solved. Finally, I turned to my spear. The weapon was reliable, and sturdy, a trusted tool that had seen me through more battles than I could count. But for this plan, it needed an upgrade. Pulling out a length of durable rope, I attached it securely to the base of the spear, tying it off with several tight knots. The rope would let me retrieve the spear after throwing it, saving precious seconds in the chaos to come. Testing the weight, I gave the rope a firm tug, nodding in satisfaction as the spear held steady in my grip. As I packed everything back into my ring, I felt a strange calm settle over me. The bombs, the repaired armor, the modified spear¡ªthey were all pieces of a puzzle, tools for a mission that would either end in my freedom or my death. The odds were stacked against me, the risks overwhelming, but I was as prepared as I could be. This is it, I thought, rising to my feet and rolling my shoulders to shake off the tension. No turning back now.
Chapter 040 - Mission impossible
¡°Phew. Let¡¯s do this.¡± The words came out quieter than I¡¯d intended, barely more than a whisper. My voice didn¡¯t carry, swallowed up by the cavern¡¯s oppressive stillness. Good. The last thing I needed was for one of those creatures to hear me psyching myself up like some rookie idiot about to charge into certain death. I crouched down, pulling my stuff closer as I went through my gear one last time. Bombs¡ªcheck. I ran my hand over the satchels tucked neatly into the pack, feeling the faint hum of energy through the reinforced cloth. The crystals inside were stable¡ªwell, stable enough and I prayed they wouldn''t betray me when I needed them most. Next came my weapons. My sword was sharp, its edge gleaming faintly even in the dim light. My spear, now fitted with its improvised retrieval rope, lay beside it, its weight reassuringly familiar in my hand as I gave the rope a final tug to ensure the knots held firm. My shield sat strapped to my arm, its surface worn but dependable, the faint lines of its enchantments pulsing faintly with Exira¡¯s energy. Good. That¡¯s everything. No excuses now, Lexi. I stood, adjusting my armor as I shifted my weight from foot to foot. The Notics set clung to me like a second skin. Exira coursed through it in steady waves, activating the enchantments woven into the material, drawing the shadows around me closer, merging me into the darkness. As long as I don¡¯t do something stupid, like trip over a rock or sneeze in front of an elite, I should be fine. Probably. I moved to the edge of the small alcove I¡¯d been in, peering down into the cavern below. The sea of monsters stretched out before me, a chaotic, restless mass of claws, teeth, and coiled muscle. But now, after nearly nine hours of watching, waiting, I could see the cracks in their defenses, the patterns in their movements. Most of the lesser creatures had settled into a state of uneasy rest, their massive bodies sprawled across the stone floor in disorganized clusters. Some twitched occasionally, letting out low growls as they dreamt¡ªor whatever passed for dreams in these abominations. Others remained eerily still, their sides rising and falling in slow, steady breaths. The elites were more alert, pacing in restless circles near the pillar. I¡¯d counted them earlier¡ªsix in total, each one radiating an oppressive aura that made the air feel heavy, suffocating. They moved with purpose, their sharp, predatory eyes scanning their surroundings even as their movements grew sluggish, tired. The Overlord, on the other hand, hadn¡¯t budged an inch. It remained coiled around the pillar, its massive form radiating power, its eyes closed as if in a state of deep, meditative stillness. But I wasn¡¯t fooled. That thing wasn¡¯t asleep¡ªit was waiting and quite possibly near evolution. ¡°Yeah, no pressure,¡± I muttered, forcing a wry grin that I didn¡¯t feel. My fingers brushed against the hilt of my sword as I glanced at the map pinned to the wall behind me, the rough lines and crude marks serving as a reminder of just how insane this plan was. This is your moment, Lexi. Your one-shot escape attempt. No do-overs. No retries. No second chances. I clenched my fists, feeling the gauntlets of my armor tighten slightly around my fingers. For a fleeting moment, my mind drifted to my family¡ªhalf-formed memories of a distant, familiar warmth that felt just out of reach. I didn¡¯t know where they were or what kind of mess I¡¯d stumbled into, but I knew one thing for certain: if I could just reach them, they¡¯d fix this. My mom would fix this. She always did. I shook my head, snapping myself out of it. Focus. This wasn¡¯t the time for wishful thinking. I had a job to do. ¡°Alright, Lexi,¡± I said under my breath, rolling my shoulders as I tried to work the tension out of them. I let out a faint chuckle despite myself, the absurdity of the thought cutting through the weight pressing on my chest. I crouched lower, taking a slow, deep breath as I drove Exira deeper into my armor, letting its energy flow through me, sharpening my senses, heightening every fiber of my being. The shadows around me seemed to shift, pulling closer, the darkness wrapping itself around my frame like a protective cloak. My heart rate slowed, my breathing evening out as I let the power settle into place, a steady hum in the back of my mind. This was it. The monsters below were at their most vulnerable¡ªresting, recuperating, oblivious to the chaos I was about to unleash. I couldn¡¯t afford to waste this opportunity. One final breath, deep and steady, and I leapt forward. The ledge gave way beneath my boots as I jumped down, my body merging with the shadows as I landed silently on the cavern floor. The cold stone felt solid beneath my feet, the air thick with the acrid scent of monsters, blood, and decay. My pulse quickened, but I pushed the fear down, focusing on the task ahead. Stay low. Stay quiet. Don¡¯t get noticed. Thud. I landed softly, the soles of my boots touching the stone floor with a muted sound that barely stirred the air. For a fleeting second, I stayed perfectly still, my knees bent, one hand brushing the ground as I steadied myself. My heart pounded in my ears, but my breath was steady, controlled, as though my body hadn¡¯t yet realized the madness of what I was about to do. There was no turning back now. The air was thick, heavy with the stench of sweat, blood. My eyes adjusted quickly to the dim light, the faint, unnatural glow of the pillar illuminating the massive cavern ahead. The monsters were still there, scattered across the space like living, breathing obstacles, each one a potential death sentence. I could feel Exira coursing through me, responding to the resolve I forced myself to hold onto like a lifeline. It grew sharper, denser, the energy refining itself as I channeled it inward, drawing it up to Level 1 with an almost instinctive precision. The familiar hum settled over me, strengthening my senses, enhancing my body¡¯s natural capabilities. My breathing deepened, each inhale filling me with a controlled power that sharpened my mind and quieted the noise in my thoughts.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Fuuu. I exhaled slowly, letting the tension bleed from my shoulders as my focus narrowed to a razor¡¯s edge. With Exira boosting my cognitive functions, my thoughts felt clearer, faster, as if the clutter of fear and doubt had been wiped clean. The world around me dulled, the colors fading to muted tones of black and gray as my mind shifted into a state of heightened concentration. The only thing that mattered now was the goal ahead. ¡°Everything from here on will be over in a few breaths,¡± I murmured under my breath, barely more than a whisper. My voice sounded foreign in the cavern¡¯s eerie silence, swallowed up before it could even reach my ears. This is it, Lexi. No distractions, no second-guessing. Just move. Fuuu¡­. First breath. The world blurred as I surged forward, Exira thrumming through my body, amplifying every muscle, every fiber of my being. My legs pumped with everything I had, the floor beneath me a fleeting blur of gray stone as I sprinted headlong toward the pillar. The layer of sleeping lesser monsters blurred past me, their lumbering forms fading into the periphery as I closed the distance to the elites. No alarms yet. No mistakes yet. Keep moving. huuu¡­ Second breath. Grreeuk... The first elite moved before I even saw it, its clawed arm cutting through the air with a sharp whistle, the attack aimed straight for my head. Instinct kicked in, Exira surging reflexively as I tilted to the side, the claws passing so close that I could feel the rush of air across my face. Swish. Not today My sword flared to life, the crackle of Exira wrapping around it as I struck with a quick burst of peak Level 1 strength attack. The ugly lizard elite faltered, its body stiffening, its snarl freezing in its throat. That hesitation was all I needed. My blade punctured its neck with a sickening crunch, piercing scales and muscle as blood sprayed across the stone floor. The monster collapsed with a guttural sound, but I didn¡¯t stop to watch it fall. Another quick burst of Exira shot through my body, propelling me forward as I broke past its crumpling form. My breaths came sharp and fast, each one fueling the burning fire in my legs as I drove onward toward the pillar. Fuuu¡­ Third breath. A chorus of snarls erupted behind me, guttural and furious, as the commotion drew the attention of the other elites nearby. They rose in unison, their eyes locking onto me, their movements predatory and swift. I didn¡¯t need to look back to know they were coming. I could hear the scrape of claws against stone, the thundering impacts of their heavy strides as they closed the distance, and the low, growling fervor that made my skin prickle. Gritting my teeth as I pushed Exira higher, forcing it to Level 2. The strain hit me instantly, a sharp, throbbing pressure in my temples that threatened to split my focus. My lip stung as I bit down hard, trying to ground myself, to ignore the telltale warning signs of overuse. Focus, Lexi. Don¡¯t break now. No need for irrelevant thoughts now¡­ Two elites¡ªboth hulking brutes, their forms rippling with unnatural muscle¡ªrushed me from the front, their yellow eyes gleaming with bloodlust. My gaze darted between them, my mind racing to calculate my options. Behind them, the cavern opened into the boss¡¯s layer, the imaginary line between death and worse-than-death running straight between their snarling forms. Fu huuu¡­. Fourth breath. The elites were on me, their claws raised high, their movements a blur of raw, physical power. But I waited, forcing myself to hold still, to keep moving forward at a controlled pace. My muscles screamed for action, but I forced them to stay steady. Wait for it¡­ wait for it. The first was inches away, its claws raised for a downward slash that would have gutted me where I stood. At the last possible moment, I struck. A burst of Exira surged through me, snapping into both elites at once, freezing them mid-lunge. Their bodies went stiff, their momentum carrying them forward like broken puppets as they slammed into the ground in front of me with a bone-shaking crash. ¡°Thanks for clearing the way,¡± I muttered, leaping over their prone forms without missing a beat. The strain of maintaining Level 2 Exira burned like a white-hot ember in the back of my mind, my focus beginning to waver under the pressure. My calves felt like they were on fire, each step sending a fresh jolt of pain up my legs, but I couldn¡¯t slow down. More elites were closing in from either side, their snarls and howls blending into a cacophony of chaos that seemed to echo from every corner of the cavern. huuuuff¡­ Fifth breath. I ducked low, narrowly avoiding the claws of an elite that lunged for my back, its attack passing just inches above my head. Another elite dove for my legs, but I twisted mid-step, using Exira to propel myself sideways, my body barely clearing its snapping jaws as I hit the ground rolling. The impact jarred me, but I pushed through it, springing back to my feet and driving forward. And then, suddenly, I felt it¡ªa shift in the air, a weight that pressed down on me like the crushing force of a tidal wave. I stumbled, my breath catching in my throat as an overwhelming presence bore down on me, suffocating and unrelenting. Shit¡­No¡­ My head snapped up, my eyes locking onto the Overlord. It had moved. Its massive, coiled form was no longer resting against the pillar. Its head was raised now, its piercing yellow eyes fixed on me with a cold, calculated fury. The air around it seemed to hum with raw energy, the faint, rhythmic pulse of the pillar amplifying as if in response to its awakening. ¡°Great,¡± I muttered, my voice barely audible over the sound of my own heartbeat. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re awake now.¡± The Overlord¡¯s gaze was unrelenting, its massive jaws parting slightly to reveal rows of jagged teeth as it let out a low, rumbling growl that reverberated through the cavern. The sound sent a chill down my spine, my body instinctively recoiling as every instinct screamed at me to run. But I couldn¡¯t stop now. Not when I was this close. Clenching my fists, I forced myself to keep moving, my eyes fixed on the pillar ahead. The elites were closing in, and the Overlord¡¯s gaze burned into the back of my mind, but none of it mattered. The only thing that mattered now was reaching the pillar. Five breaths down, I thought, the words a grim reminder of how little time I had left. No stopping now. No turning back. With every ounce of strength I had left, I pushed forward, the burning fire in my legs forgotten as the towering presence of the pillar loomed closer, its pulsing light reflecting in my wide, determined eyes.
Chapter 041 - Mission impossible: The final reckoning
Fuuu¡­Sixth breath. As I crossed into the boss layer, the air itself seemed to change, growing heavy and oppressive, as though I¡¯d stepped into a storm about to break. My lungs strained against the sudden pressure, each breath feeling thick, weighted, as I fought to stay steady. My step faltered for a split second, my legs nearly giving out beneath me, but I caught myself, pushing forward before I could lose my momentum. Behind me, the snarls and hisses of the pursuing elites came to an abrupt halt. I glanced back out of instinct and saw them skidding to a stop at the edge of the boss layer, their claws scraping against the stone floor as they recoiled, their bodies tense with hesitation. They snarled low, their eyes fixed on me with hatred, but none dared follow. They won¡¯t cross. Their fear was palpable, their aggression swallowed up by the suffocating aura that blanketed this space. Even in their mindless ferocity, they weren¡¯t foolish enough to enter the Overlord¡¯s domain. Lucky me. I didn¡¯t stop moving, though my pace slowed as I turned my focus back to the behemoth ahead. The Overlord lifted its massive head as I approached, its glowing green eyes locking onto me with an intensity that threatened to freeze me in place. Those eyes weren¡¯t just beastly¡ªthey were calculating, intelligent, filled with an awareness that sent a shiver through my already tense frame. For most, that gaze would have been enough to inspire a primal, bone-deep terror¡ªthe kind of fear that made every instinct scream to run. I was really thankful for my Exira, with extreme concentration my senses heightened and I think Mom called it entering the zone. All of my thoughts were suppressed in a way that I didn¡¯t panic, or gave too much into my thoughts. Only my task mattered and nothing else. My feet moved without hesitation, each step bringing me closer to the towering beast. As I neared, I caught the faintest flicker of surprise in its gaze, a subtle shift that seemed to say, Fuuu¡­. Seventh breath. Groaarrrrrrrrrrrr The Overlord roared, the sound a bone-shaking, earth-rending bellow that echoed through the cavern like thunder. The sheer force of it vibrated in my chest, rattling my ribs and threatening to throw me off balance. The entire cave system seemed to tremble in response, loose stones clattering from the walls as dust rained down in thin streams. With an earth-shaking stomp, the Overlord began to move, its massive frame uncoiling from the pillar like a serpent waking from slumber. Another roar ripped through the cavern, louder, more feral, as the beast reared up, its clawed limbs stretching out like the harbinger of death itself. I was twenty meters away now, close enough to feel the ground tremble beneath each of its steps. The Overlord¡¯s claws rose high into the air, the jagged tips glinting in the dim light of the pulsating pillar. And then, with a roar that shook the very foundation of the cavern, it brought them crashing down. Fuuu¡­ Eighth breath. I leapt forward with every ounce of strength Exira could muster, the force propelling me just far enough to avoid the crushing impact. The Overlord¡¯s claws slammed into the ground behind me with a deafening boom, the force sending a shockwave rippling outward. Pieces of the stone floor shattered under the weight, chunks of rock flying into the air like shrapnel. I didn¡¯t look back. I couldn¡¯t. To glance at the beast now, to give it even a second of my attention, might have betrayed my true intentions. I had to stay focused, to act like I was a fool rushing toward the Overlord in some misguided attempt to kill it. The truth was, killing this thing wasn¡¯t even on the table. Not now. Not like this. I gritted my teeth, gripping my spear tightly as I poured a surge of peak Level 2 Exira into it. The weapon hummed to life, crackling with a brilliant purple energy that danced along its surface like lightning. Every muscle in my arm tensed as I reared back, the spear feeling heavier than ever under the weight of the power I was channeling into it. ¡°Take this,¡± I growled, launching the spear with every ounce of force I could muster. The weapon cut through the air with a sharp swish, the crackling energy leaving faint streaks of violet light in its wake as it hurtled toward the Overlord¡¯s neck. Fuuuu¡­. Ninth breath. Squelch. The spear struck true, piercing deep into the Overlord¡¯s thick, scaly neck. Blackened blood spewed from the wound, hissing and sizzling as it splattered across the stone floor, eating through it like acid. The Overlord reared back, a deafening, guttural roar ripping from its throat as it writhed in pain. The sound was almost unbearable, a raw, primal scream that reverberated through the cavern like an explosion. The massive beast thrashed violently, its movements shaking the ground as it swung its massive head, trying to dislodge the spear. The wound wasn¡¯t fatal¡ªI hadn¡¯t expected it to be. Killing this thing outright was impossible, not in my current state. But that wasn¡¯t the point. The spear was never meant to kill. It was meant to distract, to buy me the precious seconds I needed. I grabbed the rope attached to the spear, feeling it go taut as the Overlord¡¯s massive form twisted and thrashed. My hands gripped it tightly, the rough fibers digging into my palms as I braced myself for the pull. ¡°Hold on,¡± I muttered to myself, gritting my teeth as I steadied my footing. ¡°Here we go.¡± With a quick, forceful tug, I launched myself upward, using the rope to scale the beast¡¯s towering frame. The Overlord¡¯s thrashing made it difficult to keep my balance, the sheer force of its movements threatening to throw me off at any moment. My boots scraped against its scales as I climbed higher, the jagged ridges along its spine providing just enough grip to keep me steady. The heat radiating from its body was oppressive, each breath bringing in the acrid scent of its blood, its rage, its sheer monstrous presence.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°Almost there,¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of the beast¡¯s roaring. The rope burned against my hands as I pulled myself higher, inching closer to my target. This was it¡ªthe make-or-break moment. The Overlord was wounded, distracted, but it wouldn¡¯t stay that way for long. If I hesitated, if I faltered, this entire plan would come crashing down around me. Fuuuu¡­. Tenth Breath. The Overlord shifted beneath me, its massive frame twisting and bucking like a wild animal finally realizing the danger clinging to its back. My grip tightened, fingers digging into the rough, scaly ridges along its spine as it thrashed violently, trying to throw me off. Each movement sent shockwaves through my body, my muscles screaming with the effort of holding on. ¡°Stay still, you bastard,¡± I hissed through clenched teeth, fumbling for the first bomb in my pack. The vibrations beneath me were relentless, each jolt threatening to knock the device from my hands as I scrambled to secure it. Drawing my sword, I slashed at the beast¡¯s hide, cutting a fresh wound in the already mangled flesh. Black blood oozed out, sizzling as it met the air, the acrid smell burning my nostrils. Without hesitation, I shoved the bomb into the wound, pressing it deep before releasing the trigger and leaping back. Boom! The explosion rocked the Overlord, sending a spray of blood and flesh into the air as a chunk of its back was ripped apart. I landed awkwardly on the ground, rolling to absorb the impact, my ears ringing from the blast. The beast let out a deafening roar, its body spasming violently as it twitched and writhed in pain. But the moment of triumph was short-lived. My eyes widened as I saw the gaping wound begin to close, the flesh knitting itself back together with terrifying speed. Bones erupted from the surface, sharp and jagged, forming grotesque spines that jutted out like twisted weapons. The mass around the wound began to swell, growing and shifting as the Overlord¡¯s body warped into something even more monstrous. Fuuuu¡­Eleventh Breath. Ha¡­haaaa what the fuck!... The Overlord¡¯s transformation was horrifying to watch. Its once recognizable form now looked like a grotesque nightmare, a shifting wall of flesh and bone that pulsed with chaotic energy. Its green eyes, glowing brighter than ever, locked onto me with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine. It roared again, the sound reverberating through the cavern like an earthquake, and then it charged. Each step was an earth-shaking stomp, the ground beneath me trembling as it closed the distance. I took a deep breath, steeling myself as I felt the strain of Exira building in my mind. Pushing it to its limits, I forced my power to Level 3, my body screaming in protest as the energy surged through me. My vision blurred, the edges of my consciousness fraying as blood trickled from my nose, but I held on. ¡°Just a little more,¡± I whispered, my voice hoarse. ¡°Come on, Lexi. Don¡¯t give up now.¡± As the Overlord reached within twenty meters of me, I pushed harder, forcing Exira past its breaking point. Fuuuuu... Twelfth Breath. Shua. The air shifted, a visible pressure descending over the cavern like a suffocating blanket. Everything stopped. The monsters froze in place, their snarls and growls silenced mid-breath. Even the Overlord¡¯s massive form came to an abrupt halt, its massive claws inches from the ground as its entire body stiffened. The cavern was deathly silent, the oppressive weight of Exira at its peak Level 3¡ªno, beyond Level 3¡ªholding everything in a suspended, unnatural stillness. I staggered, my legs trembling under the strain, my vision swimming as blood trickled from my ears and nose. My gaze locked onto the Overlord¡¯s eyes, still burning with rage and hatred, the raw emotion bubbling just beneath the surface of its frozen frame. ¡°Not much time,¡± I muttered, turning toward the pillar. Every step felt like a monumental effort, my muscles screaming in protest as I moved. With the last of my strength, I reached into my pack and hurled all the remaining bombs toward the pillar. Fuuuu. Thirteenth Breath. The bombs sailed through the air, their paths unerringly true as they neared the pulsating pillar. The moment they came close, the pillar seemed to draw them in, sucking the devices into its core like a vortex. I felt the energy shift instantly, the steady hum of the pillar turning erratic, chaotic. The cavern trembled as the energy within it began to destabilize, a low, resonating pulse building into a deafening crescendo. ¡°Time to go,¡± I growled, stumbling as I forced my legs to move. My body felt like it was on fire, every nerve screaming as Exira drained the last of my reserves. Blood dripped from my eyes now, staining my vision red, but I kept moving, forcing one foot in front of the other. Behind me, the Overlord let out a guttural roar, breaking free from the frozen stillness. My gaze flicked back for a split second, just long enough to see the monstrous creature lunge for the pillar, its massive frame slamming into the chaotic energy source. It clung to the pillar like a parasite, its body pulsing and writhing as it absorbed the unstable energy. But it was too much. The energy was too wild, too chaotic, and the Overlord¡¯s body began to twist and mutate further, flesh and bone spiraling outward into a grotesque, ever-growing mass. The sight was enough to turn my stomach, but I didn¡¯t have the luxury of stopping. Fuuuu¡­ Fourteenth Breath. I staggered forward, barely able to keep my balance as the oppressive energy in the cavern grew heavier, pressing down on me like a physical weight. The air was thick with power, each breath feeling like I was inhaling molten lead. My Exira reserves were nearly depleted, the once steady hum now a faint whisper as I struggled to even draw Level 1. Crawling now, I dragged myself toward the end of the cave, the faint glimmer of my escape just barely visible in the distance. My limbs felt like lead, my head pounding with every heartbeat, but I refused to stop. From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the Overlord¡ªor what was left of it. Its body had become unrecognizable, a seething wall of flesh and bone that pulsed and expanded uncontrollably. The sight sent a shiver down my spine, but I didn¡¯t dare slow down. fuuu¡­huuu¡­huuuff. Fifteenth Breath. Finally, I reached the end of the cavern, my body collapsing against the stone as I struggled to draw even the shallowest breath. The energy in the air was unbearable now, a chaotic maelstrom that set every nerve in my body on edge. I could feel it¡ªthe explosion was coming, the energy building to a breaking point that would consume everything in its path. My skin crawled with the sheer magnitude of it, every instinct screaming at me to run, to shield myself, to survive. With trembling hands, I activated my shield, pouring the last dregs of Exira into it. My vision was almost gone, my eyelids heavy as my body fought to stay conscious. Pulling out the final bomb, I threw it toward the wall, the device detonating on impact and blasting a hole through the stone. The roar of water filled my ears as a torrent rushed in, the force slamming into me as the pillar behind me exploded with a deafening boom. I turned instinctively, raising my shield to face the blast, the shockwave slamming into me with enough force to knock the air from my lungs. I didn¡¯t see it coming. I didn¡¯t hear it. The world was a blur of chaos, my vision narrowing to nothing but darkness and pain. The force hit me like a hammer from the gods, a crushing, all-consuming power that slammed into my shield with an impact so violent it felt like the air itself had turned solid. My arm snapped instantly, the bones shattering under the sheer weight of the blast, the pain so sharp and immediate that it stole the breath from my lungs. For a fleeting moment, I thought the shield might hold, that the last remnants of Exira I¡¯d poured into it would be enough to save me. But then the heat came. Searing, unbearable, it tore through the barrier like paper, and I felt the water behind me evaporate. The shockwave tore me from the ground, my body twisting and spinning in the air like a broken marionette, the laws of physics themselves seeming to shatter around me. Every nerve in my body screamed as I was flung through the blasted opening in the cave wall, my limbs flailing uselessly as the pressure of the blast threw me out into the rushing water beyond. The world around me faded into a blur of noise and sensation¡ªroaring water, a distant ringing in my ears, the taste of blood in my mouth, the cold rush of water slamming into my broken body. And then, mercifully, there was nothing. Darkness swept over me like a shroud, pulling me under as the pain, the chaos, and the light of the cavern disappeared into oblivion. And for the first time in what felt like forever, there was silence.
INTERLUDE II: Lore Journal II

Commander Jorin Raythe¡¯s Journal, Last Earth Defence Force

One of last known commander who fought in dark age
Salvaged Journal Entry #1: Day 1,000 of the Cataclysm If someone had told me years ago that I¡¯d be penning this account in the ruins of what once was our world, I would have laughed them off. After all, we were soldiers, trained to defend against the worst of humanity. Never did it cross my mind that we¡¯d be fighting against the planet itself and losing. My name is Commander Jorin Raythe, and I write this not for me, but for the next poor soul who stumbles upon these journals. Perhaps they¡¯ll learn something from our mistakes. Or maybe they¡¯ll just shake their head and wonder how we ever let it get this bad. The rumors started as whispers of a giant rising from the deep waters near Australia. A serpent, they said, long and scaled like something out of a nightmare. The coastal towns sent their first distress calls days before we had a full understanding of what was happening. Back then, we thought it was panic, an overreaction from an already crumbling society. But when the calls stopped, we knew something had gone terribly wrong. Then the Serpent came ashore. We weren¡¯t prepared. Not for the sight, not for the destruction. It towered over skyscrapers, its black scales shimmering in the sunlight, devouring entire cities in a matter of hours. Our forces scrambled to intercept, but what were bullets and tanks to something that could crush buildings with a flick of its tail? Salvaged Journal Entry #13 The Fall of Brisbane There were survivors, of course, though their stories were as harrowing as they were hard to believe. One survivor, an old fisherman from Brisbane, recounted his ordeal to me. ¡°We saw it from the docks,¡± he said. ¡°This thing... it rose from the ocean like it owned the place. The waves alone were enough to sink half the harbor. Then it started... feeding. I saw it swallow entire ships whole. I didn¡¯t even hear the screams; they just vanished. The water, the sea, it... it turned red.¡± Brisbane was the first to fall. The Serpent¡¯s massive form was unstoppable, cutting through buildings and infrastructure as if they were made of paper. By the time we arrived, there was little left to save. The few who had escaped told tales of chaos and despair. ¡°I ran for my life,¡± a young woman named Clara told me, tears streaming down her face. ¡°I watched my friends get pulled under the waves. They didn¡¯t even have time to scream.¡± As night fell, the city became a tomb, filled with the echoes of a once-thriving community, now silenced. All that remained were the haunting memories of laughter and life, overshadowed by the horror of the Serpent¡¯s feast. Salvaged Journal Entry #23 The Descent on Sydney Then came Sydney. With Brisbane¡¯s fall, we hoped to regroup and strengthen our defenses. But we underestimated the Serpent¡¯s hunger. The once-bustling harbor transformed into a feeding ground, the iconic Sydney Opera House a mere snack in the creature''s wake. Survivors spoke of panic and chaos, of the streets filled with water and despair. ¡°I was in the opera house,¡± an old musician named Robert recounted, his voice trembling. ¡°We were rehearsing when the screams began. We thought it was a prank at first, but then the water surged in, and we realized it was real. I barely made it out.¡± His eyes darted around as if expecting the Serpent to emerge from the shadows. ¡°It was like the world had gone mad. We were no longer safe anywhere.¡± With each city that fell, our resources dwindled. As the Last Earth Defence Force, we had always relied on our training and weapons. But against a creature of such scale and power, we found ourselves outmatched. Salvaged Journal Entry #3: Day 1,015 of the Cataclysm We lost over a hundred thousand men and women trying to halt the Serpent¡¯s rampage, and that was just the beginning. While we were still licking our wounds from the devastation in Australia, the next calamity reared its ugly head in France. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. They called it the Kraken, not as monstrous as the serpent or even the undead filth that I have seen reported from Asia. It was for the first time a normal monstrosity. The Krakens didn¡¯t come from the sea like the Serpent but burst from rifts that opened deep in the ground. Paris was the first to fall. The city of lights turned dark within hours. A soldier who survived the Paris attack managed to make it back to base, half-crazed with fear. His account still haunts me. ¡°The ground- it opened up. We thought it was an earthquake, but then something - something with tentacles- came out. It was like the earth gave birth to this... this monstrosity. The tentacles, they... they just wrapped around everything. It didn¡¯t matter if it was buildings, people, or cars - everything got crushed. I saw it pull people underground, and we could hear them screaming, screaming for hours after the city was gone.¡± The Kraken¡¯s attack wasn¡¯t just about destruction; it was like it was reclaiming the land. Where it slithered, the earth shifted, mutated, reshaping itself like the planet was welcoming the creature back into its fold. Our cities became unrecognizable landscapes - jagged, broken, and drowned beneath the sea. I do not know who named this horror Kraken. Salvaged Journal Entry #31 The Fall of Madrid As we struggled to comprehend the horror of the Kraken, news arrived of another calamity. Madrid had fallen. A survivor, a young architect named Elena, shared her tale with me, her eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°I was at home when it happened,¡± she said, shaking. ¡°The ground began to rumble, and I thought it was just a tremor. But then, the streets... they split open. The Kraken emerged, tentacles flailing, and everything turned to chaos. I grabbed my daughter and ran, but... but I lost her in the crowd. I can¡¯t go back. I can¡¯t face the ruins of what was once my home.¡± Her words struck me like a blow to the gut. Cities we had once sworn to protect were now graveyards, filled with the remnants of our failures. Salvaged Journal Entry #54 The Last Stand in Berlin The military decided to make a stand in Berlin, hoping that the remnants of our forces could gather for one final assault against the Kraken. I had fought in countless battles, but nothing prepared me for the sight of the city as it fell. We fortified ourselves in the Reichstag, but the Kraken was relentless. I can still hear the screams of my comrades as they fall, one by one. It was chaos. I had a soldier beside me, a brave young man named David, who yelled, ¡°Commander! We can¡¯t hold out much longer!¡± But it was too late. The Kraken was upon us. In the end, we fought hard, but it didn¡¯t matter. The creature swept through the city, but we were able to kill it, terrible losses we have sustained. But we killed a calamity, maybe we can take back earth. Salvaged Journal Entry #7 Day 1,030 of the Cataclysm If the Serpent and the Kraken weren¡¯t enough, the mutations spread across the globe. Animals, once familiar, became predators, unlike anything we¡¯d ever seen. Trees moved, forests hunted. I¡¯ve heard of entire platoons vanishing in the Black Forest of Germany, snatched up by sentient vines and dragged into the shadows. One such report came from a survivor in the Amazon, where the rainforest had come alive literally. ¡°The trees - they walked. I swear to you, Commander, they walked. We set up camp one night, thinking we were safe, and the next morning, half our squad was gone. The trees had moved. One minute, we were surrounded by a familiar jungle, the next... the forest itself had rearranged. It was like the Earth was playing tricks on us.¡± Salvaged Journal Entry #58 The Rise of the Leviathan While we were still reeling from the Kraken¡¯s devastation, whispers spread of a new calamity, a creature we¡¯ve started calling the Leviathan. Unlike the others, it was a beast born of the ocean depths, a creature more massive than the Serpent. It killed and devoured the serpent. The whole ocean was dyed red from the serpent¡¯s blood A naval officer, Captain Maria, reported, ¡°It was like a floating mountain, coming at us through the storm. We had deployed our fleet to the Pacific, thinking we could halt its advance. But when it breached the waves, it was like watching a natural disaster unfold. We didn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± The Leviathan¡¯s attacks were swift and brutal, decimating our naval forces before turning its attention to the coastal cities. With each loss, our morale diminished. We had entered a state of despair, our numbers dwindling. Salvaged Journal Entry #9 Day 1,060 of the Cataclysm As I write this, I wonder if there¡¯s any point in continuing. The Last Earth Defence Force is no more. What remains of us is scattered across the globe, fighting and losing battles against enemies that shouldn¡¯t exist. My comrades are dead. The world I once knew is gone. And yet, I¡¯m still here, writing this damn journal, hoping that maybe, just maybe, someone will read it and understand. Understand what, though? That we were outmatched? That humanity¡¯s arrogance led us to this? Or that the planet, in its own way, is reclaiming what was always rightfully hers? I¡¯ve heard rumors of more survivors, of small pockets of resistance still holding out in remote locations. But I wonder how long they can survive against the onslaught of the calamities. Each day, I hear fewer voices, see fewer faces, and feel more lost. This is my final entry. If you find these journals, know this: The calamities were more than just beasts. They were nature¡¯s response to our excesses, a reckoning we could never have anticipated. If there¡¯s a chance for humanity to rise again, it will be through humility, unity, and an understanding that we are but a small part of this world. I leave this record behind, hoping it serves as a warning for future generations. We may have failed, but they must not.
Chapter 042 - what the heck…
Pain. That was the first thing I felt, a raw, searing agony that coursed through every inch of my body, dragging me back into consciousness like claws tearing through my mind. My chest heaved, the act of breathing itself a battle as I sucked in a ragged gasp, the taste of blood and grit thick on my tongue. I blinked slowly, my vision swimming, blurring between patches of light and shadow. The world around me was muted, as though the cacophony of the explosion had stolen not just my strength, but the very sound of existence itself. A distant roaring filled my ears, the sound of rushing water mingling with faint, broken thoughts clawing their way to the surface. What happened? Where¡­ am I? A ringing pain¡­. A surge of awareness shot through me, and with it, a deeper, more visceral understanding of my condition. My left arm was¡­ gone. Completely. The absence was immediate and overwhelming, a phantom ache radiating from a shoulder that no longer had anything to attach to. I turned my head weakly, my gaze dropping to where my arm should have been, and saw nothing but torn fabric soaked in crimson, the blood barely clotting over jagged, exposed bone. The nausea hit me like a wave, but I couldn¡¯t give in. Not now. ¡°Fuck¡­¡± The word slipped out in a whisper, hoarse and broken as my throat scraped like sandpaper. My legs were bent at unnatural angles, twisted grotesquely beneath me, the sharp edges of fractured bone barely hidden beneath my armor. With every breath, a stabbing pain lanced through my stomach, the source of which became horrifyingly clear as I turned my head just enough to see the massive shard of rock jutting out of my abdomen, slick with blood. My body felt like a shattered ruin, my thoughts barely clinging to coherence as I lay half-buried in the rocky shore, the cold water lapping weakly at my legs. But amidst the haze of pain and the wreckage of my mind, something broke through¡ªa light. A faint, glowing warmth drew my attention, cutting through the fog like a beacon. It pulsed softly, emanating from somewhere near the mutilated corpse of the Overlord, its massive, broken frame sprawled just a few feet away from where I lay. Even in death, it was monstrous, its flesh a grotesque tapestry of bones, blood, and sinew. But it wasn¡¯t the body that called to me. It was the light, glowing faintly from its chest, like a heart still beating with power. The Essence¡­The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. El¡¯s words came back to me in fractured pieces, snippets of a conversation that now felt like a lifetime ago. He¡¯d said something about essences, about the cores of monsters, about how killing a Lord-tier creature¡ªor anything above¡ªwould yield a prize. And now, there it was, right in front of me. My breath hitched as I tried to move, the pain exploding through my body like shards of glass cutting through my nerves. My first attempt to crawl was laughable; my body refused to cooperate, my legs dead weight, my one remaining arm trembling violently as I tried to drag myself forward. ¡°Move,¡± I whispered to myself, the word barely audible over the pounding in my skull. The light pulsed again, brighter this time, almost insistent. The closer I got, the more I felt the pull, an unexplainable beckoning that seemed to bypass my broken body and speak directly to whatever willpower I had left. ¡°It¡¯s right there,¡± I muttered through gritted teeth, biting down against a scream as I dragged myself another inch closer. My stomach burned, the shard of rock tearing deeper with every movement, and I could feel my vision narrowing, the edges darkening with each agonizing second. Just a little more. The glowing light was within reach now, barely a hand¡¯s width away, pulsing steadily, its warmth washing over me like the faint embers of a dying fire. With what little strength I had left, I reached out, my fingers brushing against the searing heat of the Essence as I pulled it free from the monstrous remains. As soon as I touched it, the world around me seemed to shift. A surge of power slammed into me, raw and unfiltered, coursing through my broken frame like a tidal wave. It wasn¡¯t gentle, wasn¡¯t soothing¡ªit was violent, a force that ripped through my body and mind, tearing apart everything in its path as it remade me from the inside out. I screamed¡ªloud, raw, and guttural¡ªas the pain overwhelmed me, my body seizing as the Essence fused itself into me. The world spun, the light consuming everything in my vision until there was nothing but a blinding white void. And then, nothing. When I woke again, the pain was duller, but still present, a constant thrum in the back of my mind. My eyelids felt heavy as I slowly opened them, the world around me blurring into focus. I could still hear the water, still feel the cold wetness against my skin, but something was¡­ different. I shifted weakly, my body responding with a stiffness that was almost foreign. My legs no longer throbbed with the unbearable agony of shattered bones. My stomach, which I was certain had been ripped apart, felt intact, the sharp stabbing pain replaced by an odd, faint soreness. It wasn¡¯t until I moved my left hand to my forehead, wiping away the sweat, that I froze entirely. Left hand. My breath caught as I sat up abruptly, ignoring the wave of dizziness that nearly toppled me back over. I raised my arm, turning it over in the fading light of the setting sun, my heart pounding in disbelief. It was there¡ªmy left arm, whole and intact, though it didn¡¯t look like it used to. The skin was pale, almost unnaturally pink, and when I touched it with my right hand, it felt strange, overly sensitive, as though it didn¡¯t entirely belong to me. ¡°This¡­ can¡¯t be real,¡± I murmured, my voice shaking. I flexed my fingers experimentally, watching as they moved with a stiffness that felt more mechanical than natural. My legs, too, were mended. The sharp angles and grotesque breaks were gone, replaced by a dull ache and the faint feeling of something¡­ foreign beneath the surface. My stomach was untouched, the wound where the shard of rock had impaled me completely healed, the skin smooth and unscarred. The realization hit me like a hammer: The Essence. I ran a hand through my hair, my mind racing as I tried to piece it all together. El had been right¡ªthese ¡°Essences¡± were more than just sources of energy. They were life itself, capable of mending even the most fatal wounds, of reshaping a broken body into something new. ¡°Maybe¡­ absorbing these things heals you,¡± still I barely had the strength to even move... as darkness claimed me once again
Chapter 043 - It must be a dungeon…
The night sky stretched endlessly above me, a canvas of stars brighter and sharper than I¡¯d ever seen before. My breathing slowed as I stared upward, the sheer vastness of it swallowing me whole. For a moment, it was almost beautiful¡ªa fleeting glimpse of peace in the chaos of my thoughts. Man, the sky is soo beautiful¡­oh how I missed the stars¡­what the fuck.. But then I saw them. Two smaller moons hung in the sky, their pale silver light casting faint shadows over the jagged peaks of the distant mountains. They were close, much closer than they should have been, their surfaces unnervingly familiar yet undeniably alien. And then there was the other moon. Larger, blood-red, and ominously still, it loomed over the horizon like a silent predator, its crimson glow seeping into the night like spilled ink. It wasn¡¯t just massive¡ªit was oppressive, a weight in the sky that seemed to press down on everything below. I blinked, rubbing my eyes as if the act might wipe the image away. But the moons didn¡¯t move, didn¡¯t change. ¡°What the hell¡­¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible, lost in the wind that carried the faint scent of blood and decay from the shore behind me. Spinning on unsteady legs, I tried to take in the rest of the sky, searching for something familiar, anything that might ground me in reality. That was when I saw it¡ªa shattered moon, its fragmented pieces scattered across the heavens, forming a jagged belt of glowing debris that encircled the planet like a scar. ¡°No,¡± I muttered, the word trembling on my lips. ¡°No, no, no, this can¡¯t¡­ this isn¡¯t real.¡± I rubbed my eyes again, harder this time, until sparks of pain danced in the corners of my vision. But when I opened them, the moons were still there, silent and unyielding, mocking me with their alien beauty. My breath hitched, panic clawing at my chest as the pieces began to click into place. The elves, the strange monsters, the Overlord, the Essence, the fucking sky¡ªnone of it made sense. None of it fit into the world I knew. This isn¡¯t Earth. The thought hit me like a hammer, sharp and unrelenting, driving straight through the fragile denial I¡¯d been clinging to. My legs buckled, and I fell to my knees, the cold ground biting into my skin as my chest heaved with uneven, ragged breaths. ¡°No. No. This has to be¡­ I just¡­ I hit my head. I¡¯m hallucinating. That¡¯s all this is. I¡¯m hallucinating.¡± My hands trembled as I reached for the heirloom pendant around my neck, the familiar weight a small anchor in the storm of my thoughts. Clutching it tightly, I closed my eyes and channeled a thread of Exira into it, ignoring the sharp spike of pain that lanced through my skull in response. ¡°Come on,¡± I whispered, my voice shaking. ¡°Work. Just¡­ work. Please.¡± Nothing. The pendant remained cold, and unresponsive, the intricate runes carved into its surface dim and lifeless. It was supposed to be a divine tier artifact, a constant lifeline no matter where I was. But now, it was just a piece of metal, as useless as the family ring had been. ¡°No, no, no,¡± I muttered, biting down hard on my lip as I fought back the rising wave of panic. The taste of iron filled my mouth, grounding me for a brief moment before the trembling in my hands grew worse. I clenched the pendant tighter, the sharp edges digging into my palm as I forced my breaths to even out. In¡­ out. In¡­ out. Don¡¯t lose it, Lexi. Don¡¯t lose it now. But the memories wouldn¡¯t stop. The fragments of my life¡ªthe whispers of familiar voices, the faint images of home, of my family¡ªswirled in my mind, a cruel reminder of what I¡¯d lost. Each one was a piece of a puzzle I couldn¡¯t put back together, a reminder that I didn¡¯t belong here. ¡°Fuck!¡± I screamed, the word ripping from my throat as I threw the pendant to the ground. It bounced once, landing in the dirt with a dull clink, its presence suddenly unbearable. I pressed my hands to my temples, my nails digging into my scalp as my breaths came faster, shallower, each one tinged with the sharp edge of panic. ¡°This isn¡¯t real. This can¡¯t be real,¡± I whispered, the words tumbling out like a mantra, desperate and broken.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. But no matter how many times I said it, the truth stared back at me, unyielding. The moons, the shattered fragments in the sky, the monsters, the pain in my body¡ªthey were all real. You¡¯re not on Earth anymore. The thought brought with it a crushing sense of finality, like the ground had been ripped out from under me. Everything I¡¯d known, everything I¡¯d fought for, was gone. My family, my home, my world. ¡°I don¡¯t even know where the fuck I am,¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible as my hands fell to my sides. The cold wind swept past me, tugging at my torn clothes, and for a moment, I felt impossibly small, like a speck of dust in an infinite void. ¡°Get up.¡± The words came unbidden, sharp and commanding, cutting through the haze of my panic. They didn¡¯t feel like my own, but they pulled me back nonetheless. ¡°Get up, Lexi,¡± I repeated, my voice steadier this time. ¡°You¡¯re not dead. Not yet.¡± My hands clenched into fists, the trembling in my fingers subsiding as I forced myself to my feet. The world spun for a moment, but I steadied myself, my gaze locking onto the horizon where the blood moon cast its eerie glow. ¡°I don¡¯t know where I am,¡± I muttered, my jaw tightening as the words left my mouth. ¡°But I¡¯m alive. And as long as I¡¯m alive, I¡¯ll figure this out.¡± The pendant lay in the dirt at my feet, its polished surface catching the faint light of the shattered moon. I reached down, picking it up and slipping it back around my neck. It was useless now, but it was still mine. A sudden chill radiated from my earring, sharp and unnatural, cutting through the spiraling chaos of my thoughts. It wasn¡¯t like the biting cold of water or wind¡ªit was deeper, seeping into my very core, freezing me in place as though my body had turned to ice. My erratic breathing stilled, the trembling in my hands ceased, and for a fleeting moment, everything was silent. The chill lingered for a second longer before it slowly faded, leaving a strange sense of clarity in its wake. My heart, which had been hammering against my ribs, now beat steadily, the frantic edge dulled as if someone had flipped a switch. I lowered myself to the ground, sitting cross-legged on the rocky surface as I pressed a hand to my chest, taking a deep breath. For the first time since waking up on this cursed shore, my mind felt calm, sharp even, as though the cold had swept away the haze clouding my thoughts. "This isn¡¯t Earth." The words left my mouth quietly, but saying them aloud made the thought heavier, more real. My fingers absently traced the edge of the pendant around my neck as I stared out at the strange night sky, its alien moons casting their cold light over the jagged landscape. ¡°No matter how much of my memory is missing, I know this isn¡¯t Earth,¡± I continued, my voice steady but tinged with unease. ¡°Earth doesn¡¯t have this many moons. And that blood-red one¡­ it doesn¡¯t belong anywhere.¡± A shiver ran down my spine as I glanced at the crimson orb, its ominous glow cutting through the night like a baleful eye. Something about it felt wrong on a level I couldn¡¯t fully articulate, as though its presence alone was enough to unsettle me. But even as the certainty of my situation settled over me, doubt crept in like an unwelcome guest. I frowned, rubbing at my temple as conflicting thoughts rose to the surface. ¡°Wait,¡± I muttered, narrowing my eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t have proof. Nothing against the argument. For all I know, this could still be Earth, and maybe I¡¯m just missing some very crucial memories.¡± I leaned forward slightly, resting my elbows on my knees as my mind churned through the possibilities. ¡°Some big ¡®unga bunga¡¯ spell that makes it look like I¡¯m somewhere else. Or maybe I¡¯m just losing my mind after everything that¡¯s happened.¡± I sighed heavily, rubbing at my face as the frustration built. There were too many unknowns, too many gaps in my memory and logic to form a concrete answer. Then, a thought struck me, faint but persistent, tugging at the edges of my fragmented memories. ¡°Aunt Nora¡­¡± I murmured, sitting up straighter. ¡°And Mom. They both said something once, didn¡¯t they? About high-ranked dungeons¡­¡± The memory was blurry, but the faint outline of their words surfaced like echoes in my mind. They¡¯d mentioned that high-ranked dungeons were different, that they weren¡¯t just spaces¡ªthey were small worlds in their own right. ¡°What if¡­¡± I trailed off, staring at the horizon as the thought took shape. ¡°What if I¡¯m in a dungeon?¡± It made sense, didn¡¯t it? The fragmented pieces of logic began falling into place. The strange environment, the Overlord, the Essence¡ªeverything pointed to something larger, something constructed. And then there was the runic fragment I¡¯d found earlier. ¡°All dungeons have tasks, right?¡± I muttered, gripping the pendant tightly. ¡°That¡¯s what Aunt Nora always said. The runic fragment¡­ maybe that¡¯s connected. Maybe that¡¯s this dungeon¡¯s task.¡± For a brief moment, the possibility felt like a lifeline, something tangible in a sea of uncertainty. But just as quickly, doubt reared its head again, tearing through the fragile logic I¡¯d pieced together. ¡°Hold on,¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°If this is a dungeon, then where''s its will?¡± That was the one thing I couldn¡¯t ignore¡ªthe missing piece that didn¡¯t add up. Every dungeon I¡¯d ever heard of had a will, a guiding presence that gave divers the details of the tasks they were meant to complete. Whether it was through runes, a voice, or a gut feeling, the will was always there, undeniable and clear. But here? Nothing. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard anything,¡± I muttered, my frown deepening. ¡°Not a word, not a sign. Nothing that even feels like the will of a dungeon.¡± I leaned back, resting my head against the cold, uneven ground as I stared up at the shattered moon. The debris glinted faintly in the moonlight, the jagged pieces forming a pattern that was both mesmerizing and unnerving. ¡°If it¡¯s not a dungeon, then what the hell is this place?¡± I whispered, the question hanging heavy in the still night air. There were no answers, only the steady pulse of uncertainty in my chest and the faint chill of the earring still lingering at the edge of my awareness. Whatever this place was, it wasn¡¯t kind, and it wasn¡¯t going to make understanding it easy. I closed my eyes briefly, taking slow, measured breaths as I tried to steady my racing thoughts. Focus, Lexi. One step at a time. Figure out the rules of this place first¡ªthen you can worry about the rest. The calm from the earring remained, faint but persistent, guiding me back to the present. I couldn¡¯t afford to spiral again, not now, not when I needed every ounce of clarity to survive. ¡°Alright,¡± I muttered to myself, sitting up again and brushing the dirt off my hands. ¡°First step: get more proof. If this really isn¡¯t Earth, I¡¯ll find something. Something that confirms it for sure.¡± I didn¡¯t know where that proof would come from, but I¡¯d find it. One way or another. And when I did, I¡¯d figure out what to do next. For now, I¡¯d take the faint chill in my earring as a reminder to keep moving, to keep my thoughts clear and steady. The moons might loom overhead, alien and unrelenting, but they weren¡¯t going to stop me. Not yet, anyway.
Chapter 044 - Rest is necessary
Splashing water on my face, I squinted at my reflection in the cracked, grimy mirror. What stared back at me resembled a ragged beggar more than anything else. Dark circles clung to my eyes like bruises, skin pale and sallow under the flickering light of this makeshift sanctuary. My hair, unkempt and streaked with dried blood, hung in limp strands across my forehead. I grimaced, tilting my head slightly to catch another angle. Was that dried dirt or just my face? Hard to tell anymore. "Great," I muttered under my breath, my voice hoarse from disuse. "Might as well start begging on the streets next. Could probably earn a decent living with this look." ¡°And that¡¯s if I¡¯m right and I¡¯m really in a dungeon¡± haaaaaa¡­. Shaking my head as I scooped another handful of the frigid water, splashing it hard enough that some trickled down my neck and soaked into my collar. The shock of the cold jolted me slightly more awake, though it did nothing to chase away the exhaustion etched deep into my bones. Drooping eyes, shaky hands... The whole night had been spent in an endless churn of grim thoughts, the same dark script replaying over and over in my mind. And that damn moon. I glanced up at the blood-red orb hanging in the sky. Its eerie glow bathed everything in an unnatural crimson, making even the shadows seem alive. Chills crawled up my spine, though I wasn''t sure if it was the cold or the effect of that haunting celestial gaze. "Bloody moon, bloody thoughts, bloody everything," I muttered, shaking my head. glanced at my reflection one more time, grimacing as I ran a finger over the patchy stubble that had taken up residence on my face. The itch was maddening, and I wasn''t about to deal with it any longer. I tried my best with my knife as it carved away the bristles, the sound of metal scraping against skin almost soothing in its rhythm. ¡°If this keeps up,¡± I murmured to my reflection, ¡°I¡¯ll end up shaving with a shard of glass. Or a rock.¡± A dark chuckle escaped my lips, bitter and dry. There wasn¡¯t exactly a surplus of clean water in my life anymore, and most days I felt like I was just moving grime from one place to another. Still, as the cool water ran over my face, some of the grime vanished, replaced by raw, reddened skin that at least felt cleaner. The knife wasn¡¯t done yet. I tilted my head, catching the straggling bangs that hung over my face. Another sharp slice, and they fell away, leaving my hair shorter, and more practical. No loose strands sticking to my sweat-soaked forehead when I fought, no distractions. ¡°No need to bother for looks,¡± I told myself. ¡° haaa¡­I just want to rest..,is it too much to wish for¡­¡± The water didn¡¯t answer, but the silence felt like agreement. The blood, though¡ªhow much of it was mine? The thought lingered. Too much of it hadn¡¯t been. Sliding into the water, I let out a long, shuddering sigh as the coolness enveloped me. Muscles I hadn¡¯t realized were locked in tension began to loosen, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn¡¯t feel like I was carrying the weight of a thousand corpses on my shoulders. The flow of the water tugged gently at me, like a quiet lullaby. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting myself sink deeper until the water covered my neck. A bead of tension still clung to my chest, though. ¡°This is fine. Normal. You deserve this, right?¡± I muttered, my voice half-drowned by the water. The silence around me seemed to disagree. I dipped my head below the surface, the muffled world beneath the water offering a momentary reprieve from everything above. Bubbles escaped my lips as I exhaled slowly, watching them rise lazily to the surface. For a few precious seconds, there was nothing¡ªno thoughts, no sounds, no blood-red moon. When I came up for air, my eyes darted to the knife I¡¯d left on the edge of the pool. The gleam of the blade caught the crimson light filtering in through the window, almost glowing. It reminded me of the blood I couldn¡¯t wash off, no matter how hard I tried. ¡°You can clean yourself all you want, but it doesn¡¯t change a damn thing,¡± I whispered to no one in particular. ¡°I need to sleep,¡± I told myself, the words more of a command than a thought. But my body didn¡¯t feel like obeying. Instead, I leaned back, resting my head on the edge of the pool. My hair clung to my face, damp and heavy, but I didn¡¯t bother brushing it away. The events clawed at the edges of my mind, each memory sharper than the last.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The faces of my family. The dying scream of Edward. The blood¡ªalways the blood. I shifted my gaze to my left arm, the skin still freshly pink from the injury. The edges were healing, but slower than I liked¡ªless angry than yesterday, yet still a far cry from the full restoration I needed. I flexed my fingers experimentally, testing for pain. The movement drew a faint ache, enough to remind me of how close I¡¯d come to losing the arm entirely. I closed my eyes and exhaled deeply, letting the breath roll out in a long, deliberate sigh. Sitting half-submerged in the water at the shore, I leaned back, letting the coolness settle into my muscles as I focused inward. I needed calm. I needed control. ¡°Alright,¡± I murmured to myself, ¡°let¡¯s see what¡¯s going on this time.¡± Settling into the meditative state, I began channeling Exira, the strange energy that had become both a lifeline and a mystery since it first awakened in me. The flow started subtly, a warmth sparking in my core and then radiating outward like a slow ripple in still water. As the energy spread through my body, I felt it probing, searching, slipping into places even I couldn¡¯t consciously reach. It was a strange, intimate sensation, like being studied from the inside out. No matter how many times I did this, it never stopped being unsettling. I focused on the sensations, trying to make sense of them. But this time¡­ this time, something felt off. Not wrong, exactly. Just different. My body didn¡¯t feel like it was physically changing¡ªno sudden shifts in strength or speed, no new scars knitting together or bruises vanishing. But there was something intangible, a subtle current running beneath the surface that wasn¡¯t there before. It felt like growth, like something deep within me was adapting or evolving, but in a way that defied explanation. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± I muttered, my voice low, almost drowned by the sound of the water around me. The energy responded, but not with clarity. Instead, it was like a vague whisper in my mind, a thought hovering just out of reach. I could sense it there, full of potential, waiting to be understood. But when I tried to grasp it, to focus on what it was, it slipped through my mental fingers like smoke. It was irritating and frustrating as if the recent events weren¡¯t enough. ¡°Come on,¡± I growled, frustration bubbling up as I pushed harder, trying to channel more Exira into my focus. The feeling grew sharper, more defined. For a fleeting moment, I thought I might actually understand it¡ªthis new source of energy, this strange sensation of command and change. It was like a thought, something intangible yet so powerful that it could reshape reality itself. And then the strain hit. A sharp, twisting pain bloomed in my chest, and I gasped, breaking out of the meditative state with a jolt. The world snapped back into focus, too loud and too bright, and I doubled over, clutching my sides as the residual energy slowly dissipated. ¡°Damn it,¡± I spat, slamming my fist into the ground beside me. The water splashed, rippling outward, but the movement did nothing to quell my irritation. The sensation was gone now, leaving only the faint hum of exhaustion in its wake. My body felt heavier than before, my muscles sluggish as I dragged myself out of the water and onto the shore. ¡°Not the time,¡± I muttered. ¡°Not the time for this.¡± Whatever the new energy was, it would have to wait. My body wasn¡¯t in any condition to handle more experiments right now, and my head was already swimming with too many unanswered questions. Rest. That was the priority. Rest and¡ª A low growl escaped my stomach, the sound loud enough to echo faintly off the walls. ¡°Food,¡± I said dryly. ¡°The body demands tribute.¡± Despite the frustration gnawing at my thoughts, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. Some things never changed. No matter how strange or dire the situation, the need for a decent meal always managed to cut through the noise. The water clung to my skin as I climbed out, droplets streaking down onto the rocky shore. The faint sunlight broke through the cracks in the canopy above, casting mottled patches of light that felt almost alien after the red glow of the moon. I reached for the spare clothes I¡¯d stashed in my pack¡ªrough, simple, but clean enough to feel like a luxury. The fabric clung to me awkwardly at first, damp skin making it hard to pull the shirt over my head, but eventually, I managed. I pulled out my bone sword from the ring since nearly all the stuff I used for my escapes was nowhere to be found. What hurt the most was the loss of the shield I liked that the most¡­alas I was gone with my previous arm in the blast. The bone sword''s jagged edge glinted faintly in the dim light. It was a crude, brutal thing, more of a tool than a weapon, but it served its purpose. With it in hand, I headed toward the forest''s edge, the familiar smell of earth and bark growing stronger with each step. Gathering timber wasn¡¯t hard; the forest was full of wood. I forced myself to focus, collecting enough wood to make a proper fire before heading back to the clearing. Back at the shore, I set to work making the bonfire. I stacked the wood carefully, arranging it in a tight structure before striking a spark with the flint I always kept tucked in my pack. The fire caught quickly, crackling to life and sending thin spirals of smoke curling upward. As the flames grew steady, I pulled out the chunks of meat I had in the ring¡ªstill raw, but fresh enough. Skewering them onto a length of wood, I took my knife and made shallow cuts along the surface of the meat, letting the juices seep out. I retrieved a small stash of salt and spice¡ªhard-won treasures that I rationed carefully¡ªand rubbed them into the slices. The scent of the mixture was sharp and savory, promising something almost decent to eat for once. Wrapping the meat in a broad, sturdy leaf, I placed it carefully above the fire, resting the skewer on two makeshift supports to let the heat do its work. The aroma began to waft upward, faint at first but steadily growing stronger as the meat started to cook. I sat cross-legged beside the fire, the warmth seeping into me as I reached for my journal. The leather-bound book was worn, its corners frayed, but it was one of the few possessions I¡¯d managed to hold onto through everything. Flipping it open, I scanned the pages, reviewing my inventory with a practiced eye. My pen hovered over the page as I made notes anything that would take my mind off from the depressing thoughts. "Meat supplies low," I muttered to myself, jotting it down. "Spices almost gone. Need more bandages¡ª" The fire crackled, and I glanced up, the smell of roasting meat making my stomach growl again. The journal remained open on my lap as I turned back to it, the flickering firelight casting shadows across the page. The act of writing, of organizing what little I had, gave me a strange sense of calm.
Shattered Reflections VIII : The Pariah
I closed my eyes, amidst my makeshift camp as the sounds of flowing water put my mind at ease I reached back deeper into my mind, as another memory flashed by. ¡­ ¡­.As my gaze settled on the vendor, a strange unease crept over me. His appearance stood out immediately¡ªhis clothes were tattered and worn, barely holding together. A blindfold covered his eyes, its edges frayed and torn. At a glance, he looked like a beggar, discarded by the world, a common occurrence amidst the bustling chaos of the market. I glanced over the various items strewn across his table. They seemed like discarded trinkets from a distance, broken scraps, rusted gears, fragments of old stones. But up close, I felt something, a subtle energy, hidden beneath the surface, masked by their outward appearance. And yet, beyond that, something deeper gripped me gnawing pressure, hammering inside my skull. "Arg¡­" Dum dumm¡­ My heart skipped a beat as Exira surged from deep within, flaring in response to something primal. My gaze snapped back to the old man, instinctively honing in on him. He had no Aura or visible presence around him, as if he didn¡¯t exist but, he did just that fact sent shivers down my body as sweats formed. I remembered what Mom told me when I awakened Exira, that to always remember that this power sees what exists, and feels what exists no matter the situation. ¡®No aura at all¡­but it feels¡¯ My thoughts raced. ¡®Uncle Sebastian¡¯s? No¡­ closer to Mom¡¯s level. Not quite there but similar level¡¯ I froze, every instinct on edge as I detected movement. The old man stirred, his movements slow and deliberate, as though waking from a deep slumber. His voice cut through the silence, weighted with an authority like Mother¡¯s not forceful, but overwhelming. "It seems," he began, his tone deliberate, "it is fated for us to meet, my prince." I flinched, caught off guard by the casual reveal of my identity. The market had been bustling moments ago, but now everything seemed muted, distant, as though we had been pulled into a world apart. ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked, channeling Exira with full focus, imbuing its essence into my words as it gave me strength and presence to my voice. The old man¡¯s blindfolded face turned toward me, and despite his hidden eyes, I felt him seeing everything. A small, genuine smile formed on his lips. His chuckle was dry, like the sound of leaves rustling. "Names are of little use to those who walk the path I tread, but you may call me a pariah." He paused, the weight of the title settling in the air. "A fitting name for what remains of me." His blindfolded eyes gave nothing away, but Exira showed power hidden deep when he revealed his title, the kind that comes from a lifetime of truths that cannot be told, only felt. Pariah, outcast¡­what sort of title and what should I do, the emergency signal Aunt Nora gave is not working¡­sure old blindfolded grandpa with a title says he is harmless "How does this pariah," he gestured faintly, his lips curling as he saw my growing unease, "be of any help to you, young prince?" ¡°I don¡¯t trust you,¡± I said as Exira intertwined with my words creating a presence of authority. At least it was something most people will feel intimidated by, but I''m sure it¡¯s of no effect on him apart from making an image. I can¡¯t come off as weak now that he knows my identity. The Pariah¡¯s smile widened, but it wasn¡¯t malicious¡ªif anything, there was recognition in his eyes. "Good. Trust is a luxury for few, and you will come to know its weight soon." His blindfolded gaze bore into me. He nodded, seemingly satisfied with my reaction. "There are truths," he continued, his voice softer now, "that even the most powerful among us fear to acknowledge. But you, young prince¡­ you must walk at the edge. The power you wield is not merely your own. It is a key, and the lock it opens... will lead you to your answers. Whether you reach it is yet to be seen." I could feel my eye twitch. Da fuck he is on about... I¡¯m here sweating buckets and he is all going cryptic shit, please no prophecies those are pain Mom keeps reminding me not to entangle myself in the web He waved a hand over his table, and the items in front of him shimmered. What had once seemed like junk now glowed with hidden meaning. Each piece radiated with intent, their power faint but undeniable. "Perhaps, something to help in your journey, my prince. After all, what is power without struggle?" Exira trembled at his words, quaking in response. ¡®Damn, he said something his sentence had a hidden meaning, one my power shielded me from fully understanding. Still, the truth was clear enough.¡¯
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A crystal
A monocle
An Earring
I let Exira surge, sweeping over the items as if trying to understand them. Each pulsed with a strange presence, their very essence etched into the world around them as I read some intent.
The blemished crystal
The monocle without a lens
The earring without its pair
"Choose wisely, My prince," the Pariah whispered, his voice now low and foreboding. "For even a pariah such as I can bend Fate " I hesitated for a moment, observing the old man again. His eyes were covered, yet a feeling that he could see me somehow. I¡¯m sure he is a relic of the past with strength at least close to that of a RULER. There was a quiet awareness in the way he held himself, the sagely aura he exuded. fuu... I took a deep breath as my mind spun. All of this is a facade that I¡¯m sure of his appearances are deliberate. His strength weakened but was not lost Exira showed he is not simple. What¡¯s his purpose Mom did tell us to be vigilant of those that play with the threads of Fate The world around us dulled, the color draining from the market, leaving only greys. Time had come to a halt, and the only ones moving were me and the Pariah. I looked at the Old man, pariah as he called himself, sensing my gaze he just smiled and gestured for me to choose. Exira only picked up the truth behind the items, I¡¯m not strong enough to probe more. Huu...
3 Choices
Repulsive
Blindness
Incomplete
All of the items seem broken or damaged. A crystal with cracks and dull impurities like stuff swirling when I focused Exira trying to feel some intents the crystal felt repulsive. The golden monocle was pristine but it had no lens and it felt blind and the earring in the 8 shape without its pair felt incomplete. Closing my eyes letting Exira wash over me and the items, and taking a deep breath I saw the choices that were before me. At that moment I knew this decision would be a very important part of my life, for how would my path be? Stopping all thoughts, emptying my mind as I enter a meditative state letting Exira flow and let it decide. Exira flowed over the items as they tried to form links, I felt as if the items tried to form bonds yet failed until one of them latched onto my Exira entwined itself. All the other items disappear from the table as the world regains its color. ¡°Haha, you¡¯ve chosen, my prince,¡± the Pariah chuckled, his laughter filled with a strange warmth. ¡°For the path ahead is yours to walk.¡± I blinked, feeling a chill as the cold metal of the earring pressed against my skin. It had already affixed itself to my right ear. "A word of advice, my prince," Pariah''s voice shifted, deepening into something from being the kind old man to far more solemn, weightier, almost sacred. For the first time, I felt an unmistakable authority in his tone, the kind that could command. "A poem... and a prophecy, passed down through my ancestors. I implore you, listen well, remember every word. Whether you choose to believe it or not¡ªthat¡¯s your burden to bear." Without waiting for a response, the pariah rose from his seated position, and in that instant, his wares, once scattered around him like forgotten junk, vanished. The world itself seemed to hold its breath, frozen as the dull grey retook the world, an ancient pressure, like the weight of ages, descended upon me. I straightened reflexively, every fiber of my being responding to the intensity of the moment. EXIRA surged from within, pushing back against the crushing force that now radiated from the old man. The pariah has stopped holding back his strength. ''Crazy old man... You¡¯ve definitely got my attention now.'' Thum thum! The sound of the pariah¡¯s heartbeat echoed through the still air, each pulse like a distant drum of war. His deep, resonant voice followed, carrying with it the weight of the prophecy Hummmmm~ "When the sky is torn asunder, And shadows stretch with growing thunder, The Eye of Devour peers below, Bringing forth eternal woe. Beware the gaze that sees your soul, For no mercy will it know. Its hunger vast, its darkness deep, In its stare, your end shall creep. Turn away, do not defy, For beneath its watch, all must die. A fate far worse than death awaits, Where hope is lost and time abates. When the heavens break and tremble, And the world begins to crumble, Seek no answers in the skies- The Eye devours, and never lies." The words hung in the air like an omen, each syllable laden with dread, seeping into my bones. The world, still eerily silent, felt as if it had been waiting for that moment¡ªfor those words to be spoken. I stood there, the weight of the prophecy heavy on my shoulders, my mind racing to make sense of it all. The Eye of Devour... skies torn asunder... What could it mean? Why did it feel like those words were meant for like some twisted, inevitable fate had been set in motion? A chill ran down my spine as I processed the full gravity of the prophecy. The pressure that had held the world at a standstill suddenly lifted, and the market around me came back to life with a jolt¡ªsounds of merchants, bartering voices, and clinking coins flooding my ears once more. The chatter and bustle should have been comforting, but it only added to the strange disorientation swirling in my mind. I blinked, trying to shake the lingering haze. The verses echoed in my head, gnawing at me as if they carried a hidden truth, one I wasn¡¯t ready to understand. My hands trembled slightly, and I clenched them into fists, forcing myself to breathe¡ªto focus as Exira permeated my whole body, only then I regained my senses. I looked toward the old man, expecting to see his frail form hunched over once more, back to selling his wares as if nothing extraordinary had just occurred. But when my eyes landed on the spot where he had been, there was nothing. He was gone, Exira found no presence, no existence around. I scanned the crowded market, eyes darting from one face to another, but there was no sign of him. No trace of the blindfolded beggar who had just delivered a prophecy that shook me to my core. It was as if he had never been there at all. A hollow feeling crept over me, a sense that something larger was at play, something I couldn''t yet grasp. Mom keeps calling my attempt to Exira as a glorified scanner but it seems that too has failed me.
Chapter 045 - DIY barbecue
I sat cross-legged near the fire, the journal open in my lap, its worn pages half-filled with notes and sketches. The steady crackle of the flames offered a comforting rhythm, a rare semblance of peace in this fractured world. My stomach growled again, sharp and insistent, reminding me that the meal on the makeshift spit was nearly done. Food and water¡ªat least I still had those. That small solace was a fragile anchor against the weight of everything I¡¯d lost. My fingers traced the journal¡¯s frayed edge absently as my thoughts circled back to my true losses. The shield¡­ gone. The memory of its destruction clawed at me. It had been strapped to my left arm when the blast hit, disintegrating it into nothing. Not even a scrap remained. I clenched my jaw, my mind replaying the final moments of the battle. The spear hurt the most¡ªits loss, I mean. Reliable, lethal, a companion through countless fights. I¡¯d buried it in the overlord¡¯s chest, driven it so deep that I hadn¡¯t had time to retrieve it before the explosion threw me clear. The acrid taste of ash still lingered on my tongue, mingling with the sting of failure. Stripped bare of nearly everything, and yet I was still here. Somehow, that was the cruelest part. ¡°At least,¡± I muttered, dragging my gaze to the pack beside me, ¡°there¡¯s still the bone blades.¡± Trophies of a grim victory. I reached over and picked up one of the blades. Its rough texture was cool against my fingertips, the pale surface veined with faint, organic ridges. This one had belonged to an elite¡ªa towering creature I¡¯d barely managed to take down. Its sheer size made it a weapon unto itself, but with a little work... ¡°I¡¯ll make these proper bad boys,¡± I said aloud, turning the blade in my hands. It wasn¡¯t just idle talk. Since recovering fragments of memory about enchanting, my thoughts had been racing with possibilities. Runes drifted through my mind like ghostly whispers¡ªhalf-formed shapes and patterns teasing the edges of my understanding. If I could gather the right materials, if I could just practice... maybe I could turn these crude weapons into something more. Something deadly. ¡°What to add, though?¡± I tapped the blade against my thigh, the weight of it grounding me as ideas churned in my head. "Flame runes? No, too flashy. Lightning? Maybe, but risky if it¡¯s raining." The possibilities felt endless, maddening in their potential. It was like standing on the shore of a vast ocean, staring at the waves without knowing how to swim. A sudden aroma broke through my thoughts. The smell of roasting meat wafted up from the fire, rich and savory, with just enough spice to make my mouth water. "Finally," I muttered, setting the bone blade aside. My focus shifted fully to the meal. The meat was browning beautifully, juices sizzling as they dripped onto the embers below. The leaf wrapping had sealed in the flavors, softening the texture while allowing the spices to seep deep into the flesh. I leaned in, inhaling deeply. The scent alone was enough to make my stomach clench with anticipation, a sharp contrast to the bland, leathery jerky I¡¯d been surviving on for weeks.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°Gods, this might actually taste like real food,¡± I said to myself, a faint grin tugging at the corner of my lips. Carefully, I unwrapped the first piece of meat. The leaf peeled back to reveal tender, steaming flesh beneath. The surface was lightly charred, adding a smoky edge. As I sliced into it with my knife, clear juices pooled on the makeshift plate I¡¯d carved from a slab of wood. I took the first bite cautiously, half expecting the dull monotony of survival rations. Instead, the flavors burst across my tongue in a wave. Salt and spice danced together, perfectly complementing the meat¡¯s natural richness. It was tender, juicy, and deeply satisfying in a way I hadn¡¯t experienced in what felt like years. The second bite came faster. The third even faster than that. Before I knew it, half the skewer was gone, and I was already eyeing the next piece. ¡°This,¡± I said between bites, ¡°is the kind of thing worth surviving for.¡± The thought stopped me for a moment. I stared at the remnants of my meal, struck by an almost reverent intensity. For all the battles, bloodshed, and scars, there was something profoundly humbling about a simple, well-cooked meal. It also made me realize how little I actually knew about cooking. "Alright," I muttered, leaning back and wiping my hands on a scrap of cloth. "No more excuses. You¡¯re learning how to cook, Lexi. No more luck or scavenging." The words felt like a promise. I let the fire burn low as I finished the meal, savoring every bite until all that remained were bones and a faint trace of spice on my tongue. Beside me, the journal sat open, its blank pages waiting. I picked it up and, in deliberate writing, jotted down a new note: Learn cooking skills. Experiment with spices. Licking the last savory traces from my fingers, I leaned back against a tree. The bark pressed into my shoulders through my shirt, rough and grounding. It felt real¡ªlike a tether in a world that had grown increasingly unstable. The forest stretched out before me, shadows deepening as the feeble sunlight waned. My gaze traced the treetops, their shapes blurred by the dimming light. Maybe it was some seasonal thing, I thought, this weak sun. Or maybe the red moon was siphoning its strength. Either way, it felt like the day itself was retreating, leaving the world vulnerable. I shook the thought away. No use dwelling on what I couldn¡¯t control. Reaching for the journal again, I flipped to a blank page. The slight rasp of paper against my fingers was oddly satisfying. By the glow of the embers, I began to write. First, I wrote about the cave¡ªthe oppressive air, the cloying darkness, the sense of dread that had wrapped around me like a second skin. Just putting it into words lightened the weight of it, like peeling back a layer I hadn¡¯t realized I was carrying. Then came the plan. My lips twitched in a faint, self-deprecating smile as I scrawled the words. ¡°This was the dumbest idea I¡¯ve ever had,¡± I muttered, shaking my head. And yet, it had worked. Somehow. The absurdity of it made me chuckle softly, the sound strange in the quiet. Charging in, fueled by half-baked tactics and sheer desperation, relying on tools I barely understood¡ªit was reckless, borderline suicidal. But it had worked. My gaze shifted to the bracer on my wrist. Its surface was dull now, lifeless after expending all its charges. I turned it over in my hands, its weight strangely comforting despite its current uselessness. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t have made it out without you,¡± I murmured, tapping it lightly. The bracer had bought me time. It had saved my life. But now it was just a husk, a reminder of what I¡¯d lost and what I still needed to do. ¡°Gotta find a way to recharge you,¡± I said quietly, adding it to the ever-growing list in my mind. The journal lay open in my lap, its pages filling with a chaotic blend of musings, observations, and plans. Writing felt like untangling the mess in my head, laying it out where I could make sense of it. With a final flourish of the pen, I set the journal aside. The night crept in, the forest growing darker, but for once, the weight in my chest felt a little lighter. Leaning back against the tree, I closed my eyes. The crackle of the fire and the faint hum of the forest filled the silence around me. For now, that was enough.
Chapter 046 - Crafting some decent gear
Closing the journal with a soft thud, I set it down carefully on the flat stone beside me. The fire had died to embers, just enough light to illuminate the small workspace I¡¯d cleared near the tree. Stretching out my legs, I reached for the bundle I¡¯d placed earlier and untied the rough cloth, revealing the collection of bone-blades I¡¯d gathered¡ªboth the prized ones from the elite and the lesser ones scavenged from the standard creatures. Lifting the Elite¡¯s blade first, I held it up against the dim glow of the embers. The quality difference was almost laughable when compared to the standard monster bones. The Elite¡¯s blade was massive, nearly five feet in length, the pale white of its surface marred by an eerie greenish tint. Delicate vein-like patterns of green criss crossed its surface, giving it an otherworldly appearance. ¡°Not bad,¡± I murmured, running my fingers along the edge. The surface was unnaturally smooth, almost like polished stone, and yet the blade¡¯s edge still retained a wicked sharpness. I could already feel its potential. Beside it, the standard bone looked pathetic¡ªdirty white with a faint yellowish tint, rough and uneven in its structure. Sure, it could be useful for something small, but it wouldn¡¯t hold up in a proper fight. ¡°Yeah, no contest,¡± I muttered, setting the inferior blade aside. ¡°Elite it is.¡± I leaned in closer, examining the patterns on the elite blade. The veins weren¡¯t just surface-level¡ªthey seemed to run deep, like they were part of the bone¡¯s structure itself. The green hue almost pulsed under the light, faint but alive, as if the weapon itself was brimming with dormant energy. ¡°What were you, exactly?¡± I asked aloud, though the blade, of course, gave no answer. Shrugging off the question, I focused on the task at hand. I wasn¡¯t just here to admire these things; I needed weapons, real weapons, ones that wouldn¡¯t shatter the moment I faced something stronger than a pack of grunts. First, I started with the primary blades. Picking up the raw elite bone, I began shaping it carefully, using a sharp stone to carve and refine its edges. The bone¡¯s structure was surprisingly cooperative, the material yielding just enough to be worked without splintering. It was like it wanted to be crafted. ¡°Alright, focus,¡± I muttered to myself, turning the blade over in my hands. The first step was reshaping the curve. The raw form was jagged and uneven, so I smoothed out the edges, turning it into a more elegant, sickle-like curve. A weapon like this needed precision, something sharp enough to cut through hide but light enough to maneuver in tight quarters. It took time¡ªmore time than I¡¯d expected. Sweat beaded on my brow as I worked, the repetitive motion of carving and shaping becoming almost meditative. "Not bad. This might actually look decent when it''s done," I muttered as I held the first blade up to the light. The result was striking: the blade gleamed pale white, the green veins now forming a more pronounced pattern along its surface, like creeping vines frozen in motion. It had a balanced weight, too¡ªnot too heavy, not too light. Satisfied with the first blade, I moved on to the second. This one followed the same process, though I took care to give it a slightly different curve, ensuring it would complement the first blade rather than mirror it. Dual-wielding was risky, sure, but if I played it right, these weapons could turn the tide in a fight. Once the blades were done, I turned my attention to smaller gear. The leftover scraps of the elite bone wouldn¡¯t go to waste¡ªnot when I needed every advantage I could get. Using the thicker sections of the bone, I began crafting bracers. They weren¡¯t pretty, but they were functional, designed to protect my forearms without restricting movement. The green veins added an unintentional flair, making them look far more intimidating than they had any right to be. ¡°Bone bracers,¡± I said aloud, testing the fit on my arm. ¡°Not exactly high fashion, but they¡¯ll do.¡± Next came the shin guards, shaped from the broader pieces of bone. These were trickier, requiring more precise carving to ensure they didn¡¯t dig into my legs when I moved. I strapped them in place using strips of leather scavenged from my old pack. By the time I was done, I was beginning to see a full set come together¡ªprimitive, sure, but functional. The bone¡¯s natural durability meant these pieces could take a hit, maybe even deflect a blade if I was lucky.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Finally, I used the leftover fragments to craft a set of throwing knives. These were small, jagged, and crude, but that was the point. They didn¡¯t need to be pretty; they just needed to fly straight and hit hard. I gathered the materials, spreading them out on the flat rock in front of me as the embers of the fire cast long, flickering shadows across the clearing. It wasn¡¯t much, but it would have to do. These weren¡¯t the ideal primers for proper enchantments, but they had their uses. The monster remains, especially those from creatures with strong life forces, tended to hold residual energy¡ªenough to enhance the process, if not perfect it. ¡°Could¡¯ve used more,¡± I muttered, my gaze drifting to the blades resting beside me. ¡°Would¡¯ve killed for some boss blood. Acidic monster¡¯s too.¡± I shook my head, pushing away the regret. No point in dwelling on what I didn¡¯t have. What mattered now was making the most of what I did. The blades were ready. After hours of shaping, sharpening, and balancing their weight, they felt like extensions of my own arms, lethal and reliable. But raw weapons weren¡¯t enough anymore. I needed something more¡ªan edge, quite literally. I picked up one of the energy crystals, holding it up to the light. It pulsed faintly, a weak but steady glow that seemed to hum against my palm. Closing my eyes, I channeled Exira, feeling the familiar warmth flow through me and into the crystal. The glow intensified briefly before dimming again as I extracted its essence, pulling out the raw energy trapped within. The process was delicate, requiring careful focus. Too much force and the crystal would shatter, its energy dissipating uselessly into the air. Too little, and the essence wouldn¡¯t be pure enough to bind. ¡°Steady,¡± I whispered, narrowing my focus. When the essence finally separated, it hovered in the air before me¡ªa faint, shimmering wisp of light that pulsed softly like a heartbeat. Carefully, I guided it toward the blade, the motion slow and deliberate. Next came the blood. I retrieved elite monster blood I¡¯d collected earlier. The smell hit me immediately¡ªmetallic, pungent, and thick with latent power. It wasn¡¯t as potent as the boss or acidic monster blood I¡¯d failed to secure, but it was still strong enough to serve as a medium. Pouring the blood over the first blade, I watched as it spread, coating the surface in a deep crimson sheen. The liquid seeped into the shallow grooves I¡¯d etched along the blade¡¯s length earlier, forming a network of channels that almost seemed alive under the dim light. "Good enough," I murmured, though the faint disappointment lingered. Grabbing the finely ground bone powder I¡¯d prepared, I dusted it over the bloodied blade, letting it settle into the grooves. The powder acted as a binding agent, its texture gritty and rough against my fingertips. With Exira guiding me, I traced lines into the blade, letting the energy flow through me and into the weapon. The etchings were random at a glance, but each line served a purpose, shaping the enchantment one stroke at a time. This method was crude¡ªbasic, even. Lower-tier enchants often were. But sometimes, simplicity was enough. I closed my eyes, slowing my breathing as I entered a state of pseudo-attunement. The world around me faded, replaced by the pulsing rhythm of Exira flowing through my body. ¡°Sharpness,¡± I whispered, forming the first intent. Aciem. The thought solidified in my mind, a singular focus that resonated with the blade in front of me. I could feel the edges of the weapon responding, almost vibrating with anticipation as the intent began to take root. ¡°Bone as the catalyst.¡± Ossis. The material itself became part of the enchantment, its essence binding to the Exira in a way that strengthened the weapon¡¯s foundation. ¡°And finally¡­¡± I hesitated, my focus sharpening further. ¡°¡­Unbreaking.¡± The final intent carried weight, its meaning settling into the blade like an anchor. The energy I¡¯d channeled rushed into the weapon, filling the grooves and lines carved into its surface. The blade began to hum softly, the sound low and resonant, as though it was alive. When I opened my eyes, the weapon gleamed faintly, its veins of green pulsing in time with the rhythmic thrum of power. It was done. I repeated the process for the second blade, though it took more effort this time. My muscles ached, and sweat beaded on my forehead, dripping into my eyes as I worked. The strain of channeling Exira for so long was beginning to take its toll, but I pushed through, driven by necessity. By the time the second blade hummed with the same quiet power as the first, I was spent. My hands trembled as I set it down, the exhaustion hitting me all at once. ¡°Done,¡± I muttered, leaning back against the tree with a sigh. Reaching for my water flask, I took a long drink, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat. My entire body felt heavy, the kind of fatigue that settled deep into your bones. The night had fully fallen now, the clearing bathed in shadows save for the faint glow of the blades and the dying embers of the fire. I leaned over, carefully placing the blades side by side. They looked lethal, even in the dim light¡ªtwin arcs of pale white streaked with green veins, their surfaces etched with intricate patterns that practically radiated power. ¡°Proper bad boys,¡± I murmured, echoing the thought from earlier with a tired grin. Sliding down to the base of the tree, I let my eyes close, the sounds of the forest blending into the faint hum of the enchanted blades. Sleep came quickly, pulling me into its embrace as the world around me faded into silence.
Chapter 047 - Twisted Forest
After waking fully rested, I took my time getting geared up. The bracers and shin guards fit snugly, their rough edges smoothed down after last night¡¯s work. The twin blades sat comfortably at my hips, their faint green veins glowing softly in the dim morning light. Everything felt balanced, almost like an extension of myself. ¡°Alright,¡± I muttered, tightening the straps on my pack. ¡°Let¡¯s see where this thing wants me to go.¡± The runic fragment had been quiet during my sleep, but as soon as I touched it this morning, the familiar pull returned¡ªa subtle tug in the back of my mind, guiding me like an invisible compass. It was faint but insistent, pointing me toward the forest. The trees loomed ahead, their twisted shapes silhouetted against the pale, colorless sky. I¡¯d seen plenty of strange landscapes in my time, but there was something distinctly¡­ wrong about this one. The air felt heavier, charged with an energy I couldn¡¯t quite place. Stepping into the forest, I immediately noticed the strange flora. The trees were unlike anything I¡¯d seen before: their bark was a muted, ashen gray, while their leaves were an unnatural shade of red that seemed to pulse faintly in the corners of my vision. I crouched near one of the taller trees, placing a hand against its bark. The surface was rough and cold, but as I pressed harder, I could feel its strength¡ªit was dense, unnaturally so, like stone masquerading as wood. Pulling out a knife, I tested the tree, making a shallow cut along the bark. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a bright blue liquid began to seep from the wound, pooling in the crevices of the bark. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± I muttered, leaning in for a closer look. That was when my instincts screamed at me. Without thinking, I rolled to the side, the movement jerky and instinctive. A split second later, the ground where I¡¯d been crouching erupted as a thick root burst through the soil, twisting upward with startling speed. Heart pounding, I scrambled to my feet, summoning my swords in a flash of green light. The hum of their enchantments filled the air as I crouched low, blades at the ready. The root was motionless now, its jagged surface coated in dirt and remnants of the blue liquid from the tree. I waited. My muscles tensed as the seconds dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity. The forest was deathly silent, the usual hum of insects or rustling leaves conspicuously absent. When nothing happened, I grabbed a nearby rock and hurled it toward the root. It struck with a dull thud, bouncing off and landing in the dirt. Still, there was no reaction. ¡°Alright, just a fucking tree¡­and probably a defense mechanism¡­¡± I said under my breath, keeping my swords raised as I took a cautious step forward. The root remained still. Slowly, I approached the tree again, this time reaching out with deliberate care. My fingers brushed against the bark. Still nothing. Finally, I let out a long sigh as the root began to retreat, sinking back into the earth as though it had never been there. ¡°So they have a very faint consciousness,¡± I muttered, stepping back and watching the last of the roots vanish beneath the soil. ¡°And limited response. That¡¯s both oddly satisfying and horrifying.¡± It wasn¡¯t every day you ran into trees that could actively try to kill you, after all. I glanced back at the bright blue liquid still oozing from the bark, its glow faint but hypnotic. There was no telling what it could do¡ªhealing properties, maybe? Or something more volatile? Either way, it could¡¯ve been useful. ¡°Unlucky me,¡± I said with a bitter laugh, patting my pack. ¡°Nothing to store it with. Typical.¡± Shaking my head, I turned my attention to the path ahead. The deeper I moved into the forest, the stranger it became. The dense foliage seemed to twist and writhe in ways that didn¡¯t quite make sense, almost as though the trees and plants were caught in some eternal struggle against reality itself. This place is giving me the heebie jeebies¡­ Leaves curled in spirals that defied natural growth patterns, and vines hung like stretched sinews, their textures more reminiscent of flesh than plant matter. The air grew thicker the farther I went, heavy with a strange, metallic tang that clung to the back of my throat. ¡°It¡¯s not just the visuals,¡± I muttered, glancing around as an uneasy feeling settled in my chest. ¡°There¡¯s something¡­ wrong here. Deeper than what I¡¯m seeing.¡± The forest pulsed with an almost imperceptible energy, a faint hum at the edge of my awareness. It wasn¡¯t Exira¡ªit didn¡¯t have that warm, fluid quality I¡¯d grown used to. This was something else. Something cold and foreign. I stopped for a moment, placing a hand on the hilt of one of my blades. The pull from the runic fragment was still leading me deep into the forest, urging me forward, but every instinct I had told me to tread carefully. ¡°Twisted forest,¡± I said aloud, my voice barely more than a whisper. ¡° yeah that''s an apt name¡­going in my bestiary for sure¡­¡± A branch creaked overhead, its sound unnervingly similar to a low groan. I tightened my grip on my sword and continued forward, each step slower and more deliberate than the last. The deeper I went, the more distorted the forest became. Trees bent at impossible angles, their trunks contorted into spirals and knots that made my eyes ache just looking at them. Some of the leaves seemed to shimmer, shifting between shades of red and black in a way that felt almost alive. I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that I was being watched, though every time I turned around, there was nothing but the silent, twisted forest staring back at me. I kept walking, my ears tuned to the faint gurgle of the river flowing somewhere to my right. It was far enough away that I couldn¡¯t see it through the dense foliage, but the sound served as a reliable marker, a reassuring constant in the shifting madness of the forest. At Least the river is to my right¡­in case I lose my way then there¡¯s that¡­ The path, if it could even be called that, was uneven and unpredictable. The roots of the gnarled trees jutted out from the ground like the limbs of some buried creature, ready to trip me with every careless step. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Still, I managed to make steady progress, occasionally stopping to scavenge what I could from the strange flora around me. A cluster of small, berry-like fruits caught my attention first¡ªdark purple with faint specks of red, their surface smooth and shiny under the filtered light. They looked harmless enough, but looks were deceiving. For all I knew, they could be laced with enough poison to knock me flat within seconds. ¡°Berries, check,¡± I muttered, plucking a handful and stashing them in my pouch. ¡°Not eating you anytime soon, though.¡± Next, I came across a round fruit that resembled an orange, though its skin was rougher and a darker shade of yellow. I gave it a tentative sniff, catching a faint citrusy tang beneath the earthy smell. ¡°Potentially edible,¡± I said to myself, pocketing it in my ring with the same caution. The last find was a cluster of thick, knotted roots poking out of the soil. They had an earthy, almost spicy smell, reminding me of ginseng or ginger. If nothing else, they could be useful for brewing something, assuming I didn¡¯t accidentally poison myself in the process. By the time I was done scavenging, my pack was considerably heavier, stuffed with all sorts of odds and ends. Still, I hadn¡¯t dared to taste any of it. The risk of poisoning was bad enough, but there was a far more horrifying thought lingering at the back of my mind: constipation. ¡°Look,¡± I muttered, glancing around at the oppressive forest. ¡°Shitting in a cave was one thing. No one cares. But here? God knows what might jump out of a bush if I¡¯m too distracted. No, thank you.¡± Almost as if the forest had a sense of humor, the bushes up ahead rustled faintly. I froze, crouching low as my body went still. My hand moved instinctively to my blade, but I didn¡¯t draw it just yet. Instead, I reached inward, channeling Exira to level one¡ªa light but effective boost that sharpened my senses. The familiar warmth spread through me, and the sounds around me seemed to come into sharper focus. I tilted my head, listening carefully. Faint but steady¡­ a pulse of life, weak and singular, coming from the direction of the disturbance. Whatever it was, it wasn¡¯t large or particularly threatening, but that didn¡¯t mean I could afford to be careless. Keeping low, I moved forward slowly, the effects of my armor kicking in as I transitioned into a stealthier approach. My steps were silent, my movements fluid as I closed the distance between myself and the source of the noise. When I finally reached the spot, I pushed aside a branch gently, peering through the tangled undergrowth. There, just a few feet away, was the culprit¡ªa small creature, its head buried in the grass as it munched on the greenery. Its body was roughly the size of a large dog, covered in short, silvery fur that shimmered faintly under the dappled light. Its face was vaguely deer-like, though its elongated ears twitched constantly as if listening for the slightest sound. What caught my attention most, though, was its behavior. It wasn¡¯t just eating grass; it was going after the same berries and fruits I¡¯d been collecting earlier, pulling them from the bushes with surprising dexterity. My eyes stayed locked on the deer-like creature, its head still buried in the grass as it grazed. Each slow movement of its body was deliberate, oblivious to the fact that I was watching it from the shadows. Drawing in a deep breath, I extended my senses outward with Exira, feeling the energy spread like a quiet pulse around me. Fifty meters¡ªenough to scan for any hidden surprises. My instincts wouldn¡¯t let me relax until I was sure the area was clear. Slowly, the forest revealed itself to me through the Exira pulse. No other life signs emerged. Just the faint heartbeat of the creature in front of me, steady and alone. ¡°Perfect,¡± I muttered, quiet as a breath. I stilled my breathing, keeping it slow and controlled as I pulled the bowstring back, the arrow nocked and ready. Exira channeled into the arrow as I drew the string to its peak, the energy flowing like an invisible current along the shaft. My hands were steady, my focus sharp. ¡°Alright,¡± I whispered, smirking faintly as I lined up the shot. ¡°Time to see if I¡¯ve still got it.¡± The arrow sailed silently through the air, a streak of focused energy aimed perfectly at the creature''s flank. But just before it struck, the creature reacted with an almost supernatural speed, spinning on its hooves in a blur of motion. Steam puffed from its nostrils as it locked eyes with me, its posture tense and defensive. "Well," I murmured, already nocking a second arrow. "You¡¯re faster than you look. Noted." The creature tensed, muscles coiling as it prepared to dart away into the shadows of the forest. But I wasn¡¯t about to let that happen. ¡°Haha,¡± I said, drawing back the bowstring again with deliberate precision, the second arrow humming with energy. ¡°Who said I¡¯ll play fair?¡± Before it could move, I released the shot. The arrow streaked forward, piercing cleanly through the creature¡¯s skull. Its head snapped back with a sharp, jerking motion, and the body crumpled to the ground in a lifeless heap. ¡°Gotcha!¡± I said, letting out a satisfied laugh. Finally¡ªfresh meat. It had been far too long since I¡¯d had anything remotely edible, let alone something I¡¯d hunted myself. Humming a quiet tune, I slung my bow over my shoulder and made my way toward the kill. The creature¡¯s body lay still, its silvery fur almost shimmering under the strange red light filtering through the twisted canopy. For a brief moment, I felt a pang of regret. The thing was beautiful, in its own strange way. But survival wasn¡¯t about sentiment. "Not bad I¡¯ll have a feast at night," I muttered, crouching down to inspect the kill. That was when my senses flared. It was like a cold dagger pressed against my neck, a primal warning that set every nerve in my body on edge. Before I could react, something shot out of the shadows¡ªa long, bony appendage that moved faster than my eyes could track. The limb pierced the corpse of the creature with a sickening crunch, lifting it off the ground in one brutal motion. My body froze as I watched the appendage drag the corpse upward, vanishing into the dark canopy above. ¡°What the¡ª¡± I tried to move, to draw my blades, but I couldn¡¯t. A wave of pure, unrelenting fear washed over me, rooting me to the spot. My breath caught in my throat, and sweat began to bead on my forehead, dripping down my temple. I forced myself to channel Exira, pushing it to peak level 1. The warmth coursed through me like a jolt of electricity, snapping me out of the paralysis. I stumbled back a step, my hands shaking as I summoned my swords. The forest around me was silent. And then I heard it. The weird insects like clicking noises. They were faint at first, like the soft tapping of bone against stone, but they grew louder with each passing second. The sound reverberated through the unnatural quiet of the forest, magnified by the oppressive silence that surrounded me. It was then that I realized what had been bothering me about this place from the start: there was no ambient noise. No birds, no insects, no rustling leaves. Just an endless, suffocating silence. The clicking grew closer, sharper, each sound like nails dragging across my skull. My grip on the swords tightened as I stared up at the canopy, my heart pounding in my chest. And then it came into view. The monster descended slowly, its elongated limbs gripping the tree trunk as it crawled downward with unnerving grace. Its body was massive, its form hidden beneath plates of bone-like armor that gleamed faintly in the dim light. Its legs were spindly but strong, ending in jagged tips that scraped against the bark. Its head was grotesque, an elongated, insectoid shape with too many eyes¡ªglassy, black orbs that seemed to pierce through me. The clicking noises came from its jaws, which opened and closed in rhythmic, almost deliberate movements, revealing rows of serrated teeth. My body tensed, the familiar weight of my blades grounding me as I crouched low, preparing for whatever this nightmare had in store. The monster paused, its many eyes locking onto mine. The air seemed to grow colder, heavier, as though the forest itself was holding its breath. The silence shattered as it let out a guttural, clicking screech that echoed through the trees.
Chapter 048 - Oh hell no!
The creature descended from the tree like an overgrown spider, its movements smooth and deliberate, yet deeply wrong. The sheer size of it¡ªeasily as large as a car¡ªwas monstrous, but it was the form that sent a chill rippling through my chest. Its body was a grotesque amalgamation of what could only be described as bones, twisted and fused together in ways that made no anatomical sense. The legs were impossibly long, ending in razor-sharp points that stabbed into the ground with sickening cracks as it moved. There were four of them, arranged in a way that shouldn¡¯t have been able to support the creature¡¯s weight, yet it glided forward effortlessly, each step disturbingly precise. Its torso was a warped mass of jagged ridges, the bones jutting outward like a cage or exoskeleton. But its head¡ªor what should have been a head¡ªwas the most unnerving part. It was nothing but an oval mass of pale, polished bone. No eyes, no mouth, no features at all. Just a blank, lifeless void where a face should have been. ¡°What the hell¡­¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible. My grip on my swords tightened, the cool hum of their enchanted edges grounding me as I forced my body to stay calm. The fear effect that had gripped me earlier had faded, burned away by the steady flow of Exira coursing through me. My mind was clearer now, focused, but the sheer presence of this thing was enough to set my nerves on edge. Fuuu¡­all the fucking horrors of the world and I have to face them¡­ The creature didn¡¯t seem to notice me yet, its attention fixed on the deer-like corpse dangling from its grotesque, spindly hands. It moved with an eerie grace, lowering its body slightly as its deformed arms pushed the corpse toward the center of its chest. I watched, with cold eyes as I conditioned my body to be ready, as I saw the monster¡¯s chest opened. The ribcage split apart with a series of loud cracks, revealing a dark, pulsing void within. It was as though the bones themselves had rearranged to create a jagged maw, one that eagerly swallowed the deer-like creature whole. The sound was unbearable. Bones crunching, flesh tearing, wet, mashing noises that echoed through the dead silence of the forest. The deer¡¯s lifeless body disappeared piece by piece, dragged deeper into the creature¡¯s chest until nothing remained. ¡°Disgusting,¡± I muttered, though my voice was laced with unease. The creature¡¯s chest snapped shut with a final, nauseating crunch, the ribs locking back into place as if nothing had happened. It stood there for a moment, its elongated legs twitching slightly, before it resumed its slow, deliberate movements. My gaze flicked to the side, where I noticed another deer-like creature some distance away. This one was alive, but barely. It crouched low to the ground, its body trembling as though every muscle had locked up in terror. It wasn¡¯t moving. Not even a twitch. ¡°Interesting,¡± I muttered under my breath, narrowing my eyes as I analyzed the situation. The horrifying monster continued its slow pace, seemingly unaware of the living deer nearby. Its movements were methodical, almost robotic, as though it were following some pre-programmed routine. It wasn¡¯t searching actively, at least not in a way that involved sight. It senses movement, piecing together what I was seeing. And probably sound. It made sense. With no eyes or obvious sensory organs, the creature was likely relying on vibrations, sound waves, or some other method of detecting prey.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. I turned my attention back to the deer-like creature, noting its trembling body and wide, terrified eyes. It wasn¡¯t going to move. Not unless it had no other choice. The monster finished its grotesque feeding, standing upright as the jagged chest cavity that had devoured the deer snapped shut. Blood, scraps of flesh, and shards of bone dripped from its body, hitting the forest floor with wet, sickening splats. I grimaced, watching the gore trail down the bone-like legs as the creature let out a new, horrifying sound. Clicking and grinding, the noises erupted from its body, echoing unnervingly through the unnaturally silent forest. It was as though the creature¡¯s very existence was a violation of reality itself, a reminder that nothing here followed natural laws. The monster, meanwhile, continued its slow patrol, its long, pointed legs clicking against the ground as it wandered aimlessly. Every step was deliberate, calculated, its movements too precise to be natural. But what felt weird was that It didn¡¯t moved quite right , it was difficult to put in words but felt more like a machine that has outdated software. Channeling Exira to level 2, I felt the surge of power course through me, sharp and intense, like a jolt of electricity snapping across every nerve. My vision sharpened, my muscles tensed, and the familiar strain hit the edges of my mind like a vice tightening around my skull. I didn¡¯t hesitate. I slammed the weight of my Exira into the monster, focusing the energy to crash down on it like a sledgehammer. The effect was immediate. The creature¡¯s head snapped toward me, the blank oval of bone staring in my direction as though it had suddenly noticed me for the first time. Its body shuddered, faltering under the pressure, but only for a moment. And then it screeched. The sound was ear-splitting, raw and unrelenting, like metal tearing against stone. The noise alone was enough to make me clench my jaw, but the worst part was the way it began moving toward me, stumbling at first under the Exira¡¯s pressure before quickly regaining its balance. ¡°Well, fuck¡­¡± I muttered, exhaling slowly, ¡°plan B then.¡± I raised my swords, channeling Exira into them with practiced precision. The green and white veins etched into their surfaces began to glow, faint at first but quickly intensifying as they hummed with raw power. The sound was subtle, almost like a distant vibration, but I could feel the energy radiating from the blades in waves. The monster screeched again, the sound ripping through the air as it lunged at me. I sidestepped, twisting my body out of the way as its massive frame sailed past me. My sword lashed out in the same motion, the blade slicing cleanly through its neck. The monster¡¯s head dropped to the ground with a dull thud, but my triumph was short-lived. Its body didn¡¯t fall. Instead, it twisted unnaturally, its legs stabbing forward with horrifying speed. ¡°What the¡ª¡± I barely had time to react, throwing myself backward as one of the bone-like legs struck the ground where I¡¯d been standing. The thing was relentless. It didn¡¯t give me a single moment to regroup, its legs stabbing at me again and again in a flurry of brutal, precise strikes. I parried one of the blows with my swords, the impact rattling up my arms as I redirected the monster¡¯s mass. It stumbled forward, its weight shifting awkwardly as it struggled to regain balance. I didn¡¯t waste the opportunity. With a sharp inhale, I drove both blades forward, plunging them directly into the exposed chest cavity of the creature. The energy-infused swords tore through the bone-like armor with a crackling surge of power, embedding deep into its core. The monster stilled. Its limbs jerked spasmodically before collapsing under its own weight, the body hitting the ground with a deafening crash. I let out a shaky breath, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly as I stepped back, my swords still humming faintly in my hands. Haaa..that was quite easy¡­ with how terrifying this thing looked¡­ But the relief was fleeting. My senses flared with a sudden warning, the familiar prickle of danger snapping me out of my momentary reprieve. Before I could react, something burst out of the shattered remains of the monster¡¯s chest¡ªa smaller, faster shape, covered in the same bone-like armor. ¡°Shit!¡± The thing lunged at me, its claws latching onto my chest with brutal force. The impact sent me tumbling backward, the weight of the creature pinning me down as I hit the ground hard. Pain shot through me, the sharp sting of its claws tearing into my skin as I struggled against its grip. Its face¡ªor lack of one¡ªwas inches from mine, the blank oval of bone somehow more horrifying up close. ¡°Fuck!¡± I snarled, channeling Exira again as I fought to break free, the forest spinning around me. . .
Chapter 049 - The parasite
"Fuck!" I spat, the word ripping from my throat as pain tore through my chest. Looking down, I saw the thing latched onto me¡ªa grotesque bug-like abomination, its sharp, needle-like legs embedded in my flesh. Its body was small compared to the larger monster, but no less horrifying. Covered in segmented bone-like plates, it pulsed and twitched as if it were feeding on me, and the sensation sent a wave of nausea crashing over me. Then came the pain. ¡°AAHHH!¡± I screamed. I felt like my chest was being torn open, every nerve alight with searing heat. ¡°No, no, no!¡± Panic surged as I tried to pull it off. My fingers slipped against its slick, chitinous surface, and the sharp claws dug deeper, sending another wave of fiery agony through my chest. The world around me blurred, the oppressive red hues of the forest tilting and swirling. My knees buckled, and I barely caught myself before hitting the ground. ¡°Get the fuck off me!" I instinctively channeled Exira, forcing the energy to surge through me in a desperate attempt to shake the creature loose. Energy surged from my core, spreading through my body like wildfire, but when it reached the parasite, it fizzled out uselessly. Nothing. The monster didn¡¯t even flinch, as though the Exira was nothing more than a gentle breeze against its grotesque frame. ¡°Shit, shit, shit!¡± The panic climbed higher. My limbs felt heavier with each second, exhaustion threatening to drag me under. Whatever this thing was, it wasn¡¯t just attacking me¡ªit was draining me, sapping my strength with every grotesque twitch, vision blurred, the edges of the forest swimming as the world around me tilted. My swords. My gaze darted to where they lay, a few precious feet away. Too far. I might as well have been looking at them from the bottom of a well. My body wouldn¡¯t respond, muscles locked in place as if the creature¡¯s claws were siphoning my will along with my energy. "Move," I muttered to myself, gritting my teeth as I tried to push the creature off with my hands. My muscles screamed in protest, my body barely responding as exhaustion threatened to drag me under. ¡°No. No. Not like this,¡± I whispered, the words barely audible as I clawed at the creature weakly. The world tilted again, my head swimming as darkness crept in from the edges of my sight. My body felt heavy, my limbs like dead weight, and I could feel my mind shutting down, inch by inch. Then, something¡­ shifted. It was faint at first, like a whisper in the back of my mind. A source of energy¡ªnot Exira, not anything I recognized¡ªbut something new, and deeply unfamiliar. It hummed with power, resonating somewhere deep within me, and before I could even think, I reached for it. The energy answered. With a surge that was almost violent, it coursed through my body, sharp and unrelenting. It was nothing like Exira¡¯s controlled warmth¡ªthis was wild, chaotic, and unrefined, but it was power. My vision blurred further, the world fading into a haze of red and black as I grabbed the creature with both hands. My fingers locked around its segmented body, feeling the hard, chitinous plates beneath my grip. The energy poured into me, surging to my fingertips as I squeezed. The bug-like creature twitched violently, its body jerking and thrashing as if it had finally noticed my resistance. But I didn¡¯t stop. Through the haze, I heard a sound¡ªa sharp, wet pop, followed by the sickening squish of something breaking apart. The pressure on my chest eased. The pain dulled. And then, everything went dark. ... I woke with a sharp gasp, lungs burning as I sat bolt upright. My heart pounded against my ribcage, a wild rhythm that echoed in my ears. For a moment, I didn¡¯t know where I was. The forest blurred, shadows twisting and bending as my vision adjusted. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The fight. The bug-like thing¡ª My chest burned, and my hand flew instinctively to it, expecting to feel claws still embedded in me, draining whatever they¡¯d been after. My fingers scrambled over my armor, searching for punctures or holes. But there was¡­ nothing. I exhaled sharply, relief flooding me as I slumped slightly. ¡°It¡¯s gone¡­¡± I muttered, my voice hoarse and shaky. My hands roamed the mended armor, where faint marks remained where the creature¡¯s claws had pierced through. They were already fading, and I could feel the material repairing itself, slow but steady. Out of habit, I brought my left hand to touch my chest, just to double-check, but the moment my fingers moved into view, my heart lurched again. ¡°What the fuck?!¡± A scream ripped from my throat as I flinched away from my own hand, nearly falling over in my panic. The thing attached to my arm¡ªbecause surely it wasn¡¯t my hand¡ªwas monstrous, dripping with an oily black sheen that caught the faint red glow of the forest. Its elongated, claw-like fingers flexed and twitched involuntarily, sharp points glinting as though mocking me. I scrambled back, shaking my arm violently, as though the creature itself might dislodge and fall off. The sharp claws only clicked together in response, and the oily substance clung stubbornly to my skin. ¡°Get off, get off, get off!¡± I shouted, shaking harder, sweat beading on my forehead. My breaths came quick and shallow, panic rising in my chest like a tidal wave. Whatever this was, it wasn¡¯t natural. It wasn¡¯t right. But the more I stared, the clearer the horrifying truth became. This wasn¡¯t something latched onto me. This was my hand. "No, no, no¡­ What the hell is this?" I whispered, staring at the mutated appendage. My claws curled reflexively, and I could feel every movement, every subtle twitch. The claws were sharp, dagger-like, and dripping with an inky, viscous liquid. ¡°Da fuck is that?¡± I muttered, my voice filled with both fear and disgust as I clenched and unclenched the claws. They moved perfectly in sync with my thoughts, as though they were a natural extension of me¡ªexcept they weren¡¯t. My thumb remained relatively normal, but the other fingers¡­ elongated, sharp, and alien. I glanced around frantically, trying to reorient myself. The area where I had collapsed was littered with blood and shattered bark, and not far from where I sat lay the remains of the bug-like creature that had attacked me. Or rather, what was left of it. It was a squished, punctured mess, its body ruptured and mangled beyond recognition. The faint glow of its bone-like armor had faded entirely, and the oily ichor that coated it was eerily similar to what now coated my claws. My stomach churned at the sight. ¡°Oh, great,¡± I muttered, shaking my head. ¡°I squished the damn thing to death, didn¡¯t I?¡± The realization that the chaotic energy I¡¯d felt earlier, the raw, untamed power¡ªthis must¡¯ve been it''s doing. ¡°That¡¯s just fantastic,¡± I said bitterly, staring at my hand again. The claws gleamed faintly, still dripping with that dark substance. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the frantic pounding of my heart. Panicking wasn¡¯t going to fix this. ¡°Okay, Lexi,¡± I muttered to myself, clenching and unclenching my claws as though testing them. ¡°One crisis at a time. Freaky claw hand first. Existential dread later.¡± Closing my eyes, I forced myself to focus, letting the flow of Exira calm me. The energy coursed through my body, steadying my nerves as I sank into a meditative state. The claws twitched again, and I directed Exira toward my left arm, searching for any anomaly. As the energy flowed, I found it¡ªa faint, unfamiliar strand of power interwoven with my own. It wasn¡¯t Exira. "Great," I muttered, narrowing my focus on the strand. "So, that¡¯s the essence I picked up." I think El forgot to mention this in his memo... It was chaotic, pulsing with a rhythm that was distinctly alien. It radiated the same raw, primal energy I¡¯d felt when I crushed the bug-like creature, a fragment of something violent and alive. ¡°Cool,¡± I said, voice dripping with sarcasm as I flexed my clawed fingers. ¡°Love the whole demon-hand aesthetic, but I kind of need my normal hand back.¡± Taking another deep breath, I focused on the strand of energy, willing it to stop. Nothing. It pulsed stubbornly, completely ignoring my attempts to suppress it. ¡°Of course, it doesn¡¯t work,¡± I muttered, frustration creeping into my voice. Shifting tactics, I held both arms out in front of me, focusing on my right hand. Its normal, familiar shape was a stark contrast to the monstrous claws of my left. I visualized the right hand¡¯s image, clear and precise in my mind, and then superimposed it onto my left. "Come on," I muttered, gritting my teeth. "Work with me here." I felt the foreign energy resist for a moment, writhing against my will like a caged beast. But I kept pushing, forcing the Exira to sever the connection between it and my body. Finally, with a sharp snap, the strands of energy broke. The claws retracted instantly, the inky blackness evaporating like smoke in the wind. My left hand returned to its normal form, fingers flexing weakly as I stared at it in relief. ¡°Hah,¡± I said, letting out a shaky laugh. ¡°At least I didn¡¯t fuck it up entirely.¡± Still sitting on the forest floor, I leaned back and rubbed my temples, exhaustion beginning to creep over me. The energy I¡¯d tapped into had left me drained, and the strain of forcing it back felt like running headfirst into a brick wall. But at least I was me again. For now.
Chapter 050 - Finally I know what this Essence do
The air hung heavy with the metallic tang of blood and something sharper, more unnatural. I turned my hand over, flexing the fingers experimentally. Everything looked normal¡ªskin, nails, flesh¡ªbut it didn¡¯t feel right. Whoa¡­ I really need to use this essence with caution. So what I know about this power or essence¡­hmm¡­ I got this essence from the overlord at the lizard''s monster''s den and that fucker did transformed too¡­ Remembering the flesh and bone horror the overlord transformed himself into, I shuddered at the thought I may become like that. Yeah no messing around with this essence till I figure this out¡­ "Fuu," I muttered, clenching my left hand into a fist. The motion was smooth, natural even, but unease prickled at the edges of my thoughts. I opened and closed it again, twisting my wrist. The damn thing was perfect like nothing had ever happened. And yet¡­ ¡°This essence is terrifying,¡± I said aloud, my voice barely breaking the oppressive silence around me. That surge of power wasn¡¯t just energy. The memory of my hand reshaping into a claw, bone grinding, and sinew twisting, sent a shiver down my spine. ¡°Damn it,¡± I hissed, dragging my palm down my face as if I could wipe the lingering feeling away. I¡¯d tapped into the essence to crush the parasite, but it hadn¡¯t been intentional. My hand had shifted not because I wanted it to, but because I¡¯d envisioned it¡ªa claw, perfect for ripping and tearing. What if it hadn¡¯t shifted back? The thought hung there, heavy and suffocating. If I¡¯d held onto that form a second longer, would my body have been permanently warped? Would I even still be human? I exhaled sharply, snatching my journal from the ring and flipping to a blank page. Writing has always helped me sort through the chaos, and right now, I needed clarity more than ever. Pencil in hand, I scrawled down the essentials:
Journal Entry Something transforming related essence Info - body-altering energy, reacts to focus and imagination. Temporary but risky - longer use could lead to permanent changes for now the extent of change and the power is unknown. Source - The Lizard overlord at the Den. Note - Avoid use until I get more information.
I stared at the words, the weight of them pressing down on me. this essence wasn¡¯t just dangerous¡ªit was a Pandora¡¯s box, one I couldn¡¯t afford to leave unopened.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Shoving the journal back into my ring, I forced myself to my feet. The air was too still, the oppressive silence amplifying every rustle of leaves, every creak of the twisted forest. The parasite¡¯s body lay sprawled on the ground, its translucent form glinting faintly in the weak sunlight that filtered through the canopy. I crouched beside it, channeling Exira as a precaution. No movement. No life. It was dead, but I wasn¡¯t about to take chances. ¡°Alrighty, you slimy mf,¡± I muttered, drawing my knife and using it to flip the thing over. The creature¡¯s body was snake-like, but its head¡ªor what passed for a head¡ªresembled a claw, complete with jagged teeth where the palm would have been. The translucent flesh revealed a faintly glowing orb embedded deep within its core. ¡°The hell is that?¡± I wondered aloud, leaning closer. The orb pulsed faintly, like a dying ember, radiating a strange, subdued energy. This wasn¡¯t essence¡ªnot the kind I recognized, anyway. It felt more¡­ alchemical. Using my gloves, I carefully lifted the remains, avoiding direct contact with the orb. Whatever it was, I wasn¡¯t poking it without knowing more. ¡°Into the ring you go,¡± I muttered, isolating it in a separate atmosphere. Straightening, I turned my attention to the larger corpse¡ªthe bone-like abomination that had erupted from the tree during the fight. Its twisted form lay in a heap, massive legs splayed at awkward angles. I approached cautiously, the memory of its scythe-like claws too fresh to dismiss. The thing¡¯s body was encased in chitinous armor, its surface polished to a smooth, eerie sheen. I ran my knife along it, noting how the blade left only a faint scratch. ¡°Hmmm¡± I murmured. ¡° Tough Exoskeleton but its physical strength was weaker than expected¡­ it''s more of an ambush predator¡± Crouching beside the chest cavity, I inspected the ribcage. The jagged bones had snapped open during the fight, leaving a gaping hole that revealed its internal structure. The sight made my skin crawl. No organs. No heart, lungs, or intestines. Just rows of jagged teeth and a fleshy sack that pulsed faintly. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s just lovely,¡± I muttered, grimacing as I sliced into the sack. The stench hit me immediately, a nauseating mix of rot and sweetness. I gagged, covering my nose with my sleeve as I examined the contents. The sack was lined with more teeth¡ªhundreds of them, curved inward like a grinder. ¡°So that¡¯s how you eat,¡± I said, shaking my head in disgust. ¡°Teeth on the outside, teeth on the inside. A walking nightmare.¡± I used my knife to pry out a piece of the chitin, testing its strength. It was lightweight yet incredibly durable¡ªa perfect material for crafting, if I could refine it. Satisfied, I stored the remains in my ring. Whatever I couldn¡¯t analyze here, I¡¯d deal with later. A faint rustling in the underbrush drew my attention. I froze, hand instinctively moving to my side. My eyes scanned the shadows, searching for any sign of movement. Nothing. Still, I wasn¡¯t taking any chances. ¡°Smart move running off,¡± I muttered, thinking of the deer-like creature that had fled earlier. ¡°I¡¯d do the same if I could.¡± That reminds me ¡­ seeing the reaction of the deer¡­ these things must be common or something the deer occasionally run into¡­ ughh yeah no¡­Exira doesn¡¯t work well on them and I¡¯m sure as hell not using the essence¡­ I turned back toward the river. The sound of rushing water was faint but steady, a lifeline in this twisted forest and some open area. Following it was the safest option¡ªrelatively speaking, anyway. As I moved, the weight of the fight lingered. The monsters here weren¡¯t just dangerous¡ªthey were wrong, twisted in ways that defied logic. The Overlord¡¯s mutation essence, the parasite¡¯s core, the bone creature¡¯s teeth-lined sack¡­ It all pointed to something deeper, something far worse than what I¡¯d faced so far. The air grew heavier with each step, the shadows deeper. My hand tightened around the hilt of my knife as I navigated the gnarled roots and uneven ground. The forest seemed alive, its branches reaching like skeletal fingers, its canopy blocking out all but the faintest light. ¡°Yeah, no thanks,¡± I muttered, stepping carefully over a particularly large root. ¡°Not in the mood to meet whatever¡¯s worse than you guys.¡± The sound of the river grew louder, a steady reassurance in the otherwise stifling silence. My thoughts shifted to the next steps¡ªanalyzing the orb, refining the chitin, and experimenting with mutation essence. Whatever this forest held, I needed to be ready. ¡°One step at a time, Lexi,¡± I said, more to myself than anything else. This place was hell, but I wasn¡¯t about to let it break me. Not yet.
Chapter 051 - THE DUNGEON
The twisted forest loomed behind me like a lurking predator as I walked along the riverbank. Fuuu finally I¡¯m not deep in that fucked up forest¡­ughhh yeah not entering this place anytime soon¡­let¡¯s hope the fragment is not pointing back in.. The soft babble of the river beside me was a comfort, though the faint echoes of clicking and grinding still lingered in the back of my mind. I reached into my pouch and pulled out the runic fragment, holding it loosely in my palm. Its dull glow flared faintly, the faint pull stronger than before. I could feel it directing me, like an invisible hand tugging at my mind, guiding me along the river¡¯s edge. ¡°Alright,¡± I muttered, tucking the fragment away as I scanned my surroundings. ¡°At least I¡¯m moving in the right direction.¡± Hmmm~la¡­.hymmm mmm I walked for hours with nothing but humming to myself and for once in a while enjoying the calm scenery, the sun dipping lower into the horizon as the air grew cooler. By the time twilight blanketed the landscape, I¡¯d caught a few fish with makeshift traps I¡¯d set up earlier. The small victories felt like a luxury in this strange, hostile world. Settling by the river, I gathered wood and lit a bonfire, the flames crackling softly in the quiet night. I skewered the fish on sharp sticks and placed them above the fire, watching as their silver skins turned golden-brown. The aroma wafted through the air, pulling a small, tired smile from my lips. ¡°Finally, something that doesn¡¯t smell like death,¡± I muttered, poking at the fish to turn them. Mmhmmm fish tastes so good and is something that is actually juicy.. The night passed uneventfully¡ªa rare blessing. After eating my fill and storing the remaining fish in my pack, I leaned back against a flat rock, letting the warmth of the fire lull me into a light sleep. The next morning, I woke to the sun casting long shadows over the riverbank. Stretching, I rolled my shoulders and got to work with a basic exercise routine. Push-ups, stretches, and shadow drills with my swords¡ªall necessary to keep my body sharp and my mind grounded. After a quick breakfast of leftover fish, I pulled out the runic fragment again. Its glow was brighter now, the pull sharper, more insistent. I stood there for a moment, feeling the fragment¡¯s energy like a pulse in my hand. It was leading me somewhere, that much was certain. "Guess it¡¯s time," I said, sighing heavily as I sheathed my swords. The pull guided me away from the riverbank, deep into the forest once more. This time, the path was quieter, the foliage less oppressive. But the unease never left me. My swords remained in my hands as I moved carefully, keeping low and silent. Hours passed as I followed the fragment¡¯s guidance, its pull growing stronger with every step. Eventually, the forest thinned out, and I found myself in a small clearing. That¡¯s when I saw it. In front of me stood a massive stone monument, partially buried in the earth and overgrown with moss and vines. It towered over the clearing, ancient and imposing, its surface etched with intricate, alien symbols that seemed to pulse faintly with energy. The feeling hit me like a punch to the gut. Huh¡­this feeling and energy signature¡­feels I¡¯ve seen it before¡­ I froze, my gaze locked on the monument as a wave of familiarity washed over me. The energy radiating from the structure was suffocating, its weight pressing down on my chest like an iron hand.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°Why does this feel so¡­ familiar?¡± I whispered, gripping the runic fragment tightly. The fragment burned hot in my hand, its glow syncing with the monument¡¯s energy, the two forces resonating with each other. Exira flared within me without warning, wild and untamed, as the memories surfaced. NO.NO NO¡­haaaaaaa breathe in Lexi¡­calm¡­fuck goddammit I staggered, biting down on my lip as a sharp pain shot through my head. My fists clenched, nails digging into my palms until I felt the wet warmth of blood seeping between my fingers. ¡°Why?!¡± I shouted, my voice breaking the silence of the clearing. The question escaped me again, louder this time, tinged with a desperation I couldn¡¯t fully understand. ¡°Why?! Why?! WHY?!¡± Each word tore itself from my throat as though screaming would force the monument to answer. My chest heaved with ragged breaths, and the air around me grew heavy with the crackling of energy. Exira surged to level 3, the strain ripping through my body as lightning arced across my arms and flames crackled at my fingertips. Fuhh fuhhh¡­damn it¡­. The darkness wrapped around me like a suffocating shroud, endless and inescapable. My mind spiraled further, fractured under the weight of emotions I couldn¡¯t control. Anger, grief, confusion¡ªthey swirled together in a storm that threatened to pull me under completely. And then, a chill. It started faint, like a whisper at the back of my neck, before spreading outward. The coldness cut through the chaos, sharp and grounding, like ice piercing through boiling water. I felt it seep into my thoughts, silencing the erratic storm as my senses began to steady. My earring. The faint glow of its enchantment pulsed lightly against my skin, a constant, calming presence. It didn¡¯t scream or roar like the monument or Exira¡ªit was subtle, precise, and unyielding. The chill anchored me, pulling me back from the edge of whatever abyss I had almost fallen into. My breathing slowed, the flames and lightning flickering out as Exira receded to a manageable hum. My hands dropped from my head as I blinked, my vision clearing to reveal the clearing once more. The monument stood tall in front of me, unchanged and unrelenting. My gaze hardened as the last tendrils of chaos faded into cold clarity. Without thinking, I clenched my fists and surged forward. My knuckles collided with the cold stone, the sharp impact sending a jolt up my arm. Pain flared instantly, but I didn¡¯t care. Again, I punched, the force of my blow sending small cracks spidering out along the surface. Blood seeped from my battered knuckles, staining the ancient carvings as I hit the monument again and again. "Why?!" I snarled, my voice raw as I slammed my fist against the unyielding surface. The world around me was silent except for the sound of my fists striking stone. The pain in my hands was a dull echo compared to the anger burning in my chest. The monument didn¡¯t answer, of course¡ªit just stood there, indifferent. It wasn¡¯t until my strength began to ebb that I finally stopped, my chest heaving with every breath. I stared at the bloodied surface of the monument, my vision blurring as the rage slowly gave way to exhaustion. As the haze cleared, I finally noticed the carvings more clearly. The intricate symbols, the faint pulsing energy¡ªit wasn¡¯t just a monument. It was a gate. "A dungeon, a mf dungeon," I muttered, my voice barely audible. The words felt foreign on my tongue. I stared at it, my mind slowly piecing together the realization that had been clawing at me for days. The runic fragment, the unfamiliar power systems, the twisted landscape, the strange creatures... I wasn¡¯t in a dungeon. The truth hit me like a sledgehammer. I wasn¡¯t even in my own world. I felt the weight of it settle on my chest, cold and unrelenting. All the hints had been there¡ªthe elves, the mutation essence, the strange physics of this place¡ªbut I had ignored them, clinging to the hope that I¡¯d find an answer within some grand dungeon. But this wasn¡¯t a dungeon. This was something else entirely. ¡°Fuck,¡± I whispered, the word trembling on my lips. ¡°I¡¯m in a different world.¡± The sky above was darkening now, streaks of crimson and orange fading into the encroaching night. A single tear slipped down my face, unbidden, as the full weight of my isolation settled over me. For the first time, I truly understood how far I was from everything I had ever known.
Chapter 052 - Dungeon Diving
The weight of the realization sat heavily on my chest as I stared at the stone monument¡ªthe so-called dungeon gate. My knuckles still throbbed, the blood seeping from fresh cuts and staining the intricate carvings. I didn¡¯t care. My mind was a whirlwind, every thought spiraling into darker places. A different world. The phrase circled endlessly in my head, refusing to fade. It wasn¡¯t just the words¡ªit was the implications, the undeniable truth. Everything I¡¯d ever known, every connection, every place, was gone. Not just distant, but unreachable. A chasm too wide to cross, no matter how far I pushed forward. fuuu I took a shaky step back from the gate, my legs heavier with every move. The chill of the clearing¡¯s air brushed against my sweat-drenched skin, a stark contrast to the fire building in my chest. Anger, frustration, and grief clawed at me, threatening to pull me under. "Keep it together," I muttered hoarsely. My voice sounded foreign, weak. "Not here. Not now." But the words did little to ground me. I turned away from the gate, retreating into the forest until the trees surrounded me like a protective wall. Only then did I stop to take a breath, slumping against the trunk of an ancient tree. The forest here felt different. Unlike the gnarled and twisted horrors I¡¯d walked through before, these trees were tall and majestic, their branches forming a canopy that let in just enough sunlight to bathe the ground in a soft glow. A brook bubbled gently nearby, it''s clear water winding through moss-covered rocks. It was peaceful¡ªalmost unnervingly so. I let my pack slide off my shoulders and dropped it onto the ground. My swords followed, placed carefully within arm¡¯s reach. I couldn¡¯t risk being caught unprepared, even in this calm. The first step was to build a fire. I gathered wood and arranged it into a neat stack, striking flint until the flames caught. The crackling sound was soothing, and as the warmth spread, some of the tension in my shoulders began to ease. Sitting by the fire, I pulled out the meager supplies left in my pack: a bit of dried meat, some fish I¡¯d caught earlier, and a handful of foraged berries. Skewering a fish, I held it over the flames, watching as its silver skin browned and curled. The smell was rich and smoky, a rare comfort in this world of constant dread. But even as I ate, the food barely registered. My thoughts were elsewhere. Night crept in slowly, the sky fading from orange to deep indigo. Stars emerged, brighter and sharper than I¡¯d ever seen before. They stretched across the heavens in constellations I didn¡¯t recognize, their unfamiliarity a painful reminder of how far I was from home.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. For the first time since arriving here, I let myself feel the full weight of my isolation. My family. My friends. Every familiar face, every comforting place¡ªit was all gone, ripped away without warning or reason. The firelight danced across my face as my eyes stung with unshed tears. I clenched my hands into fists, but it did nothing to stop the wave of emotion building inside me. It broke like a dam, and before I knew it, tears streamed down my face. Silent at first, then harder, until my shoulders shook with the force of it. The forest stayed quiet, offering no judgment. The fire crackled softly, the only sound in the stillness. When the tears finally stopped, I felt hollow, like the act of crying had drained the very energy from my soul. But the ache in my chest was lighter now, bearable. ¡°I¡¯m still here,¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible. The words felt like a lifeline. ¡°I¡¯m still alive.¡± Morning came with a faint golden light filtering through the canopy. The brook¡¯s gentle sound greeted me as I stirred, my muscles stiff from a night on the ground. I stretched, shaking off the lingering grogginess, and began my usual routine. Push-ups, stretches, shadow drills with my swords¡ªit was muscle memory now, a necessary ritual to keep my body sharp and my mind focused. After a light meal of berries and dried meat, I inspected my gear. Every strap, every blade, every piece of armor¡ªI couldn¡¯t afford to let anything fail me. The runic fragment¡¯s pull was sharper now, its faint hum almost insistent. It didn¡¯t just tug at me physically; it resonated in my thoughts, a constant reminder of the path ahead. ¡°Back to the gate,¡± I said aloud, the words steadying me. I strapped on my gear, sheathed my swords, and set off. The forest seemed friendlier this time. Or maybe I was just more attuned to its rhythm, the way its shadows danced and its light shifted. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and greenery. But the unease in my chest never fully left. My steps were careful, deliberate, my hand never straying far from my weapons. When I reached the clearing, the gate stood exactly as I¡¯d left it. Its imposing stone frame towered over the trees, the carvings on its surface pulsing faintly in the sunlight. I approached it slowly, every step deliberate. This time, there was no anger, no desperate screams for answers. Just a quiet determination. I placed a hand on the cold stone, its surface rough under my fingertips. The runic fragment in my pouch flared to life, its energy syncing with the gate in a hum that reverberated through my body. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s waiting for me in there,¡± I said softly, my voice carrying only as far as the clearing. ¡°But I¡¯ll face it. One step at a time.¡± The air seemed to shift, growing heavier with a tangible energy. The carvings on the gate glowed brighter, their faint hum rising into a low, resonant vibration. The ground beneath me trembled, and a sharp wind tore through the clearing, rustling the trees like a warning. I stepped back, gripping the fragment tightly as the gate¡¯s energy built to a crescendo. The light from the carvings burst outward, blinding for a moment, before fading into a soft, pulsing glow. The gate was open. My heart pounded as I stared into the swirling void beyond the stone frame. It was impossible to see what lay on the other side¡ªonly darkness, shifting and alive, as though daring me to step through. I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Fear clawed at my chest, but I shoved it down. No turning back. With a final glance at the forest behind me, I stepped through the gate and into the unknown.
Chapter 053 - Goblins??
I woke to the golden light of dawn filtering through the forest canopy above, streaks of sunlight dancing across the verdant leaves like the forest was alive with its own quiet breath. For a moment, I just lay there, the sounds of rustling branches and distant birdsong lulling me into a rare moment of peace. It was such a sharp contrast to the oppressive, tangled horrors of the twisted forest I¡¯d left behind that I almost didn¡¯t trust it. It was so¡­ calm, I spent a day just lazing around and eating. Unexpectedly the environment inside the dungeon was so calm and beautiful that I had to take a rest¡­rest to put all the thoughts to rest and sort my way forward. ¡°Alright,¡± I muttered, sitting up and stretching. ¡°Time to make myself useful, can¡¯t have crying of the my twisted destiny¡­haaa¡± I started by exploring the immediate area around the area I decided to set up a temporary camp. The forest was denser than I¡¯d first realized, but not in a claustrophobic way. Towering trees with thick, sturdy trunks stretched high into the sky, their interwoven branches creating a natural roof of green. The sunlight filtered through in patches, dappling the ground in patterns that shifted with the breeze. The underbrush was lush but manageable, the occasional ferns and bushes growing low enough not to obstruct my path completely. As I moved, I kept my swords at my sides, though they felt more like a precaution here than a necessity. This place didn¡¯t feel hostile. But I wasn¡¯t stupid. The quiet was a double-edged sword. It could mean there weren¡¯t any immediate threats nearby¡­ or it could mean the threats were very good at hiding. ¡°Better safe than sorry, haa focus Lexi you are in a dungeon and¡­and damn it haaa¡­¡± Regardless of how much I try to distract myself my stupid brain keeps homing on the fact that I¡¯m lost, lost my way back home, huff¡­ I scanned the foliage, looking for anything that attracted my gaze stupid for sure very unclear what exactly was going on in my mind but well I had to try and scavenge. It didn¡¯t take long to spot a cluster of berries growing on a bush near the base of a tree. Crouching down, I inspected the berries closely. They were a deep purple, almost black, with a faint sheen that caught the sunlight. ¡°Okay, these look like something I¡¯d eat¡­ if I wasn¡¯t worried about dying horribly.¡± Pulling out my knife, I carefully cut a few of the berries free and dropped them into a small pouch. Testing them would come later, but for now, I wasn¡¯t taking any chances. Further along, I found what looked like wild tubers growing in the soft soil near the roots of a tree. Their earthy smell reminded me of sweet potatoes, though their shape was slightly more elongated. ¡°Good find,¡± I muttered, digging them out with the knife and brushing off the dirt. By midday, I¡¯d gathered a decent haul: berries, tubers, a handful of leaves that smelled faintly of mint, and some mushrooms I recognized from foraging trips back home. ¡°Not bad,¡± I said, tying the pouch closed and slinging it over my shoulder. ¡°Could use some meat, though.¡± As I moved deeper into the forest, I couldn¡¯t help but notice how alive everything felt. Insects buzzed faintly in the distance, their hum blending with the soft rustle of leaves. Birds flitted between the trees, their songs high and clear, adding a rhythm to the forest that was strangely comforting. The air itself was fresh, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and wildflowers. It was a far cry from the oppressive, suffocating atmosphere of the twisted forest, where every breath had felt like a struggle. Here, it was easy to forget that I wasn¡¯t supposed to be here at all. "Peaceful, unlike that damn twisted forest¡­that place was giving me creeps..ugh if the outer monsters were like that bony monstrosity¡­wait¡­since there was a parasite type thing inside, or was that the actual body¡­umm great now I have freaking monster species piloting mechs¡­" I murmured, running my fingers along the rough bark of a tree as I passed. ¡°And this place is too peaceful.¡± Despite the calm, I stayed alert. My eyes scanned the ground for tracks, my ears tuned to every sound that stood out from the forest¡¯s natural rhythm. The last thing I needed was to stumble into something nasty while I was distracted by the scenery. At least my mood had improved a little and no longer did I want to just smash open things¡­ But every now and then, I¡¯d catch myself pausing, my gaze lingering on the horizon as the weight of my situation crept back in. I wasn¡¯t just wandering a forest. I was wandering an entirely different world, one where every step took me further from the life I¡¯d left behind. The thought was enough to tighten the knot in my chest, but I pushed it down.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°Not now,¡± I muttered, shaking my head as I adjusted the pouch on my shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ll figure it out. One step at a time.¡± fuuu The forest¡¯s calm was abruptly broken by faint noises¡ªscattered rustling, punctuated by high-pitched chattering. I froze, my body going still as my ears strained to pick out the direction. It wasn¡¯t the sound of the wind brushing against leaves or the rhythmic hum of insects. No, this was deliberate. Something¡ªor someone¡ªwas moving nearby. I crouched instinctively, staying low to the ground as I scanned the area. The sounds came again, a bit clearer this time, from the west. A chorus of sharp, guttural voices, mixed with the soft crunch of footsteps on foliage. Gripping the hilts of my swords, I moved silently toward the noise, keeping to the shadows of the trees. My footsteps were slow and deliberate, each one carefully placed to avoid snapping any twigs or disturbing the brush. The closer I got, the clearer the voices became¡ªraspy and uneven, like the chatter of animals trying to mimic human speech. Peering through the underbrush, I spotted them. Four small figures stood in a rough circle, their misshapen bodies hunched and jittery. Their skin was a sickly green, mottled with patches of darker shades, and their faces were twisted caricatures of humanity¡ªbroad noses, sharp teeth, and narrow eyes that glinted with a feral cunning. Goblins, a memory surfaced about the creature. They were smaller than I¡¯d expected, standing just over three feet tall, but their movements were quick and erratic, their wiry frames taut with nervous energy. Each one carried a crude weapon¡ªtwo with rusted daggers, one with a club made from a gnarled tree branch, and the last with a jagged bone knife that looked like it had been carved hastily. Goblins weren¡¯t just pests¡ªthey were opportunistic and vicious. If they were here, they were likely scouting, hunting, or worse¡­ preparing for an ambush, and worst of all these fucks are horde type creatures¡­likely there will be outposts or their camps. Ughh and if I remember correctly these bastards reproduce way too quickly too¡­ I may be facing hundreds of goblins if I ever attacked their camp. I stayed low, watching them closely from the shadows. They were arguing about something, though their guttural language was incomprehensible to me. One of them jabbed a finger at the other¡¯s weapon, snarling as it gestured wildly. keuk¡­heuk..jeukkk The others laughed, a sharp, cruel sound that grated on my ears. For a moment, I debated leaving. There was no sign of more goblins nearby, and picking a fight might be more trouble than it was worth. ¡°I¡¯m in a dungeon for god¡¯s sake Lexi, for how long can I avoid confrontation¡± I said softly, gripping the hilts of my swords. ¡°Let¡¯s make this quick.¡± I moved swiftly, stepping out of the shadows with both swords drawn. The goblins froze at the sudden movement, their heads snapping toward me as their laughter died in their throats. Fuuuu Taking a deep breath as I roused Exira and entered battle trance, my full focus on the enemies. More than them I need the kills, the blood. The first one, the closest to me, barely had time to react before I lunged. My blade cut through the air in a clean arc, slicing across its chest. Blood sprayed as it crumpled to the ground, its crude dagger clattering uselessly beside it as the body fell to the ground I stomped the head as it burst open spraying blood all over. The other goblin froze as they hesitated, their eyes widening in shock. I didn¡¯t give them time to recover. Cracking my neck as I dashed towards them. The nearest goblin raised its club, but its attack was sloppy, telegraphed by its exaggerated movements. I sidestepped easily, bringing my second sword down in a swift strike that cleaved through its shoulder, but I felt that anger bubbling up as instead of slicking clean I hacked at its body with both my swords, until it was nothing but minced meat. Keuk!...keu¡­grr..sss fuu¡­fu¡­huffff Something from the dying screams of the goblin woke me up as I gritted my teeth and threw away its body. Channeling Exira and raising it to level 2 as I felt myself calming. The rest of the goblins reacted together, rushing me with screams and raised weapons. The one with the jagged bone knife moved faster, its weapon flashing toward my side in a wide, horizontal slash. I parried with one sword, deflecting the blade with a sharp clang before spinning and driving my other sword into its gut. It gasped, its sharp teeth bared in a final, desperate snarl before collapsing to the ground. The last goblin hesitated, its dagger trembling in its grip as it stared at me with wide, panicked eyes. For a moment, I thought it might run, but instead, it let out a shrill screech and lunged wildly. Big mistake. I stepped forward, closing the distance in an instant. My blade arced upward in a precise, brutal strike, cutting through its neck in one clean motion. The goblin¡¯s head toppled to the ground, followed by its lifeless body. The clearing fell silent, the only sounds the soft rustle of leaves and the faint gurgling of blood pooling on the forest floor. I stood there for a moment, my chest rising and falling with controlled breaths as I surveyed the scene. The fight had lasted less than a minute, the goblins too slow and disorganized to pose a real threat. But I nearly lost myself in anger there¡­that¡­that would have destroyed my psyche. Fuck! Lexi¡­ I know I¡¯m lost but going berserk on these goblins who barely put up a fight would change that situation¡­I know even If I don¡¯t remember my full life I know Mom hates these actions the most¡­haaaa I crouched low, scanning the surrounding trees for any sign of movement. Goblins were opportunists, but they weren¡¯t stupid. If there were more nearby, they would have heard the commotion. After a few tense moments, I was satisfied that I was alone. I really need more self-therapy sessions or I swear I¡¯m gonna turn into a blood-crazed monster¡­ worst of all my essence also transforms me into monster-like characteristics¡­let¡¯s not lose my grip okay¡­ Standing, I wiped my blades clean on the grass before sheathing them. The forest was quiet again, but I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this encounter was just the beginning.
Chapter 054 - Rest and sleeping
The goblins lay lifeless at my feet, their crude weapons scattered across the bloodstained forest floor. After a quick search of their bodies, I stood, brushing my hands on my pants with a grimace. ¡°Nothing,¡± I muttered, irritation flickering in my voice. No useful supplies, no tools worth keeping¡ªjust scraps of leather and brittle bones fashioned into weapons. And gods I made a mess Looking at the two bodies which I killed in the beginning was¡­damn like bad¡­their state was bad¡­even If they were enemies still it was senseless brutality. Need to get a grip¡­don¡¯t wanna lose sight of myself there is already very little I know¡­remember of myself. With a sigh, I stepped back and surveyed the small clearing. Leaving the corpses here didn¡¯t sit right with me. Goblins attracted trouble, and their rotting bodies would only invite scavengers¡ªor worse. Reaching for Exira, I crouched near the bodies and them ablaze. The flames caught quickly, spreading across the pile of corpses with a satisfying crackle. The stench of burning flesh filled the air, acrid and heavy, but I didn¡¯t flinch. I watched the flames until the last of the bodies had crumbled to ash, ensuring nothing was left behind that could lead others here. ¡°Rest in ash, green fuckers¡­man, I don¡¯t remember much I get the feeling I really hate their kind,¡± I muttered under my breath as I turned away, heading deeper into the forest. The day passed uneventfully as I moved further from the site of the fight. The forest here was dense but quiet, its calm broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or chirping of birds. It was almost easy to forget where I was¡ªalmost. Despite the peace, I stayed alert, my eyes scanning for tracks and my ears tuned to the sounds around me. The encounter with the goblins had been a reminder of how quickly things could turn, and I wasn¡¯t about to let my guard down. But as the hours dragged on, there was nothing. No tracks, no signs of life, and no indication that I wasn¡¯t completely alone. By the time the sun dipped low on the horizon, I decided it was time to set up camp. I found a small clearing near a cluster of trees that formed a natural windbreak, their thick trunks shielding the area from the evening breeze. After gathering wood, I lit a bonfire in the center, its warmth spreading across the clearing as the forest grew darker. Sitting cross-legged by the fire, I pulled out the food I¡¯d collected earlier¡ªa mix of tubers, berries, and dried meat. Skewering the tubers on a stick, I held them over the flames, watching as the skins darkened and the faint aroma of roasted starch filled the air. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was enough.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. As I ate, my thoughts drifted to the future. ¡°So,¡± I muttered to myself, chewing on a piece of roasted tuber, ¡°what¡¯s the plan now, genius?¡± Slowing down had been the right decision, but that didn¡¯t mean I had a clear path forward. The dungeon gate still loomed in my mind, its energy pulling at me even now, but I knew I wasn¡¯t ready to face whatever waited inside. I needed more time. More strength. ¡°Focus on the basics,¡± I said aloud, ticking off points on my fingers. ¡°Rest and build my sanity. Build up slowly, step by step. No more rushing into shit.¡± ¡°Maybe if I can find a cute little companion that would be awesome¡­ really need a cuddle buddy¡± haaa The fire crackled softly as I leaned back against a fallen log, staring up at the night sky. The stars here were different¡ªbrighter, sharper¡ªbut they only reminded me of how far I was from home. ¡°Get stronger,¡± I murmured, my voice barely audible over the flames. ¡°And find a way back.¡± The words felt hollow, like a promise I wasn¡¯t sure I could keep. But they were all I had. I had the means and the path to reach back home¡­I need a space based essence thats for damn sure. El was pretty clear there can be only 5 essence and I can somewhat tell now he was right¡­out of those 5 slots one I¡¯ve used on gods knows what it is. But I wouldn¡¯t have survived had I not absorbed this essence¡­that¡¯s the problem I can¡¯t be in a perilous situation, I can¡¯t no I won¡¯t be in a situation where I¡¯m forced to absorb an essence. Okay need some healing based but space based is locked. After finishing my meal, I set up makeshift traps and alarms around the camp using twine and some scavenged bones from earlier. They weren¡¯t much, but they¡¯d give me a few precious seconds of warning if something¡ªor someone¡ªtried to sneak up on me in the night. Satisfied, I lay down near the fire, my swords within arm¡¯s reach as I stared into the flickering flames. Let¡¯s sleep for now Lexi¡­I probably have a long day ahead. Sleep came slowly, my mind restless despite the forest¡¯s calm, clutching my heirloom useless as it was currently brought me comfort of home. The crackle of the fire was steady and soothing, but the weight of the day¡ªand the unknowns of tomorrow¡ªkept pulling at the edges of my thoughts. Eventually, exhaustion won out, and I drifted into a light, uneasy sleep. . . A faint but continuous sound jolted me awake. It was distant at first, a faint echo carried on the wind, but it grew louder with every passing second as I came into focus. Chanting¡ªharsh and guttural, like a chorus of rasping voices rising and falling in a discordant rhythm. And then came the screams. Sharp, high-pitched wails that cut through the forest like a blade, twisting my stomach into knots. I sat up, my hand immediately going to the hilt of my sword as I scanned the darkness around me. The fire had burned low, its embers casting faint, flickering light across the clearing. ¡°What the hell¡­¡± I muttered, my voice low as I crouched near the fire, every muscle in my body tensed. ¡°Fuck,¡± I hissed, crouching low as my heart hammered in my chest. My eyes darted to the source of the noise, but the darkness stretched endlessly beyond the clearing¡¯s edge. ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± I muttered, gripping my sword tighter as I scanned the darkness. Splashing water on my face as I forced myself awake¡­whatever was happening it was big and I needed to be prepared. The sounds were coming from deeper in the forest, their volume rising and falling in waves. Whoever¡ªor whatever¡ªwas making them wasn¡¯t trying to be quiet.
Chapter 055 - Chants in the middle of Night
The sounds were coming from deeper in the forest, their volume rising and falling in waves. Whoever¡ªor whatever¡ªwas making them wasn¡¯t trying to be quiet. Huh the fuck i¡­s¡­happe¡­.nin..g¡­. A sudden desire to let go of my thoughts and just sleep¡­ and I almost fell asleep when a chill from my earning brought me out of the drowsy state. Channelling Exira straight at level 1 peak. The chanting dimmed and seemed to fade in the background, the consistent low chants were enough for me to convince myself it wasn¡¯t some kind of dream. I sat up, rubbing my eyes and scanning the darkened woods, A faint orange glow flickered on the horizon, low to the ground but vibrant enough to cast long, shifting shadows against the treetops. Huh? What''s that¡­. Flames, steady and deliberate, wove a path toward the distant mountains. My stomach sank. Something about the fire set every nerve on edge. It wasn¡¯t just the light or its movement; it felt wrong¡­deeply wrong, I wouldn¡¯t have realized it if not for Exira¡­something in the nature of those flames felt repulsive. The chanting started again, rising from somewhere near the flames. It was louder now, felt closer too, the guttural voices weaving together into an unholy melody that made my skin crawl. The sounds didn¡¯t just echo through the air¡ªthey seemed to press into my skull, their dissonant rhythm scratching at the edges of my mind. ¡°Shit!...whatever is going on can''t be good¡­there was some sort of lure or hypnosis effect in the chants and now with those twisted flames, the effects have increased ¡± I muttered, pressing my palms against my temples to block out the sound. It didn¡¯t help. Fuuuu¡­need to keep channeling Exira at peak level 1 for now¡­can¡¯t have myself be compromised The chants built steadily, almost hypnotic, tempting me to let go, to sink into the rhythm and lose myself in its discordant melody. My thoughts started to fog, my grasp on reality slipping. Focus Lexi¡­.focus The warmth surged through me, cutting through the fog like a blade. My muscles snapped back into focus, and my mind cleared, though the faint whisper of the chant still lingered. Better. Not good, but better. Whatever was out there, I wasn¡¯t about to wait for it to come to me¡­but before that, I knew there may be a very high possibility of entering combat. And¡­ummmm I need to stretch my body to¡­I no longer have any means to heal¡­gotta play every move smart Lexi. Stretching briefly, I rolled my shoulders and loosened my muscles, feeling the tension drain from my body as I quickly warmed up my body. My swords hung comfortably at my hips, their weight familiar and reassuring as I crouched low and slipped into the shadows of the forest. ¡°Guess I¡¯m not sleeping tonight,¡± I muttered, pulling my swords free from their sheaths. The weight of the weapons grounded me as I melted into the shadows of the forest, moving toward the flames with careful, deliberate steps. Each rustle of leaves underfoot felt deafening against the quiet backdrop, but I kept moving, my breaths shallow and measured. The flames on the horizon grew brighter as I moved closer, their glow dancing through the trees and painting the forest floor in shifting hues of orange and red. The chanting swelled with every step, each note sending a faint tremor through the air that made my stomach twist uncomfortably. It wasn¡¯t just the sound. The very air seemed heavier here, thick with a suffocating presence that clung to my skin like oil. I stepped carefully, keeping my footsteps light as I crept through the dense foliage. The forest here was quieter than it had any right to be¡ªno birds, no insects, nothing but the crackling of distant fire and the haunting rhythm of the chants. Rustle. I froze, the sound sharp and sudden, coming from the bushes to my right. In an instant, I slipped into a combat trance, my body reacting faster than my thoughts as I crouched low and drew one of my swords in a fluid motion. The blade hummed faintly, its edge catching the faint glow of the distant flames as I turned toward the sound. The bushes rustled again, and I tensed, every muscle coiled like a spring. But when the figures emerged, I didn¡¯t move. Three small, deer-like creatures stepped out from the underbrush, their slender legs carrying them with an unhurried grace that seemed almost out of place in the oppressive atmosphere. Their fur was a soft, silvery-white, shimmering faintly in the dim light as they moved silently past me.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. They didn¡¯t even glance in my direction. I frowned, watching them carefully as they disappeared into the shadows ahead. Their movements were smooth, almost mechanical, and their wide, glassy eyes seemed vacant¡ªunfocused, as though they weren¡¯t really seeing anything at all. ¡°Hypnosis¡­ they didn¡¯t even notice me¡­the effect is strong¡± I muttered, my grip tightening on my sword. The deer hadn¡¯t reacted to me at all, hadn¡¯t shown even the faintest hint of awareness. Whatever they were¡ªor whatever had been done to them¡ªthey weren¡¯t normal. The unease from the deer hadn¡¯t faded, and I wasn¡¯t about to ignore my instincts. fuuu Keeping low, I closed my eyes for a brief moment and pushed Exira throughout my body not wanting to take any chance of being hypnotized. ¡°Alright,¡± I whispered, gripping the hilt of my sword as I began to follow the deer¡¯s trail. They moved in unison, their steps measured and unnervingly mechanical as they drifted deeper into the forest. I stayed a good distance behind, my steps light and silent as I trailed them through the underbrush. The flickering glow of the flames ahead cast shifting shadows across the forest floor, making the path ahead feel like it was constantly shifting and alive. The further I followed, the stranger it got. More animals joined the procession. A few rabbits, their small, twitching forms hopping listlessly along the path. A fox with matted fur and dull eyes. Even a massive stag, its antlers draped in moss, moved with the same vacant, unthinking gait. They all headed in the same direction, their movements eerily synchronized, like marionettes pulled by invisible strings. Damn¡­ whatever is going on here is big and that¡¯s bad I crouched lower, using the cover of a dense bush to mask my presence as the line of creatures continued past me. My eyes scanned the crowd, picking out each individual form, but the glazed-over expressions and sluggish movements were all the same. And then I saw them too. Three goblins, their malnourished frames swaying as they trudged forward at the end of the line. Their greenish skin looked almost gray in the firelight, and their limbs hung awkwardly as though their joints had been forced out of alignment. They didn¡¯t speak or snarl. No sounds escaped them at all. My jaw tightened, and my hand instinctively brushed the hilt of my second sword. Goblins were usually frantic, loud, and unpredictable. Whatever had reduced these ones to shambling husks wasn¡¯t natural, and I doubted it was anything good. Fuuu¡­deep breath calm down Lexi¡­ I stayed hidden, my eyes fixed on the line of creatures as they continued their slow, mindless march. The chanting in the distance grew louder now, rising and falling like a tidal wave, the harsh, guttural tones digging into my skull even through the barrier of Exira. For a brief moment, I debated turning back. Whatever was ahead clearly wasn¡¯t something I was ready for¡ªnot yet. But I clenched my fists, the familiar flare of anger bubbling up beneath my unease. No Lexi¡­Turning back wouldn¡¯t give me answers. And whatever force was pulling these creatures together, it was dangerous enough, and besides I¡¯m in a dungeon¡­what¡¯s the point of running The closer I got, the more unsettling the atmosphere became. The flames flickered more erratically now, their light casting grotesque shapes that seemed to writhe and twist like living things. In the darkness of night the flames casted a creepy glow over the area. I stayed low, my senses on high alert. The trees ahead began to thin, revealing a small clearing bathed in the light of the flames. And then I saw them. A horde A shiver ran down my spine as my eyes adjusted to the scene. Dozens of creatures moved in unison, their forms shambling and lifeless as they trudged toward the distant mountains. At first, it was hard to make out details in the flickering light, but as they drew closer, my stomach churned. Animals. A mix of deer, foxes, and even a massive stag moved in eerie synchronization, their steps mechanical and unhurried. Their eyes were vacant, wide, and glassy, reflecting the firelight like mirrors. ¡°Why this many creatures¡­what¡¯s going on¡­¡± I muttered under my breath, crouching lower to stay hidden. The animals weren¡¯t alone. At the tail end of the procession, many goblins shuffled forward, their green skin pale and sickly under the light. Their limbs hung limply, their movements jerky and unnatural as though their joints had been forced into unnatural positions. They carried no weapons, no snarls or yells¡ªjust mindless silence. This wasn¡¯t a march. It was a puppet show. And something had control of the strings. Fuu Taking regular breaks as I focused my mind and channeled Exira¡­ can¡¯t have any slips. I pressed myself tighter against the ground, my fingers brushing the hilt of my sword. My gut screamed at me to turn back again, to leave this nightmare behind. But something darker burned in my chest. Curiosity? Anger? Both. My instincts told me to follow, but my body screamed at me to run. I ignored it. As the last goblin disappeared into the trees, I exhaled slowly and rose to my feet. ¡°Another dumb idea Lexi¡­,¡± I muttered, slipping into the shadows to trail the procession. My senses sharpened as I pushed Exira a little higher, the energy coursing through my veins in short, controlled bursts. The oppressive heat of the flames grew stronger, almost unbearable, but I kept moving. The forest thinned further, opening into a second clearing. My breath caught. At the center of the clearing stood a massive stone altar, its surface slick with a dark, viscous liquid that gleamed in the firelight. Surrounding it was a lone figure cloaked in a ragged, blood-stained robe, its face hidden beneath the hood. And there, above the altar, floated a massive dark red sphere which seemed to be pulsing with every chant. ¡°Holy shit,¡± I whispered, crouching lower. My heart pounded as I tried to piece together what I was seeing. A ritual? A summoning? What the fuck is going on in the night¡­ahhh! God dammit my luck. The sphere above the altar radiated power¡ªraw, oppressive, and malevolent. Even from this distance, I could feel its energy pressing against me, a suffocating weight that made it hard to breathe. Fuck some nutjob is summoning some fucking monstrosity And I walked right into it.
Chapter 056 - The Ritual
The closer I got to the base of the mountains, the hotter the air grew. It wasn¡¯t just from the fire¡ªI could feel the oppressive energy thickening, weighing down on my chest like a boulder. Every breath felt heavier, the chanting now a deafening roar that seemed to seep into my very bones. Pushing through the last stretch of forest, I stopped abruptly as the trees thinned, revealing an open area at the foot of the mountains. My stomach churned at the sight. A massive pyre blazed in the center of the clearing, its flames unnaturally red, casting a hellish glow over the surrounding ground. The light illuminated an intricate web of crimson runes and circles etched into the dirt, the symbols glowing faintly as though feeding off the fire itself. The hypnotized animals and goblins from earlier were marching straight into the clearing, their movements as mechanical and lifeless as ever. I stayed crouched in the shadows, my hand tightening around the hilt of my sword as I scanned the area for threats. ¡°Alright,¡± I whispered under my breath. ¡° what in the fucking fuck level of insanity I¡¯m dealing with here¡­¡± Finding a sturdy tree near the edge of the clearing, I crouched low and pulled out my spyglass. Raising it to my eye, I focused on the center of the ritual, my jaw tightening as the details came into view. Two massive goblins stood near the pyre, their frames bulky and muscular, with skin the color of dark, rotted moss. They were taller than the goblin I¡¯d seen before, their grotesque faces twisted into permanent snarls as they barked guttural commands. Their weapons weren¡¯t crude like the others I¡¯d encountered¡ªone wielded a massive axe, its blade dark and jagged, while the other held a long, cruelly curved blade that gleamed in the firelight. These are properly forged weapons¡­fuu This could go wrong very fast. My grip tightened on the spyglass as I shifted my focus lower. A moat-like trench circled the pyre, its surface slick with a dark, viscous liquid. Blood along with the massive pulsing sphere of what I think is blood as well. ¡°Shit,¡± I muttered, lowering the spyglass briefly to take a steadying breath before focusing again. The hypnotized animals and outcast goblins were being herded into the clearing by the two larger goblins, their lifeless movements pitiful as they shuffled toward the edge of the moat. One by one, they were forced to their knees, their heads pushed forward over the trench. My stomach twisted as I watched the larger goblins move with brutal efficiency, their weapons rising and falling with horrifying precision. Each swing severed a head cleanly, the lifeless bodies slumping forward as their blood spilled into the trench. The crimson liquid flowed like a river, snaking through the ritual circle and igniting the runes in a brilliant, hellish glow. "Ritual, they are performing a ritual" I muttered under my breath, the word bitter on my tongue. ¡°And the blood is the catalyst¡­ that¡¯s a horrifying way to collect¡­efficient and ruthless¡± The chanting grew louder as more and more blood filled the trenches, the ritual circle pulsating with a dangerous energy that made my skin crawl. The sheer scale of the sacrifice was sickening¡ªdozens of creatures had already been slaughtered, their bodies discarded like trash at the edge of the clearing and looking at the mountain of corpses the sacrificed must have numbered in hundreds or even thousands. I clenched my fists, my teeth grinding together as I struggled to keep my emotions in check. ¡°Focus,¡± I whispered, my voice low but firm. ¡°You can¡¯t rush in. Not yet.¡± fuuu¡­. Looking at the two larger goblins¡­they appeared strong¡ªtoo strong to take head-on, especially with the added danger of the ritual circle. I would need to dispatch them fast and move on to the main enemy. I¡¯d need to think this through, figure out the best way to disrupt whatever the hell was happening here. Leaning back against the tree, I closed my eyes briefly and took a deep breath, letting the rhythmic hum of Exira steady my nerves. The energy flowed through me, sharpening my senses and clearing my mind as I opened my eyes again.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. As I continued to watch, I noticed something strange about the ritual. The blood flowing through the runes wasn¡¯t just pooling in the trenches¡ªit was moving. The liquid seemed to defy gravity, rising slowly from the moat in thin, twisting streams that coiled upward like serpents. The streams converged above the pyre, forming a swirling mass of crimson blood that pulsed with a disturbing rhythm¡­. Just looking at that made my own heart pulse in a weird way. I felt my chest tighten as I struggled to even breathe. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand on end as the energy began to take shape, its shifting form resembling the outline of¡­ something. Fuu¡­fuuu¡­huu Averting my eyes as I took some deep breaths and tried to enter a meditative state¡­channeling Exira helped as I soon felt my bearings getting normal. ¡°What the fuck are they summoning?¡± I muttered, my voice barely audible over the deafening chants. My fingers tightened around the hilt of my sword as I weighed my options. Even with a surprise attack, there was no guarantee I¡¯d be able to take them both out before they could counter. And then there was the ritual itself. I didn¡¯t know what would happen if I disrupted it¡ªwhether it would fizzle out or explode in my face¡ªbut leaving it to reach completion wasn¡¯t an option. ¡°Alright,¡± I whispered, my voice steady despite the storm brewing in my chest. ¡°Think, Lexi. You¡¯ve got this.¡± I scanned the clearing again, my mind racing as I tried to piece together a plan. The pyre was the focal point, its flames feeding off the energy of the ritual. If I could extinguish it or disrupt the flow of blood to the runes, it might be enough to stop the summoning. Stop and breathe Lexi¡­need to observe more The scene grew even more grotesque the longer I observed it. Through the spyglass, I saw more movement beyond the blood-soaked moat. Two large goblins were entirely focused on the sacrifices, their crude yet brutal efficiency driving the slaughter. But there were others¡ªthree more goblins, smaller but still burly, were dragging the bloodless, lifeless bodies toward the center of the ritual. There are more than 2 elite goblins¡­. The corpses left smears of red along the ground as they were dumped into a haphazard pile, the growing mound of flesh and bone illuminated by the hellish glow of the pyre. But that wasn¡¯t the worst of it. At the heart of the ritual stood a figure that made my skin crawl. It was tall but hunched, its twisted frame draped in a tattered, dark cloak that swayed slightly with each deliberate movement. In its hands, it held a gnarled staff topped with what looked like the bleached skull of some unrecognizable creature. The figure tapped the staff against the ground in a rhythmic pattern, each sharp thunk syncing perfectly with the rising chants that spilled from its hooded form. Even from this distance, the sound was unbearable, an unholy melody that dug into my mind like claws. It wasn¡¯t just noise¡ªit carried a weight, a feeling of wrongness that sent a shiver down my spine. I gritted my teeth, lowering the spyglass briefly to steady my breathing. My grip on it had tightened to the point where my knuckles ached, and I forced myself to relax, even as disgust roiled in my chest. It wasn¡¯t just the slaughter¡ªit was the sheer scale of it. The glowing runes, the pulsing blood, the growing pyre¡­ all of it fed into a ritual that was too large, too deliberate to be anything but catastrophic. fuuu¡­ I raised the spyglass again, scanning the ritual for more details. My eyes fell on something new, something that made my stomach churn even harder. A cage. It sat near the hunched figure at the center of the ritual, its metal bars bent and rusted, as though it had been dragged here from some ancient ruin. At first, I couldn¡¯t make out what was inside¡ªit was partially obscured by the firelight and the hunched figure¡¯s movement¡ªbut when I focused harder, I felt it. Two faint pulses of life, weak and flickering, barely clinging to existence. I couldn¡¯t see them clearly, but I knew they were there. ¡°Prisoners or some more valuable sacrifice¡± I murmured, a cold edge creeping into my voice. The hunched figure raised its staff, the chants reaching a deafening crescendo as the pyre flared brighter, its flames twisting and writhing like something alive. I exhaled slowly, the weight of what I was witnessing sinking deeper into my chest. "Yeah," I whispered, my voice cold and steady, "there¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting this shit finish." I tightened my grip on the spyglass, my other hand brushing against the hilt of my sword as I began to formulate a plan. It was a race against time, and every second I waited brought the ritual closer to completion. Whatever they were summoning, I wasn¡¯t going to let it come through. Not while I was still breathing or else I wouldn''t be breathing¡­. Hopefully¡­ shit wrong word Lexi¡­
Shattered Reflections IX : Years back
Sometime when Dumb Lexi was resting and enjoying his time and trying to get out of his depression
I closed my eyes, forcing my breathing to slow. Inhale¡­ exhale. Focusing on the fragments of the memories that came up. Just like last time Lexi¡­don¡¯t think too much let them flow¡­maybe somewhere in my memories I''ll find something useful to go back...fuu focus Lexi... The blood and filth of the cave around me faded, replaced by the steady rhythm of my heartbeat pounding in my ears. As the memory flowed ... The crackle of the fire filled the air, its warmth chasing away the evening chill as shadows danced along the trees. I sat cross-legged on the ground, my hands resting on my knees, as I watched Aunt Nora prepare the night¡¯s dinner since we were out camping. Mom though had that look again ¨C the one she always got when she was about to teach me something important. Her platinum blonde hair was pulled back, the firelight catching the strands and making her look almost ethereal. ¡°Alright, Lexi,¡± Aunt Nora said, sitting down across from me with a small bowl of herbs in her lap. Her voice was calm but carried the weight of someone who knew the secrets of the world. ¡°Tonight, we¡¯re going to talk about rituals. Real rituals, not the cheap theatrics you¡¯ll see from hedge witches or con artists.¡± I nodded, my young mind eager to soak up whatever wisdom she was about to share, not forgetting how much she loved the theatrics and drama. ¡°Rituals,¡± she began, her voice steady and measured, ¡°are the bridge between the mundane and the divine. They are how the shamans connect with their anima deities¡± ¡°But we won¡¯t be going into that¡± She leaned forward, picking up a small stick from the fire and using it to draw shapes in the dirt between us. ¡°What we will see are the three core principles to every ritual: intention, energy, and sacrifice.¡± ¡°Intention,¡± she said, drawing a circle in the dirt. ¡°This is the foundation of every ritual. Without a clear purpose, the spirits or any entity won¡¯t listen. They¡¯re not like us ¨C they don¡¯t care about vague wishes or half-formed thoughts. If you want their help, you have to tell them exactly what you need.¡± She tapped the center of the circle with the stick, her eyes meeting mine. ¡°Your intention must be focused. Crystal clear. Otherwise, the ritual will fail, or worse ¨C it¡¯ll attract the wrong kind of attention.¡± I swallowed hard, nodding. I didn¡¯t like the sound of the wrong kind of attention.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Next is energy,¡± she said, drawing a second circle around the first. ¡°This is what powers the ritual. Energy can come from many sources ¨C your own life force, the natural world, or even the spirits themselves.¡± She reached into the bowl of herbs, sprinkling a pinch into the fire. The flames flared briefly, releasing a faint, fragrant smoke that filled the room. ¡°As shamans learn to harness this energy. they draw it from the earth, the air, the water, and the fire.¡± She gestured to the elements around us. ¡°But the most potent energy comes from within. Your own soul, your own blood, your own willpower, or others ¡± Her eyes narrowed slightly, her tone turning serious. ¡± ¡°And then there¡¯s sacrifice,¡± she said, drawing a third circle around the others. ¡°Sacrifice?¡± I asked, frowning. ¡°Like¡­ giving something up?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± she said, nodding. ¡°The spirits don¡¯t work for free. If you want their help, you have to offer them something in return. It doesn¡¯t have to be blood or life ¨C though those are the most powerful sacrifices. It could be a token of value, a piece of your essence, or even a memory.¡± ¡°A memory?¡± I asked, confused. She smiled faintly, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. ¡°Sometimes, the spirits will ask for a memory that means something to you. It could be a happy one, a sad one, or even a painful one. But once you give it to them, it¡¯s gone. You¡¯ll never get it back.¡± I sat in silence, processing her words as she added another pinch of herbs to the fire. ¡°Now,¡± she said, leaning back, ¡°let¡¯s talk about the totemic deities.¡± This was the part I¡¯d been waiting for. ¡°The totemic spirits,¡± she began, her voice taking on a reverent tone, ¡°are ancient beings that embody the forces of nature and existence. They are the wolf, the bear, the eagle, the serpent. They are the storm, the river, the flame, the shadow. Each one has its own domain, its own personality, its own rules.¡± She picked up a small carved figure from the altar beside her¡ªa wolf, its form etched with intricate runes. ¡°The wolf is a guardian, a guide. It teaches us loyalty, strength, and the importance of the pack. But it also demands discipline and respect. Cross the wolf, and it will tear you apart without hesitation.¡± She set the wolf figure down and picked up another¡ªa serpent coiled around itself. ¡°The serpent is a keeper of secrets, a master of transformation. It can grant wisdom beyond imagining, but it is also cunning and dangerous. If you¡¯re not careful, it will twist your words and your mind.¡± I listened intently as she described each spirit, my young mind painting vivid images of these ancient beings. ¡°The totems are not gods,¡± she said firmly, her eyes locking onto mine. ¡°They are not infallible, nor are they all-knowing. They are powerful, yes, but they are also flawed. They can be jealous, petty, and cruel. They can make mistakes, just like we can.¡± Her tone softened. ¡°But they are also allies. They guide, protect, and lend their strength when the shaman or their believer needs it most.¡± She reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder. ¡°You have the potential to walk this path, Alexis. To connect with the totems, to harness their power. But it¡¯s not an easy path. It requires discipline, sacrifice, and an unshakable will.¡± I swallowed hard, the weight of her words sinking in. ¡°I understand,¡± I said, though I wasn¡¯t entirely sure I did. She smiled faintly, her expression softening. ¡°You will. In time.¡± The fire crackled softly between us as she leaned back, her golden hair catching the light once more. ¡°Now,¡± she said, her tone lighter, ¡°let¡¯s see if you¡¯ve been paying attention. Show me how you¡¯d start a ritual.¡± I grinned nervously, scooting closer to the fire as I reached for the bowl of herbs. ¡°Alright,¡± I said, trying to sound confident. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± Her laugh filled the room, warm and reassuring, as the lesson began in earnest.
Chapter 057 - The shaman
Fuu¡­ The layout was clear now, every piece of this grotesque ritual laid bare before me as I crouched low behind the trees. My breathing was slow and steady, but my heart pounded like a war drum as I took in the details. Six elite goblins and possibly more, every one of them brutal and strong, as they moved with grim purpose around the clearing. Two stood at the edge of the moat, tasked with harvesting blood. Three others worked near the center, dragging the lifeless, bloodless bodies to the growing pile by the pyre. Their movements were less methodical but no less efficient, their rough hands gripping limp limbs as they tossed the corpses aside like broken tools. Fuu¡­they all are way too disciplined in their work for a goblin that should be impossible and yet¡­There is a possibility they are under the hooded one¡¯s control and in that case, they may very well ignore pain and fear. And then there was the sixth. This one was different. Decked out in patched leather armor, it stood close to the cloaked figure, its sharp eyes scanning the clearing with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine. The jagged blade strapped to its back looked well-used, and its stance screamed that it was no stranger to combat. A bodyguard and probably higher tier elite class. And the cloaked figure it was guarding¡ªtall, hunched, and unsettling in its every movement¡ªwas undoubtedly the ritual¡¯s shaman. The staff it wielded thumped against the ground in rhythmic pulses, each strike of bone against dirt syncing with the chants that filled the air. The energy emanating from the ritual was palpable now, a weight pressing down on the forest that bent and twisted the very space around the pyre. The faint hum of the runes had grown into an ominous vibration that seemed to rattle through my skull, each pulse digging deeper into my nerves. ¡°Shit,¡± I muttered under my breath, clenching my fists as I forced myself to focus. fuuuh.. The longer I waited, the more unstable the energy around the ritual became. The flames of the pyre twisted higher, their unnatural red light staining the clearing with an almost otherworldly hue. Whatever they were summoning, it was close¡ªtoo close. I didn¡¯t have time to overthink this. I needed to move. I let out a slow, controlled breath, forcing my mind to steady as I replayed the details I¡¯d observed. The goblins weren¡¯t patrolling, not in the traditional sense, but their movements had a pattern¡ªa crude routine born of efficiency rather than caution. The beheading goblins never strayed far from the moat, their focus entirely on the gruesome task at hand. The corpse carriers moved back and forth from the edge to the pyre, their paths predictable as they ferried their grisly cargo. And the bodyguard didn¡¯t move much at all. Its attention was fixed on the cloaked figure, its sharp gaze only occasionally sweeping the clearing, its job clear: protect the shaman at all costs. That was the keystone of their defense¡ªThe Shaman. If I could take it out, the ritual would collapse, no matter how much blood they¡¯d poured into those cursed runes. But getting to it wouldn¡¯t be easy, not with its personal bodyguard and the rest of the goblins so close. ¡°Alright,¡± I muttered, my voice low and steady as I tightened my grip on my swords. ¡°Let¡¯s figure this out.¡± The beheading goblins were the easiest to deal with first. They were isolated, their attention fixed entirely on their work. If I could take them out quietly, I could disrupt the blood flow to the ritual and buy myself a little time.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The corpse carriers were next. They were closer to the pyre, but their predictable movements gave me an opening to strike without drawing too much attention. And then the shaman. Taking out the bodyguard would be tricky, but if I timed it right, I might be able to catch it off-guard. The shaman¡¯s focus on the ritual left it vulnerable¡ªif only briefly. I exhaled slowly, the weight of the plan settling over me like a cloak. ¡°Fast and clean,¡± I whispered, steadying the flow of Exira through my body. The energy coursed through my veins, sharpening my senses and calming my nerves. ¡°No room for mistakes.¡± And a lot of what ifs¡­anything could go wrong¡­haaa let¡¯s do this The energy around the ritual pulsed again, a violent ripple that sent a faint tremor through the ground beneath my feet. My jaw tightened. ¡°Time to move.¡± The hum of Exira was steady, coursing through my veins like a river of energy, sharp and focused. As I crouched low, stretching my arms and rolling my shoulders to loosen up, I could feel the warmth of it settling into every muscle, every nerve, grounding me in the moment. The chants still pressed against my mind like claws scraping at the edges of my thoughts, but with Exira at level 1 peak, their influence faded into background noise¡ªa constant hum that I could ignore. ¡°Fuu,¡± I exhaled, closing my eyes briefly as I centered myself. There was no longer a strain from maintaining this level of power. The battles, the tension, the constant use of Exira¡ªit had hardened my tolerance, made my body a vessel more capable of handling its demands. The armor on my body began to hum faintly as I directed the energy into it, activating its effects to their fullest. The faint pulsing pattern of veins etched into the bone shimmered softly, an extension of my will. I felt lighter, faster, sharper. ¡°Alright,¡± I muttered, the corner of my mouth lifting into a faint smirk as I gripped the hilts of my swords. ¡° Let¡¯s not end up crippled or worse¡­okay Lexi¡­ ¡± hhuuu The air around me stilled as I dashed forward, my movements swift and silent under the cover of the shadows. The trees blurred past me, their dark trunks streaked with flickering red light from the pyre ahead. The energy building at the ritual¡¯s center was suffocating now, bending space and drawing everything toward it like a whirlpool. But I wasn¡¯t focused on that. Not yet. My eyes locked onto the two goblins tasked with beheading the hypnotized prey. Their blades rose and fell with mechanical precision, completely absorbed in their bloody work. The memory of the lizard den flickered in my mind¡ªthe raw, chaotic rush of energy as I slammed my way through their elites. That same reckless aggression surged through me now, begging to be unleashed, but I forced myself to breathe. To slow down. This wasn¡¯t the time for brute force. I closed my eyes briefly, channeling Exira with precision rather than power. A sharp, lance-like shape formed in my mind, its edges honed to a deadly point. With a mental command, I directed it forward, visualizing its path as clearly as if it were a physical weapon in my hand. The pressure in my mind increased as the construct shot toward the goblins, invisible but deadly. When I opened my eyes, it was just in time to see the two goblins jerk violently, their bodies stiffening before crumpling to the ground like puppets with their strings cut. I exhaled slowly, feeling a faint sting of strain at the edges of my mind. The mental effort of crafting the lance and directing it with such precision wasn¡¯t something I was used to yet, but it had worked. ¡°That went well¡­¡± I murmured, straightening slightly as I prepared to move again. But before I could take another step, my senses flared in warning. I ducked instinctively, twisting to the side as something sharp whizzed past me, embedding itself into the ground with a wet thunk. A spear. Not just any spear. The weapon was formed entirely of blood, its crimson surface glistening unnaturally in the firelight. The ground beneath it sizzled faintly as if the weapon itself carried some corrosive energy. My heart pounded as I looked up, my gaze locking onto the source. The shaman¡¯s head was turned toward me now, its hooded face still obscured, but the intensity of its attention was unmistakable. I could feel its gaze, heavy and suffocating, like an iron grip tightening around my chest. ¡°Well, shit,¡± I muttered, my grip tightening on my swords. The shaman raised its staff slowly, the bleached skull atop it glowing faintly as it began to chant again. The sound was sharper now, more focused, and I could feel the weight of its power honing in on me. It had found me. ¡°Alright, you bastard,¡± I said, shifting into a defensive stance as I prepared for whatever came next. ¡°You¡¯re gonna be sorry you messed with great Alexis of House Drakesier¡°
Chapter 058 - Alexis vs Goblins
Boommm¡­ The air burned with the scent of iron and rot. A deafening boom shook the ground beneath my feet as the blood shaman unleashed another barrage. My instincts screamed before my mind could process the movement. I ducked low, pivoting sharply, my blade slashing through the air as multiple blood arrows rained toward me. Each projectile hissed, leaving crimson streaks as they sliced through the air. One narrowly missed my head; I could almost feel its cold, invasive energy graze my skin. But I wasn¡¯t fast enough. ¡°Gah!¡± The cry escaped my lips as a blood arrow pierced my right thigh. Pain erupted like a hot coal jammed into muscle. I staggered, clutching my leg, my teeth grinding against the white-hot agony. My free hand gripped the shaft of the arrow¡ªit wasn¡¯t liquid but a jagged, solid construct. ¡°Damn it.¡± My voice was barely above a growl. Fuck fuck FUCK¡­No time to hesitate Lexi, you stop u die¡­ I yanked the arrow out in one brutal motion. Blood spilled, but I didn¡¯t waste a second before flinging the cursed thing aside. It clattered to the ground, already beginning to dissolve into a viscous pool. The wound screamed for attention, but there was no chance to linger. The next barrage could fall any moment. Adrenaline coursed through me burning away hesitation. My body moved on instinct, forcing me into a roll and then a desperate dive as I narrowly avoided the next attack. Agrrh¡­ I hit the ground hard, and for a moment, the world spun. The shaman had stopped his onslaught, and I didn¡¯t trust it for a second to stay stopped. ¡°Think, Lexi, think,¡± I muttered, slamming my hand against the dirt to center myself. The blood was already creeping closer, pooling like a malevolent tide around me. I couldn¡¯t let it touch me¡ªnot again. Channeling Exira, I felt the searing heat bloom in my core. The familiar burn crawled down to my injured thigh. Sweat slicked my forehead as I forced the energy into the wound, purging not just the pain but the foreign blood still lingering there. The air filled with the acrid smell of charred flesh, and the edges of the injury blackened. ¡°Fuck!¡± I hissed through clenched teeth. Fuu..fuuuu¡­. Bear it Lexi, gotta burn away the traces of foreign blood...fuck it hurts¡­I may be overdoing this but I don¡¯t know what this fucker can do¡­ My chest heaved as I finished. And just as I burned away the last traces of the foreign blood using Exira, I heard a loud grunt and It didn¡¯t take long to realize the shaman¡¯s intent. My stomach churned at the thought. If I hadn¡¯t expelled the blood, it could have been used against me. The Shaman could have harmed me or worse I could have my mind enslaved. That bastard wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to turn me into one of his puppets. Cold sweat slid down my back. ¡°Not happening. Not today.¡± Fuu¡­ close call¡­ I forced myself upright, biting back a groan as my leg protested. The shaman had stopped attacking, but it wasn¡¯t out of mercy. His full attention was on the ritual. Steeling myself, I took in my surroundings. I was just outside the blood-soaked ritual circle. Its edges pulsed faintly, the symbols carved into the ground glowing a dark crimson hue. Whatever unholy power fed them wasn''t anything I remembered. ¡°So,¡± I muttered, my voice dry, ¡°the bastard doesn¡¯t engage unless I¡¯m inside the ritual¡­ confidence or¡­¡± I took a shaky step closer to the circle¡¯s edge, careful not to cross. My muscles tensed, every nerve screaming caution. The atmosphere within the circle felt heavier, thicker¡ªlike the air itself was steeped in malice. ¡°He¡¯s completely absorbed in the ritual, but inside that space, he¡¯s in control. Outside¡­¡± My voice trailed off as I glanced at the pools of blood surrounding the circle. The realization hit like a blow to the chest. He wasn¡¯t running out of blood. ¡°Of course not,¡± I muttered bitterly. My eyes locked onto the growing mass of crimson. The bodies of the sacrifices¡ªtheir blood¡ªwasn¡¯t just for show. It was fuel both for the cursed shaman and the ritual. Thump. The low, rhythmic sound reverberated through the air, pulling my gaze upward. The sphere pulsed, like some grotesque beating heart. My hands tightened around the hilt of my blade. ¡°Shit,¡± I breathed. ¡°Running out of time now¡­¡± Every instinct told me to run, but I knew there was no escaping this. Whatever came out of that circle, whatever abomination the shaman was calling forth, it would find me.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The ground beneath my feet trembled slightly. The blood sphere expanded, dark tendrils snaking out from its surface, searching, reaching. My skin crawled at the sight, my grip on my weapon turning my knuckles white. ¡°Focus,¡± I whispered to myself. ¡°If you lose your nerve now, you¡¯re dead.¡± ? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??? ? ????''? ??????. ? The shaman¡¯s voice rose in a guttural chant, a language I couldn¡¯t understand but felt deep in my bones. Each word carried weight, like nails driven into my skull. He was hidden in the shadows beyond the sphere, his silhouette barely visible, but his presence loomed large. I stepped back instinctively, my boots crunching against the dry earth. The edge of the circle seemed to hum in response, as if daring me to cross. ¡°Bastard,¡± I muttered. ¡°You¡¯re not going to let me wait this out, are you?¡± The sphere pulsed again, faster now. The tendrils began to solidify, forming jagged, claw-like appendages. My pulse quickened, a cold dread settling into my gut. Thump. The sound was louder this time, closer. My body moved before my mind could stop it. I lunged to the side, narrowly avoiding a tendril that lashed out like a whip. It struck the ground where I¡¯d been standing, splattering blood in all directions. ¡°Damn it!¡± I shouted, rolling to my feet. The tendril retracted, retreating back into the sphere as if testing me. ? ??????. ? ????''? The shaman¡¯s chant grew louder, more frenzied. I could feel the pull of the ritual, like a tide dragging me toward the center. I clenched my teeth, staring at the circle¡¯s edge. ¡°If I go in there, I¡¯m dead,¡± I muttered. ¡°If I stay out here, I¡¯m still dead.¡± fuuu¡­ ¡°Have to hurry¡± I muttered under my breath, my heart hammering like a war drum. The blood sphere throbbed with increasing intensity, rifts of energy crackling around it like chaotic bolts of thunder. The air itself seemed to tremble, charged with a sinister energy that made my skin crawl. I knew what this was¡ªor at least, I could guess. This wasn¡¯t an attack; this was a summoning. Every instinct screamed at me to move, to act before whatever unholy abomination the shaman was calling forth clawed its way into the world. With a sharp breath, I pushed off the ground and surged toward the ritual circle, my blade ready and my nerves taut as a bowstring. The moment my boots crossed the edge of the circle, the blood-soaked earth seemed to react. Fuu¡­ The air left my lungs as three goblins, their twisted bodies slick with gore, lunged toward me from the shadows. They¡¯d been skulking among the corpses, dragging the remains of sacrifices into the pool of blood feeding the ritual. Their claws glinted under the blood-red light, their jagged teeth bared in feral snarls. My gaze flicked past them to the bodyguard goblin charging in behind them. It was easily three heads taller than the others, its spiked club held high, its armor cobbled together from scraps of bone and metal. This wasn¡¯t some disposable minion. Focus now¡­ The goblins leapt for me, their movements erratic, fast. My grip tightened on my blade as I channeled Exira, feeling the familiar heat flood through me. Level 1 peak. Precise. Controlled. The moment they were upon me, I released the energy. A fiery pulse of light slammed into them, freezing them mid-motion as if they¡¯d been struck by lightning. Their bodies locked up, twitching violently, their snarls turning to choked gurgles. Not wasting a second, I stepped forward, my blade singing as it sliced through the first goblin¡¯s neck. Blood sprayed in an arc, the stench acrid and vile. A second swing took the next one, and the third fell with a final, guttural wheeze as my sword severed its head. fu¡­ I barely had time to recover before the armored goblin¡¯s club came crashing down, aimed squarely at my skull. ¡°Shit!¡± I cursed, twisting my body and bringing both blades up in an X to block. The impact sent a jarring vibration through my arms, the force nearly driving me to my knees. Sparks flew as metal met the weird wood, and my muscles screamed in protest. Damnn that¡¯s ridiculous strength he has¡­ The bodyguard goblin roared, pulling back its club for another strike. I shifted my weight, dodging to the side as the weapon smashed into the ground, cracking the blood-soaked earth. Dust and blood sprayed into the air, stinging my eyes, but I pushed through the sting and drove my blade toward its exposed side. It parried the blow with surprising speed, its armor clanging as my sword glanced off the metal. But this was what I¡¯d been waiting for. With my left hand, I swung my second blade upward in a sharp, controlled arc, aiming for its throat. The goblin roared again, and for a split second, I thought I¡¯d won. My blade was inches from its neck¡ª Then the air around it rippled, and a shockwave exploded outward. ¡°Shit!¡± The force slammed into me, throwing me back several meters. My body skidded across the ground, the rough surface tearing at my clothes and skin. Pain flared in my side as I rolled to a stop, coughing and struggling to catch my breath. The MFing goblin was transforming. Fuck¡­innate ability¡­bloodline or an essence¡­ It swelled in size, its muscles bulging grotesquely as crimson veins pulsed across its skin like molten rivers. Its eyes glowed with a hellish red light, locking onto me with murderous intent. ¡°Wonderful, Just what I need when I don¡¯t have fucking time!¡± I muttered, spitting blood from my mouth as I pushed myself to my feet. My body protested every movement, but there was no time to rest. The goblin¡¯s roar was deafening, a primal sound that made the ground tremble. Above us, the blood sphere pulsed faster, the thunderous cracks growing louder. The pressure in the air was almost suffocating now, as if the ritual was devouring everything around it. ¡°It¡¯s a damn race against time¡± I growled, tightening my grip on my swords. ¡°And I¡¯m fucking losing.¡± The goblin charged, its enormous body moving with alarming speed. Its club came down in a diagonal sweep, and I barely managed to sidestep the blow. The wind from its swing was enough to make my hair whip around my face. I retaliated with a quick slash to its side, but my blade barely scratched its hardened skin. It snarled, swinging its club horizontally. I ducked, the weapon passing inches above my head. ¡°Too close,¡± I muttered, my heart pounding. I couldn¡¯t fight this thing head-on. It was too strong, too durable. I needed a way to end this quickly¡ªor at least slow it down long enough to deal with the ritual. The goblin swung again, this time feinting low before bringing the club around in a brutal uppercut. I jumped back, my boots skidding on the blood-slick ground. The goblin roared again, charging at me with reckless abandon. Its movements were faster now, more aggressive, as if the ritual was feeding it power. Come on, think Lexi¡­
Chapter 059 - Race to stop the ritual
Wawrrrararaa! The goblin¡¯s roar tore through the air, raw and guttural, a sound that promised nothing but carnage. Its bloodshot eyes locked onto me, the crimson glow of its veins pulsing with unnatural energy. I didn¡¯t wait to see what it would do. My instincts screamed at me to move, and I obeyed. It charged, its massive body barreling toward me like a runaway boulder. The jagged club in its hands came down with a brutal swing, cutting through the air with a sound like tearing fabric. I dove to the side, my boots sliding across the blood-soaked ground. The club smashed into the earth where I¡¯d been, sending chunks of dirt and gore flying in all directions. Before it could recover, I dashed in, my blades flashing. My right sword stabbed deep into its ribs while the left sliced across its exposed arm, splitting muscle and spilling blood that glowed faintly with that cursed red essence. The goblin roared, twisting wildly, and I yanked my sword free just in time to backpedal. Its claws swiped at me, missing my face by inches. Damn it! Focus Lexi¡­ I darted in again, my swords moving before I could think. A low slash severed the tendons in its left leg; the follow-up thrust went straight through its shoulder. Each strike came faster than the last, guided by something buried deep in my muscles. I wasn¡¯t fighting¡ªit was as if my body remembered for me. The goblin staggered but didn¡¯t fall. Its internal organs spilled out in a sickening rush, glistening under the ritual¡¯s crimson glow. The glowing veins pulsed brighter now covering the whole body of the goblin, and with a snarl, it swung its club in a wide arc. I ducked under it, feeling the rush of air as the weapon screamed past, and closed the distance. Both blades stabbed into its torso, crossing just below its ribs. I twisted hard, feeling the give of bone and cartilage, then ripped the swords free in a spray of black-red blood. It should¡¯ve dropped. Any normal enemy would¡¯ve dropped. But it seems my luck has taken a turn for the worse. The goblin lunged forward, ignoring the gaping wounds in its body. Its clawed hand clamped onto my shoulder, the sheer strength of it nearly crushing the joint. I gritted my teeth against the pain and drove my knee into its gut, forcing it to loosen its grip. With a roar, it lashed out again, but I rolled under its swing, coming up behind it. My swords slashed in tandem, one cutting across its spine while the other hacked into the back of its knee. The beast fell to one knee, but even then, it kept fighting, twisting around to swing its club in a desperate, wild arc. I dropped flat to the ground, the club passing over me with a hair¡¯s breadth to spare. Pushing off with one hand, I sprang back to my feet, my swords spinning in my hands as I faced the beast again. ¡°Fucking. Hate. Berserkers¡­¡± I growled, lunging forward. The goblin roared and met me head-on. Its club came down hard, and I sidestepped, letting the momentum carry it past me. In the same motion, I planted my right sword into its gut, burying it to the hilt. The goblin snarled, blood and spittle flying from its mouth. Its clawed hand lashed out, raking across my side, but I didn¡¯t stop. My left sword came down in a diagonal slash, severing its right arm at the elbow. The severed limb hit the ground with a wet thud, but the goblin didn¡¯t even look at it. It swung its remaining arm, catching me off-guard. The backhand hit me like a sledgehammer, sending me skidding across the ground. Pain flared in my chest, and I coughed, tasting blood. But I didn¡¯t stay down. The goblin was already charging again, dragging its half-ruined body forward with terrifying speed. Its club raised high, ready to crush me. Normal attacks won¡¯t work¡­need to end him fast¡­thank the heavens this fucker can¡¯t regen¡­ Fuuu¡­ I gripped my swords and channeled Exira. The flames sparked along the blades, faint at first but growing brighter as I focused. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this,¡± I muttered, stepping forward to meet its charge. The club came down, and I sidestepped, the flames on my swords flaring brighter as I struck. My left blade slashed upward, cutting deep into its torso from hip to shoulder. My right blade followed, cleaving through its chest in a brutal X. The goblin stumbled, blood spraying from its wounds, but still it didn¡¯t fall.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. I growled and drove both swords into its chest, twisting hard. The flames burned brighter, the heat searing its flesh, and with a final, guttural roar, the goblin collapsed to its knees. Its glowing eyes burned with hatred as it clawed at the ground, dragging itself toward me inch by inch. ¡°No,¡± I said, raising both blades. ¡°Your time is up¡­¡± The swords came down in a final strike, cutting through its neck. The goblin¡¯s head hit the ground, and its body slumped forward, lifeless at last. I stood there for a moment, breathing hard, the flames on my swords flickering out. ¡°Fucking Berserkers,¡± I muttered, shaking my head. ¡°Never fun fighting¡­¡± fuuu As the exhaustion finally hit¡­ Ha... ha... My breaths came shallow and ragged, every inhale scraping my throat like jagged glass. I leaned against my blade, ignoring the throbbing ache that pulsed through my body. The berserk goblin¡¯s blood still coated my boots, sticky and foul, but I didn¡¯t have time to think about that. ¡°Focus,¡± I muttered to myself, forcing my body to straighten despite the protests of my muscles. The air was alive with chaos. The ritual¡¯s energy was reaching a fever pitch, the blood sphere trembling violently above the shaman like a storm about to break. I ignored the strain pounding at the edges of my mind¡ªuntil something far worse clawed at my consciousness. ¡°AHHHH!¡± The scream tore from my throat before I could stop it, my hands shooting to my head as a sudden, violent pressure gripped my mind. My vision blurred, and for a horrifying second, I felt as if someone¡ªor something¡ªhad reached into my skull. I staggered, barely staying upright. Through the haze, I realized the chanting had grown faster, more frenzied. The air itself shimmered with instability, warping the space around the blood sphere. ¡°It¡¯s the ritual,¡± I hissed, my voice strained as I struggled to push the invasive pressure out of my mind. The shaman¡¯s chanting was no longer just an eerie backdrop¡ªit was an attack. Fuuu. I forced myself to take a deep breath, steadying the frantic pounding of my heart. The Exira inside me surged in response, a fiery warmth cutting through the mental fog. I didn¡¯t hesitate, pushing it further, dialing up its intensity to Level 2. The reaction was immediate. My body flared with renewed strength, but so did the side effects. My head throbbed, a deep, pulsing ache that felt like nails hammering into my skull. ¡°Push through it,¡± I growled to myself. ¡°No choice now.¡± With a guttural breath, I launched forward, each step driving me closer to the shaman. His hunched figure was bathed in the blood-red glow of the ritual, his bony hands gesturing in time with the chant. He was so absorbed in his dark work that he didn¡¯t notice me at first. But as I crossed the circle¡¯s inner threshold, his head snapped toward me. The shaman¡¯s eyes narrowed, and with a single wave of his hand, the blood pooled on the ground rose into the air. It twisted unnaturally, hardening into jagged crimson lances that hovered around him like a macabre halo. ¡°Shit,¡± I muttered, already bracing myself. Swish. The first lance came flying at me, hissing through the air like a snake. I ducked low, letting it pass inches above my head, and kept moving. Another followed, and I brought up my blade, deflecting it just enough to send it spinning harmlessly into the dirt. The shaman didn¡¯t let up. The lances came in rapid succession, each one faster than the last. I twisted and dodged, my movements sharp and frantic. The attacks weren¡¯t as relentless as before¡ªhe was clearly diverting most of his focus to the ritual¡ªbut that didn¡¯t make them any less deadly. ¡°Come on, come on!¡± I snarled, parrying one lance and rolling under another. Each interval between attacks was just enough to keep me moving, but not enough to close the gap entirely. The shaman¡¯s chanting grew louder, his voice a guttural rasp as he reached into a small pouch at his side. My eyes narrowed as I caught a glimpse of what he pulled out. A creature. It was small and limp, I couldn¡¯t make out the details, but it didn¡¯t matter. Whatever it was, it was integral to this ritual¡ªand I couldn¡¯t let him use it. ¡°No fucking way,¡± I growled, pushing myself harder. The shaman raised a knife, its blade glinting ominously as he chanted faster, his movements almost frenzied. ¡°Not happening!¡± With a burst of speed, I closed the distance between us, lowering my shoulder as I slammed into him with everything I had. The impact sent us both crashing to the ground. The knife flew from his hand, clattering against the stone circle, and the limp creature tumbled out of his grip. The shaman let out a guttural snarl, his clawed hands swiping at me as we grappled. His strength was deceptive¡ªbony and wiry, but ferocious. He wasn¡¯t just trying to push me off; he was clawing at my very mind, his presence stabbing at my thoughts like a venomous spike. ¡°Get the fuck out of my head!¡± I roared, summoning Exira into a concentrated lance of energy and driving it straight into his mental presence. The effect was immediate. ¡°Greukk!¡± The shaman¡¯s scream was inhuman, his voice cracking under the strain of my attack. He thrashed beneath me, his body spasming as the Exira pierced through his mental defenses. But the victory was short-lived. Pain exploded in my stomach as one of his blood lances tore into me, the force of the strike flinging me off him like a ragdoll. ¡°Gah!¡± I hit the ground hard, the air rushing out of my lungs in a sharp gasp. Blood poured from the wound in my stomach, soaking my clothes and painting the ground beneath me. The shaman staggered to his feet, clutching at his head as his chant faltered. The blood sphere above us trembled violently, its unstable energy spiraling out of control. I struggled to rise, my vision swimming as pain wracked my body. My breathing was shallow, each inhale a struggle. ¡°Not... done yet,¡± I muttered, forcing myself upright despite the fire burning in my gut. My sword was still in my hand, slick with blood but steady. The shaman¡¯s gaze snapped to me, his eyes filled with both rage and desperation. He didn¡¯t have time to finish the ritual¡ªnot if I had anything to say about it. And I wasn¡¯t about to let him summon whatever nightmare he was trying to bring into this world. This wasn¡¯t over. Not yet.
Chapter 060 - The ritual…succeeded?
Haa¡­ haa¡­ The ragged sound of my breathing filled the silence, broken only by the faint hum of the ritual pulsing in the air. My body refused to cooperate as I tried to push myself up, my arms trembling under the strain. Every movement sent a sharp, gut-wrenching pain shooting through me. As my vision cleared, I looked down¡ªand my stomach turned. A massive blood pike jutted from my abdomen, its jagged edges pulsating faintly, as if alive. Blood seeped from the wound, pooling beneath me, its warmth a cruel mockery against the cold that gnawed at my insides. ¡°Fuck¡­,¡± I croaked, my voice barely above a whisper. My thoughts spiraled, jagged and incoherent. Kill. Die. Rip it out. Kill him. End it. Die. Pain. Kill. The words hammered against my skull like a relentless drumbeat, drowning out everything else. My breathing quickened, each inhale ragged and shallow. The edges of my vision darkened as the chaotic mantra grew louder. And then, a chill. It wasn¡¯t the cold of the wound or the deathly air around the ritual¡ªit was something else. A deep, piercing cold that froze the frenzy in my mind, snuffing out the madness. My vision sharpened, and with it, my focus returned. ¡°Fuu¡­¡± I exhaled slowly, my breath a visible mist in the blood-soaked air. The insanity clawing at my thoughts retreated, replaced by a sharp clarity. I knew what I had to do. Steeling myself, I channeled Exira again, forcing the energy through my body. At Level 2, the strain was immediate, a searing pain that tore through me like a white-hot brand. My head throbbed, my chest felt like it was going to collapse, but I didn¡¯t stop. ¡°AHHHhh!¡± The scream tore from my throat as I focused on the Exira, suppressing the ritual¡¯s effects clawing at my mind. The blood pike quivered, almost as if it sensed my intent. ¡°Fuck you,¡± I snarled through gritted teeth, my fingers wrapping around the jagged weapon. The pain was blinding as I pulled. My muscles strained, my body screaming in protest as the pike shifted. The jagged edges tore through flesh, every inch an agonizing eternity. With a final, guttural roar, I ripped the pike free. ¡°AGHHH!¡± Blood sprayed from the wound, and I doubled over, spitting out a mouthful of it. My vision swam, my legs threatening to give out. Not now. Keep moving. I pressed a trembling hand to the gaping wound, forcing Exira to harden the edges of my armor. The metal shifted and groaned under the strain but sealed the wound enough to slow the bleeding. ¡°That¡¯ll have to do,¡± I muttered, spitting more blood onto the ground. The ritual¡¯s hum grew louder, the energy in the air crackling like static against my skin. I forced my body upright, every movement sending a fresh wave of pain through me. My eyes locked onto the shaman, still chanting, his back to me. The bastard didn¡¯t even glance my way¡ªhe thought I was done. ¡°Big fucking mistake,¡± I growled, gripping my blade tightly. The Exira still burned within me, barely held together by sheer willpower. The ritual¡¯s pressure tried to crush me, to smother my every step, but I forced myself forward. One step. Then another. Each movement was agony, but the rage bubbling under my skin drowned it out. I wasn¡¯t going to die here. Not like this. The shaman¡¯s chanting grew louder as he raised his hands, the blood sphere above him trembling violently. It was close¡ªwhatever nightmare he was summoning was almost here. ¡°Not fucking happening!¡± I roared, the sound ripping from my throat like a battle cry. The shaman turned, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw me charging toward him. His hands moved in a flurry, the blood at his feet surging upward to form a wall of spikes between us. I didn¡¯t slow down. With a burst of Exira, I drove my blade forward, the energy slicing through the blood spikes like they were paper. Shards of hardened blood exploded around me as I pushed through, my body screaming in protest with every step. The shaman snarled, his hands weaving another spell. A jagged lance of blood shot toward me, faster than I could dodge.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Fuck!¡± I brought my blade up just in time, deflecting the lance to the side. The force of the impact nearly knocked me off balance, but I recovered, closing the distance between us. The shaman raised his arm to block, but I didn¡¯t give him the chance. With a brutal swing, I cleaved through his forearm, the sickening crunch of bone and flesh filling the air. ¡°Grekhh!¡± he screamed, stumbling backward as dark, viscous blood poured from the wound. I saw the shaman¡¯s blood-red eyes locked onto mine, burning with raw, unrestrained malice. Hate radiated from his glare like heat from a furnace, his gaze boring into me as if he could pierce my soul. ¡°Fuck you,¡± I snarled under my breath, forcing myself to steady my trembling body. My focus snapped to his hands as he stooped to retrieve the knife he¡¯d dropped earlier. The crimson glow of the blood sphere above bathed the ritual site in an eerie light, its unstable energy cracking the air like distant thunder. The shaman¡¯s chanting resumed, slow and deliberate, his bony fingers wrapping tightly around the blade. And then I saw it. Under the glow of the blood-red moon and sphere, the creature in his other hand became visible¡ªa small feline. Its fur was mottled and patchy, its tiny body trembling in the shaman¡¯s iron grip. It let out a faint, pitiful purr. ¡°Meow¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± My voice was barely a whisper, a mixture of disbelief and rage. ¡°No! Don¡¯t you fucking dare¡ª¡± The shaman¡¯s hand moved swiftly, the knife plunging into the cat¡¯s chest. ¡°NO!!!¡± The scream tore from my throat as if it could stop the knife, as if my voice alone could undo the horror before me. But it was too late. The cat¡¯s body convulsed, a single, pitiful sound escaping it before the light in its eyes dimmed. The blood from the wound spilled onto the ritual circle, soaking into the ground like water on dry sand. Something shifted. With the cat¡¯s death, a trigger seemed to ignite. The circle beneath the shaman¡ªand all the ground around him¡ªglowed an intense, blinding red. The blood sphere above pulsed violently, its energy spiraling into chaos. Aggh! The pressure hit me like a tidal wave, forcing me onto my knees. My teeth clenched, the strain ripping through my body like a storm. ¡°Shit... shit¡­ shit!¡± I spat, my voice barely audible over the roar of the ritual. The air itself felt heavier, oppressive, like it was trying to crush me into the ground. Exira surged within me as I forced it higher, pushing my output to its limit as it reached the threshold of level 3. The heat coursed through my veins, a desperate counter to the suffocating pressure bearing down on me. ¡°Not giving up... not fucking yet,¡± I growled, sweat pouring down my face. The shaman was moving again. Another cat¡ªa second limp, trembling creature¡ªwas in his grasp. The knife glinted under the crimson light as he raised it once more, his chant reaching a frenzied crescendo. ¡°Over my dead body,¡± I snarled, forcing every ounce of Exira into my blade. The energy burned like wildfire, but I ignored the pain, focusing it into the weapon until it hummed with raw power. My muscles screamed as I pushed past the pressure, rising to one knee, then both feet. hhaaa¡­.fuuuu I hurled the blade. The sword flew through the air, cutting through the oppressive energy like a streak of light. Puchi. The sound of steel piercing flesh echoed through the chaos. The shaman¡¯s chant stopped abruptly, his body jerking as the sword drove through his chest, pinning him to the blood-soaked ground. A torrent of dark blood poured from the wound, pooling beneath him in thick, steaming rivulets. The second cat tumbled from his grasp, landing with a soft thud on the ground, still alive but barely moving. ¡°Fuck you¡± I spat, staggering forward, my legs barely supporting me. The shaman¡¯s eyes burned with fury, his lips moving soundlessly as blood bubbled from his mouth. He clawed weakly at the sword impaling him, but his strength was fading, the ritual¡¯s power sputtering like a dying flame. But something was wrong. The blood sphere above us didn¡¯t stop. It trembled violently, the cracks spreading further, the energy inside threatening to explode. The ritual hadn¡¯t ended¡ªit had spiraled out of control. ¡°Shit¡­¡± My voice trailed off as the realization hit me. The shaman¡¯s death hadn¡¯t stopped the ritual¡­this fucker¡­the cat¡­sacrifice was enough to complete it. The pressure intensified, the ground beneath me cracking as the crimson glow turned blinding. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the blood-soaked earth, my vision swimming. ¡°Damn it,¡± I muttered, forcing myself to crawl toward the shaman. He was still alive, barely, his bloodshot eyes staring at me with a twisted mix of triumph and hatred. ¡°What the fuck did you do?¡± I snarled, grabbing the hilt of my sword and twisting it viciously. The shaman¡¯s body spasmed, but he didn¡¯t answer. Instead, his lips curled into a bloody smile, and he whispered a single, guttural word: ?? ????? The blood sphere shattered. A deafening roar filled the air as raw, chaotic energy erupted from the sphere, flooding the ritual site in a wave of crimson light. My body was thrown backward, the force slamming into me like a battering ram. I hit the ground hard, the impact driving the air from my lungs. For a moment, I couldn¡¯t move, couldn¡¯t breathe. My vision blurred, the edges darkening as unconsciousness threatened to pull me under. But as the roar subsided, replaced by an eerie silence, I forced my eyes open. The shaman¡¯s body lay lifeless, my sword still embedded in his chest. The second cat, still trembling, let out a weak meow, its small body barely moving against the blood-soaked ground. And in the center of the ritual circle, something began to rise. The light from the shattered blood sphere coalesced into a shape¡ªtall, humanoid, but grotesque and otherworldly. Its skin was a swirling mass of black and crimson, its eyes burning like molten fire. The air around it crackled with raw energy, the sheer weight of its presence pressing down on me like a physical force. ¡°Great,¡± I muttered, forcing myself to my feet. ¡°Because this shitshow wasn¡¯t bad enough already¡­.¡± The creature turned its gaze toward me, its molten eyes narrowing. I tightened my grip on the hilt of my second blade, blood dripping from the wound in my stomach. Fuu¡­ What''s one more monstrosity¡­
Chapter 061 - The horror from beyond
The air was thick with the stench of blood and the crackling residue of unstable magic. The shaman fell, my blade buried deep in his chest, his grotesque mouth moving to speak in an alien tongue. ??? ???? The words were harsh, guttural, and wrong¡ªlike nails dragged over broken glass. I couldn¡¯t understand them, but they resonated deep within my bones, setting my nerves alight with dread. ¡°The Fuck you on about¡­ that¡¯s what you deserved after what you did to that cat¡­¡± I muttered through gritted teeth, taking a cautious step closer. Whatever ritual it had been weaving, whatever nightmare it had called forth, the shaman was done for in a few moments. ¡°Huff¡­¡± I exhaled sharply, the adrenaline coursing through me making my hands tremble. But something caught my eye as I approached. The small cat¡ªthe limp creature the shaman had sacrificed¡ª besides it was another who wasn¡¯t dead. It had fallen to the ground during the chaos, its tiny body twitching weakly. Its fur was matted with blood¡ªsome of it its own, some from the ritual¡ªbut it was alive. Barely. The cat let out a faint purr, nuzzling against the lifeless body of its companion lying beside it. The sight made something twist inside me, sharp and painful. ¡°Damn it,¡± I muttered under my breath, my voice hoarse. I knelt beside the cat, ignoring the throbbing pain in my stomach and the blood dripping from my wounds. My hand reached out hesitantly, almost as if it were moving on its own. ¡°Hey¡­¡± My voice was softer now, almost unrecognizable to my own ears. The cat didn¡¯t resist as I scooped it up, its small body trembling in my hands. It was cold to the touch, its breaths shallow and uneven. ¡°Aww, Thank heavens nothing happened to you¡­¡± I asked quietly, more to myself than the creature. The cat let out another faint purr, its tiny head resting against my chest. For reasons I couldn¡¯t explain¡ªreasons I didn¡¯t want to dwell on¡ªI found myself cradling it gently, my fingers brushing over its matted fur in a soothing motion. ¡°You¡¯re not dying,¡± I said firmly, though the tremor in my voice betrayed my resolve. The coldness in the cat¡¯s body sent a pang through me, sharper than any wound. My grip tightened just slightly as I shifted the cat, tucking it into my armor. I adjusted it carefully, making sure its tiny head poked out, free to breathe. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine, little buddy,¡± I muttered, swallowing hard. My chest felt heavy, a weight I couldn¡¯t shake, but I pushed it aside. There was no time for this¡ªnot now. Nothing gonna happen¡­ I turned my attention back to the shaman. The goblin¡¯s cloak had fallen back, revealing its face in full. The sight sent a shiver down my spine. Its skin was burnt and blistered, twisted into something barely resembling flesh. Patches of charred bone jutted through in places, and yet its eyes still glowed faintly, filled with a hateful intensity. It was dying¡ªof that, I was certain¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t the grotesque visage that chilled me to my core. It was the smile. The shaman¡¯s lips curled into a wicked, knowing grin, a final act of defiance even as death claimed it. ¡°What are you so happy about?¡± I growled, my voice low.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. The goblin didn¡¯t respond. Its eyes fixed on me, unblinking, the smile never faltering. ¡°....¡± I raised my blade, the edge gleaming faintly in the crimson light of the blood-red moon. ¡° Pray to your Anima gods or whatever you worship for penance¡± With a single, brutal motion, I drove the blade into its head. The smile finally faded. The goblin¡¯s body twitched once, then went still, its lifeless form collapsing to the ground in a heap. I stood there for a moment, my hand still gripping the hilt of my sword as I tried to steady my breathing. ¡°Whatever you were planning, it¡¯s over,¡± I muttered, yanking the blade free. The shaman¡¯s blood dripped from the sword, pooling at my feet. I wiped it clean against the edge of my cloak, my movements mechanical, automatic. The cat shifted weakly in my armor, letting out another faint meow. I glanced down at it, my brow furrowing. ¡°You better not die on me,¡± I said quietly. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t handle that much¡­¡± The shaman¡¯s lifeless body lay twisted at my feet, its smile etched into my mind like a brand. My breaths came slow and shallow, the air heavy with the acrid stench of blood and death. But something wasn¡¯t right. I turned on my heels. I followed the shaman¡¯s dead, vacant gaze, my eyes narrowing as I turned toward the center of the ritual circle. The ground trembled. The remnants of the blood sphere, which I had thought dissipated, began to gather again. The crimson mist swirled, condensing into a dense, pulsating orb. The pressure in the air returned, sharper and more oppressive than before, cutting into my skin like unseen blades. ¡°No¡­¡± I muttered, taking an involuntary step back. ¡°What the fuck now?¡± The blood orb trembled violently, cracks forming along its surface. With a deafening shatter, it split open, releasing a soundless wave of cold so intense it felt as if the warmth of life itself had been extinguished. From within the shattered orb, a dark rift yawned open, like a jagged tear in the very fabric of reality. The air around it shifted unnaturally, bending and distorting as if reality itself couldn¡¯t bear to look at what was emerging. The edges of the rift bled a sickly red light, casting long, distorted shadows across the blood-soaked ground. Then it came. A claw¡ªlong, gnarled, and black as midnight¡ªemerged from the rift first. The limb was impossibly large, its surface shimmering with an oily, unnatural sheen. It grasped the edge of the rift like a predator pulling itself out of a dark lair. Another claw followed, then a body, dark and amorphous, slithering into the mortal plane with grotesque, unnatural grace. And then I saw its eyes. Twin orbs of burning crimson, glowing with an intensity that pierced the darkness and rooted me to the spot. The sheer malevolence in its gaze was suffocating, like staring into the very heart of despair. ¡°Fuck¡­¡± The word slipped from my lips, barely audible over the pounding of my heart. The creature¡¯s form was hard to define, as if it shifted and writhed with every passing moment. Its body was made of shadows, tendrils coiling and uncoiling, but its presence was as solid as a mountain pressing down on my chest. And then it roared. The sound was unlike anything I¡¯d ever heard¡ªa guttural, bone-shaking cacophony that carried with it a presence so overwhelming it felt like the ground itself was trying to crush me. ¡°Shit!¡± I stumbled, the force of the roar nearly driving me to my knees. My hand instinctively went to the cat tucked into my armor, shielding its fragile body from the oppressive energy radiating from the monstrosity. The creature¡¯s massive form slithered fully out of the rift, towering over me. Its tendrils lashed out, striking the ground and leaving deep, smoking gouges in the earth. My mind raced, my instincts screaming at me to run, but my legs refused to move. The cat in my armor let out a faint, trembling meow, its tiny body quivering against me. The sound snapped me out of my paralysis, and I gripped the hilt of my remaining sword tightly. ¡°Damn it ¡± I muttered, my voice shaky but resolute as I retreated back and placed the kitty down, and covered the area with corpses ¡° There there now nice kitty¡­ It¡¯ll be fine¡± Fuuu¡­ Fuck¡­It¡¯s gonna get ugly Lexi¡­ The monstrosity¡¯s eyes narrowed, its gaze locking onto me. The weight of its malice was almost tangible, pressing against my chest like an iron vice. I took a step forward, the blade in my hand trembling as I forced myself to meet its gaze. FUUU¡­.. No need for unnecessary emotions Lexi¡­either I live or die¡­fuuu¡­. The creature let out another roar, its tendrils rising like serpents poised to strike. And then it lunged.
Chapter 062 - Chaotically fucked up
The rift pulsed with an eerie, malevolent energy, twisting and tearing the air as the monstrosity began to emerge fully. Its form was an abomination¡ªa writhing amalgamation of shadow, tendrils, and something unholy that defied reason. Crimson veins streaked through its body, pulsating with the rhythm of some nightmarish heart. A claw¡ªlong, gnarled, and black as midnight¡ªemerged from the rift first. The limb was impossibly large, its surface shimmering with an oily, unnatural sheen. It grasped the edge of the rift like a predator pulling itself out of a dark lair. Another claw followed, then a body, dark and amorphous, slithering into the mortal plane with grotesque, unnatural grace. Twin orbs of burning crimson, glowing with an intensity that pierced the darkness and rooted me to the spot. The sheer malevolence in its gaze was suffocating, like staring into the very heart of despair. The creature''s head tilted unnaturally, its blood-red eyes locking onto me with an intelligence that was both predatory and ancient. Then it roared. The sound was more than just noise¡ªit was a fucking force. A wave of terror slammed into me, pressing down on my chest like an iron slab. The very air around the creature warped and crackled, and the ground beneath my feet trembled in protest. ¡°F-Fuck¡­¡± I muttered, my voice barely audible over the deafening roar. My hands trembled, my instincts screaming at me to run, but I gritted my teeth and stood my ground. Fuu! I exhaled sharply, forcing my body to obey. My hand tightened around my blade, its hilt slick with sweat and blood. The oppressive weight of the creature¡¯s presence threatened to crush me, but I forced it out of my mind. ¡°Not¡­ fucking¡­ today.¡± fuuu¡­ Closing my eyes for a split second, I focused on the Exira coursing through my veins. The energy responded sluggishly at first, but with sheer will, I pushed it higher¡ªLevel 3. A searing heat filled my body, driving away the chill of fear and stabilizing my breathing. When I opened my eyes, my trembling hands were steady. The horror was almost fully in this realm now. Its massive, shifting form towered over me, tendrils writhing as if alive. The air itself grew heavier, darker, as the space around us distorted. Colors bled together, turning the world into a grotesque mix of black, violet, and crimson. Pulsing veins of corrupt energy snaked across the ground, spreading like a disease. I took a slow step back, my boots crunching against the cracked, blood-streaked earth. My eyes never left the creature. ¡°Purrr¡­¡± The faint sound reached my ears, barely audible over the oppressive atmosphere. I glanced down at the cat nestled in the makeshift copses refuge, its tiny body trembling but alive. Its half-closed eyes met mine, and despite its weakened state, the faint vibration of its purring calmed me as I patted it for the last time. A small, wry smile tugged at my lips. ¡°You¡¯re a tough little thing, aren¡¯t you?¡± The monster roared again, louder this time, its voice shaking the very air. My focus snapped back to it as the ground beneath me cracked open, veins of violet corruption spreading outward in jagged lines. The world around us twisted further, the atmosphere growing darker and more unstable until everything was bathed in a nightmarish violet hue. The blood-red glow of the creature¡¯s eyes pierced the gloom, locking onto me with a hunger that made my skin crawl. ¡°Corruption¡­¡± I muttered, my voice low and steady. The monster¡¯s very presence was deforming the environment, infecting it with its twisted energy. ¡°You stay here,¡± I said quietly. The cat¡¯s eyes flickered shut, its breathing shallow but steady.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Standing up, I turned back to the monster. Fuu. Another sharp inhale. Exira surged through me, raw and scorching, searing into every fiber of my body. I pushed it to Level 3¡ªthe maximum that I could control. My muscles screamed, my veins burned, and the world around me sharpened to an agonizing clarity. The blade in my hand pulsed faintly, humming with power. The monster loomed before me, its silhouette a nightmare of writhing tendrils and jagged claws. Its blood-red eyes glared, full of malice, and the corrupted air around it seemed alive, twisting and boiling. Focus. The ground trembled as it roared, the sound like nails scraping through my skull. Its tendrils lashed out first¡ªdozens of them¡ªwhipping toward me with impossible speed. I moved. The world blurred as Exira surged through my legs, propelling me forward in a flash. I darted past the first tendril, the sharp snap of it slicing through the space I¡¯d occupied milliseconds before. Behind me, the ground erupted, shards of stone and black ooze raining down. Another tendril lashed out from my left. My blade met it mid-swing, carving through the shadowy appendage with a blinding flash of light. The severed piece hissed and writhed before melting into the ground like tar. The monster didn¡¯t even flinch. It lunged, claws tearing through the air. I barely had time to twist away before one slammed into the earth beside me, shattering the ground in a deafening explosion. I rolled to my feet, my breath ragged, as the beast reared back, its crimson gaze locking onto me again. Its speed was terrifying. Its claws came in a sweeping arc, each strike faster than the last. I ducked, pivoted, deflected with my blade¡ªeach movement razor-sharp, each second stolen by the skin of my teeth. One strike came too close, raking past my side. Pain flared as the edge of its claw tore through my armor, leaving a burning gash. Shut it out. Move. I surged forward, Exira blazing through me as I closed the distance. My blade flashed in a diagonal strike, aiming for its chest. The weapon bit deep into the shadow-flesh, tearing a jagged gash that bubbled and hissed as black ichor spilled out. But the monster didn¡¯t falter. ¡°What the hell?¡± I growled through gritted teeth, sweat streaming down my face. It didn¡¯t make sense. Most of my attacks failed to land where they should. My breath came in ragged gasps as the monster lunged again, its claws tearing through the air inches from my chest. Think, Alexis. Focus. fu¡­u.. It is becoming more and more difficult to focus¡­ damn it. My head throbbed, the same cold, insidious pressure creeping in again, seeping through my defenses like poison. A tendril lashed out, and I moved¡ªtoo late. The whip-like appendage struck my shoulder, spinning me sideways and sending me crashing to the ground. god¡­damnit¡­haa Pain exploded through me as I hit the earth, my blade skidding from my grasp. I scrambled to my knees, gasping for air, and snatched the sword just in time to deflect a claw strike aimed at my neck. But the motion was sluggish¡ªwrong. The monster''s screeches distorted in my ears, like static ripping through my skull. My vision swam, colors bleeding into one another as the world tilted unnaturally. My arms moved, my legs followed¡ªbut it felt disconnected, like I was fighting through a thick, suffocating fog. Haa¡­fuuu The realization struck hard and fast, cutting through the haze like a shard of glass. My attacks¡ªmy movements¡ªthey weren¡¯t going where I wanted them to. My blade missed vital targets not because of the fucker¡¯s speed, but because something was wrong with me. The corruption. That cold, insidious presence clawing at my mind¡ªit was inside me, twisting my perceptions, warping my aim. It wanted me to falter, to hesitate, to waste every precious moment I had. ¡°Stupid fucking luck I have," I spat, shoving myself upright. I had to break its grasp on me, or I wouldn''t live for long¡­ Fuu. A cold, insidious pressure invaded my mind. It wasn¡¯t just physical¡ªit was inside me, clawing at my thoughts, drowning them in a suffocating fog. My legs faltered, my grip on the blade slackened. For a moment, I felt it¡ªan urge to stop. To let go. To¡­ ¡°Fuck that.¡± I bit down hard; Exira¡¯s burning pain grounded me. The agony was a lifeline, snapping me back as the monster closed in. Its massive frame lunged, claws swinging toward me in a brutal arc. Shit¡­ move, goddamnit¡­ But that wasn¡¯t enough. Clang! My blade caught its claw mid-swing, the force of the collision sending a violent shockwave up my arms. Sparks flew; the ringing impact reverberated through my bones. My feet skidded back, the weight of the strike almost overwhelming. The beast pressed harder, its claws grinding against my sword. My arms trembled; the strain threatened to snap me in two. With a snarl, I twisted the blade, forcing the claw aside and driving forward in a single, fluid motion. My weapon slashed across its side, cutting deep enough to spray ichor into the air. The monster screeched, its frustration palpable. And then its tail came. Like a whip, it lashed out faster than I could react, slamming into my chest and hurling me backward. I hit the ground hard, my vision exploding with stars as the breath tore from my lungs. Hewuk¡­arhghh The monster lunged forward, its massive jaws opening wide. Puchi! A searing pain erupted in my shoulder as its fangs sank deep into my flesh. Blood gushed from the wound, warm and slick, soaking through my armor in seconds. ¡°ARGHHH!¡± I screamed, my voice raw and ragged. The pain was blinding, like molten steel being driven into my body. I tried to move, to force it off, but its grip was like a vice. The creature growled low and deep, its hot, rancid breath filling my senses as it bit down harder.
Chapter 063 - You bite me I bite you back
Puchi. A searing pain erupted in my shoulder as its fangs sank deep into my flesh. Blood gushed from the wound, warm and slick, soaking through my armor in seconds. The monster¡¯s fangs were still embedded in my flesh, tearing deeper with every second. Its jagged teeth twisted into the muscle and bone, and I could feel every moment as if my nerves were being set on fire. ¡°AHHHH!¡± My scream tore through the chaos, a raw, guttural sound that scraped my throat as I writhed against its grip. I desperately channeled Exira, feeling it burn through my veins like molten fire, but it didn¡¯t matter. The monster¡¯s blood-red eyes glinted with something almost mocking, its blackened form unaffected by the energy coursing through me. It was as if Exira didn¡¯t even register to this thing¡ªas if I were nothing more than an insect writhing in its jaws. ¡°Shit¡­ Fuck!¡± I spat through gritted teeth, my voice cracking under the strain. With a guttural snarl, the creature pushed down hard, its massive weight slamming me to the ground. The force drove the breath from my lungs, leaving me gasping like a fish out of water. Its claws pinned my arms down, razor-sharp talons sinking deep into the meat of my biceps. ¡°Fuck¡ªAGHHH!¡± The pain was unbearable, every nerve screaming in protest. I could feel the claws grinding against bone, locking me in place like a crucifixion. Blood oozed from the wounds, slick and hot, soaking the dirt beneath me. The monster¡¯s breath was rancid, each exhale filling my senses with decay and rot. Its fangs clamped down harder on my shoulder, and the edges of my vision blurred as the pain threatened to pull me under. The Armor was the only thing that saved me from being torn apart, but it¡¯s not going to hold for long¡­ Focus. Focus, damn it¡­ haaa¡­ huff¡­ fuck, it hurts. A cold chill rippled through my body, emanating from the earrings. It cut through the haze of agony, freezing away all the panic, pain, and emotions. The world slowed. The pain dulled to a distant hum; my mind shifted into a state of eerie calm. Time itself seemed to freeze, leaving only me and the creature locked in this horrific struggle. I assessed my options in the cold void of thought. No swords. My hands were pinned, my fingers twitching uselessly against the ground. I couldn¡¯t even flex them properly, let alone reach for a blade. Exira¡­ I gritted my teeth, trying to channel the energy again, pushing it to its limits. But the creature didn¡¯t flinch. My strongest attacks, my most desperate attempts, and it shrugged them off like raindrops. Maybe due to the nature of the monster¡­ later¡­ these thoughts I don¡¯t have time for. There has to be something. Think. And then I felt it. A dull throb pulsed through my body, a sensation that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. It was faint at first, almost imperceptible, but it grew stronger with each passing moment. It wasn¡¯t Exira¡­ I grit my teeth, forcing the thought away. But before I could process it further, the monster roared again, a deafening sound that snapped me out of my trance. Its fangs twisted cruelly, ripping through muscle and flesh as it growled low and deep. My body arched involuntarily, a choked scream clawing its way out of my throat. ¡°ARGHHH!¡± The pain was blinding, and for a moment, I thought I¡¯d black out. But then I felt it again¡ªthat creeping sensation of corruption.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. I looked down, my wide eyes catching the horrifying sight of blackened veins snaking their way across my skin. The corruption was spreading from the bite wound, its tendrils crawling through my body like invasive roots. ¡°Shit¡­ no, no, no!¡± I gasped, my breath hitching as I struggled against the monster¡¯s grip. arhhhgh¡­ The corruption burned like acid, a vile, searing pain that was somehow worse than the fangs in my shoulder or the claws pinning my arms. I could feel it worming its way into my body, infecting me, changing me. Stay calm. Stay in control. The chill from the earrings flared again, pushing back against the encroaching darkness. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was enough to keep me grounded. The monster¡¯s fangs twisted deeper into my shoulder, tearing through muscle and scraping against bone. Blood poured from the wound in hot, sickening waves, soaking through my armor and pooling beneath me. I couldn¡¯t move. I couldn¡¯t breathe. Its claws still pinned my arms to the ground, talons sunk so deep I could feel them grinding against the bone. The weight of its massive body pressed down on me, crushing the air from my lungs as my vision flickered. This is it, a cold, detached voice whispered in the back of my mind. You¡¯re done. It¡¯s over. ¡°No¡­¡± I croaked, my voice a broken rasp. My head swam, my thoughts unraveling as the edges of my vision grew darker. ¡°Not¡­ like this¡­¡± The corruption in my veins spread further, its tendrils snaking outward from the bite wound and crawling up my neck, down my chest. I could feel it burning through me, trying to take me, to turn me into something¡­ else. The monster¡¯s red eyes glowed brighter, its growl rumbling through my chest as if it could sense my resistance. I had to act. Through the haze of pain, I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to push aside the agony. My thoughts were fractured, erratic¡ªpanicked, but one thing was clear: if I didn¡¯t do something, I was dead. As I felt my consciousness slipping away, the throbbing in my chest intensified, a dull, insistent pulse that drew my attention like a beacon. The corruption¡¯s spread halted, not because I stopped it, but because something within me seemed to absorb it, devour it. huh¡­ yes¡­ work¡­ My vision blurred, the monster¡¯s snarling face filling my gaze as its fangs twisted again. I reached inward, toward the essence that beckoned me. It wasn¡¯t a conscious decision¡ªit was a last resort as I was on the verge of blacking out. The change was immediate. Puchi. A sharp, tearing sound echoed from my chest as something burst outward. My body convulsed violently; my back arched against the ground as I let out a choked scream. ¡°ARGHHH!¡± Bones. Long, jagged bones erupted from my chest, slick with dark, viscous liquid. They pierced through the monster¡¯s side, stabbing deep into its writhing, shadowy flesh. roawrrrrr The beast let out a guttural roar, its body jerking as the bones tore into it. The claws pinning my arms slackened just slightly, and its grip on my shoulder faltered. But the pain didn¡¯t stop. The bones protruding from my chest sent waves of agony rippling through me, the sensation so intense it nearly drove me into unconsciousness. My vision swam, my grip on reality slipping as my body twisted unnaturally beneath the monster¡¯s weight. I couldn¡¯t hold on. And I let go, trusting my instincts¡­ My head jerked forward, and I felt my jaw shift, stretching impossibly wide. The joints cracked and popped as my teeth elongated into jagged, monstrous fangs. And then I bit. CRUNCH! My fangs sank deep into the monster¡¯s face, piercing through its shadowy flesh. Its blackened ichor sprayed everywhere, the foul liquid splattering across my face and chest. The taste was vile, burning my tongue and throat like acid, but I didn¡¯t stop. I bit down harder, my teeth tearing into the creature¡¯s hide as it thrashed and roared. ¡°FUCK YOU!¡± I snarled, my voice distorted and inhuman, muffled by the flesh between my jaws. The monster¡¯s head jerked back, its roar filled with rage and pain. Its claws flailed wildly, one swiping across my side and tearing through my armor like paper. The pain barely registered. My bones twisted further, extending from my chest and driving deeper into the creature¡¯s torso. It bucked and writhed, its massive body convulsing as dark liquid poured from its wounds. The corruption around us seemed to intensify; the air grew heavier with each passing second. The ground beneath us cracked and splintered, jagged veins of violet energy spreading outward in chaotic patterns. I didn¡¯t care. I didn¡¯t think. All that mattered was survival. The monster let out another deafening roar, its claws finally releasing my arms as it struggled to free itself from my bite. The moment my hands were free, I lashed out, my fingers digging into its writhing flesh with a strength I didn¡¯t know I had. Its red eyes glared down at me, burning with a hatred so intense it felt like it would tear me apart. But I met its gaze with my own, my vision clouded with a haze of crimson. "Ha ha," I grinned. The beast roared again, its massive body shuddering as the black ichor continued to pour from its wounds. I bit down harder. My jaw clenched with inhuman strength, my teeth sinking deeper into its flesh. The taste of its blood filled my mouth, acrid and burning, but I didn¡¯t stop. I wouldn¡¯t stop. The monster thrashed violently, its claws and tail lashing out in every direction. One swipe struck me across the face, sending a burst of pain through my skull, but I held on. This was no longer a fight for control. This was survival. I could feel the corruption within me shifting, melding with the essence I had called upon. It was no longer trying to consume me¡ªit was mine. And I would use it to end this.
Chapter 064 - Survived, how in the hell
Roarrr! The monster¡¯s screech tore through the air, an ear-shattering blend of rage and agony that vibrated deep into my bones. My body was barely holding together, every inch of me screaming in protest as blood poured from the gaping wounds it had carved into me. The monster¡¯s claw slammed into my chest, pinning me to the ground. I felt the crunch of ribs, the wet sound of blood spilling into my lungs. My arms twitched uselessly at my sides, my swords far away. Its weight pressed down, its blood-red eyes locking onto mine. fu.. My vision flickered, fading in and out, and for a moment, I thought I was finally done. But my instincts wouldn¡¯t let me go. I felt something stir, bubbling up from the edges of my broken consciousness. Not rage¡ªsomething colder, deeper. A hunger. My vision blurred, and then... fractured. The monster''s face loomed closer, its mouth twisted into a snarl, but the world around it rippled like shattered glass. And then something shifted. My jaw burned, the skin stretching, the bones realigning in ways they weren¡¯t supposed to. There was no pain, only the sensation of changing. Black tendrils stretched from my jawline, melding with my skin as my teeth grew sharper and longer. My mouth extended into an impossible maw, my fangs glinting like daggers under the crimson light. I wasn¡¯t thinking anymore. The monster loomed above me, its glowing red eyes burning with malice. Its fangs dripped with my blood, but it didn¡¯t expect me to fight back. It should have. And then I struck on pure instinct. My head lunged forward before I even realized it; my monstrous jaw clamped down on its face. CHOMP. The sound was thick and wet, like bone splintering under immense pressure. My teeth punctured its flesh, sinking deep into one of its glowing red eyes. The sensation was visceral¡ªsickening and satisfying all at once. The monster screeched in agony, its massive body thrashing violently as it tried to break free of my grip. Its claws raked across my arms, leaving deep, burning gashes, but I held on, driven by something beyond reason. But I didn¡¯t let go. The taste of its blood was vile, like swallowing molten tar, but I didn¡¯t let go. I bit down harder, my teeth grinding against the bone beneath its flesh. The monster¡¯s eye exploded between my jaws, a burst of hot, acrid fluid spilling into my mouth. Fuck. The taste was unbearable, but I used the surge of disgust to push harder. The creature thrashed wildly, its tail whipping around and slamming into my side with bone-crushing force. Pain shot through my ribs, but I ignored it, channeling every ounce of strength into my bite. Its screeches grew more frantic and more desperate. Its eye. I was biting through its eye. Hot, putrid fluid burst against my tongue, and something popped beneath the force of my jaw. The monster''s screech grew deafening, its thrashing turning frantic as its claws raked at my sides. But nothing it did mattered. I was locked in, unrelenting, driven by the animal inside me that had seized control. I could feel my body weakening; the edges of my consciousness flickering as the pain and exhaustion caught up to me. But I wasn¡¯t done. With one final surge of strength, I clamped down as hard as I could, twisting my jaw and ripping a chunk of its face free. Shrrrkkk! The sound was wet and gruesome; the flesh tore away from its skull. Dark, viscous liquid sprayed everywhere, soaking me in its foul, searing blood. The monster reared back, finally breaking free, its howls echoing through the corrupted air. It stumbled, its claws clutching at the gaping wound where part of its face had been. The empty socket where its eye used to glow pulsed with dark energy, spilling more of its vile ichor.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it I spat the chunk of flesh onto the ground, the taste of its blood still burning in my throat. As I staggered back, the severed, dripping mass of flesh was clenched between my fangs. My body heaved as the monster reeled away, clutching the gaping hole where its eye had been. Its screams were guttural, almost pathetic, as it stumbled. Black ichor sprayed in torrents, soaking the ground, steaming and sizzling like acid where it fell. The thing in my mouth hit the ground with a wet splatter. Only then did I "wake" up from the primal state. haa¡­haaaaa¡­. My breathing came in ragged, gasping bursts. The haze receded just enough for clarity to set in, for the cold realization to hit. I touched my face, fingers trembling as they brushed against jagged teeth¡ªteeth that weren¡¯t mine. My jaw throbbed, my tongue brushing against fangs that were too long, too sharp. But then I laughed. It was low and guttural, a sound that didn¡¯t feel entirely human. The monster¡¯s howls turned to furious growls, its claws digging into the earth as it steadied itself. But its movements were slower now, more erratic. I licked the blood from my lips, my voice low and unrecognizable as I whispered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong¡­ can''t handle pain¡­ hehehe¡­ crying like a bitch.¡± haa¡­haaa¡­. The world was barely holding itself together, just like me. Every breath was a battle, each gasp tearing through my chest like knives. Blood dripped steadily down my arms and legs, soaking into the dirt below. My left shoulder hung limp, and what was concerning was that my entire left side from shoulder to chest had turned blackish-purple. Haaa¡­fucking corruption¡­cough¡­ But I wasn¡¯t the only one on the edge of breaking. Across from me, the monster swayed on its feet, its massive frame battered and torn. The gaping ruin of its face oozed black ichor, the thick, steaming liquid pooling beneath it in grotesque splashes. The hole where its left eye had been pulsed weakly, a sickly black energy radiating out like heat waves. Its chest heaved with every rasping breath, the gashes I¡¯d carved earlier still leaking, still wide open. It should have been dead. Hell, I should¡¯ve been dead. We both are like cockroaches in that regard¡­ But here we were, staring each other down, like neither of us could believe that the other was still standing. The silence was maddening. The forest held its breath, the corrupted air heavy and suffocating. Even the twisted, blackened trees seemed to close in, their jagged limbs stretching like claws ready to strike. ¡°You¡¯re fucked¡­I¡¯m fucked¡­how about we do round 2 sometime later¡­¡± I muttered, the words slipping out between ragged breaths. My voice didn¡¯t sound like my own anymore¡ªhoarse, shredded, barely hanging together. The Monster¡¯s lone crimson eye flickered toward me, its hatred searing. It let out a low growl, a rumble that vibrated through the ground, up my legs, and straight into my gut. ¡°Yeah, keep staring,¡± I hissed. My arms trembled as I tried to lift my claws, but the weight was too much for me to handle at the moment. ¡°Let¡¯s see how tough you are now, you ugly bastard.¡± It took a step forward. The sound of its claws sinking into the earth was wet, sticky; the noise sent a shiver down my spine. Its massive body shuddered with the effort, each movement slower than the last, the ichor pouring from its wounds in steady, heavy streams. But it didn¡¯t fall. It wouldn¡¯t fall. Neither would I. The tension between us was unbearable, like a stretched wire about to snap. Every muscle in my body screamed for rest, my vision threatening to cave in on itself, but I couldn¡¯t let go¡ªnot when it was still standing. Not when its hulking shadow still loomed over me. Its growl deepened, a harsh, guttural sound that made my skin crawl. It dragged itself closer, its legs buckling under its weight but refusing to collapse. Its claws curled into the dirt as it leaned forward, its massive, broken head lowering just slightly. The monster froze, its crimson gaze locked on me. For a moment, neither of us moved. Its eye narrowed, the glowing red dimming for a split second. It was sizing me up. A part of me wanted to taunt it again, to spit another insult in its face and force it to make the first move. But my throat was too dry, and my lungs felt like they¡¯d collapse if I said another word. The monster let out a low, guttural snarl, its claws twitching against the dirt. But instead of charging, instead of lunging for the kill, it staggered backward. Its massive frame wavered, the blood loss finally catching up. With a heavy, labored motion, it turned, dragging itself toward the corrupted forest. My heart pounded in my ears as I watched it stumble into the shadows, its towering form growing smaller with each unsteady step. Its growls echoed faintly through the trees, growing weaker and weaker until they finally disappeared altogether. I stood there, rooted in place. It was gone. I should¡¯ve felt relief. Hell, I should¡¯ve been celebrating that I was still breathing, but all I could do was stare at the trail of black ichor it had left behind, my chest heaving as I tried to stay upright. My knees buckled first, landing hard on my hands and knees. Pain exploded through my body, but I didn¡¯t care. My head hung low, my hair sticky with blood and sweat as I gasped for air. The silence pressed in; the only sound was my ragged breathing and the faint, distant rustle of corrupted leaves. I stared up at the sky, the faint orange and pink hues bleeding into the black of night. My chest rose and fell with each labored breath; my thoughts scattered and distant. You survived. The thought felt hollow, distant, like it belonged to someone else. My vision blurred as the exhaustion finally caught up to me, pulling me under like a rising tide. The last thing I saw before the darkness claimed me was the faint, golden light of dawn flickering across the treetops. And then, nothing.
Chapter 065 - Waking up to find the most unkissable face
The world was a haze of pain and exhaustion as I slowly clawed my way back to consciousness. My eyelids felt like they weighed a ton, and every breath came with a sharp twinge in my chest. My body was stiff, heavy, and I could feel the bruises forming beneath the layers of blood and grime caked onto my skin. Each nerve seemed to hum with pain, every part of me battered and screaming for rest. And then I felt warm, wet, and strangely comforted. Lick. A faint, raspy texture brushed against my cheek, followed by a soft vibration. Purr¡­ purr¡­ I cracked my eyes open, blinking against the faint light filtering through the treetops. My vision was blurry, but it didn¡¯t take long to focus on the tiny, orange fur-covered creature perched near my face. The kitten I had saved. It was small, barely larger than my hand, with fluffy orange fur that was slightly matted but soft nonetheless. Its round face tilted curiously at me, amber eyes blinking with quiet concern as it let out a faint, trembling meow. Despite everything¡ªthe pain, the exhaustion, the nightmare I had survived¡ªI found myself smiling. Or, at least, I thought I was smiling. The corners of my lips stretched back unnaturally far, the skin pulling in a way that immediately felt wrong. My smile faltered, and a frown tugged at my face as I raised a trembling hand to touch it. ¡°Arrghhh¡ªfuck!¡± The pain hit like a thunderclap, radiating through my jaw and down my neck. I froze, teeth gritted as I forced myself to breathe through the agony. ¡°Fuu¡­ fuu¡­¡± Once the initial wave subsided, I moved more cautiously, raising my right hand to my face again, not moving my left side. The tips of my fingers brushed against something sharp¡ªmy teeth. They weren¡¯t normal anymore. ¡°Shit¡­¡± I muttered, running my fingers across the jagged edges. My teeth were longer, sharper, pointed like an animal¡¯s fangs. The sensation was unnerving; the texture was unfamiliar and wrong. Swallowing the lump of dread in my throat, I shifted my touch, tracing along my cheekbones and jaw. My skin felt stretched, tighter than it should be, and there was a strange roughness near the edges of my mouth where the flesh seemed¡­ uneven. It wasn¡¯t just my teeth. My entire face had changed. I let my hand fall back to my side, the weight of that realization sinking in. "Umm, I guess modeling is out of options,¡± I muttered bitterly, forcing a strained chuckle despite the ache in my jaw. ¡°Not that it would do me any favors when I meet the elves.¡± The kitten let out another soft meow; its tiny head tilted as if it could understand my words. I shook my head, forcing the thoughts aside as I braced myself to sit up. My body protested immediately. ¡°Argh!¡± The sudden movement sent a spike of pain through my chest and ribs, and I nearly collapsed back onto the ground. My breath hitched, sharp and uneven, as I clutched at my side. ¡°Fuuu¡­ fuuu¡­¡± I exhaled slowly, willing the pain to dull. After a few shallow breaths, I managed to steady myself enough to sit upright. The light filtering through the trees had grown stronger, casting faint rays of sunlight across the forest floor. I looked down at myself, taking stock of the damage. My armor was in bad shape. The once sleek and polished surface was now battered and cracked, caked with layers of dried blood¡ªboth mine and the monster¡¯s. Some parts of it were barely holding together, the edges frayed and warped from the intense battle. But as I focused on it, I noticed something strange. The armor was slowly mending itself; I could feel it. It wasn¡¯t fast, but I could feel the faint, subtle movements as the damaged sections began to shift and knit themselves back together. The process was slow, but it was there¡ªlike a living thing trying to heal itself.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Guess I owe you one, El,¡± I murmured, a faint smile tugging at my lips. ¡°Even though you''re gone, your gift saved my ass again.¡± The quick-mending property of the armor had stopped my bleeding during the fight, buying me precious time. I owed my survival to it, even if it looked like hell now. Still, something felt¡­ different. The monster¡¯s blood¡ªits dark, corrupted essence¡ªhad soaked into the armor during the fight, mingling with my own. I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that it had triggered something, altering the way the armor worked. I¡¯d have to figure it out later. For now, I let out a heavy sigh, my head dipping forward as I tried to shake off the exhaustion weighing me down. ¡°Purrr¡­¡± The kitten¡¯s tiny vibration snapped me out of my thoughts. It pawed at my arm, its small, fluffy body trembling slightly as it let out another faint meow. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯m alive,¡± I said softly, my voice rough but not unkind. ¡°Don¡¯t get too attached, though. This world isn''t exactly friendly.¡± The kitten blinked up at me, its wide eyes unblinking. It didn¡¯t seem to care about my words, curling itself against my arm and purring softly. I let out a small, defeated chuckle, shaking my head. ¡°Great,¡± I muttered, my fingers brushing against the soft fur as I leaned back against a nearby tree. ¡°I saved your life, and now you¡¯re going to make me soft.¡± The kitten¡¯s tiny body shivered and trembled as it let out another faint meow, its small frame trying to climb up my chest. Its tiny claws scrambled against the battered remnants of my armor, slipping and failing with every attempt. And yet, it didn¡¯t give up. It tried again, its fluffy orange paws pressing and clawing against me, only to slide back down in defeat. I couldn¡¯t help it¡ªI laughed. ¡°Hahaaa!¡± The sound bubbled up from my chest, light and unrestrained, cutting through the weight of exhaustion and pain that clung to me like a second skin. It was such a small, ridiculous thing¡ªa tiny ball of fluff so determined to scale the broken mess of a man I¡¯d become. ¡°Aw, how cute!¡± I said, grinning despite the aches and sharp pangs lancing through my body. Moving slowly¡ªpainfully slowly¡ªI presented my hand to the kitten, palm up, careful not to startle it. ¡°Here, little buddy,¡± I said softly, my voice low and soothing. The kitten paused, its amber eyes wide as it looked at my hand. For a moment, it didn¡¯t move, just sniffed the air cautiously. Then, with a tentative meow, it crept forward and sniffed my hand, its tiny nose twitching. ¡°Good kitty,¡± I murmured, keeping still as it climbed onto my palm. I could feel the weight of it¡ªso small, so fragile¡ªand the softness of its orange fur against my calloused skin. It was warm, a comforting contrast to the cold numbness still lingering in my chest. A faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I brought the kitten closer to my chest. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you comfortable,¡± I said. The kitten stumbled as it jumped onto my chest, its small paws pressing against me as it tried to find its footing. Its gray eyes blinked up at me, curious and bright, and then it tilted its head to the side, letting out another soft meow. Despite everything¡ªdespite the nightmarish battle, the pain coursing through my body, the monstrous features that had twisted my face¡ªthe kitten was undeterred. It walked closer to my face, leaning in and giving me a soft lick on the cheek before letting out a quiet purr. ¡°You¡¯re not scared, huh?¡± I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. The kitten didn¡¯t answer, of course. Instead, it nuzzled against me before diving into the space just below my neck, its small body pressing against my chest. It settled there, its head poking out from my armor, the rest of its tiny frame hidden and snug. The soft vibration of its purring filled the silence, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, the tension in my chest eased. ¡°Haha,¡± I chuckled, leaning back against a nearby rock. My body ached with every movement, but for once, it didn¡¯t feel unbearable. I reached up and petted the kitten gently, my fingers brushing against its soft fur. ¡°Man, you¡¯re the best, little one.¡± The kitten responded with another soft purr, its eyes half-closed as it nuzzled against me. The forest was a mess of shattered trees, blood-soaked ground, and the lingering traces of corrupted energy. The faint smell of iron and decay still clung to the air, and the spot where the outer monster had bitten me throbbed faintly, a reminder of just how close I had come to dying. The memory of the monster fleeing into the woods flashed through my mind; its ruined face and desperate movements burned into my thoughts. ¡°Phew,¡± I muttered, exhaling slowly. ¡°We survived, huh?¡± My gaze shifted downward to the kitten still nestled against my chest, its tiny head poking out from my armor. The kitten tilted its head at me, its amber eyes blinking slowly. ¡°Well, kitty," I continued, gesturing faintly to the scene around us, ¡°all that sweet, sweet loot scattered around here? It¡¯s up for grabs.¡± The kitten let out a faint meow, as if in agreement, and I chuckled again, shaking my head. But then something else caught my attention. A faint pull at the edge of my senses¡ªsubtle but insistent. It was a tingling, almost magnetic sensation, drawing my focus toward a specific spot amid the chaos. The place where the goblin shaman had fallen. My body tensed instinctively; my muscles coiled as my gaze locked onto the spot. ¡°Yup,¡± I said, my voice flat but certain. ¡°We¡¯ve got ourselves an essence, buddy.¡± The kitten purred softly, seemingly unfazed by the shift in my tone, and I adjusted it carefully, making sure it was secure against my chest. ¡°Let¡¯s see if the essence was worth the trouble,¡± I muttered, a faint smirk tugging at my lips as I pushed myself off the rock. My body groaned in protest, but I ignored it. There was still work to do.
Chapter 066 - Fixing the demonic face
purrrr~ The kitten on my chest purred softly in its sleep, its rhythmic vibrations oddly grounding, but I knew I couldn¡¯t stay here forever. I took a deep breath and slowly¡ªvery carefully¡ªtried to move my left arm. ¡°Arghh!¡± The spike of pain was immediate and brutal, shooting through my shoulder like someone had shoved a molten dagger into it. My teeth clenched hard, barely able to breathe through the searing agony. ¡°Haa¡­¡± I exhaled sharply, trying to ride out the pain as my body trembled. ¡°That hurts. That fucking chaos monster messed my shoulder up really badly." ¡°Never thought I would be facing beyonders or an outer monster in a dungeon of all places¡­ fuck¡­ I need to find some way to get rid of the corruption¡­¡± The words came out as a strained growl, more to myself than to anyone else. I slumped back against the rock, letting my arm hang limply at my side. The dull ache that followed was relentless, but at least it wasn¡¯t as sharp as before. Purr. The kitten stirred slightly, its tiny body curling tighter against me as it let out a soft, sleepy meow. The sound and its warmth eased some of the tension in my chest, if only a little. I looked down at the tiny creature, its fur a soft orange glow in the faint light. It slept so peacefully, completely unaware of the chaos and bloodshed that had surrounded us just hours ago. Something about that made my chest tighten, a strange mix of emotions bubbling up¡ªrelief, maybe, or something softer that I couldn¡¯t quite name. Have I ever had a pet before? I couldn¡¯t remember. Most of my memories were a blur of combat, survival, and blood. If there was anything else¡ªanything softer, anything normal¡ªit was locked behind a door I hadn¡¯t opened yet. haa¡­. I sighed, forcing the thoughts aside as I shifted slightly, careful not to disturb the kitten. ¡°Let¡¯s see what kind of damage we¡¯re dealing with,¡± I muttered, reaching into my ring for the spyglass and the polished metal card I kept stashed there. The makeshift mirror reflected faint light as I angled it toward my face, my hands trembling slightly as I prepared myself for the worst. When I finally saw my reflection, my breath hitched. What stared back at me wasn¡¯t very human-like. The lower part of my face was grotesquely elongated, stretching unnaturally down my jawline like it had been ripped apart and then stitched together by some sadistic hand. Sharp, uneven teeth jutted out in jagged rows, too large to fit properly. Some of them were cracked, others gnarled, their edges glistening with a faint, viscous fluid that smelled faintly of iron and rot. The gums were exposed and blackened, raw like charred flesh, and the surrounding tissue was worse¡ªscaled in patches, with sinewy muscle replacing what should have been skin. It wasn¡¯t a face made for speaking or smiling. It was a face made for ripping and devouring. ¡°Fuck¡­¡± I breathed, the word barely a whisper. My hand trembled as I ran my fingers along the edges of the deformity. The texture was horrifying¡ªjagged and uneven, with the flesh feeling rough and scaly in some places and raw and sensitive in others. My teeth grazed against my tongue as I closed my mouth experimentally, and the sensation sent a shiver down my spine. I closed my eyes, forcing myself to take a deep breath. fuu¡­fuu¡­ ¡°You changed it once before, Lexi,¡± I muttered under my breath, my voice shaking but resolute. ¡°You can do it again.¡± The memory was faint, buried under layers of pain and exhaustion, but it was there¡ªa similar sensation, a similar shift. I had controlled it once, pulled it back before it consumed me. I just had to do it again. I let my head fall back against the rock, closing my eyes as I turned my focus inward. My body felt heavy, my thoughts sluggish, but I pushed past the haze, reaching into the depths of my mind. There it was. I¡¯m now damn sure that the essence is probably related to mutation or something similar¡­ Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. I reached for it, my mental grip trembling as I wrapped myself around the threads of energy. The moment I touched it, I felt resistance¡ªan instinctive pushback, like it didn¡¯t want to let go. Haa¡­fuu¡­fuuu Taking a deep breath, I focused my mind. Bit by bit, I began severing the connections, each one snapping like a taut wire under my grip. The process was slow, excruciatingly so, but I could feel the mutation essence receding, its hold on my body loosening. ¡°ARGHHH!¡± The sound tore from my throat as the transformation began to reverse itself. I could feel the flesh of my face shifting, twisting back into place with sickening crunches and pops. Argh¡­ goddamn it hurts¡­ ha.. HA¡­ fuck¡­ My jaw retracted, the elongated muscles snapping back to their original size. My teeth shrank, the sharp, uneven points grinding against one another as they reshaped themselves. It felt like my skull was being crushed and rebuilt piece by piece. ¡°Fuuu¡­ fuuu¡­¡± I gasped, my breaths ragged as I fought to stay conscious. The pain was blinding; my vision swam as tears streamed down my face. It took nearly half an hour of painstaking effort, but when the final thread snapped, the connection was severed completely. The pain lingered, a dull throb that pulsed through my jaw and neck, but the weight of the mutation essence was gone. I slumped back against the rock, my body trembling with exhaustion as I raised the metal card to my face again. The reflection staring back at me was somewhat human. I let out a shaky laugh, my lips curling into a faint, relieved smile. ¡°I look like an edgelord... holy¡­" I muttered, my voice hoarse. The kitten stirred against my chest, letting out a soft purr, and I reached up to scratch behind its ears. ¡°Let¡¯s not do that again,¡± I said quietly, my fingers brushing against its soft fur. ¡°Once was more than enough.¡± I sat there for a long moment, letting the tension bleed out of my body. My hand drifted to my jaw, fingers tracing the faint ache that lingered there as I worked the muscles of my mouth. Slowly, cautiously, I ran my tongue along the inside of my teeth, bracing for anything that felt¡­ off. To my surprise, everything felt normal. Better than normal, actually. My gums were firm, and my teeth felt impossibly strong, sharper, like they had been reforged. As my tongue explored further, I found something strange¡ªmy canines were longer, slightly pointed, but they didn¡¯t feel wrong. They didn¡¯t cut the insides of my mouth or poke into my gums. ¡°Fucking weird,¡± I muttered under my breath. Curious, I retrieved the makeshift mirror again, angling it to see my reflection. "Yeah, an edgelord indeed¡­¡± I grumbled the moment I caught sight of myself." The lower half of my face had reverted to its normal shape, but the transformation had left its mark. Dark scars ran along the corners of my mouth, jagged streaks that reached upward toward my eyes like twisted veins. They weren¡¯t fresh¡ªno blood, no raw edges¡ªbut the texture was strange. I reached up, my fingers brushing lightly against the scars. The skin was smooth but cold to the touch, colder than the rest of my face. ¡°Sigh,¡± I muttered, shaking my head. ¡°Guess I¡¯m not getting rid of these any time soon.¡± I flexed the muscles in my jaw, working them slowly as I moved my lips, testing for stiffness or pain. To my relief, there wasn¡¯t any. My face moved normally, and my speech didn¡¯t feel restricted. ¡°Well, at least it works,¡± I said, half-joking. ¡°Small victories, Lexi. Small victories.¡± The kitten stirred against my chest, letting out a faint meow before settling back into its peaceful slumber. I glanced down at it, careful not to disturb it as I adjusted my position. But my reprieve didn¡¯t last long. My eyes drifted to my left arm, hanging limply at my side. A sharp, aching throb pulsed through my shoulder as I tried to move it, but it refused to respond. ¡°Great,¡± I muttered bitterly, gritting my teeth as I forced myself to stand. The process was slow, agonizingly so. My legs trembled beneath me, and every movement sent fresh spikes of pain lancing through my body. It took a few minutes¡ªand several failed attempts¡ªbut I finally managed to get upright. The kitten let out a soft grumble but didn¡¯t wake, its small body nestled snugly against my chest. ¡°Look at you¡­ no care in the world," I muttered, limping awkwardly toward the shaman¡¯s corpse. There was something there. A weird, instinctual pull tugged at my senses, drawing me toward the shaman¡¯s lifeless body. It wasn¡¯t a visible thing¡ªI couldn¡¯t see it, but I could feel it, like a low hum vibrating in the back of my skull. ¡°Essence,¡± I murmured, the word slipping out unbidden. It was unmistakable, so that¡¯s why El was so sure I''d find them soon enough¡­ When I reached the shaman¡¯s body, I froze; the pull intensified. It was¡­ strange. I couldn¡¯t see the essence, but I knew exactly where it was¡ªinside the shaman¡¯s head. The sensation was bizarre, like a sixth sense I didn¡¯t know I had suddenly been switched on. ¡°Well, that¡¯s new,¡± I muttered, glancing down at the corpse. ¡°Sorry, buddy. Guess I¡¯m gonna have to dig around in there.¡± I crouched awkwardly, my left arm still useless as I used my good hand to tear into the shaman¡¯s head. The process was messy, the squelching sound of flesh and bone making my stomach churn, but I pushed through. ¡°Gotcha,¡± I said finally, my fingers brushing against something solid. I pulled it free, holding it up to the faint light. The essence was blood-red, glowing faintly with an inner light that seemed to pulse in time with my own heartbeat. It was warm in my hand, thrumming with raw, untapped power, or so I hoped; my encounters in this fucking cursed world were getting more dangerous. The kitten stirred again, letting out a faint purr, and I glanced down at it with a small smile. ¡°Looks like we hit the jackpot, little buddy,¡± I said softly. But then another sensation prickled at the edge of my awareness. Damn, another essence¡­ you little kitty cat, you''re my lucky charm. I turned my head, my senses locking onto a second pull, fainter but unmistakable. It came from the spot where the berserk goblin had fallen, the place where I¡¯d torn its body apart in the heat of battle. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this a pleasant surprise?¡± I muttered, a grin tugging at the corners of my scarred lips. The shaman¡¯s essence still pulsed warmly in my hand, but my focus shifted to the new source of power waiting for me. ¡°Guess we¡¯re not done yet,¡± I said, pushing myself back to my feet. The kitten let out another sleepy meow, and I chuckled softly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± I murmured, glancing down at it. ¡°We¡¯ll rest soon. Just one more stop.¡± I limped toward the berserk goblin¡¯s corpse, the pull of its essence guiding me like a compass. The pain in my body was still relentless, my left arm hanging uselessly at my side, but the promise of power was enough to keep me moving. For now, the pain could wait. There was work to be done.
Chapter 067 - The essences and little fluff ball
Hmm¡­ so this is what an essence looks like¡­ The blood-red essence glowed faintly in my hand, its light casting eerie shadows across my battered armor. I turned it slowly, watching as the liquid inside swirled and splashed, almost alive, shifting with every slight movement. ¡°Blood essence, huh ...hmm could be a game changer¡­or could be a dud¡­¡± The sight of it was mesmerizing, its glow both sinister and beautiful, but it wasn¡¯t just the look of it that held my attention. It was the pull. My instincts screamed at me to absorb it, to press it to my chest and let it fuse into me. The sensation was maddening, like a hunger that couldn¡¯t be ignored, an itch deep in my soul that demanded to be scratched. I clenched my jaw, forcing the temptation down. "Yeah¡­ Can never mistake essences for a rock¡­ phew, the pull is damn strong and alluring." I don¡¯t know much about the essences, and although I was healed with the last essence I absorbed, there still may be a chance that the process does not heal and it''s the nature of essence that is responsible for that¡­ "Haaa¡­ too many questions¡­ and enough, I¡¯m not in a state to be picky¡­ God, I hate being rushed and feeling forced by situations." ¡°Not the time for hasty decisions; there is one more essence here; let''s get that first and then decide, I think." With a deep breath, I opened my ring and slid the essence inside, its glow vanishing as it was stored in my ever-growing list of junk and booties. The pull of another essence tickled the edge of my senses, weaker than the first but still unmistakable, and if I¡¯m not wrong, it''s coming from the berserk goblin¡¯s corpse. I limped toward it, each step sending sharp jolts of pain through my body. My left arm hung uselessly at my side, and my legs felt like they might give out at any moment, but I pushed forward. I didn¡¯t have the luxury of stopping. ¡°I need to heal,¡± I muttered under my breath, my eyes scanning the blood-soaked ground as I approached the goblin¡¯s body. Man¡­ It would have been amazing if Aunt Nora¡¯s artifact had recovering charges¡­ or I find a way to recover these charges. I arrived at the goblin¡¯s body. Its huge frame lay twisted. The pull of the essence grew stronger as I knelt beside it. My instincts sharpened, guiding me to its location. The essence was in its chest. I pressed my blade against the goblin¡¯s flesh, careful not to wake the kitten curled against me. The blade cut through the tough skin and muscle. The sound was wet and sickening, but I didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Ughh, I¡¯m gonna be sick from all the blood and gore...¡± I muttered, digging deeper. Finally, my fingers brushed against something solid. I pulled it free, holding it up to the faint light. Another blood-red stone. But this one was different. The glow was subtler, the liquid inside less violent in its movement. It swirled slowly, almost lazily, as if unbothered by the chaos around it. And yet, there was something about it¡ªwhere the first one gave off versatility, or rather boundlessness, this one gave off a feeling of strength. My brow furrowed as I turned it in my hand, studying its strange patterns. ¡°There must be something that can analyze the essence and tell me its properties¡­¡± I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. My instincts didn¡¯t scream at me to absorb this one, not like the other, but the pull was there. The hunger, gnawing at the edges of my mind, but it was muted, restrained, almost¡­ wary. It was the same kind of essence; I could tell that much¡ªanother blood essence¡ªbut something about it felt fundamentally different.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°My Luck...¡± I muttered, my grip tightening around the stone. I didn¡¯t have time to analyze it, not here, not now. My body was close to giving up. Every second outside put me at risk of being found. Still, the thought of absorbing it lingered, tempting and dangerous. ¡°Not now,¡± I said softly, sliding the essence into my ring alongside the first. ¡°One mess at a time, Lexi.¡± I sighed, slumping back onto my knees as the weight of exhaustion bore down on me. My body screamed for rest, for relief, but I knew better than to let my guard down completely. The two essences sat in my ring now, waiting. And I had no idea what to do with them. I reached into my ring and pulled out the two essences, setting them carefully on the ground in front of me. Both glowed faintly, their crimson light casting an ominous hue over the darkened forest floor. The essence from the berserker goblin was duller in color, its surface crisscrossed with vein-like patterns that pulsed faintly, like the faint throb of a dying heart. The other essence, taken from the shaman, was different¡ªa glowing sphere of liquid blood hovered at its center, pulsing rhythmically as though alive. ¡°Huh,¡± I murmured, leaning forward to inspect them. ¡°Two blood essences, both differing in shape, texture, and design." ¡°Yet somehow I know that these two essences are linked with blood¡­¡± I reached out slowly, letting my fingertips hover over the glowing stones as I calmed my mind. ¡°Fuu¡­¡± I exhaled, allowing Exira to flow through me. The familiar warmth of Exira coursed through my veins, extending outward and connecting with the essences. The moment the connection was made, a flood of sensations washed over me. From the vein-patterned essence, I felt raw strength¡ªa primal, unyielding power that surged through me like a roaring fire. It was intoxicating, a promise of overwhelming force and dominance. But the essence from the shaman was¡­ different. The moment I connected with it, I felt as though I were staring into an unbounded sea of blood, endless and overwhelming. The power it radiated was vast, but it wasn¡¯t chaotic. It was controlled, calculated, like an ancient force that had no limits. ¡°That¡¯s something promising; Exira can tell me a bit about the essences¡­¡± I muttered, my breath catching in my throat. I was about to sever the connection when something strange happened. huh? The sphere essence tugged faintly at my mind, and in the corner of my awareness, I saw a thread. It was thin, almost imperceptible, but it connected the essence to something nearby¡ªthe nexus of the ritual. My gaze shifted instinctively toward the direction of the ritual site. The blood moat surrounding it hadn¡¯t disappeared or dried; its surface was still rippling faintly with a dark, ominous energy. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not creepy at all, and the blood should have dried by now¡­" I muttered, narrowing my eyes. I guess risk is the game of life¡­ may fortune favor the bold¡­ Making my choice, I slid the vein-patterned essence back into my ring. "Okay," I said, my eyes locking onto the glowing sphere. "Please be what I need¡­" Instead, I focused on the shaman¡¯s essence, but I wasn¡¯t rushing into this blindly. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as I allowed myself to rest and meditate, observing the essence closely. The forest was quiet, save for the faint rustling of leaves in the wind and the soft, rhythmic sound of my breathing. ¡°Meow.¡± The faint noise snapped me out of my trance. Little Furball wiggled against my chest. She yawned softly and blinked up at me. Her wide amber eyes sparkled in the glow of the essence below. I couldn¡¯t help but grin. ¡°Morning, sunshine,¡± I said softly, reaching up to carefully scoop the kitty from her spot. She squirmed in protest, letting out a defiant little meow as her tiny claws scratched at my armor. ¡°Alright, alright,¡± I chuckled, holding her gently. ¡°Don¡¯t claw my chest off, I''m already injured.¡± I reached into my ring and pulled out a strip of dried jerky, tearing it awkwardly into small pieces with my one good hand. ¡°Hold on, little guy. You need water too,¡± I muttered, grabbing the cap of my water bottle and filling it with a small amount of water. The kitten blinked at the bowl. Curious, she stepped closer to inspect it. Then, she plunged her tiny paws into the water. She splashed wildly and got herself all wet. When she lifted her head, the cap of the bottle had somehow flipped onto her head like a tiny helmet. ¡°Pfft¡ªhaha!¡± I laughed, clutching my stomach despite the ache it caused. ¡°Look at you! Little fluffball, reporting for duty." The kitten let out an indignant meow, shaking the cap off before cautiously leaning down to lap at the water. ¡°Fine, fine, you win,¡± I said, refilling the cap as she drank more carefully this time. Once she was finished, her attention turned to the jerky, eagerly munching on the small pieces I¡¯d laid out. I leaned back against the log, watching it with a grin. ¡°You¡¯re way too good for a place like this,¡± I muttered, running a hand through my hair. ¡°If I weren''t stuck in this nightmare, I¡¯d adopt you properly. Hell, maybe I still will.¡± "This dungeon needs Alexis and I need you to be my sidekick." The kitten¡¯s ears twitched, but she didn¡¯t look up, too focused on devouring her meal. Satisfied that she was content, I turned my attention back to the essence. ¡°Alright,¡± I said softly, my golden eyes narrowing. ¡°It¡¯s time." The decision had been made. I was going to absorb the essence, and let''s hope all things go well.
Chapter 068 - Blood Essence
Furball let out a soft meow as I set her down on the small makeshift bed I''d made. I''d used some spare clothes from my ring to create a cozy little nest, folding them to cushion the ground. ¡°There,¡± I said softly, watching as it circled the pile once before curling into a fluffy ball, its tail twitching. ¡°Comfy now, you little tyrant?¡± She blinked up at me with those round, amber eyes, letting out a contented purr before nuzzling into the makeshift bedding. I sighed, running a hand through my matted hair. ¡°At least one of us gets to relax.¡± The kitten stretched lazily, a tiny paw reaching out to grab at nothing before it yawned. Her tiny pink tongue flicked out, and for a moment, I forgot about the agony coursing through my body. ¡°You rest here, no more distraction now¡­the corruption thankfully hasn¡¯t grown at all since the fight, but it fucking hurts, man¡­¡± I muttered, shaking my head. Turning my attention away from the tiny ball of fluff, I focused on my next task¡ªgetting out of my armor. It is not going to be easy. The right side wasn¡¯t too bad. I unstrapped the plates and peeled them off slowly, wincing as dried blood pulled at my skin beneath. Every movement sent sharp jolts of pain through my battered muscles, but I gritted my teeth and pushed through. The left side, though? That was another story entirely. ¡°Fuck me sideways¡­¡± I groaned, staring at the mangled mess of armor covering my ruined shoulder. The metal was bent and cracked in places, and my shoulder throbbed with every tiny movement. Blood had seeped through the gaps, caking the inside with a sticky, rust-colored residue that glued it to my skin. I gripped the edge of the shoulder piece, trying to pull it free, but the pain was immediate and excruciating. ¡°ARGH¡ªfuck!¡± I hissed, clenching my jaw as I stopped. For a moment, I just sat there, breathing heavily through my nose as my vision swam. "Man, this is ridiculous,¡± I muttered, glaring at the armor as if it had personally offended me. The kitten perked up at my voice, letting out a questioning meow as she tilted her head to the side. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± I said, waving a hand dismissively. ¡°Just¡­ figuring out if I should cut this damn sleeve off or keep torturing myself.¡± It let out another soft meow, pawing at the edge of its little bed. I chuckled bitterly. ¡°You¡¯re not much help, you know that?¡± It didn¡¯t seem to care, flopping back down and curling into its little nest again. With a frustrated sigh, I went back to work. After almost 40 minutes of hard work¡ªcursing, hissing in pain, and pausing to catch my breath¡ªI finally removed the last piece of armor. By the time I was done, I was drenched in sweat, my left arm hanging uselessly at my side. ¡°Fucking hell,¡± I muttered, tossing the mangled piece of metal aside. ¡°El, you really need to design something less¡­ painful to get out of." I stood there for a moment, catching my breath as I stared at the mess of armor lying in a heap on the ground. The blackened blood and scratches told the story of last night¡¯s battle, a grim reminder of just how close I had come to dying. But there was no time to dwell on that. Stripping everything else away¡ªmy undershirt, trousers, boots¡ªI stood bare under the faint light filtering through the forest. It felt strange, vulnerable, but I had a feeling that what I was about to do wasn¡¯t going to be neat. ¡°Alright,¡± I muttered, turning toward the kitten. ¡°You stay put, okay? I don¡¯t want you to get caught up in whatever this is.¡± The kitten opened one eye, blinking at me lazily before letting out a tiny yawn. ¡°Lazy little thing,¡± I said with a faint grin. I reached into my ring and pulled out the blood essence from the shaman, the glowing sphere of liquid pulsing faintly in the dim light. Its presence was overwhelming, even now. I could feel the raw power radiating from it, a steady thrum that seemed to vibrate in my very bones. With a deep breath, I placed my ring and other belongings near the kitten¡¯s makeshift bed. It wasn¡¯t ideal¡ªI felt like I was leaving everything important too far from me¡ªbut this wasn¡¯t something I could risk doing with distractions.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°This better work¡­¡± I muttered, turning toward the ritual nexus. The nexus still pulsed faintly, the moat of blood surrounding it rippling with an unnatural energy. The blood hadn¡¯t dried or disappeared, despite the chaos of the previous night. It was as if the ritual had left something behind, a lingering presence that refused to fade. As I limped toward it, the glowing sphere in my hand seemed to respond, its pulse quickening slightly. El''s words echoed softly in my mind. It felt like a warning from ages past: You can have only five essences at most. Choose carefully. Each one binds to either a physical or mental aspect of your being. I stared down at the essence, its light reflecting in my tired, pale blue eyes. So the shaman had carried it in its mind, which suggested it had been tied to its mental abilities. The berserk goblin¡¯s essence, by contrast, had been in its chest, linked to its raw physical strength. And then there was me. I was already carrying the mutation essence, bound to my body or the physical aspect, I think. I could feel it in every inch of my flesh, in the way my muscles responded with unnatural strength, in the lingering scars that refused to fade. ¡°Alright,¡± I muttered, staring into the glowing sphere. ¡°Blood essence. Where do you go?¡± The answer was obvious. The recent battles had driven it home¡ªmy body was breaking down too easily. I had been lucky so far, but without a way to heal, to reinforce my life force, I wasn¡¯t going to survive much longer. I made up my mind. ¡°Blood for blood,¡± I said softly, my voice steady. ¡°You¡¯re going into my veins.¡± With the decision made, I stepped toward the nexus, the glowing sphere in hand. The blood in the moat seemed to react to the essence, rippling more violently as I approached. The faint pull I¡¯d felt earlier grew stronger, like an invisible thread connecting the two. ¡°Here goes nothing,¡± I muttered, tightening my grip on the essence. Fuuu¡­ I took a deep breath, standing at the center of the ritual site. The blood moat around me rippled and churned, reacting to the essence in my hand. Its pulsing light grew brighter, the glow casting twisted shadows across the ground as if the blood itself were alive, hungry, and waiting for something. The air was thick, heavy with the stench of iron and decay. Each breath burned in my lungs, and the weight of everything¡ªthe pain, the exhaustion, the sheer insanity of it all¡ªsettled on my shoulders like a boulder. I looked down at myself and couldn¡¯t help but grimace. ¡°¡­ I look like hell.¡± My body was a mess, bruised skin. Every inch of me was covered in dried blood, dirt, and deep, angry welts. My left arm was the worst¡ªit hung uselessly at my side, its color a sickening shade of purple, with dark veins crawling like spider webs from the wound. ¡°Huh¡­¡± I muttered, frowning as I examined it more closely. The sight tugged at a faint memory, one that surfaced from somewhere deep in my mind. El. He¡¯d had a wound like this once¡ªa similar blackened, veined mess that had taken his life. ¡°Did they face outer monsters there too? Is that why their party was wiped¡­so many questions," I murmured, my voice bitter. I shook my head, a humorless laugh escaping my lips. The kitten¡¯s faint meow echoed in my mind, and I glanced over my shoulder toward the log where it was nestled safely. ¡°Well, at least one of us doesn¡¯t have to deal with this shit,¡± I muttered, my lips curling into a half-smile before I turned my attention back to the task at hand. The blood essence in my palm pulsed again, its warmth seeping into my skin. Fuu. With another deep breath, I steadied myself, channeling Exira through my body. The familiar hum of energy burned faintly in my veins, dulling the edges of my pain just enough for me to focus. Slowly, I brought my right hand to my left forearm, gripping the blade I¡¯d unsheathed earlier. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with,¡± I muttered. With a quick, practiced motion, I made a shallow cut across my hand. Blood welled up immediately, dark and sluggish as it dripped to the ground. But then something strange happened¡ªsomething that made me freeze. The blood didn¡¯t fall. Instead, it reversed course, flowing back into the cut as if drawn by some invisible force. "Wow¡­" I whispered, watching in stunned silence. The sensation was warm, almost soothing, as if my own body were rejecting the idea of losing even a single drop. The essence in my hand pulsed harder, brighter, and I felt it begin to melt, its liquid form seeping into my skin. ¡°Here we go,¡± I growled, clenching my teeth as I gripped the essence tighter. The moment it entered my bloodstream, I felt it¡ªan intense, stinging warmth that spread through me like wildfire. My veins burned, my muscles twitched, and my breath hitched as the sensation grew stronger, hotter, and more overwhelming. ¡°FUCK!¡± I shouted, my voice raw and strained as I staggered back. I raised Exira to Level 1, letting the energy flow through me in an attempt to stabilize myself. The familiar hum helped, anchoring me just enough to keep my balance as the essence worked its way deeper into my body. The blood surrounding the ritual site began to rise, swirling upward in thick, crimson tendrils. They coiled around me like serpents, their movements slow and deliberate, as if they were alive. I felt a pull¡ªstrong, unrelenting¡ªas the blood reached out, wrapping around my limbs, my torso, and my head. It wasn¡¯t hostile. It was¡­ curious. The tendrils tightened their grip, and before I could react, they pulled me down. ¡°Shit¡ª!¡± The blood enveloped me completely, forming a cocoon that cut me off from the outside world. Everything went dark; the only sound was the faint, rhythmic pulse of the blood around me. I could feel my consciousness slipping; the exhaustion and pain were dragging me down into an inescapable void.
Chapter 069 - Booty collection more like junks collection
A wet, rough sensation dragged across my cheek. I groaned, swatting aimlessly at whatever was disturbing my sleep. "Meow!" came the insistent reply, sharp and accusing. Let me sleep a little¡­ The licking persisted, then escalated into tiny, prickly claws kneading my jaw. My eyes snapped open, and I found myself face to face with two bright amber eyes set in a furry, mischievous face. "Gods above, you''re relentless," I muttered, my voice thick with sleep. Furball, unimpressed by my grumbling, let out another high-pitched meow and batted at my nose with her tiny paw. I blinked, the grogginess ebbing away as my surroundings came into focus. The golden light of the setting sun filtered through the forest canopy above, painting the clearing in warm hues. Shadows stretched long across the ground, signaling the close of another day. "Wait wait... Dusk already? Damn it," I sighed, realizing I had lost precious daylight. I sat up, the kitten wobbling slightly on my lap but refusing to relinquish ger perch. Stretching my limbs, I flexed my left hand¡ªand froze. My arm, which had been mangled not so long ago, was completely healed. My fingers moved easily, strength coursing through them as if the injury had never happened. "Okay, that¡¯s good," I whispered, turning my hand over and inspecting it from every angle. The skin was flawless, not even a scar. The kitten pawed at my arm, tugging me back to the present. "Right, focus on pressing matters first," I muttered, shaking my head. "Loot, food, and getting the fuck out of here before something worse shows up." I rose to my feet, and as I was about to brush dirt from my trousers, I froze¡­ my deadass was buck naked. Fuck¡­ no wonder I felt chilly, clothes¡­ trousers here¡­ Quickly finding spare clothes in the ring, I put them on as the kitten let out an indignant meow. This thing is an attention-seeker¡­ "Yeah, yeah, I hear you," I said, smirking at the feline¡¯s glare. "Don''t look at me like that. You''ll live." I surveyed the clearing. To my astonishment, the bloodstains that had painted the ground earlier¡ªmy own and my enemies''¡ªwere gone. The dirt was pristine, as if nothing had happened here. Even the metallic tang of blood in the air had vanished. "Nothing weird, yup totally normal¡­" I muttered. "Meow!" Sharp pain shot through my thigh as the kitten dug she claws into my leg, clinging to me. "Ouch! God damn it!" I yelped, stumbling backward. "Holy what?" The kitten stared up at me, her tail lashing like a whip. It let out a long, scolding meow and batted my boot for good measure. I burst out laughing. "Oh, you''re mad that I ignored you?" I reached down and scooped up the kitten, who squirmed for a moment before settling into my arms with a huff. "You''re lucky you''re cute," I said, stroking the soft fur between her ears. The kitten leaned into the touch, letting out a contented purr that rumbled against my chest. Still chuckling, I carried the kitten toward the spot where I''d stashed my belongings. My gear was scattered, but nothing seemed to be missing. My eyes fell on my armor¡ªthe Noctis set, or what remained of it. The black leather was still torn and shredded in places, the sigils etched into its surface faint and unresponsive. Repairing it would take time. I would have to do something different and risky with it. "Guess for now, I''ll have to make do with the spares," I muttered, setting the kitten down and digging through my pack. I pulled out a simpler set of leather armor¡ªworn but serviceable¡ªand began strapping it on. The kitten watched me with keen interest, occasionally batting at the dangling straps. "Yeah, you''re really helpful," I said dryly as I tightened a buckle. The kitten let out a playful meow. Then, she pounced on a discarded gauntlet, wrestling it like a fierce rival. I couldn''t help but smile. For all her antics, the tiny creature had an uncanny way of lifting my spirits. Once I was fully dressed, I stood and adjusted the fit of the armor. It wasn''t as protective as the Noctis set, but it would do for now. I slung my pack over one shoulder and turned to the kitten, who was now chewing on the edge of my cloak. "Are you done? Or do you plan to destroy everything I own?" The kitten looked up at me, her tiny mouth still clamped around the fabric. She let out a muffled meow, as if daring me to stop it. "Unbelievable," I said, shaking my head. I crouched down and scooped up the little troublemaker, tucking it into the crook of my arm. The kitten nestled against me, her earlier grumpiness forgotten. With my gear in order and the kitten securely in tow, I started toward the tree line. The forest seemed quieter than before, the oppressive weight of the earlier battle lifted. Still, I kept my senses sharp, scanning the shadows for any signs of danger. "Next priority: find water, eat something, and maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªget some actual sleep," I muttered. "Meow," the kitten agreed, her tone surprisingly approving. I glanced down at it. "Oh, so now you''re on board with the plan? Thought you''d want me to starve, considering how you''ve been trying to sabotage me." The kitten responded by licking my wrist; her tiny tongue was rough but oddly soothing.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. "Traitor," I said, though my voice lacked any real bite. The sun continued its slow descent as I moved through the forest, the golden light fading into soft twilight. The kitten squirmed slightly in my arms. "Stay still, you little gremlin," I said, tightening my grip slightly. "The last thing I need is for you to run off into the dark and get yourself eaten." The kitten meowed in protest but settled down, her tiny head resting against my chest as her purring grew louder, a rhythmic sound that somehow eased my lingering tension. For a moment, I allowed myself to simply walk and breathe; the weight of my recent ordeal faded just enough to let a sliver of peace creep in. The kitten''s warmth against my chest was a strange comfort, a small reminder that not everything in this godforsaken world wanted to kill me. It responded with a soft meow and nuzzled my chin, as if agreeing wholeheartedly. I stretched my arms overhead, my joints popping in protest. A deep groan escaped me as I bent to touch my toes, warming up my stiff muscles. "Goddamn, I feel like I''ve been trampled by a herd of elk," I muttered, rolling my shoulders to ease the lingering tightness. Despite the fatigue, though, something felt... different. My body buzzed with newfound strength; my endurance was noticeably heightened. Every breath seemed more efficient, every movement more fluid. The essence absorption earlier hadn''t just healed me¡ªit had fundamentally altered me. "Must''ve been that blood essence," I muttered, flexing my hands. "Guess it wasn''t just for show." I frowned thoughtfully. "Compatibility percentage? Hidden requirements? Fuck if I know. I''ll figure it out later." A small meow interrupted my musings, the kitten pawing at my chest. I looked down and smirked. "You''re not much for introspection, are you?" The kitten blinked up at me innocently, then let out another insistent meow, her tiny nose twitching as it looked around. "Alright, alright, no more standing around." I lifted the kitten and nestled it into the crook of my neck, securing it with the collar of my cloak. The kitten squirmed for a moment before her head poked out, eyes wide scanning the surroundings as she swayed slightly with each of my steps. The kitten purred loudly in response, clearly unbothered by the jab. I shook my head, grinning despite myself, and turned my attention to the task at hand. Surveying the area, I muttered, "Alright, let''s start with those five goblin fodder. At least they had the decency to wear clothes and not run and swing their jewels." With the sun sinking lower on the horizon, I moved quickly, retracing my steps to the spot where the first three goblins had fallen. Their headless corpses were sprawled in grotesque positions, dark blood staining the dirt around them. I crouched next to one and inspected its attire¡ªa rough tunic and pants, both threadbare and reeking of sweat. "No pockets," I said with a sigh, turning out the edges of the tunic just to be sure. "Nothing but shitty wooden clubs, either. Useless." The kitten let out a sharp meow, her head twisting toward the fading light as if to say, "Hurry up." "I know, I know," I muttered, rising to my feet and brushing off my hands. I headed toward the next two goblins, the ones I had taken out with Exira. Their bodies were slumped against a tree, expressions frozen in terror. I crouched beside them, my fingers deftly searching for anything of value. My hand brushed against something cold and metallic. A collar. "Slaves, huh?" I murmured, examining the crude metal band around the goblin''s neck. "That''d explain the shitty gear and pathetic strength." The kitten let out a soft meow, tilting her head as she watched me work. "Don''t look at me like that," I said, glancing at the kitten. "I''m not taking the damn collars. They''re not worth anything." I stood, a frustrated sigh escaping me. The sun was sinking fast now, shadows growing longer and deeper. I had maybe an hour of usable light left¡ªif I was lucky. "Better get to the shaman," I muttered, my tone grim. The kitten meowed softly, her tiny paws kneading my shoulder as if offering encouragement. "Yeah, yeah, I hear you," I said, a faint smile tugging at my lips despite my irritation. "Let''s hope this asshole has something worthwhile." I made my way toward the clearing where I''d faced the shaman, my boots crunching softly against the forest floor. The air felt heavier here, the remnants of dark magic lingering like an invisible stain. The shaman''s body was sprawled near the ritual site, its staff lying broken beside it. I crouched beside the corpse, my sharp eyes scanning for anything of value. "Alright, you son of a bitch," I muttered, pulling at the tattered robes. "Let''s see what you''ve got." The first pocket yielded a small, rusted dagger¡ªuseless for combat but possibly worth a few coins if sold to the right buyer...buyer? Dumb Lexi, I¡¯m in a godforsaken different world; where in the fuck would I find a buyer¡­ The second pocket was empty, save for a few dried herbs that crumbled to dust at my touch. "Come on, you bastard," I growled, growing more impatient. I tore open the shaman''s pouch, spilling its contents onto the ground. A handful of trinkets clattered out¡ªcharms made of bone and wood, a few tarnished coins, and what appeared to be a vial of thick, black liquid. "What the fuck is this?" I said, holding the vial up to the dim light. The liquid inside seemed to writhe, as if alive. I shuddered and stuffed it into my pack. Miow~ The kitten meowed loudly; her voice was sharp with impatience. "Yeah, I''m done," I said, rising to my feet. "Not much to show for it, but it''s something." As I slung my pack over my shoulder, the kitten squirmed in my collar, her tiny paws reaching for the wooden charms scattered on the ground. "What, you want one of these?" I asked, picking up the smallest charm and holding it out to the kitten. The kitten batted at it enthusiastically, letting out a delighted meow. "Fine, you can have it," I said, tucking the charm into a pocket within her reach. I glanced around the clearing one last time. The eerie stillness made my skin crawl. It was time to leave. "Let''s get the hell out of here," I muttered, turning away from the remnants of the ritual. As I retraced my steps back into the forest, the light continued to fade. The trees loomed taller, their shadows stretching like grasping fingers. The kitten nestled closer against my neck, her warmth a small comfort against the encroaching chill. "Need to find shelter," I said aloud, more to myself than to the kitten. "Preferably before something decides we''re easy prey." The kitten purred softly, as if agreeing. I quickened my pace, scanning the surroundings for any signs of a suitable campsite. After a few minutes, I spotted a rocky outcrop ahead, partially hidden by dense foliage. "That''ll do," I said, making my way toward it. Upon closer inspection, the outcrop formed a shallow cave, just large enough to provide cover. I cleared away some debris and set about gathering wood for a fire. "Stay put," I told the kitten, setting it down on a flat rock. "And try not to wander off." The kitten meowed in protest but settled down, watching me intently as I worked. Within minutes, I had a small fire crackling at the cave''s entrance. The warm glow pushed back the darkness, and the scent of burning wood filled the air. I sat down heavily, the day''s events catching up with me. My muscles ached, and fatigue tugged at the edges of my mind. "Not exactly the feast I was hoping for," I muttered, rummaging through my pack for something to eat. I pulled out a piece of dried meat and tore off a chunk, chewing thoughtfully. The kitten eyed me expectantly, her gaze flicking between my face and the food. "Oh, now you want to share?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "After all the trouble you''ve caused?" Little furball tilted her head, her eyes wide and innocent. "Fine," I sighed, tearing off a small piece and offering it to the kitten. It sniffed cautiously before nibbling on it. "Not exactly gourmet, but it''ll have to do," I said, leaning back against the cave wall. As we ate in companionable silence, I couldn''t shake the feeling that something was off. The kitten finished her morsel and padded over to me, curling up in my lap. Her purring vibrated softly against my legs. "At least you''ve got no worries," I said, stroking her fur absentmindedly. "Just eat, sleep, and annoy me." It responded by nuzzling my hand, eyes half-closed. I sighed, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me. "Guess we''ll figure it out tomorrow," I said quietly. The fire crackled softly, the warmth lulling me into a state of drowsiness. I pulled my cloak tighter around me, the kitten nestled securely against me. "Goodnight," I whispered. The kitten''s purring slowed, and soon it was fast asleep. I allowed my eyes to close, surrendering to the exhaustion. For now, we were safe. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but tonight we could rest.
Chapter 070 - Ahh! Finally some good stuff
The walk back to the shaman''s corpse was unnervingly quiet. The forest around me felt different¡ªlike it was holding its breath, shadows stretching longer as the sun dipped below the horizon. Hope you get some nice loot. I kept my steps light and my grip on the kitten firm. Tucked snugly into my collar, the little furball purred softly one moment, then hissed low the next. Her tiny ears flattened as we approached the darkened clearing where the shaman had fallen. "Easy there," I murmured, glancing down at my furry companion. "He''s dead. There''s nothing to worry about." The kitten didn''t seem convinced. She hissed again, her small body tensing as the dead shaman came into view. A pang of guilt twisted in my gut as I recalled what the little furball must have witnessed¡ªher mother was probably the one who was sacrificed to fuel that bastard''s twisted ritual. "Yeah," I muttered, crouching slightly to pet the kitten''s head. "I''d hate the fucker too. But it''s over now. He''s not hurting anyone anymore." The kitten growled softly, amber eyes locked on the shaman''s mutilated body. For a moment, the little furball seemed ready to leap from my collar and claw at the corpse. I quickly placed a calming hand over the tiny creature. "Hey, hey, no need for that," I said, my tone softer. "He''s nothing but a sack of meat now¡­ rotting meat. Let it go, buddy." The kitten''s growl faded into a low, mournful sound. After a tense moment, she burrowed deeper into my armor, her tiny body trembling. "See rest now; we¡¯ll have some amazing things for dinner," I said quietly, turning my attention to the shaman. I patted the kitten absentmindedly as it nestled against my chest, slowly calming down. The first thing I noticed was the color of the corpse''s skin. Unlike the sickly green of the other goblins, the shaman''s flesh was a dull, mottled blue. Tattoos crisscrossed its limbs and torso, dark ink patterns etched deep into leathery skin. "Tribal markings? Or some sort of runes¡­" I murmured, crouching beside the body. "Most probably¡­a way to channel power and commune with the spirits they worship. Too bad it didn''t save your sorry ass; guess you weren¡¯t their favorite." I tilted my head, eyes narrowing at the intricate markings. The shaman''s face was an unrecognizable mess, smashed in from the final blow I had landed. Its empty eyes stared blankly at the canopy above, a macabre reminder of the brutality we had both unleashed. Shaking off the unsettling sight, I focused on the real prize: the shaman''s staff. It lay just a few feet away, half-buried in the dirt. Reaching out, I picked it up, brushing away clumps of dried blood and soil. The shaft was made of sturdy, gnarled wood, wrapped in strips of worn leather and decorated with small beads and feathers. But it was the skull affixed to the top that drew my attention. White and cracked, it radiated an eerie presence. The hollow eye sockets seemed to pulse faintly, a lingering echo of the dark magic it had wielded. "No enchantments on the wood," I muttered, running my fingers along the shaft. My gaze returned to the skull. "But this... this is something else." Even without using Exira, I could feel the faint hum from the threads of blood essence tied to the artifact. It resonated with me; no, it resonated with the blood essence, and I knew its function without even appraising it. "It''s a blood storage!" I said aloud, a grin spreading across my face. "And a shit ton, so I can use this as a battery to store blood¡­ man raining blood arrows on my enemies¡­ hundreds¡­ no thousands of arrows¡­ holy" I¡¯ll run some tests with it later¡­also need to check out what my new essence is and what it can do¡­wish there were a game sheet-type system¡­ I tested its weight, giving the staff a short swing before shaking my head. "Not my style, though. Too clunky. But a phenomenal find," I shoved it into my spatial ring with a satisfied smirk. The kitten poked her head out, giving a low, curious meow. "Oh, did my excitement rub off on you too?" I said, scratching its ears. "We''re just getting started, buddy; I won¡¯t let you be gloomy, and in return, you will be my ESF¡­emotional support Furball." I laughed and shook my head as I began a more thorough search. My eyes landed on a bundle of rolled-up parchment tucked under the cloak it was wearing. The scrolls were bound with a frayed ribbon, edges yellowed with age. I untied the ribbon and peeked at the contents¡ªunfamiliar symbols and diagrams, none of which I recognized. "Probably ritual stuff," I muttered, stowing the scrolls in my ring. "I''ll deal with it later." Next, I found a book resting near the shaman''s side. Its dark leather cover was cracked and hardened with age, runes etched into its surface glowing faintly. Flipping it open, I scowled at the foreign script filling its pages.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "Of course it''s in a language I can''t fucking read," I said, snapping the book shut. Still, something about the runes made my instincts tingle. I stored the book alongside the scrolls. My fingers brushed against something hard and smooth in the shaman''s inner pocket as a shiver went through my body. I knew this feeling. Pulling it out, I held up a small, ancient-looking key. "First quest piece," I murmured, turning it over in my hand. The wooden key was surprisingly well-preserved, its surface carved with tiny, intricate designs. A faint sense of purpose radiated from it, setting my nerves alight. "Thank you¡­at least there is something in my memories that has proven to be true," I said, a grin widening. "Haahaa¡­I can trust my memories now at least¡­" I stored the key. The shaman''s cloak caught my attention next. I tugged it off the corpse, shaking it free of dirt and blood. The material was heavier than expected; the inner lining was embroidered with faint symbols. "Definitely enchanted," I muttered, running my fingers along the fabric. "But with what, exactly?" I folded the cloak and stored it away, pondering the possibilities. As I removed the cloak, my eyes landed on a small dagger strapped to the shaman''s waist. The blade was sleek and wickedly sharp, the hilt wrapped in worn leather. Picking it up, I felt a faint pulse of blood essence coursing through it. "Bingo," I said with a grin, holding the dagger up to the light. "Another enchanted piece. And it''s another artifact linked to my essence." Kitty let out a soft meow, her tiny nose twitching as she sniffed the blade, and a jolt went through me as I remembered it was the same dagger that the shaman used to kill¡­ "Don''t worry," I said, quickly tucking the dagger into my belt. "Probably some random junk; no need to look, furball." The kitten gave a final, defiant hiss at the body before curling up against my chest. Her tiny form trembled slightly, but the steady warmth of my hand on its back seemed to calm her. "Yeah, I get it," I said softly, scratching behind its ears. "Screw this guy. Let''s go find something less depressing." "And something edible," I said, breaking the silence. meow~ "Don''t start," I shot back, smirking. "You''ve been freeloading this whole time, you little... Haaa,... How about you find me something to eat for a change?" The kitty purred smugly, nestling deeper into my collar. I rolled my eyes, but my smile lingered as I stepped into the growing darkness, thoughts already turning to the next challenge. I was halfway back to the woods when a prickling sensation crept up my spine. Something was off. I paused, glancing over my shoulder toward the area where I''d fought that twisted monster. The clearing sat silent, but the feeling was as if I were missing something. Little furball meowed softly in protest as I turned and began walking back. "I know, I know," I said. "But I''ve got a bad feeling about leaving that shit unchecked." The air grew heavier with each step, a suffocating weight settling over me. The ground beneath my boots shifted from firm soil to darker, almost sticky mud. The corruption from the fight had seeped into the land itself, tainting everything it touched. Trees at the edge of the clearing looked sickly, their leaves drooping and tinged with black. "This better be good," I muttered, the sensation of rot clinging to my skin like an invisible film. I channeled Exira at level 1, feeling the suppression disappear. "It''s like the land''s dead," I murmured. "Whatever corruption that monster carried, it''s still here, leeching life out of everything, just like what Aunt Nora told me¡­ in my memories." Furball hissed softly, retreating further into my collar. Her little face peeked out just enough to glare at the ground ahead, clearly sharing my distaste. "Yeah, it''s gross, buddy," I said. "We won''t stick around long." Just as I was about to turn and leave, something caught my eye. Near the edge of the clearing, a small piece of flesh lay in the dirt¡ªtorn and twisted, unmistakably alien. My stomach churned as recognition hit me. "Oh, you''ve got to be shitting me," I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. "That''s... that''s the thing''s face. The part I..." My words trailed off, jaw tightening as the memory of biting into the monster''s face flashed uninvited through my mind. The taste, the texture¡ªit all came rushing back, and for a moment, I genuinely thought I might gag. "Ugh¡­Fuuuuck," I muttered, taking a shaky breath to steady myself. Furball let out a questioning meow. "Yeah, laugh it up, furball," I said, glaring half-heartedly. "I didn''t see you stepping up to help." Shaking my head, I approached the piece of flesh, Exira extended in front of me. Even without touching it, I could feel the unnatural energy radiating from the chunk. Faint but persistent, like a dying ember refusing to extinguish. Using the blade, I prodded the flesh, turning it over. The sight didn''t help my queasy stomach¡ªa mangled eye, still intact, sat embedded in the meat. "Oh, come on," I muttered, pulling back as my nose wrinkled in disgust. The eye was cloudy and misshapen, but it pulsed faintly, as if it were still trying to see. "Apart from a personal grudge," I told myself, forcing down the urge to retch. "This is still part of a monster from beyond and an incredible item for enchanting and artificing." Taking a deep breath, I focused my energy and wrapped the flesh in Exira''s aura. The blade glowed softly as the flesh resisted for a moment, then finally succumbed to containment. "Fucking thing''s still alive, kind of," I muttered, storing the flesh and the attached eye into my spatial ring. I isolated it within the ring''s containment field, ready to eject it if it caused trouble. "At least it''s dormant for now." A sharp meow; clearly, someone is impatient to leave. "Yes, yes," I said, standing and brushing off my knees. "We''re getting out of here. I don''t want to be here any longer than you do." She meowed again, more insistently, as if scolding me. "And yes," I added with a smirk, "we''ll eat better food. I''m not making monster-flesh stew or anything." The kitten purred softly, its tiny body relaxing as I turned and headed back toward the woods. The oppressive weight of the corrupted clearing faded with each step, replaced by the more natural sounds of the forest. Gods, I swear, she thinks she owns me or something¡­ The sky had darkened to deep indigo, stars beginning to peek through the canopy. I moved quickly, my eyes scanning for a suitable place to camp. Meanwhile, the little kitten swiped playfully at my jaw, tiny claws pricking my skin just enough to make me flinch. "Oi!" I yelped, jerking my head back. "You little bastard! I saved your life, remember?" Furball let out a soft, amused mrrp, then nuzzled against my neck as if to apologize. "Yeah, yeah," I muttered, shaking my head but smiling despite myself. "You''re lucky you''re cute."
Shattered Reflections X : Bedtime stories
I closed my eyes, drawing in a measured breath. Inhale¡­ exhale¡­ The day''s chaos slowly faded. My heartbeat steadied in the calm around me. The bustling world outside receded into a blurred background as I turned inward, seeking the stillness at my core. Beneath the surface of my thoughts, a faint pulse¡ªlike the distant murmur of an ancient drum¡ªstirred memories of Exira. ... That evening, as night fell, I was in Aunt Nora¡¯s cabin. It was a small, worn building at the edge of a thick, whispering forest. The firelight flickered weakly against the encroaching dark, casting long, jagged shadows that danced across the wooden walls. The scent of burning sage intertwined with the damp, loamy earth that seeped in through the slightly ajar window, and the air carried a weighty sense of foreboding, as if even the forest itself held its breath. I sat on a rickety stool near the hearth, my gaze fixed on Aunt Nora. Nora Heart was a striking figure, and nothing about her was ordinary. Unlike my mother, who moved with effortless calm and regal grace, Aunt Nora exuded raw intensity¡ªa fierce, unpredictable spark that seemed to flicker behind her sharp eyes. Her long, crimson hair cascaded around her face in wild, untamed waves, and every line on her weathered skin told tales of battles fought, secrets kept, and horrors witnessed. That night, as shadows danced on the walls, she leaned in. One hand gripped her favorite dagger¡ªa blade that had seen more than its share of moonlit duels¡ªwhile the other traced strange, intricate sigils into the worn surface of the table. The metal tip left faint etchings in its wake, carving patterns that stirred something deep within me, making my skin crawl with a mixture of fear and fascination. ¡°Lexi,¡± she said softly, her voice warm yet unsettling, ¡°do you know why the Outer Ones are dangerous?" My fingers tightened reflexively around the mug of herbal tea, its warmth a small comfort against the chill of the unknown. I had just turned 12. I thought this was my entry into adulthood. But Aunt Nora quickly reminded me that real adulthood comes with careful responsibility. ¡°Because they¡¯re strong?¡± I ventured tentatively. ¡°Or¡­ because they¡¯re corrupted?¡± A dry, humorless laugh escaped her lips, a sound that seemed to echo off the very walls. ¡°Strength and corruption are merely the side effects,¡± she replied, shaking her head slowly. ¡°The real danger lies in the fact that they don¡¯t belong here.¡± She tapped the blade against the table, the sigils flickering with a faint, eerie glow as if the runes themselves were reluctant to reveal their secrets. ¡°The Outer Ones aren¡¯t just monstrous aberrations,¡± she continued, her voice dropping to a whisper that nonetheless carried the weight of ancient truths. ¡°They are embodiments of chaos¡ªbeings that exist outside the natural order of our world. They defy the rules of nature, magic, and even reality itself.¡± Her eyes locked onto mine, unblinking and intense. ¡°Do you understand what that means?¡± she asked. I shook my head, my throat parched as if the very air had turned to sand. ¡°It means,¡± she said slowly, ¡°that they do not think as we do, do not feel as we do. They exist on a plane so alien that to encounter them is to see the world unraveled at its seams.¡± The room seemed to darken further with her words, the flames in the hearth sputtering as if in response to the gravity of her explanation. ¡°But¡­ what exactly are they?¡± I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. The question hung in the space between us, fragile and trembling like the final note of a dirge. Aunt Nora¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she drew the dagger slowly across the table once more, carving a jagged line that bisected her earlier sigils. ¡°They are the cast-offs of creation,¡± she said, her tone sharp and tinged with bitterness. ¡°Fragments of the universe left behind when the gods molded the world. In their divine artistry, there were pieces too wild, too raw to be controlled. Those pieces became the Outer Ones.¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Her hand gestured vaguely toward the window, where the inky darkness of the forest beckoned. ¡°Some of them manifest as nightmares¡ªa writhing mass of limbs, eyes, and mouths that speak in tongues that can shatter one¡¯s sanity. Others are far subtler. You might sense them as a distortion in the air, a ripple in the fabric of existence. And then there are those that remain hidden, whose presence alone can leave you broken and hollowed out.¡± I swallowed hard; the imagery her words conjured was too vivid for a mind unprepared. ¡°Have you ever¡­ seen one?¡± I managed, my voice betraying my trepidation. A sorrowful shadow passed over her features as she lowered the dagger with deliberate care. ¡°I have encountered their traces,¡± she confessed, her voice softening as if she were recounting a tale too painful to relive fully. ¡°Long ago, in the Black Marshes near the ruins of a forgotten temple, I witnessed the uncanny. The air there was unnaturally thick, oppressive¡ªlike the very atmosphere was burdened by an unseen weight. And the shadows¡­ they moved with a life of their own, as if possessed by a malevolence that defied the natural order.¡± She paused, the silence between us laden with memories. ¡°In that forsaken place, symbols were etched into the ancient stone¡ªmarks that burned with an intensity that seared into your soul. The shamans, desperate to harness the unfathomable, attempted to summon that which should have remained forever beyond our reach. And when it came, it was not a creature of malice but a force of transformation. Those who were touched by it were not killed outright¡ªthey were irrevocably changed, twisted into forms that defied the very concept of life.¡± My heart pounded in time with the crackle of the fire. ¡°But why?¡± I asked, barely able to keep the tremor out of my voice. ¡°Why do they corrupt everything they touch?¡± Aunt Nora¡¯s eyes softened momentarily as she regarded me, a mixture of pity and resolve in their depths. ¡°Because chaos cannot help but spill over,¡± she murmured. ¡°That is its nature. Like a river overflowing its banks, its essence unravels order wherever it flows. They do not act out of a desire to harm¡ªthey simply are, and in their being, they disrupt the balance of our world.¡± She leaned in again, her tone growing more measured, almost as if she were passing on a solemn duty. ¡°That is why we must be vigilant. The gods themselves provided us with tools¡ªrituals, sigils, weapons forged from the very essence of the earth¡ªto repel or contain these forces. Yet, each of those tools demands a sacrifice, a price that must be paid if we are to stand against the encroaching chaos.¡± The firelight danced in her eyes as she set the dagger aside with a soft clink, the sound echoing like a distant chime in the quiet room. ¡°If you ever find yourself facing one of these beings, you must be prepared to pay that price. The cost can be steep, and not all who dare to challenge the Outer Ones emerge unscathed.¡± I exhaled slowly, the weight of her words settling over me like a shroud. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll ever have to fight one?¡± I asked, my voice a mix of fear and burgeoning resolve. Nora regarded me with a long, steady gaze, as if searching my very soul. ¡°If you continue down the path you¡¯re on, Alexis,¡± she said, her voice laced with a gravity that brooked no dismissal, ¡°it isn¡¯t a matter of if, but when.¡± The room seemed to close in around me, each word she spoke etching itself into my mind. I spent that night in a restless slumber, haunted by visions of twisting shadows and formless nightmares. The images of monstrous, incomprehensible beings intermingled with the comforting memories of my childhood, leaving me in a state of disquieting limbo¡ªa limbo where fear and resolve danced an eternal waltz. In the quiet hours before dawn, I found myself awake again, staring at the dark ceiling, the images from Aunt Nora¡¯s tales swirling behind my eyes. There was a strange beauty to that terror¡ªa beauty born from the raw, unfiltered truth of a world where the boundaries of reality were but fragile veils. The idea that chaos itself had a form, a will, and a method stirred something deep within me. It was as if the very fabric of existence was a tapestry woven from both light and shadow, and I, too, was a thread in that grand, unpredictable design. I wondered about the tools and rituals the gods had bestowed upon us. Were they enough to stave off the relentless advance of the Outer Ones? I pictured old libraries packed with crumbling scrolls. I saw whispered spells shared for years and secret places where mystics kept hidden knowledge. A part of me shuddered at the thought of the inevitable confrontation, while another part¡ªquiet and steadfast¡ªaccepted it as a necessary burden. The fire¡¯s dying embers glowed softly, a silent reminder that in every end, there was also a beginning. I would learn, I would fight, and I would forge my own destiny amidst the swirling chaos. Aunt Nora¡¯s words echoed in my mind as I finally drifted back into uneasy sleep: ¡°It¡¯s not a question of if, Alexis, but when.¡± In the quiet hours before dawn, as light slowly crept in, I sensed a strange change inside me. The fear had not vanished entirely, but it had been tempered by a fierce determination. With Aunt Nora¡¯s words still in my mind, I realized my journey was just starting. It would lead me into chaos, where each step moved me closer to creating my own destiny against the darkness.
Chapter 071 - Proper rest and bonding with the kitty
The forest was unnervingly silent as I trudged forward, a little furball nestled snugly against my neck inside my collar. "That fucker is still out there," I muttered under my breath, gripping the hilt tighter. "Judging by the grievous wounds I gave to him, It will need some time to heal and recover" The Outer that had escaped earlier lingered in my thoughts like a splinter I couldn''t remove. The Fact it retreated and not fought till its last breath shows hints at intelligence and I wasn''t naive enough to think this was done. No that fucker would recover and will come for me if my broken memories hold true, then¡­no no matter what I¡¯ll prepare for him and all others. The kitten mewed softly, her tiny head peeking out to survey our surroundings. "Yeah, I know, buddy," I said, glancing down at the little furball. "We''ll deal with it when the time comes and I need to be proficient in use of essences¡­no point of them if can¡¯t even use them" A heavy sigh escaped me as I pushed the thought away. Mom''s lessons were distant echoes now¡ªHer voice, once so clear in my mind, was fading like smoke. I shook my head to dispel the creeping melancholy. "Later," I muttered. "Focus on not dying first and finding a place to camp" A soft sound caught my attention. That''s the sound of running water¡­ Navigating the dense forest took longer than I''d hoped¡ªthirty-five grueling minutes of sidestepping thorny underbrush and ducking under low-hanging branches. Before I could fully relax, movement flickered at the edge of my vision. Exira which I was using a radar pinged, locking onto a deer-like creature grazing near the water''s edge. Exotic or not, it was meat, and that was all that mattered. The creature raised its head, large eyes widening as it sensed me too late. A swift burst of Exira''s presence slammed onto the deer. It crumpled to the ground without so much as a cry. Meow! The kitten purred loudly, leaping out of my collar and padding over to inspect our fallen prey. "I suppose we¡¯ll be eating fresh meat" I said, hoisting the deer''s surprisingly light body over my shoulder. The kitten looked up at me, meowing as if asking for permission to approach the water. "Hah!" I laughed, waving a dismissive hand. "Yeah, go ahead, but don''t drown yourself, furball." Mew!!! She let out an excited meow and bounded toward the riverbank. Crouching low, her little nose twitched as it sniffed the cool stream. She tested the water with a cautious paw, splashing lightly before dipping its head to drink. "Careful!" I called out, shaking my head with a grin. "If you fall in, I''m not fishing you out." The kitten ignored me, too engrossed in her new discovery to care about my warnings. Watching it, I felt a rare smile tug at my lips. I stretched, rolling my shoulders to ease the tension that had settled there. The peaceful scene was a stark contrast to the chaos of earlier, and for a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to breathe. But reality was a relentless bastard. But I can live in these moments just for a bit¡­I think I deserve that much "Right," I muttered, cracking my neck. "Camp first, meat later." I scanned the area, my eyes settling on a small clearing not far from the water. Sheltered by towering trees and with enough space to build something sturdy, it would do nicely. With a plan forming in my mind, I got to work. First, I gathered dry wood for a bonfire, stacking it carefully before striking a spark. The flames roared to life, their warmth chasing away the encroaching chill of the evening. Next came the shelter. I surveyed the surroundings, selecting sturdy logs and broad leaves¡ªreminiscent of banana leaves but larger¡ªto create a makeshift structure. Using my sword as a tool, I cut and shaped the materials, dragging them into place piece by piece. The kitten, meanwhile, watched me intently from a nearby rock, her head tilted as if judging my every move. "What?..." I said, glancing over my shoulder. "You think you can do better?" meow! She let out a cheeky meow, hopping closer to paw at one of the logs that had rolled out of place. "Great" I muttered, rolling my eyes. As the hours ticked by, I continued piecing the shelter together, sweat trickling down my brow. Each time I made an adjustment, I would glance at the kitten and ask, "What do you think? This meet your high standards?" It would meow in response¡ªsometimes approving, sometimes hopping over to swat at something that clearly didn''t meet its expectations. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. "Alright, alright," I chuckled after one such moment. "I''ll fix it. Don''t get your tail in a twist." By the time I finished, night had fully descended, the forest bathed in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the canopy. The shelter stood sturdy and surprisingly well-made, its roof of layered leaves promising some protection against the elements. I stepped back, hands on my hips as I admired my handiwork. "Not half bad," I said, glancing down at the kitten. ¡°It sure is cozy" She let out an approving meow, rubbing affectionately against my leg before hopping into the shelter and curling up on the bed of leaves I''d laid out. "Figures," I sighed, shaking my head. "You get the first spot. Your highness" haaa¡­ I settled down near the bonfire, my muscles protesting as I eased myself onto a fallen log. The ache in my body was a testament to the day''s trials, but my spirits were oddly lifted. Watching the kitten settle in, I allowed myself a rare moment of contentment. "Alright, furball," I said, leaning back. "Gotta need a name for you, whatever happens you are family now" The kitten purred softly, her tiny form rising and falling with each contented breath. For the first time in what felt like ages, I felt a sliver of peace. The fire crackled, casting dancing shadows around us. The river babbled nearby, a soothing backdrop to the otherwise silent night. The little ball of fur snuggled in the shelter was a comforting reminder that I wasn''t entirely alone in this gods-forsaken place. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, more blood, and likely more monsters. But for now, I allowed myself to relax, if only for a little while. "Okay, it''s done I think" I muttered, tying off the last knot on the crisscrossed logs. I gave the ropes one final tug to ensure they held firm. Satisfied, I tested the structure with my weight, leaning into it with a grunt. When it didn''t so much as creak, I collapsed onto my makeshift bed with a groan of relief. I scattered some leaves and spare clothing beneath me for cushioning, but it wasn''t much. The surface was still uneven and hard, but compared to stone floors or cold dirt, this felt like pure luxury. "Ahhh, my back... this is heaven," I sighed, sprawling out with my arms behind my head. My body ached from the day''s exertions, but the faint crackle of the bonfire and the gentle rustling of leaves in the night breeze began to soothe me. "Meow!" I looked down to see the kitten glaring up at me with an annoyed expression, her tiny paws scratching futilely at the logs of the bed. She had tried¡ªand failed¡ªto climb up, and her frustration was palpable. I couldn''t help but laugh. "Hahaa¡­" The kitten let out an indignant meow, her tail lashing back and forth. "Alright, alright," I relented, sitting up. I reached down and scooped the kitten up, setting her beside me on the bed. "There. Happy now?" It didn''t even acknowledge my effort. Instead, it immediately began rolling around, sniffing at the leaves and pawing at the rope bindings. "Cats¡­a corgi would have been nice" I muttered with a smirk. An idea struck me. Reaching into my pack, I pulled out some spare leather and a bit of rope. With nimble fingers, I quickly fashioned a small ball. "Here," I said, tossing it lightly onto the bed. "Something to keep you busy." The kitten''s eyes lit up, pupils dilating as it focused on the new toy. She pounced immediately, batting it around with enthusiasm, tiny paws a blur as she chased it across the bed. "You''re good for the soul," I said quietly, leaning back on one elbow. Seeing it play¡ªcarefree and innocent¡ªwas a strange comfort amidst the chaos that had become my life. But peace was a fickle friend. Shaking my head, I sat up. "Alright, enough lazing around," I muttered. The kitten paused, tilting her head to look at me, the leather ball pinned under one paw. "I''m not feeding you raw meat," I said, wagging a finger at her. "So don''t give me that look." It let out a plaintive meow, eyes wide and imploring. "Don''t try that cute shit on me," I warned, though a smile tugged at my lips. "It won''t work." The kitten blinked slowly, then resumed batting the ball around, clearly unbothered by my refusal. I stood up, stretching my arms overhead until I felt the satisfying pop of my spine. My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn''t eaten since... hell, I couldn''t even remember. "Time to fix that," I said to myself. Using my bone knife, I skewered the meat and made shallow criss cross cuts along its surface. Sprinkling a bit of salt and a pinch of spice mix I''d managed to scavenge, I placed the skewer over the flames to cook. The sizzling sound filled the air almost immediately, and the aroma that wafted up made my mouth water. "Meow!" I looked down to see the kitten sitting beside the fire, tail wagging furiously. her wide eyes were locked onto the cooking meat, a line of drool dripping from its tiny mouth as She swayed side to side in anticipation. "Holy shit, look at you," I laughed. "How in hell did you get here so fast¡­earlier you were struggling just to climb?" Meoww She let out another eager meow, head bobbing as if to say, Hurry up! "Patience, furball," I said, turning the skewer slightly to let the meat cook evenly. "You''ll get your share. Eventually." Smirking, I turned my gaze to the deer carcass lying nearby. The soft crackle of the fire and the kitten''s excited meows filled the night as I stood, pulling the shaman''s skull staff from my ring. The object felt heavier in my hand under the moonlight. The intricate carvings along the shaft seemed to glow faintly, and the hollow sockets of the skull stared blankly ahead, emanating a subtle aura of power. "Alright, let''s see what this thing can do," I murmured, walking over to the deer. The kitten''s meowing faltered slightly as she watched me leave, but her attention quickly returned to the roasting meat. I knelt beside the deer, laying the staff across its body. A faint hum resonated through the wood, as if reacting to the fresh corpse. "So how should I use it?" Closing my eyes, I let Exira hum softly in my other hand. Carefully, I guided the energy, allowing it to flow into the staff and resonate with the essence inside. The reaction was immediate. The skull''s eye sockets flared red for a brief moment, and I felt a subtle pull¡ªlike an invisible thread connecting the staff to the blood lingering in the deer''s body. "Interesting," I muttered, pulling the staff back. For now, I returned the staff to my ring and stood, brushing off my hands. The mouthwatering smell of the cooking meat reached me as I turned back toward the fire. "Alright, furball," I called, grinning at the kitten''s eager stance. "It''s almost ready " I chuckled, settling back down by the fire. As the meat finished cooking, I skewered another piece, letting it roast as I tore a small chunk from the first for the kitten. "Here," I said, holding it out. "Just don''t burn your tongue." The kitten sniffed the meat cautiously before grabbing it with both paws, gnawing happily as her tiny tail swished behind it. I leaned back, chewing on my portion as the fire crackled beside us. The stars above were scattered like diamonds on velvet, and the cool night air was refreshing against my skin.
Chapter 072 - Using The Skull Staff
I sat cross-legged near the smoldering remains of the campfire, the flickering embers casting erratic shadows across my face. The night was unnervingly quiet. The usual chorus of chirping insects and distant animal calls was conspicuously absent, as if the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to unfold. From my spatial ring, I retrieved the shaman''s staff, its unsettling weight settling into my hands. The damn thing thrummed faintly with dormant energy, its gnarled wood cool against my skin but unnervingly heavy for its size. Exira rested comfortably in my other hand, its faint hum a reassuring counterpoint to the staff¡¯s eerie aura. "Alright, you creepy piece of shit," I muttered, angling the staff to study it more closely. "Let¡¯s see what secrets you¡¯re hiding." I examined it for several long minutes, scrutinizing every detail. The shaft itself was surprisingly unremarkable¡ªsturdy but devoid of visible runes or carvings to suggest enchantments, a vessel, plain and simple, a means to an end. The real focus was the grotesque skull mounted at the top. The skull was the real focus of this twisted artifact. Its design was grotesque¡ªfour eye sockets that seemed to bore into me, horns curling upward like jagged thorns. The surface was aged and cracked, but faint etchings of runic symbols could be seen carved into the bone, pulsing ever so slightly with latent energy. It was as if the damn thing was alive, watching me as I scrutinized it. "No idea what kind of monster¡¯s skull this is¡­are they a part of the dungeon or and echo¡­" I murmured, running a thumb along one of the horns. The texture was rough, almost brittle, but there was a sinister vitality beneath the surface. meow A soft meow broke my concentration. The kitten had padded over, her tiny head tilted as she eyed the staff with clear suspicion. "Yeah, I''m wondering the same thing," I said, smirking as I reached out to scratch the kitten''s chin. The kitten swatted at the staff with her paw, letting out a low growl before quickly retreating behind my arm. "Relax, furball," I chuckled, though a shiver ran down my spine. "It¡¯s long dead. Probably¡­" Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and tried to center myself. This was going to be my first attempt at channeling the blood essence and connecting with the artifact, and I had no damn clue what to expect. "Alright," I muttered under my breath. "Here goes nothing." The moment I reached out to the blood essence within the skull, the air around me seemed to shift. I sucked in a sharp breath as my senses expanded, and suddenly it felt like I was submerged in something vast¡ªan ocean of blood that stretched infinitely in every direction. "Fuck," I whispered, my voice trembling as I struggled to adjust to the overwhelming sensation. The essence wasn''t chaotic or violent, but its sheer immensity was staggering. It was like standing on the edge of an abyss, staring into endless darkness. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to push forward. I focused on channeling a small portion of the energy into the skull. As the connection formed, the world around me faded, replaced by a void filled with glowing spheres of blood. "Shit..." I gasped, my voice echoing in the emptiness. My eyes darted around, taking in the surreal sight. Each sphere pulsed faintly, representing a source of blood. They seemed to call out to me, their rhythms syncing with the pounding of my heart. The largest sphere floated directly in front of me¡ªit had to be the deer''s carcass from earlier. Behind me, a smaller, flickering sphere hovered, its faint glow unmistakable. A smile tugged at my lips. "Ohh, that¡¯s little furball" I murmured, amused despite the unsettling surroundings. A soft meow echoed in the void, and I glanced back at the tiny sphere, reassured by its presence. At least I wasn''t completely alone in this bizarre space. "Let''s see if this thing actually works," I muttered, steadying my thoughts. Reaching out with my will, I focused on the blood within the deer''s sphere. The process wasn''t immediate; there was resistance, like trying to push against a heavy door that didn''t want to budge. But since the deer was already dead, the resistance was weak, almost negligible. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it "Interesting..." I mused, pushing harder. Slowly, I felt the blood being siphoned into the skull, drop by drop. The sensation was strange¡ªlike pulling a thread loose from fabric, each strand unraveling with delicate tension. As the last of the blood drained into the skull, the deer''s sphere flickered and dimmed before vanishing entirely. The void around me began to fade, and with a blink, I was back beside the campfire. The kitten let out an impatient meow, climbing into my lap and pawing at my chest. "Yeah, yeah, I''m fine," I said, stroking the kitten absently. "Just... trying to figure out what the hell I just did." I glanced over at the deer''s carcass. Its body was pale and shriveled, every drop of blood drained from it. The sight sent a chill down my spine. "Cool" I murmured, standing up and holding the staff at arm''s length. I could feel the blood swirling within the skull now, its weight slightly heavier than before. There was a subtle warmth to it, like holding a vessel filled with warm liquid. But then the realization hit me. "Wait a damn minute," I muttered, frowning. "All that, and it''s barely four or five percent full?" ¡°That should be around 5L or more blood it stored in there¡­.damn it can store a lot¡± The artifact had immense potential and also trying to extract blood from a living subject would be exponentially harder. The resistance I''d felt earlier would be stronger, possibly dangerous. Setting the staff aside for now, I turned back to the deer''s carcass. I pulled out my bone knife and set about butchering the animal. The blade slid through the flesh smoothly, and I worked quickly, not wanting to leave the remains out for too long. The scent of fresh blood filled the air, metallic and sharp. "Don''t even think about it," I warned, casting a glance at the kitten, who was inching closer, eyes wide and nose twitching. "You''re not getting raw scraps." She let out a plaintive mrrp, sitting back on its haunches with a disappointed flick of its tail. "Yeah, yeah, life''s tough," I muttered, focusing back on my task. Once I''d collected everything usable¡ªthe meat, organs, fat¡ªI gathered the bones and other remains into a pile. Pulling a small vial of oil from my pack, I doused the heap before tossing it into the fire. The flames roared briefly, consuming the remnants and sending sparks dancing into the night sky. "Well, that''s that," I said, wiping my hands on a rag. No point in attracting scavengers¡ªor worse. "Don''t worry furball. We''ll figure this thing out together. You''re stuck with me now, after all." She let out an approving meow, hopping onto my shoulder and curling around my neck like a fluffy scarf. "Freeloader," I said, though warmth spread through my chest. Having the little furball around was... nice. A reminder that not everything in this place was out to kill me. With the night deepening around us, I glanced up at the canopy. Stars peeked through the gaps, tiny pinpricks of light in the darkness. ¡­ I crouched near the fire, turning the skewer carefully. The meat was nearly done, its surface crisping to a perfect golden brown. The smell was heavenly, making my stomach rumble¡ªa pleasant distraction from the day''s chaos. "Almost there," I said, glancing at the kitten. Perched on a nearby log, she watched me with laser focus, tail twitching like a metronome. "Meow!" She replied indignantly, as if accusing me of deliberate cruelty. "Don''t give me that attitude," I chuckled, rolling my eyes. "Good food takes time." Finally satisfied, I pulled the skewer off the fire and placed it onto a makeshift tray I''d cobbled together earlier. The juices sizzled, and the aroma wafted up, making my mouth water. "Alright, here we go," I said, grabbing my bone knife. I sliced off a portion of the meat, the blade cutting through tender flesh with ease. Each cut released more of the savory scent into the air. I diced the chunk into small pieces and placed it in front of the kitten. "There," I said, leaning back. "Happy now?" It sniffed the meat eagerly, let out a satisfied meow, and dove in, chomping with wild enthusiasm. "You''re ridiculous," I muttered, a faint smile tugging at my lips. Watching it eat with such gusto was oddly satisfying. As the kitten devoured its meal, I turned my attention back to the remaining meat. An idea struck me, and I reached into my spatial ring, pulling out a small pouch of berries I''d collected before entering this hellhole. The little fruits were still fresh, their colors vibrant under the firelight. I popped one into my mouth. A burst of tart sweetness hit my tongue, sharp but refreshing. "Not bad," I mused. Grabbing a handful, I crushed them in my palm, the juices staining my fingers red. Carefully, I drizzled the mixture over the meat on my plate, letting the juices soak in. "Meow!" I glanced up to see the kitten staring at me, mouth slightly open, a piece of meat dangling from its jaws. "Oh, now you want this too?" I said, arching an eyebrow. She let out an insistent "Meow meow," ears flattening slightly in what I could only interpret as annoyance. "Alright, alright," I laughed, holding up my hands. "You win. " I grabbed another handful of berries, this time removing the seeds and setting them aside. Once seedless, I crushed them and drizzled the juice over the kitten''s remaining meat. "Happy now?" I asked, placing the berry-coated morsel in front of it. The kitten sniffed, let out a delighted mrrp, and resumed eating with renewed vigor. Her tail wagged behind her like a tiny flag, swishing back and forth. "Gods, you''re a handful," I said, shaking my head as I took a bite of my own food. We ate in comfortable silence, the crackling fire providing a soothing backdrop. Every now and then, the kitten would look up, a satisfied meow rumbling, as if to say, "Good job, human." The fire crackled, sending up sparks that danced among the stars. The night air was cool but not biting, wrapping around us like a gentle embrace. "Guess we''re a team now," I murmured, feeling the kitten''s purring deepen as she drifted into sleep. I closed my eyes, letting the sounds of the night wash over me. For the first time in a long while, I felt... at peace.
Chapter 073 - The other Blood essence
The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows that danced across the campsite. I leaned back against a fallen log, my stomach pleasantly full and my body warm from the meal. The makeshift wooden tray I''d used to serve our food lay discarded beside me. With a casual toss, I fed it to the flames, watching as the wood caught fire and the embers spiraled upward into the night sky. A soft purr drew my attention downward. The kitten was curled up beside me, a tiny ball of fluff with its paws tucked under its chin. Its rhythmic breathing blended with the whispers of the forest, and for a moment, I envied its ability to sleep so soundly. "Lucky little furball, Hmm I¡¯ll brainstorm names for you and then in the morning can have a welcoming party" I muttered with a faint smile. Carefully, I scooped the kitten into my hands. I gently placed her onto the makeshift bed I''d prepared¡ªa pile of soft leaves and spare cloth nestled under the shelter. The kitten stretched, paws reaching toward the sky, before snuggling deeper into the bedding. "Sleep tight," I whispered, brushing a stray leaf from its fur. Standing up, I grabbed the crude traps and alarms I''d rigged earlier. One by one, I set them up around the perimeter: twine tied to empty metal scraps I got in the name of loot from the goblins. All I hope they would rattle if disturbed, It wasn''t much, but it was better than nothing. Satisfied, I returned to the shelter and settled down. The night''s chill was creeping in, but the residual warmth from the fire and the soft purring of the little kitty provided a comforting contrast. I adjusted my cloak, pulling it over both of us. "Alright, let''s see if we can get through one damn night without anything trying to kill us," I murmured, closing my eyes. Sleep claimed me faster than I expected. ¡­ Lick. Lick. Lick. A rough, sandpapery tongue dragged across my cheek, jolting me from the depths of sleep. "Ugh, what the¡ª?" I grumbled, swatting aimlessly at the source. "Meow!" came the insistent reply, accompanied by a tiny paw batting at my nose. I cracked one eye open to find the kitten perched on my chest, its wide amber eyes staring at me expectantly. "Seriously?" I groaned. "I get the world''s neediest alarm clock." The kitten let out another demanding meow and swatted my nose again for good measure. "Alright, alright, I''m up!" I sighed, sitting up and rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My back protested with a series of pops as I stretched. "Good morning to you too," I mumbled, scratching behind the kitten''s ears. It purred loudly, climbing onto my shoulder as I stood. The morning air was crisp, carrying the earthy scent of damp leaves and fresh dew. I shivered slightly, the cold seeping through my clothes. "Guess it''s time for a wash," I muttered, making my way toward the river. The kitten hopped off my shoulder and trailed behind me, her tiny paws making barely a sound on the forest floor. At the riverbank, I hesitated. The water looked icy, the surface shimmering under the early light. "Well, no point in delaying," I said through gritted teeth. I stripped down, the cold air biting at my skin, and waded into the water. "Shit!" I gasped as the cold enveloped me. It was like plunging into a pool of needles, every inch of my body protesting. But as I submerged myself, the numbness set in, dulling the aches and pains from the previous days. I scrubbed quickly, not wanting to linger longer than necessary. After a few minutes, I stumbled back onto the bank, teeth chattering. "Man I wish I could get some hot springs¡­ahhh what bliss would that be" I muttered, shaking off excess water. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The kitten padded over, nudging my leg with her head. "At least you don''t care," I sighed, scratching its head. "C''mon, let''s head back¡± "Time to shake off the rust," I said, rolling my shoulders. I began my morning routine, starting with basic stretches. Muscles protested at first but soon eased into the motions. I moved on to shadowboxing, each punch and kick slicing through the air with practiced precision. The kitten watched from a nearby rock, her eyes tracking my movements. Occasionally, she would mimic a swipe with her tiny paw, as if trying to join in. "You think you can keep up?" I chuckled, executing a spinning kick. "Maybe I''ll teach you some moves." It responded with an unimpressed mrrp before turning its attention to grooming. "Figures," I snorted. "Everyone''s a critic." After working up a light sweat, I settled down to prepare breakfast. Skewering another chunk of meat, I set it over the fire, the aroma quickly filling the campsite. "Smells good, doesn''t it?" I said, glancing at the kitten. "Meow!" It was already circling me like a tiny shark, eyes wide and expectant. "Hold your horses," I laughed. "Good food takes time." Minutes later, I sliced off a portion and diced it into bite-sized pieces, setting them in front of the eager feline. "There you go, freeload¡ªuh, esteemed companion," I corrected with a smirk. It dove in without hesitation, purring between bites. As we ate, I couldn''t shake the feeling that something was... off. An itch at the back of my mind, like a forgotten memory tugging at the edges of my consciousness. "You know," I began, staring into the flames, "I think its time" The kitten paused mid-bite, looking up with a quizzical tilt of its head. "Don''t give me that look," I chuckled. "Can''t keep calling you ''furball'' forever." ¡°But before that you shall have a name little one¡± Kneeling beside her I continued, ¡° Welcome to family Lunala Drakesier¡­Luna or Lu for short, Welcome truly for entering my life¡± Meow was all I got as Lunala blinked, then resumed eating. Wahhh!...seriously if it was a doggo that one would be wagging its tail and be on cloud nine¡­and look at you¡­ Sighing, I reached into my spatial ring and retrieved the other blood essence¡ªthe one I''d taken from the shaman. The orb hovered above my palm, pulsating softly with an eerie crimson light. The moment it appeared, a subtle vibration coursed through me, like a low hum resonating in my bones. "Okay since I already have the blood essence, why do my instincts tell me to absorb it" I whispered, eyes narrowing. The essence seemed... alive. Would I have duplicate essences or would it enhance my previous essence¡­haaa so many questions. "Well, curiosity killed the cat,... well not a cat since I got one" I mused, glancing at my dozing companion. "But satisfaction brought it back, right?" I contemplated the orb. Absorbing another blood essence was a gamble. I also have to investigate what the hell did absorbing the blood essence change also what are its powers. Hmmm, Got a basic idea when I used the blood staff¡­fuuu¡­ I guess focus on what¡¯s on hand first. "Only one way to find out what a duplicate essence does" I decided. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. Centering myself, I focused on the blood essence already coursing through my veins. It thrummed in response, a warm current flowing in sync with my heartbeat. Holding the orb steady, I began the absorption process. The essence liquefied, seeping into my skin like tendrils of smoke. A searing heat shot up my arm, spreading rapidly through my body. My vision blurred, the world around me dissolving into a haze of colors and shapes. Sounds faded, replaced by a roaring in my ears. Then, abruptly, everything went silent. huh? I found myself standing in a vast, empty space¡ªa void stretching infinitely in all directions. The ground beneath me was smooth and reflective, like a mirror stretching into eternity. "Where am I, Now?" I muttered, turning in circles. Floating before me were two crystals. One glowed a deep crimson, pulsating with a familiar energy. The other shimmered softly in a greenish hue, its light gentle and soothing. I approached cautiously. "The blood essence," I whispered, reaching toward the red crystal. "And you..." I turned to the green crystal. "Mutation¡­" As I reached out, a soft meow echoed in the void. I spun around to see Luna sitting behind me, her form slightly translucent but unmistakably present. "Of course you''d be here," I chuckled. "Can''t leave me alone for five minutes, can you?" It padded over, rubbing against my leg before gazing up at the crystals. "Are you real?" I asked, scratching her phantom ears. Luna stared at the green crystal, her tail swishing thoughtfully. "Weird" I returned my focus to the crystals. The red one felt aggressive, raw power waiting to be unleashed. The green one was the desire to change, to grow, to evolve, not to mutate. Closing my eyes, I reached out mentally, trying to connect with both essences simultaneously. The energies swirled around me, intertwining like threads weaving into a tapestry. A surge of clarity washed over me. The conflicting energies weren''t meant to clash but to complement each other. Together, they formed a harmonious whole. "Well, I''ll be damned," I breathed. The void began to fade, the crystals dissolving into streams of light that flowed into me. Sensation returned¡ªsounds, smells, the rough texture of the ground beneath me. I opened my eyes to find myself back at the campsite. The fire had burned low, embers glowing softly. The kitten was curled up in my lap, purring contentedly. "That was... intense, and enlightening" I muttered, flexing my fingers. A newfound strength coursed through me, the energies settling into a comfortable rhythm. "Meow?" Luna blinked up at me, eyes reflecting the dying firelight. "Yeah, I''m alright," I assured her, scratching under her chin. "And how were you there?" I stood up, the kitten hopping gracefully to the ground. Stretching, I felt lighter, more... complete. "Yeah right¡­ignored" I mused. Luna stretched as well, arching her back before looking up at me expectantly. "Ready to head out?" I asked. "Meow!" "Alright then," I grinned. "Let''s see what trouble we can get into today."
Chapter 074 - Mind Sphere
(Back when Alexis entered the weird place accidentally) ¡­ The sensation of weightlessness enveloped me as I drifted in the vast, ethereal expanse of my mind sphere. Darkness stretched infinitely in all directions, but it wasn''t the oppressive kind¡ªmore like a comforting void that welcomed introspection. Two glowing crystals floated before me, each pulsing with energy that felt intimately familiar, like echoes of my own essence made manifest. I drifted closer, eyes narrowing as I studied them. The first crystal pulsed with a deep, blood-red hue, throbbing faintly like a beating heart. Its presence stirred something primal within me¡ªan intrinsic connection to life itself. The second crystal shimmered with a murky green light, its edges warping and twisting as if it couldn''t quite decide on a shape. This one felt wilder, more untamed, like the raw physicality of muscle and bone. ¡°So, Blood and Mutation,¡± I muttered, my voice echoing softly in the void. ¡°Interesting.¡± The blood-red crystal resonated with the essence I''d absorbed¡ªthe blood essence. I could almost taste iron on my tongue, feel the rhythmic pulse aligning with my own heartbeat. The green crystal, on the other hand, was a mystery. It exuded a sense of constant change, of adaptation and evolution¡ªa mutation essence, perhaps. ¡°That explains the weird ability to shift, no mutate, to adapt¡± I mused, absently scratching the back of my neck. This mind sphere was a place of reflection and discovery¡ªa core part of any ascendant, as his Aunt Nora and his mother had once told him. Unlocking it was a rare and monumental step toward true strength, a process that usually took years of training and preparation. Yet here I was, accessing it without a damn clue how I''d gotten here, I was just... here. ¡°Either I¡¯m the most talented bastard alive,¡± I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck, ¡°or this thing¡¯s been unlocked for a while, and I¡¯m just too fucking broken to remember it.¡± The thought was sobering. My fragmented memories had plagued me ever since I arrived in this accursed world, pieces of past floating just out of reach. ¡°Focus, Lexi¡± I said, shaking off the frustration. ¡°No point thinking about shit I can¡¯t fix right now,¡± I turned my attention back to the crystals. The blood essence crystal had a faint light flickering on its surface. Squinting, I noticed a small, glowing rune embedded just beneath the surface. Its light was steady but faint, like a distant star. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± I murmured, reaching out tentatively. My fingertips grazed the rune. Around the crystal, there were three more darkened slots, their outlines barely visible, along with a larger, central slot at the very heart of the crystal. The moment my focus landed on the glowing rune, something clicked. I didn¡¯t understand it fully, but I knew. It wasn¡¯t logical or something I could explain¡ªit was instinctual, as natural as breathing. ¡°These slots... they¡¯re for skills¡± Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°So... these runes are skills linked to the essence¡± ¡°And I need to fill all four slots, plus whatever goes in the center, to fully develop the essence.¡± Reaching out tentatively I touched it, The second I made contact a tidal wave of information slammed into me. Images, sensations, and emotions flooded my mind, a chaotic mess that sent me reeling. ¡°Ah, fuck!¡± I hissed, clutching my head as the influx subsided. Groaning, I rubbed my temples, the throbbing pain gradually fading. ¡°Okay¡­okay that¡¯s a lot of information¡± This wasn¡¯t just a discovery¡ªit was a roadmap. Each essence had a path to completion, and every skill I would unlocked would bring me closer to understanding and mastering its power. ¡°So that¡¯s the way forward,¡± I said aloud, my voice echoing faintly in the mind sphere. fuuu¡­ I focused on the knowledge left behind by the glowing rune, sorting through it carefully. ¡°Blood projectile,¡± nodding as the details began to coalesce. ¡°A skill that lets me weaponize blood, huh? Sounds useful. Guess I¡¯ll need to test it out later.¡± A grin tugged at my lips. The shaman I¡¯d fought had used something similar, though his version had been crude. This felt purer, more refined. haaa¡­ Turning to the Mutation crystal, Its four slots were empty, their outlines faint and unformed. ¡°No skills yet,¡± Just as I was about to turn away, a faint tug pulled at my senses. ¡°What the...?¡± As I studied it closely, a faint flicker caught my eye. One of the slots wasn''t entirely empty. A half-formed rune pulsed weakly, its lines incomplete and wavering. "Looks like I''ve started something without realizing," I said. ¡°That¡¯s the ability I¡¯ve been using to shift my body parts. It¡¯s not a full skill yet, but it¡¯s forming.¡± I thought back to the times I''d instinctively altered my limbs¡ªstretching, hardening, adapting on the fly. It had saved my ass more than once. ¡°So this is how it works, Skills aren¡¯t just handed to you. They develop over time, through experience and effort.¡± I sighed, running a hand through my hair. ¡°Guess that means I¡¯ve got a lot of work ahead of me.¡± Floating back slightly, as I took a deep breath, letting the glowing crystals fill my vision. ¡°This is just the beginning,¡± I said quietly feeling the determination hardening. ¡°Let¡¯s see what the fuck I can do with this.¡± A soft sound broke the silence¡ªa familiar meow echoing through the void. I turned to see Luna materialize beside me, her translucent form glowing faintly. ¡°Seriously?¡± I chuckled. ¡°You even show up here?¡± Luna blinked up at me, Amber eyes wide and curious, before letting out another soft meow. Somehow, the little furball always knew how to lighten the mood. "Fine, you can stay," I sighed, reaching down to scratch behind its ears. "Not like I can stop you anyway." Luna purred, rubbing against my leg before trotting off to bat at something invisible. A thought chilled me. ¡°But if I keep absorbing essences, won¡¯t I risk overloading¡ªor worse, losing myself?¡± The possibility sent a chill down my spine. Power was tempting, but it came with risks. I''d seen what unbridled ambition did to people¡ªhow it twisted them into monsters. "Need to be careful," I reminded myself. "No point in gaining strength if I end up losing who I am." Meow!! Luna meowed again, this time batting at the Mutation crystal. She passed through harmlessly, her playful curiosity undeterred. ¡°Guess you¡¯re not worried,¡± I muttered with a faint smile. ¡°Maybe I shouldn¡¯t be either.¡± Still, uncertainty lingered. There was so much I didn¡¯t understand, and ignorance in this world was a death sentence. ¡°One step at a time,¡± I decided. ¡°Master what I have before reaching for more.¡± Closing my eyes, I focused on the sensations of my physical body¡ªthe rough texture of my clothes, the warmth of the campfire, the rhythmic rise and fall of my breathing. The void faded, darkness giving way to muted colors and familiar sounds. The crackle of flames, the rustling of leaves, the soft purring by my ear. I opened my eyes to find myself back at the campsite. Luna was curled on my shoulder, her tail flicking lazily. ¡°Enjoy your little adventure?¡± I asked, arching an eyebrow. She yawned widely, sharp teeth on display, then nestled back down. ¡°Hahaaa¡± I chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re as unbothered as ever.¡± Stretching, I felt a renewed energy coursing through me. ¡°Guess this is my life now,¡± I muttered, staring up at the sky. ¡°Crazy magic powers, creepy-ass crystals in my head, and a fluffy little orange demon for a sidekick.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see what this ¡®Blood Projectile¡¯ can do,¡± I said, moving a safe distance from the campfire. ¡°Yeah, Could be worse.¡±
Chapter 075 - Skill Rune :Blood Projectile
I lounged near the crackling fire, absently watching Luna chase her makeshift leather ball across the campsite. The tiny kitten darted back and forth, her paws swiping with fierce determination as she pounced and rolled in a flurry of playful chaos. "Gods, You''re a menace, you know that?" I muttered, a smirk tugging at my lips. Despite the relentless danger of this place, watching her antics had become a strange sort of comfort¡ªa brief reprieve from the madness of this world. She paused mid-pounce to glance at me, eyes wide and shimmering with mischief, before batting the ball straight into my boot. "Hey!" I protested, though I couldn''t suppress the chuckle that followed. "If you break something, I''m not fixing it." Luna meowed defiantly, tail flicking as she prepared to attack her next imaginary foe. Shaking my head, I leaned back on my elbows, letting the warmth of the fire seep into my bones. The morning chill clung stubbornly to the air, but the sun was beginning to peek through the canopy, casting dappled light across our little clearing. As I stretched, something caught my eye¡ªa faint mark on my right forearm. Frowning, I sat up and rolled up my sleeve. There, etched into my skin, was a tattoo that hadn''t been there before. "What the hell?" I muttered, tracing the design with my fingertips. Two diamond shapes sat side by side, with a smaller diamond adjacent to the second one. ¡°That¡¯s the same feeling I got in the mind sphere, So these things are connected.¡± Luna paused her play to peer up at me, head tilted in curiosity. "Don''t suppose you know anything about this?" I asked sarcastically, not expecting an answer. She meowed softly, padding over to nuzzle against my arm. "Yeah, it''s weird for me too," I sighed. The tattoo didn''t fade or smudge under my touch. On a hunch, I channeled Exira. The blade hummed softly, resonating with my own energy. As I channeled a bit of power into the sword, the tattoo responded¡ªa faint glow igniting within the diamonds. "Well, that''s not ominous at all," I remarked dryly. Luna hopped onto my lap, pawing gently at the tattoo. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, it felt like she understood more than she let on. "Alright, let''s think this through," I said, taking a deep breath. "Two big diamonds... could represent the essences I''ve absorbed. Blood and Mutation." I focused on the second diamond¡ªthe one with the smaller diamond beside it. Channeling energy into it, I felt a familiar surge. "Blood Essence," I whispered. The smaller diamond glowed brighter, and a tingling sensation spread up my arm. Images flashed in my mind¡ªthe mind sphere, the floating crystals, the skill rune I''d discovered. "This is linked to the Blood Projectile skill," I realized. Turning my attention to the first diamond, I noticed its smaller companion was only half-formed, flickering weakly. ¡°It¡¯s not a full skill yet, but it¡¯s forming. That¡¯s why the rune¡¯s not complete.¡± I mused. The pieces began to click into place. The larger diamonds symbolized the essences themselves, while the smaller diamonds represented the skills tied to each essence. ¡°Huh¡± ¡°This wasn¡¯t here before. So when did it show up?¡± ¡°Had to be after the mind sphere,¡± I muttered. ¡°That¡¯s when I felt something shift. So it¡¯s either tied to awakening the mind sphere... or maybe it¡¯s because I absorbed another blood essence.¡± The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Either way, the timing wasn¡¯t a coincidence. ¡°Great. More mysteries to add to the pile. Like I didn¡¯t already have enough shit to figure out.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just here for the belly rubs, aren¡¯t you?¡± I chuckled, scratching behind her ears. "Fine. Let''s test this out." I stood up, gently setting her aside. ¡°Alright, Let¡¯s try something.¡± I focused on the tattoo once more, channeling Exira into it while keeping my mind calm and deliberate. The second diamond¡ªthe one linked to the blood essence¡ªbegan to pulse faintly, and a familiar sensation flickered in my mind. ¡°Blood Projectile,¡± I muttered, visualizing the skill. A small, sharp sphere of crimson energy formed in the air just above my palm, hovering unsteadily as I struggled to maintain focus. ¡°Okay,¡± ¡°So far, so good.¡± I shifted my hand slightly, and the sphere wobbled before stabilizing again. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was progress. Luna let out an excited meow, leaping onto my shoulder to get a better view. ¡°Careful, furball,¡± I said, smirking as I gently nudged Luna back to the ground. ¡°Don¡¯t want you catching a stray shot.¡± She meowed in protest but settled down, watching me intently. With a flick of my wrist, I sent the blood sphere flying toward a nearby tree. It struck the bark with a faint thunk, leaving behind a shallow dent. ¡°Ahh¡­ wait since it is blood essence¡­the fuel it requires is blood!¡± ¡°Goddamn Lexi, Its in the name¡± ¡°Alright,¡±I said as I rolled my shoulders. ¡°Time to test this skill out properly¡± ¡°Fuuu...¡± I exhaled slowly. Allowing my body to relax, as I entered a meditative state. The blood essence was easy to find now, a constant, thrumming presence within me, It was my blood now after all. Its signature was raw and predatory, but also malleable. Taking out my skull staff, its twisted wood felt weirdly cool against my palm. As the connection between me and the blood essence deepened, I could feel the faint pull of the rune skill embedded within it The intent of the skill became clearer with each passing second, like a word hovering just on the edge of comprehension. I allowed myself to lean into it, feeling the essence surge through me and into the staff. The reaction was immediate. swish~ A sharp, wet sound filled the air as blood erupted from the staff, forming a solid projectile in the shape of a spear. The weapon hovered in the air before me, over a meter in length, its surface glistening dark red. ¡°Holy shit,¡± I muttered, eyes widening. The blood spear¡ªit was tethered to me, connected by an invisible thread of energy. I was weird but I could feel it, like an extension of my own body. fuuu~ Taking another steadying breath, I locked gaze onto the nearest wooden target. My mind honed in on the connection, and with a single thought, I released the tether. Swish. The blood spear sliced through the air with a sharp, piercing noise, hurtling toward the target. Thunk! The projectile struck dead center, splintering the log with a deafening crack. The impact sent shards of wood flying, and the spear dissolved into crimson mist the moment it completed its purpose. ¡°Fuck me,¡± I whispered, a grin spreading across my face. ¡°That was awesome.¡± Meow! Miow! Luna let out an excited meow, bouncing up and down on the bed, cheering. ¡°See that, furball? I actually hit the damn thing!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± I said, laughing. ¡°Don¡¯t look so smug.¡± I turned back to the remaining targets, my mind racing with possibilities. The skill had worked, but there was still so much to figure out¡ªhow many projectiles I could summon at once, how far they could travel, and how much resource did they drained. ¡°Alright, Let¡¯s try that again.¡± Focusing on the essence, I repeated the process, drawing on the blood¡¯s power to summon another spear. This time, aiming for the second log, I felt my movements smoother this time. Swish-thunk! The second spear struck true, embedding itself into the wood before vanishing in a puff of mist. ¡°Not bad. Let¡¯s try and push it further.¡± I called upon the essence again, this time channeling more energy to form two spears at once. The process took longer, the connection straining slightly as I juggled the dual constructs. ¡°Come on,¡± I muttered through gritted teeth. ¡°Hold together...¡± Finally, two identical spears hovered before me, their crimson surfaces glistening in the sunlight. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I finally aimed them at the remaining targets. ¡°Here goes nothing.¡± I mentally released both tethers simultaneously. Swish! Swish! The spears sailed through the air, striking two separate logs with satisfying thunks. One hit perfectly, splintering its target in half, while the other skewed slightly, grazing the edge. Haaaa¡­.haaafff¡­ ¡°Not perfect, but close enough.¡± Luna let out a loud mrrp from her perch on the bed, her tail swishing with excitement. ¡°Don¡¯t start, I¡¯m still figuring this out, alright?¡± Luna bounded off the bed and darted over to me, pawing at my boot as if demanding to be included in the fun. ¡°Hey, stay out of the danger zone, you little maniac,¡± I said, scooping her up. ¡°You¡¯re not exactly spear-proof, you know.¡± Luna meowed indignantly but didn¡¯t struggle. Alright, furball,¡± I said, ruffling her ears. ¡°That¡¯s enough testing for now. I¡¯ve got the basics down. Next time, I¡¯ll see how far I can push this thing.¡± ¡°You know for someone who doesn¡¯t do much, you¡¯re pretty damn good at moral support.¡± ¡°Meow,¡± Luna replied smugly. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Don¡¯t let it go to your head.¡±
Chapter 076 - Sanguis Telum
Swish. The crimson projectile sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, missing my intended target by a good few meters and embedding itself deep into a tree trunk. I watched as it quivered for a moment before settling, far from the wooden log I''d aimed for. "Goddamn it," I muttered, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "My aim is absolute shit." From her perch on the edge of the bed, Luna let out an amused meow. Her green eyes sparkled mischievously, clearly mocking my failed attempt. "Oh, don''t you start," I shot back, pointing a finger at her. "I don''t see you out here throwing spears around, you little furball." She flicked her tail nonchalantly and began grooming her paw, utterly ignoring me. The picture of feline indifference. "What did I expect¡­" I grumbled. Shaking my head, I trudged across the clearing toward the unfortunate tree that had taken the brunt of my wayward skill. Each step crunched on the fallen leaves, the crisp air biting at my skin. As I approached, the sight of the blood-red lance protruding halfway into the thick trunk was both impressive and unnerving. Whatever this skill lacked in precision, it more than made up for in raw, destructive power. "Damn," I whispered, crouching to inspect the impact site. ¡°That thing¡¯s got some bite.¡± ¡°Good to know it has firepower though I have yet to check the cost of making these spears¡± ¡°And Let¡¯s see the spears¡­¡± Curiosity getting the better of me, I reached out toward the projectile. My fingers hovered just above its surface, feeling the faint hum of energy radiating from the blood construct. It was warm, almost pulsing. "Alright," I murmured, closing my eyes to focus. I reached inward, channeling my essence, trying to reconnect with the blood spear. It wasn''t as smooth as summoning it in the first place. This felt distant, like grasping at a rope that kept slipping through my fingers. I gritted my teeth, pushing harder, my temples throbbing with the effort. "Okay, deep breaths and connect to it". Fuuuu¡­. Finally, a faint tug¡ªa connection. I exhaled sharply. "There we go." I visualized the lance pulling free from the tree. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, with a jarring lurch, it shifted, dragging itself back an inch. "Yes," I hissed, sweat trickling down my brow. But the resistance was immense, like trying to lift something far heavier than it should have been. My muscles tensed, though I wasn''t physically pulling it. The strain was all in my head, but it felt damn real. My grip on the connection wavered, the tether fraying. "No..no¡­no," pouring every ounce of willpower into one final pull. With a groaning crack, the lance wrenched itself free and clattered to the ground, kicking up a spray of dirt and leaves. "Ha... haaa...Fuck" I panted, legs trembling as I leaned heavily against the tree for support. A sharp ache pulsed behind my eyes, and I rubbed my temples in a vain attempt to soothe the pain. "Okay¡­that hurts¡­ Almost similar pain to when I first channeled Exira" I muttered. Crouching, I examined the lance more closely. The vibrant red hue it had initially was gone, replaced by a dark, almost black sheen. Its surface shimmered faintly, and when I touched it, a jolt of cold shot up my fingers. "Holy!" I yanked my hand back. "That''s freezing¡­.fuuu" It felt more like frozen metal than anything born from blood. Its state unnervingly rigid.. I pressed down on it, gradually increasing the pressure as I tried my best to bend it. ¡°Okay If I bend it with a lot strength it will snap in two¡± The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Even then It is crazy strong¡± "Huh," I mused, standing up and dusting off my hands. "So it stays solid even after I lose connection. That''s... actually pretty useful." I tapped the lance thoughtfully against my palm. Ideas began to churn in my mind. "Maybe I could make weapons in advance. Spears, spikes, hell, even barricades if I had enough blood to spare." My gaze drifted to the skull staff resting nearby. It pulsed faintly, the stored blood essence within calling out like a beacon. ¡°Good thing I¡¯ve got this bastard around. If I didn¡¯t, I¡¯d be draining myself dry just trying to test this shit.¡± Satisfied, I stored the blood lance in my spatial ring for later study. Turning back to the tree, the damage was evident. The bark was pierced clean through, the wood beneath splintered in a disturbingly precise line. A jagged hole marked where the lance had been, a testament to its lethal potential. "Not bad at all," I nodded, running my fingers along the splintered edges. ¡°Clean strike. Good penetration. This thing¡¯s got potential.¡± ¡°What I wanna know is how much flexible is the skill¡± ¡°Can I change the shape, size of the projectiles, Can I make them spin¡± I began the walk back to my makeshift camp, the cool breeze doing little to soothe the lingering headache. As I approached, an impatient meow reached my ears. "Yeah, yeah, I''m coming," I called out, a grin spreading across my face despite the exhaustion. She nuzzled against my hand, purring loudly. The warmth of her tiny body against my fingers was oddly comforting. "Alright, alright," I laughed softly, scooping her up. "You''re impossible to stay mad at." I carried her back to the bed, setting her down gently before collapsing beside her. She immediately crawled onto my chest, kneading my shirt with her paws. She purred louder, green eyes narrowing contentedly as she nestled into the crook of my arm. I stared up at the canopy, leaves rustling softly above. The tension eased from my body, muscles relaxing for the first time in what felt like days. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, I could afford to breathe. Later, I found myself leaning against the same log, Luna now lazily batting at a piece of jerky I''d given her. Her playful antics drew a small smile from me. "Here, chew on that while I try to make sense of this mess," I said, ruffling her fur. She meowed in acknowledgment, eyes flicking up to meet mine before returning to her snack. Pulling out my battered diary, I flipped to the last page. The worn pages were filled with scribbles, sketches, and half-formed thoughts. Grabbing the stub of a charcoal pencil, I began jotting down notes. "Alright, let''s see what we''ve got," I muttered, tapping the pencil against the page. "Skill Name: Sanguis Telum or Blood projectile." I underlined it twice for emphasis. "Fuel Source: Blood." I paused, considering. "Default Size: One meter in length, five centimeters in diameter." I frowned. "What does that even mean in terms of blood volume?" Staring blankly at the numbers, a sense of dread crept in. "Ugh¡­Don''t tell me I have to do math." Luna glanced up, letting out an amused chirp. "Yeah, laugh it up," I shot her a mock glare. "You don''t have to deal with this crap." She swatted at my pencil, tail flicking smugly. "Alright, focus," I told myself. "The lance is basically a cylinder. Volume of a cylinder is... uh... pi times radius squared times height. Right." I scribbled down the formula, plugging in the numbers as best I could. "Radius is 2.5 centimeters, height is 100 centimeters," I calculated. "So... 3.14 times 2.5 squared times 100." After a moment of furious scribbling, I arrived at a figure. "1,963 cubic centimeters. Roughly." Luna paused her chewing to look at me, head tilted. "Yes, I know it''s a lot," I said, waving her off. "Now, considering the density of blood is about one gram per cubic centimeter..." I trailed off. "That means each lance uses about 1,963 grams of blood. Nearly two liters." I stared at the number, a cold knot forming in my stomach. "Two liters per lance? Holy shit." No wonder I felt drained after just a few attempts. I reached for the skull staff, feeling the residual energy within. It was noticeably diminished. "Half empty," I muttered. "That damn deer must''ve given me four, maybe five liters tops. I''ve burned through half of it already." Luna climbed onto my lap, pressing her tiny paws against my chest. "Yeah, it''s a problem," I told her, scratching under her chin. "At this rate, I''ll run dry in no time." ¡°Note to self never use myself as fuel source for the skill¡± She nuzzled against me, purring softly. "Thanks for the sympathy," I sighed. I thought back to the shaman I''d faced. His lances had been massive¡ªfive, maybe eight meters long. The amount of blood required for those must have been staggering. "No wonder he stopped throwing them after a while," I realized. "He couldn''t afford to waste that much blood." Luna pawed at my hand, drawing me back to the present. "You''re a good distraction," I admitted, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Too bad I can''t just throw you at enemies." She responded by nipping playfully at my finger. "Alright, alright," I laughed. "Point taken." Closing the diary, I set it aside. My head was starting to ache from all the calculations and realizations. The skill was powerful, but the cost was steep. I''d need to find a way to make it more efficient or risk running out of resources when I needed them most. Wait how do I remember fucking maths but not more about myself¡­ What kind of logic is even that But that was a problem for another day. I leaned back, letting the sounds of the forest wash over me. Luna curled up on my chest, her steady purring lulling me into a sense of calm. "Maybe we can stockpile the lances," I mused aloud. "Create a cache for emergencies." ¡°But then I would lose the ability to control them and would have to throw them manually¡± She yawned, completely uninterested. "Or maybe I just need to find bigger blood sources," I added wryly. Her tail flicked, brushing against my arm. "Yeah, you''re right," I conceded. "No point in overthinking it now."
Chapter 077 - More Experiments
¡°Okay,¡± I muttered, staring down at the blank page in my notebook. The charcoal pencil in my hand tapped against the edge of the makeshift desk as I tried to gather my thoughts. ¡°I need to document this skill properly. And, for the love of all the gods, I need to figure out how to minimize the goddamn blood cost.¡± I sighed, letting the pencil spin between my fingers before I leaned forward and began writing. ¡°First things first,¡± I said aloud, jotting down a quick header: Sanguis Telum (Blood Lance). ¡°Alright,¡± I continued, speaking to no one in particular¡ªthough Luna, curled up on the corner of the bed, perked up her ears like she was following along. ¡°Let¡¯s start with the basics. Number one: the skill takes blood from a source. This is the cost.¡± I underlined the point for emphasis, glancing over at the skull staff leaning against the wall. Without that damn thing, this skill would be draining me every time I used it. Not ideal. ¡°Alright, number two,¡± I muttered, scribbling again. ¡°The skill directs the blood and shapes it into a one-meter-long lance. That¡¯s the default, or what I¡¯m calling the ¡®base settings.¡¯¡± I paused, tilting my head as I reread the line. Luna let out a soft mrrp, padding closer to nudge my hand with her nose. ¡°Yes, furball, I¡¯m working,¡± I said, laughing as I scratched her behind the ears. She purred loudly, hopping up onto the desk and planting herself squarely in the middle of my notes. ¡°Really?¡± I said, smirking as I gently nudged her aside. ¡°You want to help or just ruin my work?¡± She responded with a loud meow and flopped onto her side, batting at my pencil. ¡°Alright, moving on,¡± I said, shaking my head as I wrote. ¡°Number three: while forming, the lance is tethered to the user. That¡¯s me. And with a mental command, it launches forward. Fast as hell, too.¡± The pencil scratched noisily against the page as I added the details. Luna watched intently, her tail swishing as if she were keeping track of my progress. ¡°And number four,¡± I said, tapping the page. ¡°For about... forty to fifty seconds, I¡¯d say, I have full control over the lance. After that, control starts degrading until the thing becomes unresponsive.¡± I glanced at her. ¡°You following this, furball?¡± ¡°Meow,¡± she replied, stretching out her tiny paws. ¡°Good, because there¡¯s one more point,¡± I said, writing the final note. ¡°Number five: once the blood solidifies, it¡¯s completely inert. No energy, no connection. Just a solid-state lance.¡± I sat back, staring at the list I¡¯d made. My fingers drummed against the edge of the desk as I read through the points again, making sure I hadn¡¯t missed anything. ¡°Alright,¡± I said finally, exhaling through my nose. ¡°That¡¯s the basics. Now I need to figure out how to improve this thing.¡± Grabbing the pencil again, I turned to a fresh page and began jotting down ideas. ¡°Let¡¯s make a new list. Things to test.¡± ¡°Number one,¡± I said aloud, underlining it heavily. ¡°Changing the amount of blood required to cast the skill. Maybe I can make the lance smaller or thinner. Save some blood that way.¡± Luna let out a curious meow as she pawed at the corner of the notebook. ¡°Patience,¡± I said, smirking as I scratched her chin. ¡°We¡¯re just getting started.¡± ¡°Number two,¡± I continued, writing quickly. ¡°Shape. How much freedom do I have with this? Can I make it longer? Wider? Hell, what about something completely different, like... I don¡¯t know, a fucking sword or something?¡± The kitten chirped in approval, swiping at my pencil like she agreed with the idea. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°See? You¡¯ve got good taste,¡± I said, laughing. ¡°Number three,¡± I went on, ¡°methods of delivery. Can I spin it? Curve it? Maybe even launch it in a way that isn¡¯t just straight ahead? And what about mid-flight adjustments? Is that even possible?¡± My mind raced with possibilities as I scribbled the question down. This skill was powerful, but it could be so much more if I could figure out how to make it versatile. ¡°And finally,¡± I said, underlining the next point twice, ¡°number four: can I activate the skill from anywhere? My fingers, my mouth, my chest¡ªwherever. That could open up a lot of interesting options.¡± I leaned back, setting the pencil down as I stared at the new list. ¡°Alright, that should be enough to start with,¡± I muttered. ¡°Four solid tests. I can manage that.¡± Luna, clearly bored with my rambling, rolled onto her back and swatted at my hand. ¡°What do you think, furball?¡± I asked, smirking as I scratched her belly. ¡°Good plan, or what?¡± She let out a loud meow meoOW, her tail flicking enthusiastically. ¡°Damn right, I¡¯m awesome,¡± I said, laughing as I scooped her up. ¡°You¡¯re lucky to have a genius like me around, you know that?¡± She purred loudly in response, nuzzling into my chest as I stood and stretched. ¡°Alright,¡± I said, glancing toward the clearing outside. ¡°We¡¯ll tackle this list first, then tomorrow we¡¯ll go hunting. Gotta refill the blood reserves if we¡¯re gonna keep this up.¡± Luna let out a chirp of agreement, curling around my neck like a furry scarf. ¡°Let¡¯s get to it, furball,¡± I said, grinning as I headed for the door. ¡°Time to see what this skill can really do.¡± Meow! The little ball of fluff meowed again, this time louder, drawing my attention away from the crimson glow emanating from the testing apparatus. Its tiny pink nose twitched as it pawed at the hem of my sleeve, eyes as wide and curious as the midnight sky. ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯ve got my attention,¡± I said, laughing softly and lifting the kitten onto the table. ¡°You¡¯re trouble, you know that?¡± It mewled again in protest, batting at a loose thread on my tunic. I placed my hand on the ancient skull staff, its cold surface humming faintly as it recognized my touch. The staff practically pulsed with dormant power, a tool waiting for mastery¡ªor disaster. Time to put it to work. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s test this out,¡± I muttered, steadying myself and activating the skill [Sanguis Telum]. Power rippled through me as I willed the skill into being. My blood thrummed in my veins, responding to the pull of the rune''s hunger. But this time, I wasn¡¯t rushing it. I slowed everything down, deliberately stretching the activation process. Every flicker, every connection in the flow of energy became a window into understanding. The rune embedded within the staff wasn¡¯t just etched in; it was alive. It resonated with the essence of my blood, like an echo finding its source. As my blood connected to the rune, a faint line of crimson light began to form, drawn like thread between the staff and my palm. I was deep into observing the intricate dance of blood and essence when the control started to slip. ¡°Fuck,¡± I hissed, frowning as I tried to regain dominance. But the skill was stubborn, resisting my will. Then it clicked¡ªwhat if I let go? I let the skill feed on my blood essence as it wanted, just enough to stabilize it. The glow dimmed, the process slowing to a crawl. ¡°Gotcha,¡± I whispered, but my confidence waned as I felt the energy falter again. I canceled the skill entirely, the blood essence retreating back into my body with a dull ache. The process hadn¡¯t failed, but it wasn¡¯t good enough either. Frustration gnawed at me. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and focused. The familiar pull of my mind sphere enveloped me, and I stepped into the mental sanctuary I had crafted. The guardian kitten greeted me immediately, its soft, ethereal form circling my feet. It rubbed against me before leaping into my arms, purring in that melodic way only it could manage. ¡°Hey, you,¡± I said, chuckling as I scratched its phantom ears. ¡°You¡¯re always happy to see me, aren¡¯t you?¡± The kitten purred louder, swiping at the small imaginary ball I conjured in my hand. It batted the orb into the air and chased it across the sphere, its playful antics a small reprieve from the tension I¡¯d been carrying. Shaking my head fondly, I turned my attention to the blood essence swirling in the center of the sphere. The rune skill sat embedded within it, glowing faintly like a smoldering ember. This time, I had a plan. Exira¡¯s strength surged through me, clearer and steadier than ever at Level 1. I poured a fraction of that energy into the blood essence, letting it merge seamlessly with the source. The rune¡¯s glow intensified, responding eagerly to the additional power. ¡°Let¡¯s try this again,¡± I murmured, activating [Sanguis Telum] within the sphere. The connection formed instantly, but now I could observe it from within. Every thread of power that tied the blood essence to the rune became visible, as if magnified a thousandfold. I wove my will through the connection, slowing it down, controlling it. I fed the skill precisely half a liter of blood, a calculated amount to stabilize the process without overloading it. The energy coalesced, forming a focused construct within the sphere. A lance began to take shape, its dimensions tightly controlled¡ªone meter long, 2.5 centimeters in diameter. The blood essence responded with perfect precision this time, bending to my will without resistance. I opened my eyes back in the physical world. The staff glowed faintly in my hand, and the blood lance materialized before me, a sleek weapon of concentrated energy. The sharp tip shimmered, almost seeming to hum with restrained power. I exhaled, leaning back and letting the staff rest against the table. ¡°Not bad,¡± I said softly, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips.
Chapter 078 - Noctis Armor
¡°Meow!¡± The kitten¡¯s sharp, high-pitched demand broke through the quiet hum of the kitchen. I glanced down at her, sitting by my feet, her tail twitching like she owned the place. Her wide eyes zeroed in on the skillet in my hand. ¡°Hold your damn horses,¡± I muttered, stirring the pan. ¡°Meow!¡± ¡°Yes, master, I¡¯m cooking lunch,¡± I said sarcastically. Luna blinked, unimpressed. Sometimes, I swear, this little furball is way too smart for her age. She watched every move I made like a hawk¡ªor rather, a mini tiger. Her gaze flicked between the spatula and the sizzling meat as though mentally calculating the seconds it would take for me to finish. My thoughts drifted as I stirred the food. The test phase from earlier still weighed heavily on my mind. I¡¯d managed use the skill I got from the essence and honestly they feel like pre-programmed settings of a usage of the Blood essence. I¡¯m pretty sure I can replicate the skill usage without using or activating a skill¡ªwell, somewhat. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was progress. So that¡¯s I think is the next path in this power system¡­get all the skill no get used to the essence and then manipulate the essence directly. ¡°But the essence has so many damn restrictions,¡± I muttered under my breath. ¡°Guess those are there for a reason, though.¡± The skill had massive potential, especially in combat. On a battlefield, it could be devastating¡ªa literal bloodbath. The only problem is the cost, I don¡¯t think I can sustain using this skill if I haven¡¯t already stockpiled on blood. And only one usage of default skill projectile at best. ¡°Hmmm... ouch!¡± A sharp sting on my shin yanked me out of my thoughts. ¡°Meow!¡± ¡°Goddamn it, you little¡ª¡± I looked down to see Luna¡¯s claws still extended, her face a picture of feline indignation. She was clearly pissed that I wasn¡¯t paying enough attention to the meat. ¡°Alright, alright,¡± I grumbled, grabbing a small portion from the pan. I chopped the meat into tiny pieces¡ªshe wasn¡¯t big enough to chew anything larger¡ªand set it on a plate. ¡°Here you go, your royal highness.¡± Luna leapt onto the counter with surprising agility and pounced on the food. She devoured it with gusto, making tiny growling noises as though it might escape her. I couldn¡¯t help but grin. At least it was fun and watching her was pure entertainment and in this fucked up god forsaken world without internet she was the only thing holding my mental sanity. ¡°You¡¯re a menace, you know that?¡± She paused mid-bite to shoot me a glance, as if to say, You¡¯re damn right I am. I turned my attention back to my own lunch. The meat wasn¡¯t anything fancy¡ªjust some spiced chunks with a bit of bread on the side¡ªbut it was enough to keep me going. The food disappeared quickly, and I leaned back in my chair, letting out a satisfied sigh. The little furball had finished her portion too and was now sprawled on the table, licking her paws with the air of someone who¡¯d conquered the world. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Rest while you can, Luna I have a feeling this will be the last stretch of rest we get¡± I said, smirking. After an hour of lounging, I finally dragged myself off the chair. ¡°Alright,¡± I said, cracking my neck. ¡°Next task¡ªneed to fix my goddamn Noctics set. Its current state is beyond bad¡± ¡°Meow!¡± Luna followed me as I moved to the workbench, her tiny paws padding softly against the floor. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t act like you care,¡± I said, chuckling as she hopped onto the table, knocking over my plate. ¡°Hey, careful! You¡¯re gonna¡ªah, shit.¡± The plate, rolling across the floor fortunately I had eaten. ¡°Meow?¡± she chirped innocently, as if she wasn¡¯t the cause of the chaos. I shook my head, scooping her up and setting her on a higher shelf. ¡°Stay there. And don¡¯t touch anything.¡± She immediately began swatting at a hanging tool. ¡°God help me,¡± I muttered, gathering the screws. Noctics armor was laid out in pieces across the workbench, a patchwork of dark metal and synthetic fibers. Honestly if I didn¡¯t receive this for El I would¡¯ve long gone and right now¡ªit was hanging on by a thread. Literally. ¡°Damn, this shit¡¯s in a sorry state,¡± I muttered, running a hand over the cracked and warped plating. Luna meowed, curling into a ball and watching me with half-lidded eyes. ¡°Must be nice,¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°No responsibilities, no life-threatening battles... Just eat, sleep, and cause trouble.¡± I picked up the chest piece, frowning at the cracked plating. ¡°Okay how do I get started on this¡± I muttered. The chest piece looked like it had been through hell¡ªbecause it had. The left shoulder and arm pieces weren¡¯t faring much better, jagged edges and dents telling stories of hits I barely blocked in time. The stomach guard? Practically shredded. But that wasn¡¯t the worst of it. As I leaned in, inspecting the damage more closely, something else caught my eye. ¡°Okay, What the hell is that?¡± Violet streaks ran along the surface of several pieces, forming vein-like patterns. They weren¡¯t just discolorations from wear and tear; they pulsed faintly, almost like they were alive. I frowned, my stomach twisting as I traced the lines with a finger. These were the areas where that damn outer monster¡¯s blood had soaked into the armor. I remembered it clearly¡ªthe dark, viscous liquid splattering across me during the fight, steaming where it hit. ¡°Ahh shit!, its blood from the chaos monster¡­God damn it ¡­wait can¡¯t I do this then¡­¡± I muttered, leaning back. I had an idea, though. Reaching into my spatial ring, I retrieved a chunk of the outer monster¡¯s face flesh I¡¯d salvaged after the fight. The grotesque piece was shriveled but still oozed a faintly glowing substance. As soon as I brought it near the armor, the vein-like patterns flared to life, glowing brighter and pulsing in sync with the proximity of the flesh. ¡°Fuuu¡­so there¡¯s something¡­I guess I can take the upgrade in this route¡± I said, staring at the reaction. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and entered a meditative state. Exira flowed through me, steady and reliable, as I reached out to connect with the armor. The familiar tug of energy pulled me deeper, guiding me toward a pseudo-attunement state. The strings of connection became clear as I delved further. Threads of corrupted energy reached out, intertwining with my essence, like tendrils trying to anchor themselves to something familiar. And they were familiar. ¡°Holy¡­This would either ruin the armor of make it something greater¡± I muttered under my breath, realizing the truth. The armor wasn¡¯t just corrupted. It had mutated¡ªtransformed by exposure to both the monster¡¯s blood and my own essence during the battle. Specifically, the Mutation Essence I¡¯d been channeling like a lunatic in the heat of the fight, I¡¯m pretty sure due to how well Noctics armor was made and it being a set effect my essence considered it as a part of my being. I exited the state with a gasp, cracking my knuckles as I processed what I¡¯d seen. I¡¯m still now sure what to feel about this essence it saved my life time and time again however its a dual edged sword, one wrong move and I could very well mutate permanently. I glanced at the armor again, the vein-like patterns still glowing faintly. ¡°The Chaos monster¡¯s blood,¡± I muttered, ¡° It was corruptive¡ªdevouring everything it came into contact with. And the armor and I were soaked in it...Since this survived I can maybe get its devouring trait¡­.¡± A sharp claw poked my arm, breaking my train of thought. ¡°Meow!¡± I looked down to see the Luna, her head tilted as if to ask, What¡¯s got you so worked up now? ¡°Oh, nothing,¡± I said dryly. ¡°Just figuring out how many time I have fucked myself and the situations¡± If the armor had mutated to handle the tainted blood, then it stood to reason that I had too, maybe. I hadn¡¯t just been exposed¡ªI¡¯d been drenched in the stuff. Hell, I¡¯d even eaten part of the damn monster¡¯s face in a desperate bid to end the fight. Probably some mutation essence shenanigans which I have to understand fully, why can¡¯t there be a status screen or something¡­haaa My hand went to my face instinctively, brushing over the rough, uneven skin of the scar running from my cheek to my jaw. ¡°Is that why this hasn¡¯t healed?¡± I murmured. The scarring had been bothering me for weeks, refusing to fade no matter how much I channeled healing energy. Now I had a sinking feeling that it wasn¡¯t just a battle wound.
NEW STORY!!!! YO Guys! Thank you all so so much for being here with me, I know I messed up Twisted Destiny pacing... whelp~ when I was writing Twisted Destiny my plan was to get as many chapter out as possible and I skipped all editing and doing beta reading, shouldn''t have done that but well. So for the past few months I have been diligently learning and teaching myself how to write better. So What is even my new fiction! Tick Tick On The Clock is a LitRPG Deckbuilding novel with TIME ticking down (If any of you have seen ''In Time'' movie) ... puns aside the cards and deckbuilding system is heavily inspired by MTG, although I''ll clarify that I''m no experienced Magic player but I''m slowly getting into it, OH! and also did I mention there are also Rougelite mechanics in play. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. What can you expect (Basics) ? Interesting deckbuilding mechanics and not just random assortment of cards. ? Cards are rare find in the fiction, at least in the Book I, There is also heavy emphasis on cards attunements, Types, Categories. ? There is also a wishing system in the fiction, where Cassian[MC] can get more cards from which has its own mechanics. ? Cards a lot of cards and crazy higher entities who only needs entertainment. Overall this fiction is blend of ORV, the Devil''s cage with MTG like mechanics. Chapter 079 - Mutating Noctis armor
¡°Focus, Alexis. No time to overthink shit right now.¡± My priority was clear: get the armor repaired and upgraded. All those lingering thoughts about corruption and mutation could wait. Diving into the spatial ring''s inventory and checking all the loot I had collected during my recent excursions. Inventory
Equipped Gear
ARMOUR Attuned Noctis ONE-SET Armour [Mortal Tier ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï] (Cloak,torso,pants,boots) E: (?? ????? ???? ???????) DAMAGED
ATTUNED ARTIFACTS The sole earring ????????? Aunt Nora¡¯s blessed Bracer for dumb Lexi [Overmortal Tier ¡ï¡ï¡ï] (Regen, stealth) E : (????? ??????) Drakesier Heirloom [Divine Tier ????] E :(??????) El¡¯s Gift (Spatial Ring) [Mortal Tier ¡ï¡ï] E : (??$#$#%????) Moon''s Blessings Pendant [Mortal Tier ¡ï¡ï] E : (Luna Benedictionis)
ENCHANTED GEAR Mask Trusty Spyglass
WEAPONS Longbow [Mortal Tier ¡ï] E : (Dirige Accelerare Percute) Elite Bone-blades (twin) [Mortal Tier ¡ï¡ï¡ï] E : (Aciem Perpetua Unbreaking) Shaman¡¯s skull staff [Mortal Tier ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï] E : (???)
El''s RING
[FOOD and Rations]
Dried strips of meat x 11 and Bread x 9 Raw meat chunks x 6 ~ 3 kg each Water canteen x 2 [E] ~10L each Spices (assortment) Bundles box ]
Berries (from Twisted Forest) Deer-like monster meat
[Artifacts] (Stored)
Runic Fragment #1 and #2 [2/4] found (hidden) Protective Pendant [E] E: (Defendo) Revealing Monocle [C] E: (Apparere Occulta) Trusty spyglass [P] Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. E: (UNBREAKING I)
[Key Items]
Diary (Alexis) Insignia x2 Elf¡¯s Drawings Metal card x2
Photos x2 Documents [U] keys
Elite lizard Monsters bones and blood Dungeon Task key #1 Parchments bundle (Shaman) Shaman''s Book
Outer monster''s flesh Outer monster''s eye
[Items]
Torch Spare Clothes Ropes Sewing kit
Cloaks [E] Spare Leather Armor
[Armaments]
Daggers x2 Arrowsx240 quiver loaded Shaman dagger [E]
First, there was the outer monster¡¯s flesh. I held the chunk in my hand; its slimy surface pulsed like it had a life of its own. My instincts screamed to stay away. Something about the flesh and using it as a material for enchantment was risky. Setting the flesh, I turned my attention to other resources. The elite lizard monster¡¯s blood and bones were next. The blood was thick and deep crimson. Luckily, I''ve collected it in the den. Although I regret not getting the boss monster''s blood. I guess I was too disoriented from being out of the den and seeing the alien sky. haaa¡­anyway. Then there were the enchanted items. I had two pendants: the Protective Pendant and the Luna Pendant. But I had never felt any real benefit from them. Still, they weren¡¯t useless, and I had an idea for at least one of them. I glanced at Luna, who was perched on a nearby log, watching me intently. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll give you the Protective Pendant after I tweak it,¡± I said with a smirk. ¡°Couldn¡¯t hurt to have you a little harder to kill.¡± ¡°Meow,¡± she replied, tilting her head like she understood me. ¡°Alright, back to the task at hand¡± I muttered. I sorted through the rest of my gear, pulling out items that might have been overlooked. ¡°I do have this mask as well; the enchant are kinda meh¡­but could be useful if I can attach it to noctics set." ¡°Okay Lexi, let¡¯s get to work,¡± I said, standing and cracking my knuckles. First, I needed a proper setup. I saw a tree nearby. I chopped it down with a few sharp swings of my blade. Then, I stripped off the branches and cut it into usable logs. I tried to make a table, but it wobbled and collapsed. ¡°What? Damn all that effort for nothing," I growled, kicking the remains aside. I found a flat patch of ground instead and set up there. Using a makeshift bone container, I dripped elite blood in a circle. It marked the area where I''d work on the armor. The blood glowed faintly; the crimson lines formed a boundary of power around the center. Next came the arrangements of materials, and from my memories this was a crucial process for enchanting. I placed the outer monster¡¯s flesh on the chest piece of the armor, closer to the left shoulder where the corruption had taken its place. The pulsating surface seemed almost eager, like it was waiting to fuse with something. chaos for chaos, huh¡­ The twisted forest monster¡¯s bones were next. I broke them into smaller shards, positioning them strategically along the edges of the armor where additional reinforcement was needed. They fit perfectly into the gaps. The Protective Pendant went around the neck piece. I didn¡¯t know how well it would integrate with the rest of the setup, but it was worth a shot. Any extra protection is good until I find a way to heal back. If not for my recent adventures in the mind sphere and learning how my mutation essence works, this would be a pain. I had an idea of how the mutation essence works. Let¡¯s just hope the mutation occurs in the right direction. Finally, I took a deep breath and pulled out the elite blood. The thick liquid oozed slowly as I carefully coated each component, using it to connect the flesh, bones, and pendant to the main body of the armor. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s everything,¡± I said, surveying my work. The materials gleamed faintly under the light, the blood acting as a catalyst to bind them together. Now for the hard part. Channeling Exira and raising the strength straight to level 2 as the familiar flow of energy coursed through me. The glow of my essence surrounded me, steady and controlled. But it wasn¡¯t enough. ¡°Let¡¯s take this up a notch,¡± I muttered, pushing deeper. The energy surged as I pushed into Level 3. My vision tinged purple, and a faint haze surrounded my peripheral vision as the Exira coursed through me like a storm. I knelt, placing both hands on the armor. Fuuuu¡­ Taking a deep breath, I let myself touch upon the origin of the armor as everything around me blurred, and I delved into the essence of the materials. The world around me turned grey as if someone had drained the life out of it. The faint hum of energy that had filled the air moments ago was now replaced by an eerie stillness. Then, there it was. A chaotic tangle of threads stretched out before me, pulsating with power and intent. They intertwined, clashing and weaving together in a mess that felt like it might rip reality apart if I so much as sneezed in the wrong direction. "Fuck," I muttered, my voice echoing unnaturally in the stillness. I could feel it¡ªthe weight of the different intents clashing in the space. Each thread has an intent: corruption, mutation, protection, and the remnants of power from the chaos monster. ¡°Thank the gods I linked this mess with the blood,¡± I muttered. Clapping my hands together, I focused on filtering the origins. With the blood acting as a stabilizing medium, I could trace each thread back to its source. One by one, I separated them, peeling away the ones that didn¡¯t belong. The chaos slowly gave way to clarity, leaving only the Noctics thread. Grabbing it with my right hand, I pulled it straight upward, channeling Exira through the motion. The intent was sharp, deliberate: connect. The energy surged in response, snapping into place with the thread. But the outer monster¡¯s thread wasn¡¯t done messing things up. It pulsed near the edge of the tangle, spreading its dark influence like ink bleeding into water. Its oppressive aura darkened everything it touched, sending an icy shiver down my spine. ¡°Alright, you bastard,¡± I growled, reaching for it. The thread resisted at first, writhing like a snake, but I latched on with both hands. Exira flared within me as I channeled the Mutation Essence directly into the connection. ¡°[Mutating Aspects]¡± I mumbled, my voice steady despite the storm of energy raging around me. The armor began to respond immediately. The thread of the outer monster merged with the Noctics thread, the two intertwining in a pattern that was both chaotic and harmonious. The flesh on the chest plate pulsed in time with the threads, darkening as they fused. The pressure hit me like a sledgehammer. ¡°Heukk!¡± I gasped as the air was forced from my lungs. It was like standing under a collapsing mountain. My mind reeled, my body screaming from the strain of handling so much raw essence at once. ¡°Not yet,¡± I snarled through gritted teeth. I reached into the threads of the bones, the pendant, and the mask, dragging them into the fusion. Each one resisted, their intents clashing against the overpowering will of the mutation. Channeling Exira wasn¡¯t enough; I needed more. ¡°Fucking... take it, then,¡± I hissed, forcing my Blood Essence into the mix. My own blood burst from my palms, spraying onto the threads and coating the armor. The sacrifice wasn¡¯t small¡ªit felt like someone had slashed open an artery. The lightheadedness hit almost immediately, but I gritted my teeth and held on. The blood soaked into the threads, binding them together with grotesque elegance. The armor absorbed the blood greedily, its surface shimmering like molten steel before settling into a deep crimson hue. I could feel my strength waning as more blood left my body, pooling around my feet and staining the ground. ¡°Almost... there,¡± I growled, taking a deep breath to steady myself. Finally, the threads stopped writhing. They intertwined fully, becoming a single, unified strand. The armor and materials were cocooned in a pulsating shell of blood, their transformation hidden from view. I slumped against the nearest tree, my legs giving out beneath me. My breathing was ragged, each inhale like dragging air through water. ¡°Shit,¡± I muttered, pressing a hand to my forehead. ¡°That was way too close.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± Luna¡¯s voice cut through the haze, sharp and insistent. She padded over to me, her tail flicking in concern. ¡°Hey¡­I think it worked." She climbed onto my lap, nuzzling against my chest and purring softly. It was a small comfort, but one I desperately needed. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± I said, though the pounding in my head begged to differ. She meowed again, this time more insistently, before turning her attention to the blood cocoon in front of us. My gaze followed hers, and despite the exhaustion dragging at me, I couldn¡¯t look away. The cocoon pulsed faintly, a living thing born of chaos and willpower. Whatever was going to emerge from it, I knew it wouldn¡¯t just be armor anymore. ¡°Let¡¯s hope this is worth it,¡± I murmured, absently stroking the kitten¡¯s fur. She purred louder as if to reassure me. Did I adopt a cat or a car...
Chapter 080 - The NEW Noctis armor
I sat there, eyes glued to the pulsating blood cocoon in front of me. The damn thing shimmered and throbbed like a living heart. But, after half an hour of waiting, it hadn''t changed a bit. "Great," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "Just take your sweet time." A soft meow drew my attention. Luna nudged my hand with her tiny head, her eyes wide and questioning. ¡°Hmm, alright, I look through stuff and make something for you too," I said, scratching behind her ears. She purred in response, curling up like she didn¡¯t have a care in the world. Standing up was harder than I''d anticipated. My legs felt like jelly, and the lingering light-headedness didn''t help. I stumbled over to the bed, nearly tripping on a loose floorboard. "Smooth move," I grumbled to myself, collapsing onto the mattress. I grabbed my water flask and took a long swig, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat. "Comfy?" I teased. "Meow," she replied, not even bothering to look up. "Figures." I rummaged through my storage ring, pulling out items I''d neglected for far too long. First was an old book with a cracked leather cover. Flipping it open, I was greeted by pages filled with some alien script¡ªjagged lines and symbols that made zero sense. "Well, that''s just fantastic," I muttered, flipping through the pages in the vain hope that something would click. "Not a damn illustration or anything." ¡°Huh,¡± I muttered, flipping through the pages. Every single one was filled with jagged, irregular writing. No illustrations, no diagrams¡ªjust endless lines of incomprehensible text. Frustrated, I snapped the book shut and tossed it back into the ring. Next, I unrolled a bundle of parchments, carefully smoothing out the creases. The first parchment was covered in intricate diagrams¡ªritual circles, runes, and notes scribbled in a cramped hand. I squinted at the writing, trying to decipher the old dialect. The handwriting was cramped but precise, with symbols and runes filling every inch of available space. ¡°Looks like summoning stuff and about rituals," I muttered, setting it aside. The next three parchments were more of the same¡ªritual circles, runes, and instructions written in an old dialect I could barely make out. They all seemed to follow a similar theme, though¡ªsummoning or binding something. Finally, I unrolled the last parchment. "Well, hello there," I said, leaning in. This one was different. It was a map, roughly sketched but detailed enough to get the point across. It depicted a single mountain dominating the center, with a totem-like symbol drawn at its peak. Surrounding the base of the mountain were 3 smaller markings that looked like camps or outposts. Luna stretched lazily, batting at the edge of the parchment. ¡°Hey, stop that,¡± I said, pushing her paw away. She meowed in protest but settled down, watching me with wide, curious eyes. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. I looked closer at the map. I muttered, "The final destination is probably the mountain peak, where the totem is drawn. I got one of three keys for the totem from the shaman. The other two keys should be with similar beings."¡± ¡°These outposts are probably where I¡¯ll find those keys." ¡°Great,¡± I sighed. ¡°Rest is over, Luna; once we prep everything, we move." ¡°What do you say, Trouble?¡± I asked, grinning down at her. "You''re ready for some chaos?¡± ¡°Meow, meow!¡± ¡°Of course,¡± I said, smirking. ¡°But first food. That¡¯s all you care about, isn¡¯t it? Eat, meow, act cute, and repeat.¡± ¡°Meow,¡± she said again, louder this time, like she was offended by the truth. ¡°Alright, alright,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s get something cooking. You win, you little glutton.¡± She purred loudly, stretching out on the bed like she had just conquered the world. The scent of cooking meat soon filled the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of the forest outside. As the food sizzled, I sat at the workbench, fiddling with the Moon''s Blessings Pendant. Ever since that fiasco with the Chaos monster and my dabbling in Mutation Essence, the pendant felt... off. Like it didn''t quite mesh with me anymore. It was more of a paperweight than a protective charm at this point. "Maybe it''ll help," I said, watching Luna come back in, her nose twitching at the dinner smell. I adjusted the chain, shortening it to fit her tiny frame. The work was delicate, each snip of the metal links requiring steady hands¡ªsomething I was sorely lacking at the moment. Once the pendant was resized, I turned to the little ball of fluff sprawled lazily on the bed. "Alright, Trouble," I called, holding up the resized pendant. "Come here." She trotted over, eyes locked onto the shimmering charm. As I knelt down, she placed her paws on my knee, stretching up to sniff it. "Hold still," I chuckled, slipping the pendant over her head. It settled against her fur, the small moonstone catching the light. She sat back, pawing at it curiously before looking up at me with those big, expressive eyes. "How does it feel?" I asked. ¡°Meow!¡± she replied, sitting up proudly. Her tiny paws fumbled at the pendant, batting it lightly before looking up at me with wide, sparkling eyes. Then, without warning, she dove into my chest, purring so loudly it was like a tiny motor revving up. "Whoa there!" I laughed, nearly losing my balance. "I''ll take that as a yes." ¡°Alright, alright,¡± I said, setting her down. ¡°Luna, let me go check on the food before you start clawing at my boots.¡± She squirmed out of my grasp, landing gracefully on the floor before darting toward the meat being cooked. Dinner was simple but satisfying. It was grilled meat and foraged greens. Luna sat on the table next to me, tearing into her own small portion with enthusiasm. After dinner, exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks. I barely managed to stumble over to the bed before collapsing. Luna was quick to join me, curling up by my side. Hours passed in silence, the world outside bathed in moonlight. But somewhere deep in the night, a sharp sensation jolted me awake. "What the hell was that?" I muttered, sitting up. It wasn¡¯t pain, exactly. It was a ping, a sudden pulse of energy that rippled through my mind. The armor. The cocoon was calling to me. I got up carefully, not wanting to disturb Luna, but she stirred anyway, blinking up at me with groggy eyes. ¡°Go back to sleep,¡± I whispered. ¡°Meow,¡± she answered softly, curling back into a ball. I approached the blood cocoon. It had changed. The once grotesque, pulsating mass had shrunk. Its surface had hardened and cracked in places. ¡°It¡¯s almost ready,¡± I said under my breath, the anticipation thrumming in my chest. I waited, leaning against a tree as the final stages unfolded. The cocoon pulsed one last time before collapsing inward, its surface flaking away like ash. What emerged was nothing short of stunning. "Well, I''ll be damned," The armor stood before me, and damn, it looked cool. The chest plate was wholly remade. Its design was eye-catching. It had a deep, blood-red hue with dark veins. A massive diagonal line ran from waist to the shoulder. Running my hand across it, the texture felt like leather. The gauntlets had also been reforged, their edges sharper and more aggressive. The boots followed the same pattern, built for both speed and brutality. The mask was the final touch, resting atop the armor¡¯s collar like a sentinel. Its design was devilish. It was a mix of elegance and menace. It had curved horns and intricate carvings that pulsed with dark energy. ¡°Well, shit,¡± I said, unable to hide my grin. ¡°I really outdid myself, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Meow!¡± I turned to see Luna trotting over, clearly awake now and eager to inspect the new addition. She circled the armor, sniffing at it cautiously before sitting back and looking up at me. "What do you think?" I asked. "Too much?" She meowed in agreement¡ªor so I thought. Then, she jumped onto my shoulder, perching there like she owned the place. ¡°Well, Luna,¡± I said, staring at the armor with a mix of pride and awe, ¡°looks like we¡¯re ready for whatever the hell comes next.¡±
Chapter 081 - Signs of Corruption
It had been about an hour since I¡¯d set out, the morning light giving way to a hazy afternoon. My goal was simple: climb the damn mountain and be on the lookout for any outposts. The map¡¯s depiction of the peak was unmistakable¡ªit was meant to be massive, a towering landmark that dwarfed everything around it. If the artist¡¯s interpretation was even remotely accurate, this thing would be hard to miss. So far, the terrain had been surprisingly manageable. The forest canopy above offered plenty of shade, with occasional gaps where sunlight pierced through in golden beams. Along the way, I kept an eye out for anything remotely edible, collecting wild fruits, herbs, and mushrooms. Some of the berries looked questionable, but I¡¯d test those later¡ªworst case, they¡¯d make good bait for something nastier than me. It was nearing late afternoon when I suddenly stopped in my tracks. My entire body tensed. Something was off. The air felt heavier, almost suffocating, and my instincts were screaming at me to pay attention. I expanded my Exira outward, pushing the energy in waves and scanning the area. Nothing. Not a single living thing in range. Okay, I don¡¯t sense anything, then why the fuck am I feeling this unease¡­ Trusting my gut, I adjusted my course, heading in the direction that seemed to tug at me like a thread in the wind. As I moved closer, my Exira brushed against the area, and the realization sent chills down my spine. Darkness. Corruption. "Fuuuu... yeah, that''s corruption all right," I muttered, my jaw tightening. I focused on the sensation, letting it guide me. My steps grew quieter, more deliberate, as my mind slipped into combat mode. My hands found my swords, drawing them with a soft metallic hiss. The world around me dimmed; the vibrant greens and browns of the forest were replaced by something far more sinister. And then, I saw it. The land was wrong. The trees were blackened husks, their bark brittle as if all life had been drained from them. The soil beneath my boots crumbled like ash¡ªa stark contrast to the rich, loamy earth I¡¯d been walking on moments ago. The deeper I stepped into the corrupted area, the more unnatural it became. And then, Noctis reacted. ¡°Huh?¡± The faint purple veins running across the armor pulsed in response, forming an invisible barrier between me and the tainted air. But it wasn¡¯t just shielding me¡ªit was feeding. I felt the pull, subtle but undeniable, as the armor drank in the corruption, siphoning it from the surroundings like a predator drawing in its prey. Corruption, which should have caused some serious harm, flowed into Noctis, sinking into its depths and vanishing without a trace. It converted the taint into something else¡ªraw energy, potent and pulsing beneath the surface. A faint hum vibrated through the plates¡ªbarely perceptible, yet unmistakable. It was adapting. Changing. Growing stronger. I flexed my fingers, testing the armor¡¯s response. Faster. Lighter. Power thrummed beneath the surface, refined and sharpened like a blade freshly honed. Noctis wasn¡¯t just protecting me anymore. It was learning, refining itself to better suit me. Haaa¡­ I guess my decision to use the flesh of a Chaos beast was right. The environment is densely corrupted and just standing here in this without continuously channeling Exira would have been suicide. "Nice, huh, Luna? Looks like my little experiment worked out," I said. ¡°Meow!¡­.Maio¡± I smirked. "Yeah, yeah, our experiment, furball." Luna flicked her tail against my cheek, clearly unimpressed. I kept moving. The trees bore deep, jagged claw marks. The soil was disturbed in places like something had dragged itself¡ªor its prey¡ªthrough here. I crouched down, running my fingers over the marks. "So, that bastard really did come this way," I muttered. So much for avoiding it forever. Sooner or later, Lexi, you will have to face it¡­ I need to get stronger before that. Judging by the level of corruption, this wasn¡¯t fresh. The taint wasn¡¯t as strong as it could have been; the edges of its influence were already beginning to dull. Whatever had passed through here had done so at least a day ago, maybe more. Still, that didn¡¯t make it any less dangerous. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see, Luna, how far the corruption has spread," I murmured, my eyes scanning the eerie stillness ahead. The deeper I moved into the tainted zone, the more pronounced the signs became. Trees warped unnaturally, their branches twisting like grotesque arms reaching for the sky. The ground beneath me grew more unstable, cracking under my weight as if it resented the pressure of anything alive. And the air¡ªit was thicker here. Heavy with an almost metallic scent, like rust and decay. ¡°Hmm,¡± I muttered, pausing as I noticed something unusual ahead. A massive tree loomed in the center of the corruption, its trunk split open down the middle. Black sap oozed from the wound, pooling at its base in a thick, viscous puddle. The claw marks around the tree were deeper here, as if something had spent a significant amount of time tearing into it. ¡°Something possibly corrupted and changed. All these marks could be related to that, or our chaos monster did this," I said to myself. Luna meowed softly from her perch on my shoulder, her little claws gripping my cloak tighter. ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, glancing at her. ¡°I don¡¯t like it either.¡± She huddled closer, her pendant glowing faintly in response to the ambient corruption. The charm seemed to be holding its own, shielding her from whatever slipped through Noctis. ¡°Good thing you¡¯ve got that now, huh?¡± I said, giving her a quick scratch behind the ear. She purred softly, but the sound was subdued; her usual energy was replaced by caution. I moved closer to the tree, careful not to step in the oozing sap. The corruption here was stronger, thicker, like a concentrated dose of whatever poison had seeped into the land. My armor¡¯s purple veins pulsed brighter, devouring the taint greedily. "Looks like you¡¯re enjoying yourself," I muttered. "Developing an ego now, Noctis? Good." I crouched down near the base of the tree, examining the claw marks more closely. They were massive, each one easily twice the size of my hand. The spacing between them suggested a creature with enormous strength and speed¡ªsomething that could tear through flesh and bone without breaking a sweat. ¡°Why is everything I come across have to be a godforsaken horror or a nightmare¡­I was happy with the weak little goblins," I muttered. Luna meowed softly, her tone somewhere between a question and a warning. ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± I said, glancing at her. ¡°It¡¯s probably a stupid idea. But we don¡¯t have much choice, do we?¡± The corruption might have been old, but that didn¡¯t mean the creature was gone. Whatever it was, it had left a trail. The gouges in the soil formed a crude path leading deeper into the corrupted zone. ¡°Guess I¡¯m going that way, huh? What''s that?" I said, standing and adjusting my grip on my sword. ¡°Goblins,¡± I muttered under my breath, crouching to examine the marks more closely. The three-toed, clawed imprints were unmistakable. ¡°We got our lead, Luna." I followed the tracks carefully, keeping my steps light and my grip on my sword firm. The air was thick with tension, as if the land itself were holding its breath. Not long after, I stumbled upon another sign of activity¡ªtrees had been cut down in a rough clearing. The stumps were jagged, hacked apart with crude tools. Judging by the weathering on the exposed wood, this had happened well before the corruption took hold. ¡°So they were here before all this shit started,¡± I muttered, standing and scanning the area. The clearing was eerily quiet; the absence of life made every crackle of leaves underfoot sound like a gunshot. ¡°Meow,¡± Luna whispered from my shoulder, her voice soft but insistent. ¡°I know,¡± I said, nodding. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving.¡± As we pressed on, the air grew colder, and I started to notice something in the distance. A faint outline¡ªa massive, snow-capped peak piercing the sky, its summit lost in the clouds. ¡°Damn,¡± I breathed, stopping in my tracks to take it in. The mountain loomed impossibly tall, dwarfing everything around it. This had to be the one. There was no mistaking it¡ªit matched the map perfectly. For a moment, I just stood there, letting the sight sink in. ¡°This is going to be a pain in the ass, isn¡¯t it?¡± I muttered. ¡°Meow,¡± Luna replied as if she were agreeing. From the corner of my eye, I caught a faint wisp of smoke rising above the treetops. ¡°Shit, that can¡¯t be good," I muttered, narrowing my eyes. The map had marked outposts around the mountain, and this had to be one of them. But the smoke was thin, old¡ªwhatever had caused it wasn¡¯t recent. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s check it out,¡± I said, turning toward the source. I wasn¡¯t about to rush in blindly, though. If goblins were involved¡ªand judging by the tracks, they were¡ªit¡¯d be smarter to scout first. Luna meowed softly as I adjusted my cloak, her tiny claws digging into my shoulder for balance. ¡°We¡¯re just taking a look.¡± The smell hit me before I saw the camp. Burnt wood and decay. The acrid stench of something long dead mixed with the faint, metallic tang of corruption. As I stepped closer, the trees began to thin, revealing what was left of the outpost. It was a goddamn mess. The camp was ravaged. Charred remains of structures stood like skeletal fingers clawing at the sky, their edges blackened and jagged. The fire that had ravaged the place must have been intense, leaving almost nothing intact. The ground was coated in ash and taint, the corruption here so thick it seemed to ripple faintly in the air. My armor¡¯s purple veins flared brighter, devouring the taint with a hunger that was almost unsettling. ¡°Looks like the fire took care of most of it,¡± I muttered, scanning the scene. ¡°But that¡¯s not all that happened here.¡± Goblin corpses littered the camp. I crouched near one of the bodies, wrinkling my nose at the smell. The torso was torn clean off from the limbs, the jagged edges of the wound suggesting brute force rather than precision. ¡°Hai?¡± I muttered, examining it closer. "That''s surprising this isn¡¯t done by the chaos monster¡­ then who¡­ was there infighting?" Something had grabbed this goblin and ripped it in half like a damn twig. I straightened, glancing around. There were more bodies, each one brutalized in similar ways. Some had limbs missing; others were crushed entirely, their remains scattered like broken toys. ¡°Meow,¡± Luna said softly, her voice tense. ¡°I know,¡± I replied, my grip tightening on my sword. ¡°Whatever did this... likely it¡¯s still out there." The corruption here was intense, almost suffocating. The ground seemed to pulse faintly, veins of darkness spreading out from the center of the camp like a web; also, I¡¯m pretty sure whatever had attacked this place was corrupted and changed. I stepped carefully through the wreckage, my eyes darting between the shadows. Luna shifted on my shoulder, her claws digging into my cloak as she let out another soft, worried meow. ¡°Stay sharp, Luna,¡± I said, my voice low. ¡°Speak at any moment." The farther into the camp I went, the worse the devastation became. ¡°Holy shit!¡± The center of the outpost was a crater, the ground scorched black and cracked like old pottery. Whatever had happened here, it had been violent¡ªan explosion of corruption that had left nothing alive in its wake. The air felt heavier here, the taint so thick it made my skin crawl. My armor was still devouring it, the purple veins glowing brightly, but even it seemed to strain under the sheer volume. ¡°Meow,¡± Luna whispered again, her voice barely audible. ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, standing and taking a deep breath. "Something is waiting for us. I can feel it.¡± The question wasn¡¯t whether I would find it. It was when.
Chapter 082 -The corrupted outpost
The outpost loomed ahead, a skeletal husk of what it once was. Charred remains of wooden barricades stood in defiance against time, their edges blackened and brittle. The stench of decay clung to the air, thick and suffocating, mixing with the omnipresent weight of corruption that seeped from the land like a festering wound. Fuu¡­ I exhaled sharply, steadying my breath as I gripped the skull staff in one hand and my sword in the other. "Alright," I muttered, rolling my shoulders and loosening my joints. "Let''s do this." meow~ Luna let out a soft meow from her perch on my shoulder, her little claws gripping my cloak. ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± I said, glancing at her. ¡°But we can¡¯t keep running from danger forever.¡± She meowed again, quieter this time, her tiny pendant glowing faintly, as if bracing for what was coming. I took another deep breath and let Exira flow into my blades. A faint purple sheen flickered across the bone blades, humming with power as I honed them. The swords vibrated ever so slightly, eager¡ªalive. The weight in my hands felt lighter, the edge sharper, Exira intertwining like an extension of myself. As soon as the blades were honed, I let the energy flow through my body, steady and deliberate. It pulsed in time with my heartbeat, grounding me as I stretched my joints and muscles, loosening up for the fight ahead. For a moment, I closed my eyes, focusing inward. Expanding Exira outward, I pushed it toward the outpost, extending my senses to their absolute limit. The strain was immediate. A sharp, throbbing ache built behind my eyes, spreading like a migraine. I hadn¡¯t felt this kind of backlash in a while, and it was a harsh reminder that I was pushing too hard. ¡°Ahhh¡­ I¡¯m never gonna get used to this pain," I muttered, clenching my jaw as I held the connection for a few more seconds. The effort paid off. There were still goblins inside the camp¡ªat least six or seven of them, their corrupted forms twisted and darkened, barely clinging to what they once were. But the real problem was at the centre. A massive source of corruption radiated from the heart of the camp, its presence suffocating even at this distance. It didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out what it was¡ªthis had to be the chief, the one who¡¯d led the outpost before it turned into this hellscape. ¡°Fuu¡­¡± I let out another deep breath, easing the strain on my mind as I pulled Exira back. I¡¯d gotten my answers, but they weren¡¯t comforting. Strapping the skull staff to my back, I adjusted its weight before gripping my sword tighter. With a deep breath, I stepped toward the outpost, and the moment I crossed the gate, I slammed down the Exira I had been channeling. The reaction was immediate. A ripple of energy burst outward, slamming into the corrupted camp like a shockwave. The very air thickened in response, as though recoiling from my presence. The taint reacted violently, stirring something deep within the ruins. Then¡ªthe noise. Shrieks and roars erupted from deeper within the outpost, guttural and inhuman. The sound clawed at my ears¡ªa cacophony of rage and suffering, the unmistakable cries of creatures long lost to corruption. I felt them before I saw them. Goblins. Their twisted, malformed bodies emerged from the shadows like rabid animals. Mottled black and gray skin. Glowing, sickly yellow eyes. Their jagged teeth bared in feral snarls. There were five of them. They moved erratically; their once crude but effective goblin coordination was now warped and unnatural. Some twitched violently mid-step, while others jerked forward like broken marionettes. Corruption had eaten away at their minds, leaving behind nothing but hunger and madness. Disgusting¡­ It''s bad haaa¡­ if not for Noctis, just being inside the outpost would have been difficult. I also noticed myself getting stronger; I was slowly gaining an increased perception and rush of strength, which I was sure was Notcis doing. Focusing on the enemies in front of me, I took a deep breath, shifting my stance. Exira pulsed through my veins, my senses sharpening as I studied their movements. ¡°Let¡¯s test something,¡± I muttered, channeling Exira into a quick level 1 burst. The unseen energy rippled outward, slamming into them. They faltered for a moment, their movements stuttering, but then they surged forward again, completely unfazed, with no signs of any suppression or damage. "This goddamn corruption, Exira won''t be of any use at level 1... I should start ramping up the output and I¡¯m damn sure they won¡¯t be feeling pain¡­¡± I growled, gripping my sword tighter." There were five of them in my view, their coordination sloppy but overwhelming in sheer numbers. I steadied my breathing and channeled Exira at Level 2, feeling the faint mental strain in the back of my mind. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Let¡¯s do this, Lexi. The first one lunged. Its jagged claws slashed toward my chest¡ªtoo direct. Predictable. I sidestepped, letting its momentum carry it past me. In the same motion, I twisted my body, bringing my sword up in a clean arc¡ª Shing! The blade met flesh. A sickening squelch followed as my sword cleaved through its side, splitting it open from the ribs to the hip. Its body folded inward, collapsing with a wet thud. One down. The second goblin came at me immediately after, swinging wildly. Erratic, fast, but unrefined. I raised my sword, parrying its reckless swipes. Sparks flew as metal clashed against corrupted claws. It was strong. Unnaturally so. But strength without skill was nothing more than wasted energy. I caught its wrist mid-swing and twisted¡ª Crack. It screeched as its arm snapped backward at an unnatural angle. Before it could recover, I brought my second sword up¡ªa quick, brutal thrust straight through its throat. It gurgled, choking on its own blood as I ripped my blade free. Two. The remaining three had seen enough. They moved together now, attacking in a frenzied pack. Fuuu! I exhaled as I dashed forward, taking the initiative. I slammed Exira into it mid-charge; the force of the impact sent it stumbling backward. ¡°Guekk!¡± it screeched, choking on its own breath as my blade cleaved through its neck in one fluid motion. Its head rolled to the ground, followed quickly by its collapsing body. Three Wasting no time, I kicked the corpse toward the goblin on my right, using the dead weight to throw it off balance as the goblin fell backward. Turning to the left, I launched into my next attack, my blade slicing through the air with precision. The goblin barely had time to react, dodging out of the way, but not without paying the price: its right hand was cleanly severed. They rushed in from different angles, attempting to surround me, but this time they were trying to dodge as well. I see. Testing my reactions. Fuu¡­ Soon their patience ran thin as they lunged and their claws swiped at the air, inches from my face, as I backstepped to create space. My eyes gleamed as I channeled Exira, slamming it into them with enough force to push them back slightly. I stepped back, giving them ground. Let them think they were pushing me into a corner. A sharp burst of Exira-enhanced speed propelled me past their attacks, my body a blur. In an instant, I was behind them. Shing! My blade sliced cleanly through the back of one goblin''s knees, severing the tendons. It collapsed, shrieking, unable to stand. Not wasting a second, I drove my sword down into its skull, silencing it instantly. Four. The other two whirled around, but I was already moving. The goblin to my right snarled, lunging with clawed hands aimed at my neck. Fast. Reckless. I feinted left, baiting it into overextending¡ª Then I twisted sharply, driving my knee straight into its gut. Crack! It doubled over, gasping¡ªand I seized the opening. Bringing my sword down, I drove the blade straight through its spine, pinning it to the ground. Five. Fuu¡­ Even when corrupted and undead, they still retain their instincts and reactions. Like a normal living being. I kept my stance firm, my breathing steady as three more goblins emerged from the ruins ahead, their twisted forms lurching toward me. Shit. That made five left on the battlefield¡ªI¡¯d already taken out four, but I¡¯d completely misjudged the numbers. Corrupted beings could hide from my Exira-enhanced sight. Something I would need to fix. ¡°Graagaeewww!¡± The first two lunged, their jagged claws stretched toward me in a reckless charge. Predictable. Simple-minded. Easy. Fuuu! I focused, channeling Exira at full force. The moment the first goblin came within range¡ªI released. A shockwave of concentrated energy burst forth from me, hitting the creature mid-lunge. Its glowing, corrupted eyes widened in panic, but it couldn¡¯t move. Not an inch. As it fell down mid-lunge. One down. Next. The second goblin was already too close; its claws were slicing toward my throat. Faster than the others. Better reaction speeds. I twisted, shifting my weight just enough to duck under the swipe. The moment its arm passed over me, I stepped in, driving my elbow into its ribs¡ª Crack! It screeched, momentarily stunned. I didn¡¯t hesitate. With a quick flick of my wrist, my sword sang through the air, bisecting its throat in a clean arc. Blood sprayed in a fine mist, its body collapsing instantly. Fuuu¡­ That was two¡ª The moment the body hit the ground, the other three closed in. Smart bastards. Using the distraction of their dying comrade to press in. I grinned. Too bad for them, I¡¯m not done yet. With everything I had, I jumped. The ground beneath me cracked from the sheer force, my body shooting upward like a projectile. I soared¡ªhigher than any normal human should¡ªascending far above the battlefield. And in that brief moment of suspension, I reached into my Blood Essence. I could feel it¡ªa second heartbeat thrumming within me, and with all the bloodshed, the essence roared. Alive. Hungry. Ready. I grinned coldly, whispering the command: "[Sanguis Telum]." Every drop of blood spilled on the battlefield reacted. In an instant, the fluids from the fallen goblins ripped free from their corpses, pulled into the air toward me like a crimson storm. Their bodies convulsed violently, draining dry within seconds¡ªshriveling into nothing more than empty husks. Most of the blood went into the skull staff automatically while the necessary blood coalesced around me, forming three deadly lances, each one glowing with a sinister crimson hue. Still airborne, I reached out with my free hand, fingers twitching as I directed the lances. My targets had nowhere to run. Swish! The first lance shot forward, piercing straight through a goblin¡¯s chest¡ªpinning it against the ruined outpost wall. The second and third followed in rapid succession; their deadly accuracy was undeniable. Pierced. Skewered. Nailed. The goblins didn¡¯t even get the chance to scream properly¡ªtheir corrupted bodies spasming violently as they were thrown backward, impaled against the wall beside their kin. Their eyes flickered. Twitched. Their life force faded. Silence. Fuuu! I exhaled sharply as my feet hit the ground once more. The momentum of my descent cracked the stone beneath me, but my landing was perfectly controlled. I took a second to steady my breathing, my heart pounding, and adrenaline coursing through me like liquid fire. The battlefield was quiet now. ¡°hahaha! Man Blood is amazing." Only one goblin remained¡ªthe one still frozen in time, mid-air, paralyzed by my Exira. Its wide, twitching eyes locked onto mine. Desperation. Horror. I smiled darkly, never expecting these emotions in a corrupted being¡­ is it due to it being newly corrupted? "Almost forgot about you." Slowly, deliberately, I walked toward it, my blade still humming with Exira¡¯s faint purple glow. Luna let out a low, almost-amused meow from my shoulder. "Yeah," I muttered. "Let¡¯s finish this." With one clean stroke, I ended it. Its body hit the ground with a dull thud, the glow in its corrupted eyes fading to nothing. I rolled my shoulders, finally relaxing. Five. No, nine down. I surveyed the battlefield, taking in the aftermath. Corpses drained of blood. Goblins pinned to walls. The remnants of my power painted across the ruins. This fight had been nothing more than an appetizer. Because I could feel it¡ª The true enemy was waiting.