《Cursed Blade Online》 Chapter 1: A New Game Begins James blinked against the blinding light. His body felt off¡ªlighter, almost weightless for a moment before gravity yanked him down. The next thing he knew, he was sprawled out on a dirt road, rough ground pressing into his back. He groaned, rubbing his head. Just a second ago, he¡¯d been sitting at his desk, finishing up a Slayer task in OSRS, his energy drink going warm beside him. His dimly lit room smelled of stale coffee, and all he could hear was the constant click, click, click of his mouse. Now? Now, the air carried the scents of fresh-baked bread and burning wood. The sky above was an unnaturally perfect blue, and the sun shone with an intensity that was almost surreal. Then he saw it¡ªthe floating text box in his vision.
Welcome, Adventurer! Your journey begins now.
James sat up so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash. ¡°¡­No way.¡± He scanned his surroundings. He was in what looked like a medieval town square: cobblestone streets lined with wooden market stalls and timber-framed buildings. Townsfolk bustled about¡ªsome carrying baskets of bread, others tending to stalls piled high with gleaming weapons and patched-up armor. A blacksmith pounded away at an anvil, sending sparks flying with every strike. A knight in full plate strolled past, utterly indifferent to his presence. It was exactly like RuneScape. Well, not exactly¡ªthe graphics were smoother, the details richer, and everything had a tangible weight. But the style? The UI hovering at the edge of his vision? Unmistakable. James willed the menu to open. With a soft ding, a translucent interface appeared.
Stats: Attack: 1 Strength: 1 Defense: 1 Magic: 1 Ranged: 1 Hitpoints: 10
It went on, but James had seen enough. ¡°You¡¯ve gotta be kidding me,¡± he muttered. ¡°I¡¯m a total noob?¡± Another ding announced:
Quest Started: Welcome to Gielrath! Objective: Find a weapon and learn the basics of combat.
Glancing down at himself, he took in his simple tunic, tattered pants, and worn leather boots. At his waist hung a weapon so pitiful he felt personally insulted. ¡°¡­A bronze sword? Seriously?¡± This had to be some kind of joke. With over 2,000 hours logged in OSRS, he¡¯d maxed out multiple skills, completed punishing quests, and raided with the best of them. And now he was back at square one? Swallowing his frustration, James gripped the bronze sword tighter. ¡°Alright,¡± he muttered, ¡°let¡¯s see what this world¡¯s got.¡± The first step of any good adventure? Finding something to kill.
James moved through the town square, absorbing every detail. The air was filled with the gentle murmur of conversations, the clatter of wooden carts, and the occasional clang of metal. Every step felt surreal, as if he¡¯d been transported right into his favorite game. He passed a bakery where an NPC-like woman was stacking loaves of bread. The aroma made his stomach grumble, though a quick inventory check confirmed he had exactly 0 gold. A wooden sign near the town entrance read:
Training Grounds ¨C New Adventurers Welcome!
Bingo. Following the sign, James left the relative safety of the town and stepped onto a dirt path leading to an open clearing. The landscape was the classic low-level starter zone: rolling green fields, scattered trees, and a handful of weak-looking creatures roaming about. Near the edge of the clearing, a short, squat man clad in chainmail stood with arms crossed. His name appeared above him in yellow text:
Combat Instructor
James approached, and as soon as he got close, the instructor sprang to life. ¡°Ah! A fresh adventurer!¡± the man greeted with a warm grin. ¡°You¡¯ll be needing some combat training, I presume?¡±
New Quest: Learn the Basics of Combat Objective: Kill a Giant Rat
Suppressing a chuckle, James replied, ¡°Sure, point me to the nearest rat.¡± The instructor gestured toward a fenced-off area where several Giant Rats¡ªabout the size of small dogs, their beady red eyes glinting with menace¡ªscurried about. Taking a deep breath, James advanced. One of the rats turned, emitting a high-pitched screech as it charged. A red health bar appeared above its head.
Giant Rat - Level 2
James swung his sword in a clumsy arc. The metal clanged on the rat¡¯s hide, dealing a mere:Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
1 Damage
The rat retaliated with a vicious bite.
3 Damage Taken
¡°Ow¡ªwhat the hell?!¡± James stumbled back as his health bar dipped from 10 to 7. The creature lunged again. Panicked, he swung wildly until his sword barely clipped its side.
2 Damage
Determined not to be defeated by a mere rat, James steadied himself. He timed his next move perfectly, sidestepping as the creature lunged and slicing it with precision.
Critical Hit! 5 Damage
The rat let out a final squeal before collapsing lifelessly on the ground.
+8 XP (Attack) +8 XP (Strength)
A grin spread across James¡¯s face as he registered his first kill. It wasn¡¯t much, but seeing the XP gain pop up on his screen was exhilarating. This was no mere click-and-wait¡ªit was real, raw, and immersive. A notification soon followed:
Quest Complete! Reward: 5 Gold Coins, 10 XP
Glancing at his inventory, James saw a small pouch now jingling with gold coins. Not much, but it was a start. The sight ignited a familiar itch¡ªthe urge to grind, to improve, to grow. ¡°Alright,¡± he muttered, ¡°let¡¯s do this.¡± With his first encounter behind him, his journey truly began.
As the adrenaline faded, James took a moment to survey the open field. The golden sunlight painted everything in a warm glow, and the rustling of the nearby trees combined with distant town chatter to create a strangely comforting symphony. The vivid reality of this new world slowly replaced his initial shock. His gaze drifted toward the horizon. Beyond the training grounds, the landscape stretched out into a mix of rolling hills and dense woodlands. There, he suspected, lay challenges and mysteries waiting to be uncovered. The system¡¯s persistent notifications reminded him that every action here had purpose¡ªeach battle, each quest, each coin earned was a step toward leveling up not just his character, but his entire life in this alternate realm. Returning to the town, James found himself at the imposing wooden gate. A stern-looking guard in faded iron armor stood watch. Above the guard¡¯s head, text floated:
Town Guard
¡°Hold it,¡± the guard barked as James approached. ¡°New arrivals must register at the town hall before entering the city proper.¡± James frowned. ¡°Register? I just got here. What does that involve?¡± The guard¡¯s eyes softened slightly. ¡°It¡¯s standard procedure. The town hall records new adventurers, assigns them a place to stay, and provides essential guidance on surviving Gielrath. Follow me.¡± Inside the town hall, James found a long, rustic room filled with scrolls, maps, and an old parchment-strewn desk. Behind it, a kindly clerk with spectacles peered over a massive ledger. ¡°Welcome, traveler,¡± the clerk said warmly. ¡°Please provide your name and any previous adventuring experience.¡± James hesitated for only a moment before replying, ¡°James¡­ I¡¯ve been playing OSRS for years.¡± The clerk¡¯s eyes twinkled. ¡°Ah, a seasoned gamer, are you? In Gielrath, your skills may start at the bottom, but your knowledge is invaluable. I¡¯ve recorded your registration. You now have access to the town¡¯s facilities. You can rest at the inn, train with the local masters, or even purchase better gear from the blacksmith.¡± A small system message appeared in his vision:
Registration Complete: Welcome to Gielrath, James.
As he left the hall, the weight of this new reality began to settle in. This world was more than a simulation¡ªit was a living, breathing place with its own rules, challenges, and opportunities. Each cobblestone, every NPC, even the digital notifications were part of an intricate system that governed everything around him. Eager to explore further, James retraced his steps to the marketplace. Along the way, he noticed details he¡¯d once taken for granted in his old game. The texture of the wood in the market stalls was rough yet charming; the expressions on the townsfolk¡¯s faces were genuine, filled with hope and determination. Even the chatter among them hinted at local legends and rumors of monsters lurking in the woods beyond the town¡¯s boundaries. A young merchant caught his eye, her stall brimming with various potions and trinkets. She smiled and said, ¡°You look like you¡¯ve had quite the journey already, stranger. New adventurers rarely come this far without a tale to tell. Perhaps you¡¯d like to try one of my stamina potions? It might help on your travels.¡± James, still reeling from his first combat encounter, hesitated. But the prospect of an edge in this harsh new world was too tempting. He reached into his coin pouch and exchanged a few coins for a small, bubbling vial.
Item Acquired: Stamina Potion
As he sipped the potion, he felt a subtle warmth spread through him, as if the drink was charging his very cells with renewed energy. He noted the intricate overlay in his interface¡ªan indicator showing his stamina slowly refilling. The blend of medieval charm with modern game mechanics was unlike anything he¡¯d experienced before. A sudden notification made him jump:
Daily Quest Available: Help the Blacksmith Gather Ore Reward: 15 XP, 10 Gold Coins
Intrigued, James decided this was the perfect opportunity to get his bearings in the real economy of Gielrath. The blacksmith¡¯s shop lay at the far end of the market. Entering the small forge, the heat of the fire and the rhythmic clang of metal provided a comforting backdrop. The blacksmith, a burly man with soot-smudged cheeks, looked up and grunted, ¡°New blood, eh? I need someone to fetch me some ore from the nearby cave. It won¡¯t be dangerous¡ªjust enough to test your mettle.¡± With a nod, James accepted. The quest log updated with new details:
Quest: Ore Collection Objective: Enter the cave beyond the woods and collect 5 Iron Ores.
Now with two quests active, James felt the pull of adventure intensify. Every quest, every enemy slain, every coin earned was another step on a journey that was as unpredictable as it was thrilling. Leaving the forge, he set his sights on the cave mentioned by the blacksmith. As he walked through a narrow path lined with ancient oaks, his mind buzzed with questions. How did this world come to be? Was he the only one who¡¯d been pulled inside, or were there others like him? The interface silently tracked his progress¡ªcoordinates, XP bars, and quest markers guided his steps like a digital compass. The forest was a tapestry of dappled light and shadow. Birds chirped overhead while small critters scurried away at his approach. Every so often, the ambient system would flash subtle reminders of his current status: health, stamina, and even a minor countdown for his active quests. It was as though Gielrath was alive with data¡ªa world where reality and digital mechanics intertwined seamlessly. Before long, the entrance to the cave loomed ahead¡ªa gaping maw in the rocky hillside, its darkness a stark contrast to the vibrant life outside. James paused, his heart pounding with anticipation and a hint of trepidation. He checked his equipment: a bronze sword, a few potions, and a meager stash of gold. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was enough to face whatever lay within. Drawing a deep breath, he stepped forward. As the cave swallowed him into its cool, shadowy depths, the system interface blinked a reminder:
Caution: Unknown Area ¨C Enemies May Appear
The echo of his footsteps was the only sound for a few moments, until the faint scurrying of unseen creatures reached his ears. With his senses heightened and adrenaline surging, James tightened his grip on his sword. In this world of grit and magic, every moment was a choice¡ªa choice between hesitation and action, between survival and greatness. He took his first step into the darkness, ready to embrace the challenge, knowing that each quest and every battle would not only shape his character¡¯s destiny but also the man he was becoming in this extraordinary new reality. Chapter 2: Blood and Pixels James took his first cautious steps into the cave, his fingers gripping the hilt of his pitiful bronze sword. The air inside was damp, thick with the scent of earth and something else¡ªsomething foul. The walls shimmered with faint luminescence, casting eerie shadows that danced with each flicker of his torchlight. His UI updated.
New Zone Discovered: Abandoned MineRecommended Level: 5
James frowned. ¡°Level 5? But I¡¯m¡ª¡± He glanced at his stats.
Combat Level: 1
¡°¡­Oh.¡± A sudden chill crept up his spine, but he shook it off. If this really was like OSRS, then careful play and strategy would get him through. He just needed to be smart. Avoid unnecessary fights. Pick enemies off one by one. A small shape scuttled across the rocky floor, drawing his attention. A Cave Spider - Level 4. Not great, but manageable. He could take a level 4 enemy, right? He crept forward, positioning himself behind the creature. With a sharp exhale, he swung his sword¡ª MISS. James barely had time to react before the spider spun around and lunged. Its mandibles clamped onto his forearm, sinking deep.
-8 HP
A searing pain shot through his arm. This wasn¡¯t a simple hitpoint reduction¡ªhe felt the bite. It burned like fire. James cried out, staggering backward, trying to shake the creature off. Another notification flashed.
Status Effect Gained: Poisoned (-1 HP every 3 seconds)
¡°WHAT?!¡± His mind raced. He was at 10 HP, and poison was eating away at him. If he didn¡¯t kill this thing fast¡ª The spider lunged again. Its fangs sank into his neck.
-12 HP
You have died.
James gasped as he found himself outside the cave entrance, sprawled on the dirt. His heart pounded. He grasped at his neck, expecting to feel the puncture wounds, but there was nothing. His health bar had reset, but the memory of pain lingered. He pushed himself to his feet, hands shaking. ¡°¡­Okay. That was not like RuneScape.¡± Dying in OSRS was an inconvenience¡ªannoying, frustrating, but ultimately, just a loss of items. Here? It had hurt. It had felt real. His eyes flicked toward the cave entrance. He hesitated. The fear was real. But if he turned back now, what would that mean? He had no idea how to leave this world, no clue if quitting was even an option. And deep down, he knew one thing for sure: if this was a game, he wasn¡¯t about to let it beat him.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Grinding his teeth, he stepped back into the cave.
Death Count: 3. The spiders had torn him apart again. One had gone for his eyes. Another had ripped a chunk out of his leg. Death Count: 6. A Venomous Bat¡ªsilent and fast¡ªhad latched onto his throat and drained his blood in seconds. Death Count: 11. A Cave Ogre had grabbed him by the waist and snapped him in half. James knelt against the cold stone, panting. His hands were sticky with blood¡ªhis own, mostly. It had taken him hours to make it deeper into the cave. Every inch of progress had been paid for in pain. His gear was still trash. He¡¯d managed to loot a few rusty daggers, a worn leather chest piece that barely added any defense, and a couple of healing items. It wasn¡¯t enough. His UI pinged with a notification.
Final Chamber Ahead: Cave Guardian¡¯s LairRecommended Level: 10
¡°¡­I hate this game.¡± His body screamed at him to turn back. But James had never rage-quit a challenge in his life. With a deep breath, he stepped forward.
Inside the cavernous boss chamber, a massive, skeletal figure sat slumped against the far wall. Its ribcage was exposed, glowing faintly with eerie green light. Two massive, curved swords lay at its sides. The moment James entered, its empty sockets ignited with emerald fire.
Boss Encounter: The Hollow Knight
A deep, bone-rattling growl filled the chamber. James barely had time to react before the boss moved. It wasn¡¯t sluggish like in OSRS¡ªit was fast. The Hollow Knight lunged, its blade cleaving through the air in a devastating arc. James rolled instinctively¡ª SHINK! Pain exploded through his shoulder as the tip of the blade sheared through flesh and bone. His left arm tumbled to the floor. Blood sprayed across the stone. James screamed.
-40 HPLimb Lost: Left Arm
The Hollow Knight wasn¡¯t stopping. It raised its second blade, prepared to cut him in half. James barely managed to gulp down a healing potion, his vision blurring as his HP ticked up. He staggered, barely dodging the next strike. His mind raced. This isn¡¯t just a normal boss fight. This is a mechanics-heavy fight. I need to figure it out. He forced himself to observe. Each of the Hollow Knight¡¯s movements had a rhythm. A tell before an attack. A pause before a lunge. A hesitation before the second strike. James ducked under another swing. He could do this. The next time the Hollow Knight charged, James sidestepped at the last moment, his remaining hand gripping his sword tight. He slashed¡ª CRITICAL HIT! 12 DAMAGE! The Hollow Knight recoiled, its fire-drenched eyes flickering. That¡¯s it. I can win this. The fight raged on. James dodged, countered, and slowly chipped away at the boss¡¯s health. His body was a mess of cuts and bruises, but his adrenaline carried him forward. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he landed the final strike. The Hollow Knight let out an otherworldly wail. Its body collapsed into dust, leaving behind only a single, gleaming object. James dropped to his knees, panting. His entire body ached, but he had won. His UI flashed with notifications.
Boss Defeated: The Hollow KnightLevel Up! Level 2 ¡ú Level 5+10 Strength, +8 Agility, +5 EnduranceRARE DROP ACQUIRED: CURSED BLADE OF THE FALLEN KING
James¡¯s breath caught in his throat. The sword in front of him was nothing like his pathetic bronze weapon. Its blackened steel pulsed with a faint crimson glow. The moment he reached for it, his entire body tingled as if charged with electricity. A new notification appeared.
Cursed Blade of the Fallen KingEffect: Increases attack power by 300%. Steals HP from enemies on hit.Curse: Cannot be unequipped. The more blood spilled, the stronger the blade becomes.
James stared at the weapon. His heart pounded. This was it. This was the moment everything changed. For the first time since arriving in this world, a slow grin spread across his face. If this game wanted to be hard, then fine. He¡¯d just become harder. Chapter 3: The Weight of Steel James groaned as he pried another chunk of ore from the cavern wall. His body still ached from the boss fight¡ªhis missing arm had miraculously regenerated after his respawn outside the cave, but the memory of the pain lingered. His new weapon, the Cursed Blade of the Fallen King, rested at his hip, radiating a faint crimson glow that made him uneasy.
Quest Updated: Blacksmith¡¯s RequestIron Ore Collected: 6/10
¡°This better be worth it,¡± he muttered, slamming the pickaxe into the stone again. Sparks flew as another hunk of ore tumbled to the ground. After everything he¡¯d been through, returning to a basic fetch quest felt almost insulting. He had died over a dozen times in this cave, suffered agonizing deaths, lost limbs¡ªonly to come back and play RuneScape mining simulator? He exhaled sharply. At least I got something out of it. James glanced at the cursed blade. He hadn¡¯t dared to use it since picking it up. Every time his fingers brushed the hilt, a strange sensation crept up his spine¡ªlike the weapon itself was alive.
Iron Ore Collected: 8/10
Just two more. Then he¡¯d be done here. A low rumbling sound echoed through the cave. James froze, gripping his pickaxe tightly. He turned toward the sound, muscles tensed¡ªonly to relax slightly when he realized it wasn¡¯t another boss, just¡­ someone swearing under their breath. His eyebrows raised. Another player? James hesitated for a moment before following the sound. As he turned the corner of the cavern, he spotted a lone figure crouched near a pile of broken pickaxes. A girl, maybe around his age, wearing a tattered leather chestpiece and boots that had definitely seen better days. Her dark hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail, and her expression was a mixture of frustration and exhaustion.
Player Detected: Lyra (Lv. 5)
She was muttering angrily as she inspected her latest broken tool. ¡°You¡¯ve gotta be kidding me,¡± she grumbled. ¡°Fifth one. Who the hell thought realistic durability was a good idea in a game?¡± James leaned against the cavern wall. ¡°Having fun?¡± She jumped, spinning toward him with a dagger in hand. The moment she saw him, she relaxed, but only slightly. Her eyes flicked toward his sword¡ªthen widened. ¡°¡­You have a cursed item already?¡± James glanced at his weapon. The faint glow pulsed, almost in response to her voice. ¡°Yeah,¡± he admitted. ¡°Killed a boss for it.¡± Lyra let out a low whistle. ¡°Damn. Either you¡¯re really good, or really reckless.¡± ¡°Bit of both,¡± James said with a smirk. ¡°What about you? What¡¯s got you so pissed off?¡± She scowled, kicking the broken pickaxe at her feet. ¡°I was trying to mine iron, but the tools they give you are garbage. They keep breaking before I can get enough ore to complete my quest.¡± James tilted his head. ¡°Wait¡­ are you doing the blacksmith¡¯s quest?¡± Her eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°¡­Yeah? Why?¡± He let out a short laugh. ¡°Same quest. I just finished mining my ore.¡± Lyra stared at him, then at the unbroken pickaxe in his hand. ¡°You¡¯re telling me you still have one pickaxe left, and I just went through five?¡± James shrugged. ¡°I got lucky, I guess.¡± Her expression darkened. ¡°I hate this game.¡± James grinned. ¡°Yeah, well, if it makes you feel better, I¡¯ve also been murdered by giant spiders, vampire bats, and a cave ogre that snapped me in half like a twig. So, you know, pros and cons.¡± Lyra blinked. ¡°Wait, you¡¯ve died?¡± ¡°¡­Like, a lot.¡± She frowned, glancing at his gear again. ¡°Huh. That¡¯s weird. I thought you¡¯d be some pro player or something with that sword.¡± ¡°Nope. Just stubborn.¡± Lyra crossed her arms. ¡°Alright, Mr. Stubborn. How about you be a good Samaritan and lend me that pickaxe so I don¡¯t have to go all the way back to town?¡± James hesitated. It wasn¡¯t like he needed it anymore, but¡­ ¡°Tell you what,¡± he said. ¡°You split some of that ore with me, and I¡¯ll let you borrow it.¡± Lyra rolled her eyes. ¡°Fine. Deal.¡± He tossed her the pickaxe, and she caught it with ease. With a smirk, she turned back to the rock wall and slammed the tool into the stone. James watched as she worked, noting how natural she seemed at it. Something about her movements felt practiced, like she had done this sort of thing before.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°So,¡± he said casually. ¡°You from Earth too?¡± She froze mid-swing. Slowly, she turned to him, her expression unreadable. ¡°¡­You¡¯re saying that like it¡¯s not obvious.¡± James raised an eyebrow. ¡°I mean, I wasn¡¯t sure. For all I know, you could¡¯ve been an NPC.¡± Lyra scoffed. ¡°Yeah, because NPCs are this charming.¡± James chuckled. ¡°Fair point.¡± She went back to mining. A few moments of silence passed before she spoke again. ¡°¡­You have any idea how to log out?¡± James¡¯s smile faded. He shook his head. ¡°Nope.¡± Lyra¡¯s grip on the pickaxe tightened. ¡°Figures.¡± James frowned. ¡°You trying to get out of here?¡± ¡°I mean, duh,¡± she said. ¡°This game is insane. Have you seen the death mechanics? That shit hurts. And don¡¯t even get me started on how I lost all my loot when I died.¡± James winced. ¡°Oof.¡± Lyra sighed, finally collecting her last chunk of ore.
Iron Ore Collected: 10/10
She turned back to James, handing him the pickaxe. ¡°Thanks. Guess I owe you one.¡± James smirked. ¡°I¡¯ll remember that.¡± As the two of them made their way back toward the cave entrance, James couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that running into Lyra wasn¡¯t just some random encounter. Something told him their paths would cross again. And in a world this brutal¡­ having allies might not be such a bad idea. James and Lyra trudged back to town, their packs heavy with ore. The village of Stonehaven wasn¡¯t much¡ªjust a collection of wooden buildings clustered around a central marketplace¡ªbut after hours spent in that cave, it felt like civilization. The air smelled of baked bread, sizzling meat, and sweat from overworked NPCs. The blacksmith¡¯s forge sat at the heart of the village, smoke curling from its chimney. Inside, the blacksmith¡ªa burly, one-eyed man named Garrick Ironhand¡ªstood hunched over an anvil, hammering a red-hot blade. As they approached, he set the hammer down and turned to them, arms crossed. ¡°You got my ore?¡± Garrick grunted. James pulled the iron chunks from his inventory and dumped them onto the counter. The moment he did, his UI lit up.
Quest Complete: Blacksmith¡¯s RequestRewards: 150 XP, 20 Silver, Basic Iron Chestplate
James barely had time to glance at the new armor before Garrick snatched up the ore and examined it. ¡°Not bad,¡± the smith muttered. ¡°Still, don¡¯t expect to swing that fancy sword of yours without proper training. This ain¡¯t one of those easy games where you just put points in Strength and suddenly you¡¯re a warrior.¡± James bit back a retort. He¡¯d already learned firsthand that this wasn¡¯t one of those easy games. Lyra handed over her ore as well, completing her quest. As Garrick counted the pieces, James turned to her. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I need a drink.¡± She smirked. ¡°If that¡¯s your way of celebrating, be my guest.¡± The Rusty Tankard was as filthy as its name suggested. The moment James stepped inside, he was hit with the overwhelming scent of ale, sweat, and something that might have been spoiled meat. NPCs and players alike crowded around wooden tables, swapping stories, trading loot, and drowning in booze. James strolled up to the bar and slapped a silver coin onto the counter. ¡°Strongest thing you got.¡± The bartender, a greasy-haired man with a permanent scowl, raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t ask questions. He poured a thick, dark liquid into a wooden mug and shoved it toward James. The smell alone made his eyes water.
Item Acquired: Dwarven GutrotEffect: ???
James took a cautious sip¡ªand immediately regretted it. The drink burned his throat like molten lava. He coughed, eyes watering, but a strange warmth spread through his limbs. ¡°Whoa.¡± Lyra, who had just grabbed a seat nearby, raised an eyebrow. ¡°That bad?¡± James grinned. ¡°That good.¡± He took another gulp. Then another. Within minutes, the world started to tilt. His UI flickered erratically, and a new notification popped up.
Status Effect Gained: Drunken (Moderate)
James snorted. ¡°Alright, so booze does work.¡± He flagged the bartender down for another. Then another. And another. Two Hours Later¡­ James had no idea where he was. His vision swam. The tavern spun in lazy circles. His body felt impossibly heavy, but his mind was floating. At some point, he had tried to stand on a table to make an important speech (about what, he had no clue), only to fall face-first into someone¡¯s soup. Then came the vomiting. And the shitting. A lot of both. James vaguely remembered collapsing onto the tavern floor, his last conscious thought being this game is too realistic¡­ Morning. Pain. His head felt like someone had caved it in with a warhammer. His body ached, his throat was drier than a desert, and everything reeked¡ªvomit, ale, and¡­ yeah, let¡¯s not think about the other smell. ¡°Wake up, dumbass.¡± A sharp kick landed against his ribs. James groaned, peeling open his eyes. Lyra stood over him, arms crossed, a mix of disgust and amusement on her face. ¡°Ugh¡­ what¡­¡± James tried to sit up, but the movement made his stomach churn violently. He barely managed to roll over before throwing up what little remained in his stomach. Lyra took a step back. ¡°Wow. That¡¯s disgusting.¡± James groaned. ¡°What¡­ what happened?¡± Lyra smirked. ¡°Well, after you blacked out, some thieves saw an easy target and looted you. You were too drunk to respawn, so they took everything except that.¡± She nodded toward his hip. James glanced down. The Cursed Blade of the Fallen King was still strapped to him. Its eerie glow pulsed as if mocking him.
Inventory Check: Empty.Gold: 0 Silver, 3 Copper.
James swore. ¡°Everything¡¯s gone?¡± ¡°Yup. Even your pants.¡± James looked down. Yep. No pants. Just his underwear. Fantastic. He rubbed his temples. ¡°I hate this game.¡± Lyra chuckled. ¡°You said that last night, too. Right before face-planting into your own puke.¡± James groaned again. ¡°Please just kill me.¡± Lyra grinned. ¡°Tempting, but nah. Get up. You smell like shit.¡± James forced himself to his feet, swaying slightly. ¡°Where are my pants?¡± ¡°Not my problem.¡± James exhaled sharply. He had lost everything¡ªexcept for the one thing he couldn¡¯t get rid of. And now, he was broke, hungover, and standing half-naked in the middle of a disgusting tavern. New plan:
  1. Get pants.
  2. Find those thieves.
  3. Make them suffer.
Lyra smirked. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan now, oh mighty warrior?¡± James cracked his neck, his headache already starting to fade. ¡°First? A bath. Then? I think it¡¯s time I tested just how powerful this sword really is.¡± He wasn¡¯t about to let some random thieves walk away with his gear. They had no idea who they¡¯d just pissed off. Chapter 4: A Clean Death James pulled at the crusted fabric of his shirt. It reeked of sweat, blood, vomit, and possibly something worse. Every step he took through Stonehaven¡¯s streets was met with wrinkled noses and disgusted glares. NPCs and players alike gave him a wide berth, as if he were some diseased beggar. He needed a bath. Badly. Spotting a wooden sign swinging above a narrow alleyway, James read the faded words: The Silver Steam Bathhouse. Perfect. Pushing open the door, he was immediately hit with a wave of warm, fragrant air. Inside, steam curled lazily through the air, and the sound of trickling water filled the cozy space. Behind the counter stood a well-dressed woman with dark hair tied in an elaborate bun. She eyed James up and down with open disgust. ¡°We don¡¯t serve your kind.¡± James blinked. ¡°What, filthy people?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s the problem, isn¡¯t it? I need a bath.¡± The woman sighed. ¡°Baths cost 5 silver.¡± James winced. He had exactly 3 copper to his name. ¡°Any chance I could¡­ maybe, work off the fee?¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°We do have an errand that needs running.¡± A quest notification popped up.
Quest Received: Vermin Extermination Description: The bathhouse has been dealing with a rat infestation in its basement. Eliminate them. Reward: Free access to the baths.
James sighed. ¡°Fine. Rats. How bad could it be?¡± Bad. Really bad. The bathhouse basement was less of a storage room and more of a rat-infested death labyrinth. James hadn¡¯t taken three steps inside before he heard the first chittering noise. A moment later, he was tackled by something the size of a golden retriever.
Giant Sewer Rat (Lv. 10) has attacked!
It sank its teeth into his shoulder, and James screamed. With no armor to protect him, the pain was very real. He managed to drive his sword through its skull, but as soon as he did, more movement stirred in the shadows. One rat? Manageable. Ten? Game over. The swarm overtook him in seconds, sharp teeth and claws ripping into his flesh. His screams echoed through the basement as he was eaten alive.
You have died. Respawning¡­
Death Count: 3Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. James stood in the basement doorway, scowling. His new plan was simple: fire. He scoured the basement entrance and found an old oil lantern resting on a supply crate. With a manic grin, he lit it and lobbed it into the darkness. The moment it shattered, the room erupted in flames. The screeches of burning rats filled the air as the fire spread.
Quest Updated: Rats Defeated (7/10)
James smirked. ¡°Hell yeah.¡± Then the Rat King appeared. A grotesque mass of writhing, fused-together rodents twice his height crawled from the depths, eyes glowing red, flames licking at its patchwork body. It let out an unearthly screech, charging James with horrifying speed.
Rat King (Lv. 15) has engaged you in combat!
¡°ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!¡± The monstrosity slammed into him like a battering ram, sending him flying into a stone wall. His ribs cracked on impact. Before he could even recover, a dozen rat tails lashed out, wrapping around his limbs. He was ripped apart.
You have died. Respawning¡­
Death Count: 9 James panted, leaning against the basement doorframe. He had tried his sword, fire, and even improvised crude explosives from the lantern oil, but none of it worked. The Rat King just wouldn¡¯t die. He glanced at his Cursed Blade of the Fallen King. He had avoided using it so far, but maybe¡­ With a deep breath, he unsheathed the weapon. The moment he gripped the hilt, a cold presence seeped into his body. The weapon pulsed in his hands, whispering in a voice just below hearing. James charged the Rat King one final time. The moment his blade met the beast¡¯s flesh, everything changed. The weapon drank. The Rat King screamed. James felt power surge through him. When it was over, the massive creature lay in a heap at his feet, its body reduced to nothing but blackened remains.
Quest Complete: Vermin Extermination.Reward Received: Access to the Silver Steam Bathhouse.
James exhaled, shaking as he sheathed the cursed blade. It wasn¡¯t just a weapon. It was hungry. Bath time. Finally. James sank into the steaming water with a groan. The hot bath worked miracles, washing away filth and tension in equal measure. For the first time since waking up in this world, he felt human again. He closed his eyes, letting the heat sink into his muscles. What was he even doing here? When he first arrived, he had thought this was just an ultra-hardcore game. But the pain, the deaths, the realness of it all¡ªit was too much. Was he stuck here forever? Was there even a way out? A voice interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Well, well. Look who finally doesn¡¯t smell like a corpse.¡± James cracked open one eye. Lyra leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a smirk on her lips. ¡°You just had to walk in while I¡¯m naked, huh?¡± he muttered. Lyra shrugged. ¡°I figured I owed you for making me watch you puke yourself half to death last night.¡± James sighed, sinking deeper into the water. ¡°So what do you want?¡± She stepped forward, her expression turning serious. ¡°I heard about what happened in the bathhouse basement. You used that sword, didn¡¯t you?¡± James tensed. ¡°...Yeah.¡± Lyra exhaled. ¡°Be careful with that thing.¡± James frowned. ¡°Why?¡± Lyra hesitated, then shook her head. ¡°Just¡­ don¡¯t get too attached to it. Weapons like that? They always want something in return.¡± James stared at her for a moment, then closed his eyes again. As if this world wasn¡¯t complicated enough already. For now, though, he wasn¡¯t going to worry about cursed weapons, deadly quests, or whatever nightmare awaited him next. Right now? He was just going to enjoy this damn bath. James eventually climbed out, drying off and borrowing a simple tunic from the bathhouse. His stomach rumbled loudly. Lyra smirked. ¡°Hungry?¡± James sighed. ¡°Starving. But, you know, no money.¡± Lyra tossed him a small pouch of coins. ¡°Then let¡¯s go fix that. I know a way we can both make some cash.¡± James raised an eyebrow. ¡°This isn¡¯t going to involve another death trap, is it?¡± Lyra just grinned. ¡°Only one way to find out.¡± Chapter 5: Blood Money James sat at a rickety tavern table across from Lyra, still damp from his bath, his cursed sword resting against the wall beside him. He had nothing else¡ªno armor, no money, and no real plan. Lyra, on the other hand, looked entirely too pleased with herself, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she slid a piece of parchment across the table. James eyed it warily. "Alright. What¡¯s the scam?" Lyra smirked. "It¡¯s not a scam. It¡¯s an opportunity. A high-risk, high-reward sort of deal." He unfolded the parchment, revealing a hastily scrawled bounty notice.
Wanted: Bloodfang the RavagerA notorious bandit leader, last seen in the Ravenspire Ruins.Reward: 2 Gold Coins (Alive), 1 Gold Coin (Dead)
James rubbed his temples. "Lyra, I don¡¯t even have a shirt. How am I supposed to take down a bandit leader?" "Easy," she said. "You¡¯re the bait." Ravenspire Ruins - Midnight The ruins loomed before them, jagged remnants of a forgotten fortress, now home to thieves and cutthroats. James crouched in the shadows beside Lyra, both watching the firelight flicker from within a crumbling tower. "So," James whispered, "what¡¯s the plan?" "You walk up there," Lyra said, gesturing toward the entrance, "get their attention, and, you know¡­ die." James narrowed his eyes. "You could have led with that." Lyra shrugged. "Look, they¡¯ll drop their guard if they think they¡¯ve already killed you once. That¡¯s when I strike." James sighed. "Fantastic. Let¡¯s get this over with." James strode up to the entrance, hands raised in mock surrender. Within seconds, a pair of bandits emerged from the shadows, weapons drawn. One had a chipped longsword, the other a rusted axe. "Well, well, what do we have here?" the axeman sneered. "Another lost lamb?" "Hey, I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯m a very competent adventurer," James said. "I just¡­ happen to be unarmed. And broke. And¡ª" The sword-wielding bandit promptly stabbed him through the stomach.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. James gasped, looking down at the steel buried in his gut. "Oh, come on." Then the axeman took his head clean off.
You have died. Respawning¡­
Death Count: 1 James groaned as he reappeared at the nearby respawn point. "I hate this game." Still, Lyra was right. The bandits had left his corpse where it lay, assuming the job was done. James crept back to the ruins, slipping through the shadows. From his vantage point, he saw Lyra perched on the crumbling wall above the bandits, daggers at the ready. With deadly precision, she dropped down, slashing the throat of the sword-wielder before the axeman could even react. He turned just in time for James to drive his cursed sword through his spine. The blade drank. James felt a jolt of dark energy rush through him as the man let out a strangled cry, his body withering. By the time James pulled the weapon free, the bandit was little more than a husk. Lyra arched an eyebrow. "Getting cozy with that thing?" James flexed his fingers. "It¡¯s effective." "Uh-huh." She kicked open the ruined door. "C¡¯mon. Bloodfang won¡¯t wait forever." The bandit leader was exactly what James expected: huge, heavily armed, and very angry. Bloodfang the Ravager stood at the center of the ruin¡¯s great hall, flanked by two massive wolves. His armor was cobbled together from scavenged plate and chain, and his twin axes gleamed in the firelight. "Who dares trespass in my domain?!" he bellowed. James exchanged a look with Lyra. "I¡¯ll give you three guesses." Bloodfang didn¡¯t need three. With a roar, he charged, his wolves racing ahead. James barely had time to raise his sword before one of the beasts tackled him, tearing his arm clean off.
You have died. Respawning¡­
Death Count: 5 James reappeared outside the ruins, cursing under his breath. "I hate wolves." By the time he made it back, Lyra was dancing between Bloodfang¡¯s strikes, her daggers flashing. James sprinted in, gripping his cursed sword. He ducked under a wild axe swing and drove his blade straight into Bloodfang¡¯s chest. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the sword pulsed, hungry, and James felt something rip away from the bandit leader. Bloodfang let out a horrified scream as his skin blackened and cracked, his eyes going hollow. Within seconds, he collapsed, his body reduced to dust. A loot window popped up.
Rare Item Acquired: Bloodfang¡¯s War MedalA token of dominance, feared among bandit clans.
James whistled. "Nice. Wonder how much it¡¯s worth?" Lyra grinned. "Let¡¯s go find out." Back in Stonehaven, James stood before a seedy-looking merchant, holding up the medal. The man¡¯s eyes widened. "That¡¯s a Ravager War Medal. Worth¡­ at least ten gold." James grinned. "Pleasure doing business with you." As the coins clinked into his palm, he turned to Lyra. "Well, I finally have money. What¡¯s next?" Lyra smirked. "Ever been in a gladiator pit?" James groaned. "Oh, come on¡ª" Chapter 6: Retracing His Staggering Steps James leaned against the tavern wall, rubbing his temples as he tried to clear the last remnants of his previous drunken disaster from his mind. His cursed sword sat at his hip, the only possession he still had after the thieves had looted him. Lyra was standing beside him, arms crossed, impatience practically radiating off her. ¡°So, are we doing this or what?¡± James sighed. ¡°We will, just¡­ not right this second.¡± Lyra raised an eyebrow. ¡°You scared?¡± James shot her a look. ¡°No. I just need to handle something first.¡± He patted the pouch of coins at his belt, feeling the slight weight of his newfound wealth. ¡°Now that I actually have some money, we need to track down the bastards who robbed me blind when I was blackout drunk.¡± Lyra smirked. ¡°Hah. That¡¯s fair. So, what¡¯s the plan? Walk around town and accuse random shady-looking people?¡± James rolled his eyes. ¡°No, we retrace my steps. I drank here, got completely wasted, and at some point, people took everything I had.¡± He looked up at the worn-out sign of The Rusty Tankard, the tavern where his humiliating downfall had occurred. ¡°Maybe someone saw something.¡± Lyra tapped her chin. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll help. But if this turns into another death trap, I¡¯m taking your shoes as payment.¡± James glanced at his feet. ¡°I don¡¯t have shoes.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Shaking his head, James pushed open the tavern doors, stepping inside. The place was just as dingy and foul-smelling as he remembered, the scent of cheap ale and unwashed bodies mixing in an unholy concoction that made his stomach churn. The barkeep, a burly man with a permanent scowl, was wiping down a mug with a rag that looked dirtier than the cup itself. James approached the bar. ¡°Hey, you remember me?¡± The barkeep barely glanced at him. ¡°No.¡± James frowned. ¡°I was the guy who got blackout drunk and¡ª¡± ¡°Oh. You.¡± The barkeep sighed and set the mug down. ¡°Yeah, I remember you. Puked all over my floor, passed out in the alley. Almost called the city guard to toss you in the gutter.¡± James grimaced. ¡°Right. About that. I, uh¡­ got robbed. You see anyone messing with me?¡± The barkeep grunted. ¡°Kid, half the people in this city would loot a corpse if given the chance. You being blackout drunk just made it easier.¡± James clenched his jaw. ¡°Yeah, but someone had to be the first to take my stuff. You see anyone digging through my pockets?¡± The barkeep leaned on the counter. ¡°I don¡¯t see much of anything after last call. But¡­¡± He scratched his beard. ¡°There was a group hanging around outside when I threw you out. Didn¡¯t get a good look, but they weren¡¯t the usual drunks. Looked like they were waiting for something.¡± James exchanged a glance with Lyra. That sounded way too deliberate. Lyra folded her arms. ¡°Any idea where they went?¡± The barkeep shrugged. ¡°Try Beggar¡¯s Row. If they¡¯re thieves, that¡¯s where they¡¯ll be.¡± James nodded. ¡°Thanks.¡± The barkeep held out his hand. ¡°For the information.¡± James sighed and tossed him a few coins. The man grunted in approval and went back to cleaning his definitely-not-clean mug. As James and Lyra stepped out of the tavern, Lyra let out a low whistle. ¡°Beggar¡¯s Row, huh? That place is a nightmare. You sure you wanna do this?¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. James exhaled. ¡°I need my stuff back.¡± Lyra grinned. ¡°Then let¡¯s go steal from the thieves.¡±
Beggar¡¯s Row wasn¡¯t just an alley¡ªit was an entire district tucked into the worst part of the city. Filthy streets, makeshift tents, and crumbling buildings created a maze of shady dealings. The deeper James and Lyra went, the worse the stench got¡ªrotting food, sewage, and unwashed bodies mixing together into something truly horrifying. James kept his hand on the hilt of his cursed sword, half-expecting someone to jump him at any moment. Lyra nudged him. ¡°See anyone suspicious?¡± James gave her a deadpan look. ¡°Lyra, everyone here is suspicious.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Fair.¡± As they navigated the narrow paths between shacks, James caught movement out of the corner of his eye. A few figures were lingering near a firepit, speaking in hushed tones. One of them¡ªa wiry man with a scar across his cheek¡ªwas tossing a familiar coin pouch in the air. James narrowed his eyes. That¡¯s mine. He turned to Lyra. ¡°Found them.¡± Lyra followed his gaze and grinned. ¡°Oh, this is gonna be fun.¡± James cracked his knuckles. ¡°Let¡¯s get my stuff back.¡± James clenched his fists as he stared at the scarred thief flipping his coin pouch. He wasn¡¯t the type for grand speeches¡ªespecially not after everything he¡¯d been through¡ªbut right now, he wanted blood. Lyra nudged him. ¡°You got a plan?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± James muttered. ¡°Walk up and start swinging.¡± Lyra grinned. ¡°I like it.¡± James strode forward, hand on his cursed sword. ¡°Hey, asshole!¡± The thieves turned, their conversation cutting off. There were four of them¡ªScarface, a bald guy with a thick beard, a wiry woman with dagger belts across her chest, and a lanky guy with shifty eyes. All of them radiated that familiar, scumbag confidence. Scarface caught the coin pouch and smirked. ¡°Well, look who it is. You were a lot quieter last time we saw you, mate. Snoring like a hog in the gutter.¡± James unsheathed his sword. ¡°Give me my stuff back.¡± The thieves laughed. Beard Guy cracked his knuckles. ¡°Or what?¡± James took a step forward, raising his sword¡ª And a dagger buried itself in his throat. He barely had time to process the pain before his vision blurred, and he collapsed onto the filthy ground, gurgling. His body spasmed as blood gushed from his neck. The last thing he heard was Lyra sighing, ¡°Well, that was stupid,¡± before¡ª YOU HAVE DIED. RESPAWNING¡­
James gasped as he came back to life in the nearby alley. Lyra stood over him, arms crossed. ¡°That went well.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± James wheezed, rubbing his throat. ¡°Did you see where that dagger came from?¡± ¡°The woman with the belt full of them. Kinda her thing.¡± James groaned. ¡°Okay. New plan.¡± Lyra smirked. ¡°A plan, you mean.¡±
Attempt #2 James rushed forward, zigzagging to avoid the dagger throw. It almost worked¡ªexcept he ran straight into Beard Guy¡¯s meaty fist. His skull cracked like a dropped melon. YOU HAVE DIED. RESPAWNING¡­
Attempt #4 This time, James parried the first dagger, ducked under Beard Guy¡¯s punch, and¡ª Got tackled by Scarface, who jammed a rusted blade between his ribs. YOU HAVE DIED. RESPAWNING¡­
Attempt #7 James managed to stab the lanky guy in the gut, only for the dagger woman to grab him from behind and slice open his stomach like a fish. He died screaming. YOU HAVE DIED. RESPAWNING¡­
James slammed his fist against the alley wall, frustration boiling over. ¡°I hate this game.¡± Lyra, sitting on a nearby crate, tossed a pebble in the air. ¡°You almost had them that time. If you hadn¡¯t tripped on your own foot.¡± James glared at her. ¡°You¡¯re not even helping.¡± ¡°I¡¯m providing moral support.¡± James sighed, rubbing his temples. ¡°Alright. We need to be smarter about this.¡±
Final Attempt Instead of charging in, James and Lyra crept onto a rooftop above the thieves. They waited until Scarface wandered a little too far from the others¡ªthen Lyra kicked a loose brick off the ledge. Scarface looked up. ¡°What the¡ª¡± James dropped down on him like a sack of bricks, driving his sword straight through the bastard¡¯s back. ¡°GAHH¡ª¡± The other thieves jumped to their feet¡ª But Lyra was already on them, daggers flashing. James yanked his blade free and whirled just in time to block Beard Guy¡¯s incoming punch. Instead of going for a direct fight, James feinted¡ªthen kicked the guy straight in the groin. Beard Guy howled in pain, dropping to his knees. James swung his cursed sword, severing his head. The dagger woman snarled and lunged¡ª Lyra intercepted, twirling past her and jamming a knife under her ribs. The last thief, the lanky guy, took one look at the carnage and bolted. Lyra made a lazy throwing motion¡ª A dagger embedded itself in the back of his skull. He faceplanted into the dirt. Silence. James stood in the middle of the carnage, chest heaving. ¡°Holy shit. We won.¡± Lyra smirked. ¡°Took you long enough.¡± James ignored her and looted the bodies. His coin pouch was still mostly full, though the thieves had spent a bit of it. He found his stolen belt knife, too, and¡ª ¡°Oh, hell yeah.¡± James held up his iron chestplate, now dingier than before but still usable. ¡°I¡¯m never getting blackout drunk again.¡± Lyra raised an eyebrow. ¡°Uh-huh. Sure.¡± James ignored her. He was too busy enjoying the fact that, for once, he had won. Of course, this was his life. That meant things were about to get worse. Chapter 7: Learning the System James sat on the steps outside a quiet, run-down inn, exhaling deeply. For the first time since he had been dragged into this insane world, he wasn¡¯t actively dying. He had his gear back¡ªminus a few coins the thieves had spent¡ªand he finally had a moment to breathe. Lyra leaned against the wall beside him, tossing a dagger between her hands. ¡°So, what now? We go after that money-making job I told you about?¡± James shook his head. ¡°Not yet. I need to figure out how this game actually works.¡± Lyra quirked an eyebrow. ¡°Took you long enough.¡± James ignored her and pulled up the game¡¯s UI. A faint, translucent interface materialized in front of him, floating in his vision. Unlike modern MMORPGs he had played back home, this one had a distinctly old-school, minimalist design. A stats menu, inventory, and skills tab hovered in front of him, all with a slightly pixelated look¡ªlike something straight out of OSRS. He started with his stats.
Player: James Level: 5 Health: 25/25 Stamina: 38/38 Mana: 10/10 Gold: 43

Combat Stats:

Skills:

James frowned. ¡°I¡¯m a total weakling.¡± Lyra peered at his screen. ¡°Wow. That¡¯s embarrassing.¡± James gritted his teeth. He had been fighting for his life¡ªor lives¡ªsince he got here, and this was all he had to show for it? His Attack and Strength were barely above beginner levels, and his Defense was abysmal. No wonder everything hit him like a truck. Then there was Ranged and Magic. A single point in Magic? He hadn¡¯t even used magic yet. ¡°Alright,¡± he muttered. ¡°I need to train up¡ªa lot.¡± He switched tabs to check his inventory.
Inventory
James grimaced. ¡°I have nothing useful.¡± Lyra peered over his shoulder. ¡°You have moldy bread. That¡¯s kinda impressive.¡± ¡°Not in a good way.¡± He closed the inventory and focused on the skills tab. This was where things got interesting.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Unlike class-based RPGs, this system was purely skill-based¡ªlike OSRS. You weren¡¯t locked into being a warrior, mage, or ranger. You could mix and match however you wanted. James tapped Magic, and a small submenu popped up.
Magic (Level 2) Spells Unlocked:
James blinked. ¡°I can use magic?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Lyra said. ¡°Why do you think there¡¯s a Magic stat?¡± He sighed. ¡°I just assumed it was another thing that hated me.¡± Testing it out, he focused on Lesser Spark and willed the spell to activate. For a moment, nothing happened. Then¡ª ZAP. A tiny, flickering spark jumped from his fingers¡­ and immediately fizzled out. Lyra snorted. ¡°Terrifying.¡± James scowled. ¡°It¡¯s a start.¡± The Ranged stat was equally neglected, but at least now he knew he could train it. If OSRS logic applied, he could start using a bow without needing to switch to a different "class." Which meant¡ª ¡°I don¡¯t have to be stuck swinging a sword like an idiot,¡± James realized. ¡°I can try magic, ranged, or anything else that works.¡± Lyra smirked. ¡°Yeah. But you do swing a sword like an idiot.¡± James ignored her. This game wasn¡¯t going to hold his hand. Every lesson had been learned through pain, but now that he understood the mechanics, he could actually plan ahead. He needed gear. He needed skills. And most of all, he needed to stop dying so much. James closed the UI and stood up. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m ready.¡± Lyra tilted her head. ¡°For what?¡± James grinned. ¡°To stop being a weakling. First step¡ªwe need better armor.¡± Lyra raised an eyebrow. ¡°Got gold?¡± ¡°Some.¡± James patted his pouch. ¡°Not a lot, but enough to check out some vendors and see what¡¯s available.¡± Lyra shrugged. ¡°Alright. You¡¯ll quickly find out that you can¡¯t just buy everything.¡± James frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still low-level,¡± Lyra said, starting to walk toward the market district. ¡°This world¡¯s like OSRS, remember? You need the right stats to equip certain armor. Try putting on a steel chestplate with your current Defense and¡ªpoof!¡ªit won¡¯t let you.¡± James grimaced. ¡°Seriously?¡± Lyra smirked. ¡°Oh yeah. You¡¯re still a total scrub.¡± James sighed but followed her anyway. The marketplace was bustling, a chaotic mess of wooden stalls and merchants hawking their wares. Armored adventurers bartered for weapons, robed figures examined potions, and blacksmiths displayed newly forged armor. James approached a vendor selling protective gear. A Steel Chestplate caught his eye¡ªfar better than his current dented Iron Chestplate. ¡°How much for the steel chestplate?¡± he asked. The vendor, a burly man with soot-stained arms, gave him a once-over. ¡°Seventy gold.¡± James hesitated. He only had 43 gold. Maybe he could negotiate¡ª ¡°Hold on,¡± Lyra interrupted. ¡°He¡¯s Level 5. What¡¯s the Defense requirement on that thing?¡± The vendor chuckled. ¡°Level 10 Defense.¡± James winced. Lyra grinned. ¡°Told you.¡± James sighed and glanced around at the more basic equipment. There was an Iron Helmet for 20 gold, a Leather Vest for 15 gold, and Padded Gloves for 10 gold. ¡°Okay,¡± he muttered. ¡°I need to train Defense. A lot.¡± Lyra folded her arms. ¡°Took you this long to figure that out?¡± James exhaled. If he wanted to survive, he couldn¡¯t just rely on his cursed sword. He needed actual armor¡ªand the stats to wear it. He made his decision. Chapter 8: The Wrong Kind of Target Practice James adjusted the borrowed shortbow on his back, feeling like an absolute fraud. He¡¯d never been an archer in any game¡ªhe always defaulted to swinging a sword¡ªbut after realizing he needed to train his Defense, he figured he might as well start leveling up Ranged and Magic too. And what better way than with a quest? ¡°I still think this is a bad idea,¡± Lyra muttered as they approached a small wooden shack on the outskirts of town. A hunched-over, one-eyed hunter sat on the front porch, lazily carving an arrow. ¡°This is a great idea,¡± James said, faking confidence. ¡°Low-risk training.¡± Lyra gave him a look. ¡°The last time you said that, you got your spine pulled out.¡± James ignored her and stepped forward. ¡°Hey, you the guy needing help?¡± The old hunter squinted at James, then at Lyra. ¡°You two look green as goblin piss. You sure you¡¯re up for this?¡± James grinned. ¡°Absolutely.¡± The hunter grunted. ¡°Alright, kid. I need you to deal with a small problem.¡± A quest notification popped up.
Quest Accepted: Culling the Swarm
James nodded, satisfied. ¡°See? Ten monsters. That¡¯s a solid training mission.¡± Lyra sighed. ¡°Just once, I¡¯d love for you to read the difficulty before accepting.¡± James waved her off. ¡°Come on. How bad could it be?¡±

Five Minutes Later ¨C Inside Deepwood Cavern

James screamed as a Cave Stalker lunged at him from the darkness. The thing was horrifying¡ªa spider-like abomination with too many legs, glowing red eyes, and jagged, venom-dripping fangs. ¡°Oh, hell no,¡± James blurted, fumbling with his bow. He loosed an arrow¡ªit hit, but the 3 damage it dealt barely phased the beast. The Cave Stalker pounced. CRUNCH. James felt his ribs cave in as the monster¡¯s jaws snapped around his torso. YOU HAVE DIED.
James respawned outside the cavern, gasping. Lyra stood beside him, unscathed, arms crossed. She arched an eyebrow. ¡°Wow. That lasted all of three seconds.¡± James coughed. ¡°Okay. Maybe¡­ Maybe melee is the way to go.¡± Lyra smirked. ¡°No, no, you committed to Ranged. Let¡¯s try that again.¡± James groaned.

Attempt #2: Magic?

James re-entered the cavern, this time gripping a small, worn-out spellbook he had picked up from a merchant. He flipped to Lesser Spark, focused, and¡ª ZAP. A weak electric bolt arced toward the Cave Stalker¡­ dealing 1 damage. The beast hissed. James panicked. ¡°Crap, crap, crap¡ª¡± The Cave Stalker lunged. CHOMP. James¡¯ head rolled across the cavern floor. YOU HAVE DIED.
James reappeared outside, groaning. ¡°Okay. Magic also sucks.¡± Lyra snorted. ¡°Or maybe you suck.¡± James scowled. ¡°One more try.¡±

Attempt #3: Tactical Genius

James formulated a plan. Lyra sat on a rock nearby, watching with an amused smirk. ¡°This is going to be good.¡± James crouched outside the cave entrance and notched an arrow. He spotted a Cave Stalker skittering through the gloom. ¡°Here we go.¡± He loosed an arrow. It hit the monster in the eye. Critical hit! ¡°Hell yeah!¡± James cheered. The Cave Stalker screeched in rage¡ªand then something worse happened. The entire cavern began shaking. Lyra¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Uh. James?¡± James gulped. ¡°What now?¡± The walls of the cave burst open, revealing more Cave Stalkers¡ªdozens of them, swarming toward him. ¡°¡­Oh.¡± James turned to run. The horde slammed into him. YOU HAVE DIED.
James respawned, shaking. ¡°NOPE. We are NOT doing that quest.¡± Lyra, who had fallen over from laughing too hard, wiped a tear from her eye. ¡°Oh gods, I needed that.¡± James exhaled. ¡°Lesson learned. Ranged and Magic are a work in progress.¡± Lyra smirked. ¡°So what¡¯s next?¡± James frowned. He still needed to level up, but maybe¡­ maybe he should try something less suicidal. ¡°¡­I think I¡¯ll find something a little easier first.¡± Lyra grinned. ¡°Smartest thing you¡¯ve said all day.¡±

A Smarter Approach?

After several more attempts¡ªand at least six more deaths¡ªJames finally took Lyra¡¯s advice and switched tactics. Instead of fighting the Cave Stalkers head-on, he started kiting them. After about an hour (and another five deaths), he finally killed one.
Cave Stalker slain!XP Gained: 55 Ranged XP, 10 Magic XP
James collapsed against the cave wall. ¡°I¡­ I did it.¡± Lyra clapped slowly. ¡°Congratulations. It only took, what, twelve deaths?¡± James glared at her but was too exhausted to argue. He checked his XP bar¡ªhe was still Level 1 in Ranged and Magic. ¡°¡­Wait. That¡¯s all the XP I got!?¡± Lyra chuckled. ¡°Yep. Welcome to the grind.¡± James groaned. ¡°I hate this game.¡± She smirked. ¡°You¡¯ll hate it even more when you realize we still need to kill nine more.¡± James wanted to die. Again. His arms ached, his fingers were sore from drawing the bowstring, and his body still remembered the phantom pain of being torn apart over a dozen times. Lyra crouched beside him, resting her elbows on her knees. "So, what now?" James stared at his XP bar. He was still Level 1 in Ranged and Magic despite finally managing to kill one of those Cave Stalkers. 55 XP barely moved the bar. "...I have to do that nine more times to finish this quest?" Lyra smirked. "Oh no, that''s just the first wave. This is an OSRS-styled game, remember?" James'' eye twitched. "What does that mean?"A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. She shrugged. "It means the last Cave Stalker you kill is probably gonna be a boss." James groaned. "Of course it is. Screw it. Let''s just get this over with."

Another Hour of Pain

James respawned six more times before he finally started getting it. And slowly... ever so painfully slowly... he started winning fights.
Cave Stalker slain!XP Gained: 55 Ranged XP, 10 Magic XP Cave Stalker slain!XP Gained: 55 Ranged XP, 10 Magic XP Cave Stalker slain!XP Gained: 55 Ranged XP, 10 Magic XP
James wiped sweat from his brow as another Cave Stalker collapsed in front of him. He was finally getting used to this. Then, from the shadows, he saw a pair of glowing red eyes watching him. Lyra immediately tensed. "James... I think you just triggered something." James froze. "Oh, come on¡ª"
BOSS FIGHT: THE BROODMOTHER The cavern rumbled as something massive crawled out of a deep tunnel. A towering monstrosity stepped forward¡ªeasily the size of a wagon, with twisted, spiny legs and pulsating egg sacs hanging from its bloated abdomen. Multiple eyes blinked in unsettling patterns, and black venom dripped from serrated fangs. Above its head, a red nameplate appeared: BROODMOTHER ¨C LVL ??? James paled. "Oh. Oh, that is so not Level 10." Lyra backpedaled. "Yeah. Uh. Good luck." James snapped his head toward her. "Wait, what do you mean good luck?" Lyra grinned. "You''re the one leveling Ranged and Magic, right? Have fun!" And then she vanished into the shadows. "YOU ABSOLUTE¡ª" James was cut off as the Broodmother shrieked, lunging at him.

Death Counter +10

James was bitten in half. James was impaled through the chest. James was trapped in sticky webbing and devoured. James fell into an underground pit filled with baby Cave Stalkers, who ripped him apart in seconds. James tried to run¡ªthe Broodmother spat acid on his legs and slowly crushed him. James tried to climb a rock¡ªthe Broodmother just climbed after him and ate him whole. James cried.

Actually Winning?

James respawned for the twentieth time. His morale was nonexistent. But each time, he learned a little more. On his next attempt, James dodged the opening web, rolled behind a rock, and fired an arrow into one of the egg sacs. BOOM. The Broodmother screeched as one of its legs exploded into green gore. James grinned through the pain. "Alright, you overgrown spider. Let''s dance."

Final Attempt

The battle was long. James had to kite the Broodmother around the cavern, dodging its attacks, firing at its weak points, and managing his stamina. After what felt like an eternity¡ªand with only one HP left¡ªJames fired one last arrow straight into the Broodmother¡¯s skull. The monster let out an ear-splitting shriek, collapsed, and twitched violently before finally going still.
BROODMOTHER SLAIN! XP Gained: 1,500 Ranged XP, 500 Magic XP LEVEL UP! RANGED LVL 5!LEVEL UP! MAGIC LVL 3!
James collapsed, breathing heavily. "Oh my god. It''s dead." Lyra reappeared, casually clapping. "That only took you, what? Twenty-one deaths?" James groaned. "Please. Just let me enjoy this moment." Lyra grinned. "Fair enough." Then James saw the loot drop glowing in front of him.

SUPER RARE DROP: SHADOW PIERCER

James stared at the item description. Lyra whistled. "Oh, wow. That''s insanely rare." James picked up the Shadow Piercer, feeling its weight. It was a sleek, black crossbow with eerie glowing engravings. James exhaled. "Okay. Maybe Ranged is kinda cool." Lyra smirked. "Feeling good about this quest now?" James gave her a deadpan look. "No. I feel like I died twenty-one times and lost a piece of my soul. But yeah, I guess this is a nice consolation prize." She laughed. "Come on, hero. Let''s get you out of here before something worse spawns." James didn''t argue. For once, he''d actually won. And for the first time, he felt like he was actually getting stronger.
His arms ached, his fingers were sore from drawing the bowstring, and his body still remembered the phantom pain of being torn apart over a dozen times. Lyra crouched beside him, resting her elbows on her knees. "So, what now?" James stared at his XP bar. He was still Level 1 in Ranged and Magic despite finally managing to kill one of those Cave Stalkers. 55 XP barely moved the bar. "...I have to do that nine more times to finish this quest?" Lyra smirked. "Oh no, that''s just the first wave. This is an OSRS-styled game, remember?" James'' eye twitched. "What does that mean?" She shrugged. "It means the last Cave Stalker you kill is probably gonna be a boss." James groaned. "Of course it is. Screw it. Let''s just get this over with."

Another Hour of Pain

James respawned six more times before he finally started getting it. And slowly... ever so painfully slowly... he started winning fights.
Cave Stalker slain!XP Gained: 55 Ranged XP, 10 Magic XP Cave Stalker slain!XP Gained: 55 Ranged XP, 10 Magic XP Cave Stalker slain!XP Gained: 55 Ranged XP, 10 Magic XP
James wiped sweat from his brow as another Cave Stalker collapsed in front of him. He was finally getting used to this. Then, from the shadows, he saw a pair of glowing red eyes watching him. Lyra immediately tensed. "James... I think you just triggered something." James froze. "Oh, come on¡ª"
BOSS FIGHT: THE BROODMOTHER The cavern rumbled as something massive crawled out of a deep tunnel. A towering monstrosity stepped forward¡ªeasily the size of a wagon, with twisted, spiny legs and pulsating egg sacs hanging from its bloated abdomen. Multiple eyes blinked in unsettling patterns, and black venom dripped from serrated fangs. Above its head, a red nameplate appeared: BROODMOTHER ¨C LVL ??? James paled. "Oh. Oh, that is so not Level 10." Lyra backpedaled. "Yeah. Uh. Good luck." James snapped his head toward her. "Wait, what do you mean good luck?" Lyra grinned. "You''re the one leveling Ranged and Magic, right? Have fun!" And then she vanished into the shadows. "YOU ABSOLUTE¡ª" James was cut off as the Broodmother shrieked, lunging at him.

Death Counter +10

James was bitten in half. James was impaled through the chest. James was trapped in sticky webbing and devoured. James fell into an underground pit filled with baby Cave Stalkers, who ripped him apart in seconds. James tried to run¡ªthe Broodmother spat acid on his legs and slowly crushed him. James tried to climb a rock¡ªthe Broodmother just climbed after him and ate him whole. James cried.

Actually Winning?

James respawned for the twentieth time. His morale was nonexistent. But each time, he learned a little more. On his next attempt, James dodged the opening web, rolled behind a rock, and fired an arrow into one of the egg sacs. BOOM. The Broodmother screeched as one of its legs exploded into green gore. James grinned through the pain. "Alright, you overgrown spider. Let''s dance."

Final Attempt

The battle was long. James had to kite the Broodmother around the cavern, dodging its attacks, firing at its weak points, and managing his stamina. After what felt like an eternity¡ªand with only one HP left¡ªJames fired one last arrow straight into the Broodmother¡¯s skull. The monster let out an ear-splitting shriek, collapsed, and twitched violently before finally going still.
BROODMOTHER SLAIN! XP Gained: 1,500 Ranged XP, 500 Magic XP LEVEL UP! RANGED LVL 5!LEVEL UP! MAGIC LVL 3!
James collapsed, breathing heavily. "Oh my god. It''s dead." Lyra reappeared, casually clapping. "That only took you, what? Twenty-one deaths?" James groaned. "Please. Just let me enjoy this moment." Lyra grinned. "Fair enough." Then James saw the loot drop glowing in front of him.

SUPER RARE DROP: SHADOW PIERCER

James stared at the item description. Lyra whistled. "Oh, wow. That''s insanely rare." James picked up the Shadow Piercer, feeling its weight. It was a sleek, black crossbow with eerie glowing engravings. James exhaled. "Okay. Maybe Ranged is kinda cool." Lyra smirked. "Feeling good about this quest now?" James gave her a deadpan look. "No. I feel like I died twenty-one times and lost a piece of my soul. But yeah, I guess this is a nice consolation prize." She laughed. "Come on, hero. Let''s get you out of here before something worse spawns." James didn''t argue. For once, he''d actually won. And for the first time, he felt like he was actually getting stronger.
Chapter 9: A Moment to Breathe James and Lyra trudged along the dirt road back to town, the early morning sun casting long shadows behind them. The air was crisp, and the distant hum of civilization grew louder with each step, but James barely noticed. His body felt heavy, like he was dragging a corpse behind him¡ªexcept the corpse was him. The last few days had been a relentless cycle of pain and death, and it was starting to wear him down. Lyra glanced at him. "You look like shit." James exhaled through his nose. "Feel like shit, too." She smirked. "Yeah, well, getting your head ripped off five times in a row will do that to you." James ran a hand down his face. "I think I need a break." Lyra raised an eyebrow. "A break? From what? Dying?" James sighed. "Pretty much. I mean, don¡¯t get me wrong, it¡¯s great fun getting my insides rearranged every few hours, but I¡¯d rather not lose my mind in the process." Lyra hummed. "Huh. That¡¯s fair. You have been racking up some of the worst deaths I¡¯ve seen in this game." James gave her a dry look. "Glad I¡¯m setting records." She grinned. "So, what? You wanna go fishing or something?" He shook his head. "I was thinking of checking out the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. See what it¡¯s all about." Lyra perked up. "Oh, now you¡¯re talking. The Guild¡¯s where everything happens¡ªquests, dungeons, bounties, all the good stuff." James nodded. "And hopefully, less horrific murder for a while." Lyra snorted. "We¡¯ll see about that." With that, they passed through the town gates, heading straight for the Guild Hall.
The Adventurer¡¯s Guild The Adventurer¡¯s Guild was bigger than James expected. The building was massive, a multi-story hall made of dark stone and thick wooden beams, covered in banners depicting various factions and symbols. Adventurers of all shapes and sizes came and went¡ªsome wearing shining armor, others in ragged cloaks, and a few looking like they had just crawled out of a grave (relatable). Inside, the air was filled with laughter, shouting, and the smell of alcohol. A large quest board dominated one side of the hall, while a bar and resting area took up the other. The walls were lined with trophy displays¡ªmonster heads, shattered weapons, and other grim reminders of hard-fought victories.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Lyra nudged James. "Welcome to the real starting zone." James glanced around. "This is the starting zone?" She shrugged. "Well, this is where real adventurers go. You can grind rats in the forest if you want, but the Guild is where you get actual quests." James walked further inside, taking it all in. This place felt alive. It wasn¡¯t just a game mechanic¡ªit was a core part of the world. Then he noticed a massive sign above the counter: LICENSED ADVENTURERS ONLY James frowned. "Uh. What does that mean?" Lyra followed his gaze. "Oh, yeah. You need a license to take on official Guild jobs." James blinked. "A license? What, like a fishing permit?" Lyra snorted. "More like a death waiver. The Guild doesn''t just let random idiots sign up for dangerous quests. You need an Adventurer¡¯s License or a Hunter¡¯s License to take jobs." James sighed. "Alright. How do we get one?" Lyra grinned. "We take a test." James narrowed his eyes. "And what does that involve?" Lyra shrugged. "Depends. Could be a combat trial, a puzzle, a survival challenge¡­ or some kind of bullshit death gauntlet." James groaned. "Why is it always a death gauntlet?" "Because this world hates you, James."
Choosing a Path At the registration counter, a bored-looking receptionist eyed them from behind a stack of paperwork. "You here for a license?" she asked. James nodded. "Yeah. What are the options?" The receptionist lazily pulled out a small booklet and slid it across the counter. "Two main types." James picked up the booklet and read: James tapped the booklet. "So one is more about quests and discovery, and the other is just killing things?" The receptionist shrugged. "That¡¯s the short version, yeah. Most people specialize in one or the other, but the more experienced adventurers get both. Gives you more job opportunities." James raised an eyebrow. "So I can apply for both?" She nodded. "Yep. But you¡¯ll have to pass two separate tests to get them." James glanced at Lyra. "Which one do you have?" Lyra smirked. "Hunter¡¯s. Obviously." James sighed. "Of course you do." She grinned. "You should probably start with the Adventurer¡¯s License first. Might be less deadly than jumping straight into monster hunting." James considered it. Having both licenses sounded like the smart move in the long run, but he needed to pass at least one first. Turning back to the receptionist, he nodded. "Alright. I¡¯ll go for the Adventurer¡¯s License first." "Good choice," she said, stamping some forms and handing him a small medallion. "Head through that door for your evaluation." James frowned. "And if I fail?" The receptionist smirked. "Then you can try again." James didn''t like how ominous that sounded. Lyra slapped him on the back. "Go on, then! Let¡¯s see what kind of hell they throw at you!" James groaned but stepped forward. He had no idea what was waiting for him in that room. But at least it wasn¡¯t more cave spiders. Probably. Chapter 10: The Trial of the Mind James stepped through the door into darkness. The moment it shut behind him, the world shifted. His body felt light, his senses dulled, and a strange warmth settled over him¡ªlike slipping into a dream. A voice echoed around him, deep and smooth. "To become an adventurer is to face the unknown. To step beyond fear and doubt. But first¡­ you must face yourself." James¡¯s stomach twisted. "Oh, great. That sounds ominous." The darkness rippled, and suddenly¡ª He was somewhere else.
A Memory, or a Nightmare? James blinked, feeling the sudden weight of reality pressing down on him. He stood in a cramped apartment, the air thick with the scent of stale coffee, unwashed laundry, and something vaguely burnt. The glow of a computer screen cast flickering shadows against the walls, illuminating the cluttered desk in front of him. He knew this place. His old home. A lump formed in his throat. The world outside the window was frozen, cars stopped mid-motion, streetlights locked in an eternal red. Time had no meaning here. James took a slow breath and turned toward the desk. His old PC hummed softly, the screen displaying a familiar sight: a game menu, character creation, his cursor hovering over the "confirm" button. It was the night he left everything behind. A soft beep caught his attention. He turned. His phone sat on the desk, a single notification glowing on the screen. James swallowed hard, stepping closer. He already knew what it said.
Missed Call: Mom
His grip tightened. The screen flickered, and suddenly¡ª BANG. The room shook, the shadows stretching unnaturally. His phone cracked, and new words appeared.
You ran away.
James took a step back, his heart pounding. "No. This isn¡¯t real." The voice returned, calm but unwavering. "An adventurer must have resolve. Must face the past, not run from it. Will you stand, or will you flee once more?"
Fragments of the Past The apartment shattered, dissolving into scattered pieces of memory. James now stood in a hospital room, the steady beeping of a heart monitor filling the silence. The dim fluorescent light buzzed overhead. A frail woman lay in the hospital bed, tubes and wires hooked up to her arms. Her breathing was slow, labored. His mother. James felt a cold weight settle in his chest. He knew this moment.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. He watched himself¡ªhis past self¡ªstanding at the doorway, clutching his phone. Hesitating. She turned her head slightly, a tired but warm smile on her lips. ¡°Jamie¡­ you came.¡± James clenched his fists. No. He hadn¡¯t. This wasn¡¯t real. This was the day he didn¡¯t show up. The voice whispered around him. "Regret does not fade with time. It festers. Do you understand now?" James¡¯s breathing grew unsteady. The memory twisted. The hospital walls darkened, the machines distorted into grotesque shapes. The beeping of the monitor sped up, turning into a frantic, deafening pulse. His mother¡¯s face withered, eyes turning hollow. "Jamie¡­" Her voice cracked, her frail fingers reaching for him¡ª James stumbled back. "I¡ª I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª" Darkness rushed in, swallowing everything.
The Trial Begins James gasped as he fell into an endless void, weightless, lost. But he wasn¡¯t alone. A figure emerged from the darkness. At first, it was just a shadow¡ªbut then it took shape. James stared at himself. But it wasn¡¯t just a mirror image. This version of him had dull, lifeless eyes. His skin was pale, almost sickly. He wore the same clothes from the night he disappeared into gaming, into escapism. His other self tilted his head. "You really think running away changed anything?" James¡¯s throat tightened. His doppelg?nger took a step forward, shadows twisting around him. "You left everything behind." The voice was cold. Empty. James¡¯s fists clenched. "That¡¯s not¡ª" "You abandoned them." James gritted his teeth. "Shut up." His other self smirked. "Or what?" Suddenly, he moved. Fast. James barely dodged as a blade materialized in the shadow¡¯s hand, slashing through the air where his head had been a moment ago. James¡¯s cursed sword flashed into existence, its eerie black steel humming with power. "Oh, great," James muttered. "Of course, this had to end in a fight." His shadow self lunged.
A Battle Against Himself The first strike sent James skidding backward, his arms screaming from the impact. His other self was faster, stronger, moving like something inhuman. Every swing of his blade carried weight, forcing James to dodge rather than block. "This is unfair!" James shouted, barely rolling out of the way of a downward strike that cracked the ground beneath him. His doppelg?nger laughed. "Life isn¡¯t fair, Jamie. You should know that by now." James barely had a moment to react before his shadow self closed the distance again. A kick to the ribs sent James flying, crashing into an unseen force. Pain exploded through his body. He rolled, barely getting his sword up in time to block another brutal overhead slash. Sparks flew as steel met steel. James gritted his teeth. This wasn¡¯t just a fight. This was punishment. His past was beating him down. "I¡¯m not that person anymore!" James roared, shoving back against the blade. His shadow self grinned. "Then prove it." Dark tendrils lashed out, wrapping around James¡¯s limbs. He fought against them, but they dragged him down, constricting tighter and tighter. His doppelg?nger loomed over him. "You don¡¯t deserve a second chance." James felt rage bubble up inside him. He wasn¡¯t going to let this thing¡ªthis version of himself¡ªdecide his fate. With a guttural shout, he forced his sword forward, slamming it through the tendrils and breaking free. His other self staggered back, eyes widening slightly. James pushed forward, swinging his blade with everything he had. Their swords clashed again¡ªthis time, James didn¡¯t back down. He met every strike, fighting harder, pushing through the pain. One cut across his arm. Another across his side. But he kept going. He wasn¡¯t running anymore. His doppelg?nger faltered, his movements growing slower. James saw the opening¡ªand took it. With a final, powerful slash, his sword pierced through his other self¡¯s chest. His shadow self let out a shuddering breath, staring at him. For the first time, his expression softened. "Then prove it." And with that, he vanished.
A New Beginning James collapsed onto solid ground, his breaths ragged. When he opened his eyes, he was back in the Guild¡¯s testing chamber. The receptionist stood over him, looking mildly impressed. ¡°Well, you survived. That¡¯s a good start.¡± James groaned, rubbing his temple. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± ¡°Your trial.¡± She held out a small, engraved Adventurer¡¯s License. ¡°And you passed.¡± James took it, his hands still shaking slightly. Lyra stood close by, grinning. ¡°Took you long enough.¡± James exhaled, staring at the license in his hands. A new beginning. A fresh start. Chapter 11: Drinking and Decisions James exhaled, turning the small Adventurer¡¯s License over in his hands. The metal card was engraved with his name, a simple but defining mark of his newfound status. It should¡¯ve felt good¡ªlike an achievement¡ªbut the weight in his chest lingered. Lyra nudged him with her elbow. ¡°Come on. You look like someone just ran you through with a spear. Let¡¯s go grab a drink. First round¡¯s on me.¡± James raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re paying? What¡¯s the catch?¡± She grinned. ¡°You have to drink until you stop looking like a moody bastard.¡± James sighed. ¡°That¡­ might take a while.¡±
The Adventurer¡¯s Pub The Adventurer¡¯s Guild pub was lively, filled with chatter, laughter, and the occasional roar of a drunk mercenary boasting about his latest kill. A heavy, smoky scent filled the air, mingling with the aroma of roasted meat and spilled ale. James and Lyra found a table near the back, away from the loudest of the bunch. A tired-looking waitress dropped off two tankards of ale, barely acknowledging them before moving on. James stared at his drink for a moment, then sighed and took a long swig. The bitterness burned down his throat, but at least it was real. Lyra watched him. ¡°Alright. Spill. What the hell happened in there?¡± James exhaled through his nose. ¡°You ever feel like a game is specifically designed to mess with you?¡± Lyra smirked. ¡°All the time. But that trial wrecked you worse than most.¡± She tilted her head. ¡°Was it combat? Some kind of boss fight?¡± James hesitated. ¡°Sort of. It was¡­¡± He set his drink down, struggling to put it into words. ¡°It was like a dream, but not. I got pulled into my own memories, had to face¡ª¡± He shook his head. ¡°Myself. My past.¡± Lyra frowned, leaning forward. ¡°Wait. Like, your real past? Outside of the game?¡± James nodded slowly. ¡°Yeah.¡± She took a sip of her drink, clearly processing that. ¡°That¡¯s messed up.¡± James chuckled dryly. ¡°Yeah, no kidding.¡± He told her about the hospital memory, his shadow self, and the fight¡ªhow it felt more like being punished than tested. Lyra didn¡¯t interrupt, just listening as he spoke. When he finally finished, she leaned back and whistled. ¡°Damn. That¡¯s some psychological nightmare fuel.¡± James looked at her. ¡°What about yours?¡± Lyra took another sip of ale. ¡°Nothing like that. Mine was just a combat test¡ªsome arena fight against a bunch of tough monsters. There was strategy involved, and it was brutal, but it wasn¡¯t¡­ personal.¡± James narrowed his eyes. ¡°So why the hell was mine like that?¡± Lyra shrugged. ¡°No clue. But if the test is supposed to measure what kind of adventurer you are, maybe it dug deeper because you¡¯re¡­¡± James raised an eyebrow. ¡°Because I¡¯m what?¡± She smirked. ¡°Completely messed up.¡± James groaned. ¡°Thanks. That¡¯s helpful.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Lyra laughed. ¡°I mean, come on. Everyone in this game dies over and over, but you? You die horribly, get your soul crushed, and somehow keep going. Maybe the test saw that and decided to hit you where it really hurt.¡± James sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°Yeah. Well. I passed. So I guess I¡¯m officially an adventurer now.¡± Lyra raised her drink. ¡°To horrifying trials and bad decisions.¡± James clinked his tankard against hers. ¡°I¡¯ll drink to that.¡±
The Past They Left Behind For a while, they just drank. The noise of the pub filled the space between them, but there was an unspoken understanding lingering in the air¡ªlike they¡¯d both been through too much to just move on without thinking about it. Eventually, Lyra broke the silence. ¡°So, what was your life like before all this?¡± James hesitated, swirling his drink. ¡°You ever feel like the real world was just¡­ a game you couldn¡¯t win?¡± Lyra snorted. ¡°All the time.¡± James sighed. ¡°I was a dropout. College. Barely lasted a year. Spent most of my time playing games instead of dealing with real-life crap. One day, I just¡­ didn¡¯t log out.¡± Lyra raised an eyebrow. ¡°Wait. You mean, like, at all?¡± James shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t remember the last thing I did before waking up in this world. Just that I had nothing going for me. My parents were pissed, my friends moved on, and I just¡­ I let everything slip away.¡± Lyra studied him for a moment, then leaned back in her chair. ¡°Huh.¡± James frowned. ¡°What?¡± She smirked. ¡°I was expecting something more dramatic. Like, ¡®I was a secret government experiment¡¯ or ¡®I was an elite gamer chosen for a mysterious mission.¡¯¡± James rolled his eyes. ¡°Nope. Just a loser who played too many games.¡± Lyra took another sip of ale. ¡°Could be worse. At least you were honest about it.¡± James tilted his head. ¡°And you? What¡¯s your story?¡± Lyra exhaled, tapping her fingers against the table. ¡°I was¡­ a nobody, really. Grew up bouncing between foster homes. Got good at running away, surviving on my own. Eventually, I figured out how to game the system¡ªliterally. Pick-pocketing, hacking, gambling, whatever I needed to make it through.¡± James blinked. ¡°You were a criminal?¡± She smirked. ¡°I prefer ¡®self-employed problem solver.¡¯¡± James chuckled. ¡°Right.¡± Lyra shrugged. ¡°Anyway, when I got here, I figured, ¡®What¡¯s the difference?¡¯ It¡¯s just another world with its own set of rules. Only this time, instead of sneaking past security cameras, I¡¯m stabbing goblins in the face.¡± James watched her, trying to piece together the kind of life she must have had before this. ¡°You miss it? The real world?¡± Lyra hesitated. ¡°Not really. But¡­ I do wonder sometimes. What happened to my body? Is it still out there somewhere, hooked up to some machine? Or did I just¡­ disappear?¡± James felt a shiver run down his spine. He¡¯d never thought about that before. What if they were dead in the real world? What if this was all that was left? He shook his head. ¡°No point thinking about it. We¡¯re here now.¡± Lyra smirked. ¡°See? That¡¯s the spirit.¡± James chuckled, but something about the conversation lingered in his mind.
The Adventurer¡¯s Board After a few more drinks, James and Lyra made their way to the adventurer boards, where quests, bounties, and team postings were pinned in chaotic clusters. James scanned the listings, rubbing his chin. ¡°So, what now? We just pick a job and go?¡± Lyra hummed. ¡°Could do that. But if we want better jobs and higher rewards, we need a team.¡± James frowned. ¡°Can¡¯t we just be a duo?¡± Lyra pointed to a section of the board labeled TEAM RECRUITMENT. ¡°Look at this.¡± James followed her gaze. The best quests weren¡¯t solo-friendly. They required teams¡ªgroups with specialized skills. There were listings from guilds, mercenary companies, and independent adventurers looking for partners. One in particular caught his eye:
SEEKING NEW RECRUITS Experienced adventurers only. Strong survival skills required. No cowards. No dead weight.Looking for fighters, healers, and strategists.If you die too easily, don¡¯t bother applying.
James raised an eyebrow. ¡°That last line feels personal.¡± Lyra grinned. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re not the only ones who think this game is bullshit.¡± James kept scanning. There were guilds that specialized in monster hunting, treasure-seeking groups, and even a few rogue bands that seemed more like thieves than adventurers. Lyra tapped a different listing.
LOOKING FOR A PARTY Group of three looking for a fourth. Must be versatile and adaptable. We take on high-risk, high-reward quests. If you¡¯re interested, meet us at the Rusty Blade Tavern.
James crossed his arms. ¡°Think we should check some of these out?¡± Lyra stretched. ¡°Might be worth it. Better than dying alone.¡± James nodded, staring at the board a little longer. For the first time since he entered this world, things felt less chaotic¡ªlike he finally had options. Of course, knowing this game¡­ That wouldn¡¯t last long.
Chapter 12: Strength in Numbers James leaned against the Adventurer¡¯s Guild¡¯s quest board, arms crossed as he scanned the various names and listings. Teams looking for extra members, lone adventurers searching for parties, some veteran squads outright advertising newbie-friendly groups¡ªthough James had started to suspect newbie-friendly actually meant human meat shield wanted. Lyra stood beside him, flipping through a parchment with a raised eyebrow. ¡°You seeing anything that doesn¡¯t scream ¡®we will absolutely use you as a disposable distraction¡¯?¡± James grunted. ¡°Not really. There¡¯s one over here just titled ¡®DPS Wanted, No Crybabies.¡¯¡± He tapped the posting. ¡°Which, given this game¡¯s track record, probably means ¡®please be okay with losing your limbs on a regular basis.¡¯¡± ¡°Pass.¡± Lyra scrunched up her nose. ¡°I like my limbs where they are.¡± A voice cut in from behind them. ¡°Oh, you guys still have your limbs? Good sign.¡± James turned to see a woman with a confident smirk leaning on the back of a nearby chair. She had short, dark red hair, a couple of small scars across her jawline, and a relaxed stance that suggested she had seen some shit and lived to joke about it. She wore a mix of light and medium armor, leather vambraces, and a curved saber at her side. ¡°Sorry, were you waiting for someone to lose an arm before saying hi?¡± James asked. ¡°Would¡¯ve been a good icebreaker,¡± she shot back. ¡°Name¡¯s Riona. You two looking for a team or just browsing the ¡®missing persons¡¯ wall?¡± Lyra raised an eyebrow. ¡°Missing persons?¡± ¡°Half of these teams are probably dead already.¡± James sighed. ¡°That checks out.¡± Another voice piped up, this one more playful. ¡°Come on, Ri, don¡¯t scare off the new recruits before we even talk to them.¡± A second woman strolled up, this one with dark blue hair tied into a loose ponytail and a bow slung across her back. She gave James and Lyra an easygoing grin. ¡°I¡¯m Lillian. The big guy over there pretending he¡¯s not eavesdropping is Garrick.¡± This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. At a nearby table, a broad-shouldered man with messy brown hair and a thick beard gave a small wave before taking another bite of his food. He was wearing chainmail over basic padded armor and had a massive axe resting against his chair. ¡°Not eavesdropping,¡± he said between chews. ¡°Just making sure you two aren¡¯t complete dumbasses before we invite you in.¡± James snorted. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re gonna be very disappointed.¡± Lillian clapped her hands together. ¡°Great! A healthy level of self-awareness. You¡¯ll fit right in.¡± Lyra smirked. ¡°And what makes you think we¡¯d want to join you?¡± Riona grinned. ¡°Because, unlike most teams, we don¡¯t have a habit of immediately feeding new members to the nearest death trap.¡± James raised an eyebrow. ¡°That sounds suspiciously like exactly what someone who does feed new members to death traps would say.¡± Lillian laughed. ¡°Damn, he¡¯s onto us.¡± Garrick motioned toward the empty chairs at their table. ¡°If you want, sit down, grab a drink. We¡¯ll talk shop. You¡¯re new, but you don¡¯t look completely useless.¡± James exchanged a glance with Lyra. She shrugged, and they both sat.
The next hour was filled with introductions, sarcastic jabs, and war stories that left James unsure if he was making new friends or signing up for yet another terrible idea. Riona liked close combat but didn¡¯t rely on just one weapon. ¡°I swap between swords, spears, and daggers depending on what I need,¡± she explained. ¡°Focusing on just one style in this game is a death sentence.¡± Lillian mostly used ranged weapons, but she wasn¡¯t locked into it. ¡°Bows are great, but some fights call for a backup plan. I keep a shortsword and a throwing knife set for when things get dicey.¡± Garrick was built for survivability. ¡°I take the hits,¡± he said simply. ¡°Axe, shield, two-hander, doesn¡¯t matter. I wear the heaviest armor I can and make sure I¡¯m the last one standing.¡± James nodded. ¡°Relatable.¡± Garrick chuckled. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯ve had a rough go of it.¡± James exhaled. ¡°You have no idea.¡± Lyra leaned back. ¡°So, what¡¯s your usual gig? Dungeons? Escort missions? Bounty hunting?¡± Riona shrugged. ¡°Bit of everything. We don¡¯t take the suicidal jobs¡ª¡± ¡°Debatable,¡± Lillian interjected. ¡°¡ªbut we do well enough to keep our heads attached,¡± Riona finished. James considered that. ¡°And you¡¯re looking for extra hands?¡± Garrick nodded. ¡°We lost a guy a while back.¡± James hesitated. ¡°Dead?¡± ¡°Worse,¡± Lillian said. ¡°Logged out.¡± There was a beat of silence. Riona sighed. ¡°Bastard got lucky and found a logout method. Took off without a second thought.¡± James frowned. That was¡­ interesting. Lyra tapped her fingers on the table. ¡°So, what would you need from us?¡± Riona smirked. ¡°Not dying would be a good start.¡± James snorted. ¡°Tall order.¡± Lillian leaned forward. ¡°We¡¯ve got a job lined up. Something manageable. We take you two along, see how you handle yourselves. If we don¡¯t hate you by the end of it, we make it official.¡± James exchanged another glance with Lyra. She gave a small nod. He turned back to the group. ¡°Sounds like a plan.¡± Riona grinned. ¡°Welcome aboard.¡±
Chapter 13: Trial by Fire James adjusted his grip on his cursed sword as he followed his newly assembled party through the winding forest trail. The sun had started to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows through the trees. ¡°So,¡± he said, breaking the silence, ¡°what exactly is this manageable job we¡¯re doing?¡± Riona smirked over her shoulder. ¡°Monster extermination. Just a small infestation.¡± Lillian let out a laugh. ¡°You make it sound like we¡¯re calling an exterminator to deal with a rat problem. It¡¯s a bit worse than that.¡± Garrick, ever the straightforward one, grunted. ¡°Goblins.¡± James raised an eyebrow. ¡°Goblins?¡± Lyra huffed. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me they¡¯re actually dangerous.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not usually,¡± Riona said, hopping over a fallen log, ¡°but these ones are¡­ different. Smarter. Stronger. Meaner. Something¡¯s making them act weird, and the nearby villages want them gone before they turn into a real problem.¡± James exhaled. ¡°Right. So we¡¯re exterminators now.¡± Lillian grinned. ¡°Welcome to guild life. If it pays, we do it.¡± James glanced at Lyra, who shrugged. ¡°Better than getting robbed again.¡± By the time they reached the outskirts of the goblin-infested cave, the sun had fully set. The mouth of the cave was wide and dark, with the scent of damp earth and something¡­ foul wafting from within. The ground outside was littered with crude weapons, broken bones, and the occasional rusted helmet that looked like it had been chewed on. Garrick stepped forward, gripping his axe. ¡°Standard formation. I take point, Riona flanks, Lillian provides cover, and you two¡ª¡± He motioned to James and Lyra. ¡°¡ªdon¡¯t die.¡± James sighed. ¡°Great. My specialty.¡± They moved inside carefully, the only light coming from dimly glowing mushrooms lining the walls. The deeper they went, the more obvious it became that this wasn¡¯t a normal goblin den. The tunnels were lined with makeshift barricades, and further in, flickering torchlight revealed crude carvings on the walls¡ªjagged, chaotic symbols that sent a chill up James¡¯s spine. Riona frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t like this.¡± Garrick nodded. ¡°They¡¯re organizing.¡± Before James could ask what that meant, a guttural screech rang out from deeper in the cave. Moments later, goblins came pouring out of the tunnels. They weren¡¯t the small, feeble creatures James had expected. These ones had jagged, yellowed teeth, eyes that gleamed with intelligence, and bodies covered in strange, dark markings. And they were fast. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Shit!¡± James barely had time to react before the first goblin lunged at him with a rusted dagger. He swung his cursed sword, cleaving through the creature in a single strike¡ªbut another was already at his side, claws slashing at his arm. Blood splattered across the cave floor. Lyra ducked under a goblin¡¯s wild swing and drove her dagger into its ribs. ¡°We¡¯ve fought worse than this!¡± Riona spun past an attacker, slashing through its throat with expert precision. ¡°Yeah, but they just keep coming!¡± Lillian loosed an arrow, nailing a goblin in the eye before drawing a throwing knife and launching it into another¡¯s skull. ¡°There¡¯s way more than the reports said!¡± Garrick roared, swinging his axe in a wide arc, carving through three goblins at once. ¡°Hold the damn line!¡± The fight turned into a blur of blood and chaos. Goblins swarmed from every direction, forcing James and the others into a tight defensive formation. Every time they cut one down, two more seemed to take its place. James gritted his teeth as another blade tore through his side. Pain flared, but he ignored it. His cursed sword pulsed in his hands, almost as if urging him forward. He didn¡¯t have time to think about it¡ªhe just kept swinging. More goblins fell. More blood painted the cave walls. +450 Attack XP And then¡ªsilence. James was breathing hard, his body covered in cuts and bruises. Around him, goblin corpses lay in heaps. Lyra wiped blood off her cheek, looking as exhausted as he felt. Garrick surveyed the carnage. ¡°That¡¯s way too many for a normal goblin nest.¡± Riona frowned, kicking over one of the goblin bodies. ¡°Something¡¯s off.¡± Lillian crouched by one of the corpses, tracing a finger over the dark markings on its skin. ¡°These symbols¡­ I¡¯ve seen something like this before. This isn¡¯t just random. Something¡¯s influencing them.¡± James glanced deeper into the cave. The tunnels stretched further in, disappearing into darkness. ¡°So we keep going?¡± Garrick grunted. ¡°We need to find out what¡¯s behind this.¡± Lyra sighed. ¡°Of course we do.¡± They pressed deeper. The air grew heavier, and a faint, rhythmic chanting echoed through the tunnels. James¡¯s stomach twisted. ¡°That can¡¯t be good,¡± he muttered. They stepped into a wide chamber, and at its center, a massive goblin, nearly twice the size of the others, stood before an altar. The dark symbols from earlier were etched across its skin, glowing with a sickly green light. James barely had time to react before the goblin chieftain turned its gaze toward them¡ªand roared. The fight was instant. The chieftain charged, swinging a massive stone club. James barely rolled aside as the weapon crashed into the ground, sending cracks through the stone. ¡°Shit! Big guy¡¯s fast!¡± James shouted. Lillian fired an arrow at its head¡ªonly for the goblin to swat it away mid-air. Riona cursed. ¡°It¡¯s enhanced somehow!¡± James lunged forward, slashing at its leg. His cursed sword bit deep¡ªbut the goblin barely reacted. Then, suddenly, its markings flared. A wave of dizziness slammed into him. ¡°Mind magic?!¡± Lyra shouted. The goblin swung¡ªJames was too slow. The club connected with his ribs. Pain exploded through him, and he was airborne before crashing into the ground, gasping for breath. Garrick bellowed, clashing with the chieftain. Riona slashed at its back, but the creature barely reacted. ¡°James, get up!¡± Lyra shouted. He coughed, struggling to push himself to his feet. His cursed sword pulsed, as if demanding action. James gritted his teeth. ¡°Fine.¡± He lunged forward. This time, he ducked under the club, using the momentum to slide past the creature. He slashed upward, carving into its side. The goblin screeched¡ªbut staggered. ¡°We can hurt it!¡± James yelled. Riona took the chance, flipping over its shoulder and driving both her daggers into its neck. The goblin gurgled, stumbling¡ªright into Garrick¡¯s waiting axe. With a final roar, the chieftain collapsed. +850 Attack XP The cavern fell silent. James exhaled. ¡°Okay. That was¡­ unpleasant.¡± Lillian knelt by the altar, frowning. ¡°We need to report this. Something¡¯s manipulating these goblins.¡± Garrick nodded. ¡°Agreed. But first¡ª¡± He gestured to a chest at the back of the chamber. James grinned, stepping forward. ¡°Now we¡¯re talking.¡± Whatever was in there¡ªit had better be worth it. Chapter 14: Marked by Shadows James stared at the chest in front of them, sweat still dripping from his brow after the brutal battle. The goblin chieftain''s corpse lay motionless nearby, its strange glowing symbols now dull and lifeless. He took a deep breath, steadying himself before stepping forward. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see what this was all for,¡± he muttered, pushing the heavy wooden lid open. Inside, the chest held several items, each glowing with a faint shimmer¡ªthe unmistakable sign of personal loot distribution. James had seen this kind of thing before in MMOs. Instead of dividing loot randomly, each party member got their own share. ¡°Looks like we each get something,¡± Lillian said, reaching in first. She pulled out a sleek, black longbow with glowing silver runes etched into the limbs. The moment she touched it, the runes flared to life. ¡°Ooooh,¡± she breathed, running her fingers over the carvings. ¡°Definitely an upgrade. Looks like it might have some kind of piercing effect too.¡± Riona reached in next and pulled out a pair of twin daggers. Unlike her current set, these seemed almost liquid in form, shifting slightly as she held them. ¡°Adaptive metal,¡± she said with a grin. ¡°Means they¡¯ll adjust based on my fighting style. Damn, I love when the system actually rewards effort.¡± Garrick grabbed a massive greataxe, its edges crackling faintly with energy. He tested its weight before nodding in approval. ¡°Good balance,¡± he said. ¡°Better reach than my last one.¡± Lyra¡¯s loot was a simple-looking amulet, but when she put it on, her body flickered for a second before stabilizing. ¡°Huh,¡± she said, frowning. ¡°I think this is some kind of evasive enchantment. Might make dodging easier.¡± Then it was James¡¯s turn. He hesitated before reaching inside. The moment his fingers brushed against his loot, the room dimmed. The item wasn¡¯t a weapon or a piece of armor. Instead, it was an amorphous, shifting mass of shadows, coiling and twisting like living ink. The second he touched it, tendrils of darkness lashed out, wrapping around his arm and sinking into his skin. Pain shot through him¡ªnot the sharp sting of a wound, but a deep, searing burn that felt like it was rewriting something inside him. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°James?¡± Lyra¡¯s voice was distant, like she was speaking from the other end of a long tunnel. His vision blurred, and then¡ª Darkness. A swirling void stretched before him. Faint whispers echoed around him, unintelligible but unmistakably real. His skin burned as the shadows slithered across his arms, forming intricate patterns¡ªsymbols he didn¡¯t recognize but instinctively understood. He gasped as knowledge poured into his mind. Necromancy. A spellbook, not in the traditional sense, but carved directly onto his body. He could feel it¡ªan entire skillset written into his very being, waiting to be unlocked. Then, as quickly as it came, the vision faded. James stumbled back, sucking in a breath. The pain was gone, but the marks remained¡ªjagged, black tattoos running from his fingertips to his shoulders, shifting slightly if he looked too long. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Lyra asked, eyes wide. James flexed his fingers, feeling a strange, lingering energy beneath his skin. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. But I think I just got a spellbook tattooed onto my body.¡± Lillian whistled. ¡°Damn. That¡¯s new.¡± ¡°Necromantic in nature,¡± Riona observed, leaning in. ¡°You feel any different?¡± James hesitated. ¡°I¡ª¡± A sudden chill ran down his spine. Shadows near his feet stirred unnaturally. Then, without meaning to, he pulled. The darkness twisted, forming a vague humanoid shape beside him¡ªa featureless, wraith-like figure made of shifting black mist. It lingered for a moment before dispersing like smoke. Everyone took a step back. ¡°Okay, that was creepy,¡± Garrick grunted. James exhaled slowly. ¡°Yeah. I think I need to figure out what this does¡­ preferably somewhere that isn¡¯t a goblin-infested cave.¡± Lyra nodded. ¡°Agreed. Let¡¯s get the hell out of here.¡±
The Journey Back The walk back to town was quieter than expected. The usual post-battle banter was there, but there was an undercurrent of tension, mostly directed at James¡¯s new ability. Lyra nudged him as they walked. ¡°So¡­ you gonna explain what the hell that was?¡± James ran a hand over the tattoos. They were cold to the touch, like ink that never fully settled. ¡°I think it¡¯s a necromancy-based spell system. Instead of a book or a menu, the spells are marked on my skin.¡± ¡°Sounds cursed,¡± Lillian said. ¡°Probably,¡± James admitted. Garrick grunted. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t raise me from the dead, I don¡¯t care what magic you use.¡± James chuckled. ¡°No promises.¡± Riona shot him a side glance. ¡°You feel any different?¡± James thought about it. He did feel¡­ something. A strange awareness, like a second set of instincts lurking just below the surface. He hadn¡¯t cast any real necromantic spells yet, but he knew that if he tried, the knowledge was there. ¡°Not really,¡± he said. ¡°But I feel like I could do something if I focused.¡± Lyra sighed. ¡°Great. That¡¯s not ominous at all.¡± They reached the outskirts of town just as the sun started to rise. The familiar sight of the marketplace and the Adventurer¡¯s Guild brought a sense of normalcy¡ªuntil James caught his reflection in a shop window. For a second, just a fraction of a second, his eyes weren¡¯t his own. They were black. Entirely black. Then he blinked, and they were normal again. He swallowed hard. Yeah. He definitely needed to figure out what the hell was happening to him. And fast. Chapter 15: Whispers in the Void James stifled a yawn as he and Lyra pushed through the doors of the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. The warm glow of torchlight and the low hum of conversation wrapped around them like a blanket, offering a small respite from the exhausting battle they had barely survived. Garrick, Riona, and Lillian were already at the quest desk, speaking with a tired-looking guild official who was jotting notes onto a parchment. The scent of ale, roasted meat, and damp leather filled the air, making James realize how hungry he was. ¡°Here to report in?¡± the guild official asked without looking up. ¡°Yeah,¡± James muttered, running a hand through his messy hair. ¡°Goblin nest¡¯s been dealt with.¡± Riona leaned against the counter, flipping a dagger between her fingers. ¡°More like ¡®corrupted goblin nest.¡¯ You¡¯ll want to send someone to investigate. Something was making them stronger¡ªsmarter.¡± The official finally looked up, interest piqued. ¡°Corruption? Any leads?¡± Lillian crossed her arms. ¡°There were markings all over the goblins¡¯ bodies. Looked magical. The chieftain was a monster¡ªalmost took us apart.¡± The official frowned, scribbling something down. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure the higher-ups hear about this. Your reward¡ª¡± He reached under the desk, producing a heavy coin pouch. ¡°¡ªfor a job well done.¡± Garrick took it and split the coins evenly between them. ¡°That¡¯s that.¡± He stretched, cracking his neck. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you lot, but I need a drink.¡± James and Lyra exchanged a glance before nodding. ¡°We¡¯re in,¡± James said. The group made their way to the guild¡¯s pub, a lively place packed with adventurers celebrating victories, drowning sorrows, or both. They found an empty table near the back, and soon, a round of drinks was placed in front of them. James took a deep sip of his ale, the cool bitterness washing away some of his exhaustion. He exhaled, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease just slightly. ¡°So,¡± Riona said, resting her chin on her hand. ¡°Since we¡¯ll be working together for a while, how about we get to know each other better?¡± Lillian smirked. ¡°You just want an excuse to gossip.¡± Riona grinned. ¡°Maybe.¡± Garrick took a long drink before setting his mug down. ¡°James, Lyra¡ªwhat¡¯s your story?¡± James hesitated. He wasn¡¯t sure how much he wanted to share, but after everything they¡¯d just been through, he figured a little honesty wouldn¡¯t hurt. ¡°Well,¡± he started, swirling his drink. ¡°I got into this game to escape reality. Ended up stuck here. The usual tragic backstory, I guess.¡± Lyra snorted. ¡°You make it sound boring.¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. James rolled his eyes. ¡°Fine. I was a bit of a mess before this. Spent way too much time playing games, avoiding life. Then¡­ I woke up here.¡± The table fell silent for a moment. Lillian took a sip of her drink, studying him. ¡°And now?¡± James exhaled. ¡°Now, I¡¯m just trying to survive.¡± Lyra leaned back. ¡°I was in a similar boat. Real life wasn¡¯t exactly kind to me, so I figured why not lose myself in a game? Turns out, the game had other plans.¡± Riona hummed. ¡°Guess we all have our reasons for being here.¡± The conversation drifted into lighter topics after that¡ªpast adventures, near-death experiences, and the occasional joke at each other¡¯s expense. But eventually, exhaustion won out. James and Lyra said their goodbyes and headed out into the streets. The town was quieter now, the streets lit only by lanterns and the pale glow of the moon. ¡°Finally,¡± Lyra muttered. ¡°Sleep.¡± They found an inn and paid for a single room with two beds. It wasn¡¯t much¡ªjust a wooden floor, a small table, and beds that looked like they had seen better days¡ªbut at this point, anything was better than nothing. James sat on his bed, pulling off his boots. His muscles ached, his mind was clouded with exhaustion, but despite everything, he couldn¡¯t shake an odd feeling crawling up his spine. Lyra flopped onto her bed. ¡°You good?¡± James hesitated. ¡°Yeah. Just¡­ tired.¡± She grunted in response, already half-asleep. James lay down, staring at the ceiling. He exhaled, letting sleep pull him under.
The world twisted. Darkness swallowed everything, stretching infinitely in all directions. It wasn¡¯t just dark¡ªit was absolute nothingness, a void that seemed to press against his skin. James turned, but there was no ground beneath him. No sky. Just endless shadow. Then, a whisper. Low. Hissing. Indistinct. Shapes flickered in the void. Shadowy figures shifting at the edge of his vision, moving like smoke. A pressure settled in his skull, like something was trying to crawl inside. The tattoos on his arms burned. James looked down¡ªhis skin was glowing with strange runes, pulsing like a heartbeat. The whispering grew louder. You are marked. A figure emerged from the darkness, towering and faceless. Its form twisted, constantly shifting between human and something else. James tried to step back¡ªthere was nowhere to go. The figure reached out. Its fingers were long, clawed, dripping with something black and alive. Take your place. James¡¯s body refused to move. Shadow tendrils wrapped around his arms, creeping up his neck, coiling around his chest. They sank into his skin, burrowing into his very being. He opened his mouth to scream¡ª
James shot up with a gasp. The room was dark, but not empty. Shadows writhed around him, twisting unnaturally, stretching toward the ceiling. Tendrils of pure darkness lashed at the air, moving as if alive. Across the room, Lyra was standing, dagger drawn. Her eyes were wide, and her stance tense. ¡°What the fuck,¡± she breathed. James blinked¡ªthe tendrils shivered, then collapsed back into him, vanishing like they had never been there. Silence. His chest was heaving, sweat dripping down his back. He could still feel the presence of the void clinging to him, whispering at the edges of his mind. Lyra sheathed her dagger, but her expression was cautious. ¡°That was¡­¡± She shook her head. ¡°You were summoning something, James.¡± He swallowed, looking down at his hands. The tattoos still pulsed faintly. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Lyra exhaled, rubbing her face. ¡°Yeah, well, it was creepy as hell. You were muttering in your sleep, and then those things just¡ªappeared.¡± James ran a hand through his hair, trying to steady his breathing. He felt¡­ wrong. Like part of him was still in that void. ¡°I think,¡± he muttered, ¡°I¡¯m starting to understand what these tattoos mean.¡± Lyra gave him a look. ¡°Good. Because if you wake up one more time summoning shadow monsters, I¡¯m throwing you out the damn window.¡± James let out a breathless chuckle, rubbing his face. ¡°Fair.¡± But deep down, he knew this was just the beginning. And whatever was waiting for him in the void¡­ it wasn¡¯t done with him yet. Chapter 16: Command the Dead James woke to the dim glow of morning light filtering through the window. He sat up, rubbing his face, still shaken by what had happened last night. The visions, the whispers, the monsters that had materialized in the real world while he slept¡ª He glanced at his arms. The tattoos remained, dark and unnatural against his skin. They felt different now, like they were truly part of him. A quiet sigh came from the other side of the room. Lyra sat on her bed, legs crossed, watching him with a raised brow. "You good?" she asked. "Because last night, you were not good." James exhaled sharply, leaning back against the headboard. "I don''t even know how to explain it." "Try me." He hesitated, then recounted the dream¡ªor whatever it had been. The whispers in the void, the way his mind had been pulled somewhere else, how the tattoos had burned into his skin. And, most importantly, how he''d been summoning creatures in his sleep. Lyra listened in silence, arms folded, her face unreadable. Finally, she let out a low whistle. "So, you''re saying if I hadn''t woken you up, you''d have summoned a whole damn army of shadow monsters in our room?" "...Yeah. Pretty much." She smirked. "Glad I kicked you awake, then. That was creepy as hell." James nodded. "I need to figure this out. If I can''t control it, I¡¯m a danger to everyone¡ªincluding you." "Good idea," she agreed. "Where are you going to test it?" "I''m thinking Duskwither Woods. Not too far, but remote enough that I won¡¯t freak people out if things go sideways." Lyra nodded. "Alright. Just don¡¯t die out there." James chuckled. "No promises."
Testing the Darkness James stepped out of the inn just as the first light of dawn broke over the town. The streets were mostly empty, save for a few early risers setting up market stalls. His body still ached from yesterday¡¯s fight, but his mind was somewhere else entirely. He flexed his fingers, staring at the blackened tattoos that now lined his forearms. They pulsed faintly, as if alive, reacting to his thoughts. He needed to test this. He couldn¡¯t risk his party seeing it yet¡ªnot until he had control. Whatever had happened to him in the void, it was clear this power was meant for him. The game¡ªthis world¡ªhad given him something terrifying. And if last night¡¯s accidental summoning had been any indication, it could easily spiral out of control. Time to see what I can do. James made his way through town, passing through the main square where adventurers gathered, but instead of heading toward the guild, he took a different path¡ªone leading beyond the town walls. There were fields and forests nearby, places where creatures lurked, places where he could test his newfound abilities without worrying about prying eyes. After about twenty minutes of walking, he found himself at the edge of a dense, misty forest. The trees stretched high, gnarled and twisted, their shadows long and ominous in the morning light. According to his map, this was Duskwither Woods¡ªa low to mid-level hunting ground filled with various beasts and undead creatures. Perfect. He unsheathed his cursed sword and took a deep breath. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s try this.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. James focused on his tattoos, willing them to respond. A cold sensation rippled through his veins, like ice threading beneath his skin. His vision darkened for a moment, and then¡ª A shadow coiled from the ground before him, swirling like smoke before solidifying into a monstrous form. It was humanoid, but twisted¡ªits body made of pure darkness, its eyes hollow voids that radiated malice. It stood silently, awaiting his command. [Summoned: Shadow Wraith] James stared at it. His heart pounded. Then a UI notification flickered into existence. +200 Magic XP (Summoning) So I actually get XP just from summoning? Before he could process it, movement in the underbrush caught his attention. A pack of Shadowfang Wolves emerged, their glowing red eyes locking onto him. Four of them. James gripped his sword. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll test you in combat.¡± The wolves snarled and lunged. James pointed at them. "Attack." The Shadow Wraith moved instantly, gliding across the battlefield with inhuman speed. It struck the first wolf, its clawed hands phasing through flesh like mist. The wolf howled in agony as its very essence was torn apart. [Shadow Wraith has slain Shadowfang Wolf.] +350 Magic XP (Summoning) James grinned. That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about. The other wolves circled, wary now. He took the chance to test another command. His mind reached out¡ªinstinctual, almost¡ªand the shadows around him shifted. Another ripple of cold, another pulse through his tattoos, and a second figure emerged. This one was different. A skeletal warrior, clad in blackened armor, a jagged sword in its bony grasp. Its empty sockets burned with eerie blue light. [Summoned: Undead Knight] +200 Magic XP (Summoning) James barely had time to process before the wolves attacked again. The Undead Knight met them head-on, swinging its blade in a brutal arc. It cleaved through one wolf instantly, sending its body crashing to the ground. The Shadow Wraith tore into another, reducing it to nothingness. The final wolf hesitated, then turned to flee. James smirked. "Not happening." A dark tendril erupted from the shadows at his feet, snatching the wolf mid-sprint. The creature yelped as it was dragged back, thrashing in vain. James stepped forward and ran his sword through its throat. [You have slain Shadowfang Wolf.] +420 Attack XP+150 Magic XP (Shadow Grasp) As the last enemy fell, James exhaled sharply. He glanced at his summoned creatures¡ªthe Shadow Wraith still lingered, but the Undead Knight was starting to fade, its form unraveling. Summons didn¡¯t last forever. He pulled up his status screen. JamesLevel 12Attack: 23Magic: 14XP to Next Level: 5,620 Not bad. His Magic was climbing fast, and he was actually gaining combat XP alongside it. He dismissed his summons and rolled his shoulders. One test run isn¡¯t enough. Let¡¯s push this further.
Hunting the Dead James spent hours experimenting. He summoned more Shadow Wraiths, sending them against tougher enemies deeper in the forest. He called forth Undead Warriors, skeletal archers, even a hulking undead brute that took down an entire pack of ghouls on its own. Each kill gave him more XP. Each summon strengthened his command over them. He discovered that the more creatures he summoned, the harder it was to control them¡ªtoo many at once and they became erratic, aggressive, harder to direct. He also learned that his own strength affected their power, meaning if he got stronger, his summons would too. By the time the sun was dipping low, he had carved a path through Duskwither Woods, leaving behind a trail of defeated monsters and flickering XP notifications. His Magic had shot up by almost two levels just from today alone. But the biggest revelation came at the very end. James had just finished fighting a Rotting Revenant, a high-tier undead that had nearly overpowered him, when a UI message popped up. [New Skill Unlocked: Soulbound Summons]Your summoned creatures now persist longer and require less energy to maintain. He grinned. Hell yes. The world around him was growing darker, and exhaustion was setting in, but James felt more powerful than ever. Chapter 17: Into the Unknown James trudged through the darkening streets of town, his boots scuffing against the dirt path as he approached the inn. The day had been long, and his body ached in ways he hadn¡¯t quite gotten used to yet. Every fight, every death, every ridiculous setback¡ªit all stacked up. He pulled open the door to the inn, letting the warmth of the tavern wash over him. The familiar scent of ale, roasting meat, and stale sweat filled the air. Adventurers gathered in clusters, exchanging tales of close calls and near-deaths. A few players sat alone, hunched over their meals, the glow of their UI menus reflecting in their tired eyes. James ordered the nightly stew and found a quiet spot in the back of the dining room. He quickly ate the salty stew with some unknown meat and a few vegetables, letting the warmth of the food settle the gnawing hunger in his gut. It wasn¡¯t great, but after everything, he¡¯d had worse. Lyra arrived a few minutes later, dropping into the seat across from him. ¡°You look like you got run over by a cart.¡± James swallowed another spoonful of stew. ¡°I might¡¯ve preferred that.¡± She smirked. ¡°Long day?¡± He sighed, leaning back against the chair. ¡°Yeah. But hey, I didn¡¯t wake up naked in an alley this time, so I¡¯m calling it a win.¡± Lyra chuckled. ¡°Progress.¡± She glanced around the room. ¡°The others are already here. We¡¯re meeting them in the morning for a quest.¡± James raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s the job?¡± ¡°Straightforward one to start,¡± she said. ¡°Goblins. Shouldn¡¯t be too bad.¡± James scoffed. ¡°You know that¡¯s tempting fate, right?¡± Lyra grinned. ¡°Oh, absolutely.¡± They finished their meals, chatted a little more, then eventually turned in for the night. Tomorrow, they''d see how well this new team functioned.
The Next Day: A Routine Hunt The sun was barely up when James and Lyra met with Riona, Lillian, and Garrick outside the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. ¡°Morning, sunshine,¡± Riona greeted with a smirk. ¡°Ready to kill some goblins?¡± James rubbed his eyes. ¡°I feel like I just went to bed.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Lillian said cheerfully. ¡°That means you¡¯re properly broken in for the job.¡± They made their way out of town, heading toward a small forest where the goblin infestation had gotten out of hand. The job itself was simple¡ªwipe out a group of goblins that had been attacking trade routes. Nothing fancy, nothing elaborate. Just a straightforward hunt. James had to admit, fighting as a group felt smoother. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Riona darted in and out of combat, switching weapons mid-fight as she adapted to each enemy. Lillian rained arrows from a distance, only closing in when necessary. Garrick, true to his role, absorbed damage like a walking fortress. James and Lyra held their own, working alongside the team as they methodically cut through the goblin horde. It was¡­ almost easy. Too easy. James wiped his blade clean after the last goblin fell. ¡°Alright, that was suspiciously painless. Who wants to bet that was the warm-up?¡± Riona grinned. ¡°Oh, you catch on quick.¡± Lillian stretched. ¡°Yeah, our real job is inside the ruins past here.¡± She pointed to a set of crumbling stone structures barely visible through the trees. ¡°We have to clear out whatever¡¯s holed up in there.¡± James exhaled. ¡°And here I was, hoping for a relaxing afternoon.¡± ¡°Come on,¡± Garrick grunted, already moving ahead. ¡°It won¡¯t kill you.¡± James gave him a deadpan look. ¡°It literally might.¡± The party moved into the ruins, and almost immediately, the real challenge began.
Traps, Puzzles, and Other Bullshit The entrance to the ruins was partially collapsed, leading into a series of underground tunnels. Flickering torches lined the stone walls, casting eerie shadows as the group moved deeper inside. They didn¡¯t get far before the first problem appeared. Riona, who had taken the lead, suddenly threw out a hand to stop the group. ¡°Hold up.¡± The floor in front of them was covered in a grid of stone tiles, each one marked with faint symbols. Some were cracked. Others looked completely untouched. ¡°Great,¡± James muttered. ¡°A classic ¡®step on the wrong tile and die¡¯ situation.¡± Lillian crouched down, examining the markings. ¡°Looks like a pattern puzzle. Step on the wrong one, and¡ª¡± She picked up a nearby rock and tossed it onto one of the tiles. A row of razor-sharp spikes shot up from the ground, impaling the rock with a sickening crunch. ¡°¡ªthat happens.¡± James sighed. ¡°Because of course.¡± The group studied the puzzle for a moment. The symbols looked familiar, but they weren¡¯t immediately obvious. ¡°I think it¡¯s a sequence,¡± Lyra said, pointing at the wall. ¡°These carvings match the tiles, but some are more worn down than others.¡± Garrick grunted. ¡°So, step on the ones that match?¡± James frowned. ¡°Or maybe avoid them. What if it¡¯s the opposite?¡± Riona smirked. ¡°Only one way to find out.¡± James hesitated, then glanced at his hand. He summoned a shadowy figure¡ªa skeletal minion shrouded in darkness. It rattled slightly, awaiting his command. James grinned. ¡°Guess we have a volunteer.¡± The summon stepped onto one of the tiles. Nothing happened. ¡°Good sign,¡± Lillian said. James directed it onto another tile. A second later, a series of arrows shot from the walls, turning the skeleton into a pin cushion. ¡°Well,¡± Riona said, ¡°good to know we have disposable testers.¡± After some trial and error (and the sacrifice of two more summons), the group figured out the safe path across the room. They moved forward, only to be met with another challenge¡ªa large stone door with five rotating dials. Each had a different set of symbols. Lillian groaned. ¡°Oh, I hate these.¡± James studied the symbols. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s think. What do we know?¡± Riona tapped her chin. ¡°The last puzzle used symbols from the walls. Maybe the solution is here too?¡± Lyra ran her fingers over the carvings. ¡°Some of these markings repeat more often than others. Maybe those are the key?¡± James turned to his UI. He still had a few summons left. He conjured another shadowy minion, instructing it to turn the dials randomly. A grinding noise echoed through the chamber. Then the ceiling started lowering. ¡°NOPE,¡± James shouted, immediately dismissing the summon. The dials reset, and the ceiling stopped. Lillian laughed. ¡°Okay, so brute force is off the table.¡± After some careful thought (and a bit of arguing), the group aligned the dials correctly, causing the stone door to rumble open. Beyond it, more tunnels stretched into the unknown. James exhaled. ¡°I have a bad feeling about this.¡± Riona patted his shoulder. ¡°Welcome to dungeon crawling.¡± With no other choice, the group stepped forward into the darkness. Chapter 18: Shadows in the Deep The stone door rumbled shut behind them, sealing the party inside the ruins. A heavy silence fell over the chamber, broken only by the distant sound of dripping water. Flickering torchlight cast long shadows against the moss-covered walls, the air thick with the scent of damp stone and something faintly metallic¡ªblood, maybe. James adjusted his grip on his sword. ¡°So, anyone else getting a strong ¡®we¡¯re about to die horribly¡¯ vibe?¡± ¡°Always,¡± Riona said with a smirk, drawing her saber. ¡°Keeps things interesting.¡± Lillian nocked an arrow, eyes scanning the corridor ahead. ¡°We should move. I don¡¯t like how quiet it is.¡± Garrick took point, his heavy boots echoing as he led the way down the narrow passage. The walls were lined with faded carvings, depicting figures kneeling before a massive, horned entity. Their faces were twisted in agony, their hands raised in supplication. Lyra frowned, tracing her fingers over the carvings. ¡°These don¡¯t look like goblins.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± James muttered. ¡°That¡¯s what worries me.¡±
An Unseen Stalker The corridor opened into a larger chamber, a vaulted ceiling looming overhead. A broken statue sat in the center, its head missing. Several pathways branched out in different directions, each leading into the unknown. ¡°Alright,¡± Riona said, glancing between the paths. ¡°Which way¡ª¡± A low growl rumbled from the darkness. The group immediately fell into a defensive stance. Lillian turned, arrow drawn. James summoned a skeletal minion, its hollow eyes flickering with an eerie light. ¡°Something¡¯s here,¡± Garrick said, hefting his axe. Then the torches flickered¡ªand the shadows moved. A massive shape lunged from the darkness, slamming into Garrick with enough force to send him skidding backward. He barely managed to stay on his feet, his shield absorbing most of the impact. James caught only a glimpse of their attacker¡ªa hulking, beast-like creature, its form shifting unnaturally as if made of living darkness. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± he shouted. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Riona said, darting forward. ¡°Kill it!¡± She slashed at the creature, her blade passing through its form like it was cutting smoke. The creature hissed, retreating into the shadows. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. James narrowed his eyes. ¡°Figures. Normal attacks don¡¯t work.¡± Lillian let an arrow fly¡ªit passed straight through. Lyra¡¯s eyes glowed faintly. ¡°It¡¯s shifting between the material and ethereal plane.¡± ¡°Great,¡± James muttered. ¡°Anyone got a way to make it stay solid?¡± Lyra grinned. ¡°Yeah. Give me a second.¡± She raised her hands, her fingers weaving intricate patterns in the air. ¡°Cover me.¡± The beast lunged again. James sent his skeleton forward, but the creature tore through it with a swipe of its claws. The summon crumbled into dust. Garrick stepped up, swinging his axe in a wide arc. The blade passed through harmlessly. ¡°Not good.¡± ¡°Almost there!¡± Lyra called. The beast swirled into the shadows again, reappearing behind Lillian. She rolled out of the way just in time, her bow useless against the formless creature. Then Lyra slammed her hands together. A pulse of energy spread through the chamber, and suddenly, the creature solidified. James didn¡¯t hesitate. He lunged, his cursed sword slicing deep into its now-flesh body. The creature let out an ear-splitting screech as dark ichor sprayed from the wound. Riona and Garrick followed up, their weapons finally making contact. Lillian switched to her shortsword, joining the fray. The battle was brutal but quick. Now that it was vulnerable, the creature couldn¡¯t withstand their combined assault. With a final gurgling snarl, it collapsed into a pool of inky darkness before dissolving entirely. Silence returned to the chamber. ¡°Well,¡± Lillian said, catching her breath. ¡°That was awful.¡± Lyra dusted off her hands. ¡°Good news: whatever that thing was, it¡¯s dead. Bad news: it probably wasn¡¯t the only one.¡± James sighed. ¡°Of course it wasn¡¯t.¡±
The Second Puzzle After taking a short break to recover, the party pressed on. They followed one of the paths leading deeper underground, eventually arriving at another sealed door. This one was circular, covered in glowing runes. ¡°Alright,¡± James muttered. ¡°Another puzzle.¡± Riona groaned. ¡°This better not involve more ¡®step here, die instantly¡¯ nonsense.¡± Lyra studied the door. ¡°It¡¯s a sequence lock. See these symbols? We need to press them in the correct order.¡± James crossed his arms. ¡°And what happens if we get it wrong?¡± A rumbling noise answered him. The walls shifted slightly, revealing hidden compartments lined with dozens of small, metallic darts. Lillian winced. ¡°Ah. Instant death. Classic.¡± James sighed. ¡°Of course.¡± The group examined the symbols. They were similar to the carvings they had seen earlier, depicting the horned entity and its followers. Garrick frowned. ¡°I¡¯m guessing we need to press them in the order of some story or ritual.¡± James glanced at the nearby carvings. The scenes depicted the figures kneeling, then offering something, then receiving a gift, and finally standing victorious. ¡°I think it¡¯s this,¡± he said, pointing to the symbols. ¡°Kneeling first, then offering, then receiving, then victory.¡± Riona smirked. ¡°Alright, genius. You pressing the buttons?¡± James hesitated. ¡°¡­No.¡± Instead, he summoned another skeletal minion. ¡°Coward,¡± Lillian teased. The summon pressed the first symbol. Nothing happened. It pressed the second. Still nothing. The third¡ª A grinding noise. The darts twitched but didn¡¯t fire. James held his breath as the summon pressed the final symbol. The runes pulsed. Then, with a heavy thunk, the door slid open. James exhaled. ¡°Glad that worked.¡± Riona patted his shoulder. ¡°Nice work, Necromancer.¡± They stepped inside, greeted by the sight of a massive underground chamber. In the center stood a towering stone altar, its surface covered in dried blood. James grimaced. ¡°Yeah. This is gonna suck.¡± Lillian sighed. ¡°At least we¡¯re consistent.¡± With that, they moved forward into the depths of the ruins, unaware of what else lurked in the darkness. Chapter 19: Blood on the Altar The underground chamber stretched before them, the air thick with the scent of old blood and something deeper¡ªsomething wrong. The stone altar at the center loomed over them, covered in deep carvings that pulsed with faint, reddish light. James tightened his grip on his sword. ¡°This place feels cursed.¡± Lyra scoffed. ¡°Of course it is. Have you seen the decor?¡± Riona strode forward, boots crunching over brittle bones. ¡°Question is, what kind of cursed? The ¡®you hear whispers and go insane¡¯ kind? Or the ¡®bloodthirsty monstrosity wakes up and eats us¡¯ kind?¡± ¡°Both?¡± Lillian suggested, inspecting the carvings on the walls. The scenes were clearer now¡ªhooded figures gathered around the altar, their hands raised as if in prayer. But the entity they worshipped wasn¡¯t depicted clearly. Its form twisted and blurred, an unnatural smear in the stone. Garrick huffed. ¡°Let¡¯s figure it out before something tries to kill us again.¡±
The Ritual Mechanism Lyra crouched beside the altar, running her fingers along the carvings. ¡°There¡¯s some kind of mechanism here. It¡¯s old but still functional.¡± She traced a deep groove down the side, leading to a basin stained dark. ¡°It looks like it needs a blood offering.¡± James groaned. ¡°Why is it always blood?¡± ¡°Because blood magic is easy,¡± Lyra muttered, standing up. ¡°A little life essence in exchange for power. Always a bad idea, but people keep doing it anyway.¡± Riona rolled her shoulders. ¡°So, do we cut a finger, or does it want something more dramatic?¡± James eyed the massive dried bloodstains. ¡°Judging by how much is already here¡­ I don¡¯t think a paper cut will do.¡± Lillian exhaled. ¡°Alright. So, we either figure out a workaround, or one of us volunteers to donate.¡± Garrick tested the edges of the altar, grunting. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like we can just smash our way through.¡± Lyra stood, tapping her chin. ¡°There might be another way.¡± James summoned a skeletal minion and gestured toward the basin. ¡°Alright, buddy. You¡¯re up.¡± The skeleton obediently walked forward and placed its bony hand over the basin. Nothing happened. James frowned. ¡°I was hoping it would count as ¡®blood.¡¯¡± Riona smirked. ¡°I don¡¯t think the altar accepts undead donations.¡± Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Lyra¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What about your summons, James? The shadow creatures.¡± James hesitated. His necromancy tattoos burned faintly as he called forth one of his newer summons¡ªa creature formed from living shadows. It flickered at the edge of reality, its shape barely holding together. He directed it toward the altar. The moment it touched the basin, the shadows quivered, then liquefied into an inky substance. The altar absorbed it instantly. The runes flared to life. James took a step back. ¡°Well. That worked.¡± The chamber trembled.
Guardian of the Altar A deep, guttural growl echoed through the ruins. The shadows along the walls twisted, stretching unnaturally as something massive took shape. From the darkness, a figure emerged¡ªtwice the size of a man, its body wrapped in tattered, ceremonial robes. Its face was hidden beneath a cracked, horned mask, but its hands¡­ James swallowed. The thing¡¯s hands were too long, too many. Multiple arms twitched and flexed as if they had been stitched together from different creatures. ¡°Well,¡± Lillian muttered. ¡°We woke something up.¡± The guardian let out a distorted snarl and charged. Garrick stepped forward, shield raised. The creature slammed into him with unnatural force, sending him skidding back. He gritted his teeth, bracing against the impact. ¡°This thing hits like a damn boulder!¡± James didn¡¯t wait. He raised a hand, summoning two skeletal warriors. They rushed forward, hacking at the guardian¡¯s legs. The creature barely acknowledged them¡ªit swiped a massive arm, shattering both into bone fragments. Lyra hurled a firebolt. It struck the guardian¡¯s chest, leaving a scorch mark but doing little else. Riona was already moving, darting in with a precise slash. Her saber cut deep into its side, but instead of blood, thick black ichor oozed from the wound. The creature roared and lashed out, forcing her to roll away. Lillian fired a shot at its mask, but the arrow bounced off. ¡°Great. It¡¯s got armor.¡± James took a breath. He needed to try something new. He focused, channeling his necromantic energy. The tattoos on his arms burned cold as shadows gathered around him. Instead of summoning another skeleton, he pulled from the darkness itself. A shadowy wolf took shape at his side, its eyes burning with the same eerie light as his previous summons. James pointed at the guardian. ¡°Go.¡± The wolf darted forward, moving too fast for the guardian to react. It leapt, jaws latching onto the creature¡¯s arm. Shadows rippled from the bite, sinking into the guardian¡¯s body. The beast staggered, its movements slowing. James¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°It¡¯s working.¡± Riona didn¡¯t hesitate. She went for the legs again, slicing deep into the slowed creature. Garrick followed up with a heavy swing of his axe, hacking at its torso. The guardian howled, collapsing to its knees. James summoned another shadow beast, sending it straight for the mask. The moment it made contact, the mask cracked, revealing a single, gleaming red eye beneath. Lyra saw her chance. ¡°Move!¡± The party dove aside as she unleashed a bolt of searing magic, hitting the exposed eye dead center. The guardian shrieked, its body convulsing. The shadows that held it together unraveled, and with a final, gurgling gasp, it collapsed into a pile of tattered cloth and ash. Silence. James exhaled. ¡°Well. That sucked.¡± Lillian nudged the remains with her boot. ¡°At least it¡¯s dead.¡± The altar pulsed once, then stilled. The door at the far end of the chamber rumbled open. Riona stretched. ¡°Well, that was fun. Who¡¯s ready for more?¡± James groaned. ¡°You enjoy this way too much.¡± Garrick rolled his shoulders. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving. I don¡¯t want to find out if that thing had a friend.¡± With the path forward now open, the party pressed on, deeper into the ruins and toward whatever awaited them in the darkness. Chapter 20: The Unexpected End The heavy stone doors slammed shut behind them, sealing the party inside the boss chamber. Torches flared to life along the walls, their ghostly blue flames casting eerie shadows across the ancient ruin. At the far end of the room, a massive stone throne sat atop a raised platform. A figure loomed above it¡ªa towering, armored wraith with piercing red eyes glowing from beneath a horned helmet. Its skeletal fingers tightened around a colossal greatsword, the blade cracked and pulsing with dark energy. [The Forgotten Tyrant ¨C ???] James adjusted his stance, shifting his weight as he studied the enemy before them. The boss¡¯s health bar appeared, but something was off¡ªthere was no level indicator. Just a long, red bar stretching ominously across the top of the screen. ¡°That¡¯s not comforting,¡± Lyra muttered, her daggers already in hand. ¡°Either it¡¯s really weak,¡± Riona said, rolling her shoulders, ¡°or we¡¯re about to have a bad time.¡± ¡°I¡¯d bet on the latter,¡± Garrick rumbled, shifting into a defensive stance with his shield raised. ¡°Alright, stick to the plan,¡± James said, glancing at Lillian. ¡°Range pressure while we test its attack patterns. Don¡¯t overcommit.¡± Lillian gave a thumbs-up and knocked an arrow. ¡°Let¡¯s see what this thing¡¯s got.¡± As if responding to her words, the Forgotten Tyrant suddenly moved. But it didn¡¯t charge. It didn¡¯t roar. It didn¡¯t do any of the usual boss theatrics. It simply blinked out of existence. James barely had time to react before a red warning flash appeared on his screen. [Danger Sense Activated ¨C Incoming Lethal Attack] ¡°What¡ª?!¡± The next second, an explosion of force sent James flying across the chamber. He smashed into the far wall, his health instantly plummeting to critical. The others weren¡¯t any luckier. Garrick had tried to block, but his shield shattered on impact, sending him crumpling to the ground. Riona was impaled mid-dash, lifted off her feet by the boss¡¯s greatsword before being slammed into the ground, her body flickering into particles. [Riona has died.] Lillian loosed an arrow, but before it could hit, the Tyrant reappeared behind her. A single swipe of its blade sent her head flying. [Lillian has died.] ¡°What the hell is this?!¡± Lyra shouted, rolling frantically to dodge as the boss blurred out of view again. James groaned, forcing himself to his feet. He had barely registered what had happened, and already half the team was gone. No wind-up, no warnings, just instant death. Garrick let out a furious yell, raising his axe. ¡°COME ON, YOU PIECE OF¡ª¡± The boss teleported again, appearing right in front of him. James watched in horror as Garrick was lifted off the ground by an invisible force, his body locked in place. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Then, without warning¡ª He exploded. Just¡ªgone. No attack animation, no visible strike. One second he was there, the next he was a fine red mist. [Garrick has died.] James¡¯ blood turned to ice. ¡°Lyra, RUN!¡± She didn¡¯t need to be told twice. She was already moving, sprinting toward him as the boss turned its glowing red eyes in her direction. Then, it teleported again. James lunged forward, summoning a shadow construct in a last-ditch effort to intercept¡ª Too slow. The boss materialized inside Lyra. For a brief moment, she simply froze, as if her character model had glitched. Then she disintegrated. [Lyra has died.] James barely had time to curse before the boss turned toward him. His cursed sword pulsed in his hand, reacting to the overwhelming presence of death. But it didn¡¯t matter. The last thing James saw was the greatsword descending toward him¡ª Then everything went black.
[You have died.] [Respawning at last checkpoint¡­] James gasped as he found himself standing in the dungeon¡¯s entrance hall. The others were already there, looking just as disoriented. ¡°The hell just happened?¡± Riona muttered. ¡°We got wiped,¡± Garrick grunted. ¡°No shit,¡± Lillian groaned. ¡°But how?¡± Lyra clenched her fists. ¡°That boss broke every rule we¡¯ve seen so far.¡± James turned toward the dungeon ahead, but his stomach dropped. The entrance was no longer the same. The halls had shifted. The paths they¡¯d taken before were gone, replaced by an entirely new layout. ¡°¡­Guys,¡± he said slowly. ¡°I think the dungeon just reset.¡± A long silence followed. Then Riona sighed and plopped down onto the stone floor. "Yeah, screw going back in tonight." Garrick grunted in agreement and sat beside her, stretching out his legs. "Same. I need a drink, a fire, and about an hour to process how badly we just got our asses handed to us." Lillian was already rummaging through her inventory. "I¡¯ve got firewood and some basic rations. Anyone got actual food?" James shook his head. "I had food. Then I died." "Same," Lyra muttered. Riona smirked. "Guess we¡¯re on the ''charred meat and mystery bread'' diet tonight." Lillian lit the fire with a quick flick of her flint, the flames crackling as the group settled around it. The oppressive weight of their brutal defeat still lingered, but for now, they pushed it aside. James leaned back, staring at the flickering light. ¡°So, while we¡¯re sitting here licking our wounds, anyone wanna share how they got into this mess of a game?¡± The question hung in the air for a moment before Riona chuckled. "You mean this deathtrap of a world? Well, I was already a sucker for hardcore MMOs. You tell me ¡®no hand-holding, you can actually die, and the world doesn¡¯t care¡¯¡ªI¡¯m all in." "Figures," Lyra said. "You have the energy of someone who enjoys getting stabbed recreationally." Riona grinned. "Only on weekends." Lillian rolled her eyes. "She¡¯s downplaying it. Riona used to be in some high-ranked PvP guild. Cutthroat, no-nonsense, only recruited the best of the best." James raised an eyebrow. "And you left?" Riona shrugged. "Got bored. Also, turns out I prefer a team that doesn¡¯t make me wanna stab my own teammates." "Understandable," James said. Lillian propped her chin on her hand. "I was a solo player before this. More of an explorer type. Get in, map stuff out, see how far I can go before dying horribly." Garrick grunted. "And how far did you get?" Lillian laughed. "Not very. But hey, it made me good at dodging." Garrick shook his head. "I joined because my buddies convinced me. Then they all logged out." He gestured vaguely at the dungeon. "Now I just keep going. Ain¡¯t much else to do." James studied him for a moment. "And you don¡¯t wanna find a way out?" Garrick smirked. "Don¡¯t get me wrong, if an exit pops up, I¡¯ll take it. But until then? Might as well get stronger." The conversation lulled as the fire crackled between them. Lyra poked the flames with a stick. "So. We¡¯re trying again in the morning, right?" James exhaled. "Yeah. But we¡¯re gonna need a new plan." Lillian nodded. "And maybe some actual sleep." "Sleep¡¯s for people who didn¡¯t just get obliterated by a teleporting skeleton king," Riona muttered, lying back with her arms behind her head. Garrick let out a deep chuckle. "Then I guess we should all be asleep already." The group fell into a comfortable silence, watching the fire flicker as the weight of the day settled in. Tomorrow, they¡¯d go back. Tomorrow, they¡¯d face that boss again. But tonight? Tonight was for licking their wounds, talking shit, and pretending¡ªfor just a little while¡ªthat they weren¡¯t stuck in a death game.
Chapter 21: Back Into the Abyss James woke to the crackling remains of last night¡¯s fire and the uncomfortable realization that sleeping on dungeon stone sucked. He sat up with a groan, rolling his shoulders as the rest of the party stirred. Lyra stretched her arms over her head, yawning. ¡°Anyone else feel like they got stomped on in their sleep?¡± ¡°Only emotionally,¡± Lillian muttered, rubbing her eyes. Garrick cracked his neck. ¡°Could be worse. We could still be dead.¡± ¡°Debatable,¡± Riona grumbled, still lying on her back. ¡°But hey, at least we didn¡¯t immediately charge back in like idiots last night.¡± James smirked. ¡°Wow. Restraint. That must¡¯ve been hard for you.¡± Riona shot him a lazy thumbs-up. ¡°Painful, but I endured.¡± Lyra stood, brushing off her coat. ¡°Alright, game plan: We¡¯re not dying this time.¡± Lillian snorted. ¡°Solid plan. Let¡¯s see if it survives the next ten minutes.¡± James pushed himself up and glanced toward the dungeon entrance. The stone corridors had shifted, twisting into an entirely new layout. The familiar paths from yesterday were gone. ¡°Dungeon¡¯s changed again,¡± he said. ¡°So we¡¯re going in blind. No idea where the boss room is, no idea what¡¯s between us and it.¡± ¡°Sounds like every other day,¡± Garrick said. James sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving.¡±
The new dungeon layout was just as miserable as the old one¡ªmaybe worse. The first couple of chambers had some standard enemies: skeletal warriors, a few aggressive gargoyle statues, and one very pissed-off mimic that nearly took Garrick¡¯s leg off before they put it down. ¡°So, fun fact,¡± Riona said, shaking mimic goo off her blade. ¡°These things are getting faster.¡± ¡°Or we¡¯re getting slower,¡± Lillian muttered. ¡°Because we¡¯re tired.¡± ¡°Not an option,¡± Garrick said. ¡°We need to find the boss room before the dungeon shifts again.¡± They pushed forward, navigating through twisting hallways, avoiding traps, and cutting through enemies. Lyra handled most of the puzzle elements, using her knack for figuring out mechanisms and hidden switches. James, meanwhile, tested out his summons, calling forth shadow beasts and skeletal warriors to scout ahead or trigger potential traps. They made steady progress until they reached it. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. The boss room. The massive stone doors loomed before them, now marked with new symbols¡ªglowing runes that hadn¡¯t been there before. The same eerie feeling from last time crept over them. James tightened his grip on his sword¡ªno, wait. He¡¯d done that too many times before. James rolled his shoulders and took a steadying breath. ¡°Alright. Last time, this thing pulled some cheap tricks. We assume it¡¯s got more.¡± Riona cracked her knuckles. ¡°No more surprises.¡± Lillian tilted her head. ¡°That¡¯s the kind of thing you say right before something awful happens.¡± Garrick grunted. ¡°Only one way to find out.¡± James took a step forward, placing his hand on the cold stone. The doors rumbled and swung open. The boss was waiting. And it was smiling.
As soon as they stepped through the threshold, the air shifted. One moment, James was staring at the boss¡ªa towering, armored figure wreathed in shifting black mist¡ªstanding at the center of the vast chamber. The next, everything went wrong. A pulse of energy exploded outward. James barely had time to register the sensation before his entire existence blinked out. No pain. No warning. Just¡ª Nothing. Then, he was back. Slamming face-first onto the cold stone outside the dungeon entrance. James groaned, rolling onto his back as the rest of the party landed hard around him, all of them coughing, swearing, or just laying there in stunned silence. Lyra sat up first, her eyes wide. ¡°What the fuck was that?!¡± Riona groaned, rubbing her temples. ¡°Did we just get tele-fragged?¡± Lillian blinked. ¡°I¡ªyeah. I think we did.¡± James sat up, still trying to process. ¡°Did anyone even see what happened?¡± Garrick just stared at the dungeon entrance, his expression unreadable. ¡°¡­It didn¡¯t attack. It didn¡¯t cast anything.¡± James frowned. ¡°Then how the hell did we¡ª¡± ¡°It moved into us,¡± Garrick said, his voice grim. The realization hit all at once. The boss had just stepped forward, occupying the same space they had¡ªinstantly deleting them all. Lyra groaned. ¡°That is the cheapest, most bullshit move I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± Lillian let out a short laugh, half-disbelieving. ¡°Oh my god. We got spawn-killed.¡± James exhaled sharply, staring up at the dark sky. ¡°Alright. That¡¯s a new one.¡± Riona pushed herself up, shaking dust off. ¡°So¡­ we going back in?¡± The group fell silent for a moment before James shook his head. ¡°Not yet.¡± He gestured to the clearing outside the dungeon, still strewn with the remnants of last night¡¯s camp. ¡°We take the night. Rest, think. We¡¯re not walking into that thing¡¯s hitbox again like idiots.¡± Lyra sighed in relief. ¡°Good. I¡¯d like one evening where we¡¯re not instantly murdered.¡± Garrick grunted in agreement and started gathering firewood. Riona stretched before flopping down by the firepit, looking exhausted but amused. Lillian sat down beside her, smirking. ¡°Alright, well, if we¡¯re stuck here for the night, we might as well do something useful.¡± James raised an eyebrow. ¡°Like what?¡± She gestured around. ¡°We¡¯ve been in a party together for a while now, but we barely know anything about each other outside of combat. If we¡¯re gonna keep getting our asses handed to us, might as well make it fun.¡± Riona leaned back. ¡°You mean ¡®talk shit until we pass out¡¯?¡± Lillian grinned. ¡°Exactly.¡± James smirked. ¡°Alright. Who¡¯s going first?¡± Lyra cracked her knuckles. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve got stories.¡± As the fire burned, the group settled in for the night¡ªnot as battered survivors, but as comrades preparing for the next round of insanity. Chapter 22: The Living Gate The next morning, James woke up to the smell of smoldering embers and the sound of Garrick sharpening his axe. The night had been¡­ surprisingly good. Instead of diving headfirst back into the dungeon, they''d spent the evening around the fire, telling stories, talking shit, and actually learning about each other. It was a rare moment where death wasn¡¯t looming over them like a pissed-off raid boss. But now? Now it was time to go back in. James sat up, rubbing his face as Lyra stretched beside him. ¡°So. We ready to get instantly obliterated again?¡± Riona grinned. ¡°Damn right.¡± Lillian slung her bow over her shoulder. ¡°We do have a plan this time, right?¡± Garrick stood, rolling his shoulders. ¡°Step one: Don¡¯t stand where the boss is going to appear.¡± James smirked. ¡°Solid strategy.¡± They packed up quickly, shaking off the last bits of exhaustion. Then, without further delay, they turned back toward the dungeon entrance. And stepped inside.
The air changed the moment they crossed the threshold. James could feel it¡ªthicker, heavier, like stepping into a place that didn¡¯t quite follow the same rules as reality. The dungeon had already shifted, resetting overnight. The layout was different. The halls weren¡¯t the same ones they¡¯d explored yesterday. Even the light felt off, flickering strangely against the stone. Lyra exhaled. ¡°I hate this place.¡± Riona cracked her knuckles. ¡°At least it keeps things fresh.¡± James eyed the corridor ahead. "Fresh is one way to put it." This time, they moved carefully. Yesterday''s overconfidence had cost them a full wipe¡ªtoday, they weren¡¯t making the same mistakes. The first few rooms were silent. No enemies. No traps. Just cold stone and the distant sound of water dripping somewhere in the distance. Then the first fight hit. A pair of twisted, humanoid figures lunged from the darkness, their bodies shifting, their faces featureless except for jagged mouths that split open too wide. James reacted on instinct, drawing his sword as he sidestepped the first attack. Lyra already had her daggers out, moving faster than the creatures could track. Riona went in next, spear flashing as she drove it through the closest creature¡¯s midsection. It screeched¡ªnot in pain, but like it was trying to mimic the sound of human agony. James didn''t hesitate. He brought his sword down hard, severing its head in a single motion. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! The body collapsed, but the head? The head kept laughing¡ªa dry, broken chuckle that made his stomach turn. Then it melted into the stone. Lillian loosed an arrow at the second creature just as it lunged for Garrick. The shot pierced its shoulder, staggering it long enough for Garrick to bring his axe down in a brutal overhead swing. CRACK. The creature split in half. Then, like the first, its body sank into the stone, absorbed by the dungeon itself. Lyra took a step back, shaking her head. ¡°That was¡­ unsettling.¡± James exhaled. ¡°No loot. No XP notification.¡± Riona grimaced. ¡°It¡¯s like the dungeon is recycling them.¡± Lillian nocked another arrow, scanning the shadows. ¡°Great. Love that.¡± They pushed forward.
After another hour, they reached the puzzle chamber. It was a massive stone hall, lined with carved symbols along the walls and a set of four large pedestals in the center. A door on the far end remained sealed shut, heavy iron locks bolted into place. James eyed the pedestals warily. ¡°Alright. Who wants to bet stepping on the wrong one gets us killed?¡± Lyra raised a hand. ¡°I¡¯ll take that bet.¡± Riona walked up to the carvings, running a gloved hand over the symbols. ¡°These markings¡­ they¡¯re not just decoration.¡± Lillian stepped closer, studying them. ¡°They¡¯re different from the rest of the dungeon. Older.¡± Garrick crossed his arms. ¡°So what, we just start guessing?¡± James stepped forward, inspecting the pedestals. Each had a different symbol carved into its surface¡ªsimilar to the ones on the walls. Four options. Four pedestals. Then he noticed something. On the far left wall, one symbol was slightly more faded than the others. James pointed. ¡°That one¡¯s different.¡± Lyra followed his gaze. ¡°...You think it¡¯s the key?¡± ¡°Only one way to find out.¡± James placed a hand on the corresponding pedestal. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the air shifted¡ªand the door unlocked with a heavy clang. Riona exhaled. ¡°Huh. That was almost too easy.¡± James narrowed his eyes. ¡°Yeah. Which means the next part probably won¡¯t be.¡± As if on cue, the moment they stepped past the threshold, the ceiling rumbled¡ªand the walls started closing in. Lillian groaned. ¡°Spoke too soon.¡± James sprinted forward. ¡°RUN!¡± The group bolted down the corridor as the walls lurched inward, grinding against the stone floor. The passage wasn¡¯t long, but every second counted. James heard Lyra curse as she slipped on the uneven ground¡ªhe grabbed her by the arm, yanking her forward just before a section of wall slammed shut behind them. Riona dived through the narrowing gap, rolling to her feet. Garrick was the last one through, barely making it before the stone sealed shut. The room fell into silence. They had made it. James let out a breath. ¡°Okay. So, puzzles are still bullshit.¡± Lillian laughed breathlessly. ¡°Yeah, no arguments there.¡± Garrick cracked his neck. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± Riona pointed ahead. ¡°That.¡± James followed her gaze. At the center of the room stood a massive, circular door, carved with intricate patterns. Unlike the previous locks, this one had no obvious mechanism. Lyra squinted at the carvings. ¡°Looks like another puzzle.¡± James sighed. ¡°Great.¡± But as he stepped closer, something about the door felt different. The air around it was¡­ wrong. James frowned. And then¡ª The door moved. Not opened. Not unlocked. It shifted, unfurling, like something beneath it had just woken up. And suddenly, James was very sure this wasn¡¯t just another puzzle. This was something worse. Something alive. Lyra took a slow step back. ¡°Uh¡­ guys?¡± Then the grinding started. Deep. Mechanical. And in the center of the door, a single, burning red eye snapped open. James froze. And then, without warning¡ª The dungeon shifted again. Chapter 23: The Awakening The air in the chamber grew thick as the massive stone door twisted and unfurled, revealing something that was never meant to be seen. The glowing red eye in its center pulsed like a dying star, its gaze locking onto the intruders who had made it this far. James felt a chill crawl up his spine. This wasn¡¯t just another dungeon boss. This thing was aware. ¡°Uh¡­ guys?¡± Lyra¡¯s voice was quiet, tense. Then the grinding grew louder. The stone itself groaned like a living creature in agony as the entire room shifted, the walls around them twisting unnaturally. Symbols flared to life along the edges of the chamber, bathing everything in an eerie, blood-red glow. Then, the eye blinked. And the world snapped sideways. James¡¯s stomach lurched as gravity shifted¡ªor maybe reality itself did. One second he was standing on solid ground, the next he was tumbling sideways through the air. The entire party was thrown apart, scattering across the shifting battlefield. James hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop against a jagged stone outcrop. He groaned, pushing himself up¡ªjust in time to see it move. The door was no longer just a door. It unfolded into something impossible¡ªa massive, twisting structure of stone and metal, shifting like clockwork mechanisms that shouldn¡¯t exist. The eye at its center stretched unnaturally, splitting into three separate pupils, each burning with violent intent. [??? has awakened.] James barely had time to register the system notification before the boss attacked. A piercing hum filled the air, growing into a deafening screech as the entity vanished¡ªnot teleported, not moved, just ceased to be in one place and was suddenly in another. Right next to Riona. She barely had time to react before one of its twisted, shifting appendages pierced clean through her chest. Riona choked, eyes wide, before she was yanked backward¡ªher body vanishing into the void that pulsed at the center of the entity. Then she was gone. ¡°WHAT THE FUCK?!¡± Lillian shouted. No death screen. No respawn notification. Just gone. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. James barely had time to process it before the boss shifted again. It flickered¡ªappearing behind Garrick this time. The warrior spun, raising his shield¡ª Too slow. The boss imploded into itself, dragging him forward in an instant. One second he was there¡ªthe next, his body crumpled unnaturally, vanishing into the shifting mass. Lillian loosed an arrow in panic¡ªonly for it to twist midair and fly backward, striking her in the shoulder. She staggered, stunned for a half-second¡ªjust enough time for the boss to reappear in front of her. ¡°No, no, NO¡ª¡± Gone. James couldn¡¯t move. He couldn¡¯t breathe. His brain was screaming at him to do something, but what the fuck were they even fighting?! Lyra grabbed his arm, her eyes wide with panic. ¡°James. Run.¡± The boss moved. They didn¡¯t even get the chance to react. The last thing James saw was the entity¡¯s burning red gaze locking onto him, the void at its core stretching open¡ª Then, nothing.
James barely had time to react before everything went black. For a moment, there was nothing. No sound, no feeling, just an overwhelming emptiness that swallowed him whole. Then¡ª SCREAMING. Not from his team. From himself. He was back home. Sitting at his desk. The same monitor. The same chair. The same dim glow of his screen. But something was wrong. His hands weren¡¯t moving. He wasn¡¯t controlling them. He turned¡ªonly to see his own reflection in the darkened monitor. And it wasn¡¯t moving with him. It was grinning. James opened his mouth, but his reflection spoke first. "You''re not supposed to be here." The screen flickered. His keyboard melted away. The walls of his room stretched, distorting into something alien. His reflection twisted, the grin widening¡ªsplitting his face open into something monstrous¡ª And then¡ª Light. He gasped, reality snapping back into place. The void was gone. The dungeon was back. The boss loomed ahead, its massive, shifting form pulsing with darkness. His team was staggering to their feet, each looking shaken, pale, like they¡¯d seen something worse than death itself. Riona cursed under her breath. ¡°Okay. That was¡ª¡± She didn¡¯t finish. Just shook it off and tightened her grip on her spear. James didn¡¯t need to ask. They had all seen something. And they all knew what had to happen next. No running. No resetting. No regrouping. They were going to kill this thing. Lyra was the first to move, vanishing in a blur of speed as she went for a precise strike. The boss rippled, void tendrils lashing out, but this time, they were ready. Garrick met the attack head-on, his shield absorbing the impact as James and Riona closed in from the sides. Lillian fired shot after shot, pinning the boss in place. It fought back harder this time. The void pulses came quicker. The nightmares returned. But they pushed through. Through the fear. Through the exhaustion. Through the goddamn trauma it tried to force down their throats. James drove his blade deep into the shifting mass at its core, his cursed sword drinking in the darkness. The creature screamed¡ªa horrible, warping sound¡ªbefore its form collapsed in on itself. And then, just like that¡ª It was dead. The dungeon rumbled. The oppressive weight of the void lifted. And as they stood there, catching their breath, the reality of their victory sank in. James wiped the sweat from his brow. ¡°Well. That sucked.¡± Lyra let out a weak laugh. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s not do that again.¡± Lillian groaned. ¡°Too bad we still have the rest of the dungeon.¡± Garrick rolled his shoulders. ¡°At least we¡¯re still standing.¡± Riona nudged the boss¡¯s remains with her boot. ¡°Barely.¡± James glanced around. The fight had taken a toll, but they had won. And in the end, that was what mattered. For now. Because if this dungeon was anything to go by? There was worse ahead. Chapter 24: The Rematch The dungeon corridors twisted before them, the air thick with tension. James clenched his sword, his grip tight. They knew what was coming. The boss room loomed ahead. The place where they had been wiped out before. The moment they stepped inside, the air rippled. A familiar, towering nightmare of steel and void stood in the center of the chamber, its armor shifting unnaturally, like reality itself couldn¡¯t decide what shape it should take. Its jagged greatsword pulsed with a sickly crimson glow. It tilted its head, as if remembering them. Then, without warning¡ª It vanished. James barely had time to shout before the boss reappeared behind them, blade already descending. CLANG! Garrick just managed to block, but the force of the impact sent him skidding backward. It teleported again. This time, it appeared at the room¡¯s edge, already mid-swing as it targeted Lillian. She rolled just in time, an arrow nocked as she spun to fire¡ª But it was gone again. The boss reappeared behind James, blade coming down fast. James had no choice¡ªhe raised his sword to block. For a brief moment, the cursed blade hummed, absorbing the force of the impact. A strange pull surged through him, the same dark connection as before. The boss staggered, its weapon¡¯s glow flickering. Riona didn¡¯t hesitate. She lunged forward, her spear thrusting for its chest¡ªbut the boss blinked away at the last second. ¡°Fucking¡ªstay still!¡± she snarled. James grit his teeth. It wasn¡¯t just attacking. It was toying with them. They had to force it to stay in one place. He glanced at Lyra. ¡°Got anything that can slow it down?¡± She smirked. ¡°You¡¯ll owe me.¡± With a blur of movement, she darted forward, daggers flashing as she baited an attack. The boss took the bait, blade carving the air where she had been¡ª But she was already gone. Before it could teleport away again, she flung something at its feet¡ªsmall, glass-like spheres. They shattered on impact. A thick, sticky substance spread out, crackling with energy. James¡¯s UI flickered.
Boss movement slowed.
Lyra flipped back. ¡°That won¡¯t hold long!¡± It was enough. James lunged, his sword connecting as the curse surged through him. The boss shuddered, the void energy inside it flickering erratically. Lillian fired a rapid volley¡ªeach arrow hitting weak spots in the armor. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Garrick charged, his axe crashing into its side. Riona drove her spear deep into the exposed joint in its chest. The boss roared, its body flickering¡ªtrying to teleport¡ª But the energy collapsed inward instead. James saw his moment. He drove his sword deep into the void core in its chest, letting the cursed energy consume it. A horrible, mechanical screech filled the chamber. The boss twitched, struggling¡ª Then¡ª It imploded. Void energy tore through the room, vanishing into nothing. The boss crumbled, its armor dissolving into dust. Silence. Then¡ª THUD. The last remnants of its form hit the ground. They had won. James exhaled, heart still hammering. His sword, still buried in the dust of the boss¡¯s remains, pulsed faintly before settling into silence. Riona slumped against the nearest stone pillar. ¡°That felt way better than last time.¡± Lillian let out a breathless laugh, wiping sweat from her brow. ¡°And it only took us, what, four deaths?¡± Garrick grunted. ¡°We¡¯ll call it ¡®experience.¡¯¡± Lyra wiped blood from her cheek and kicked at a stray piece of void-tainted metal, her daggers still in hand. ¡°Yeah, well, let¡¯s not get cocky. That thing almost killed us again.¡±. James sheathed his sword, staring at the faint, unnatural scorch marks left behind from the fight. The room still felt off¡ªlike the void hadn¡¯t fully let go yet. Then, a familiar chime rang in his head. Then, a familiar chime rang in his head.
[BOSS DEFEATED]XP Gained: +5,700 XPLoot Available
James¡¯s UI flickered, a faint glow appearing in the air near the boss¡¯s remains. ¡°Loot¡¯s here,¡± he announced, stepping toward it. A dark chest had materialized where the boss had died, its surface rippling unnaturally, like it wasn¡¯t fully part of this world. ¡°Alright,¡± Riona stretched. ¡°Moment of truth.¡± James reached forward and opened it. The rewards were immediately split into separate slots¡ªeach of them getting their own individual loot. James¡¯s eyes locked onto his prize. A void-warped gauntlet, sleek and unnaturally dark, sat in his inventory.
[Shadowgrasp Gauntlet] Type: Magic GearEffect: Enhances void-based abilities.
Slight chance to resist teleport-based attacks. His stomach twisted. Void-based abilities? Was that¡­ related to his sword? Lillian whistled. ¡°Well, whatever you got, it looks important.¡± Riona grinned, holding up her own loot¡ªa thin, jagged dagger with an eerie purple sheen. ¡°Damn. This thing just feels deadly.¡± Garrick inspected a heavy shoulder plate, testing its weight. ¡°Void-forged. Sturdy.¡± Lyra tilted her head at her own reward¡ªa thin black chain that coiled unnaturally. ¡°This thing¡¯s weird. But I like it.¡± James flexed his hand, feeling the gauntlet settle against his skin. Something about this dungeon wasn¡¯t just traps and monsters. It was giving them pieces of itself. He glanced around. The boss room wasn¡¯t just a battlefield¡ªit was an old, ruined chamber, the walls lined with strange engravings, almost entirely eroded by time. Lillian knelt, running a hand along the symbols. ¡°These markings¡­ they¡¯re even older than the ones in the rest of the dungeon.¡± Garrick crossed his arms. ¡°Think they tell us what this place actually is?¡± James frowned. ¡°Or was.¡± The void energy hadn¡¯t disappeared completely¡ªit lingered, faint wisps curling near the walls. This dungeon had been more than just a death trap. It had history. And whatever had been here before¡­ wasn¡¯t gone yet. Lyra sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you guys, but I¡¯d rather think about creepy dungeon lore when we¡¯re not exhausted and half-dead.¡± Riona stretched. ¡°Agreed. Let¡¯s find a place to rest.¡± James glanced at the exit¡ªanother passage leading deeper. They had won that fight, But the dungeon wasn¡¯t over yet. Chapter 25: Deeper into the Unknown The air in the boss chamber still felt tainted, the remnants of void energy clinging to the stone like an invisible fog. James flexed his fingers inside his new gauntlet, feeling the faint hum of void magic pulsing through it. The fight had been brutal, but they¡¯d finally won. They were still standing. But the dungeon wasn¡¯t done with them. A single pathway led out of the chamber, deeper into the unknown. The boss they¡¯d just fought had been an obstacle, not the final challenge. Lyra adjusted her daggers. ¡°So. Are we taking bets on whether this next area is worse?¡± Riona snorted. ¡°I¡¯m assuming yes. Always bet on yes.¡± Garrick cracked his neck. ¡°Then let¡¯s not waste time.¡± James took the lead, stepping forward cautiously. The walls here were different¡ªsmoother, the carvings more intricate, as if whatever civilization had built this place had put more effort into this part of the dungeon. The deeper they went, the colder it became. Not just physically¡ªbut a bone-deep chill that made James instinctively tighten his grip on his sword. The last time he¡¯d felt something like this had been when the boss pulled him into the void. Lillian exhaled sharply, rubbing her arms. ¡°Yeah. This place has ¡®bad idea¡¯ written all over it.¡± Riona glanced at the walls. ¡°Whatever¡¯s ahead¡­ it¡¯s different from the rest of the dungeon.¡± James slowed as the corridor opened into a massive chamber. At first glance, it looked empty. No enemies. No traps. Just a single stone bridge stretching across an abyss, leading to another set of doors on the far side. The problem? The bridge looked wrong. Parts of it were floating, disconnected, held in place by what looked like shimmering energy. Some sections looked stable¡ªothers pulsed with the same void essence the boss had used. Lyra scowled. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t trust that.¡± Garrick grunted. ¡°Agreed.¡± James studied the bridge carefully. There had to be a trick to it. Then he saw it. On the far side of the chamber, a faintly glowing sigil was etched into the wall. A rune, similar to the ones they¡¯d seen before. James exhaled. ¡°Alright. My guess? The bridge isn¡¯t just some broken mess. It¡¯s probably a puzzle.¡± Lillian sighed. ¡°Because of course it is.¡± Riona smirked. ¡°Hey, at least it¡¯s not a room full of instant-kill teleporting monsters.¡± Lyra shuddered. ¡°Yet.¡± James stepped forward, reaching out with his void-warped gauntlet toward one of the unstable sections. The moment his fingers brushed the air above it, the shimmering energy pulsed¡ªand a section of the bridge shifted. James took a step back. ¡°Okay. That did something.¡± Riona narrowed her eyes. ¡°Try it again.¡± James focused, channeling a small amount of magic through the gauntlet. This time, the energy responded, causing a pathway to form¡ªthe floating sections clicking into place, one after another. James grinned. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve got a key to this place.¡± Lyra folded her arms. ¡°That¡¯s great and all, but, uh¡­ what happens if you let go?¡± James hesitated. Then, as if to answer the question for him, the bridge started coming apart again. Lillian swore. ¡°Oh, come on.¡± James clenched his fist, forcing the bridge to reform. ¡°Alright. New rule: I don¡¯t stop until we¡¯re across.¡± Riona nodded. ¡°Then we move fast.¡± They hurried across, one step at a time, James keeping his focus locked on the shifting bridge. The moment they were halfway, however¡ª The dungeon reacted. A low, distant hum echoed through the chamber, followed by the sound of stone shifting. Then, from the abyss below¡ª Something moved. James didn¡¯t see it. But he felt it. A deep, thrumming pulse of void energy, far stronger than anything they had faced so far. The bridge lurched beneath them. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Lillian yelped, nearly stumbling as the path flickered. Lyra drew her daggers. ¡°Uh. Guys?¡± James¡¯s heartbeat spiked. ¡°MOVE!¡± They sprinted, pushing toward the far side. The void presence below wasn¡¯t attacking¡ªyet¡ªbut James had a feeling that if they stayed too long, it wouldn¡¯t stay passive. They reached the final stretch¡ª And then the sigil on the far wall ignited. A wave of energy rippled through the room¡ª And the bridge collapsed. James lunged, grabbing the closest ledge as the others barely made it to safety. His grip slipped¡ª Then Garrick¡¯s massive hand closed around his wrist. ¡°Got you.¡± With a single, powerful pull, he hauled James up. James collapsed onto solid ground, breathing hard. ¡°...Okay. That sucked.¡± Lyra groaned. ¡°Yeah, no kidding.¡± James looked up at the door ahead. The dungeon was testing them. And whatever was waiting behind that door¡­ Was going to be worse.
James pushed himself up, shaking off the lingering ache in his muscles. The bridge was gone, swallowed into the abyss below. There was no turning back now. Riona exhaled. ¡°Okay. I don¡¯t know what the hell that was, but I¡¯m gonna assume we just woke something up.¡± Lillian adjusted her quiver, glancing back at the void. ¡°Yeah, and I¡¯d rather not find out what.¡± James turned toward the massive stone door before them. Unlike the others they¡¯d encountered, this one wasn¡¯t locked¡ªno puzzle, no mechanisms. Just waiting. That felt more ominous than anything. Lyra folded her arms. ¡°So, what¡¯s the over-under on something trying to kill us the second we open that?¡± James sighed. ¡°I¡¯d say a hundred percent.¡± Garrick rolled his shoulders. ¡°Then let¡¯s get it over with.¡± They pushed the heavy door open. What lay beyond was wrong. The room stretched outward in a way that didn¡¯t make sense. The walls curved too far, the ceiling loomed too high. It was like the space inside was bigger than it should be. And at the center¡ª A pedestal stood, carved from the same void-infused stone as the rest of the dungeon. On it sat a single object¡ªa black, crystalline shard, pulsing faintly with dark energy. James felt it immediately. The same unsettling hum as before, like the very air was vibrating in response to it. His gauntlet reacted, the runes glowing faintly. Lyra didn¡¯t move closer. ¡°That thing is screaming ¡®bad idea.¡¯¡± Lillian frowned. ¡°So¡­ do we take it?¡± James hesitated. The last time he¡¯d grabbed something that felt cursed, he¡¯d ended up with void tattoos and an affinity for summoning monsters. But something about the shard felt different. Stronger. Older. James took a slow step forward. The moment his boot touched the inner ring of the chamber, the air rippled. A low growl echoed from the walls. Then¡ª The entire room shifted. The pedestal sank into the floor, vanishing. The void energy surrounding it spread outward, coiling through the air like living shadows. And from those shadows¡ª Something stepped forward. It didn¡¯t have a definite shape at first¡ªjust a swirling, amorphous mass of darkness. Then, slowly, it took form. A figure, humanoid but not. Its body was jagged, fragmented like cracked glass, glowing with deep purple veins of energy. Its face was a twisted, shifting mask, two burning white eyes glaring through the void. It spoke¡ªexcept it wasn¡¯t words. It was a feeling, a pressure in the back of James¡¯s skull. ¡°You do not belong here.¡± James barely had time to react before the creature lunged. He barely dodged, rolling aside as a razor-thin claw of void energy slashed through where he¡¯d just stood. The stone behind him shattered instantly. ¡°Oh, good,¡± Riona muttered. ¡°Another boss fight.¡± Lillian loosed an arrow mid-sentence. It struck the creature¡¯s torso¡ª And phased right through it. ¡°Okay,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s a problem.¡± James pushed up, gripping his sword tighter. Magic attacks, then? He reached out, channeling energy into his necromantic tattoos¡ª Only to feel the magic fizzle the moment it left his body. The void ate it. James swore under his breath. ¡°We can¡¯t use magic here.¡± Garrick stepped up, swinging his axe with both hands. The blade met resistance, but the impact was dull¡ªlike swinging into something half-real. The creature twisted, moving in a way that shouldn¡¯t have been possible. It teleported, vanishing into a swirl of shadows before reappearing behind them. James barely had time to shout before the void being reached out¡ª And reality ripped open. For a fraction of a second, James wasn¡¯t in the dungeon anymore. He was somewhere else. A void. An endless, suffocating black abyss, stretching in all directions. A whispering filled his mind¡ªdisjointed voices, speaking words that meant nothing, but still felt like they were meant for him. Then¡ª He was back. But only a second had passed. Lyra was on her knees, shaking, gripping her head. Riona was breathing hard, her expression pale. Lillian was blinking rapidly, her bow half-raised but her hands unsteady. Only Garrick seemed unaffected, gripping his axe tighter. James¡¯s pulse was hammering. What the hell was that? The creature laughed¡ªa distorted, broken sound. James grit his teeth. ¡°Alright. New plan.¡± He lunged. If magic wasn¡¯t going to work, then maybe brute force would. He slashed low, aiming for its legs. His blade met resistance this time¡ªa crackle of void energy, like the creature had only partially phased. It hissed, flickering out of existence¡ª Then reappeared behind him. James barely twisted in time as a claw raked across his side. His HP bar plummeted. Lyra recovered first, lunging in with her daggers. She struck fast, her blades cutting shadows¡ªbut not flesh. Riona came in next, switching from her spear to a shortsword, her movements more precise. The creature still teleported unpredictably, but they were learning¡ªwatching for the telltale flickers before it vanished. Then¡ª Lillian found a weakness. Her arrows didn¡¯t work normally¡ªbut when she fired just as the creature reappeared, mid-teleport¡ª The arrow hit solidly, sinking into its mask-like face. The creature screeched, its body flickering violently. Garrick took the opening, stepping forward with a full-force overhead swing. The axe connected, cracking through void energy. James didn¡¯t hesitate. He lunged in, sword aimed for the core of its chest. The creature tried to teleport away¡ªbut its form wavered, unstable. James drove his blade straight through it. The void being let out a piercing wail, its entire form breaking apart, unraveling into the darkness from which it came. Then¡ª Silence. The room was still again. James took a shaky breath. His HP was low, and his mind still reeled from whatever he¡¯d experienced in that split-second of nothingness. Lyra wiped sweat from her brow. ¡°...That sucked.¡± Riona sheathed her sword. ¡°Agreed.¡± Lillian frowned. ¡°Was that another boss, or are we just fighting the dungeon itself at this point?¡± Garrick grunted. ¡°Not dead. That¡¯s what matters.¡± James turned to the now-empty pedestal where the void shard had been. The object itself was gone¡ªabsorbed into the dungeon. But something else had appeared. A pathway, leading deeper in. James exhaled. ¡°We¡¯re not done yet.¡± Lyra groaned. ¡°Of course we aren¡¯t.¡± But despite the exhaustion, the injuries, and the sheer bullshit of the dungeon¡ª They stepped forward anyway. Chapter 26: The Whispering Void The corridor stretched endlessly before them. The walls, once solid stone, had begun to shift¡ªblack veins of void energy pulsed faintly, cracks of deep purple light seeping through. The air was thicker, charged with something James couldn''t describe. It wasn''t just magic¡ªit felt alive, like the dungeon itself was watching. Nobody spoke. There was a weight pressing on them, a sense of wrongness that deepened with every step. Even Garrick, who had remained steady through all their trials, tightened his grip on his axe. Then, they reached the room. James stepped in first, and his breath hitched. The space before them wasn¡¯t normal. A massive chamber stretched outward, yet there were no walls¡ªno ceiling, no floor. Instead, a vast expanse of stars surrounded them, swirling with cosmic blues and purples. A nebula of shifting light and shadow, stretching infinitely in all directions. At the center of it all¡ª A path. A thin, smooth bridge of black stone, extending into nothingness. It wasn''t connected to anything on the other side. It simply... ended. Vanishing into the void. ¡°...I don¡¯t like this,¡± Lyra murmured. Lillian took a cautious step forward, peering over the edge. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ space? But, like, actual space.¡± James felt something stir inside him. A pulse. His tattoos ignited, glowing a brilliant, searing white. He clenched his fists as the energy rushed through him, stronger than ever before. His breathing quickened. The void was reacting to him¡ªno, it was recognizing him. Then¡ª He appeared. A figure materialized at the end of the path, where the bridge met the abyss. At first, it was just shadows, shifting and flickering, forming into something almost human. Then, the details sharpened. The man was tall¡ªtoo tall, his proportions subtly wrong. His body was not solid, but instead a swirling mass of darkness, flecked with distant stars. His face was featureless, save for two piercing white eyes, hollow and endless. He didn¡¯t move. He simply existed, as if he had always been there. Then, a voice. Not with words. Not with sound. A feeling. A presence pressing into James¡¯s mind. ¡°You have come far.¡± James staggered, clutching his head. The others reacted instantly, weapons drawn¡ª ¡°Stop!¡± James hissed, holding up a hand. The presence wasn¡¯t hostile. It was¡­ curious. James swallowed hard and looked back at the figure. The moment their gazes met, his tattoos flared brighter, burning like hot embers against his skin. The man¡¯s head tilted slightly. Then, again, the voice. ¡°You bear the mark of the Forgotten.¡± James¡¯s pulse thundered. ¡°The¡­ what?¡± he managed. The figure didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he raised a hand, fingers elongated and unnatural. A tendril of void energy stretched forward¡ª James tensed, but the touch wasn¡¯t painful. Instead, his tattoos reacted violently, the symbols shifting, warping. Memories flashed through his mind¡ªvisions of shattered worlds, of figures like this one, standing before him in an endless abyss. Then, the being spoke again, its voice like a whisper in the vastness. ¡°Tell me¡­ Do you hear them yet?¡± James felt something stirring in the back of his mind. A whisper. A voice just beyond his reach. And for the first time, he realized¡ª This wasn''t just a dungeon. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. This place was something else entirely.
The whisper lingered in James¡¯s mind, sinking beneath his skin like an echo of something ancient¡ªsomething he wasn¡¯t sure he was ready to understand. The others stood frozen behind him, weapons still drawn, but they weren¡¯t moving. They couldn¡¯t. James realized, with a jolt of horror, that time had stopped for them. Lillian¡¯s bow was half-raised. Riona had a foot slightly off the ground. Garrick¡¯s fingers had just begun to tighten around his axe. But none of them moved. Only James remained free. And the void-like figure was waiting. ¡°Do you hear them yet?¡± The voice slipped through his mind again, pushing deeper. This time, James swore he almost heard something¡ªwhispers at the edges of his consciousness, too faint to make sense of. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to steady his breathing. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡± The being¡¯s hollow eyes seemed to glow brighter, like distant stars burning in the dark. ¡°You will.¡± James shivered. ¡°Who are you?¡± The figure didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, the tendril of void energy extending from its hand twisted, stretching further toward James. The moment it brushed against his arm, his tattoos burned hotter, the glowing runes shifting and reshaping as if reacting to something long-forgotten. A flood of visions surged through his mind. A world swallowed by darkness.Cities crumbling into nothingness.Figures like this one¡ªtall, hollow-eyed beings¡ªstanding among the stars, watching as existence unraveled. Then¡ªsomething worse. Something beyond them. A presence deeper than the void itself. James gasped, stumbling back as the vision shattered, leaving him breathless. The void figure lowered its hand. ¡°You carry the mark.¡± James''s heart thundered in his chest. ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°It means you are already chosen.¡± James felt his breath hitch. The whispers in the back of his mind grew louder, just for a moment. Then¡ª The others began moving again. Riona blinked in confusion. Lillian¡¯s bow snapped up in a ready position. Garrick took another step forward, his axe raised. Time had resumed. Lyra¡¯s eyes darted between James and the figure. ¡°Uh, what the hell just happened?¡± James didn¡¯t answer¡ªbecause he wasn¡¯t sure himself. The void-being slowly lowered its head, as if acknowledging their presence now. Then, the stars behind it shifted¡ªthe nebula twisted, rippling outward like a disturbance in water. It was leaving. James took a step forward. ¡°Wait!¡± The being paused, tilting its head slightly. James struggled for words, his mind still reeling. There were a thousand questions¡ªtoo many to ask. But one burned more than the rest. ¡°¡­What happens now?¡± The being¡¯s hollow gaze seemed to stare straight through him. Then¡ª ¡°You will understand soon.¡± And with that, it was gone. The stars swallowed it, the nebulous void folding in on itself until the path before them was empty once more. The only sign it had ever been there was the faint hum still lingering in James¡¯s tattoos. Silence stretched between them. Then¡ª Riona exhaled sharply. ¡°Okay. I¡¯m just gonna say it¡ªwhat the fuck was that?¡± James shook his head, running a hand over his arm. His tattoos still glowed faintly, but they were fading now, returning to their usual dim markings. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know.¡± Garrick narrowed his eyes. ¡°But it had something to do with you.¡± James didn¡¯t deny it. Lyra stepped closer, watching him carefully. ¡°Your tattoos were burning white when that thing touched you. You know something about this, don¡¯t you?¡± James hesitated. Did he? He had seen something. Felt something. But the answers were still just out of reach, like a puzzle with missing pieces. Finally, he shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything for sure. But¡­ I think I was supposed to see that.¡± Lillian let out a slow breath. ¡°Alright. So, we just¡­ move on? Pretend we didn¡¯t have a creepy mind-melting chat with a void guy?¡± James turned back to the path. The bridge leading into the stars was still there. But now, at the far end, another door had appeared. It hadn¡¯t been there before. James swallowed hard. ¡°¡­I think we¡¯re meant to keep going.¡± Garrick grunted. ¡°Great. Let¡¯s hope the next room isn¡¯t full of more reality-warping nightmares.¡± Lillian sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t jinx it.¡± They stepped forward, leaving the vast void behind them¡ª But James couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something had changed. That whatever path they were on¡ª They had just taken another step toward something far, far bigger than any dungeon. Chapter 27: Echoes of the Forgotten James sat by the flickering campfire, staring into the embers as exhaustion settled deep into his bones. He wasn¡¯t sure how long they¡¯d been down here. There were no sunrises, no nightfalls¡ªonly the endless, shifting corridors of the dungeon. But after that last encounter, his body felt drained in a way that told him they needed to stop, at least for a while. "We should rest," James muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "No clue what time it is, but it¡¯s gotta be ¡®night¡¯ by now." Garrick grunted, dropping his pack to the floor with a heavy thud. ¡°No arguments here.¡± Riona stretched, rolling her shoulders. "Hell of a day. Almost getting erased from reality really takes it out of you." Lillian sat beside Lyra, fidgeting with the fletching on her arrows. "You think the dungeon sleeps when we do?" Lyra snorted. "Not a chance." Despite that, none of them seemed keen on pushing forward just yet. They found a small alcove off to the side of the corridor, just big enough to keep them out of immediate sight. A few makeshift torches gave the illusion of warmth, though the ever-present void energy in the dungeon made the air feel cold and hollow. James let out a slow breath, leaning back against the stone wall. The dim glow of the fire made the shadows dance against the cavern walls, shifting in ways that made his stomach churn. It reminded him too much of what he¡¯d seen in the last room. Of the void. Of what he was. He clenched his fists and shut his eyes. Then¡ª A memory surfaced.
He was a child again, no more than six or seven, curled up in bed under a thick, woolen blanket. His father sat beside him, the dim lantern light flickering against the wooden walls of their small home. His father¡¯s voice was deep, soothing, as he told the story¡ªthe same one he¡¯d told James many times before. ¡°A long time ago,¡± his father began, ¡°there were people who didn¡¯t belong to this world. Not entirely, anyway. They were something... in-between. Forgotten by time, lost to the void itself. But they weren¡¯t dead, not really. They existed in a place beyond understanding, in the spaces between reality. And sometimes... sometimes, they whispered to those who could hear them.¡± James remembered how he¡¯d clung to his blanket, wide-eyed. ¡°Were they bad?¡± His father had chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°No, son. Not bad. Just... different. People feared them because they didn¡¯t understand them. But the Forgotten were never truly gone. Their blood still runs through the veins of those who remain.¡± He leaned in, his expression more serious. ¡°Our family, James... we come from them.¡± James had shivered at the words, though he didn¡¯t fully understand them at the time. He only knew that his father spoke with the kind of weight that meant it was important. That it was something he needed to remember.
James snapped back to reality, his breath coming faster. The fire was still there. His friends were still there. But for a moment, it had felt so real¡ªlike he was truly back in that small home, listening to his father¡¯s voice. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. He exhaled shakily. What the hell was happening to him? The tattoos on his skin pulsed faintly. He swallowed hard, willing himself to push the memory aside. He needed rest. Actual rest. Shifting against the stone floor, James closed his eyes again and let sleep take him.
This time, his dreams did not belong to him. He was floating. Or maybe he was falling. It was impossible to tell in the endless void stretching around him. Stars shimmered in the distance, nebulas swirling with slow, hypnotic movement. The colors were deep¡ªblues, purples, and the cold black of something endless. And then¡ªshapes. Figures forming in the darkness. They weren¡¯t human. Not entirely. Their bodies were made of shadow, barely outlined against the void, yet their eyes burned like distant galaxies. They whispered, though their words were not in any language James had ever heard. Still, he understood them. You are of us. You have forgotten. But we remember. James tried to speak, but his voice didn¡¯t carry in the void. The figures shifted. Some seemed familiar, like faded memories he couldn¡¯t grasp. Others were nothing more than silhouettes, specters of something long lost. Then, out of the darkness, another figure emerged. Unlike the others, this one had form¡ªa towering, ancient man, draped in flowing robes that seemed woven from the very fabric of the void itself. His face was hidden beneath a deep hood, but when he spoke, it was directly into James¡¯s mind. You are not ready to remember. James felt a chill crawl down his spine. ¡°Remember what?¡± The void-man lifted a hand, and suddenly, James¡¯s tattoos burned with an intense, searing light. The glow spread across his body, illuminating the darkness around him. It is not time. James gritted his teeth. ¡°Who are you?¡± The figure took a step closer, void energy rippling in his wake. I am the last of what was forgotten. The words echoed in his mind, carrying weight beyond their meaning. James¡¯s vision blurred. The dream was slipping¡ªfading, pulling away from him like a receding tide. The last thing he heard before everything went black was the void-man¡¯s final whisper: You will find us again. Then¡ª Silence. And James woke up.
His breath came fast, his body slick with sweat. The fire had burned lower, casting faint shadows against the cavern walls. His heart pounded in his chest as he sat up, trying to shake the lingering presence of the dream. But he couldn¡¯t. Because his tattoos were still glowing. And as he stared at the markings, another memory surfaced¡ªthis time, one even older.
He was a child again. The air smelled of old books and candle wax, the dim glow of his bedside lamp casting long shadows along the walls. He lay beneath thick blankets, staring up at his father¡ªa man with sharp eyes and a tired smile¡ªwho sat at the edge of the bed, telling him a story. Not just any story. The story. The one he had asked for over and over again. The one about the people who were forgotten. ¡°Long ago, before the world was set in stone, there was a place beyond the stars,¡± his father murmured. ¡°A realm that was not darkness, but something deeper. A place where the First People lived.¡± James remembered how he had curled into his blankets, wide-eyed. ¡°The First People?¡± His father nodded. ¡°They were not gods, not in the way we think of them. They were wanderers, dreamers. They walked between the stars, leaving footprints in the void. But they were forgotten. Their names were lost, their history erased¡ªnot by war, not by time, but by something worse.¡± James swallowed. ¡°What?¡± His father leaned in slightly, voice barely a whisper. ¡°They forgot themselves.¡± A shiver had run down James¡¯s spine, just as it did now in the dungeon, as the memory played out in perfect detail. ¡°Without memory, they faded. Not dead, not gone, but¡­ misplaced. Lost between the cracks of reality. And only one thing can bring them back.¡± James gripped his blankets. ¡°What?¡± His father had smiled then¡ªjust slightly, but there was something sad behind it. ¡°Blood.¡± James had blinked, confused. ¡°Like¡­ like a sacrifice?¡± His father chuckled. ¡°No, James. A connection. A thread.¡± He reached out, tapping a finger against James¡¯s forehead. ¡°A memory strong enough to anchor them. Someone to remember them.¡± James furrowed his brows. ¡°But if they¡¯re forgotten, then who remembers?¡± His father¡¯s smile didn¡¯t fade, but the sadness in his eyes deepened. ¡°We do.¡± James sat up in bed. ¡°Who¡¯s ¡®we¡¯?¡± His father hesitated. Just for a second. And then he spoke, his voice softer than before. ¡°You¡¯ll understand one day.¡±