A frigid breeze blows across my face and I sit up looking around at the dark forest covered in snow. A thick fog rolls across the forest floor giving the already dark woods a not so inviting look.
My display has been altered, I have a set amount of supplies but my abilities, cash, and weapons are gone.
I grab Titan's leash leading him through the woods in a direction I feel comfortable going. My mini-map is foggy and doesn't show anything out of the area I've already walked.
I look around unable to see much I was summoned onto some type of stone platform with runes etched into it. This way looks like it was traveled at some point. The mounds in the snow with a horn-like rock sticking out looks interesting.
I make my way over slowly and touch the horn, Titan growls moving back and I stumble back as the snow shifts and a massive 6 armed bear rises from the snow roaring loudly. I take off running through the forest seeing more mounds waking up.
It's so hard to move through this thick snow. "Shit! Shit! Shit!"
This isn't good! I trip on a slope and slide down the snow seeing a large fissure in the ground that goes on for a while. I pull my ice pick out of my inventory stabbing it into the ground trying to catch onto something but all I'm getting is more and more snow. I catch on some rocks as I slide off the edge dangling into the darkness below.
I grab Titan by his harness as he slides towards me holding him with my free hand... I won't be able to hold us for long! I look up at the rocks feeling them shift slightly... come on think! The bears roar loudly shaking the ground causing the rocks to give. I let go wrapping my arms around Titan to keep him safe as we plummet.
I close my eyes expecting to land after a while but land sooner than I was expecting knocking the wind out of me. I gasp rolling over as Titan gets off me, I grab my chest unable to exhale as I gasp more eventually exhaling normally breathing heavily as I cough. "T-Titan are you okay?"
He licks my cheek gently and I pat his head. "I'll take that as a yes..."
I look up seeing that we didn't fall that far but it was a decent drop. We dropped onto the ledge of this cave it's a small little cove we can stay in until we catch our breath. I walk inside checking out the wall part of the wall looks like it could crumble at any moment. I don't want this thing to collapse so ill hold off on any mining.
The walls are glowing a light green color. I sit down against the wall creating a fire for both of us and seeing that I only have 3 days of food for myself makes this situation even worse. If I could have killed 1 of those bears we would be perfectly fine right now... I won't have the energy to get out of here like this.
I make some food for us and try to conserve energy. The food runs out quickly and I can't get up or down from this spot... I have already tried everything at this point and it's getting worse. Im starting to find it hard to think or keep my train of thought.
I've been trying to mark the days I've been here but I can't tell if any time has passed or it's just hunger induced hallucinations.
I sit in front of the fire staring at the flickering flame dance in a daze. The knife on my lap gleams as I look at Titan sleeping on my knee...
I could just...
I blink slowly taking my knife standing up walking over to the edge dropping it down into the abyss waiting for the clink to echo all the way back up. I turn walking back over sitting down. I used too much energy on that.
I hug my legs. Guess I'll just sleep...
I wake up to the sound of a deep growl seeing the primal look in Titan's eyes... he has reverted back to his primal state. These glowing green rocks might have something to do with that.
I don't have the energy to fight him or even stand... The fire is out now I look away for a moment and he pounces. I lay over as he hits the wall behind me causing it to collapse.
I pull myself away from him trying to get further into the cave. He jumps out of the rubble coming over jumping at me bitting down on my shoulder. I wince reaching around grabbing a rock holding it up ready to bash his head in.
I catch a glimpse of his face and drop the rock resting my hand on his head.
I lay back hearing a squeaking next to me. I turn my head seeing a large cave mouse hiding in a crevice. Titan was looking for these things all this time. I reach over grabbing it crushing its head with what strength I head throwing it against the wall making him run for it. I breathe heavily as my body feels like it's on fire.
I-Is this it? am I dying again...
I pass out quickly and burst awake in a warm pool of water. I look around at the crystals hanging from the ceiling in the cave. This place is beautiful... I look at my wound and it's healed this water is pure mana. I glance over seeing Titan laying on the bank looking at me flicking his tail back and forth to see if I'm mad as he sits there with a pile of dead mice.
I smile. "You're not yourself when you're hungry huh?"
He rushes over licking my face and I pet his head-hugging him. "I love you too boy, don't worry we'll get out of here together."
He rushes over nudging the mice to me. "Thanks... I'll save them for later."
I put them into my inventory to separate the meat and gross stuff. I look around the cave seeing a red crystal on the wall. I touch it almost burning myself its a fire crystal and a really big one. I walk over to the large door seeing runes all over it. This must be the exit!
I push on the door but it's not budging. I look at my display and have the runes deciphered I'm supposed to open it with mana. I put my hand against it using magic and the door bursts open with a blast of air blowing us back into the water.
I groan sitting up seeing a legendary horned bear walking out of the room. "Seriously! A bear!"
It roars loudly shaking the cave. I hurry and get out of the water. There is a portal gate behind it, if I can activate it we can get out of here, or at least that's what my display says. I try to get some distance between us but it swipes its paw and I feel a sharp pain in my arm. I look down seeing my left arm on the ground.
I scream in agony dropping to my knees holding my arm breathing heavily. I need to think come on! I pull my belt off wrapping it around what's left of my arm pulling it tight with my teeth looking at the ruby red crystal on the wall. I look away slightly bitting down on my jacket as I push it into the crystal groaning.
I clench my fist till my knuckles are white I try to throw up but have nothing in my stomach to barf out.
I gag and stand up trying to gather my wits. Titan is barking across the water getting the bear's attention. Is he trying to buy time for me?
I stagger towards the portal trying to walk straight and touch the crystal activating it. I hear a yelp seeing Titan laying in the water with some blood coming out of him slightly but he's still moving. The portal opens and I look at it then back at him.
I'm scared... I'm so scared... I could just-
I punch myself in the face as hard as I can for even thinking of abandoning him. Power surges through my veins as my rage overflows. The bear swings down at Titan and I hold my hand out forming black chains around Titan to block his attack. "Get away from him!"
The bear turns roaring at me. I vanish appearing in front of it kicking it in the chin making it stand on its hind legs. "Shut up."
I spin around kicking him in the stomach blowing him back against the wall. Chain snake down my arms forming two black crystal gauntlets. I vanish pounding the bear into the wall over and over and over again not letting up. Sending cracks and quakes through the ground and cave. Once I think he's had enough I step back letting him drop forward.
I catch him by his horn turning throwing him over towards the pond. I vanish kicking him up into the ceiling as he drops I hold my hands out slightly sending chains up wrapping around his arms and legs ripping all of them off at once. He roars loudly landing in the water in front of me.
I walk up his back grabbing him by the horn lifting his head looking down into his eyes. "Nobody fucks with my dog."
He groans and I shoot him in the head with a revolver that forms in my hand, his whole body turns to dust and I level up. I drop to my knees as the chains drop from around Titan. "Stay with me buddy I'm right here."
He has blood coming out of his side. I hold his stomach looking for a healing spell, I find it holding it over his wound. "Come on, Come on!"
He lifts his tail lightly leaning up licking my cheek weakly. "T-Titan come on... we are going back together stay with me."
Tears flow down my face clouding my vision as I close my eyes his wound still not healing. I look through my display. "Come on there has to be something!"
I find the contractor spell and buy it maxing it out to 20 right away. I hold my hand over his body. "By the contract, I bind my soul to this one for all eternity."
A warning echoes through the cave. "Warning, proceeding with this spell at the user's current level could cause permanent damage. Do you wish to proceed?"
I look up slightly. "Y-Yes!"
A chain goes into my chest and I gasp as my mana drains fast. I need to replenish it or the spell will stop! I reach down drinking the pure mana in the pond. My throat burns as my veins glow with power. It feels like acid is running through my veins eating me from the inside out. I keep going as my mana is drained and refilled over and over. The mind-numbing experience feels like it lasts for an eternity but it was probably only 2 minutes.
Titan grows to the size of a small truck and has a horn on his head with jet black fur instead of his original amber color. I lay forward on his chest hearing his heartbeat as I look at the completion screen for the spell. He speaks in a deep voice. "Master, why did you go so far for me? I am just your pet."
I reach up slightly touching his head. "I did it because you're my pet... we are family, I'm not going to abandon you."
He lifts his head looking at me. "Thank you, master, I will never forget what you've done for me."
I smile. "Good to know, lets get out of here."
He helps me up and we make our way over to the gate but before we enter a robotic voice echoes from the small room behind the gate. "Human I must say I am impressed at your determination and fighting spirit. I never thought id be able to witness what they call a battle of the heart but you have given me quite the show."