[THIRD PERSON POV]
Inside the dark and foreboding cave, the sound of footsteps echoed through the air, illuminated only by a bright white light emanating from Lyna's staff, which shone like a torch in the darkness. The team of adventurers, consisting of Lyna, the magician, Derek, the swordsman, and Theron, the thief, walked together, their senses on high alert.
Lyna held her staff firmly, the light at its tip casting eerie shadows on the walls. Derek walked beside her, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a mix of caution and curiosity. Theron, meanwhile, strolled casually alongside Lyna, his eyes darting back and forth, taking in every detail of their surroundings.
"How long have we been walking through this cave?" Derek asked, his voice low and cautious. Lyna glanced at him briefly before responding, "Only about five minutes, Derek. It'll probably take us a bit longer to reach the goblins. This place is bigger than I initially thought."
Theron nodded in agreement, his eyes never leaving the path ahead. "Yeah, it's definitely bigger than we anticipated. Maybe there are more goblins than usual. Let's stay alert, just in case."
Derek nodded, his grip on his sword hilt tightening slightly. The only sound was the soft crunch of gravel beneath their feet as they continued deeper into the cave. The air was heavy with an eerie silence, devoid of any signs of goblin activity.
"This is getting a bit creepy," Derek said, his voice barely above a whisper. "There's nothing so far, no goblins or any other monsters... Lyna, are you sure we're on the right track?"
Lyna let out a gentle sigh. "Just relax, Derek. We've only been walking for five minutes since we entered the cave. I don't think the goblins are lurking near the entrance. They're probably a bit further in."
Derek nodded, though his expression remained skeptical. Suddenly, Theron stopped dead in his tracks, his head cocked to one side. Lyna and Derek followed suit, their eyes scanning the surroundings. A faint, metallic scent wafted through the air, making their nostrils flare in distaste.
"Blood," Theron muttered, his eyes narrowing as he peered into the darkness. "The smell is coming from the right path."
Derek's hand instinctively went to his sword, drawing it from its scabbard. "Damn, it seems we're getting close to the goblin's lair..." Theron's voice was calm, though her eyes gleamed with a hint of excitement. "Calm down, Derek. The smell is weak, and it's probably just a single goblin or a wounded animal... or something worse. Let's prepare ourselves. Our mission is to eliminate the goblins in the cave."
Lyna and Derek nodded, their faces set with determination. Theron, meanwhile, took the lead, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. They walked for another ten minutes, the smell of blood growing stronger with each step.
As they rounded a bend, they stumbled upon a gruesome sight: a goblin corpse, its face brutally smashed beyond recognition. A large pool of blood had formed beneath the body, and Theron cautiously approached the scene. Lyna followed, her staff held high to illuminate the area. Theron crouched beside the corpse, examining it with a practiced eye.
"He died recently," Theron muttered, his voice low. "Looks like he was hit repeatedly in the face with enough force to shatter his bones and skin."
Theron's gaze drifted to the ground nearby, where fragments of broken wood lay scattered. "Hmm..." he trailed off, his eyes narrowing as he stood up.
"Let's keep moving," Theron said, his voice firm, as he continued down the path. Lyna and Derek followed closely behind, their senses on high alert.
As they walked, Lyna spoke up, her voice tinged with disgust. "Damn, I really hate goblins." Derek shot her a wry smile. "I think everyone does, Lyna. They're one of the most repulsive monsters out there."
Lyna cast him a fleeting glance before looking away, her expression still twisted in distaste. The trio continued on, their footsteps echoing through the cave. Suddenly, a much stronger smell of blood hit them, and Derek instinctively raised his sword. Theron drew his daggers, and Lyna's grip on her staff tightened.
As they turned a corner, they caught sight of another path branching off to the right. They approached cautiously, peering around the corner to take in the sight before them. Lyna's hand flew to her mouth, her face paling as she turned away, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Holy shit...blurgh..."
Derek and Theron exchanged a stunned glance, their eyes widening as they took in the carnage before them.
Dozens of goblin corpses lay scattered, their bodies torn apart, decapitated, and mutilated beyond recognition. The walls were smeared with blood, and a human corpse, clad in tattered leather armor, lay on the ground, its limbs ravaged and partially devoured by the goblins. Derek's grip on his sword tightened, his face twisted in disgust. "This... is... shit," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the sound of his own revulsion.
Theron let out a deep sigh, his eyes scanning the gruesome scene before them. "Yeah, shit..." he agreed, his voice laced with a mix of disgust and concern. Lyna, meanwhile, stood frozen against the wall, her hand clamped over her mouth as she struggled to stifle a gag. The sheer carnage before her was too much to bear, and she couldn't tear her gaze away from the goblins' mangled bodies and torn organs.
Just as Theron was about to speak, a chilling scream pierced the air, echoing off the cave walls. "KRIIII KRIIIIIIII!!" The sound was like nothing they had ever heard before - a cacophony of dozens of goblin screams, all echoing in unison. The air was filled with the sound of angry roars and shrieks, a deafening din that seemed to shake the very foundations of the cave.
"KRIII KRIKRIKIRKRI!!"
The screams continued unabated, echoing off the cave walls and making it difficult for the three adventurers to think clearly. Derek's face twisted in shock, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and confusion. "WHAT THE HELL?!" he screamed, his voice barely audible over the cacophony.
The screams ceased as suddenly as they had begun, and an oppressive silence fell over the team of adventurers. The only sound that broke the stillness was the soft rustling of their own breathing. Lyna's grip on her staff tightened, her knuckles white with tension, as cold sweat trickled down her body. Her eyes were fixed on the darkness behind them, and what she saw made her blood run cold.
As she gazed into the void, dozens of yellow eyes materialized, glowing like lanterns in the darkness. Lyna's voice trembled with fear as she whispered, "a-ah... g-guys!" The words were barely audible, but they were enough to alert Derek and Theron.
Derek and Theron turned to face the darkness, their eyes scanning the shadows until they too saw the goblins' eyes staring back at them. Derek's face twisted in a snarl, his teeth gritted in a mixture of anger and fear. "Shit..." he muttered, his voice low and menacing.
---
[ANTHONY/??? POV]
"KRIIIIIII!!"
I barely dodged the goblin's attack, my heart racing with adrenaline. I swung my sword in a swift, horizontal arc, aiming for the goblin's neck. The blade bit deep, and blood sprayed through the air as the goblin's neck was severed. The creature crumpled to the ground, its body convulsing as its life slipped away. The ground quickly became slick with blood, and I felt a sense of grim satisfaction at having taken down another one of these green shits.
But my triumph was short-lived, as I gazed down at my sword in dismay. The blade was cracked and worn, its surface etched with deep fissures. It wouldn't last much longer.
I winced as I assessed my own condition. My body ached all over, with cuts and scratches covering my skin like a gruesome map. My legs were a mess of scratches and gashes, and I could feel the warm trickle of blood seeping from my wounds. But the worst was my eye - one of those damned goblins had scratched it, leaving me with a blurry, painful mess. I gritted my teeth, trying to bear the agony.
I took stock of my surroundings, my gaze falling on the numerous goblin corpses littering the ground. The air was thick with the stench of blood, making my stomach roil with nausea. I felt like vomiting.
The flickering flame of the torch on the ground cast eerie shadows on the cave walls, illuminating the dark and foreboding surroundings.
My attention snapped back to the hobgoblin, its twisted face contorted into a grotesque smile. It seemed to be savoring my pain, and I felt a surge of anger at its arrogance. The other goblins kept their distance, seemingly cowed. But the hobgoblin was undaunted, its eyes gleaming with a malevolent intelligence.
As the hobgoblin began to approach me, I took a step back, my grip on my sword tightening. My hands burned with pain from the exertion, and I knew I couldn't keep this up for much longer. The sword, already fragile, seemed to tremble in my grasp.
I let out a deep sigh as the hobgoblin charged towards me, its fist clenched and ready to strike. I dodged its blow by a hair's breadth, but my counterattack was clumsy, and my sword only managed to graze the hobgoblin's ribs. The creature's smile grew even wider as it grabbed my sword with its hand, and I watched in horror as the blade shattered into pieces.
"Shit--"
A blow crashed into my face, sending my jaw dislocating and my head snapping back against the wall. I felt a searing pain as my skull cracked, and I crumpled to the ground, warm blood flowing down my face.
I couldn't move, my body throbbing with pain. Every breath was agony, my jaw aching and my head spinning. I was a mess,I was still alive..., thanks to my healing ability,i think.
Ha... it hurts, it hurts, it hurts... SHIT, IT HURTS!!
As I lay there, helpless and in agony, I watched as the hobgoblin approached me, a twisted grin spreading across its face. But before it could deliver the final blow, a scream pierced the air, a sound of pure agony that made my own pain seem almost bearable. I turned my head, wincing in pain, and saw a yellow light with orange tones flashing in the distance, accompanied by the screams of goblins.
"KRIIIII!!"
"ᛉᚢᚱᚱᚨᚾ!"
I heard a voice, screaming in a language I couldn't understand. Another world...yeah...
"ᚱᛇᚾ ᛊᚢᚴᚺᚩ ᚨᚺ, ᛊᛁᚾᚨ, ᚢᛊᚨ ᛚᚨ ᛊᚢᚴᚺᚨᛊ ᛞᚫ ᚠᚢᛇᚷᚩ ᚨᚺᚩᚱᚨ!!"
The screams and the flashing light seemed to grow louder and brighter, and I felt a wave of heat wash over me. I saw the hobgoblin's expression change from triumph to anger, and it turned to run towards the source of the screams.
Suddenly, the hobgoblin took off, abandoning me and racing towards the flashing light.
I tried to move my arm, but it felt like lead, my hand burning with a strange, intense heat. As I struggled to lift it, I saw that my veins were glowing with a bright red light, and a crimson gas was seeping from my skin. I was shocked and confused, unsure of what was happening to me.
Suddenly, a flood of words invaded my mind, spoken in a voice that was both ancient and wise. But the words were incomprehensible to me, a jumbled mix of sounds and phrases that made no sense.
<<<ᚣᚢ, ᚹᚿ⟆ᛁᛇᚾ ᛕ⟆ᛈᛖ⟆⛤ᚱᛊᛖ⟇ᚱᚨ⟆⛧ᛖ ᛁᚾ ᛏ⟆⛧ ᛞᚨ⛧ᛇ⟆⛤ᛊᛏ ⛧ᚨ⟇ᛏᚨᛊ, ᚣᚢ⛤ ᚺᚨ⛧ᛏ ᛒᛖᚨ⛧ᛊ ⛧ᛈᚨ⛧ᛏ, ᚣᚢᚱ ⛧⛤ᛗᚾᛞ ⛧⟆ᛁ⟆ᚾᛊ⛧ᛖ⛧⛧ ᛈ⛧ᚨ ᛚᛁᛃᛖ⛤, ᚣᚢᚱ ⛤ᛊᛟ⛧ᛚ⛤ ⛧⟆ᛊ⟆⛧ᛖ⛧⛧ ⛧ᛊ⛧⛤⛧ᛚᛞ, ⛧ᛖ⛤ᛊ⟆⛤⛧ ᛚᛁ⛤ᛏᚩ ⛧ᛈ⛧ᚨ⛧ᛏ⛧ ᛖ⛤ᛊ⟆⛧ ᛗ⛤⛧⛧⛤⛧ᚹᚱᚨ⛧⛧⛧⛤?>>>
But then, the words changed, becoming slightly clearer, though the voice still sounded like static.
<<
I was still confused, unsure of what was happening or what the voice was trying to tell me. But I knew I had to respond, to acknowledge the voice in some way.
"YES?" I replied in my mind, hoping that someone, or something, would hear me.
<<<⛧ᚷᛚᚩᛇ⛤ᛊᚩ⟆!! ᚺᛖᚱᛖ⛧ᛞᛖ⛤ ᚦᛖ ᛊᛈ⛧ᚨ⛧ᚱ⛧ᛞᚨ!! ⛧ᛚᛖᚹᚨ⛧ᛏ⛧ᚨᛏᛖ ᚨ⛧ᛞ ᛈᛖᛚᛖ⛧ᚨ, ᛊᚺᚩ⛧⛤ ᚣᚢ⛤ᚱ ᛈ⛧⛤ᛞᛖ⛧ᚱ!! ᚨᚾᛞ ᛊᚺᚩ⛧ ᛊᚦᛖ ᚹᚩ⛧ᛚᛞ ᛕᛇ⛧ᛏ ᛏᚱ⛧ᚢᛖ ᛊᛏ⛧ᚱᛖ⛤ᚾᛏ⛧⚨⛤ᛖ⛧!!>>>
More words I couldn't fully comprehend echoed in my mind. The sharp, chaotic noise felt like a shattered speaker screeching inside my head, and the pain was unbearable.
<<
This time, the words began to make sense—at least, a little more than before. The clarity was unnerving, and I could piece together fragments of the message. But one particular word struck me like lightning, sending chills down my spine.
Sparda...?
My vision abruptly turned crimson. A strange, relentless energy seemed to be pouring out of my body. It was overwhelming. My flesh felt like it was melting in magma, the pain searing through every nerve. Yet, when I looked at my hands, I was stunned. They were healing—rapidly, unnaturally fast. Faster than anything I'd ever experienced.
The pounding in my head stopped entirely. My jaw clicked back into place, mending itself, as did every wound and cut across my body, vanishing right before my eyes.
But what truly left me speechless wasn't my miraculous healing. It was the sight before me.
An imposing sword stood embedded in the ground, its presence almost suffocating. Its gleam wasn't just mesmerizing—it was alive, resonating with a deep, ancient power. The hilt was a masterpiece, ornately decorated: on one side, the figure of a human skeleton, and on the other, a demon.
I couldn't believe it. I knew this weapon; there was no mistaking it. The sight alone made my heart race, my mind flood with awe and disbelief. It was incredible.
"Rebellion…" I whispered, the name escaping my lips filled with emotion and wonder.
I rose to my feet, drawn to the blade like a moth to flame. Reaching out, I placed my hand on its hilt. The moment my fingers wrapped around it, I felt a profound sense of familiarity. It was like reuniting with something I had always owned, something that had been waiting for me since the beginning. Nostalgia and destiny intertwined in that moment.
With a strong tug, I pulled the sword free from the ground. It moved with surprising ease, far lighter than its imposing size suggested. At a glance, it looked like a weapon too heavy for any normal person, let alone a child, to wield.
But as I held it, I couldn't help but grin. It felt right. It felt perfect.
This sword was mine.