Mortis sat high in the tree, shrouded in shadows and hidden from the prying eyes of predators. The first rays of sunlight began to pierce through the canopy, casting a faint glow on the forest floor below. He was deep in meditation, his focus entirely on the intricate flow of mana within his body. The meditation technique he employed accelerated his mana regeneration.
The ambient sounds of the forest gradually faded as he delved deeper into his meditation. His breathing slowed, and his mind became a tranquil sea, undisturbed by the turmoil of the previous days. He could feel the refined mana gathering within him, replenishing his reserves at a steady pace.
After an hour, Mortis opened his eyes, the cold, calculating glint returning to them. "Finally," he muttered to himself. "I've regenerated enough mana."
He glanced around and scanned the surrounding mana for any mana disturbances, ensuring there were no immediate threats. The forest was still, with only the occasional rustle of leaves breaking the silence. Satisfied with his assessment, Mortis descended from the tree with practiced ease, his movements fluid and controlled.
Mortis considered his next move. There was still one day left before he could return back to the academy from the mission. The cave he had spotted during his escape lingered in his thoughts. Its obscured entrance and the strange, foreboding energy emanating from it piqued his curiosity. After a brief moment of contemplation, he decided to investigate the cave. Potential rewards outweighed the risks, and Mortis was nothing if not an opportunist.
He approached the cave cautiously, his senses alert for any sign of danger. Before entering, he scanned the surrounding mana for any mana disturbances. But, the scan revealed nothing unusual, and Mortis concluded that the cave was likely safe, at least for now.
The cave's entrance was wide and tall, initially giving the impression of a spacious interior. Mortis stepped inside cautiously, the light from outside quickly fading as he moved deeper into the darkness. Due to his high affinity with darkness particles, Mortis did not require any external light source to see. The shadows themselves revealed the path to him, their contours and shapes as clear as day in his mind.
The passage began to narrow, forcing him to crouch. He moved carefully, each step deliberate and measured. The shrinking space was inconvenient, but Mortis pressed on, driven by the promise of discovery.
After a while, the tunnel gradually widened again, allowing Mortis to stand upright. He soon found himself at a junction with three paths, each appearing nearly identical. The uncertainty of what lay ahead made him uneasy, but he trusted his magic prowess and instincts. He scanned the surrounding mana for any mana disturbances, searching for any hint of possible danger. This time, he sensed a faint, peculiar energy emanating from the left tunnel. It was unsettling, but he was somehow drawn to it... as if someone was telling him that there was something he wanted.
"Something must be down there," he murmured. "If it were safe, it wouldn't be worth my time."
With that, he activated his Darkness Veil spell, enveloping himself in a shroud of shadows. The spell enhanced his stealth, making him nearly invisible in the dim light of the cave. Mortis moved cautiously, every sense on high alert.
The further he ventured, the more the air grew damp, and the walls of the cave became slick with moisture. The eerie energy grew stronger, making Mortis increasingly uneasy. Despite his apprehension, he continued, driven by the promise of potential rewards
After what felt like an hour of cautious progress, the tunnel opened into a large chamber illuminated by strange, glowing plants clinging to the walls. Mortis had never seen such flora before, their luminescence casting an eerie glow over the cavern.
As he explored the chamber, he noticed a section of the wall that appeared slightly different from the rest. The color was slightly off, and the glowing plants avoided it. Mortis's suspicion grew. He scanned the surrounding mana for any mana disturbances once more. This time sensing mana disturbances emanating from behind the wall. It confirmed his hypothesis—something lay beyond.
Mortis considered his options. The entire chamber appeared stable except for this specific section of the wall, and he judged that a controlled burst of magic could breach it without causing the entire chamber to collapse. He channeled more mana into his Inferno Spark spell than normally, increasing its power slightly. The fiery blast struck the wall, and to Mortis's satisfaction, it crumbled without collapse of the entire chamber, revealing a hidden passage behind.
He cautiously entered the new passage, his senses on high alert. After a few minutes, the passage ended abruptly, opening into a massive pit with stairs carved into the stone walls, spiraling downward into the darkness.
Mortis was both intrigued and wary. The presence of such an elaborate structure suggested that intelligent beings had constructed it, likely Magi or creatures of similar intellect. This could mean significant rewards, but also formidable dangers. Mortis's desire for power and knowledge overrode his caution.
He began his descent, each step careful and deliberate. The air grew colder as he descended, and the eerie energy became more palpable. Mortis kept his Darkness Veil active, blending into the shadows.
As he made his way down the staircase, Mortis encountered spider-like monsters. These creatures had woven thick, sticky webs across the center of the pit and along the walls beside the stairs, but notably not on the stairs themselves. The webs were intricate and strong, glistening faintly in the dim light. The spiders themselves were grotesque: their bodies were dark and glossy, each the size of a large dog, with long, spindly legs ending in razor-sharp claws. Their multiple eyes glowed with a predatory, intelligent light.
Thanks to his Darkness Veil, Mortis was able to move past them undetected. The creatures seemed oblivious to his presence as he slipped by, his heart pounding in his chest.
As he reached the bottom of the pit, Mortis found himself in a vast underground hall. The walls were adorned with strange, glowing symbols, and the air was thick with dark mana particles and a sense of ancient power. Mortis's eyes gleamed with anticipation. He had stumbled upon something significant.
The hall was empty, except for a large, ornate door at the far end. Mortis approached it cautiously, scanning the entire surrounding mana to check for traps and mana disturbations. He found none, but the door itself radiated a powerful, oppressive energy. Mortis hesitated for a moment, then steeled himself and pushed the door open.
Beyond the door lay a large chamber dominated by an altar. On the altar lay several crystals that looked remarkably similar to the storage crystal Valthor had given him at academy. Next to these familiar-looking crystals was a book, its cover completely black, emanating an aura of mystery. Beside the book was a large, green crystal, one he had never seen before.
Just as Mortis started slowly walking towards the altar, a sudden chill ran down his spine. He froze, his instincts screaming danger. He looked up and saw a massive creature descending from the ceiling.
The creature was a horrifying sight to behold. It had the elongated, sinewy body of a giant centipede, covered in dark, chitinous plates that gleamed with a malevolent sheen. Each segment of its body was lined with sharp, thorny legs that clicked menacingly against the stone. Its head was the most terrifying part: a grotesque fusion of insect and reptile, with multiple eyes glowing with a sickly, yellow light. A pair of long, serrated mandibles protruded from its maw, dripping with a viscous, green fluid that hissed and sizzled upon contact with the ground.
Mortis's heart pounded in his chest as he stood paralyzed with fear. A torrent of thoughts raced through his mind, each one a frantic calculation of his chances. He knew he couldn't defeat this creature. His only hope was to escape.
Without another moment's hesitation, Mortis spun around and bolted for the stairs. The monster let out a deafening roar and lunged at him, but he narrowly dodged its attack and sprinted up the stairs as fast as he could.
The creature didn't follow. Instead, it roared again, a chilling sound that echoed through the tunnels. Mortis realized with horror that the roar was a call to arms. Every monster he had encountered on his way down was now rushing toward him, intent on killing the intruder.
The spider-like monsters he had evaded earlier were now on the move. Both the young and the adults surged towards him, their fangs bared and eyes glowing with a deadly intent. Mortis's mind raced as he dodged and weaved through the oncoming onslaught. His spells flew from his hands, slowing the monsters just enough for him to slip past. He reached the top of the stairs and dashed into the tunnel. Without stopping, he cast Inferno Spark, collapsing the passage behind him to buy himself some time.
The ground shook as the rocks tumbled down, but Mortis knew it wouldn't hold the creatures for long. He sprinted through the cave, every muscle in his body burning with exertion. The entrance was in sight, and he pushed himself harder, bursting out into the forest with a gasp of relief.
Mortis didn't stop. He kept running, putting more distance between himself and the cave. Only when he was deep in the forest did he allow himself to slow down. He climbed up a tall tree, his heart still pounding, and settled on a sturdy branch, hidden from view.
As he caught his breath, Mortis's thoughts returned to the things and creatures he had seen. The storage-like crystals, the black book, and the mysterious green crystal—they were still down there, waiting. After a few moments of contemplation, Mortis came to a conclusion. He had absolutely no chance of retrieving those items and returning alive in his current state. The creatures he had narrowly escaped and the formidable monster guarding the chamber made any further attempt suicidal.
Sighing, he decided it was best to bide his time. Those things down there would have to wait until he had grown stronger or devised some plan.
With a clear course of action in mind, Mortis settled himself in the tree, his eyes scanning the forest below for any signs of danger. He decided to remain in the tree for the rest of the day and night, ensuring his safety and conserving his strength.
As the hours passed, Mortis remained vigilant, his thoughts occasionally drifting back to the powerful creature he had encountered. The night was uneventful, the forest around him quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves and distant animal sounds.
Finally, as the first light of dawn broke through the canopy, Mortis prepared to return to the academy.