I made my way down the passage, my heart pounding in my chest. The uneasy feeling gnawed at my stomach like a beast, threatening to consume me. Everything that had happened so far felt wrong, and with every step, I wished I could turn back, that I could be anywhere but in this cave. But deep down, I knew—there was no way out except through. The end of these trials was my only escape, and I couldn't afford to falter. Not now. Not when I knew someone—something—else was racing toward the same goal. I had to be faster. I had to make it first.
My feet moved faster, the rhythm of my steps turning into a frantic beat. Left, right, left—another short climb—then left again, right, right, and down. The cave twisted and turned like a living maze, constantly shifting and swallowing me deeper into its belly. But none of that mattered. I wasn't thinking about where I was going, just that I needed to get there before it did. I had already fallen behind, and the fear of losing to whatever that thing was drove me forward.
Then I saw it—a long passage stretching ahead, glowing faintly at the far end. The light beckoned to me, urging me to run. And I did. My feet pounded against the stone floor as I sprinted toward the light, hoping it would lead me to something—anything—that would give me an advantage. But then, as the light grew brighter, a sound reached my ears. Voices. I slowed down, creeping forward, desperate to stay hidden. This part of the cave smelled a lot more earthy than the rest. Two figures were speaking, their words echoing softly through the passage, bouncing off the damp, cold walls.
I pressed myself against the stone, edging closer until I could see them. An altar stood at the edge of the chamber, glowing with a dark, eerie light. Black and blue flames flickered around it, casting long shadows that twisted like specters. My breath caught in my throat as I saw the figures standing near it. One was a cloaked figure standing before the alter almost at attention. From what I could see, It was humanoid, but something was off.
It wasn't alone.
Standing opposite the cloaked figure was something monstrous. A large monster standing on five legs, it snarled and growled with a deep raspy sound. I stayed low, creeping forward just enough to hear their conversation more clearly. The monstrous figure's voice was deep, guttural, almost like a growl. It was demanding something from the other, its tone laced with a hunger that sent shivers down my spine.
"The Ring," the monster growled. "Give it to me. I need it."
I perked up, every muscle in my body was on end at the mention of the Ring. Was the ring what lied at the end of the trials. That was what this was all about. The artifact was a ring. Whatever power it held, both of them wanted it. And here I was, stuck between two monsters, both presense far more powerful than anything I could have imagined.
"You are not worthy to have it. This artifact is to be use to seal a great evil" the one in the cloak replied.
"Or unseal it" the beast replied quickly.
I clenched my fists, feeling the weight of the situation bearing down on me. Fear gripped me, cold and unrelenting, but I couldn't let it stop me. Not now. I had come too far to turn back. My mind raced, trying to make sense of everything. If the monster got the Ring, what would happen? I didn't know, but I was certain it would be catastrophic. I couldn't let that happen.
As I listened, the cloaked figure voice cut through the air, calm and unwavering, though there was an edge to it that hinted at the danger lurking just beneath the surface.
"The Ring is not yours to have, I am the one tasked with guarding it" the guardian replied. "It's not meant for the like of you....a Demon!."
The monster let out a low, rumbling laugh, a sound that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. It took a step forward, its massive claws scraping against the stone. "And you think they are worthy? The ones who come crawling through these caves, desperate and weak?"
I held my breath, my heart hammering in my chest. The guardian didn't respond, and the silence that followed was suffocating. I could feel the tension thick in the air, crackling with unspoken threats.
I pressed my back against the cave wall, my mind racing. I needed a plan. I needed to act. But fear paralyzed me, locking me in place. What was I even supposed to do? How could I, just one person, stand a chance against either of them?
A bead of sweat trickled down my forehead, and I wiped it away with trembling fingers. My legs felt like they could give out at any moment, but I forced myself to stay steady. My thoughts bounced between fight and flight, and though every instinct screamed at me to run, I knew I couldn't. Not yet. Not without knowing more.
I shifted slightly, trying to get a better view of the altar and what lay atop it. I peered around the boulder, pressing myself into the shadows as I stared at the alter. The shadows danced on the walls as the flames swayed. I couldn't see the ring clearly, it was too far away. All I knew was that there was definitely a round, hallow object on the alter. My heart pounded in my chest as the voices echoed through the chamber, both tense and threatening. I inched closer, straining to hear every word, praying that neither of them would notice me.
"You don't understand the power that comes with this ring" the guardian fury builing in his voice. "You think he's on your side, but he doesn't care about anyone—he's lost that part of himself. Long gone. He'll use you, just like he's used everyone else. And when he's finished, he'll drive you insane, then throw you away or kill you without a second thought."
The words hung in the air like a threat, dripping with venom. I held my breath, feeling a cold sweat break out across my skin. The monster seemed to know something the guardian didn't—or refused to acknowledge.
But the guardian didn't flinch. He stood firm, his voice steady as stone. "His soul his lost, corrupted by his time in the world. He is nothing but pure evil now".
The monster let out a low, rumbling laugh, the sound reverberating through the cave like thunder. It spoke with an eerie calm, almost as if it were mocking the guardian. "Oh, I know more than you think. You, the so-called guardian, are blind to the truth. The ring was never meant for you to protect. It belongs to him, and I will have it. I will set him free."
I saw the guardian stiffen, and in the dim light of the altar's black and blue flames, I could see him pull back his cloak slightly. The tension in the air grew thick, almost suffocating, and I watched, transfixed, as he revealed his face.
It was mostly human, but something about it felt ancient, almost primal. His eyes glowed faintly beneath his brow, but the most striking feature was the two massive ram horns that curled from the sides of his head, gleaming in the low light. He was powerful, commanding, and I realized this was no ordinary guardian. His very presence exuded authority. He extended his arm, and I caught sight of a staff in his hand—crafted from what looked like a branch, gnarled and twisted with age. His fingers were long, slender, with claws that seemed to retract and extend with each movement. His grip on the staff was tight, his posture ready for anything.
Then, the monster spoke a name that sent a shiver down my spine. "Papa Bois, son of Anansi."
The guardian's eyes flashed, and I could feel the air grow colder as the tension shifted. Despite his calm exterior, there was a flicker of anger in his expression. His jaw clenched, but he held his ground.
"Don't you dare call me that," Papa Bois growled, his voice low and dangerous. "He's no father of mine." His eyes narrowed as he turned toward the beast. "Anger me again and you will face more than just my wrath. You will join your master on the other plain."
The monster, undeterred, seemed amused by his reaction.
"There you go Papa Bois, show me your true nature".
"What does a mere Lagahoyie, acts as if he knows me".
"The name's Aldrov, not that it matters," the creature sneered, its legs shifting slightly, claws scraping against the stone floor.
The sound made my skin crawl. The light danced some more and for brief moments i could make out the monster apperance. The thing was massive, standing on three legs that ended in sharp, gleaming talons. It had the face of a Wolf, hind legs and tail of a Cat, and wings of a Bat. its fur was coated in some kind of slick, oily substance, and every movement sent ripples of the goo dripping onto the floor, hissing as it hit the stone. Its eyes were glowing, maliciously burning with anger.
As I stared, my stomach twisted with disgust. I couldn't imagine what it was like to stand so close to that thing, and yet here was Papa Bois, standing unshaken in the face of this monstrosity.
"You think you can defeat me, Aldrov?" Papa Bois's voice had a smirk to it, a level of confidence I never had.
Aldrov let out a low snarl, its massive form shifting closer to the guardian. "You and that ring has always been his, Papa Bois. Whether you like it or not, you were born from him and you and no one can deny that fact. You're just too proud to admit it. But it doesn't matter now. You'll give me the ring, and when I return to him with it, he'll finally see your true nature."
Papa Bois's eyes blazed with fury, but he didn't lose his composure. "A monster like you, a servant of my father, will never touch the Ring," he said coldly. "The trials were designed to keep filth like you away from it. You won't even make it past the altar."
Aldrov's eyes narrowed, and for the first time, the beast seemed truly angry. Its claws flexed, digging into the stone. "I don't need your permission to take what's his," it spat, its voice thick with malice.
Before I could react, Aldrov lunged. One of its claws slashed through the air, aimed directly at Papa Bois's chest. My breath caught in my throat as I watched the blow move in slow motion, but Papa Bois was faster. His staff came up in a blur, the gnarled branch meeting the claw with a sharp crack. The force of the impact echoed through the cave, and the sheer power of it sent a shockwave through the ground beneath me.
The two figures clashed in a fury of movement, their battle fierce and unrelenting. Aldrov's claws came at Papa Bois from every direction, but the guardian blocked each one with his staff, moving with a fluid grace that seemed almost supernatural. The sound of claws against wood filled the chamber, each impact sending sparks flying into the air.
I could feel the cave shaking around me as they fought, the very ground trembling under the weight of their power. I was frozen in place, helpless to do anything but watch. The sheer intensity of their battle left me breathless, and I couldn't tear my eyes away.
Papa Bois's voice cut through the chaos, cold and determined. "You'll never win, Aldrov. Not here. Not ever."
Aldrov roared in response, his voice shaking the walls. "You're a fool, Papa Bois. I'll tear you apart and take the Ring from your broken hands!"
But despite Aldrov's rage, Papa Bois remained calm, his movements precise and unyielding. It was clear now that this battle wasn't just physical—it was a test of wills, and neither was willing to back down.
The cave continued to shake as they fought, and I pressed myself harder against the boulder, my heart racing in my chest. I knew I should move, should run, but I couldn't. All I could do was watch as the battle unfolded before me, my fate tied to the outcome of their fight.
As I stood there, trembling in the shadows, one thought echoed in my mind: What happens if Papa Bois loses?