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The finality of the sound reverberated across the void of darkness as the hefty iron gates groaned shut behind me. I felt a weight in my stomach as I repositioned my hold on the knife Kael had thrown at me. Kael's "trial" would not be a mere demonstration of my abilities. As far as I could tell, I did do what he wanted to the best of my ability and unless I have lost my ability to interpret body language and all, the people here sem to think so too. Maybe he wanted me dead, maybe he wanted me broken.
I forced myself to breathe deeply and slowly as I stepped forward, feeling the uneven, rough stone beneath my feet. The air smelt like rot and was heavy and wet. The walls themselves seemed to be vibrating with an unseen energy, thankfully a mostly metaphorical energy too. I could hear a faint scraping sound somewhere in the distance, and I had to force myself not to flinch at every change in the gloom.
My assignment? Easy. Obtain an old artefact that Kael appeared too eager to possess. He had merely stated that the relic was "somewhere ahead," which could be anything in this tortuous maze. He had not specified what the artefact was. However, I was certain that it would be protected.
Trying not to panic, I stepped further into the shadows, knife at the ready. Adrian, pay attention. One step at a time. The only difference between this game and the virtual worlds I had created was that this one had the potential to kill me. I listened intently, searching for any movement or indication of life. Or something that was once living, most probable.
Then I noticed a glimmer of movement—a dim light coming from an archway up ahead. I squinted into the darkness as I edged forward with my back against the wall. The stone cave was illuminated by an unsettling green crystal that was imbedded on the floor. Around it, shadows swirled, and like forgotten puppets, the faint shapes of skeletal figures were strewn all over the floor.
"Well, this is inviting," I said to myself as I forcefully swallowed.
I approached the crystal with caution since I didn't want to disrupt anything that appeared to have been dead for ages. However, the skeletal figures started to move as soon as my foot made contact with the light's edge. A glimmer of fear swept through me. I quickly retreated, but it was too late; the corpses were rising one by one, an unholy green glow filling their hollow eye sockets.
"Excellent," I muttered, clutching my dagger more firmly.
I was still learning the nuances of blood magic. I was supposed to defend myself against a horde of undead in a death trap of a dungeon after barely surviving with that reanimation method back in Kael's hall. You're in over your head, Adrian.
The first skeleton snarled silently and attacked, jaw wide. I swung the dagger, knocking it back after catching it in the shoulder. However, another one closed in, raking across my arm with skeletal fingers. I slashed at it madly, biting back a curse as its sharp nails sunk in and I felt a searing pain. The blade struck it, and the skull flew across the room as its head snapped back.
More skeletons stumbled forward before I could gather my breath. I couldn't use a dagger to keep them away forever. I needed something with range and more firepower. Memories came flooding back, pictures of Ash, the real Ash, commanding death with hardly a thought, conjuring fire with a flick of his wrist. I should have been the one. Desperation drove me to clench my teeth and reach inside, looking for even a small portion of the strength he had used.
Recalling what little I had learnt about the blood magic that now flowed through my veins, I exhaled and forced myself to relax. I briefly closed my eyes, allowing the energy to emerge. Blood magic was raw and primordial. It was fuelled by life itself and came from within. My fingertips began to warm as a tiny flame in my chest came to life. The steady, relentless pulse of my own heartbeat was palpable. Taking a deep inhale, I visualised the energy travelling outward and pushed it forward, launching a forceful wave at the approaching skeletons.
They trembled and staggered back as though struck by a physical force. However, it was insufficient. They were already beginning to feel better, their bright eyes staring at me with a newfound eagerness.
I backed off and muttered, "Okay. Plan B."
I saw a small hallway off to the left and ran in that direction, avoiding it as the first skeleton rushed once more. As I ran down the hallway, my head racing, I heard the sound of bones clattering. I had to figure out a solution to reverse the situation because I couldn't continue running in this manner. In my former life, I was a strategist, but in this perverted nightmare, I was barely able to keep up.
The hallway continued into a larger room with rows of stone statues. Each of the massive men was brandishing a weapon, such as an axe, spear, or sword. And something glinted in the faint light at the far end of the room.
The relic Mr. high and mighty wants. Okay, seems my goal is in sight.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I took a step forward. It felt too simple. I looked at the statues as they watched me with their lifeless stone eyes. My gut told me to set up a trap, but I had little other option. I needed that artefact, and the skeletons were not far behind.
Keeping my movements light, I walked slowly while glancing between the statues. However, a low rumble reverberated throughout the room as soon as I entered the centre. As they raised their weapons, the statues started to stir, their stone limbs cracking. With my heart pounding, I froze.
"Oh, wonderful."
With its blank eyes staring at me, one of the statues raised a huge stone axe. Just as it brought the axe down, I leaped to the side, the force causing the floor to tremble. Another statue was swinging a sword at me as I scurried to my feet. The sword skimmed over my head as I ducked.
I needed to think quickly. With only a dagger and my poor magic skills, I couldn't take them on head-on. I would need to outmanoeuvre them and figure out how to take advantage of the surroundings.
With my thoughts racing, I retreated towards the room's edge. Perhaps I might have a chance if I could entice the statues to attack one another. In an attempt to elicit a response, I darted between two of them. As I had anticipated, one of the statues swung its sword at me, but instead struck the other statue in the chest.
The stricken statue stumbled, its sword falling to the ground as the stone split. I breathed a sigh of relief, but my triumph was fleeting. The footsteps of other statues were resounding like a death march as they approached.
"Okay, Adrian," I whispered. "It's time to use your imagination."
I tried to summon that inner flame once more by concentrating on the blood magic. Heat raced through my veins, the intensity increasing until I thought my skin may burst. I imagined that force extending outward, acting as an imperceptible wall to keep the sculptures at bay.
The statues were pulled back just enough to allow me some breathing room as the magic came to life and created a force. I didn't have much time. As the statues started to close in again, I glanced at the glinting object and rushed forward, my fingers wrapping around the relic.
A tiny, polished stone that pulsed with a dim glow was the relic. I had hardly had time to look at it when a shadow appeared at the corner of my eye. A ghastly figure lunged at me, its bony fingers grabbing for my throat, and I turned barely in time.
With a wild, frantic swing, I struck the skeleton with the relic. The skeleton broke apart, its bones strewn all over the floor, and the impact sent a shockwave through my arm.
But there was more to come. The skeletons and the sculptures made me feel as though the whole room was closing in on me. With a trembling breath, I gripped the relic more tightly. Although I had made it thus far, I was running out of strength and options. With each use, the blood magic depleted me, making me weaker and slower. I wouldn't leave at all if I didn't leave this place quickly.
I spun around and ran back towards the hallway, swerving around the statues and avoiding the skeletons' snatching hands. Every step seemed heavier than the last, and my breaths came in frantic gasps. However, I persisted, pushing myself, one step at a time.
At last, I rushed through the threshold, coming to a halt when the hallway opened up in front of me. If I could just make it, the exit was someplace up ahead. But my vision was beginning to distort as the darkness drew closer.
I staggered ahead, gripping the artefact, my thoughts a blur of agony and fatigue. I didn't turn around, but I could hear the echo of stone footfall and the clatter of bones behind me. I was unable to pay for it.
At the end of the hallway, the light of the exit appeared, a dim gleam. With my legs scorching and every muscle screaming in pain, I pushed myself harder. But as soon as I got there, the gate slammed behind me, and I lunged through the open entryway.
My body shook from the strain as I fell to the ground, struggling to breathe. I had succeeded. Seldom. However, I realised this was just the beginning as I laid there holding the relic.