Lucian stood frozen as the figure trapped within the massive tree slowly lifted his head. Now visible through the dim, eerie light, the man's face was gaunt, almost skeletal, with sickly pale skin that looked like it hadn't seen sunlight in centuries.
His hair, long and silver, hung lifelessly over his shoulders, blending into the dark, tattered mantle draped around his thin frame. His body looked frail, even more so than Lucian's, which was saying something.
But what truly caught Lucian's eye was the cruel crown of iron thorns embedded deep into the man's skull, with small trickles of dried blood outlining each point of the crown's piercing spikes.
The figure groaned weakly, his voice a deep and unsettling echo, layered as if several others were speaking in unison.
"How strange... I could've sworn I heard a voice..." He chuckled softly, though it was a hollow, humorless sound. "Heh, it seems I've finally gone mad..."
Lucian shuddered. Every part of his body screamed to run, but it was as if he were chained in place. His muscles refused to obey.
'Damn this body...!' he cursed inwardly, feeling the tension rise.
Suddenly, the man's head snapped toward him, though his face was still obscured by the blindfold wrapped tightly over his eyes. His presence alone sent a wave of dread washing over Lucian, as if the air had thickened with pure malice.
"That smell..." the voice rumbled, low and threatening. "A human...? Impossible..."
Lucian's legs trembled uncontrollably, his heartbeat drumming in his ears. The oppressive aura in the cave made it feel like he was being crushed under a weight he couldn't escape from.
The prisoner's head tilted ever so slightly, as if to focus more intently on Lucian's presence.
"You, who skulks in the shadows..." The voice was sharper now, more commanding, as if daring him to defy. "Reveal yourself."
Lucian stood still, his body stiff as a board, hoping that the figure might lose interest in him. But instead, the prisoner sighed deeply, the sound filled with a strange melancholy.
"Come closer, human. I don't bite... I only wish to talk. It's been centuries since I've had the pleasure of conversation."
Lucian hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to stay put, yet his body seemed to defy him. It was as if some unseen force pulled him forward, step by step. He approached the tree-bound figure cautiously, stopping just a few meters away. The air around the tree felt different—thick, charged with energy, making every breath feel heavier.
The prisoner tilted his head slightly, as if sensing Lucian's presence more clearly now.
"I must admit," he began, "I'm quite surprised you managed to get past the barriers and the guardians. You must be a very strong individual, no?"
Lucian blinked, confusion flashing across his face.
'Barriers? Guardians? What the hell is this guy talking about?' He crossed his arms and responded bluntly, "I just... walked in. That's all."
The prisoner tilted his head further, as though processing Lucian's words, before erupting into a deep, hollow laugh.
"Just walked in and made it all the way here? Yes, yes, I suppose you could say it like that!" His laughter echoed through the cave, a chilling sound that sent another shiver down Lucian's spine.
'This guy's completely lost it.'
The laughter died down, and the prisoner's voice took on a more serious tone.
"Human—no, strong warrior. Tell me, what is your name?"
"Lucian... Lucian Ardent," he said cautiously, still unsure why he was even humoring this strange prisoner. The man nodded slowly, as if savoring the sound of his name.
"Yes, Lucian. If it were by the hands of a strong warrior like you, I wouldn't mind if you ended my life."
'What the hell is this guy talking about now?' Lucian thought, already regretting getting involved. His body stiffened slightly as he realized this encounter was going in a direction he wasn't prepared for.
"You see," Arzhel continued, his voice softer now, almost distant. "I've been stuck here for a very long time... unable to die, yet not really living either. If you had found me a few years ago, I might have still had the strength to fight you. But now... I'm just tired."
'Great, now he's giving me a sob story,' Lucian groaned internally. 'I want to leave.'
"Ah, where are my manners? I never properly introduced myself. They stripped me of my name long ago, but you may call me... Arzhel."
'Wait... Arzhel?' Lucian blinked, his mind racing. His eyes widened as the pieces began to fall into place. 'No way... Arzhel? As in the Arzhel?'
Lucian stared at the prisoner in disbelief, trying to process the revelation. 'Arzhel... the final boss?!'
Lucian's thoughts raced as he tried to piece together his fragmented memories.
'Arzhel... Arzhel... I remember something about him. His name is familiar, but everything's all jumbled up. Wasn't he the final boss? Yeah, Alexander—the protagonist—fought him in a deadly battle. But how did it end? I can't remember...'
His frustration grew as the details eluded him. It was like grasping at shadows. He shook his head slightly, trying to clear the haze.
"I'm leaving," Lucian said abruptly, turning on his heel to walk away.
"No, wait!" Arzhel's voice was desperate. "You're not going to kill me?!"
Lucian didn't even bother to look back.
"No. Why would I?" he replied coldly. 'Even if I wanted to, I probably couldn't,' he thought. There was something off about the whole situation, something beyond his understanding. And, honestly, he wasn't looking to stick around and find out.
"I don't want to live anymore," Arzhel continued, his voice cracking under the weight of his despair. "So please, strong warrior, I beg of you—end my life."
Lucian's face twisted in irritation. 'Strong warrior? Who the hell is this guy talking to?' He didn't respond to the pitiful plea, just kept walking, his mind already set on leaving. The further he distanced himself from the tree, the less he wanted to think about the bizarre encounter.
Lucian kept walking, determined to leave this nightmare behind. The soft glow of the tree behind him began to dim as he neared the edge of the cavern, the cold air prickling at his skin. But as he took a final step, he felt an unnatural tug, like something was pulling him back.
"What the—?"
He glanced down at his feet and noticed that one of the glowing roots from the massive tree had wrapped itself around his ankle. He tried to shake it off, but the harder he struggled, the tighter it gripped him.
'What is this thing?'
In frustration, he grabbed the root with both hands and yanked. There was a faint snapping sound, like something delicate breaking apart, and suddenly the root gave way. He stumbled back, tossing the severed root to the ground.
For a moment, everything was quiet. Then, the air around him changed. A deep rumble echoed through the cavern, and the ground beneath his feet began to tremble. He spun around, eyes wide, as the enormous chains wrapped around Arzhel started to crack, one by one, the purple light flickering and dying.
"No... no, no, no!" Lucian muttered under his breath as realization hit him.
'I didn't just do what I think I did...'
The final chain snapped with a loud crack, and Arzhel's body slumped forward, the ice spike through his chest disintegrating into mist. Slowly, Arzhel raised his head, his mouth curling into a faint, almost relieved smile.
Lucian's stomach dropped.
"Fuck..."