For now, only the dim flame bore witness to the questions swirling within him.
A new day was upon them. Keel had slept for what felt like mere minutes before the harsh morning air forced him to abandon the warm embrace of his comforter. The soft, cozy sensation of rest clashed sharply with the biting chill of dawn.
Before heading out, Keel followed his morning routine. Washing his face, adjusting his attire, and combing his hair were simple yet grounding steps that helped him prepare for the challenges ahead.
Determined to stay in peak form, Keel set out to complete his daily exercises: a 10k run, 100 push-ups, and 100 sit-ups. Thanks to his boosted stats, the routine felt manageable, almost easy. Yet Keel knew better than to rely solely on his level. Consistent training remained essential to hone his body and mind.
By the time he finished, Keel's body reeked of sweat.
"I need to go to the river," he thought, shaking his head.
Freshened up and focused, Keel decided to spend the day leveling. Yet, as he armed himself for battle, his mind wandered to Tyse.
The memories came unbidden—fighting mobs together, gaining strength at a pace that left others in awe. Those days had felt invincible, but they hadn't been enough. Even so, they remained some of his happiest moments.
"I miss you, buddy," he thought, a pang of grief tightening his chest.
Lost in thought, Keel wandered carelessly into the forest—a mistake he'd come to regret.
A sudden rustle shattered the tranquility, followed by a startled yelp.
Before he could react, the ground gave way beneath him. He plummeted, landing with a resounding thud. Pain flared through his body as he groaned and assessed the damage.
[Health: 65% - Slight injury to right ankle]
"I should've known better," he muttered, frustration lacing his tone.
He scanned his surroundings. The pit walls were too steep for climbing. His only option was a narrow tunnel veering left, leading deeper underground.
Gritting his teeth, Keel began to move.
The air turned stale, and each step echoed like thunder in the oppressive silence. The eerie stillness pressed down on him, making every sound feel amplified.
After what felt like an eternity, a faint light appeared ahead. At first, he thought it a trick of his desperate mind, but as he drew closer, warmth brushed his skin—a tangible promise of something real.
Emerging into a vast chamber, Keel's eyes widened. Mountains of bones stretched in every direction, a grim reminder of a battle long past. It was as though the dead had been heaped here as an offering to time.
"Who could have done this?" Keel whispered, his voice trembling.
A deep rumbling voice echoed through the chamber, freezing him in place.
"Decide your next move carefully, weakling. Another step, and you'll join these bones in their eternal rest."
A system prompt appeared:
[Objective Received]
Mission (Repeatable): Deliver the Heads of Evildoers
Rewards: Based on contributions
Failure Penalty: Mission auto-fails if no evildoers are delivered within one month.
[Objective Forcefully Accepted: User detected in close proximity to an Ancient.]
As Keel processed the prompt, the voice spoke again:
"I will leave you this token."
The presence vanished as swiftly as it had come, leaving behind a small, glowing object.
[Token of ????]
Properties:
Store Evil.
Teleport to and from Territory.
Restrictions:
Only teleportation to/from this Sanctuary permitted.
Keel examined the token, weighing his options. Challenging the ancient entity was suicidal, leaving him no choice but compliance.
With a deep breath, he activated the token. A flash of light enveloped him, and moments later, he stood in the village center.
Lara approached, her eyes alight with concern. Before he could explain, she raised her hand and cast a healing spell. Warmth coursed through his body, easing his pain.
Keel opened his mouth to thank her, but before he could speak, Lara turned and left without a word.
Stunned, Keel decided to refocus. Finding Darius, he joined the militia for training.
"Everyone, 1,000 overhead swings!" Darius's booming voice echoed across the field as the recruits raised their weapons.
Sweat poured down Keel's face as he pushed through the exercises.
"998... 999..."
With one final swing, Keel collapsed to the ground, his body screaming in protest. But there was no time for recovery.
"Enemy attack!"
Adrenaline surged through Keel's veins. Scrambling to his feet, he climbed the defensive wall, scanning the horizon.
As the sight of advancing enemies came into focus, a grim realization settled over him.
"We're fucked," he muttered.