As they stumbled out of the suffocating rubble, fresh air brushing against their faces, Rishitha could feel her limbs trembling from the adrenaline and pain. Mo Tang limped beside her, leaning slightly on Erin, who seemed unaffected by the chaos they had just endured.
"You saved us," Mo Tang said again, her voice filled with gratitude. "I don't even know your name."
Erin, with his dark, unreadable eyes, glanced between them before shrugging casually. "Names don't matter much down here. Call me Erin if you need to."
"Erin…" Rishitha repeated, testing the name. It suited him—simple yet strangely enigmatic.
"Wow," Erin said with a mischievous smirk, looking between the two girls. "I didn't expect to be rescuing two damsels in distress today. Lucky me."
Mo Tang flushed and immediately tried to swat at him. "We are not damsels! And don't act like you didn't just nearly break a sweat pulling those rocks off us!"
"Nearly," Erin said, grinning. "But I didn't."
Despite her pain and guilt, Rishitha let out a small chuckle. The exchange was ridiculous, but it brought some much-needed levity.
As they ventured further into the cavern, the mood quickly sobered. The glow from the walls became dimmer, and the oppressive weight of the cave seemed to press down on Rishitha more than ever.
Her shoulders sagged as her mind churned with self-recrimination. This is my fault. If I hadn't made Mo Tang fall into this cave, we wouldn't be here. If Erin hadn't shown up, we'd be dead.
The dull ache in her body paled compared to the gnawing guilt in her chest. She couldn't let herself cry—not now—but the lump in her throat wouldn't go away. I need to be stronger. I need to do better. If I can't protect them, what's the point of me being here?
"Rishitha," Erin called out, snapping her out of her spiraling thoughts. "You good back there?"
She forced a smile. "I'm fine."
The sound came first: a low, chittering noise that seemed to echo from all directions.
"What is that?" Mo Tang asked, her voice tinged with unease. She shifted on her injured leg, gripping a makeshift weapon—a jagged rock—tightly in her hand.
"Rats," Erin said grimly, unsheathing a small, sharp sword that looked far too refined for a child like him. "Big ones. And they're coming."
The first wave hit like a storm. Dozens of rats—twice the size of any normal rodent—poured into the cavern. Their eyes glinted red in the dim light, their sharp teeth gnashing as they lunged.
Erin moved with practiced ease, his blade flashing as he cut through the swarm. Mo Tang fought fiercely despite her injured leg, wielding her rock like a hammer.
But Rishitha froze.
Her heart pounded as the rats closed in, their beady eyes fixating on her. Her mind screamed at her to move, but her body wouldn't obey. The sight of the sharp claws and snapping jaws left her paralyzed.
"Rishitha, do something!" Erin shouted, his tone sharp.
"I—I…"
A rat lunged at her, and she stumbled back, narrowly avoiding its teeth. She swung blindly, missing completely.
"Rishitha!" Mo Tang cried out as another rat closed in on her friend.
Rishitha's eyes darted around, desperate for something—anything—that could help. Then she remembered the fire.
Fire drives them away… Maybe it'll work again.
She fumbled with a torch Erin had handed her earlier, sparks flying as she struck the flint. A small flame flickered to life, and she thrust it toward the swarm. The rats recoiled, hissing, but they didn't scatter completely.
"It's working!" she said, her voice rising with hope.
"Barely," Erin muttered, slicing through another wave. "We need more than that."
At first, their movements were disjointed, chaotic. Erin darted from one side to another, covering for Rishitha whenever she faltered. Mo Tang pushed herself too hard, her swings becoming slower and more labored as her injured leg threatened to give out.
But as the minutes dragged on, something shifted.
"Mo Tang, stay to my left!" Erin ordered. "Rishitha, keep the fire steady and focus on the edges—don't let them flank us!"
Rishitha nodded, her hands trembling but steady. She waved the torch in deliberate arcs, driving the rats toward Erin and Mo Tang.
Mo Tang adjusted her stance, conserving her energy by targeting only the rats that got too close. Erin's movements became more fluid, his strikes calculated and efficient.
Bit by bit, they found a rhythm.
"Keep it up!" Erin encouraged, a rare smile breaking through his serious expression. "We're doing this!"
As the last of the rats scattered, the three of them stood in the center of the cavern, panting and covered in grime.
"We did it," Mo Tang said, her voice trembling with exhaustion.
Rishitha looked at the torch in her hand, the flame now burning low. I helped… I didn't do much, but I helped.
Erin sheathed his sword, his dark eyes scanning the group. "Not bad for a first fight. But don't get cocky—we still have a long way to go."
As they rested, the atmosphere lightened again. Erin leaned against the wall, smirking as he wiped his sword clean. "You know, for someone who nearly fainted at the sight of a rat, Rishitha, you didn't do too bad."
Rishitha scowled at him but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Thanks… I guess."
Mo Tang nudged her playfully. "You were kind of a mess at first, though."
"Hey!"
The three of them laughed, the sound echoing through the cavern. Despite the danger, there was a strange sense of camaraderie growing between them—a bond forged in the fires of survival.
As they prepared to move on, Rishitha felt a spark of determination reignites within her. I'll get stronger. For them. For myself. This isn't over.
The air grew heavier with every step they took. Stale and damp, it clung to Rishitha's skin like an unwelcome shroud. The faint luminescence of moss lined the walls, casting an eerie green glow that barely lit the cavern ahead. The crunch of gravel under their feet was the only sound, a haunting reminder of the silence that pressed in from all sides.
Erin led the way, his sword glinting faintly in the dim light. Behind him, Mo Tang limped, her face pale but determined. Rishitha followed close, her grip tightening around the makeshift torch she carried. Its flickering flame seemed so fragile in the overwhelming darkness, much like her resolve.
A chittering sound broke through the silence.
"What's that?" Mo Tang asked, her voice taut with tension.
Rishitha's breath hitched as the noise grew louder. It was a sound she'd only ever heard in movies—a high-pitched, incessant squealing mixed with the rapid patter of claws against stone.
"It's rats," Erin said grimly, stopping in his tracks. His dark eyes scanned the shadows ahead, his body tensing like a predator preparing for a fight. "Big ones. And they're coming fast."
A translucent window appeared in front of Rishitha's eyes, the glowing text stark against the gloom.
[Emergency Mission: Survive the Swarm]
Objective: Survive the rat swarm and protect your teammates.
Time Limit: Until the swarm retreats.
Reward: 20 points, increased teamwork skill (minor).
Failure: Severe injury or death.
Her heart sank. Another mission? Now?!
The rats surged out of the shadows like a living tide, their red eyes glinting with malice. Each creature was the size of a small dog, their matted fur slick with grime. Their sharp teeth gleamed as they hissed and lunged, a horrifying sight that sent a shiver down Rishitha's spine.
"Get ready!" Erin shouted, his voice cutting through the rising panic.
He moved with startling precision, his blade slicing through the first rat that leaped at him. The creature let out a shriek before crumpling to the ground, but the others didn't falter.
Mo Tang gritted her teeth and swung a jagged rock at another rat. The impact sent the creature flying, but the effort made her wince, her injured leg buckling slightly beneath her.
Rishitha froze.
The rats were everywhere, their snarls filling the air. One lunged at her, its sharp claws extended. She stumbled back, her torch shaking in her hands.
"Rishitha, do something!" Erin snapped, his voice filled with frustration.
"I-I can't!" she stammered, her body refusing to move. Her heart pounded, a deafening drumbeat in her ears.
The rat lunged again, and she barely managed to sidestep. Its claws grazed her arm, leaving shallow scratches that stung.
I'm useless, she thought, panic clawing at her chest. I'm going to get us all killed.
Her mind flashed to her family, their faces blurring in her memory. If I die here, who will protect them? Who will complete my mission?
Tears pricked her eyes, but she forced them back. No. I can't give up. Not now.
She tightened her grip on the torch and swung it wildly at another rat. The flame startled the creature, making it recoil, but it wasn't enough to stop the swarm.
Erin and Mo Tang fought valiantly, their movements becoming more coordinated as the seconds dragged on. Erin's blade danced through the air, each strike clean and efficient. Mo Tang, despite her injury, used her rock with surprising force, her movements fueled by sheer determination.
But it wasn't enough. The rats kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless.
Rishitha's gaze darted around, desperate for a solution. Her eyes landed on the flickering flame of her torch. Fire… It worked earlier. Maybe it'll work again.
She stepped forward, her legs trembling, and thrust the torch toward the swarm. The flames licked at the air, causing several rats to screech and back away.
"It's working!" she shouted, her voice rising with hope.
"Barely," Erin muttered, his tone clipped as he took down another rat. "We need more than that."
At first, their movements were chaotic, each of them fighting on their own. Erin darted from side to side, covering for both girls whenever they faltered. Mo Tang swung with increasing desperation, her injured leg threatening to give out.
But then something clicked.
"Mo Tang, stay to my left!" Erin barked. "Rishitha, keep the fire steady and focus on driving them toward me!"
Mo Tang adjusted her position, her swings becoming more deliberate as she targeted only the rats that got too close. Rishitha steadied her torch, waving it in controlled arcs to herd the creatures toward Erin's blade.
Bit by bit, they found a rhythm.
"Good!" Erin encouraged, his voice carrying a rare note of approval. "We've got this!"
Their movements became more efficient, their teamwork growing stronger with each passing moment. They began to conserve their energy, fighting smarter rather than harder.
As the last of the rats scattered, the three of them stood in the center of the cavern, their chests heaving as they caught their breath.
"We did it," Mo Tang said, her voice trembling with exhaustion.
Rishitha looked down at her trembling hands, the torch now burned low. Her body ached, and her clothes were torn and stained with grime, but she was alive. They were all alive.
Erin sheathed his sword, his dark eyes scanning the group. "Not bad for a first fight. But don't get cocky—we still have a long way to go."
As they rested, the oppressive silence of the cave returned. Erin leaned against the wall, his expression unreadable as he cleaned his sword.
"You know," he said, breaking the silence, "for someone who almost fainted at the sight of a rat, you didn't do too bad, Rishitha."
Rishitha scowled at him, but there was no real anger in her expression. "Thanks… I think."
Mo Tang chuckled, nudging her playfully. "You were kind of a mess at first, though."
"Hey!"
The laughter that followed was a welcome relief, a moment of levity in the midst of their ordeal.
The faint glow of Rishitha's flickering torch illuminated the trio as they slumped against the uneven cave walls, their breath coming in ragged gasps. The silence after the battle was deafening, broken only by the occasional drip of water from stalactites above. The air smelled of charred fur and damp earth, a reminder of their narrow escape.
"Alright, before anything else," Erin began, wiping the blade of his sword on a scrap of cloth. He looked up, his dark eyes gleaming with a teasing light. "I think you both owe me a thank you for saving your hides."
Mo Tang huffed, adjusting her injured leg and glaring at him. "Oh, sure. Because we weren't helping at all."
"Helping?" Erin raised an eyebrow, his tone mockingly incredulous. "I'm pretty sure I saw you swing at the air at least twice, Miss Rock-Wielder Extraordinaire."
Rishitha, still catching her breath, couldn't help but stifle a laugh. She bit her lip to suppress it, but Erin noticed.
"And you!" He pointed his sword in her direction, the gesture more playful than threatening. "Our fearless torchbearer. Flinching at every squeak like a baby rabbit. What was that about?"
Her cheeks burned as she scrambled for a response. "I—well—it's not like I've fought giant rats before!"
Erin chuckled, his voice softening. "Relax, I'm just messing with you two. You did alright… for beginners."
Mo Tang rolled her eyes. "If you're so perfect, what's your name, oh Great Swordmaster?"
Erin paused, his smirk fading for a moment before it returned with a sly edge. "Name's Erin. That's all you need to know for now."
"Erin, huh?" Rishitha echoed, testing the name. It was simple, unassuming, yet it suited the boy who had sliced through a swarm of rats like it was a casual chore.
"Yeah, Erin," he said, leaning back against the wall and grinning. "Short, easy to remember, and perfect for someone as unforgettable as me."
"Unforgettable?" Mo Tang repeated with a snort. "More like insufferable."
Erin feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart. "You wound me, truly. Is this how you treat your savior?"
The tension in the air began to dissipate, the trio's laughter bouncing off the cave walls. The oppressive weight of fear and uncertainty lightened for the first time since they had entered this dark, dangerous place.
Mo Tang leaned her head back against the stone wall, her lips curving into a small smile. "Thanks, Erin. For real. I'm not sure we'd have made it without you."
Erin waved her gratitude off, though his expression softened. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get too sentimental on me. Just keep up next time, alright?"
Rishitha, however, remained quiet. Her mind churned with guilt and self-doubt, the echoes of her earlier panic still fresh. She clenched her hands into fists, the rough texture of dirt and ash grounding her.
If I hadn't flinched… If I'd been faster… Stronger… Smarter… The thoughts swirled in her mind, threatening to consume her.
She glanced at Mo Tang, who was nursing her injured leg but still wore a determined expression. Then at Erin, who seemed almost untouchable in his confidence and skill.
They're counting on me too, she realized. I can't keep holding them back. I need to be better.
As if sensing her turmoil, Erin nudged her shoulder lightly. "Hey, don't look so glum. We made it, didn't we?"
She nodded, forcing a small smile. "Yeah. Thanks to you both."
Mo Tang gave her a thumbs-up. "We're all in this together, right? We'll figure it out."
After a brief rest, they pressed on. The cave grew narrower, the walls pressing in like an encroaching monster. The faint light of the torch revealed jagged rock formations and glittering veins of minerals, but the beauty of the scenery was lost on them.
Erin led the way, his sword ready. "Stay close. Who knows what's waiting ahead."
As they turned a corner, the sound of rushing water reached their ears.
"Do you hear that?" Mo Tang asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and caution.
"It's a river," Erin said, his sharp eyes scanning the path ahead. "Or a lake. Either way, it might be our ticket out of here."
Rishitha felt a spark of hope. Water means life, and maybe… escape.
But as they approached, the sound grew louder, more ominous. The flickering torchlight revealed a vast underground lake, its dark surface rippling with unseen currents.
And on the far shore, glowing red eyes watched them.
A system notification appeared before Rishitha:
System Update
[Mission: Conquer the Depths]
Objective: Cross the underground lake while avoiding or defeating the creatures lurking within.
Time Limit: 2 hours.
Reward: 50 points, skill upgrade (teamwork: moderate).
Failure: Severe injury or death.
Erin exhaled sharply, his expression hardening. "Well, looks like it's time for round two."
Mo Tang hefted her rock. "We're not backing down now."
Rishitha tightened her grip on the torch. Her fear still lingered, but alongside it burned a new determination. "Let's do this."
The three of them stepped toward the lake, their shadows stretching long and dark against the cavern walls as they prepared for the next trial.
The faint, eerie glow of the underground lake reflected off the jagged cave walls, casting ripples of distorted light around the cavern. Rishitha trailed behind Erin and Mo Tang, her torch trembling slightly in her grip.
Her heart was heavy with a mixture of guilt and frustration, an unrelenting storm that churned within her.
Why am I like this? she thought bitterly, glancing at the others. Erin strode confidently ahead, his sword at the ready, a picture of unyielding resolve. Mo Tang, despite her injured leg, kept her head high, clutching her rock like a badge of defiance.
And then there was Rishitha—a trembling shadow behind them.
Her mind replayed the earlier battle with the rats. She had flinched, hesitated, and panicked. While the others had fought tooth and nail, she had been paralyzed by fear. The memory of her uselessness gnawed at her.
Erin saved us, and Mo Tang fought even though she was hurt. I just… stood there.
Her gaze dropped to her hands, smudged with dirt and ash. They were steady now, but she could still feel the phantom tremor from earlier, the quaking of her fingers as she gripped the torch.
She clenched her fists. They deserve better. I can't keep being dead weight.
Rishitha's thoughts shifted to the mission and the cryptic robotic voice that had sent her here. This wasn't her world, yet it felt frighteningly real. Every step, every breath, every choice carried the weight of life and death.
If I fail here, it's not just me who suffers. My family... my mission... everything depends on me surviving this.
She looked at Mo Tang's injured leg, wrapped in a makeshift bandage. Her injury was a direct consequence of following Rishitha into the cave.
It's my fault she's hurt. My fault we're in this mess.
The guilt tightened around her chest like a vice.
I promised I'd protect her, but I'm the one who keeps putting her in danger.
But beneath the guilt and self-loathing, a tiny ember of determination glimmered. The memory of shielding Mo Tang during the cave-in surfaced in her mind.
She had been terrified, yes, but in that moment, she hadn't hesitated. She had acted.
I saved her.
It wasn't much, but it was something.
Another voice quickly smothered the embers of hope, sharp and biting.
You call that saving? You're still useless in a fight. You don't belong here. You'll just get everyone killed.
The thoughts were relentless, each one cutting deeper than the last.
She glanced at Erin, whose back was straight and steady, a stark contrast to her hunched posture. He had saved them too, pulling them from the rubble with a strength and grace that seemed effortless.
He doesn't need me. Neither does Mo Tang. They'd be better off without me slowing them down.
But then she thought of her family—her mother, who had endured so much to raise her, and her younger siblings, who looked up to her with wide, trusting eyes.
I can't give up. Not for them. Not for me.
Rishitha took a deep breath, the cool, damp air filling her lungs. She steadied the trembling torch in her hand, the small flame flickering defiantly against the darkness.
I'm not strong like Erin. I'm not brave like Mo Tang. But I have to find my own way to help. I have to be better.
The group paused at the edge of the underground lake. The surface was unnaturally still, its dark depths hiding whatever dangers lay beneath.
Erin turned to them, his expression serious for once. "Alright, here's the plan. We cross together, and we keep our eyes open. No one gets left behind."
Rishitha nodded, her grip tightening on the torch. The flame cast dancing shadows on her face, illuminating the determination in her eyes.
I'll prove I belong here. I'll prove I'm not a burden.
As they stepped into the frigid water, Rishitha felt a shiver run through her entire body. The cold seeped into her bones, but she kept moving, each step a silent promise to herself.
The cave's oppressive silence was broken only by the sound of their splashing footsteps and the distant drip of water from above. The air was thick with tension, every ripple on the lake's surface a potential threat.
Despite the fear clawing at her, Rishitha forced herself to focus. One step at a time. I can do this.
And for the first time, she believed it.