Sam trudged through the forest, the glowing box tucked tightly under one arm. The trees were gnarled and ancient, their twisted branches clawing at the overcast sky. Shadows danced between the trunks, and every rustle of leaves set Sam's nerves on edge.
"I'm really doing this," they muttered. "Walking straight into a death trap with nothing but a glorified lantern for company."
The box pulsed faintly, as if protesting the insult. Sam frowned at it. "Oh, don't give me that. If you're so powerful, why don't you do the hard work? Find the temple, slay the evil, save the world. You know, hero stuff."
The box, predictably, didn't respond.
Sam sighed, adjusting their grip on the artifact. The northern hills weren't far, according to the map the apparition had burned into their brain, but the terrain was rough, and the forest seemed to stretch on forever. Each step felt heavier than the last, weighed down by exhaustion and the lingering doubt that this was all a colossal mistake.
A distant howl cut through the air, sharp and guttural. Sam froze, their heart racing as the sound echoed through the trees. It wasn't the kind of howl you'd hear from a wolf or any other natural creature. It was deeper, more resonant, like something out of a nightmare.
"Great," Sam whispered. "Just what I needed. Creepy forest monsters."
They picked up the pace, their boots crunching against the underbrush. The box's glow grew brighter, illuminating the path ahead, but it also made Sam an easy target for whatever might be lurking in the dark.
Another howl rang out, closer this time. Sam's breath hitched. They darted behind a tree, clutching the box like a shield. The glow dimmed slightly, as if responding to their fear.
"Okay," they whispered, peeking out from behind the trunk. "Stay calm. It's probably just some harmless woodland creature with terrifying vocal cords."
The underbrush rustled, and Sam's stomach dropped. A pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows, followed by a hulking figure covered in matted fur. Its claws gleamed in the faint light, and its teeth were bared in a snarl.
Sam's mind raced. They didn't have a weapon, let alone the skills to fight off a monster like this. The box pulsed again, almost urgently, and Sam glanced down at it.
"Don't suppose you've got a built-in flamethrower?" they muttered.
The box responded with another pulse, and before Sam could react, a beam of golden light shot out, striking the creature square in the chest. It howled in pain, stumbling back as the light burned through its fur. Sam stared, wide-eyed, as the monster collapsed, its body disintegrating into ash.
"Okay," Sam said slowly, their voice shaking. "That… was unexpected."
The box pulsed again, more gently this time, as if to say, You're welcome.
Sam let out a shaky laugh. "Alright, maybe you're not completely useless. But you could've warned me!"
The box didn't dignify that with a response, and Sam shook their head, stepping out from behind the tree. The forest was silent again, save for the faint rustle of leaves in the wind. Sam's shoulders sagged as the adrenaline began to fade.
"That's one monster down," they muttered. "Only a few hundred more to go, right?"
The box flickered, and Sam swore it was mocking them. They sighed, adjusting their grip and continuing down the path. The northern hills were still a long way off, and they had a sinking feeling the monster wasn't going to be the last thing trying to kill them.
By the time the trees began to thin, Sam's legs felt like jelly. The ground sloped upward, signaling the start of the hills, and the forest gave way to rocky terrain. The air was cooler here, carrying the faint scent of rain, and the clouds overhead seemed heavier, as if threatening to burst at any moment.
Sam paused to catch their breath, leaning against a boulder. The box sat in their lap, its glow steady and reassuring.
"So," they said, "what's the plan when we get to this temple? Do I just walk in and hope for the best? Or is there some secret handshake I should know about?"
The box, of course, remained silent. Sam rolled their eyes, looking out over the landscape. From this vantage point, they could see the outline of a structure in the distance, perched precariously on the edge of a cliff. It was small, almost unremarkable, but there was no mistaking it—the temple.
"Well, there it is," Sam said. "Now all we have to do is—"
A shadow passed overhead, cutting them off. Sam's heart leapt into their throat as they looked up to see a massive winged creature circling the sky. Its scales glinted like obsidian, and its eyes burned with an unnatural light.
"Oh, come on," Sam groaned. "A dragon? Really? Who even writes this stuff?"
The dragon let out an ear-splitting roar, its wings beating against the wind as it began to descend. Sam scrambled to their feet, clutching the box tightly.
"Alright, glowing box," they said, their voice trembling. "If you've got any more tricks up your sleeve, now would be a great time to use them."
The box pulsed, and Sam braced themselves. This was going to get messy.