James came to in the blackness of the void once more. "At least there is peace here now," he thought as he resigned himself to the familiar darkness. Wait, darkness... He distinctly remembered thinking it was not-darkness that he dwelt in before. This was true darkness, not the absence of light, but something more oppressive. It felt like a smothering weight pressing down on his entire existence, almost as if the void itself had substance and was encroaching upon him. Trying to move his arm resulted in the feeling of wetness and the cold bite of the metal trident he could tell was next to him, the sensation both grounding and jarring in the void.
Groaning and sitting up, he could feel water lapping at his feet through the chewed-up leather of his boots. Unlike the ethereal glow from above the cavern where he had been before, this place had no such illumination—only resolute darkness, where nothing could be seen. There was a stark difference in the atmosphere. He could almost sense a malevolence in the air, as though the darkness held its own intentions, quietly observing.
Wind beat against his face from the direction of the water, and he thought he could hear cascading water far in the distance but couldn't quite tell where it was coming from. The sound echoed around him, disorienting him even further as he tried to piece together his surroundings. Gripping the trident, he pulled it towards him with an even louder groan, feeling the strain in his muscles, hearing a tink as he did so, the noise cutting through the otherwise relentless silence.
Reaching with his hands, he felt the oblong object, surprised to find it was glass. It was remarkable that it hadn’t broken during all the crashing and bashing, and even more surprising that it had ended up next to him along with the trident. The last thing he remembered was going down into darkness, like a waterslide fit for hell, and then bashing his head against the rocks. It was a blurry memory filled with panic, the feeling of falling endlessly, and the dull crunch when his head hit the rocks.
"Joey," he croaked out, his voice cracking in the silence, sounding pathetically weak in the oppressive void.
"Joey!" he called louder, straining his throat, but only silence greeted him in return. His voice seemed swallowed by the void, devoured before it could travel far. The unsettling silence pressed in on him even harder after his call.
"I can't see anything in this place," was all he could think. The thought spun through his mind, a panicked litany that wouldn’t stop. Feeling the glass in his hands reminded him that he hadn't opened his status screen, and when he did, the dull pain in his body ratcheted up another notch, as if acknowledging it brought the sensation into sharper focus. along with all the scratches and cuts from the fight above, though he was in good health so he wasn't that worried about dying from the wounds.
Name - Jameson Castellio Age - 10 Titles - | Dungeon Marauder (Crimson) |
| Convergent Soul (Crimson) |
| Mana Harmonization (Cobalt) | Achievements - First Kill Race - Human (Ashen Rank One) Level - 2 (70/150) Class - N/A
HP -
410/415 MP - 295/295 +15 Stamina - 340/415 Strength -
8
Dexterity - 8 Agility - 7 Intelligence - 9 Endurance - 9 (+1) Charisma - 5 Wisdom - 8 Fate - 12 Innate skill Level 1
******
Level 50 Locked Level 100 Locked Active Skills
| Trident Power Thrust (Ashen Rank Three) |
Passive Skills | Trident Proficiency (Ashen Rank Seven)| Affinities ********
{Level Three Dark Salamander Defeated - Kill}
{Bonus EXP for fighting an enemy higher level than you}
{40 EXP Awarded}
{Congratulations! From your efforts, you are rewarded}
{Quill of Endless Ink (Ashen)}
{Level Four Dark Salamander Defeated - Kill}
{Bonus EXP for fighting an enemy higher level than you}
{60 EXP Awarded}
{Congratulations! From your efforts, you are rewarded}
{Small Bottle of Clarifying Water (Ashen)}
{Congratulations! Your reward is Upgraded!}
{Bottle of Enlightening Water (Saffron)}
{Level Three Dark Salamander Defeated - Kill}
{Bonus EXP for fighting an enemy higher level than you}
{40 EXP Awarded}
{Congratulations! From your efforts, you are rewarded}
{Lantern of Guiding Light Saffron)}
{Level Two Dark Salamander Defeated - Kill}
{24 EXP Awarded)
{Congratulations! From your efforts, you are rewarded}
{One Small Baby Blanket of Nourishing Comfort (Ashen)}
{Congratulations! Your reward is Doubled!}
{Level Three Dark Salamander Defeated - Assist}
{8 EXP Awarded}
There was a lot to digest in the notifications that were coming through, but the main one that caught James's attention was the one about allocating the stat points he gained from levelling up. It was a feeling of pinpricks, but taken to the extreme—he wanted it to end before the pain went any further. It was interesting that he didn't feel the sensation of pain until he checked his status and saw it; almost as if seeing the stats made his mind acknowledge the discomfort that had been lying dormant.
He looked at his status screen and noted a few interesting developments: some of his skills had levelled up, and he had gained an extra point in Endurance. Beyond that, he realized that he was becoming fairly balanced stat-wise but needed to pick a direction sooner rather than later. He felt torn between the choices. A balanced approach gave him the most adaptability, but he had the nagging feeling that specializing might be what he needed to get through situations like this.
Looking around at the darkness surrounding him and considering his circumstances, he realized that physical skills might not help him here. He decided to focus more on cerebral stats, hoping that might help in the quest for light. He wished desperately that he had grabbed the lantern instead of a bottle of water, especially since he was near a body of water and unlikely to be lacking in hydration anytime soon. The absurdity of that decision struck him harder now, a bitter regret filling his mind. A single light source could have changed everything about this dire situation.
Nonetheless, it was the item that had happened to be closest to him, so he took it. He set it aside and allocated his stat points in Wisdom and Intelligence, trying to place one in Fate but finding it impossible—as if Fate was part of the other stats yet also separate from them. It was almost like a hidden piece of himself that he could not directly touch, yet it affected everything.
The headache that he hadn’t realized was building suddenly crescendoed into a torrent of pain. If he could see, it would have blinded him; the agony seemed to course through his entire brain, like worms burrowing through every crevice of his mind. Then, suddenly, a cool sensation washed over him, like the relief of plunging into cold, clean water after being scorched by the sun all day—refreshing, soothing, almost blissful. It felt as though the essence was wrapping around each raw nerve and muscle, slowly restoring and mending.
James felt better. He looked at his status screen with a refreshed mind. He briefly reviewed the items he had gained, but it was pointless without them physically present; they were still up on the cavern ground beside the stream. More of a river in hindsight, but he wasn’t sure what officially denoted a river versus a stream. He sighed, the longing for those items gnawing at him, making the darkness seem even more suffocating. They were tools—tools that he didn't have in his hand, and in this darkness, that made all the difference.
Again, he wished for the lantern to shed light on this forlorn darkness. The Quill of Endless Ink seemed like an interesting item, but in their current situation, it was practically useless. A baby blanket was an amusing loot drop, and James wondered if it was tied to some child who had placed a great deal of affection on the item, thus making it part of the loot table. He mused on the "nourishing comfort" descriptor, but he had no means of testing its effects, nor did he have the skill {Identify} to truly discern its nature. His curiosity turned to frustration, knowing he had valuable items he couldn't properly utilize.
The blinking status icon pulled him from his thoughts, and he saw several skill notifications waiting for his attention. There were some expected skills, and a few unexpected acquisitions.
{Active Skill Acquired}
{Accept? Y/N}
- Swimming (Ashen Level One)
- Gain greater control of your body as you glide through the water.
{Passive Skill Acquired}
{Accept? Y/N}
- Breath Control (Ashen Level One)
- Control your breathing in a variety of circumstances.
- Does not extend breath duration.
{Active Skill Acquired}
{Accept? Y/N}
- Battle Strategy (Saffron Level One)
- See the flows of battle and allow coordination with allies to direct the flow in a more advantageous manner.
- Skill based on User's knowledge of battle strategy.
Suddenly, James heard a faint scuffling sound. His heart skipped a beat. He called out, "Hello?" but only silence replied. The fact that he had woken up alive provided some comfort, but he knew that anything could still attack him at any moment. His survival up until now seemed more like luck than skill, and he hated that feeling. He had faced death more times in this life than he had in his previous one, and while he thought he was dead only thirty minutes ago, he now found himself more terrified than ever.
He grabbed his trident and held it across his body, back to the water. He remembered the crabs they had encountered earlier and moved a bit further inland, feeling gravel crunch beneath his feet. The sensation grounded him slightly, a tactile reminder of the real, physical world around him. He began to hyperventilate, the edges of his vision swimming, though there was nothing to see. Panic clawed at his mind, and the overwhelming reality of his situation hit him all at once.
He missed Claire and Lily, missed Andy and Bell. He longed for the warmth of the fireplace, the smell of hot cocoa, the comfort of his loved ones. He tried to put on a brave face for Joey, but deep down, James was terrified. He was terrified of the darkness, of the unknown, of the realization that he might not make it out of this place. It was a vulnerability that gnawed at his strength, leaving him raw and exposed.
Sniffing, he forced his emotions down, the pressure in his chest easing as he focused on his breathing—cliché techniques that had gotten him through the stressful days when Claire had been in the hospital. It was like a half-remembered dream, but he went through the motions, and slowly, the world came back under his control. His breaths became steadier, the rising tide of panic receding as he reminded himself that he had made it this far.
Ironically, it was then that he received another notification.
{Active Skill Acquired}
{Accept? Y/N}
- Meditation (Ashen Level One)
- Calm the mind and allow essence to cycle through you.
- 50% increased mana regeneration while meditating
James looked at the skills he had acquired and knew he had decisions to make. He didn’t know what the right choices were—what would benefit him in the short term, or what would be better for the long term. Would the Swimming skill be useful, or would it sit dormant within him for the rest of his life? Could he even remove skills once he had them? There were so many questions, and so few answers. He hated the indecision, the uncertainty that came with not fully understanding this world and its rules.
Thankfully, there wasn’t any pain associated with not taking the skills immediately, which allowed him to rest and think, insofar as resting was possible in pitch-dark, sensory-deprived conditions. He tried to calm his thoughts, organizing the considerations for each skill as best he could.
Breath Control seemed useful for both combat and more esoteric applications, such as recouping stamina—assuming that was how the skill could be used. It was something he couldn't test right now. Realistically, though, he didn’t have many skills, and anything that could help was worth considering. The added control could give him an edge in survival scenarios, or even in controlling his fear when things became too overwhelming, just like they were now.
Battle Strategy intrigued him too. It had obviously appeared because of his role directing the fight by the stream, but the caveat that the skill depended on his knowledge made him pause. Did controlling characters in video games count as battle knowledge? It was also the only skill not at the Ashen level, which implied a higher rarity—and presumably greater value. Maybe this skill could help him overcome his lack of combat experience, enhance his leadership abilities, and work with Joey more effectively.
His mind began to cloud again, and James realized the value of Meditation. He decided to accept that skill first and then decide about the others.
{Active Skill Acquired}
{Accept? Y/N}
- Meditation (Ashen Level One)
- Calm the mind and allow essence to cycle through you.
- 50% increased mana regeneration while meditating
Accepting the prompt, he felt a surge of essence flow into his torso. The feeling was strange, but it settled into him somewhere deep within. He tried to connect with the new skill, but it was slippery, elusive, and he found himself unable to get a proper grip on it. Frustrated after a few minutes, James decided to try meditating normally, just to see if there was any difference.
Immediately, the difference was night and day. It was as though his frustrations had been washed away. His mind wasn’t empty, but his thoughts were finally under control—he could parse them in peace rather than have them ricochet around chaotically. He felt as though his entire body relaxed for the first time in what felt like days, his muscles losing their constant tension.
It felt as if he could breathe again for the first time since coming to this world. He relaxed, still aware of the darkness and whatever might lurk in it, but finally able to take the load off his mind and view the situation with clarity. He could think about Joey, about their journey, about how to proceed from here, without the weight of panic crushing him.
The profound effect of the skill made James realize just how impactful skills could be. His parents had always emphasized their importance, but it was one thing to be told and another to experience it firsthand. He could feel the calming presence of the Meditation skill settling over his mind like a protective veil, softening the edges of his worries.
He couldn’t even articulate what exactly was different. It felt like he had been meditating this way his entire life—a seamless integration of psyche and spirit. It was a bit frightening, how quickly these skills became part of him, but he knew he had to adapt to this new reality or risk dying. He had to embrace the strange, accept the inexplicable, and use whatever tools he had to survive.
While still in his meditative state, James realized he could pull up his status. He decided to accept {Battle Strategy}, hoping it would give him an edge. Once again, essence surged into him, drawn from the very air around him, flowing through his entire body. It felt right, as if he was finally moving in the direction he needed to.
Once the surge ended, James waited, expecting some kind of immediate effect, but nothing happened. It was strange—his expectations had been shaped by Joey’s {Bronze Skin}, which had physically transformed his body. James’ own skills, from {Trident Proficiency} to {Power Thrust} and now {Meditation} and {Battle Strategy}, hadn’t caused any dramatic physical changes. Instead, it was as if something inside his mind had clicked, a new understanding of how to approach combat.
Thinking about Joey made James realize how much he genuinely cared for his friend. Despite having lived a whole other life as Frank, there was no real emotional distance between him and Joey. The transition into James’ life felt seamless, as if Frank was just a past chapter, and everything he felt for Joey and the others was genuine and deeply ingrained. It was strange, but it also gave him a sense of purpose and connection—something he desperately needed in this dark, lonely cave.
James sighed, his breath echoing slightly in the emptiness around him. He needed to move. He couldn’t just sit here and wait for Joey or anyone else to come find him. He had to take action, had to figure out where he was and how to proceed. The fear still lurked in his chest, a quiet, persistent gnawing, but it no longer overwhelmed him.