Saying that I had started my slow descent was no exaggeration, since I wobbled down one step at a time, looking out for traps and the like. I might have done a few dumb things since I’ve come to this world, but this is one of those that stay at the top, never to be forgotten. My steps echoed in the hollow tunel, the light coming from my artifact being the only thing to bring a spark of life in that hell hole. I could hear water drip from random places, whispers echoing in the dark, but perhaps a part of them came from my own ilusions.

After what felt like years, I came across the floor. The whole place looked like a cave, a large one, seemingly empty. I had my sword prepared, just in case something appeared out of nowhere and I had to protect myself. I guess I can only look around, trying to find the exit.

The cave system was a simple one, with only one way: forward. The weird noises I kept hearing did nothing but add to the eerie atmosphere, scaring the crap out of me. As I walked, the path became narrow, just like a hall, making the whole place feel like a dungeon of sorts. Wait, dungeon. Yes, why did I only think about it now? This is a hidden dungeon; I finish it and go out.

The other large room-like place I found myself in proved to be a bit of a challenge. Remember the spilion? These things were plain spiders, but just as big. I guess you could picture my fear the moment my eyes met the gaze of ten of those things, all coming for me, moving their legs in my direction. Without skipping a beat, I sprang back for the hall while searching inside my pouch for what I knew would be a good thing in this situation. I placed some rings on my hand, aiming them at the spiders. Now that I had mana, my firepower rose quite a bit compared to what it was before, and using them amplified my mana. Needless to say, in a few seconds, the whole place was littered with spider steak.

I felt bad for ruining their remains, but my survival came first, nothing else. As a precaution, I chose to keep the rings on. The whole place seemed to have the same repeating pattern: a large hall, then spiders of different sizes crawling towards me. Most of them burned to ashes faster than paper, but some of them were more persistent, like one such spider that, after finding itself engulfed by flames, climbed on the ceiling and tried to stick me to the floor with some of its webs. I burned them, but the fucker decided to catch me with its legs. Without thinking, just like a survival mechanism, I filled my sword with mana and watched the thing be split in half by a bright slice of light, which I could barely see move.

My whole ride around this place was the same, but there was a small key difference. I reached the final room and somehow made it there in one piece. My face brightened when my eyes made contact with the giant doors. They were made of stone, as if carved into the cave’s wall, at least four meters tall. Finally, I might be able to get out. That, or there’s a spider as big as that door in there.

My worries shook me; the look on my face said it all. After all, it’s always like this. Go through some traumatizing shit, then have some more of something that’s more bitter. The good thing was that I wasn’t as big of a moron as I believed myself to be, and I sat there for a good few minutes until my mana could fully recharge. I had barely started training in using it, so I had a small supply.

Stolen story; please report.

Meanwhile, as I waited for my body to rest a bit, I checked inside my bag, looking for what to use. I decided on keeping the rings on, but nothing stopped me from stacking them; using them to their full potential was another story. With my hand covered in as many rings as I could put on without reducing mobility in my fingers and enough necklaces to cover the entire bloodline of someone’s family, I walked in. My speed was at a new high, and my strength as well. Not only did I increase those stats, but I also increased my mana regeneration rate, and I can use smoke as cover. Sadly for me, most of my items’ effects come down to increasing strength and agility.

"Welp, time to clear this thing."

I pushed the doors, and surprisingly, they opened way easier than I thought they would. Inside, instead of freedom, I found myself in another room. As I stepped in, lights turned out, seemingly out of nowhere. The place looked a lot different. It was like a hall, but way larger, and the only thing awaiting at the end of the room was a stone throne, hosting the remains of a warrior of sorts, or at least that’s what I could tell after looking at its armor. The armor itself looked to be quite new, despite the skeleton being, well, a skeleton. The golden carvings glimmered in the light, which was the only reason I could see the shape of the thing since the lighting was enough to see around but not in fine detail.

Afraid and knowing this was sure to be a trap, I still recklessly made my way to the throne, ready to end it. As I came face to face with the dead, a feeling of dread filled my body, as if it were spreading in the air. I watched in horror, frozen in place, as the warrior rose up from his seat, ready for one last duel. I had my sword out, but I didn’t dare swing until I had a clear idea of what I was up against. He had no weapon at first, but apparently the thing appeared out of thin air, as if taken out of a subspace of sorts.

The result of the battle seemed to have been set in stone, with me, someone who’s not even worth the title of beginner, and the remains of a warrior of old, wielding a piece of iron bigger than me as a sword. I could only muster a few words before having to run around like a mouse chased by a cat: "I’m fucked."

The breeze of the moving blade touched my skin, a blade that I could barely evade. For a pile of bones, it was strong. My legs gave chase to life while my hands trembled on the hilt of my weapon. The only way to get out alive was to dodge and try to aim for a blind spot, since parrying was no option. It kept aiming for me, swinging the sword tirelessly, as if a child were swinging a twig around. With a snap of my fingers, a sea of flame engulfed him. It split the thing apart, as if cutting butter.

I dove as a strike came for my head, using my sword’s magic attack. A flash of light bolted in its direction, only to throw it off for a while. Taking quick advantage of the moment, I swung my sword into the helmet’s opening, aiming for his skull. The bastard’s skull cracked, but he dodged faster than I could move. I felt a sting in my back, followed by the warm feeling of flowing blood. I bolted away, spamming magic at him and everything else I could manage. Nothing could touch him, and what touched him did nothing.

I was cornered, tired, and breathing heavily. My hope faded away as I saw it slowly approach me, as if knowing I had no chance.

"Well, damn you, I won’t... die like this."

I reached out, pointing my finger at his head like one would point a gun. The bastard didn’t even flinch, so I did what anyone with magic would do. Bam, sent a rock flying for his skull. It went faster than the bastard could dodge, which meant a clean hit for me. The once again lifeless body of his fell on the floor, never to move again.

Before I could even celebrate, I ran to the spot where the body was, took off the armor, and destroyed the entire skeleton. Who knew what magic was keeping it alive? This might slow down the process of bringing it back.

"Well, I should sit down for a bit."