The path ahead was narrow, and the walls closed in, forcing him to move cautiously. The glowing moss gave just enough light for him to see symbols etched into the stone.

As he went further and further into the cave, Eddie grew more and more on edge by the silent, dim cave. Only his steps made noise, gently echoing in the corridor. The air grew colder, and a faint, musky smell gradually became more and more evident.

Eddie remained on high alert as he listened intently for any sounds of danger. His fingers brushed the hilt of his dagger, ready to draw it at a moment's notice.

After what felt like an eternity of creeping through the tunnel, Eddie emerged into a vast underground chamber. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like jagged teeth, and a subterranean river cut through the center of the cavern, its waters glowing with an ethereal blue light.

But between him and the river stood another obstacle. A group of low-leveled creatures—giant, vicious-looking rabbits—were grazing near the water's edge. Eddie couldn't help but gulp at the sight. These were not ordinary rabbits; their skin was translucent, their red eyes glowed with a malevolent intelligence, and their sharp, protruding teeth looked capable of piercing down to the bone.

Eddie drew his dagger and approached the rabbits cautiously, keeping himself in the shadow of a particularly large stalactite. Despite their shared appearance with rabbits, he knew better than to underestimate them. He focused on one of the rabbits and saw:

Cave Rabbit – Level 2

Eddie decided to use his agility, by far his highest attribute, to his advantage. He crouched low, moving silently through the shadows. When he was within striking distance, he sprang forward with a burst of speed, his dagger flashing in the dim light.

The first rabbit barely had time to react before Eddie's blade found its mark. It let out a shrill squeal and collapsed to the ground. The other rabbits immediately became alert, their red eyes scanning the darkness for the source of the attack. The rabbits on the edge of their group immediately shrank inwards, compressing the rabbits into a tighter bunch.

Eddie knew he had to act quickly before the rabbits had formed an impenetrable wall. He darted forward, slashing at another rabbit before it could launch itself at him. His increased agility made him a blur of motion, but he was pitting his own agility against that of rabbits, creatures that are known for their speed. Eddie managed to take down another rabbit that had strayed too far from the group but the remaining ones were growing more organized.

One rabbit, larger and more muscular than the rest, lunged at Eddie, its sharp teeth bared. Eddie sidestepped, barely avoiding the rabbit's snapping jaw. He swung his dagger in a wide arc, trying to drive away the rabbit. It jumped back out of the way before sitting down and watching Eddie from a distance. The other rabbits began stomping their feet and baring their teeth at Eddie but they remained close to the larger rabbit.

Taking advantage of their uncertainty, Eddie surveyed the carnage around him. The cavern floor was littered with the bodies of the rabbits, their blood staining the rocky ground. Near him were the bodies of the three rabbits that he had slain and he quickly looted them. He found rabbit pelts and a handful of copper coins. Eddie wasn’t happy with how stingy the game had been giving out coins.

“Give me gold coins to start and now all I see are coppers. What bullshit,” he exclaimed while still keeping an eye on the rabbit fluffle. Eddie briefly turned his attention back to the path ahead. The cave seemed to get darker and darker, with even less light but his alternatives were to turn around and give up or stay in the cavern with the angry swarm of rabbits. They were still in Eddie’s direct way toward the river, but he thought that he could skirt around them.

So while keeping an eye on them, he turned most of his attention to the river ahead. The river flowed smoothly through the cavern, its surface shimmering in the faint light filtering down from above. The water's gentle murmuring provided a soothing backdrop, contrasting sharply with the recent flurry of combat. Eddie moved downriver of the rabbits, keeping in the shadows and trying to draw as little attention from them as he could. When he felt like he was a safe distance away, he crouched at the river's edge, peering into the clear water. He could see small fish darting around, their scales glinting like tiny jewels.

He splashed some water on his face, before realizing how dumb that had been with the rabbits just up the river from him. As he quickly stood up, turning to face the rabbits again, he noticed something glimmering under the water near the riverbank. Eddie reached down and carefully retrieved the object, revealing a small, intricately designed vial. The liquid inside glowed faintly, casting a soft light. He examined it closely, noting the runes etched into the glass but when he tried to identify it, only saw: ??? This could be useful, he thought, placing it securely in his inventory.

Eddie scanned the area for any more hidden items or potential threats. The cavern walls were rugged and uneven, with moss and small plants clinging to the damp stone. A narrow path wound alongside the river, disappearing into the shadows. He decided to follow it, hoping it would lead him deeper into the cave and closer to his ultimate goal.

As he walked, the air grew cooler, and the sounds of the outside world faded away. The path twisted and turned, the darkness pressing in around him. Eddie's footsteps echoed softly, mingling with the steady flow of the river. He felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation, knowing that each step brought him closer to whatever lay hidden within the depths of the cave.

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After a short distance, the path opened into a slightly larger chamber. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, and the river widened into a small, tranquil pool. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and minerals. Eddie began dripping in sweat In the center of the pool, a pedestal rose from the water, supporting a large, ornate chest.

Eddie approached the chest cautiously, his eyes scanning for any signs of danger. He circled it, looking for traps or hidden mechanisms. Finding none, he took a deep breath and reached out, lifting the heavy lid. Inside, he found a collection of items: a finely crafted dagger, a small pouch, and a book bound in dark leather.

He took the items and examined them closely. When he opened the pouch, he found some gold coins. When he looked at the dagger and book, he saw: ??? Eddie was starting to get pissed at not being able to identify anything that he found in the cave. So he sent the dagger and book to join the unidentified vial in his inventory. As he turned to leave the chamber, he couldn't help but lament whatever it was that kept him from knowing anything about the objects he carried in his inventory.

The path continued deeper into the cave, winding alongside the subterranean river which no longer seemed to glow ethereal blue. The color had gotten darker and darker and while it still gave off light, it was nothing like the massive cavern where Eddie had first seen it. The further he ventured, the more the air seemed to hum with an almost tangible sense of magic and mystery. Every now and then, he would catch glimpses of movement out of the corner of his eye, but whenever he turned to look, there was nothing there.

Eventually, the path led him to another large chamber. This one was different from the last; there was a light emanating from the ceiling which seemed to be made from crystal. The walls were covered in ancient carvings, depicting scenes of battles, rituals, and long-forgotten legends. In the center of the room stood an ancient looking stone altar, its surface worn smooth by the passage of time.

Eddie approached the altar cautiously, his eyes once again scanning for any signs of traps or hidden dangers. As he drew closer, he noticed a faint glow emanating from the base of the altar. Intrigued, he knelt down and brushed away the dirt and dust, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside, he found a small, intricately carved amulet.

He reached out and took the amulet, feeling a strange warmth emanating from it. The moment his fingers closed around it, a rush of energy surged through him. His vision blurred, and for a brief moment, he felt as if he were floating in a sea of darkness. When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in the chamber once more, the amulet pulsing with a soft, steady glow in his hand.

Eddie placed the amulet in his inventory, alongside the other unidentified items. As he stood up, he heard a faint whisper, almost too soft to discern. He strained to listen, but the voice was gone as quickly as it had appeared. Shaking off the eerie feeling, he turned his attention to the rest of the chamber. The carvings on the walls seemed to tell a story, one that Eddie felt was important to understand. He traced his fingers over the ancient symbols, trying to piece together the narrative.

It showed a group of, tentacle monsters, for lack of a better term. They were over a much larger crowd of more normal humanoids who seemed to be worshipping them. Then a figure with a light appeared and he approached the monstrous entities. The carvings depicted the figure as radiant and strong, holding a staff that glowed with an intense light, clearly a symbol of hope and power. The tentacle monsters recoiled from the light, their menacing forms twisting in agony as the figure advanced.

Eddie's fingers traced the intricate lines of the carvings, feeling the grooves and edges as if they could impart some deeper understanding. The next part of the narrative showed the figure battling the tentacle creatures, the light from the staff pushing them back, driving them into the darkness. The crowd of worshippers watched in awe and reverence, their expressions transforming from fear to hope.

As Eddie studied the carvings, he noticed a small alcove hidden in the shadows of the chamber. His curiosity piqued, he approached the alcove and found a dusty, weathered scroll. Carefully, he unrolled it, revealing ancient text and illustrations that seemed to complement the story on the walls.

The scroll described the tentacle creatures as entities from another realm, beings of chaos and darkness. They had been summoned by the misguided worshippers, who believed the creatures could grant them power and immortality. But instead, the monsters had brought only destruction and despair. They had ruled the land for thousands of years before the radiant figure, had come to their aid, wielding a powerful amulet and a staff imbued with the light of the sun. That figure had driven out the dark entities before assuming their position as the ruler of the world.

The cave seemed to grow darker and more foreboding the deeper he went. Strange sounds echoed through the tunnels, and the air grew colder. Eddie's senses were on high alert, every nerve tingling with anticipation. He knew that the challenges would only grow more difficult, but he was ready. He had to be.

As he rounded a corner, the tunnel opened up into another large cavern. This one was filled with a thick, heavy mist that clung to the ground, swirling around his feet. The air was damp and cold, and Eddie shivered as he stepped forward. In the center of the cavern, he could just make out the outline of another figure, shrouded in the mist.

But when he stepped forward, he saw that it was just a skeleton, a skeleton that looked like it had been a goblin. Eddie's breath caught in his throat as he stepped closer to the skeletal remains. The mist swirled around him, making the air thick and heavy, each step muffled by the eerie silence of the cavern. The skeleton lay crumpled on the ground, its bony fingers clutching a rusted dagger, and remnants of tattered clothing hung from its frame.

Kneeling down, Eddie examined the skeleton more closely. It was clear this goblin had met a violent end, its bones fractured and broken. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the fallen creature. Who had it been? What had it hoped to achieve by venturing this deep into the cave? Eddie’s mind raced with questions.

As he pondered, Eddie's eyes were drawn to a glint of metal near the skeleton's other hand. Gently brushing away the dirt and debris, he uncovered a small journal that had the glinting metal lock. Eddie pulled out the key that he had found in the crevice and inserted it. As soon as he did, he saw:

Congratulations!! You have discovered the subject of the Main Quest.

Main Quest Update: You have discovered that creatures prior to the current Gods of Ascendant Online ruled the world and received the worship of others. But you have only touched the surface of the mystery. Continue to explore to find out who the creatures were and if they still exist.

World Announcement: Before the Gods, there were others. Uncover the truth behind what lay behind and what may lay ahead…