Eddie's heart raced as he read the message. The announcement echoed in his mind, its significance profound. This discovery could change everything in Ascendant Online. But he still hadn’t gotten shit from the system. No gold, no special announcement, no unique treasure. He threw the journal into his inventory and stood up, brushing off the dirt from his knees while shaking his head. The system never seemed to give him a break.

Speaking of not getting a break, he suddenly heard footsteps echoing through the tunnels behind him. Eddie tensed, drawing his dagger once more. The footsteps grew louder, more deliberate. He turned, pressing himself against the cavern wall, trying to blend into the shadows.

Three figures emerged from the tunnel, their outlines becoming clearer in the dim light. At the forefront was the noble he had encountered earlier, a sneer plastered on his face. Behind him were two low-leveled accomplices, each holding intricately scrolled swords and wearing matching smirks.

"Well, well," the noble said, his voice dripping with condescension. "Look who we have here. The auction's favorite curiosity."

Eddie kept his dagger at the ready, his eyes darting between the three assailants. "What do you want?" he demanded, trying to keep his voice steady.

The noble chuckled, stepping closer. "Oh, nothing much. Just a little payback for the embarrassment you caused me. And perhaps to see if you've found anything valuable down here."

The two accomplices moved to flank Eddie, their weapons raised. Eddie's mind raced, calculating his chances. He’d already knocked the asshole on his, well, ass before. And that was when there were two high level guards. Now there were just his two low level buddies.

"You're wasting your time," Eddie said, trying to buy himself a moment to think. "You couldn’t even hurt me with your high level guards, but now you just have these kids. What happened? Daddy take away your precious wittle guards?"

The noble's smile vanished. "You just got lucky that you ran into the casino. There’s no one here to save you," he said before gesturing towards the other two.

The two accomplices lunged forward. Eddie ducked, his agility allowing him to evade their clumsy attacks. He sidestepped one, delivering a swift kick to the other, sending him stumbling back. But the noble was quick, drawing a rapier and slashing at Eddie with surprising skill.

Eddie barely parried the attack, their blades clashing with a metallic ring that echoed through the cavern. The noble’s higher level than Eddie would show if the fight went on very long. He needed to create distance and find a way to turn the fight in his favor. He feinted to the left, then dove to the right, driving his dagger into the side of one of the accomplices. The man cried out, then collapsed. Eddie fell on top of him, losing balance from his dive.

"You're faster than you look," the noble said, eyes narrowing. "But you're still just a dirty goblin."

Eddie's breath came in quick, shallow gasps as he sprang to his feet. His gills were opening up, trying to get air into him. He couldn't afford to let his guard down for a second. The noble's remaining accomplice was hesitating, looking between Eddie and the fallen man. Eddie seized the moment, charging forward and disarming the man with a swift strike to his wrist.

Now it was just Eddie and the noble. The air was thick with tension, the mist swirling around their feet. The noble's confidence faltered, but he raised his rapier again, determination in his eyes.

Eddie met his gaze, a newfound resolve burning within him. "You picked the wrong target," he said, his voice low and steady.

The noble lunged, but Eddie was ready. He sidestepped the attack, using his agility to maneuver behind the noble. With a swift, precise movement, he disarmed him, sending the rapier clattering to the ground.

The noble stumbled, falling to his knees. Eddie stood over him, dagger pointed at his throat. "Leave now," Eddie said, his voice cold. "And tell anyone who asks that you found nothing here."

The noble's eyes were wide with fear and anger, but he nodded, scrambling to his feet and backing away. His accomplices followed, supporting their injured comrade as they retreated into the darkness of the tunnel.

Eddie watched them go, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew this was only the beginning. The discovery he had made would bring more danger, more challenges. But he was ready for whatever lay ahead. Taking a deep breath, he turned back to the path before him, the cavern growing darker and more mysterious with each step.

As the echoes of the retreating footsteps faded into the distance, Eddie allowed himself a moment to breathe. He sheathed his dagger, the cool metal reassuring against his side. The cavern was silent once more, save for the faint sound of the subterranean river flowing nearby.

Eddie turned his attention back to the chamber, his eyes drawn to the ancient carvings on the walls. He felt a renewed sense of purpose. The discovery he had made was monumental, and he needed to uncover the full extent of the mystery hidden within these depths.

He approached the alcove where he had found the scroll, examining the surroundings for any additional clues. The carvings continued to depict scenes of battles and rituals, the radiant figure ever present. Eddie wondered if there might be more hidden compartments or objects that could shed light on the story.

Carefully, he traced his fingers over the carvings, feeling for any irregularities. His persistence paid off when he discovered a loose stone near the base of the wall. With a gentle push, the stone shifted, revealing a small recess. Inside, he found another scroll, this one less weathered than the last.

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Eddie unrolled it, the ancient parchment crackling softly. The illustrations and text were similar to the first scroll, but this one seemed to delve deeper into the history of the tentacle creatures and the radiant figure. The scroll described how the creatures had come to power, exploiting the fears and desires of the worshippers. It also detailed the figure's journey to defeat them, gathering allies and powerful artifacts along the way.

As Eddie read, he felt a sense of revulsion from the radiant figure's quest. The man gathered power, but never helped himself. He never kept any jewels or pillaged any villages. This was a game, a game the Eddie intended to fully enjoy.

With a promise to himself to forge his own path, Eddie carefully rolled up the scroll and placed it in his inventory. With a determined glance at the path ahead, he continued deeper into the cave, the darkness growing thicker around him. The faint glow from the moss and river was barely enough to see by, but Eddie's senses were heightened, his every movement cautious and deliberate.

The tunnel twisted and turned, the air growing colder and more oppressive. Strange whispers seemed to float through the darkness, just beyond the edge of hearing. Eddie ignored them, focusing on the path before him.

After what felt like hours of walking, the tunnel opened into another vast chamber. This one was even more impressive than the last, its ceiling adorned with shimmering crystals that cast a soft, ethereal light. In the center of the chamber stood a massive stone door, its surface covered in intricate carvings and symbols.

Eddie approached the door cautiously, examining the carvings. They depicted scenes of the radiant figure wielding the staff and amulet, battling against the tentacle creatures and sealing them away. The door seemed to be a gateway, a barrier keeping the creatures imprisoned.

As Eddie studied the door, he noticed a series of indentations along its edge. They matched the shape and size of the amulet he had found earlier. With a sense of anticipation, he retrieved the amulet from his inventory and placed it into the central indentation.

The amulet fit perfectly, and as it clicked into place, the door began to glow with a soft, golden light. Eddie stepped back, his heart pounding in his chest. The carvings on the door seemed to come alive, the figures moving and shifting in the ethereal light.

With a deep rumble, the door slowly began to open, revealing a dark passageway beyond. Eddie took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever lay ahead. He knew that this was the next step in his journey, the path to uncovering the truth about the ancient creatures and the radiant figure.

He stepped through the doorway, the light from the crystals fading as he ventured deeper into the passageway. The air was thick with an otherworldly energy, the sense of magic and mystery growing stronger with each step.

Eddie's mind raced with questions. What would he find on the other side? Would the ancient creatures still be there, waiting in the darkness? And what role would he play in the unfolding story?

As he continued down the passageway, his thoughts were interrupted by a faint, rhythmic sound. It was like the beating of a drum, growing louder and more insistent the further he went. The sound seemed to resonate with the very walls of the passage, a primal rhythm that stirred something deep within him.

He entered a new chamber, this one was unlike any he had seen before. The ceiling was once again adorned with shimmering crystals that cast a soft, ethereal light. However, the chamber was far from peaceful.

The floor was teeming with ants—mutated, grotesque creatures the size of small dogs. Their exoskeletons glinted in the dim light, covered in jagged spikes and strange, luminescent patterns. Their mandibles clicked menacingly as they scuttled about, their many eyes reflecting a malevolent intelligence. When Eddie looked at them, he saw:

Mutated Soldier Ant – Level 6

In the center of the chamber, towering over the mutated ants, was an enormous creature that made Eddie's blood run cold. It was an ant broodmother, but unlike any he had ever imagined. Its body was massive and bloated, with a slick, black exoskeleton that seemed to absorb the light. Its eyes were deep pits that exuded an aura of ancient, dark power. This was no ordinary creature; Eddie was already massively overpowered by the soldier ants, much less whatever the broodmother was. He didn’t even dare do more than glance in its direction. He was terrified.

Eddie crouched behind a large rock, his heart pounding. He knew he had to be careful. The broodmother's presence suggested she commanded the mutated ants, and a direct confrontation would be deadly. He observed the swarm, noting their patterns and movements, searching for a way to navigate through the chamber without drawing attention.

He realized he would need to use his agility and stealth to his advantage. Carefully, he moved along the edges of the chamber, keeping to the shadows. The ants were primarily focused on the broodmother, tending to her and the countless eggs she was laying. Eddie felt a shiver of disgust but pushed it aside, focusing on his objective.

As he crept forward, he noticed several patches of glowing moss on the chamber walls. They provided just enough light to see by, but he had to be cautious. Any sudden movement or noise could alert the ants to his presence.

Eddie continued to move stealthily, avoiding clusters of ants and taking advantage of the shadows. He was halfway across the chamber when one of the ants suddenly raised its head, its antennae twitching. Eddie froze, holding his breath. The ant scanned the area, its eyes reflecting the faint light. After what felt like an eternity, it turned away, returning to its task.

Eddie exhaled quietly, continuing his slow, careful advance. He could see the exit now, a narrow tunnel on the other side of the chamber. Just a few more steps and he would be clear.

Suddenly, a loud clicking sound echoed through the chamber. The broodmother's eyes flashed, and the ants became agitated, their mandibles clacking loudly. Eddie's heart raced as he realized he had to move quickly.

He dashed toward the tunnel, his agility allowing him to weave between the ants with ease. The broodmother let out a low, rumbling growl, and the ants began to swarm toward him.

He swung his dagger at them, slicing through their grotesque exoskeletons. Green ichor splattered as he fought off the advancing swarm. However, the ants were relentless, quickly surrounding him and piling on top of each other, creating a living wall of chitin and fury.

Eddie felt the weight of the ants pressing in on him, their mandibles snapping dangerously close. He struggled to keep his footing, his movements becoming more frantic as he tried to fend off the relentless tide. Despite his agility, the sheer number of ants was overwhelming.

Desperation fueled his movements as he slashed and stabbed, but the ants continued to press forward. Eddie's breath came in ragged gasps, his muscles burning with effort. The tunnel seemed so close, yet so far away.

With a surge of determination, Eddie dropped to the ground and rolled, using his momentum to break free from the pile of ants. He scrambled to his feet, kicking away any that clung to him. He knew he had only moments before they swarmed him again.

He sprinted toward the tunnel, using every ounce of his agility to dodge and weave through the remaining ants. The broodmother's growl grew louder, a deep, resonant sound that seemed to vibrate through the very air. He heard a scratch on the floor before he felt something pierce through his shoulder and stomach.

“Ahhhhhh,” he screamed as felt his blood pouring down his arm and stomach. Then he just saw a flash of light and saw:

You have died. You were killed by Varnithra, Abyssal Broodmother – Level ????