I walk to the front desk hurriedly. The knife strapped to my side wiggling slightly. The woman doesn’t even look up she just points to the right. I don’t try to make conversation my throat is too dry to form words. Guards are along the wall their faces completely covered they are guarding the entrance to the most dangerous place in the world, called by many the steps to hell, and the place god fears to step. The Dungeon. No other name is used to describe it and the name is not used to describe anything else. For a few it is where you train yourself and hone devastating powers. For me and every other human being on earth it’s are last resort before we either go to crime or start begging.

I stop in front the entrance. The guard next to me ask me the same thing that everyone else has sense I got up this morning.

“Do you really have to do this.” He didn’t state it as a question so I know he is always forced to say this.

“Sir,” I say,”I think you know I don’t have any other options up here.”

I push the giant metal door open and take my steps down the biggest stairway I have ever seen.

My name is Zero. I no longer have a last name. I’m a white caucasian male who has brown hair, brown eyes and tattered shirt, jeans and shoes. I’m only 15 years old and I may not see the next morning. The life band on my wrist itches slightly. It doesn’t help save my life or anything like that no It just reads whether or not I’m alive. I reach the bottom of the stairs. The corredor is dimly lit with only one hallway. This part of the dungeon has only three rooms in a straight line and each room has a door blocking off the next.

I take a deep breath. This is it. This part of the dungeon is called Kid Killer. This is where they send kids like me who have nothing up on the surface to go back. The odds of dying in here are ninety eight percent. I’m going to be the two percent that survives.

I draw my blade and run towards the door. I position myself next to the door. It has handles on it and it looks made out of wood. I’ve been researching the dungeon for the past two weeks devising a strategy. The survivors of the Kid Killer all say the same thing rushing the rooms is the best way. Trying to wait out the mobs just makes you weaker.

My knife is over my chest. I look up at the ceiling.

“God I have never believed in you, but if you’re up there. Help me get out of this.”

I jerk the door open using it as a shield. A small goblin rushes through the opening. I grab it by its head and slit its throat. Then the next one came through, a berserker goblin. It swing its warhammer at me which I dodge then I jab my knife through the underpart of his jaw stabbing into his brains. I grab what little shirt it has on to keep it up as a goblin shield. Three arrows sprout out of its back. I survey the rest of the pack. Three are still alive a archer, a mage and another berserker slamming his warhammer on his dead friend’s head. With a sickening splat the thing’s brains explode out. I toss the body at the goblin making him lose his balance. I tackle the goblin in his side stabbing it in it’s chest and abdomen. I don’t stick to him long. Another arrow wizzes by missing me by inches. I run forward to the two left. The archer is staring down its sights at me, but I don’t move. The mage is preparing to cast his spell.

Woosh!

I dodge the arrow at the last second. It’s notching another arrow, but I don’t give it time. I rush it swinging my dagger. It tries to block with its bow, but its weak and breaks under my strength. It tries to bite me, but all it does is open its neck for an attack. I jab into its neck severing its jugular and its windpipe. I toss it to the ground turning towards the mage, it’s staff is inches from my chest about to fire a fireball. I try to dodge, but I’m too close it hits me on my side.

I drop to the ground. The mage tries to use the butt end of its staff to crush my brains, but I manage to trip it. It lands just above my head, I jab upward, but it grabs my arm.

“ARGH.” It bares its fangs at me. It lets go of its staff to try and scratch me but I manage to catch it with my other arm. That side of my body is numb and weak. I’m not strong enough to keep it up its pushing me down.

“ARGGHH.” It tries to bite my face.

“AHHHH.” I head but the thing, it barely feels it.

“COME ON YOU DAMN THING DIE!” I use all my strength to push upward, then jab my knee into its privates.

Stolen novel; please report.

“URGK!” I stick the dagger into its heart. It takes a few seconds for it to die. I push it off of me.

I lay there for a second wondering if my body is still whole. I don’t want to, but I have to look at my side. Its bad the shirt is completely burnt off and so is the skin, but it’s not lethal, not yet anyway. I force myself to get up. Standing is hard, but I can do it. I look at the next door it’s the exact same as the last one. The things over there will probably try to rush the opening door like these did. I look back at the berserkers and jog over to their dead bodies and grab one war hammer with my other hand still gripping my dagger. I can’t wield this in battle I’m far too weak, but I can manage one swing. I drag the hammer to the next door.

I formulate a quick plan. Then immediatly set it in motion. I need to keep my adrenaline up so I don’t feel my wound.

I grab the door handle with my dagger hand and swing it open. A wolf is already lunging at me its mouth open fangs aimed to kill. I crush its skull with the warhammer. Another one, this one has jumped higher, is almost at my throat. I stap it through the side of its head slamming it into the wall. Pulling my knife out I search the room. One left and its twice the size of the first two. A dire wolf. I leave the warhammer I can’t swing it fast enough to hit the thing. We both stand still staring each other down then we start sprinting at each other. We collide in mere seconds, but it felt like longer. It tried to rip my throat out like the one before, but I used my arm as a shield. It knocks me down to the ground knocking the wind out of me. It bears down on my arm making it hurt like hellfire. Then it stops suddenly going limp on top of me. My knife directly under its jaw the tip barely sticking through the top of its head. I roll it off of me.

“AHG!” I grab my arm. Its bleeding bad and I think it may be broken. I can’t treat it here. The only way for my to live is beat the boss and get what I came here for. I roll over to my good arm, but bad side and push myself up.

I walk quickly to the door my arm swinging uselessly to my side. From all the records I’ve read there are three options for the floor boss. A giant wolf, a goblin chief and….

I open the door. A young orc.

A true orc would be ten feet tall and take several real men to take down, but this one is only a little taller than me. It wears nothing, but a simple loincloth and its only weapon is a two wooden handed club. I can’t wait long so I follow my plan and rush it. The orc looks at me dumly not recognizing its being attacked. I’m glad orcs stupidity is not just myth. It raises its club over his head. And slams it down where I was seconds before. The impact cracked the stone floor. Crap this is a one shot kill match for me. I slide to the side of it slashing at its ankle severing its achilles tendon.

“ARRRRRRRR!” It drops to one knee yelling its lungs out. It looks at me with pure hate in its eyes. It swings at me throwing himself to the ground. I use this opportunity to severe his other achilles tendon. It roars again. Trying to get up it breaks both his feet almost completely cutting them off. I quick step back a few steps. The orc screams some more then locks back on me. Using the little brain power it has it starts crawling towards me leaving its weapon behind. This room is half the size of the other ones making evading hard. Mobs take forever to bleed to death so just waiting for it to die is improbable and also. The blood trailing down my arm flings across the wall as I dodge the persistent orc. I’m in more danger then he is in bleeding out.

Think Zero what are orcs most known for. They have strength, battle prowess and insanely high health. I’ve severely disabled it’s ability to walk move and it can’t use its club effectively. Wait I can lead it back through the other rooms getting the warhammer and. Shoot! The door is closed and there’s no handle.

Thud! The orc slams its fist to the wall next to my head. It crazes me slightly causing a bright red blood to run down my face. It stings but nothing major. I slash at its arm causing barely any damage. I run to the opposite side of the room still trying to formulate a plan. I can’t keep this up for long, I need a knockout hit now, but how the only thing in here is the club. The club! That’s it. This is a do or die moment if I fail I die, but if I sucede. It will allow many doors to open up for me.

I sprint towards the club the orc right on my heels. I jump over the club stopping where I landed. The orc launches itself at the club picking it up and swinging. Causing its body to become unbalanced slightly raised in the air. Instead of jumping back I jump forward knife first aiming directly at the jugular.

Slish.

I HIT IT! Its blood pours onto me, but I got it I won. BAM! I strong impact hits my good side. The orc screams at me saliva going everywhere. It’s not dead yet. It hits me again even harder I hear my ribs breaking unimaginable pain soaring through my body. Is this it, am I going to die here under this orc. Time slows down the orcs mouth moving very slowly. Images pass through my mind. Manly the ones that let me to this situation. But one sticks out above all the others the one with me and him. The promise I made. I can’t die here not under this thing. Time starts speeding back up. Fire in my eyes I grab my dagger with a firmer grip. Then I start stabbing like crazy. With no order or plan. Somehow I ended up on top of it.

My dagger is completely destroyed, but the orc is much worse. I fall to the ground next to it breathing heavily. I did it.

“Haha.” I laugh quietly.”Ouff.” I cough blood leaking out the sides of my mouth. Still can’t rest need to finish what I came here for. It takes me a few seconds to get up, my body hurting really bad because of it. But I don’t have to move far, right there at the back of the room. A glowing crystal of pure gold radaits. I walk towards it my body hunched over, blood being trailed behind me. I stop in front of it. A smile is still on my face.

“Well god,” I say.”This is going to be the last time I pray to you. Goodbye and thanks. I still don’t believe in you though.” I rest my good arm on the crystal my vision immediately going dark. Now I can rest.