Kael managed to reach the tunnels at the edge of the cavern, on the way killing another 10 of those bats, he realised that only some of them had that corruption on their skin so it wasn’t inherit to the bats. not just this but also the bats with the corruption were actually stronger than the ordinary ones, like the corruption was some form of enhancement.

Kael eyed the tunnel like cave, unable to see more than 10 meters in front of himself which caused some dread to rise inside of him however as quick as it appeared he had also pushed it away, he started walking slowly at first trying to keep his eyes locked onto every single direction, but what caught his eye was the strange runic letters were on the wall again and like before they would disappear before he could even try to make sense of them.

This place was all just a big mystery, in fact now that he thought about it he still didn’t even know where they were, they could be on a different continent for all Kael knew so escaping wasn’t just the end of this whole ordeal he now had something else to worry about.

Kael's pace slowed as his eyes caught another glimmer of the runic letters etched into the walls. He squinted, trying to study them before they faded away, but once again, they dissolved like smoke the moment his gaze fixed on them.

"Damn it," Kael muttered under his breath. What were they? Warnings? Directions? Or something entirely incomprehensible? He briefly entertained the idea that the corruption and the runes were somehow connected. But without more information, it was nothing more than speculation.

Kael carried on walking down the tunnel again and Soon, he spotted a small alcove carved into the rock, a faint stench wafting from its depths. Moving closer, he squinted to see inside. His heart skipped a beat when his eyes landed on a sleeping ogre sprawled across a bed of straw. It had fashioned itself a crude lair, complete with a scattered pile of bones in the corner—grim remnants of its past victims.

Kael tightened his grip on the hilt of his [Flame Blade], steadying his breathing as he assessed the situation. The ogre was massive, its chest rising and falling with each thunderous snore. Its thick, grey skin looked tough, but Kael knew the neck was its weak spot. He wasn’t about to let this chance slip by.

Step by step, he crept into the alcove, the sound of his boots muffled against the damp stone. Each breath felt louder than it should, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. The ogre shifted slightly in its sleep, letting out a guttural snort, and Kael froze, every muscle tensing. When it didn’t stir further, he resumed his approach until he was standing right beside the hulking creature.

With practiced precision, Kael raised his blade high above his head. In one swift, deliberate motion, he drove the fiery sword straight through the ogre’s neck. The blade tore through its thick flesh like butter, emerging on the other side with a clang as it struck the stone floor.

The ogre’s body jerked violently, its eyes snapping open in a fleeting moment of shock and pain. It let out a choked, gurgling sound before slumping lifelessly onto the straw. Blood pooled beneath it, sizzling as it met the heat of the flame still radiating from Kael's sword.

Kael stepped back, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. The air reeked of charred flesh and decay, and his pulse was still racing from the tense execution. Despite his exhaustion, he couldn’t deny the small surge of satisfaction. Another threat neutralized, and this time, without a drawn-out fight.

Kael decided he would use the ogres home as his own for a while, he needed a rest and some time to think, while he was sitting on the ogres makeshift bed he harvested the fangs from the ogre again fusing into the same pendent that he achieved last time but now he was ging to fuse them both together.

[ogre fang pendent]

[equipment]

[silver]

[increases the strength of the wearer]

And then after the fusion had taken place:

[ogre chieftain’s fang pendent]

[equipment]

[silver]

[increases the strength and vitality of the wearer]

It was still the same rank however he could instantly feel the changes that had gone underway, not only did he feel his bones and joints strengthen but he also now felt like he had more life throughout his whole body, if he faced that ogre again he knew he could take a few hits and he’d still be standing.

Kael’s thoughts were interrupted by a faint sound echoing down the tunnel, a rhythmic, wet clicking noise that made his skin crawl. He instinctively extinguished the [Flame Blade] and pressed himself against the alcove wall, straining his ears. The noise grew louder, accompanied by a low, guttural growl that seemed to reverberate through the stone.

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Whatever was coming wasn’t small.

Kael’s fatigue evaporated in an instant. He pushed himself to his feet, his mind racing as he considered his options. The alcove provided some cover, but if the creature was hunting him by scent, he wouldn’t remain hidden for long. Running blind into the tunnels wasn’t appealing either—he’d be vulnerable in the open, especially if this thing was faster than him.

He unsheathed the [Flame Blade] once more, the light cutting through the oppressive darkness. The wet clicking stopped, replaced by a guttural snarl that sounded far too close for comfort.

A hulking silhouette emerged from the darkness at the edge of his vision. It was massive, standing at least twice the height of the ogre he’d just slain, its form grotesquely twisted and pulsating with patches of that bubbling corruption. Long, jagged claws clicked against the ground as it moved forward, and its glowing, yellow eyes locked onto him with predatory intent it looked like a werewolf from the mythology he had in his old life, but somehow even worse.

Kael’s grip on his sword tightened. "Great," he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with a mix of sarcasm and dread. "Of course, it couldn’t have been just one ogre."

The creature let out an earsplitting roar, shaking the very walls of the tunnel. Kael steeled himself, drawing upon every ounce of his strength and determination. He didn’t know what this thing was, but one thing was certain: he was going to have to kill it—or die trying.

With a defiant shout, Kael charged forward, his [Flame Blade] igniting the darkness as he prepared to face this new nightmare.

The beast crouched low, its sinewy muscles coiling like springs, and before Kael could even fully register the movement, it launched itself forward with explosive speed. One moment, it was in front of him; the next, his feet were no longer on solid ground. The force of its movement alone sent Kael tumbling backward, his body slamming hard against the rocky floor.

Kael scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest. His eyes darted around the tunnel, but the creature had already vanished into the shadows. A chilling silence followed, broken only by the distant dripping of water echoing through the cavern. The air was thick with tension, his breathing loud in his ears as he tried to locate the beast.

“Great,” Kael muttered, gripping his [Flame Blade] tightly. “Not only is it fast, but it’s smart too.”

His knuckles whitened around the hilt as he forced himself to calm down. This wasn’t a brute like the ogres—it was a predator, one that knew how to use the darkness to its advantage. Kael swung his blade in a wide arc, casting its fiery glow around the space. For a brief moment, the flickering light illuminated the claw marks gouged into the walls, as if mocking him.

The growl came again, low and rumbling, but this time it echoed in a way that made it impossible to pinpoint. It was as if the beast’s sound was reverberating off the very walls of the cave. Kael’s nerves were razor-thin, and the tension in his chest grew unbearable. He could feel his pulse hammering in his ears.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flicker of movement. Kael turned just in time to see the monstrous figure dart across the far end of the tunnel. The corrupted patches on its skin glistened like molten tar, briefly catching the glow of the blade before disappearing into the shadows once more.

“Enough of this,” Kael growled, slamming the blade into the ground. Flames erupted outward in a controlled burst, illuminating the cavern in a brief, fiery halo. The light wasn’t much, but it was enough to reveal the creature’s position—it clung to the wall like some grotesque spider, its glowing yellow eyes locked onto him with terrifying intensity.

Kael didn’t hesitate. He dashed forward, summoning every ounce of strength in his legs. The beast leapt down to intercept him, its claws extended like scythes. At the last second, Kael pivoted, narrowly avoiding the beast’s swipe, and brought his sword upward in a fiery arc. The blade connected with one of its clawed arms, the flames searing through flesh and corrupted tissue. A guttural roar of pain echoed through the cavern as the beast reeled back.

The creature wasn’t done. Despite the wound, it charged again, its movements erratic and wild, as though driven by pure rage. Kael braced himself, his muscles screaming in protest as he parried its claws, sparks flying as steel met the creature’s hardened talons.

He swung again, aiming for its torso, but the beast twisted unnaturally, avoiding the strike and retaliating with a powerful swipe that raked across his chest. The blow didn’t penetrate his armor, but the force sent him skidding across the ground, his back slamming into a stalagmite.

Kael coughed, trying to catch his breath, but the creature was relentless. It charged him once more, its eyes blazing with predatory hunger. Kael raised his blade, summoning a desperate surge of power from within. Flames erupted along the sword’s edge, brighter and hotter than before, casting shadows that danced wildly across the walls.

“Come on, then!” Kael shouted, his voice echoing defiantly.

The beast lunged, jaws wide and claws aimed straight for his heart. Kael sidestepped at the last second, pivoting on his heel and driving the [Flame Blade] deep into the creature’s side. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as the blade sank in, the fire spreading across its corrupted skin like wildfire.

The monster thrashed wildly, slamming Kael against the wall in its desperation to dislodge him. He held firm, twisting the blade deeper until the creature let out one final, blood-curdling scream. With a tremendous crash, it collapsed to the ground, its body convulsing before finally going still.

Kael staggered back, panting heavily as he pulled his sword free. The flames dimmed, leaving only the faint glow of the weapon and the dying embers of the beast’s corrupted flesh. His body ached all over, but the sight of the slain monster filled him with a grim sense of accomplishment.

Then he felt it, it was the usual rush of essence like he expected that thing was silver rank and a high quality one a t that if he didn’t have his new medallion, he might not of survived the first strike.

After the fight Kael couldn’t think of anything better than to take a nap, he deserved it, he had a rough day that was full of fierce battles to the death no matter where he went, so that’s what he did, he went to sleep.