Sera led them to the crypts entrance. Levi waved his hand through the thick layer of dust still lingering in the passageway. Through the cloud of dirt, was an opening in a wall. Behind that was a large, black archway that led into the darkness. It was etched with the images of wild wolves and hounds howling into the night sky.

“Did they know of this?” Levi asked, peering further into the hole in the wall. Gregory grabbed his shirt at the scruff of the neck, and placed him next to Bram with one hand.

"No," Sera interjected. "The dust hasn't settled. The walls must have crumbled when the explosives went off."

Levi cast a disapproving glance at Gregory before narrowing his eyes back towards the entrance of the crypt.

“Could be where they came from,” Sera said. “There’s always more than one entrance to a crypt.”

“We’ll block it up for now,” Gregory said. “I don’t want anything else jumping out at us.”

Bram moved into action. Grabbing boulders, he began stuffing the hole in the wall rock-by-rock. Only a small hole remained to be filled in. Levi, against his better judgement, gazed into the darkness.

“Enter”, a soft, womanly voice transmitted directly into Levi’s thoughts.

Levi took a step back, goosebumps rising from his flesh.

“You are just like me. I can help you. You need me. I can see your future.”

“Hey,” Sera said, supporting him. “You okay, Levi?”

The others turned to him. Levi shook his head. “I’m fine.”

What the hell was that? Levi wondered. Bram placed the final rock in the wall, patching the hole. He was torn whether to tell the others that the fact someone had directly talked to him through his own mind. But Levi pinched the bridge of his nose. His eyes were so heavy.

Maybe it’s just a hallucination? Yeah, that must be it, Levi thought as the trip took him back into the main mine. However, the more he thought about it, the more he realised it wasn't a hallucination. Something had truly spoken to him. In a world of mystery, it was best to keep an open mind.

Time passed, and even despite the monstrous howls of the crypt creatures outside, Levi fell asleep. It was a testament to just how exhausted he was.

In his dreams—or rather, his nightmares—a woman appeared. His mother. A dagger stuck out of her chest, blood seeped. She looked at him with a pale face, betrayal stricken across her eyes.

“Why did you do this… Levi. LEVI. LEVI. LEVI.”

“You–” Deserved it, Levi’s words caught in his throat. The woman ran at him, and then the world changed.

A man dressed in a pitch-black suit loomed before him, his face concealed by shadow. They stood at the heart of a sprawling cobbled street, flanked by multistory buildings crafted from red bricks and adorned with tiled roofs. Magical lanterns illuminated the scene, casting their glow along the thoroughfare that stretched at least 200 metres into the distance, culminating in the imposing silhouette of an enormous castle.

Behind him, imposed the apostle that had almost broken through into the real world. Blood dripped from its vicious maw as the sounds of terror reverberated through the streets. It was as if the end times had signalled.

What is going on? Levi thought as he looked down in a daze. A bloody hole had blasted through his chest. He felt weak, drained. He felt life slipping through the gaps in his fingers. Weirder yet, he seemed to be in a different body. He was taller, stronger, he felt the boundless mana evaporate in the air, his container brutalised.

“What–”

"Levi," the man crouched before him, his face obscured from view, as if smeared with ink. "No matter what path you choose, you can't beat me. You're bound to fail. Just give up."

The man stood up and walked over Levi, as if he was trash on the side of the road. Levi tried to follow the man, but he couldn’t move. All he could do was stare up at the apostle as it opened its void-like mouth, and descended upon him.

Levi shot awake, hands darting around his chest. Covered in sweat, he regulated his breathing. What the hell was that? What is happening here?

“You alright, Levi?” Bram rushed over, placing his hand on Levi’s shoulder. He looked worried.

Levi shook his head with a wry smile. “I’m fine. Just a nightmare. It’s been a long week.”

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

Bram nodded heavily. “I don’t know many boys who’ve gone through what you have. We should hurry back to the city so you can rest.”

“It’s okay,” Levi said. “You have a job to do. I won’t let you rush things on my behalf.” Levi scanned the area. Sera and Gregory were nowhere to be seen. The alien darkness was still there. It wasn’t morning yet. “Where’s the others?”

Bram took out a small rock from within his pockets. Its main base colour was dark grey, with orange lines scored within. Levi focused on it.

Birthright Ingredient (Uncommon) — Dense Korg-Iron: A clump of raw ore known for its density.

| Class: Warrior

| Path: Earth-Guardian

“Oh, that’s good?” Levi asked.

Bram smiled. “It is good. Defensive Ingredients are always highly sought after.” Bram leaned down and grabbed a hand-full of dirt. ”With the Krag's influence reshaping this area, we've discovered it's abundant in ingredients. Areas like this are named Troves–where it is highly concentrated with Ingredients. The others have set off to try their luck at finding some of the rarer ones.”

“Why is that?”

“It’s because of the crypt below,” Bram said. “The more powerful the god that was buried, the more nutrients fill the soil, rock, and monsters.”

A horrifying thought emerged from Levi’s mind. “If gods are buried… Who, or what, buries them?”

“No-one knows,” Bram said, shaking his head. Purple light emerged from one of the tunnels. “They’re back.”

“Ah,” Gregory said, noticing Levi was awake. “There’s me trying to be quiet so our little lad could get his shut eye. Bram, did ye wake him up?”

“He had a nightmare,” said Bram.

“I’m okay,” Levi said, then changed the subject. “Bram told me about the Troves. Find anything good?”

"Aye, stumbled upon a decent haul of rocks. This spot's practically a goldmine. The other folks back at the corps will be green with envy," Gregory remarked, striding over to his bag and retrieving more bullets to stash in his pockets. Levi sensed mana emanating from each one. "We're heading back down. Levi, why don't you check out that one?" He gestured toward one of the passages.

"The critters in there only have small fangs and claws. Shouldn't be too much trouble for you."

"Captain, you can't be serious," Sera interjected, her disapproval evident in her glare.

Gregory scoffed. “He’s survived against over 20 greenkins, and a kragling that’s been hunting him. I think he’ll be fine. Besides, don’t you think it’s up to him whether or not he wants to risk getting stronger?”

Everyone looked at him. Levi thought for a second before nodding heavily. He wanted to grow stronger.

“Great,” Gregory said, smiling. He tossed over a spare light source. Levi caught it. “Have fun, lad. And don’t get injured.”

“Bram isn’t coming with me?” Levi asked.

Gregory shook his head. “Afraid not. We’ve scouted the entirety of this cave, and the passage we’re heading in requires the three of us. You’ll be fine. As I’ve said, we’ve already scouted the area.”

“But still–” Sera said, eyes lingering on Levi.

“Come on,” Gregory said, grabbing hold of Sera’s shoulders, steering her towards the darkness. “Let the child spread his wings.”

“But–”

Sera’s complaints fell on deaf ears as Gregory rushed Sera into one of the passageways, leaving Levi all alone.

“Well then,” Levi mumbled to himself. It was quiet. Too quiet.

Levi headed to the passageway that Gregory had told him that it was relatively safe. Did he believe him? Honestly, Levi was hesitant. What if Gregory was too suspicious of him, and this was his way of getting rid of him?

However, Levi shot down that theory. As someone who was used to reading others' expressions; figuring out their motives, Levi was certain Gregory trusted him now. Not to mention the others.

Gazing into the darkness, lit only enough to see 10 feet in front of him, his heart started pumping. Let’s get to it. Finding his confidence, Levi turned back and stopped in front of one of the corpses. Levi couldn't help but stop and stare at the dead eyes looking up at him. His name was Herbert. He was a butcher, tall, strong, filled with life. He remembered his smile, and now he was dead.

With grim resolution, Levi pried a crossbow from his dead, cold hands. “You won’t be needing that anymore.”

Next, he took the bolts, and tied the quiver he had to his waist. There were 12 bolts in total. Not happy with just a crossbow, Levi also picked up a curved sword from another man named Frank. He owned the inn. It was an Uncommon Ingredient of the Blade Path. Levi tied it to his waist. It was a bit big for him, but it would do.

He was hoping he wouldn’t have to use it, relying fully on his crossbow at range instead. Then, he walked, stopping in front of the dark passageway.

Without knowing what he was going to face, he’d take it slow and steady. Gregory knew what monsters lurked, knew that a freshly awakened child could survive against them. If he wasn’t sending Levi to his death, that was.

Whatever the reason was, Levi just had to become stronger.

So with a deep exhale, Levi crept forwards into the dark tunnel.

It was time to set up some traps.

***

“I don’t like this, captain,” Sera said, shoulders tense. She watched in the darkness as Levi stood over one of the dead bodies. “I don’t like this one bit. Especially as he's just an inciter.”

“Ah he’ll be fine,” Gregory said. “The little lad’s been through alot. So did we when we were his age. Right now he’s being forged in fire. What will he be like when he’s been tempered?”

“What if he doesn’t want that life?” Sera shot back. “You weren’t given a choice. But he is different. We can send him to the academy without further bloodshed, where he can live a life of his choosing.”

“My lady, look at him,” Gregory said sarcastically just as Levi plucked a crossbow from the man’s dead hands. They listened to his next words. Sera frowned. “He’s already one of us. A Chosen. His path is set, and it’s one carved in blood. We’re all condemned to it one way or another. Bram, follow him. Only intervene if his life is in grave danger. Let him fight. Let him uncover what's hidden deep inside him.”

Bram nodded with gravity.

“He’ll either run away and cower, or he'll rise from the ashes.”