> Preface:

>

> Hi, I'd simply like to preface that this is a project I had been thinking for a long time and it's finally here! It has worldbuilding that is heavily inspired from Made in Abyss, Elden Ring and Dark Souls. The LitRPG elements are heavily inspired from Salvos that is also in this site! Also, portal fantasy tag is there due to world building reasons! That is all! Anyway, I hope y'all enjoy this fiction!

The era of Grand Magic has long ended, and with it the source was shattered, the leylines have disappeared, and magic is fading. Humans are at the brink of extinction, forced to hide from the predators of the world; the eternal night will arrive, and the Dark Hollow will soon consume the world⁠—

Or so they said.

I shook my head. It was a tale as old as time, how the source of all magic was destroyed by the Immortal King Aileiron, and now with it gone we, the humans, had nothing but a speck of magic compared to ancient times. One that was finite and served no purpose but to trigger Relics of the Golden Era, the era of Grand Magic.

It was a tale that my father had passed to me through his journal, my only possession of him.

It was said that certain individuals could still connect to the source of Magic, and these were known as the Ascended, at least among humans. Other races were simply born with the right to still call upon the power that was the now broken source. However, they were nothing more than fantasies to think about at night, ones that kept one awake, they were just dreams. Now though, I didn’t have the capacity to dream, let alone luxuriate in such things, they were simply entertaining thoughts and nothing more.

Dust floated and gathered, suspended mid air as it sparkled under the light of my helmet. Much of the mine had been stripped bare, scarred rock walls had long been excavated and with it my daily quota too. It was getting harder and harder to complete by the day. It didn’t help that the things I had to carry around were heavy. The metal alloy of the pickaxe was dense, and the Artificial Relic Grade helmet was unwieldy for me, but it provided near endless light to venture into the mine system.

I didn’t really get it to be honest. The mines were supposedly a buried city from the Golden Era, but in my eyes it was just a massive cave system that had been mined for years. One that spanned for hundreds of kilometers. There was nothing that immediately screamed Golden Era to me, save for the possibility of very valuable but rare True Relics strewn about in crevices and pockets. In the past ten or so years, only about five Fourth Grade Relics had been found after all, which were the lowest grade of them all. That said, right now, I had to focus on finding something of value, even just raw materials from the Golden Era, but everywhere I went and walked had long been stripped of anything possibly valuable.

And finally, I found myself at a crossroads staring past a small wooden barrier. It had a small metal sign that said: Out of exploration range. In the camp, it was widely acknowledged that venturing past the barriers was suicidal, however⁠—

My stomach roared with hunger. I hadn't met the quota in three days and in turn, I hadn’t eaten for that long. It wasn’t uncommon for people to die of hunger here. Death wasn’t uncommon. Beasts that lurked the depths of the mines would sometimes wander into the explored areas and kill a few miners. The first time I saw the aftermath, I threw up a lot, but now I had grown numb to it. However, looking at the barrier, my heart quickened.

I had never ventured past any of them, but after so many years it was inevitable that it would happen at some point. I couldn’t hold off until the end of the week for them to begin expanding the exploration zone once more, not anymore at least. Any more days without eating and I felt like I would be too weak to mine and if that happened I would just starve. I reached for my backpack, feeling the carry bag inside of it. It contained my most precious possession, my father’s journal.

Sybil, once you overcome fate itself, seek me at the end of the world.

Those had always been the words at the end of it, words that I had read so many times and that gave me hope. I didn’t know why my father had abandoned me or why he had to leave, but right now that simple goal armed me with courage. My father had hope that I would survive this predicament I was in, even though I was born and raised at a mining camp. I took deep breaths, and then took a step forward⁠—

“What are you doing?” A snort entered my ears, freezing me mid step.

I turned only to see one of the Supervisors. He was a man of short stature, with a scruffy and unkempt beard and a bit of a belly. He shook his head, clicking his tongue. He wore strange black clothes and was armed with Artificial Relics on his belt. As well as a firearm at his waist.

“I was just⁠—”

He interrupted. “We cannot afford to have more people just venture further out, especially not you, who the Overseer once thought were special.”

Before I could say anything more he continued speaking.

“We gave you an education, don’t throw your life away just because you’re hungry.” He shook his head and walked away.

I stared for a moment, frozen, but resolute. I had lived here, in the mines of Armag Hollow, all of my life. Even though I had heard of cities and other places, such as valleys and even rivers, I didn’t know anything aside from this. Closing my eyes I finally made a decision.

I am tired of this fate.

I walked past the barrier and ventured into the unknown. Even though I knew the mines like the back of my hand, I had no idea what lay past the explored zone, and now I was going to find out. I hoped to return with something valuable so I could meet the quota of multiple days at once.

Two more years, and I would be free.

◇ ◇ ◇

I didn’t know what I was expecting, the first few minutes were... well the caves were as clean as before, though it made sense. My plan was to venture slightly into the unexplored area and get what I could before returning, but now I had no choice but to walk further and further. Eventually, I saw small mineral deposits with a whirling aura on their surface.

Traces of magic.

With my pickaxe and a lot of hard hits, I managed to get about two fistfuls of the minerals before I had cleared the deposit. It took a few minutes, and at this point based on my rough estimate I had walked for about thirty minutes into the unexplored region. At least I knew how to return using the markings I had made on the wall, but the mines were like a labyrinth with divided passages and multiple crossroads.

I took a deep breath looking at the shimmering blue mineral, it was at least three days of food. Even though darkness encroached on my surroundings, I felt calm in the silence. After all, what I had just mined would be used to make Artificial Relics, and maybe powerful ones at that, based on how brightly it shimmered. It was a great find.

Pocketing the minerals, I turned and looked at the markings I had left on the wall. It was time to go back. Now with happiness, I perched the pickaxe on my shoulder and headed back where I came from.

I walked for a minute while I thought. With my find I didn’t need to go hungry. As I peered at the walls I saw a few more deposits hidden within rocks. All I had to do was return here in a few days and I would secure for well over a month. Finally⁠—

A growl entered my ears as I was about to pass through a crossroad. From the darkness and in the edges of my vision a creature stepped forward. It had four legs and a sleek frame with black iridescent fur, it had a gaping maw and four eyes that were looking straight at me, saliva dripped onto the ground as it slowly stepped forward, its twisted and dark body quivering in excitement.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

A Beast from the Dark Hollow. A Prowl Reaper.

Before I could see anything else, it pounced. I managed to duck just in time but my backpack had been slashed. The minerals spilled out as the Prowl Reaper landed behind me. I looked at the bag containing my journal on the ground and then at the beast, before finally making a decision. I ran. I could return for the journal eventually, but not if I was dead.

I also knew something about the Prowl Reapers ⁠— they were fast, but slow to turn. With that in mind, instead of going straight back to where I came from, I turned and began to weave through the mines. The beast chased after me, sometimes I could hear its breathing behind me, and other times it was nothing more than the distant growls. But no matter what I did, how I turned, I simply couldn’t outrun it.

Nonetheless, I didn’t give up and I committed any and every turn to memory, left, right, left, left⁠— Eventually, with a final left turn, I turned off the light of my helmet and pushed myself into a small crevice, one that dove deep into the stone walls. It was a constricted passage that I slowly followed as the growls were lost behind me, I continued, unable to see anything, and finally I found myself in a room.

The ceiling had a dim azure glow to it, like the sky of legends, however it was very dim. I could hardly see anything in the room, other than how long and wide it was, its square shape. I slowly walked forward with nothing but my ragged breaths, and then I collapsed. My pickaxe clanged loudly onto the ground, and I took deep breaths to help calm myself down. I had lost the minerals and my journal, but I knew the way back, the question for me was⁠—

How long would I have to wait?

I didn’t really know. I looked down at my hands, and they were shaking⁠— my heart was beating nonstop and my breaths were shallow and ragged. I couldn’t calm myself down, I almost died… I was attacked by a beast, a Prowl Reaper. All I could do was tremble as fear gripped onto me, I had escaped, but it was too close. I could hear the panting of the Prowl Reaper in my head, I could vividly see how it flew over me as I barely managed to duck, and then I shook my head. It was over now.

“I… fucked up…”

I took another deep breath and decided to wait. The growls still lingered within my mind but thankfully I had escaped⁠— the same familiar growl entered my ears, a deep snarl. My head snapped back and I saw a shadow forcing its way through the crevice I had entered from. I saw its twisted figure and hunched neck as its red eyes bore into me.

Fear gripped at my heart, as it moved forward. I vividly remembered a Prowl Reaper breaking into the camp once and killing two people before being put down by the supervisors. Its dripping jaw could rip me apart in an instant. I stumbled backwards as my hand held onto my pickaxe. Nonetheless the beast simply approached me under the light with an almost sneer-like gesture.

And then, it pounced once more. I managed to push the pickaxe into its maw as its claws ripped into my shoulders. Falling back along with it, I yelped in pain as The Prowl Reaper tried to bite my neck through the pickaxe with bloodlust fueled ferocity.

Was this it?

I looked around. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. The Prowl Reaper gnawed at me, but the steel pickaxe held strong. I was going to die, this was my fate. I couldn’t kill a beast from the Dark Hollow. My arms began to feel tired, as I closed my eyes and⁠—

Once you overcome fate⁠— I remembered my father’s words and my eyes snapped open looking at the Prowl Reaper.

It was fate, and I had to overcome it. With a grunt, I swung to the side and rolled along with the beast. It lost its grip on my pickaxe and I rapidly got up, as did the Prowl Reaper. However, I didn’t plan on giving it time. With a pathetic war cry, I ran towards it and prepared a swing. My shoulders flared with pain as I swung. The beast snarled but I hit it⁠— blood splattered as the tip of the pickaxe impaled its maw and knocked it down.

It lay there, unmoving, as I took deep breaths. It was unmoving.

“I did… it⁠—”

The Prowl Reaper slowly got up as it looked at me, its eyes full of hatred and its muzzle bleeding and deformed. It wasn’t dead, far from it. My heart stopped as I readied myself to swing at it again. The beast of the Dark Hollow gnashed its teeth and rushed towards me. I readied my pickaxe to block as it lunged, and with a swing of its claws I cried in pain. My left arm was torn as the beast produced a mocking sound, as if it was laughing at me.

It slowly circled around me, like a predator looking at its prey. Black blood dripped from its face, but it looked alive, instead its eyes gloated ⁠— relishing in my bleeding arm. I found it hard to move, and the Prowl Reaper bared its teeth in excitement, ready to tear into me.

The Dark Hollow, a wretched place filled with terrors and horrors. There were some beasts that could fell entire cities, and yet⁠— I had no choice but to fight.

I held onto the pickaxe with my right arm and made up my mind. It was weaker than me physically, however it was much more agile. I had to get into a contest of strength with it somehow, and for that I needed it to pounce and try to bite me once more. Quickly, I made a plan and then screamed⁠—running towards it as I swung my pickaxe a diagonal upwards motion.

The Prowl Reaper simply side-stepped and prepared to pounce. I smiled as I reached with my left hand and held onto the shaft of my weapon. The beast of the Dark Hollow pounced and once more it was stopped by the pickaxe, this time from its neck. My arms hurt and trembled as they kept it from eating my face off. Its sharp claws scratched at my shoulders, black blood dripped onto my face as I finally rolled it over with a grunt.

The Prowl Reaper struggled with shrieks as I got on top of it, but I pressed down with all the strength I could muster, screaming in the process. I crushed its neck against the ground. It squirmed and twisted, its claws ripped at my torso causing me to bleed more, but no matter how it tried, the weight of me and the pickaxe was too much for it as its windpipe was crushed. It yelped and cried until eventually, after a minute, it went limp, however, I did not let go.

I kept on pressing and pressing, until I was sure it had at least passed out. With deep, heavy breaths I collapsed onto its side, my heart was still pounding with nervousness. Finally, I stood up and using all my remaining strength, I swung the pickaxe down onto its head. It pierced through its skull with a crack, black blood pooled beneath its body, and finally, I relaxed.

I fell back on my knees as warmth permeated my body, I was bleeding profusely, but I had killed the beast, and then, I couldn’t help but laugh. My chest heaved as I let out a dry laugh with joy that it was finally over, and then I noticed it⁠. A small wisp similar to ash. The body of the Prowl Reaper was flaking, pieces of its fur began to lift onto the air and then⁠— they shone. They became akin to small dancing lights that whirled and spun through the air. More and more pieces flaked from the beast and they shone with an azure light. They danced for a moment before they moved to the back of the chamber.

They coalesced on the wall, gathering into a churning sphere of azure light that illuminated the whole room, and then at that moment the wall lit up with carved patterns and the whole chamber trembled. A platform raised from the ground along with a pedestal that slowly rose up until its top was covered by the glinting ball of light.

It was something of the Golden Era. Pure magic was happening in front of my very eyes. Then the ball of light faded, but the patterns remained bright with the light.

Slowly, I stood up, curious and wondering what had happened. I stumbled my way over to the platform and slowly reached the pedestal. At its top there was an engraving.

The Dark Hollow has been punished, its blood spilled, and its essence taken.

My eyes wandered over to the monster behind me, however there was nothing there but a puddle of blood now, and I simply felt confused. Just as I turned back I felt something in the air shift and the scripture vanished. It was akin to watching a natural gas leak as the space before me distorted, and then I saw it. It was a vial of glass with a glowing, pale blue liquid inside, but I also saw magic. Words entered into my head, information of the vial before me.

[Third Grade Relic ⁠— Tincture of Fallen Flames ⁠— Consuming this tincture will upgrade the recipients Life Essence by a single tier, up to the third tier. This tincture carries the aspect of Fallen Flames within it. Consuming this connects you to the World’s Voice, the Beyond and grants you the aspect it carries.

<> Fallen Flames: Flames of the fallen. Dead but alive at the same time, cold and hot, ethereal. First seen in the first exploration of the Dark Hollow by the Immortal King himself.

This Relic was produced shortly after the Immortal King Aileiron shattered the entrance of the Beyond.]

I read it and blinked. Connects me to the World’s Voice? Was it the voice inside my head?

I hesitated. I could trade the Relic for my freedom, but then⁠— I began to feel dizzy as my blood dripped onto the ground. I was going to die… If I had more Life Essence… I would be okay, right? With that in mind, I made my decision. I uncorked the tincture and drank it in an instant, and then⁠— the whole world went black.

[You have acquired the aspect of Fallen Flames.]

> Author notes:

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> And that is the first chapter! What did you all think?

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> Thanks for reading! I will be dropping a few more chapters to read before going to a 1 chapter a day schedule, so look forward to those!

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> Super special thanks to MelasDelta, the author of Salvos, not only for inspiring me, but also helping me with the writing process! Seriously, without you this fiction wouldn't be possible at all, thank you! Also for being a great friend in general, wouldn't have made it here without you.

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> As I said, the story is heavily inspired from, Made in Abyss, Elden Ring, Dark Souls, and a work from this site, Salvos.