The sun shone high and bright above her head as Lena looked down on the village below. She stood on a small grass hill overlooking the valley in which Maryda resided.
The small village was surrounded by a few unattended fields and a half-overgrown dirt road that zig-zagged its way out of the valley far into the distance. It looked so peaceful and calm that she nearly wanted to walk back towards it. Nearly.
In truth, Maryda wasn't a nice place, despite the false air it gave off. Every half-sober idiot would see it if he tried. It was a sweet illusion woven by its residents in order to forget their pathetic existences. It was a place where people lived to die and those with the desire to thrive were laughed upon.
“It looks quite idyllic from up here, does it not?” she said.
“It still looks like a shithole if ya ask me.”
She turned her back to the view as Devos appeared beside her.
[Human-lvl 8]
“It's not a shithole, it's just a bit … crude?” She tried to sound convincing but failed miserably.
“It smells, it’s ugly and most people are idiots, for me, that’s the definition of a shithole.” Devos said and grinned.
“Now, are you done staring so that we can start our wolf hunt?” he asked with fake annoyance.
Right, wolves. They could still contemplate and debate about their home later, for now, they had a mission.
“Yes, let's get started.”
With one last look back at the village below Devos and Lena walked towards the rest of their group. Arim, Leila, and her sister Nari were already waiting at the edge of the forest.
[Human-lvl 9]
[Human-lvl 7]
[Human-lvl 4]
“Everyone ready? Then let's go, we wasted enough daylight already.” As the highest leveled person in their group, Arim naturally took the lead and they followed him closely into the dark woods. It was time to hunt.
Since Maryda had only a handful of people with combat experience, and these were mostly old men who drank more than they protected the village, the task fell to them. It might seem
like a stupid idea but the five of them were the only people in Maryda with actual fighting and hunting classes apart from the old guards.
They weren’t “adventurers” as Arim liked to call them, not really, but in case of any threat lurking around Maryda, it was up to them to get rid of it. It was dangerous and perhaps even stupid but it worked pretty well against the local wildlife, even if some of their group were barely old enough to hold a blade.
Nari was the youngest of their group, and the small dagger in her hands looked way too big for her small figure. As the group's designated “assassin” she hid in the back during most of the fights, but Lena knew not to underestimate the little girl. Her fierce-looking eyes warned everyone of her will to fight, and combined with her short red hair she looked more dangerous than her sister.
Leila stood as an elder reflection of her sister, Nari, her long crimson locks cascading down her tall, athletic frame, rendering her a striking vision of womanhood. Her warm, inviting brown eyes mirrored her amiable disposition, forming a sharp contrast with her younger sibling.
In their tight-knit group and the entire village, she stood alone as the sole possessor of a mana affinity and the corresponding mage class, earning her the title of "Archmage of Maryda." While she might not be able to conjure meteors or summon colossal spirits, her repertoire included modest light barriers and occasional bursts of brilliance—a meager yet invaluable contribution. However, this also made her a magic-addicted know-all who loved bragging about all the shiny lights she could make. But of course, Lena might beg to differ on that front.
Devos was their tracker and a good one at that. He was also quite charming accentuated by his raven-black hair and a disarmingly handsome smile. And despite not having a mastery skill he was undeniably a crucial member of the team.
“Come on, we have to find these wolves before sundown, I don’t wanna walk through the forest when it’s dark.” Arim suddenly announced, shaking her out of her thoughts.
“Is our great Leader afraid of the Dark?” She asked amused.
“Don’t worry, I will protect you.” She said with a serious tone, putting a hand on his shoulder. He casually shrugged it off. “How can a formidable warrior like me be afraid of the Dark?” Arim muttered, his attempt at bravado falling short. Lena couldn't help but chuckle, and they quickened their pace.
Arim's commanding presence was undeniable; his towering frame, especially by Maryada's standards, and his robust shoulders attested to his strength. His striking blue eyes provided a stark contrast to his overall dark complexion, and the combination made him undeniably attractive. Yet, it was his protective yet bashful nature that truly captivated Lena. In truth, she was head over heels for him.
Lena and Arim both wielded simple short swords, their mastery skills still in the early stages of development. While they might not have been the most formidable fighters, their acquired knowledge provided them with the means to confront any wolves or bears that dared encroach upon their village.
Status:
Name: Lena
Species: Human (female)
Class: Recruit Mercenary Level 8
Active Skills:
1. Killing Strike (Level 3)
2. Furious Shout (Level 2)
Passive Skills:
1. Athletic Body (Level 2) - Stamina regenerates a bit faster faster.
2. Novice Guardian Swordsmanship (Level 2) - Improved fluidity and control over swords.
General Skills:
1. Novice Haggling (Level 1)
2. Singing (Level 4)
3. Dancing (Level 2)
Stats:
[Vitality]: 35
[Strength]: 40
[Endurance]: 20
[Wisdom]: 10
[Agility]: 25
[Available Stat Points: 0]
Lena couldn't deny the fact that their skills and statistics appeared somewhat modest, a realization that weighed heavily on her, particularly because she held the position of the group's second-strongest member. The fact that combat opportunities were scarce explained why singing was her most developed skill.
Most of the time the creatures they encountered, be it wolves or bears, seldom exceeded level 7 in strength, and monsters of higher levels often left this area rather fast in order to search for better hunting grounds. Additionally, level 10 monsters were well beyond their
capability to hunt, it was after all a threshold coming with a monumental leap in power that remained tantalizingly out of reach.
Then, "why" some might wonder, would a band of untrained youngsters venture into a menacing forest to track down a pack of bloodthirsty wolves?", monsters that were all at least lvl 4 and hunted in large numbers. The answer to that question is multifaceted.
First and foremost, it was for the sheer thrill of adventure, the rush of combat, the feeling of glory they reaped from vanquishing ferocious beasts. But it was also for the people of Maryda—those who could not or were simply too terrified to undertake such perilous tasks themselves. Most of Maryda's denizens were farmers, and the prospect of voluntarily plunging themselves into unnecessary danger held little appeal to them after all.
The second reason, though less savory, was an undeniable reality. In a tiny village like Maryda, isolated from major cities or empires, orphans like Lena and her comrades had no discernible future. They possessed no marketable skills that could secure their place in a larger city, and they lacked the funds to reach such a destination in the first place.
Maryda, plagued by poverty, offered scant opportunities. Besides tilling the land and succumbing to diseases or slowly withering away in old age without any meaningful legacy to claim, the village had little else to offer. In this forsaken corner of the world, a swift death in defense of their hometown seemed a preferable fate to a protracted demise after a life bereft of purpose.
Lena knew that it was foolish but for more than two years she and Arim, followed by the others hunted and protected their hometown from everything that came too close. Until now they had always survived: they had been wounded a few times, yes, but never too seriously. They had survived. More than that, together they had successfully found a new purpose in their lives.
As Lena gazed up at Arim, an involuntary smile spread across her face. His resolute eyes and the warmth of his joyful smile were like a balm to her soul, filling her life with purpose. But before she could utter a word...
"What are you two lovebirds waiting for?" Leila interjected, her voice cutting through the moment. "Let's go hunt some wolves."
With a subtle step back from one another, Lena and Arim redirected their focus to the impending mission. The radiant afternoon sun served as a reminder of the task at hand, and with renewed determination, Lena and her comrades delved deeper into the forest.
----------------------------------------
For what felt like hours, they pressed on through the forest, their steps echoing through the eerie silence. Typically, this lack of activity wouldn't bother them; they knew that the vicinity around Maryda was scarce in monsters, and encounters with wild beasts like bears or aggressive boars were a rare occurrence. However, their mission had been clear: eliminate the reported pack of wolves before they posed a threat to the villagers.
Yet, the unsettling reality was that they had seen nothing. The words from the old Edgar still rang in their ears: ”There were at least nine, a large group led by an alpha with black fur. “
But there was no sign of the wolves they were supposed to exterminate. The forest, vast and foreboding, seemed to hold its secrets close, refusing to reveal any of its inhabitants.
While they couldn't claim expertise in wolf hunting, the absence of any wildlife larger than a bird raised concerns. It was an eerie anomaly, one that had them exchanging anxious glances as they continued their tense march deeper into the woods.
“Are you sure we’re on the right track?” Nari asked with a bored expression.
“You know that wolves are those big furry dogs right?"
“Yes, they can’t be far away now.” Devos replied irritated.
“We have already found their tracks, the only reason why we haven’t encountered them yet is because of your small baby legs.” he said angrily.
“Shut up you two and stay focused, we can't be far now:” Arim interjected.
A few minutes of tense silence later Devos tensed up and pointed in front of them.
“Up ahead.” he simply said and knocked an arrow on the string of his bow. The rest of the group swiftly followed suit, weapons at the ready, and they seamlessly assumed their combat formation.
At the forefront stood Arim and Lena, both wielding their humble swords, ready to engage in close combat. Flanking them were Devos and Leila, armed with bows at the ready and spells poised for action. Nari remained at the rear, guarding their back and serving as the vigilant sentinel against any potential threats from behind.
Together, they formed a cohesive and effective defensive formation, maintaining a judicious balance between enough space to maneuver comfortably and closeness that allowed them to come to each other's aid if the need arose.
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In silence, they advanced towards a small cave entrance lying ahead, their gazes fixed on the opening, wary of any wolves that might spring forth. Experience had taught them to be cautious, but as moments passed without incident, they couldn't help but wonder if their quarry had eluded them this time. It wasn't their first wolf hunt, but the eerie calm was unusual, casting a shadow of uncertainty over their mission.
They stood in patient vigil for a few moments, but as minutes dragged on without a hint of movement, a collective decision was made to venture into the presumed lair. With each step, they ventured deeper into the yawning maw of the cave. As the dim light from the outside world slowly waned, Leila harnessed her magic, conjuring a spell known as "Guiding Light." A soft, radiant orb materialized, casting its gentle glow over the jagged, uneven stone walls of the cave.
Sensing the growing need for more light, Devos and Arim swiftly fashioned two small torches, igniting them with practiced ease. The flickering flames added to the illumination, dispelling the encroaching darkness and revealing the hidden secrets that lay within the cavern's depths.
After a while, the narrow cave corridor widened into a large circular cavern. Leila’s magical light illuminated a large cavern of around 30 meters with two small cracks in the back leading deeper into the earth.
But what caught Lena´s eyes wasn’t the room itself but the corpses littering the floor, bloodied grey fur covering large dog-like beasts. Some of them showed deep cuts, others were completely crushed with shining white bones sticking out of whatever remained of their bodies. Lena had already seen dead wolves, she had already killed wolves herself, but never was it such a display of gore and violence.
"What happened to them?" Nari's voice quivered with uncertainty.
"They were killed," Devos replied, his voice steady though his concern simmered beneath the surface.
"But what could have killed them?" Leila interjected, her tone tinged with doubt.
"There were over a dozen of them, and wolves don't fall easily. If they attacked us all at once, it would have been a hard battle, even for us."
Lena hesitated for a moment, contemplating the course of action. "Maybe we should find out?" she suggested, her own conviction wavering.
"Lena's right," Arim interjected with unwavering determination, his face a mask of fearlessness. "We have to uncover what killed these wolves and deal with it. We can't allow it to pose a threat to the village."
With shared resolve, they collected themselves and ventured deeper into the cave, guided by Leila's magical light, until they reached one of the larger cracks in the cavern wall.
They continued through dark stone tunnels, following a trail of dried blood. She wasn’t sure if it was the best idea to continue through the cave and search for an enemy that had completely massacred a pack of wolves. Whatever killed these wolves must be strong, maybe even stronger than a Bear.
But she continued nonetheless, ignoring the fear in the back of her mind. The Adrenaline, the thrill of an incoming fight, and the exploration of unknown places pushed her deeper into the tunnels. After all, this was the reason they were all here, to escape life in the village. Even if the enemy was too much for them to kill, they were confident enough to flee.
Lena gripped her sword harder with both hands as they continued their way through the cave.
It wasn’t long before they came to another cavern. This one being even larger than the first, with Leila's light magic unable to illuminate it entirely. This time the floor was littered with bones and a single black wolf corpse lying amidst the littered floor. Between the bones, she could identify rusty swords, broken arrows, dented shields, and a multitude of other old equipment. Some of the grey bones were already covered in green moss.
Devos and Arim's torches cast fiery reflections across the cave's interior, painting the scene with an eerie glow. All too well, they recognized the place they had stumbled upon—a lair. However, contrary to their expectations, this was no wolf den.
Before Lena could fully adapt to the unsettling sight and grasp its implications, a distinct crunching noise echoed from the darkness ahead. She gestured to Arim, and he nodded in silent agreement. In unison they moved forward, swords drawn and poised for action. Devos and the rest of the group hovered near the entrance, ready to offer support or a hasty retreat if needed.
They cautiously advanced toward the room's center, sidestepping the morbid piles of bones littering the floor. The ominous crunching noise abruptly ceased as Arim's torch flickered, bathing the area before them in a trembling light. What it revealed was a creature of nightmares.
The monster in front of them boasted eight slender limbs, each terminating in a skeletal hand, while its grotesque frame was ensconced in an unnatural, stretched green skin that clung tightly to its sinewy musculature. Crowning its nightmarish visage was the skull of a beast, its massive horns obscured as it feasted upon a macabre pile of bones. As the flickering light from Arim's torch played upon the creature, it slowly raised its head, and two abyssal eyes locked onto them.
A voice within Lena's mind screamed at her to flee, to turn on her heels and sprint as fast as she could, but her feet remained rooted to the spot. She couldn't tear her gaze away as the abomination before her unfurled, bending its serpentine body with an uncanny flexibility until it stood on four of its eight limbs. Now looming over three meters tall, the creature fixed a chilling gaze upon them. Lena's hands trembled uncontrollably as she met its unrelenting stare, paralyzed by fear.
[Undead Bone Feaster lvl-??]
The creature remained eerily still, making no move to attack. The only audible sounds were the thunderous drumbeat of Lena's racing heart and the anxious breaths shared between her companions. Beside her, Arim gingerly took a cautious step backward, attempting to put some distance between himself and the menacing entity. His foot landed squarely on a bone.
The resounding crack of the bone fracturing in the oppressive silence acted as an ominous catalyst. The creature stirred.
It leaped forward slamming two of his thin limbs into Arim’s side, crushing bones and organs alike and throwing him away in the dark, his torch dropped where he had stood a moment ago.
Turning toward Lena, the creature adopted a harrowing posture, lowering itself onto all eight limbs. In this nightmarish transformation, it resembled a nightmarish, five-meter-long skeletal spider.
With lightning speed, the monstrous entity lunged forward. However just in time, Lena's survival instincts kicked into high gear, and she narrowly evaded the first vicious strike, her body instinctively contorting to avoid the attack. In a heartbeat, she raised her sword to block the second ferocious blow, the impact resonating through her entire being, leaving her hands numb and her side exposed.
Amidst the swirling maelstrom of panic and terror, she found herself unable to react in time as the creature's skeletal fist met her stomach with unrelenting force.
Lena's world erupted in agony as she felt her bones snap under the relentless force that hurled her backward, yet miraculously, she clung to her sword. "Fuck," she muttered through gritted teeth, fighting to suppress both the excruciating pain and fear. This monster far surpassed anything they had faced before.
She strained to anticipate the creature's next assault when her concentration was shattered by a blood-curdling scream—Nari!
Without hesitation, she vaulted to the right, narrowly avoiding another of the creature's deadly limbs that swung menacingly in her direction. Ignoring the searing pain coursing through her battered body, she sprinted past the colossal monstrosity and back towards her friends. A sudden explosion rent the air, briefly illuminating the cavern. The light revealed her companions near the entrance, engaged in a frantic battle with two additional bone creatures, one blocking their escape route.
Nari was kneeling beside an unmoving Devos. Her face smeared with blood.
One of the towering monstrosities loomed menacingly above them, while Leila valiantly struggled to shield her two defenseless friends using a fragile mana barrier. She desperately tried to disrupt the creature's advances with a series of small fire spells, yet it only seemed to attract them even more.
Lena's sharp eyes discerned one of these bone creatures clutching a massive sword in one of its skeletal hands. With unnerving dexterity, it balanced on four of its limbs and relentlessly pounded the enormous weapon against Leila's protective barrier. Each bone-jarring impact caused the barrier to flicker, teetering on the brink of collapse.
As the peril escalated, Lena sprinted forward, her pace quickening despite the relentless pain coursing through her body. She was acutely aware of the creature hot on her heels, its unyielding pursuit relentless as she ran to her friend's rescue.
Approaching the monster that still had her friends in its malevolent gaze, she executed a sudden, sharp turn to the right. The pursuing creature, unable to react swiftly enough, collided with the second bone creature with an ear-splitting cacophony of breaking and bending bones.
She didn’t wait to watch if the creatures got back on their feet. Instead, she turned to attack the last creature that battered her friend's shield as the barrier shattered.
“LEILA!” her scream filled the air as the creature struck once again.
Her friend couldn't react in time as the creature struck down at her with its giant sword.
Lena watched as her friend fell apart with a wet noise, followed by a heart-wrenching cry. Nari stood before the creature with only a small dagger in her hands. Her face was covered in tears and blood, defying the monster that had just killed her sister.
The creature slowly lifted his now bloodied sword and raised it above the small girl with an even smaller dagger.
Lena's grip on her sword tightened, her resolve unwavering despite the searing pain. She summoned the power of both her skills, causing her blade to blaze with a fierce crimson hue. With a mighty roar, she brought her sword down upon the creature menacing her friend.
Her blade sliced through the air with a blinding flash, but to her dismay, the impact didn't yield the expected results. Instead, it launched her backward with staggering force. Her attack utterly ineffective; her sword simply rebounded harmlessly off the creature's resilient green skin.
Yet, the immediate concern was that the creature now shifted its focus, leaving the young girl alone behind him as it turned its attention towards her. At least [Furious shout] seemed to work.
Lena knew that she couldn't beat it, her sword wasn't even able to pierce its hide. However, she also wasn't going to let desperation take over her mind and instead decided to fight. Again and again, she struck with her sword, each strike as ineffective as the first, but she did stop.
Each strike, though ineffective in terms of damage, served a strategic purpose beyond mere combat. Each blow further incensed the monstrous creature, aggravating it with every futile attempt. As Lena deftly evaded its retaliatory strikes, her fervent hope was that its attention would remain fixated on her just a while longer. For as long as the creature engaged her, it left the entrance unguarded.
With each passing moment, the creature's attacks grew more unpredictable, making dodging increasingly complicated. Lena found herself with no recourse but to attempt to parry the colossal blade that swung menacingly toward her. As the creature's strike connected with her sword, an ominous crack reverberated through the cavern.
Lena's eyes widened in disbelief as she watched her sword shatter into countless shards, leaving her with nothing but a trembling hilt clutched desperately in her hands. It was at that heart-wrenching moment that she came to a harsh realization: she wouldn't survive.
Helplessly facing the creature that had mercilessly slaughtered her friends, with nothing but a fractured wooden handle as her weapon, Lena understood that escaping was impossible for her.
"Take Nari and get out of here!" Her voice, rough but resolute, rang out with unwavering clarity. Despite the fear gripping her heart, there was no trace of it in her words.
From the shadows behind the menacing monster loaming over her emerged Arim, his left arm hanging limp and useless at his side. He dashed forward with labored breaths, his sole focus on reaching Nari. Ignoring the two disabled creatures still thrashing on the ground, he scooped up the crying girl and raced past the lifeless forms of their fallen comrades, making a desperate dash toward the exit.
Only when he reached the cavern's opening did he turn around towards her.
Lena met his gaze, her resolve unwavering. "Don't worry about me," she replied with a reassuring smile. "Take Nari and get out. I'll distract it and follow in a minute."
As she spoke, the creature made its move, lunging forward with a ferocious swing of its sword. Lena, however, failed to evade the attack in time.
----------------------------------------
Arim's heart sank as he witnessed his friend being struck by the massive weapon, the sword leaving a deep, grievous wound on Lena's stomach. She crumpled to her knees in pain. He clenched his fists, ready to charge at the creature from behind to avenge her when he heard Lena's voice.
"Don't look back, Arim, I'll be right behind you." Her voice was gentle, her smile devoid of regret.
Both of them understood that her words were a lie. He reluctantly turned away from the devastating scene, taking Nari's hand firmly in his own, and sprinted toward the exit. A moment later the sickening sound of a sword meeting flesh reached his ears, nearly compelling him to glance back, but he resisted. Tears streamed down his face as he continued to run forward, never once slowing down.
Lena had been his lifelong companion, a steadfast defender, a constant presence by his side. Memories of a girl with laughing green eyes and dark hair flooded his mind. Her smile had been the most cherished thing in his life, and now, he would never see it again.
As they hurried past the small room where the lifeless wolves lay. The only sounds that echoed through the cavern were the rapid patter of their running footsteps and Nari's sorrowful sobs. There were no pursuers in sight, only the weight of their devastating loss.
Arim had lost consciousness for only a brief moment after the initial attack by the first creature. As he came to his senses, disoriented and in pain, he had desperately stumbled toward the others. He had seen Devos's deformed skull and Leila's vertically cleaved body. He had been too late to save them. And Lena…
He had been powerless to save her, while she had valiantly fought back against the merciless creatures. Without Lena's courageous defense, Nari's fate would have been sealed as well. He clutched the girl's hand even tighter, a silent promise to protect her at all costs.
Upon emerging from the cavern, bathed in the cool embrace of the night, Arim's strength finally wavered. He sank to his knees and began to sob, the weight of their harrowing ordeal crashing down upon him. Beside him, the small child had already shed all her tears, robbed of the last vestiges of her family. She stood there, gazing at him with bloodshot eyes, her silent witness to his pain.
After what felt like an eternity, he summoned the strength to rise, Nari still holding his hand, their bond the only solace in a world that had been irrevocably shattered.
Her expression remained an enigma, devoid of any discernible emotion. Her eyes had become vacant, emptied of feeling.
The pain from his injured arm and broken ribs was reduced to a dull ache at the back of his mind by the weight of their shared grief.
Yet in his heart also burned the determination to ensure Nari's survival, no matter the cost. He wouldn't let his friends' sacrifice be in vain. He gripped the Nari's hand tighter as they began their way back home.
Together, they embarked on their somber journey in the direction of Maryda. Words remained unspoken between them, but their hands never let go of each other, intertwined in a silent pledge to never let go.
----------------------------------------
Lena's gaze lingered on Arim as he led the weeping Nari toward the exit, their footsteps gradually receding into the enveloping darkness. Only when they had completely vanished from her sight did she allow her focus to return to the monstrous entity that loomed above her still kneeling form. The dark abyssal eyes of the undead looked down on her, void of emotion.
As the creature trusted its sword at her, Lena made no effort to evade.
The sword impacted her right under her heart and pierced her entirely. As the sword was pulled back her vision blurred and she fell on her back.
Lena's ears filled with the rhythmic thud of her slowing heartbeat, echoing in the cavernous silence. She was dying. Here, in an unknown cave filled with corpses and bones, she was about to die.
Panic spread through her body. She tried to move, to flee from the looming darkness. Yet, her body remained unmoving, the only response being the searing pain that coursed through her.
Tears streamed down her face as her vision blurred and she realized that this was it. She would not make it out of this alive. At least Arim and Nari are saved.
A fragile smile graced her lips as the darkness overwhelmed her, swallowing her consciousness in death's embrace.