The cave opened up in all directions, defying all logic and reason in its magnitude. There were no support pillars nor outcroppings of stone that reached the ceiling. This entire place should have collapsed a long time ago, yet it defiantly stood.
The smooth ground soon became scarred by ugly gashes in the stone, sometimes forming deep crevices, littered by rock jutting out at seemingly random angles which eventually turned into almost cave-like formations of their own. Some areas were completely blocked off by stone, turning them into coves filled with unique habitats of their own. Navigating them wasn't easy, especially when the warriors were still hot on his tail.
Some of the herd had broken off into smaller packs and took shelter in these stone coves, while others tried to fight the natives, some of whom now lay in a pool of their own blood. Charlie had been lucky to be small and difficult to spot, but his luck would eventually run out, and he would be forced to face down an entire cove worth of deadly creatures.
Each cove had its own vegetation, somehow entirely contained within and without spilling their confines to the stone outside. It made for an interesting sight, as there was sometimes wild variation between each cove, some only growing flora that could dwarf even the tallest creature, to others growing patches of what looked to be grass topped with a field of flowers. They looked pretty, but Charlie knew they were a sinister death trap in disguise.
It didn't make sense for most of these views to exist within a cave, let alone for there to be such variety. The coves filled with mushrooms made sense; he'd been learning about them most of his life at this point, but the greenery was still a foreign concept, even when Charlie was outside the cave.
In Charlie’s home world, grass was already a rarity and widely seen as a luxury feed for the animals, let alone grass that was still green and not yet turned to dust by the searing sun. Charlie lacked any real info on how this world operated, so maybe it was normal for there to be flowers and grass in caves without sunlight; he simply didn't know.
Among all of these coves there still existed a clear path forward, unaffected by the sporadic outbreak of the coves. It helped Charlie navigate his way deeper into the cave and provided a way around some of the more vicious inhabitants. Having seen their grisly handiwork from a distance, the furred human-like creatures were the ones Charlie feared to face the most.
Bodies torn open, ripped in half, and mutilated beyond recognition littered the floor of some poor creature's home, while their remains were being used as toys by the furry younglings. The adults were beyond vile, engaging in a putrid scene of joyous intercourse while bathing in the blood and viscera, cackling in a high-pitched and shrill voice.
These... things, were a blight. Even the worst creatures Charlie had faced, none dared to desecrate the corpse of their prey. They killed for food, for a primal need, not for joy and sport. If Charlie ever reached a point where he was strong enough to kill one of these things, he promised to wipe out their entire disgusting lineage.
Though that will be left for a distant and a stronger future, Charlie still had warriors tracking him in the present to worry about. They hadn't gained much distance in their unrelenting march forward; Charlie worked hard to keep them just in sight without getting too close. The platoon of warriors marched in unison, a single person would break off from the main formation to investigate every cove in their path.
Keeping one’s enemies in sight was paramount in creating a contingency plan, and his plan was to give himself the best edge in surviving an encounter with the lethal warriors.
At this distance, if the warriors spotted Charlie, he would have enough time and distance to maybe attempt an escape. If he left them behind and delved deeper into the cave, there was no certainty he'd notice their approach. Losing track of them could prove fatal before he even had time to register his second death.
The warriors continued to assault every cove in their path, but every once in a while one would break off and never come back. Charlie decided to get a closer look at what was happening, and was granted a revelation. His decision to delve deep into the cave was correct; these monsters would pulverise his body to mush.
They would swiftly snuff the life out of most creatures they came across in a masterful display of spear skill, but not all felt the tip of their weapon. The creatures that resembled cattle from his past life received a different conclusion; instead of weapons, the cattle were beaten with bare fists.
They came down like hammers and rattled the bones of the creatures with a single strike; by the second, their flesh caved inwards in an unnerving display of strength. The warrior would pick up the crumpled body of the creature and sling it over their shoulder with a single arm.
The display of raw strength was etched into Charlie’s mind, unable to forget a sight like that. Even the strongest men in his life could never come close to pulling such a feat off, and yet this sight didn't even get a second glance from the other warriors.
The selection in creatures which were taken back made some sense, at least for a human. They probably were in search of cattle for milk or maybe even meat; their leather could also prove to have some value. Yet, was it necessary to enact such horrific violence? Was there no easier way?
Whether or not necessary, it didn't matter in the face of these men. They exuded power and every creature felt it, a fear had wormed its way into their hearts and would prove a boon for the warriors if they ever crossed paths again. They were a calamity to all that sought shelter, a walking death sentence.
The warriors had concluded their business faster than expected; all that didn't meet their standard were forced to face their cold efficiency, and those that did... Charlie wasn't sure if their fate was any less grim. The final warrior had effortlessly picked up the still struggling cattle-like creature and tossed it over their shoulder, turning back to the platoon and beginning their march back.
Hidden in an outcropping made of dirt and stone, Charlie let out a shaky breath. The warriors were like a guillotine aimed directly at his neck; he could still feel their sharp blade against his skin, but it was fading. He had survived an impossible encounter with certain death, no matter how hopeless it felt at the time, he had still survived.
Survival didn't mean safety, though; Charlie needed to keep moving to find a place to shelter and hide. He was getting closer to digesting the serpent inside his stomach, [Devour] felt like it started to rouse from slumber, and he didn't want to attract unnecessary attention. The dark green flames that boiled in his mouth could give him away to the simplest, stray glance.
The coves that littered the landscape were almost like caves of their own; some were akin to a large boulder, carved out by the hands of a crude stonemason, while others were connected to the walls and looked to go on forever into their own world. Any one of these could have the potential to provide temporary shelter, but manoeuvring through the stone paths wasn't going to be an easy task.
There were still plenty of creatures roaming outside the coves, seeking their own shelter or to simply fill their stomachs. Ferocious battles happened everywhere Charlie looked, while only the strongest continued to march forward and deeper into the cave, unbothered. Charlie had no desire to stay here either, but the deeper he descended, only strength would prevail. Those that could continue down would continue, driven by the incessant pull and armed with the power to carve their own way down.
It was becoming difficult for even Charlie to ignore the pull, to descend further down and find its source. The mindless creatures fared no better than him; they were unable to understand the gravity of the situation, easily swayed to follow the unnatural pull. Yet how much longer before he would join the rest of them and succumb to its ethereal call?
Finding a suitable stone shelter proved to be a more perilous task than anticipated, already crossing paths with multiple vicious creatures and escaping before being noticed. Though the first few were evaded due to the hyper-vigilance Charlie had to endure, being able to react before they even made a move, this one had found him instead.
Charlie heard a deep and terrifying growl come from behind, like an engine of a broken-down vehicle failing to start; its vocal cords rattled with danger. Fear shot through his spine like a lightning strike, momentarily paralysing his body. Charlie had enough strength left to turn around and stare into the face of imminent death before his body gave out.
Powerful muscles coiled in tight ropes under thin light brown fur, an angular head with a menacing maw that held hundreds of teeth Charlie didn't wish to test his scales against. Four legs that resembled those of a large dog's, but were much wider and tipped with five sharp claws. It had a thin tail that moved in opposition to the large body, hanging low and providing balance.
Charlie had seen many creatures up to this point, some were more vile than others, but one thing was certain. This creature was no prey; this was a true predator, radiating power and commanding attention with each step it took.
There was still some distance between them, but the fear had numbed Charlies body, requiring an extra second to react when the lethal creature lunged forward, its powerful hind legs propelled it with explosive speed. It already closed a considerable distance before Charlie kicked into high gear and regained control of his body, pushing it to the limit in a maddened escape.
He was nimble and dexterous enough to move through the maze-like structure of the cave with ease, but unfortunately, it didn't seem to pose a problem for his pursuer either. Easily traversing across obstacles as if they were mere suggestions, closing considerable distance with each leap. It was upon Charlie, he could almost feel the heat coming from its body, when a sudden gap in the floor came into view, just wide enough for him to slip into, but not deep enough to hide from view..
Charlie rocketed his body into the crevice with everything he had, a sharp pain erupted in his back as the claws of the creature sliced him open. The pain was like white-hot knives carving their way through his spine, only briefly interrupted by the painful thud of his body colliding against the stone floor.
The creature shoved its deadly claws into the crevice, scraping their way across the impenetrable stone with a sharp hiss as they neared Charlie. He scrambled deeper into the crevice and quickly faced a dead end, though it barely mattered, the knife-like claws were unable to reach him from here.
The crevice was deep enough to provide protection from the creature, but Charlie did not dare to lash out with a [Hollow Fang]. A simple mistiming would end with his head rolling on the ground.
Before walking away, the creature snorted in frustration, its hot breath polluted the cramped space. Charlies heart beat in his ears, drowning out everything else except the crippling pain radiating from his back. Yet even in this condition, Charlie felt his stomach drop and [Devour] roared into existence.
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[Devour] made short work of the gem inside of him as it pulled a tremendous amount of energy out of Charlies being, before then suffusing his flesh and bones with pleasure, and power. It almost felt like the time he tried to use [Hollow Fang] and the same draining sensation assaulted his being, making his fangs itch from deep within. Was the strange power capped in some way, maybe he neared, or had already reached, its limit?
The memory of just barely surviving the infection resurfaced in Charlies mind, reminding him that these mysterious gems had the power to potentially save him, even if [Devour] took a momentary toll on his body. If there were more chances to [Devour] the gems after a near fatal battle, as a sort of life-line, It will prove incredibly useful in the future.
The ache in back eased and the fear took a step back, as Charlie took its nourishing flame all in. It wasn't anything tremendous this time, but any relief brought was in dire need. Assessing his situation, Charlie could finally tell that the crevice he had fallen into was by no means deep, but it was far too narrow to easily get in from above. The entry Charlie had taken was only a meter or so behind, but he was tightly hugged by the walls surrounding him.
The crevice didn't go any further or deeper, nor did it get any wider either, leaving little room to maneuver himself and find an easy exit. Not that it mattered right now, Charlie was in no rush to leave, finally having found some cover without any dangerous tenants to fight off.
He could recuperate for a while and gather his strength before venturing deeper into the cave, yet that in itself was proving an insurmountable issue. If only the strong could continue their march downwards, then it would be safe to reason that there would be no way to fight back against those far above him. The creature from moments ago proved that hypothesis true, not even being give the chance to descend deeper and Charlie had already found himself outclassed.
Charlie needed time. Time to explore not only himself, but the limits and possibilities that his System provided him. If he wanted to grow strong, his only option was to retreat closer to the entrance and [Devour] gems of slain creatures. He hoped the strength they provided was real and not the side-effects of something inside the gem, adding to its addictive properties.
After another while was spent rumerating over the possibilities of his next steps and the creation of a bare-bones foundation for a plan, Charlie had come to a final decision. He'd stay closer to the warriors and their reinforced walls, while using [Devour] on as many gems as possible. All of this to become stronger, more comfortable with his surroundings and, finally, explore what his System is truly capable of.
The first step Charlie needed to take, will be seeing if he can still enter that logic-defying realm again and confirm if that space was truly just a stupefying dream, or if there was more to it. In order to have a chance at achieving this, he'd need to find shelter that was more than a simple hole in the floor.
Having calmed down and recovered some of his strength, Charlie slowly and awkwardly shimmied his body backwards, towards the exit. There was a moment where Charlie heard a noise, but was unable to judge the distance from its origin, the hole had made things much more difficult to ascertain. After a few tense moments spent frozen, the noise proved to be nothing nearby, and Charlie had made a safe exit.
There now was an urgency to Charlies movements, the looming pressure of having to fight of his own free volition unnerved him, but at the same time he couldn't help but feel a stray sense of excitement. There was a part of him that wanted to indulge in that blissful power and see how far it would take him, while the more cautious side warned Charlie of the dangers associated with feeding into that seduction. The perilous battles and wounds that will put his life at stake, the mind-bending stress of having to come against his own mortality time and time again was nothing short of terrifying. Yet there was a side of him that couldn't wait to get started and see where it all leads.
The endeavour of pursuing strength would prove useful in more ways than one, though. It could even provide him the space and time needed to truly come to terms with his reality, to accept not only his own, but his budding families death. Being able to ward off the dangers in his life could lead to becoming strong enough to accept it all.
Right now Charlie was weak, in both mind and body. He wasn't strong enough to keep himself alive, let alone the memories of his wife and unborn child. He had a duty to fulfill for them, to stay alive at all costs and never allow them to fade from existence. If he died, who would be left to mourn their passing?
Charlie needed to be selfish for once, he need to put his future and survival before everything, even if it pained him more than any wound so far. He needed to put the memories of his family down, and pick them back up only when he had gained the strength to carry their chains.
It hurt to be this weak and powerless, but the cave could prove to be a useful tool in tempering both his body and spirit. It just might give him the strength to rid this weakness once and for all, and allow him to continue moving forward.
The coves ahead were daunting and bode of danger, but with his heart finally steeled, he found the will to keep moving. With a sharp eye, Charlie kept close watch of the shadows and corners that could be holding unseen dangers, and continued his ascent of the cave. The time to integrate all of his past mistakes and grow from his failures, has come.
Charlie scanned the landscape and found an optimal route to take, arousing the least amount of attention while simultaneously giving him the most room to escape if he were faced with an unwinnable fight. It was open and wide, but had enough shelter and hidden crevices to provide some room for times when escape was necessary.
Each cove that Charlie passed was filled to the brim with creatures that were licking their wounds, resting or were caught in an ongoing battle. The further up he ascended the fewer coves there were, but even if reduced in number, there were still hundreds of them in every direction.
In his search for proper shelter, Charlie came across a peculiar rock formation, too small to be called a cove, but had nearly impassable vegetation sprouting from within. There were hundreds of mushroom growing so tightly, that most normal living things would not be able to squeeze through—but Charlie was no normal beast. His long and slender body proved perfect in penetrating the spongy fortress, even if the gravel floor annoyed him, giving him some shelter and much needed concealment.
It was in a surprisingly optimal position to boot, being far away enough from the warriors to flee if needed, but also deep enough that there were plenty of prey. If he could consolidate this space and make it the base of operations, Charlie would have an easier time in achieving his many goals. Right now it looked almost too good to be true, but he has been shown time and time again that if something could go wrong, it would.
Once inside, Charlie realised that this cove had an additional benefit, it absolutely reeked. The wet and slimy mushroom gave off a powerful, rancid stench that completely masked his own scent, not that he could smell it, but Charlie doubted he was an exception to the rule. There was a unique smell attached to everything, whether or not he could perceive it.
After doing some basic exploration of the interior, he found that there was more space a little bit deeper in, allowing him to easily maneuver without getting stuck and provide some minor comfort, lessening the claustrophobic feeling. The air was thick with the scent of the mushroom, but it didn't seem to be toxic in nature. Additionally, when Charlie touched the mushroom he was pleasantly surprised that nothing shout out of them. He knew some mushroom were too dangerous to get close in case they breathed in some of the dangerous fumes, and others liked to eject toxic spores into an unlucky forager. It was a delight to find out that, on the surface, this place was safe.
The wound on his back had stopped bleeding without Charlie noticing, which was great news, but he was concerned that, his blood, and the blood of the dead animals could have mixed into a lethal concoction. In the past, there had been friends that died in Charlie's arms to some mysterious illness, they would come back drenched in blood of the slain creature while many open wounds littered their bodies.
Their doctors were woefully unprepared to deal with such issues back on Charlies world, lacking real medicine to treat common problems. Though not all logic could be applied from his previous life, so while it could become a problem without proper medicine and care, there was nothing for him to do but ignore it, until it undoubtedly gets worse.
Charlie needed to rest before he could tackle anything else anyway, exhausted by the intensity and relentlessness of the previous few days. The lack of sleep had finally gotten to him and needed to be addressed as soon as possible. Its sleepy claws felt shallow at first, but quickly found their purchase and threatened to pull him under, right where he sat. Charlie wanted to fight back, to figure out a way to fortify the entrance, to do the hundreds of things he still make sure were in order before resting—but found himself unable to muster the strength to resist. The light in his eyes was fading away by the second, wanting to take Charlies mind along to the blissful nothingness.
Even though Charlie refused, there was still far too much to be done, he knew when it was time to admit defeat. Yet, there was no reason for Charlie to not flip the situation in his favour. If sleep was inevitable, then he might as well enter the dream realm and kill two birds with one stone.
Charlie found that the fight for his conscience was far more difficult than ever expected, the insidious power of sleep made it difficult to even see it as something outside his own desires. The reality was the complete opposite, he wanted so badly to just forget about the struggle and succumb to the honeyed embrace. Yet he had to deny this primal desire and focus on his goal—The lightless doorway.
Charlie imagined the power, the shape and the smoke that billowed out of the impossible door, guiding and directing his mind to this singular goal. Like a cold breath on the back of his neck, he heard it.
The whispers of the System brushed past his being, worming their way into his mind like thousands of insects returning to their filthy nest, and provided its foreign guidance. In following its direction, Charlie felt an alien sensation spread through his body alongside the familiar feeling of deep exhaustion. It almost felt like he was trying to use [Hollow Fang] after almost reaching his limit, but there was something strange with it, ineffable.
A sliver of darkness that swallowed the surrounding dark void tore its way out of nothingness, casting plumes of dark ash in every direction. The smoke boiled and steamed outwards with tremendous speed before quickly returning to the sliver of darkness, exploding upwards and forming the shape of an ethereal black doorway.
This... is new.
In the past, the door stood as if it had always been there, domineering and radiating its ominous power. Yet, Charlie had just witnessed the black doorway being summoned. The System may have guided him, but now this strange power was his to learn, to eventually understand and wield.
This revelation had the potential of unlocking the plethora of secrets belonging to the System. Charlie, unwilling to blindly trust his memory in the future, replayed the alien sensations in his mind over and over again, ingraining its complexity into his very being. Next time, Charlie would make certain to summon the lightless door without the Systems guidance.
Charlie confidently willed his being to pass through the lightless doorway and was ready to finally receive some answers. The smokey world flashed into existence just like before, and in much the same way, the coiled Serpent sat atop the mysterious text in the clouds, its eyes still aflame by that dark green light. Still, there were changes to this space after further inspection, the pool of water that surrounded his soul had shrank significantly.
Approaching his soul, Charlie noticed that while the water didn't shrink, it had just receded, and could see there was more space than before for it to flow into. Not only was there more room for the mysterious water, he also noticed a minute change to his soul seed. The radiant light that came off the seed was just a touch brighter than before, bringing warmth a little further into the world of ash and storm.
The clouds boiled in the distance, violent and ever changing, yet over here there was peace. Maybe in time, his soul would grow and this world would become one filled with warmth and gentle light.
Charlie had to peel himself away from the radiant light, unwilling to spend his limited time in its loving embrace and indulging in comforting futures. If he were here today on anything else but business, Charlie could easily picture himself just floating for an entire night, mending the scars in his heart and mind.
It was not the Serpents un-moving shadow that Charlie noticed, but the text underneath. There were tremendous changes to the mystic symbols that populated the strange interface.
As Charlie slowly read through the text in the clouds—the System whispered.
Level: 2 / 30%
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 2
Vitality: 4
Eso: 2
{Evolution}
[A limitless journey awaits, but you are naked and bare, still seeking purpose.]
{The Challenge}
[Cursed and blessed at the same time, your journey is one of Hunger. Devour that which is precious, steal the sacred and become more than your Creator.]
{Powers}
[Devour:
Level: 1 / 15%
A wretched power, manifested from bottomless hunger.]
{Epitaphs}
[No Strings On Me]
[Hollow Fang:
Level: 1 / 20%
The venomous bite of this Serpent is scarier than it looks.]