Jeremy ran through the maze, his breath coming in sharp gasps. Each step pounded fresh pain into his bruised legs. The scrape of claws on stone echoed too close behind, chasing him forward.
Why was he running? He didn’t even know anymore.
It started with one lizard too many. He’d seen it lunge at him, and instead of bracing for a fight, his legs had just... moved. He bolted past it, leaving the snapping jaws behind. And then he just kept going, down corridor after corridor, like his body had decided something his brain hadn’t.
“Why am I running?” he muttered, his voice hoarse, lost in the chaos of his own panic. He was here to fight, to gain Essence—but no part of him could stop his legs from moving. Every lizard he left behind was a missed chance to get stronger, and yet... he couldn’t make himself stop.
What kind of hero runs? The thought scraped at him, more painful than the claws that tore at his leg. He’d read the stories, dreamed of the moments where courage was enough to save the day. But stories didn’t prepare you for how cold and heavy fear was, how it drowned out everything else.
Maybe it was the aches in his shoulders, the burning in his knees, or the way each fight felt harder than the last. Or maybe it was something weirder, something he couldn’t explain. Something deep inside that whispered, Keep moving, or you’re not getting out of here.
His eyes darted to the walls, searching for something, anything that could help. A loose chunk of stone caught his eye. He kicked it behind him as hard as he could, hearing the clatter echo through the corridor. Maybe it would confuse the lizards—throw them off his trail. He didn’t stop to find out.
It didn’t make sense. The monsters weren’t endless, and the maze wasn’t alive... probably. But the feeling didn’t go away. Running felt right, even if it was the dumbest decision he’d ever made.
The shadows ahead twisted like they were alive, and Jeremy’s grip on his spear shifted. They’d ambush him again; they always did. He briefly planted his feet, angling the spear low where he knew the first lizard would dart. Sure enough, claws scraped the stone, and he thrust forward, sending the creature tumbling before sprinting past its twitching body. Then he kept running. The corridors twisted and turned, shadows stretching like they were alive. Each gasp felt like fire in his chest, but stopping wasn’t an option. He couldn’t.
He laughed bitterly under his breath, the sound harsh in the empty corridor. “Smart plan, Jeremy. Just keep running till you collapse. That’ll fix everything.”
He turned a corner too fast, his shoulder scraping against the wall. Arrows he’d carved earlier to mark his path blurred past him, useless now because he wasn’t stopping long enough to read them. The maze twisted on and on, and Jeremy couldn’t tell if he was going deeper or getting closer to the exit.
The sound of skittering claws grew louder again, and he pushed himself harder, his legs burning. Don’t stop. Don’t think. Just go.
Then, suddenly, the walls opened up. The suffocating tunnels gave way to a massive chamber, and Jeremy stumbled to a halt, leaning on his spear as he gasped for air. Cool air brushed against his sweaty face, stinging the raw scrapes on his arms.
For one brief moment, he thought he’d found safety. The huge, open space was a relief after the maze. But the silence didn’t feel right. It felt heavy. Menacing. Jeremy’s heart pounded as his eyes darted around the chamber, searching for anything—movement, sound, danger. He wasn’t alone. He could feel it.
“Running was... the right call,” he whispered to himself, though his shaking hands didn’t agree. The echo of his voice only made the stillness worse.
A low growl rolled out of the shadows, and Jeremy froze. His grip on the spear tightened so much his knuckles turned white. Instinct screamed at him to run back into the maze, but he didn’t. There was nowhere to go.
“Not creepy at all,” he muttered under his breath. He squinted into the dim chamber, barely able to make out shapes in the faint, bluish light. Then something moved. Slowly at first, then stepping fully into the glow of the chamber. Jeremy’s stomach sank.
The thing was huge—an orc, bigger than any he’d ever seen before. It dragged a jagged axe behind it, the metal scratching against the stone floor with a horrible screech. In its other hand, it held a chain that rattled with every step.
At the end of the chain were a group of lizards, their glowing eyes locked onto Jeremy like he was their dinner. They snarled and snapped, tails whipping at the ground. The orc barked something in a harsh, guttural language, yanking the chain. The lizards snapped to attention.
Jeremy swallowed hard, straightening his back even though his legs were trembling. His eyes flicked to the orc’s axe—massive, jagged, and heavy. But the lizards were the real problem. Smaller, quicker, and way too coordinated for comfort. He had to deal with them first, or they’d tear him apart while the orc watched. “Okay... big guy,” he said, trying to sound braver than he felt. He glanced back down the labyrinth. He couldn’t stop. Not now. His voice cracked, and his fingers trembled as he gripped his spear tighter. “Let’s get this over with.”
The orc let out a deep, awful laugh that echoed off the chamber walls. Then it snapped the chain loose, and the lizards bolted toward Jeremy, claws clicking against the stone. The orc barked commands, its voice a guttural snarl that sent the lizards darting into formation. Every swing of its axe drove Jeremy toward their snapping jaws, the two threats working in perfect, terrifying unison.
The lizards attacked in a blur of movement—claws scraping his leg, jaws snapping inches from his face. Jeremy twisted and jabbed wildly, landing glancing blows but never enough to slow them down. The spear felt steady in his hands now, but it didn’t matter if he couldn’t stop their momentum. Every attack chipped away at him, every dodge left him weaker.
He swung his spear in a wide arc, forcing the lizards back for a heartbeat, but they circled again, their glowing eyes relentless.
Jeremy’s back hit the chamber wall, the cold stone grounding his swirling thoughts. The lizards spread out, circling him, but the orc lagged behind. If he could draw the lizards closer and strike fast, maybe—just maybe—he could turn this around.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“Alright,” he muttered, his voice shaking as he raised the spear again. “Round two.”
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Jeremy didn’t have time to think. The lizards were on him before he could even catch his breath, their glowing, evil eyes coming straight for him. One darted low, snapping at his legs, while another swiped for his arm. He swung his spear wildly, managing to smack one back, but the other latched onto his calf. A sharp pain exploded throughout his leg.
“Get off me!” he yelled, his voice cracking with fear. He kicked at the thing like his life depended on it—and it did—finally shaking it loose with a horrible screech. But before he could even feel relieved, another lizard jumped at him, its teeth snapping way too close to his face.
Jeremy stabbed forward, the crunch of bone echoing in his ears as the lizard crumpled. His arms screamed in protest, but he couldn’t let himself falter.
Then the ground shook.
Jeremy’s heart sank as he looked up. The orc’s heavy footsteps echoed as it dragged its jagged axe, each step sending a shiver down Jeremy’s spine. It didn’t need to hurry—the lizards were wearing him down. The axe rose in a lazy swing, but the force behind it was anything but. Jeremy dove to the side as the blade smashed into the ground, sending shards of stone flying. He barely got back to his feet before the lizards lunged again.
A lizard leapt for his chest, claws outstretched. Reflexes kicked in, and Jeremy twisted, his spear finding its mark. But before he could breathe, claws tore across his back, pushing him forward. He yelped and stumbled forward, nearly dropping his weapon.
The frustration boiled up inside him, raw and consuming. He was swinging like a maniac, reacting to every attack, but nothing he did felt like enough. His strikes lacked precision, his defenses crumbled under pressure.
Jeremy clenched his teeth, forcing himself to stop swinging blindly. He steadied his grip, adjusting the angle of the spearhead. The next lizard darted at him, and instead of swinging wildly, he took a breath, shifting his weight just as the creature lunged. The spear shot forward, clean and precise, piercing its chest before Jeremy yanked it free.
The motion felt... right.
The next lizard was already on him, but Jeremy was ready. He sidestepped, sweeping the spear low to catch it in the legs before thrusting upward in one smooth motion. The creature screeched as it collapsed. The flow of movement clicked into place, like his body suddenly remembered how the weapon was meant to move.
A faint hum resonated in the back of his mind, and didn’t hesitate, pouring his Essence into his new Skill.
Unlocked Skill: Spearmanship
Spearmanship - Basic
Level 7/10 - 600 essence
Grants the bearer improved control and precision with spear-based combat.
The spear is more than just a weapon—it’s an extension of the wielder.
Body 7
He didn’t have time to celebrate. The third lizard lunged, and he countered with a quick jab to its flank. Each motion felt sharper, more efficient, but the monsters didn’t care about his breakthrough—they just kept coming. His Skill was a cruel joke. His mind knew what to do, his body moved with precision—but it didn’t make him any less tired, any less hurt. This wasn’t how the stories went. They never showed this part—the part where the hero did everything right, and yet it still wasn’t enough.
The ground shook again.
Jeremy looked up as the orc stepped forward, dragging its massive axe. It barked another command, and the lizards regrouped, their glowing eyes locked onto him like he was already dead.
“Alright,” he muttered, his voice shaking. “Let’s see what this can do.”
Jeremy’s spear struck like lightning, forcing one lizard back into another. The creatures snarled, scrambling to regroup, and for a fleeting second, Jeremy thought he might have a chance. He could feel the fight shifting—if only his body would keep up. His strikes flowed faster, instinct guiding every motion, but each step burned like fire in his legs. Every victory came slower, every movement heavier.
And the orc was already closing the gap, dragging its massive axe behind it. It grinned—a nasty, awful grin that made Jeremy’s skin crawl—and swung its axe with terrifying speed. Jeremy dodged, barely. The blade whooshed past his shoulder, but the air pressure alone sent him stumbling.
The lizards pressed the attack, one slashing at his thigh and another sinking its teeth into his arm. Jeremy cried out, slamming the creature against the ground until it let go. His spear lashed out instinctively, catching the third lizard, but his movements were getting slower, his strikes losing their edge.
The orc took advantage, closing the distance in two heavy steps. The jagged axe swung low, nicking Jeremy’s side and sending him sprawling across the ground. His spear clattered out of reach, and pain exploded through his ribs, making it impossible to breathe.
“No, no, no,” he muttered, barely managing to push himself up. But the lizards were already on him. One clawed at his leg while another sank its teeth into his shoulder. Jeremy screamed, thrashing wildly, but the pain was everywhere now, his body one big, aching bruise.
The orc loomed over him, its shadow swallowing him whole. The jagged axe rose high, and Jeremy froze, his mind blank with terror. This was it. He was going to die here.
“No!” he yelled, the word ripping out of him like a roar. He kicked one lizard off and rolled to the side just as the axe smashed into the floor. The ground cracked under the impact, shards of stone cutting into his cheek as he scrambled for his spear.
The lizards regrouped, hissing and snarling, their glowing eyes relentless. The orc barked again, its guttural voice echoing through the chamber. Jeremy gripped his spear tightly, forcing himself to his feet even though his legs trembled beneath him. His arms shook, his chest heaved, and his ribs screamed with every breath, but he wasn’t done yet.
The creatures attacked again. Jeremy tried to meet them, his spear moving in sharper arcs, but his body had reached its limit. One lizard darted in, its claws raking across his side. He gasped, dropping to one knee. He managed to stab another in the chest, but the remaining two closed in too fast.
He couldn’t win. Not like this.
Jeremy forced himself upright, his mind racing. There was only one option left.
He turned and bolted, Running back into the labyrinth with what little energy he had left. His feet pounded against the uneven stone, the snarls and roars of his enemies chasing him deeper into the suffocating dark. This wasn’t about Essence anymore. This was about surviving.
And he wasn’t sure he could do it.