CHAPTER 11: ECHOES OF THE PAST

Benji’s footsteps brought him deeper in what seemed like a better lit part of the cave. He cautiously moved forward. The walls here weren’t covered in moss, and the stalactites and stalagmites covering the floor and the ceiling made the cave look like a maze. Looking down at the steady glow of his flame Benji felt safer, but his heart kept beating hard in his chest, the memory of the traps still fresh in his mind. Now what?

His thoughts were shattered by a low growl rumbling through the narrow passage ahead. The atmosphere seemed to vibrate momentarily. Benji froze. His eyes darted toward the source of the sound. Emerging from the darkness, two large shapes prowled into the light. A System generated text hovered above each.

[Strak’t Scout- Level 3] [Strak’t Scout- Level 2]

“Scout? Not good,” Benji whispered to himself while crouching behind a big rock formation. They certainly weren’t like the one he’d encountered before. These looked grown. Their sleek, dark fur was interrupted by a striking white stripe that ran from their snout to their tails. Their yellow eyes gleamed in the torchlight, reflecting a primal hunger. They kinda look like budgers, he thought seeing the distinct white stripe.

It wasn’t just their size that unnerved him, though. Sparks of electric energy crackled around their bodies, lighting up the air in fleeting bursts. Each spark reverberated throughout his body, as they walked around sniffing the air.

Benji glanced around intently, searching for an escape route. A crevice on the wall to his left caught his eye, just wide enough for him to slip through if he was careful. He crouched low, trying to stay out of their line of sight.

The creatures walked around, their movements precise and predatory. Benji lowered his torch, but he felt the weight of their gaze even as he pressed himself against the cold stone, inching his way along the crevice. The torch flickered. He tightened his grip on the handle, the flame now seeming like a liability.

Come on, just let me get past them.

As he crept through, he was met by a pair of intimidating yellow eyes. The Level 2 Scout turned toward him, its growls deepening. Immediately, the sparks around both their bodies intensified, a visible surge of energy danced along the cavernous walls.

“Damn it,” Benji hissed under his breath.

One of the creatures let out a snarl, its claws scraping against the stone as it advanced. Benji bolted, abandoning stealth for the sake of speed. His legs pumped beneath him as fast as they could, the advanced attributes gave him an edge he didn’t formerly possess. But the creatures gave chase, their movements far more fluid than his. The ground beneath him felt uneven, forcing him to stumble as he sprinted down the passage.

I can’t outrun them. He took an abrupt turn when he noticed his Stamina dropping quickly. But, just when he felt his hope rekindling, a dead end came out of nowhere—a sheer rock wall blocking his path.

Benji skidded to a halt, his boots kicking up, quickly dissipating clouds of dust. He spun around, eyes wide. The Strak’ts slowing their approach, as if savoring the hunt. Their yellow eyes gleamed with triumph as they stalked closer, their electric auras crackling in perfect sync with their growls.

Benji retreated till his back hit the wall. He was trapped.

I’m not going to die here.

With trembling fingers, he drew the knife from his belt, the blade shaking in his hand as he tried to steady his breathing. Think, think, think. I need a plan. A way to fight back.

But the Strak’ts didn’t wait for him to think. They were faster, stronger—and now, they approached. The odds were stacked against him, and as the creatures bared their fangs, Benji’s grip tightened around the hilt of his knife.

The flickering light of the torch reflected in their eyes, and all Benji could do was brace himself for the inevitable fight.

Just as the panic threatened to take full hold, a strange, stuttering voice echoed in his mind, weak but insistent.

“U-use... Ignite.”

Benji froze, blinking in confusion. He looked around. The voice was so faint it almost seemed like a trick of his imagination. Ignite? I don’t need to light a fire right now...

He clenched his fists, trying to focus on the matters at hand. The two creatures measured him.

"Ignite," he muttered, eyes darting from the creatures to his trembling hands. The Strak'ts edged even closer, the electric sparks dancing between their fur crackling louder now.

The voice came again, a little clearer this time but still broken. "Snap… Palm... faced... forward. Will it… to burst."

Will it to burst? Benji barely had time to process the cryptic instruction. His eyes darted to his torch—he didn’t have such a grand ability yet. Or did he? He contemplated for a mere moment, before spreading his right hand, palm facing toward the approaching Strak'ts. He tried to focus, imagining flames leaping from his palm after snapping his fingers. Ignite. Come on... ignite! Nothing happened. The creatures growled again.

"Ignite!" he shouted aloud this time, hoping to force something into existence. But again, nothing. No spark, no heat—just his own shaking palm in front of him, useless. His torch trembled in his other hand as he waved it in front of the nearest Strak't, trying to keep the creature at bay.

The Strak'ts snarled, unimpressed, creeping even closer. I can’t!

"Focus!" The voice returned, stronger now, though still stuttering. "Picture... fire. P-push... Use the System."

Benji gritted his teeth, gripping the torch tightly as the Strak'ts lunged at him. He swung it wildly in front of him, the flame flickering dangerously close to the snarling jaws of the first creature. The second circled, its electric aura sparking dangerously close to his legs.

"Come on!" Benji yelled, his voice cracked.

The Strak't closest to him leapt, claws outstretched. Benji threw the torch in its face, causing it to snarl and retreat for a split second. His only usable weapon now lay on the ground. “Well done, stupid,” he told himself.

He could feel the fear clouding his mind, but the voice was still there, cutting through the panic. "Y-you can do it... Focus. Will it... outward!"

Benji’s eyes darted between the Strak'ts and his outstretched palm. Fire... ignite... burst! His mind fought to clear the haze, to focus on the image of flames, of heat rushing through him. He pictured the torch fire but on his own hand, felt for the pulse of the System deep in his chest.

Suddenly, a tingling warmth spread from his chest to his palm, faint but unmistakable. He tried to retrace the feeling, to grasp the notion of its function.

He closed his eyes and pushed harder, focusing with everything he had left. The warmth grew hotter, more intense. He tried to hold on to the feeling, as if drawing more mana into the spell.

And with a woosh, a wave of heat exploded from his palm.

It wasn’t a flame exactly, not like the torch in his hand, but more like a forceful, invisible blast of heat that surged toward the Strak’ts. The creatures recoiled, startled, and confused. Their eyes gleamed as the heat singed their fur. For a moment, they backed off, yipping and circling, clearly unnerved by the sudden burst of power.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Benji stood there, breathing hard, his palm still outstretched and tingling from the effort. He felt dizzy. His mind needed rest but he could’t stall for even a second more. Pushing every thought aside, he clasped the torch from the ground, and he bolted.

Benji’s heart thundered against his ribcage as he ran. On the far side of the cavern, opposite from where he entered, he caught sight of an opening. A way out.

His legs burned by overexertion, but the path ahead was clear for now, and that gave him courage. The Strak’ts had backed off, still rattled from the heatwave he’d unleashed. But, he knew his time was limited.

Without a second thought, he darted toward the exit, feeling his mana reserves dangerously low. His limbs felt heavier, and as the System’s warnings blinked faintly at the edges of his vision, his hand darted to his pouch fumbling for the glowing moss. He shoved a chunk of the spongy, bioluminescent plant into his mouth, gagging slightly as its bitter, lemony taste filled his throat. The moss pulsed with faint light, and instantly, a small surge of energy buzzed through him.

Come on, just a little further... The opening drew closer, the soft light from beyond taunting him.

Just when the exit seemed within reach, a blur of motion flashed from the shadows behind him. Before he could react, a sharp, searing pain exploded in his leg and he tumbled to the ground, throwing his torch.

Benji screamed, the cry echoing through the cavern as one of the Strak’t’s jaws clamped down on his calf. He felt its sharp teeth pierce deep into the muscle, cutting through his pants and sinking into his flesh. It was the worst pain he ever felt. A powerful shock, caused by the electric aura, surged into him, paralyzing his muscles.

Benji’s vision blurred as his thoughts fractured under the assault. The pain was unbearable, and his entire body seized as the current coursed through him, locking his muscles in place. His breath caught in his throat, and for a terrifying moment, he couldn’t move—couldn’t think. And he considered accepting his fate.

No... I can’t... not like this!

With a guttural yell, he forced his body to respond. His mind screamed in panic, the terror driving his next actions. Desperately, he reached for his pouch searching for the tucked away knife. His fingers trembled as he unsheathed it. The Strak’t growled, its teeth grinding deeper into his leg, the immense pain threatened to rip his consciousness away. His vision was hazy, the world a blur of shadows and pain, but the knife was real enough, cold and solid in his grip.

"Let go!" he screamed, swinging wildly with the blade, slashing through the air.

The first strike missed entirely, but he didn’t stop. He slashed again, the knife cutting through fur and flesh with a sickening sound. The Strak’t howled, its jaws loosening momentarily as his blade sliced across its face. Blood sprayed in thin arcs, staining the glowing moss beneath their feet. He felt the blade biting the creature’s skull, and he tried to suppress the growing revulsion.

The pain and the adrenaline were driving him forward. He slashed again and again, the knife’s bonus attack speed kicking in as his arm became a blur of motion. Each cut left shallow gashes across the Strak’t’s face, blood trickling down its snarling jaws. Despite the creature’s weakened state, Benji’s HP plummeted rapidly. His vitality was the only thing keeping him conscious.

He gritted his teeth and snapped his fingers in front of the creature, a small heat wave burst forward. The Strak’t screeched in pain and let go, stumbling backward. Benji gasped, half collapsing as his leg throbbed with pain, blood dripping down his calf in thick rivulets. His hand trembled violently around the knife, but there was no time to stop.

His momentary victory was short-lived, though. Just as he tried to scramble away, a shadow loomed over him.

The second Strak’t.

Its eyes gleamed ominously. Benji’s heart sank and terror flooded his thoughts. The first Strak’t, still bleeding from the gashes Benji had inflicted, growled low, the sparks from its electric aura flared weakly in response to the pain.

He only managed to cover himself with the cloak, as the second creature lunged for his arm.

This can’t be how it ends...

Blood dripped from his calf where the first one had bitten him, and his left arm throbbed with a deep ache where the second had managed to graze him over the cloak’s thick fabric. His HP was plummeting as he screamed in agony. The end seemed near.

I can’t... hold on much longer... He frantically tried to think of a solution. The knife felt too heavy in his hand, and his mana was nearly depleted. I have nothing left to give.

Suddenly, the strange voice returned, no longer the shaky, stuttering whisper it had been before but steady, and resonant inside his head. A high pitched, almost cartoonish voice.

"Don’t give up. You are stronger than you think, Benji."

Benji’s thoughts faltered, surprise rippling through him at the clarity of the voice. What...? Who are you? His confusion only lasted for a moment before the [Level 3] Strak’t, the one gnawing at his cloak with its sharp teeth, unleashed a shockwave crackling the atmosphere while also paralyzing Benji’s already weak body. The sturdy cloak finally tore apart. The clothing piece still hanging on Benji’s shoulders, now lay tattered before him.

Benji cried in agony, his voice cracking as he tried to raise his knife, though his fingers were fiercely locked.

The creature leapt, jaws wide to clamp down on his now exposed arm. Suddenly, time seemed to slow. Benji felt the pressure of its fangs puncture his skin, hot blood spilling from the wound, and a deep searing pain flared from his arm before dissipating. His HP dropped just a sliver away from zero. Panic seized him.

And then it happened—an explosion of energy, raw and electrifying, erupted from within his chest. His entire body shuddered, his skin alight with a warm aura he hadn’t witnessed before.

The blinding pulse of energy expanded outward from his core, hitting both Strak’ts with such force that their snarls turned into yelps of surprise. The sound was deafening, as they were hurled back, skidding across the rocky cavern floor. Benji fell back from the recoil. Gradually recovering, he blinked in shock as his entire form began to shimmer, his skin becoming translucent like a thin veil of light.

The air around him buzzed with energy, humming in an almost ethereal tune. His wounds no longer bled, though he could still feel them throb faintly. His head swam with confusion, but before he could comprehend the change, a System message flashed across his vision:

[Lineage Detected: Crown Sentinel]

[Lineage Perk Activated: [Rare] Last Stand]

[Description: When HP drops below 10, the user enters a brief invulnerability state [30 seconds]. The damage immunity's duration scales with the user's level.]

His mind went blank for a moment as he stared at the words hanging in front of him. Crown Sentinel? Last Stand?

The implications hit him hard, but he didn’t have time to think of it now. 30 seconds isn’t a lot of time.

The Strak’ts were already recovering, shaking off the pulse’s force, their eyes locked onto him once more. Something was different, though. Benji stood tall, momentarily invigorated. His fear hadn’t gone away entirely, but now it felt manageable, like he could suppress it.

"Go!" the voice reminded him, its tone now urgent. "Fast!"

The creatures circled again, more cautious this time. They could sense the change too. The stronger one growled low, arcs of electricity sparking through its fur, the bright stripe along its back alight. It was waiting for an opening.

Benji’s eyes flicked from one Strak’t to the other. He had less than thirty seconds. This is my chance.

His hands flexed around the hilt of his knife, feeling the familiar tool steady him. His breathing steadier. The glowing moss he’d swallowed earlier had replenished just a sliver of his mana. Enough, maybe, to push through with another Ignite.

"You are stronger than you think, Benji," he remembered the voice’s words.

He took a step forward, the Strak’ts flinching as he moved. His body still shimmered with the transparent glow of the Last Stand perk, rendering him almost ghost-like. He realized the creatures were too in a weakened state.

This is it. For the first time in what felt like forever, Benji’s thoughts cleared. He could see the path ahead—his moves, his strikes, the moments of opportunity. His fear, while still a lurking presence, no longer consumed him.

The Level 2 Strak’t growled again, muscles tensed for another attack. Benji’s fingers twitched. He knew it was coming.

"Steady..." he whispered to himself.

The Strak’t lunged—and this time, Benji was ready.

He pivoted, his legs pushing with just enough strength to dodge its snap. As the creature flew past him, he spun with fluid precision, slashing his knife upward in a single clean arc. The blade cut through fur and flesh, blood spraying into the air as the Strak’t howled in pain. Benji’s body might have been shielded but his mind flooded with disgust at his own actions.

Though Benji pushed through, willing his body to act. His heart pounded, adrenaline surging through his veins as he turned to face the second Strak’t. The seconds were ticking away, but for now he was untouchable.