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I held my head as the pain from the memory intensified, my skull throbbing as if it were about to split open

A sharp, throbbing pain lanced through my skull like someone was driving a spike straight into my brain.

Just as I thought I couldn’t bear it any longer, the chill from my earring washed over me, soothing the sharp ache and leaving a strange sense of calm in its wake.

fuu…fuuu

I exhaled, slumping down against the cold stone wall of the cave, staring at the monster’s corpse. Its grotesque body was a reminder of the violent, bloody moments I had just lived through.

My gaze shifted to the fire pit, now little more than ashes and remnants of charred wood. A thought sparked in my mind. I could have lit that fire with Exira. A small, bitter laugh escaped my lips. So much effort was spent on making fire from scratch, and yet, with a single thought, Exira could have done it for me.

There were so many things I didn’t fully understand about this power, so much potential I was barely tapping into.

I closed my eyes, trying to digest the memory that had forced itself into my mind. Mom… Aunt Nora… Their faces were so vivid like they had been standing right in front of me moments ago. My throat tightened, and I felt the sting of tears welling up. But I quickly shook them away.

No, not now. Not here.

I took a deep breath, forcing my racing heart to steady. The adrenaline was still there, surging beneath the surface, but I needed to control it. I leaned my head back against the stone and delved deeper into the memory, picking apart the details I had almost lost in the rush of emotions.

Exira… it can paralyze, or… I frowned, the memory from the training ground playing in my head. Not paralyze. That’s not the right word. What I had felt under my mom’s Exira wasn’t just a simple stun or incapacitation.

It was more than that, something far more terrifying.

It was… nothingness, I lost the will to continue and awaited death

My skin crawled as I remembered the feeling. That deep, black void that had swallowed me whole, leaving me floating in emptiness. No thoughts, no emotions, no sense of time or place. Just… nothing.

It had taken every ounce of my willpower to pull myself out of it, to fight against that crushing weight of oblivion. And yet, that was her Exira at only five percent.

I couldn’t help but shudder at the thought. My mom’s power was terrifying, a force that could reduce someone to a hollow shell if they weren’t careful.

I had always known she was strong, one of the strongest in the world. And me? I was barely scratching the surface.

“Five percent…” I whispered to myself, shaking my head in disbelief. That was her toning it down for me, for a demonstration.

I dug deeper into the memory, focusing on the key detail I had missed before. Exira paralyzes or stuns anyone subjected to it at base raw level, I thought, trying to piece together what my mom had taught me.

But as I replayed the memory, I realized it wasn’t just about paralysis. The more I thought about it, the clearer it became. No… it wasn’t just stunning. It was a lack of feeling. It was nothingness. Complete and utter emptiness.

That’s what made it so terrifying. It wasn’t just about freezing someone in place. It was stripping away their very sense of self, reducing them to nothing but a blank slate. It wasn’t physical control, it was domination, utter domination.

I remember now… Mom had said something to that effect during one of our training sessions. From somewhere deep in my memory, her voice echoed, a sharp reminder of the lesson I had almost forgotten.

Anyone who hasn’t forged their will can’t resist Exira’s effects. It gives us full dominance over those with weaker minds or weaker wills.

I thought back to the monster I had just fought. It had been stunned, frozen in place by my Exira. But I hadn’t used it to its full potential. No, I had only tapped into a fraction of its true power.

The monster’s will was weak, its mind driven purely by primal instincts. If I had focused harder, if I had used Exira the way my mom did, I could have reduced it to nothing more than a mindless husk, unable to resist at all.

But that’s dangerous and risky. I'll attempt to replicate and remember when coming across another monster who isn’t a threat, I reminded myself.

Still… A part of me couldn’t help but feel excited at the prospect.

Eixra isn’t about brute strength. It’s about willpower, I reminded myself. That’s what made it so dangerous and so valuable. No matter how strong someone was, if their will wasn’t strong enough, they couldn’t resist it. Even if they could deal out more destructive damage, even if they were physically stronger, it would still grant me dominance.

I exhaled slowly, trying to let the weight of that realization sink in and not getting ahead of myself. Being grounded in my current situation is better. This wasn’t a power to be used carelessly.

My mom had demonstrated that clearly enough. But if I could learn to control it, to wield it as skillfully as she did, then maybe… just maybe, I could close the gap between us.

One day, I thought, clenching my fists. One day, I’ll be able to stand beside her.

But for now, I needed to stay focused. There was still so much I didn’t know, so much I had yet to master. I couldn’t let the memories distract me, not when I was still stuck in this cave, surrounded by unknown dangers.

I pushed myself to my feet, glancing at the monster’s corpse once more. The battle had taken a lot out of me, but I wasn’t done yet. Not by a long shot, I need to quickly harvest this ugly fuck of the materials and move on, staying here will not lead me nowhere.

I worked quickly, skinning the monster’s hide with my knife, the rough serrations making the process slower than I liked, but still effective. The hide was tough, leathery, and surprisingly thick, almost like natural armor. Every now and then, I would glance around, making sure nothing else had wandered into the cave. I couldn’t afford to get caught off guard again.

As I cut away, I focused on taking the claws and the bone-blades from the creature’s limbs. They had served me well in battle, and I wasn’t about to leave without making use of them.

But the hide was important. It could serve as makeshift protection or something to craft with later, so I made sure to skin as much as I could. My hands were slick with the monster’s blood, but I kept moving, rolling up the hide with the bones tucked inside, fashioning it into a rough backpack. I used what sinew and moss strings I had left to tie it together, slinging it over my back. The weight was uncomfortable but manageable.

Once I was ready, I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Time to move on, I thought, glancing down the dark passage leading deeper into the cave. I had no idea what awaited me, but I couldn't stay here any longer. I had to keep going.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

I took a few steps into the passage, the rough stone walls closing in on either side, jagged rocks making the space tight and claustrophobic. The air was cold, damp, and it smelled faintly of decay. I paused, something tugging at the back of my mind, a memory.

Exira… I can use it for more than just battle, I remembered. My mom had shown me how to channel Exira into my senses, to heighten them, but it wasn’t easy. The efficiency was terrible, it would drain me too quickly if I wasn’t careful. Still, in this darkness, with danger lurking in every shadow, I needed every edge I could get.

Closing my eyes, I focused on the energy inside me, feeling the familiar surge of Exira flowing through my veins. This time, I guided it to my eyes, willing it to enhance my sight. I didn’t push too hard, just enough to sharpen the outlines of the cave around me. The darkness wasn’t as absolute now, the moss glowing faintly along the walls providing a bit more detail.

It wasn’t perfect. The strain on my energy was noticeable, but it was manageable for now.

Better than nothing, I thought as I continued down the passage. The walls were jagged, scraping against my arms as I moved cautiously, placing my hands against the cold stone to feel for any signs of moisture or vibrations that could hint at movement it must have been at least an hour of finding my way in the passage which would sometime open into small caverns or sometimes multiple paths,I kept on moving straight.

That’s when I heard it.

A deep, wet crunching sound. Followed by a disgusting slurping noise that sent shivers crawling up my spine. My muscles tensed, and I froze in place, listening.

The noises were faint but unmistakable, it was those ugly lizard monsters feasting.

More of them?

I thought, my heart pounding as I crept forward. My steps were slow, and deliberate, each one taken with the utmost caution. The passage opened up ahead, the space widening into another cave. I peered into the dim light, my enhanced vision picking out the details of the scene before me.

Two more of those ugly monsters, their hulking, grotesque forms hunched over a third. It took me a moment to realize what was happening, and when I did, a wave of nausea hit me so hard that I nearly gagged.

They were eating one of their own. The poor creature was still twitching, its limbs jerking weakly as the others tore into its flesh, ripping chunks off with disgusting wet sounds.

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay silent. My body wanted to react, to recoil in disgust, but I had to keep control. My mind raced as I tried to assess the situation. The monsters hadn’t noticed me yet. They were too focused on their grisly feast.

Okay, think, Lexi, I told myself, taking a slow breath to calm the rising panic.

Two of them. This is different. You can’t rush in like an idiot. They’re distracted, but that won’t last forever.

The smell of blood and rot filled the air, almost suffocating in its intensity. I could feel my stomach churn, but I fought the urge to gag, keeping my breathing steady. The last thing I needed was to give myself away.

The monsters continued tearing at the twitching body, their jaws cracking bones with ease. It was brutal, and savage, these creatures had no concept of mercy, no sense of anything beyond their hunger.

This is what I’m dealing with, I thought, my grip tightening around my swords. Mindless, primal beasts. They’ll tear through anything, even their own kind, without a second thought.

But that also meant they weren’t smart. They wouldn’t be anticipating me. I just had to be careful and calculated. If I could strike at the right moment, I could take them down before they had a chance to react.

Still, the sight in front of me was unsettling. My body was tense, every nerve on edge as I watched them devour their own kin. The twitching of the half-eaten monster’s body, the way its eyes were still dimly lit with life even as it was torn apart, it was a sh*t show, a reminder that there was no such thing as peace in this cave.

I couldn’t let myself hesitate, though. This was the world I was in now. These were the kinds of creatures I had to deal with. And if I don’t take them down, I’ll end up just like that thing they’re eating.

I took another slow, steady breath, adjusting my stance and preparing for what came next. The monsters were still distracted, still feasting. I had the element of surprise.

It was time to act.

I took a deep breath, the cold, damp air filling my lungs as I centered myself. My heart was racing, but I couldn't let it cloud my focus. I had to be calm, and calculated just like Mom and others taught me.

Fear was natural, but in the face of monsters like these, it was also a liability. And I couldn’t afford liabilities right now.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, feeling the energy of EXIRA stirring deep within me. The familiar surge flowed through my body, reinforcing my muscles, sharpening my senses, and, most importantly, coating my blades in that faint, eerie glow of power. The hum of the energy coursing through me was grounding, centering.

This isn’t my first time doing this, I reminded myself. I can handle them.

But I wasn’t foolish enough to underestimate these creatures. Not after everything I had already seen in this cursed cave.

I placed my tools and luggage down gently, careful not to make any noise. The soft scrape of sinew against the stone floor was the only sound as I crouched low, moving like a predator stalking its prey. My body moved instinctively, the energy of Exira guiding my steps, making me lighter, quicker. I was silent, nearly invisible in the gloom.

As I crept toward the two lizard-like monsters, their grotesque forms still feasting on the twitching remains of their brethren, I scanned the cave for any other threats. Two passages – one to my left, the other near the monsters. But no signs of other creatures. Just these two.

Good, I thought, tightening my grip on my swords. Just these two.

I honed my mind to a singular purpose. Survive. Kill. My will sharpened, and my focus narrowed.

The faint purple glow in my eyes grew brighter as I activated Exira’s most devastating property that I know for now, paralyzing the mind of the weak.

I knew this would only work if I did it quickly, with precision. My mother had drilled it into me there was no room for hesitation, no room for second thoughts.

As the invisible pressure descended on the two monsters, they froze mid-motion, their grotesque heads snapping up with startled grunts. I didn’t give them time to react. In the same breath as the one where I unleashed my power, I was already on the closest monster.

Move fast. Don’t hesitate. Just like training, I thought, my body moving on instincts and muscle memory.

My first sword slashed across its leathery neck, opening a deep wound that oozed dark blood. The creature let out a guttural hiss, but it didn’t have time to do much else. My second blade plunged deep into its head, the force of the strike driving through my skull and brain.

Dead.

With a dull thud, the monster dropped to the ground, lifeless. Its body convulsed once, and then stilled. I was already springing back, the wet sound of my blade pulling free from its flesh the only noise that followed me.

The second monster was different, though. I could tell just by looking at it. There was something in its posture, size, and color, the way its eyes flared with that same madness and rage I had seen before, but more controlled. More dangerous.

For a moment, doubt crept into my mind, but I shoved it aside, my mind already feeling heavy and severe pain creeping up due to excessive use of Exira.

No time for doubts.

I was already in motion, my body twisting as I brought my sword down in a heavy downward slash, aiming for the monster’s skull. My mind was blank except for the movement, the strike, the feel of the blade cutting through the air.

It would be over in one clean hit – just like the last one, but then.

Fuck!

The monster, still locked under the pressure of Exira, should not have been able to move. Yet, in the split second before my blade connected, it let out a grutal roar that reverberated through the cave, shaking the very ground beneath me.

And in that moment, its body twisted, breaking free from the paralysis.

My blade, instead of cleaving its skull, slashed deep into its shoulder, carving through flesh and bone but missing the kill. My heart skipped a beat as I felt the impact of the strike reverberate up my arm.

The monster bellowed in pain, but it was far from finished.

Fuck..Fuck..Damn it!

Before I could even react, the creature’s claws lashed out with terrifying speed, catching me completely off guard.

Pain exploded through my body as its talons tore into my stomach, ripping through flesh and muscle like paper. I gasped, biting down hard on my lip to stop the scream that threatened to erupt from my throat. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth as I forced myself to stay silent.

Stay focused. Stay in control.

But the pain was overwhelming. I could feel my insides spilling out, the warmth of my own blood soaking my clothes.

My knees buckled slightly, and for a split second, I thought I was going to collapse, the wet feeling was disorienting. Snapping my gaze back towards the monsters and parrying its strike was barely doable like me this f*ck is also hurt.

We both were merely a few meters away, struggling, waiting, and watching.

Die so soon, I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.

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