Samael carefully observed his surroundings. Did I survive a fall from that height? He wondered as he gazed at the steep slope. Still, he didn't understand how he got here in the first place. The last memory he had was when he was impaled by that black rod and fell unconscious. Perhaps he was thrown here by the masked assailants?
The boy summoned his strength and rose up. Fortunately, his bag was still with him. Most of his rations and tools were in his baggage, so cheers to that.
Samael rummaged through his bag, checking the condition of his items. He released a sigh of relief. Luckily, nothing was damaged.
I should last about 2–3 days with this amount of food if I carefully ration it, hmm? He picked up something that caught his eye. This was still here? He wondered, his gaze landing on the blue vial of liquid he found way back. He didn't know its use before, so he just discarded it. He didn't have the time to inspect it either, but now that he thought about it, What is this thing?
Samael curiously shook it. Is it poison? Or some type of medicine? He gently twisted the cap, plucking it open as he drip a tiny amount on his finger tips.
His body stiffened, waiting for any reaction, but there was only silence.
Is it water after all? The boy took a whiff, and to his surprise, it smelled quite good. Its fragrance akin to a freshly bloomed flower. Aside from that, there didn't seem to be any unique effects. Losing interest on the vial, he threw it back in the bag.
What now? Samael wondered. Well, it's not like he had much to choose from.
His first and foremost objective is to get out of here, alive if possible. He can't climb back up, not in his current state. So his only option is to go forward and find a different exit.
Ahead of him were three tunnels. Each leading into the unforgiving darkness. Samael was clueless as to where they'll lead, and forget about gambling, so far his luck has bought nothing but trouble.
He narrowed his eyes, trying to pierce the darkness with his gaze. Yet, even with his blessed senses, he saw nothing but the shadows lurking in the crevices of these tunnels.
He approached the first entrance—his nose scrunched up as the familiar scent of iron and rot assaulted his nostrils.
Nope He knew that smell well. That was definitely the pungent stench of blood and death.
He glanced at the second cave, its visage seemingly peaceful and devoid of complications.
Maybe this one is the best choice. He brought his foot forward and an echo bounced off the narrow walls.
"Huh?" Samael muttered, his brows furrowed as he glanced down, his eyes widened as he swiftly retreated. Is that... Bones?!
Samael held the coarse fabric of his clothes, wiping away the beads of sweat nesting on his forehead.
He cast his gaze at the third tunnel, his eyes squinting as he inched closed to it.
Huh... Strangely, an odd sensation bloomed in his chest as he closed the distance. As if something was tugging him, reaching out to him. So he trusted his gut. If anything, he believes his instincts more than his luck.
TACK... TACK... TACK... TACK...
Samael's steps echoed, resonating through the restricted passageway. The tugging he felt seemingly acted as a compass, staying true to a single direction.
Hopefully I'm not getting myself into trouble here. For all he knows, this could be some form of psychic monster that's manipulating him. If that's the case, then he's wholeheartedly fucked.
Where is this tunnel leading me to begin with? Until today, he was ignorant of the existence of this cavern beneath the crimson forest.
Samael kept walking, steadfastly pushing through the interminable corridor. Until a feeble glow at the end of the tunnel shone before his eyes.
His visage lightened, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he inched towards the light.
Gradually, the miniscule spark ignited into a luminous glow, blinding him. As he opened his eyes, his breath hitched at the scene bare before his eyes.
Beyond the seemingly endless corridor, a cavern sat idle, as if forgotten by time itself. In its centre nested a ginormous crack, paired with the jagged stones protruding from the ceiling.
Looking down the endless abyss, a shiver ran down his spine. A question pestering his mind, just what was beyond that impenetrable veil of shadows?
On the other side of this pitfall, there were stone structures— or, to be precise, ruins. Yes, ruins. Ancient abodes left behind by past civilizations.
[https://i.ibb.co/C2QwYW4/Screenshot-2023-06-22-10-05-16-992-com-android-chrome-2.jpg]
Ruins..? In this place? He questioned as he glanced around him. How could life thrive here? Samael shook his head. He didn't have the luxury to indulge here; he has to move.
He carefully went forward until his eyes caught something. An old wooden bridge, the only passage connecting the separated sides together.
[https://i.ibb.co/5jFKGyV/Screenshot-2023-06-22-10-04-01-095-com-android-chrome-2.jpg]
Samael hurriedly approached it, his eyes darting back and forth as he checked its condition.
Damn it... He released a sigh of exasperation. It appears that the passage of time was harsh on this bridge.
The wires holding it up are already corroded, the wooden tiles are already rotting, and some of the steps are even missing.
Samael glanced over his shoulders. Returning now would be pointless. He either crosses this bridge or possibly encounters a beast in the other tunnels. And trust him, he isn't going back. If he spends another 10 minutes in that hallway, he will officially lose it. Something about it made him feel uneasy and alone.
The boy made up his mind and took his first step. Dust particles stirred the moment he laid foot on the bridge. He grasped the rugged wire, its surface brushing against his calloused hands. He avoided looking down at all costs, lest he fall.
One by one, he crossed the rotting wooden tiles. His back drenched in cold sweat, some slithering down his forehead.
Eventually, he reached the middle of the bridge. Minutes have merely passed, but to him, it took far longer than that.
Samael halted his advance, he took a mouthful of air, composing himself. Once his breathing stabilized, he went on again— Until the wind blew and the bridge swayed.
"Woah!!!" He exclaimed, his palms pale white as he seized the rope under his gruelling grip. He was literally clinging to life.
After the sudden wind subsided, Samael had to stop and rethink his life choices.
Over time, he managed to cross 80% of the bridge, but his first hurdle had come. Ahead of him were missing steps.
He took deep breaths, his eyes narrowed as he measured the distance. There were about three wooden plates missing.
Can I even make this? It's too far! The boy thought. He slapped his cheeks twice as he gathered his courage. It was now or never.
Samael closed his eyes, seizing all movements. The moment the bridge went still, he ran at full speed and took the leap of faith. Time seemingly slowed down.
TICK... TOCK... TICK...
THUD!
Samael gasped for air, his visage pale as snow. Had his aim falter, he would've fallen down the chasm below.
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He looked down and felt nausea shroud him. Carefully, he pulled himself up, his hike wasn't over yet.
As soon as he got to the other side, he slumped down, his eyes clamped wide. He really almost died back there.
Thirsty and exhausted. The boy took his bag and drank a mouthful of water. A lingering scent invading his nose. The fragrance of a freshly plucked flower.
"Huh?" An empty glass vial sat at his palm. His blood went cold as the empty bottle slipped down, crashing against the cold ground.
He grabbed his hair, his body frozen in place.
Crap! Samael you dumb shit! How did I even miss that? The boy closed his eyes and waited for any adverse effects.
...
..
...
"??" Samael took a peek.
"I'm okay?" He muttered out loud. Sensing nothing wrong on his body, he released a mouthful of air.
He warned himself to be careful next time. He was lucky that it wasn't poison, otherwise, he would be dead by now. In any case, what was that vial for anyway? Samael felt okay; in fact, he felt energized. He felt like he just had the best sleep of his life.
It turns out it was actually a blessing in disguise. Samael rose to his feet and did a series of stretches. The pain from earlier seemingly faded after drinking that odd liquid. The boy glanced at the old bridge for the last time and wished to never meet it again.
Then he left.
What the boy didn't notice were the countless eyes that took refuge in the depth of darkness. Gazes that held malice and great evil. They shifted in the darkness and vanished as fast as they came.
***
A small creature ran as fast as he could, constantly screaming. "My king! My king!"
The creature had an emaciated frame, his green skin clinging tight to his hunched back. Surrounding him were countless more of his kind.
Bones littered the ground, some decorating the walls. Chains of wooden platforms hung high in the air. The stench of piss and shit lingered in the air. Yet that didn't seem to bother these creatures.
"What is it?" A booming voice spoke, his towering figure casting a sidelong glance. Its appearance was completely different from his kind.
His body was humongous, his skin filled with puss-filled bubbles as he sat on his throne. One made of the bones of those that opposed him.
He was the king. The ruler of this underground kingdom.
The kingdom of the goblins...
The messenger cowered, not daring to gaze at the face of their god. Stuttering, he relayed the findings of their scouts.
"I-I have a message from the scouts, my liege!"
The king's brows furrowed as he responded. "Well? Get on with it!" He demanded in exasperation.
The messenger shrieked and told his king the news. "The-The scouts have found a hu-human child wandering nearby the old ruins! They last saw him crossing the old bridge!" The messenger spoke.
The king leaned forward, massaging his chin. "Is it a human female?" He asked, a lecherous glint dancing in his eyes.
The messenger shook his head and responded. "No, my Liege, it was a mal—"
SPLASH!
A huge club embedded itself where the messenger once stood. His body squashed, morphed into a puddle of flesh and bones for everyone to witness. But no one berated the actions of the king. Here, he was the monarch, their god, and their champion. No one would dare go against him. No one.
"What a waste of time. You bastards! Go fetch me that boy, and the rest of you, clean this bloody mess!" He roared.
The goblins moved in waves as soon as they received the word from their king. Hundreds upon thousands of goblins matched their pace towards the old ruins, while the ones left behind scurried to clean up the remains of the messenger.
They fought and ate his meat without remorse. As if they were not his kin moments ago. Within seconds, there was nothing left. Not even blood.
Samael, on the other hand was unaware of the ripples he's caused. He strode forward, each step unyielding and determined. The closer he got, the pull he felt grew stronger. Like a firefly seduced by a fiery glow.
However, something else is looming close to him. The pulsing of the black veins in his body was getting more frequent. Each time more prevalent than the previous. If it wasn't for that mysterious vial he drank, he might've collapsed already, and he has such high pain tolerance too.
Samael gritted his teeth, his rugged palms grasping his clothes. The sharp aches were dulling his sanity.
He has to hurry. The boy felt that whatever was calling him held the answer to his predicament.
Then he felt the rumbling.
Samael halted his advance, his gaze travelling down as he saw a stone rattle on the cold stone floor.
It's shaking? He asked himself.
The dust was stirring, and he could feel the tremor on the ground. Something was coming. Whatever it is, it's big or large in number.
Samael's gentle stride crumbled to ashes as he ran in full speed.
I knew it! There's no way such a huge place is uninhabited! He scurried as fast as he could, ignoring the sharp pain coming from the black marks. He tripped a couple times, but stood up and kept charging.
It was now a battle against time.
The pull he felt dug it's root to his heart, resonating with his being. It guided him, lured him, and showed him the way. Until he reached his destination.
It was a hallway, unlike the one's before it. This one was man-made. It had a polished floor and walls, and there were also torches hanging by the once pristine walls, gathering dust.
Without hesitation, he plunged in. He had no time to be scared; something was coming for him and at the same time waiting for him. It was there; he could feel it. Beyond this corridor was the answer to what his heart truly desired.
Slowly, he saw the light at the end of the tunnel. His breath stagnated for a moment and his jaw fell wide.
It was a very spacious room, or rather, the entrance to a room. There were gigantic statues clad in armor, in their hands nested claymores of titanic proportions. Their sword embedded deep in the floor, as they stood proud.
"Amazing..." he muttered. They were the embodiment of a knight. They looked strong, brave, and gallant. Unfaltering titans that harbored great reverence.
[https://i.ibb.co/92j66G1/knights-stone-knight-holding-claymore-door-in-the-middle.png]
Up front was a door—no, more like a gate. It was half as tall as the statues and bore a singular banner, a skull nesting on its surface, surrounded by an energy he has never seen before. Unfortunately, the etchings were already faded. However, odd marks sat close to it.
Samael narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixated at the weird letters embedded on the cold stone door.
Weirdly, he felt the urge to read them.
That's impossible... He shook his head. How can he read something he has never seen before?
He glanced at it one last time— But then the letters shone in an incandescent light, bathing his eyes in its radiant glow. The words carved deep on the door weaved before his sight. Warping into a sentence only he can read.
"The overbearing Void stood proud at the pinnacle of power... It's mark bore three eyes..."
"One symbolising domineering strength among all"
"The second reflected absolute destruction and annihilation."
"And the third... casted a watchful gaze, hidden under the depths of the abyss."
[https://i.ibb.co/LhzD8fC/skull-red-black-purple-third-eye.png]
In a blinding flash, Samael fell to his knees. His strength flickering as he hungered for air.
What was that? He couldn't help but wonder.
He gazed at the door once more, yet the etchings were gone. Nowhere to be seen.
He blinked a couple times, unsure of what to make of the recent events. He released a deep sigh, deciding to leave such matters for later.
Behind this door was the one calling him. He gently ran his finger on the gate, and like a miracle, it opened with ease.
The moment the entrance swung open, Samael felt a stable connection. It was like a wire was attached to his body. So he followed it.
The interior of the place was no short of ginormous. Stone monolith's stood tall as they encircled an altar. Etchings or what Lilith calls "runes" littered the surface of the pillars, shining an luminescent glow.
On the altar was a lone stone tablet, seemingly ordinary. Its visage marred with cracks, signifying the hardships it has been through. However, he was sure of it. That object was the one calling to him.
Samael reached out to the tablet, his fingertips caressing its dusty edges— when his vision flashed, and he saw nothing but the infinite darkness of the abyss. Beyond that endless pit of nothing, he realized that he was standing on the hand of a titanic being. Its body submerged and one with the void. Its watchful gaze peering over all.
It was only for a moment, but Samael felt like he had been drowning for centuries. He huffed roughly and gasped for air as he tightly gripped the tablet. Then a sting struck his finger.
"Ouch!" He exclaimed as he dropped it.
Samael's eyes widened as he tried to catch it, but to his shock, it didn't break when it landed.
That was close! He thought as he sighed a breath of relief.
He laid eyes on his finger, and his brows furrowed.
"Wait, what...? I definitely felt it prick me." He muttered. Eyes squinted as he glanced at his finger.
Was it my imagination?—!!
"ARGHHHHHH!!!!" Samael screamed in agony as his knees buckled, plummeting him down the floor with a sickening thud.
Cracks surfaced from his finger tip, shining in a coalescence of crimson and black. It spread like a plague, sending jolts of sharp aches throughout his entirety. Within seconds, his entire arm was enveloped in it.
The pain was excruciating. Samael felt like his body was being torn into pieces and rebuilt, only to be destroyed again.
Tears and blood flowed from his face as he roared in torment. The dark matter clawed deep in his flesh, corroding his veins, poisoning his blood, and eventually, his body...
Disintegrated.
***
In the vast expanse of darkness. Samael's soul floated aimlessly. He felt tired and sleepy. He wanted to just close his eyes and allow the gentle embrace of sleep take him.
Wake up, Samael! We can't sleep now! We have to go back!
Samael dismissed the voices. Why does he have to go back? When he can simply rest here and live without pain or suffering?
How about Lilith?
Lilith? ...Who is that? Samael asked in confusion, his consciousness dimming.
A friend...
In the blinding darkness, a small red pendant reflected in his pupils.
Samael weakly opened his eyes, his gaze landing on the pendant. It was faint, but he could hear it. Such a gentle tone full of care and trust.
A trust he can't betray.
"Then, can Samael promise me that.. If you ever feel like all hope is lost, can you promise that this necklace will serve as your guiding light?"
Lilith. Ah... Yes... she is my friend. He thought.
His eyes widened, clarity reflecting off his black pupils.
Lilith... Wait, where am I? What am I doing here?! He looked around, only to see the impenetrable depths of the void.
"Be calm, my child."
Samael's eyes darted around, trying to search for the source of the voice, only to find... nothing.
Who are you? He asked. Why did you bring me here? Let me go! He fired a barrage of questions.
"All your questions will be answered in time"
A wave washed over him, bringing calm and peace with it. An ironic feeling, one he lost far too long ago.
Can you at least tell me where you are? He inquired.
"I am around you. I am everywhere and at the same time, nowhere," it said.
That doesn't make sense! Samael thought.
"We must make haste... There isn't much time left." It spoke, hurry lingering in its tone.
"My child... Do you wish for Power?"