The Tomb of the Distorted One

"A Tomb at the lake?"

"Yes, I was thinking if you can lend me a few warriors to go and clear the Tomb with me."

Currently, I was explaining the situation with Rox about the tomb.

"I would lend you some, but they've just been released from 3 years of suffering and to send them out to this tomb, that would scare everyone once again."

I looked outside through the little crack in the door. Everyone was chatting and celebrating happily. Correct, I just saved them from 3 years of terror. I guess I should let them enjoy it.

"I guess I can do it by myself. You guys seem to be having fun so I shouldn't interrupt."

I said as I drank some tea that Rox had offered me.

The tea was a bit bitter, but it tasted alright.

"I guess I should get going now."

I got up on my feet and approached the door.

"Wait."

"Huh?"

"Maybe you should rest for today. You must be tired."

"Well, I can't lie, I do feel a little tired. I guess I can stay the night. It's not like I'm in a rush, so yeah."

Rox ordered her assistants to set up a room for me to sleep. They nodded and left the room.

"I'm curious, have you not know there was a tomb around here?"

I looked at Rox, who was calmly drinking her tea.

"We never went near the waterfall. We never even knew there was a tomb near this place. 5 centuries ago, our ancestors came and resided here. I've heard stories about one going crazy and saying there was going to be a massacre coming, but of course, no one took him seriously."

She rested her chin on her hands.

"But now, I think that 'massacre' is closer than we know."

Massacre... that's what I heard from coming from the tomb. Is whatever in there going to kill everyone?

"You should go get some rest now. We wish you luck with what comes tomorrow."

I nodded and got up. Then one of the servants from before led me to my room.

Before I walked out, Luna gave me a concerned look.

After being led to my room, I laid down on the mattress that I was given. The Tomb was the only thing going around in my mind.

"Tomb of the Distorted One, I wonder what that means..."

Distorted One, if I would guess, it would be someone that could control space. I've played many video games and I even encounter this hack-and-slash game. I forgot the name of the game, but I know this one guy. Forgot his name, but he had white hair and lusted for power. His weapon allowed him to cut through anything, even space itself! If that's the guy I'm going to be fighting, I better say my prayers before I enter.

Knock-knock~

The sound of someone knocking suddenly interrupted my train of thoughts. I got from the mattress, opened the door. Standing in front of the door was Luna, who was wearing a silky pajama. Now that got me confused. Where do they even get this stuff?

"Umm, is there a problem?"

I asked. Why is Luna knocking on my room this late at night?

"Tomorrow, I'm going with you."

"What? Are you crazy?"

This girl said she wants to join me? I did ask for warriors, but whatever was in there was stronger than a large centipede with impenetrable skin. That's why I gave up on asking for a helping hand, but she wants to come with me?

"Why though? Did your mother allow you?"

"No, I want to fight whatever is in there. If the warning from the guy 5 centuries ago was true, then I'll do anything to fight that danger."

So she's doing it because of that warning. I appreciate her bravery, but I can see her tail trembling. She is definitely nervous.

"We should tell Rox first before yo-"

I'd take a step forward.

"No, don't tell her anything."

She placed a dagger at my throat. I gulped and slowly stepped back.

"I don't want her worrying."

"Well, she is going to worry if you suddenly went missing."

"Not if we go at night."

What?!

"You want us to go now?"

"... Yes."

"Why?"

"If we can get rid of whatever is in there now, we won't need to worry anymore."

She slowly took the dagger away from my neck.

"And besides..."

She looked away.

"I need to get stronger somehow. I don't even know my strength. Clearing that tomb and defeating whatever is in there will help me improve."

Then she glared at me.

"So what will it be."

She said with a deep tone. I gulped and scratched my head.

"Can I at least get 2 hours of sleep? I may not look like it, but I do need to restore my stamina."

She narrowed her eyes, inspecting me. Then she closed her eyes and nodded. Then she yawned.

"Well... I am tired as well."

As she walked away from my room, she came back and said one last thing.

"You might want to cut your hair, it'll get in the way."

Then she closed my door.

I took a look at the length of my hair; it came down all the way past my shoulder.

"Hmm, she's right, I do need to cut my hair."

I extended my claws and prepared to cut a bit of them off. But when I did, the hair that I just cut off vanished, and the shortened part of my hair just grew back.

"Huh?"

I attempted to cut my hair once more, but every time I did, it just vanishes and somehow returns.

"Looks like I won't be able to cut my hair."

Maybe I'll just sweep it back or something. Well, it's not like I have long bangs that block my vision. Maybe, I'll just tie my hair back. Yeah, I'll do something like that.

I laid back on my bed and looked up at the ceiling.

Well then, guess I'll wake up in a few hours.

Ding!

The system ringed.

Hmm?

[Time = 02: 21: 48: 39]

A tiny blue bar appeared, and the digits on the right were counting down. This must be the timer until I won't be able to enter the tomb.

I waved the bar away and closed my eyes.

Best get some sleep now.

***

I looked up at the large hole. The skies were still dark, but it was filled with stars. I wished there were nights as beautiful as this on earth. But due to climate change and all that stuff, we can't.

I was standing in front of the gate. The cold water brushed against my hind leg and rushed into the tomb. Ever since the tomb opened up, the level of the lake had decreased a significant amount. I can already guess that this thing was flooded to the brim.

Tap-tap~

I turned around, and Luna had arrived. She was walking on the water with ease. Man, I wish I could do that. Walking through water is tiring, and it is pretty annoying. If only I could travel on water easily.

Hmm...

Well... I can't travel on water easily but something else can.

I snapped my fingers, and a blue light came out of my back. Then that blue light slowly materialized into a cipactli. Looking at it up close, it was bigger than an average crocodile, about 20 feet long.

I jumped on top of the cipactli's back. The mouths didn't react when I hopped onto it. They just stayed shut. Yeah, it would be bad to eat a part of your own master. Well, I wouldn't really hold a grudge since I can heal a limb due to my [Rehab Tenacity] effect.

I looked at Luna, and she nodded. She was wearing ninja-like attire. She had four kunai strapped onto her waist and two daggers on her back. She also had her hair tied into a ponytail with a white ribbon.

Luna looked at me and crossed her arms.

"You didn't cut your hair."

"Well yeah, I kind of can't."

"Hmm... here, just tie it."

She threw me a black bandana. I caught it and tied my hair back. Then I turned my head and ordered the cipactli to move closer. Luna followed.

Ring!

[Enter The Tomb of the Distorted One? (Y/N?)]

Yes.

[You have now entered The Tomb of the Distorted One.]

Then, as Luna and I entered the Tomb, I heard the gates start closing. I turned around, and the doors slammed shut.

SLAM!

The sound echoed through the Tomb. I gulped, and sweat trickled down the side of my head. Was I just trapped in here, with no way out?

Tti-ring!

[Quest: Clear the Tomb]

[Once you've cleared the Tomb, the doors will open once again.]

I see...

I turned and looked around. The air was distorted, and it smelled like rotting flesh. I know how that smells since I've experienced it. The bear from day 1 had already rotten, and when I went there, it had filled the entire place. I wanted to puke.

"Noctem."

I heard Luna say my name, and I turned.

"Yeah?"

"Come on."

She said as she walked deeper into the Tomb. I ordered my cipactli to follow her.

"Watch yourself, we don't know what could happen in a place like this."

Luna said as she unsheathed the two daggers on her back.

"Sure. Not like I needed you to tell me, but alright."

I pulled out my longsword, and we kept moving forward.