My hope had long died. And now... my pride is trempled.

{Eric's POV}

Tak.. Tak.. Tak..

At first, this place was quiet. It was horribly and utterly silent.

And yet now, such silence felt unbearably deafening.

My footsteps. My breathing. It is weak. I know it's weak.

But yet even the faintest of all sound will roared heavily onto my very soul.

Tak..

Each step that I took rang thunderously in my ear. Tearing both my mind and my eardrums.

Tak..

Each breath that I heard will generate a stream of poisonous waves. Producing a dose of nausea on my consciousness.

I'm sick of it. I want each and every single noise of the world to just cease from existence.

BBRRRRrrrrr~~

Suddenly, the sound of a starving beast came. It craves for anything. Truly Anything.

Looking at my stomach. I thought to myself.

'…How many times has my stomach growled now? 14? 16?'

I have long stopped counting from the moment it reached 8.

It had been days since I've come to this unfamiliar environment.

And yet other than the eerily quiet wall and the pitch-black ground.

I have met nothing.

But what was I expecting? I can't even see anything.

The only thing that allowed me to traverse this place was the dry and rough wall.

Simply by touching the wall. I let it guide me aimlessly.

Hoping that it will guide me to just about… anything.

But as I can't look at my watch to measure the time. I honestly don't know how long I've been walking.

Using my biological clock. It seems that a whole 3 days had passed since I arrived and begin walking.

I snickered to myself.

'Just 3 days… Heh, it felt more like an eternity to me…'

With each second that passed. Each second of my body being starved and dehydrated had passed.

That for me felt like a torture that had lasted for years.

I thought that maybe, just maybe by following this wall. I will find something that can be drunk to moisturised my barren throat enough to keep me alive.

But look at what it leads me?

Not even a single drop of water was heard. Not even a silhouette of a living creature was found too.

Buk!

Suddenly, my leg gave out, forcing me to fall face to the ground.

I've fallen numerous times. Hence, not even a hint of emotion was shown on my face.

Just as usual, I tried to get back up.

But for some reason, my leg isn't moving.

'…Huh? My leg doesn't seem to be responding at all'

A moment of silence filled my mind. And yet I quickly accept it.

'Aah… I guess it has finally reached its limit'

I wasn't surprised. In fact, I have expected it to happen sooner or later.

Since I have been using it without rest to the point that I had long since numb myself from the pain.

I don't know how long it will be before I can start to move again.

With that, a few minutes passed by.

…All this time, I've been making sure to talk to myself. To keep me busy.

Maybe it's to help me fight the agonizing boredom. Or maybe to help me ignore the excruciating pain that I felt on my body as it was crying for just about anything.

But I guess it doesn't matter in the end… I have long since lost any hope in finding anything that can help my body to stay alive.

I guess this is why it was called the Abyssal Hollow. It's a place where anything but living things inhabit…

With my face still facing the ground and my leg not being able to move around. I realize that I'm truly trapped now.

I thought to myself.

'Is this… the end?'

'I'm… tired. It should be fine if I closed my eyes for a bit, right?'

'Yeah, it must be fine'

With such a simple thought. I shut my eyes.

And of course, the silence was as always, overbearing.

But for some reason, this time… I felt more peace than before… I wonder why.

…..

Tik! …Tik!

'What… is that…'

It felt like it has been aeons ago since I had heard any sound apart from my footsteps and my breathing.

Hence, such a foreign sound quickly woke me up from my sleep.

Tik!

It felt… familiar.

'…Water?'

Tik!

It sounded like a water drop hitting the ground.

When I realize that fact. Hope that had died out was suddenly lit again and quickly filled my heart.

Whether my guess was wrong or not. It doesn't matter.

Seconds after seconds. Power suddenly appeared out of nowhere as it courses my body.

Tik!

Without any extra thoughts, I forcibly moved my body towards the source of that sound. The source of my hope.

'My leg… it's too slow'

Although now I can move it for a bit. It was just that. A bit.

As I quickly realize this, I throw away the idea of running and immediately uses my hand to forcibly drag my weak and limp body towards it.

Tik!

Little by little. Moments after moments. The sound of that hope felt closer than ever.

It's as if it is just right on my hand. Waving at me as if it is cheering me to go on.

Tik!

Suddenly, my hand touches something. And in response to it. An indescribable joy filled my emotion.

'It's water! It really is water!'

I quickly scoop the water using my hand as I swiftly devour it quicker than I had ever thought possible.

But after just a few mouthfuls of it… I stopped.

'Why is it… so thick? …And smelly?'

'No… I know what this is…'

'This taste… this texture… this smell…'

Hoekk!!

I quickly throw up everything that I just drank.

The taste of vomit as it passed between my open jaws only confirm my thoughts even further.

'This is not water! This is blood!'

I… I…

I don't know what to say… I don't know what to feel…

For a moment… my mind was just nothing. It was blank.

…And yet my thought quickly returned as I realize something was amiss.

If there is blood here. Then it can mean only one thing.

Something is here.

Fear involuntarily emerged inside my mind.

But… there's nothing that I can do.

How can a limp-blind man fight against… anything?

It's already one thing if it's just a normal animal. But I know that it is impossible for it to be a normal creature. It can only be anything but that.

And so, time passes by. At first, it was seconds… then tens of seconds… then minutes… and… nothing happen.

'Why?'

Sure, this puddle of blood may come from a dead creature but how about the hunter? Where did it go?

I was curious and afraid at the same time.

But even after waiting for a long time. I did not hear nor feel anything.

This is why, I gather up my courage and begin to reach out for anything.

I tried to use my hand to touch my vicinity.

Left.

Right.

Suddenly, I felt something on my fingers.

'It felt… slimy… and… soft?'

After a few more tries to understand what it is.

I slowly understood that this thing is the one that died.

Because of the elevation of the ground.

The animal's blood flowed and drip to the ground below it. Creating the water drop sound that I had just heard.

This means that it is dead.

Suddenly I thought of something.

'Can I… eat it?'

For some reason, the thought about the missing hunter was quickly replaced by the thought of this thing being edible.

And without me realizing it, my hand moves by itself.

Using my nails, I tore open the animal's body with the intention to feast upon it.

After just a few moments, I manage to quickly scoop a chunk of that slimy body and eat it.

And immediately my taste bud was roaring as loud as it possibly could. Telling me just how disgusting it is.

How the texture was so mushy and soft.

And how the smell was so unbelievably horrendous.

It was so bad that after just a few munched of the meat. I puke myself once again.

Hoek!!

'Huff.. huff.. huff..'

I was quickly dazed by what I had just experienced. By what I had just done.

'What… am I doing…?'

After asking that. A trace of rationality came upon me. Giving me some clarity to my actions.

That animal. From how it feels like when I touch it. It was clear as day that it was… a worm… a large slimy wor-

Hoekk!!

Thinking about what I tried to eat just now and how I rip it open… it disgusts me so much that I can feel my stomach clenched in pain.

The smell of that creature can still be clearly recognized by me. Giving me a wave of pure headache.

My hand on the other hand can still feel the thick blood and the slimy flesh of that thing.

Once again, I felt the urge to puke. But this time I forcefully control it.

I begin to wonder. I've puke so many times, what else can even come out of my body. There was truly nothing left inside me…

Wiping my mouth. I recalled that moment where I lost myself to my hunger.

'What the hell was I thinking… I act as if I am a beast…'

I get that I am starving to death… but how could I be like this.

For a moment, I lost myself. I lost to my instinct. As if I am an animal.

Yet ironically, my principle had always been to die rather than live like an animal.

That is my principle... And yet…

Bam!

I punch the ground as hard as I can. Trying to alleviate some of my frustration.

'To think that there would be a day where I would act like a mindless animal. Being controlled only by my own instinct'

With my painful hand, I covered my face as if I don't want anyone to see me in such a humiliating state.

"Haha…"

I began to laugh.

For the first time ever. I let out my voice despite how I've always made sure not to ever use it.

But this time, I don't give a fuck about it anymore.

Which is why, it was quickly apparent why I never even want to use it.

"Hahaha…"

The sound of my voice was horrible. It was such a dry and hoarse voice.

And naturally, it was painful as hell. It felt like a thousand needle was puncturing my throat from the very inside.

And yet, my laugh still gradually turning louder and more intense. Not caring whether anything or anyone will ever hear me.

"It hurts. It hurts so much… And yet it doesn't even compare to the feeling of my humiliation!"

"I had once stood at the top. A position that countless people can only dream to ever achieve. Yet even such a status, I dare to throw away without much difficulties!"

"But look at me now… Not even a hint of dignity! Heheh, I should be ashamed of myself"

It was as if a mighty king that ruled 3000 cities was suddenly forced to kneel. Or a great general that ruled 3000 subordinates was being forced to surrender.

It was not a matter of life or death. It was worse than that. It was a matter of pride.

Pride. It may be of little to no value to some. And yet to others, it can also be the lifeline that they cannot tolerate to ever be stomped upon. And eric was the latter.

For him, it was fine if he had to surrender or lose. It was fine if he had to kneel and obey a person. For him, it was just a matter of losing for a brief moment.

He can always make a comeback.

But this is different. No one forces him to do it.

He had followed his instinct willingly. Even if it's only for a moment. He considered it a great humiliation.

He had suffered for so long at this place. And being deprived of hope, he sometimes questioned how he can stay sane and not choose to kill himself.

And it quickly becomes obvious to him.

The only thing that kept him going despite the lack of hope and the impossibility to survive. It was his own pride.

The pride that doesn't accept that the god had made light of him.

The pride that wants to prove that even he can survive this place.

But now, that pride had been crush by his own instinct.

"AAGGGHHH!!!"

My scream was hideous, it was horrible. But I kept screaming and punched the ground as strongly as I can.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

After a few moments, I finally stopped. I was left breathless from that.

Not only that, I can also feel my blood flowing from my hand.

But at the very least. I've calmed down considerably.

'Huff… huff…'

After a few seconds of rest.

I use my last ounce of strength-if there were even any left to push my body to sit and lean over to the wall.

After that, I weakly touch the watch on my left wrist.

The slight vibration of it ticking rhythmically quickly calms me down as it gave me a slight sense of comfort.

It was a memento from my dad. It can be considered an antique. Probably 120-130 years.

Many of its parts may have been replaced many times but I always make sure to take extra care with the maintenance of the watch every single day…

'Dad…Mom… just wait for a little longer… we're going to get reunited soon'

After saying that, I shut my eyes lightly and wait for it to end.

At the very least, I would like to die with the trampled pride inside me.

With that, my consciousness slowly fades away…

…..

Disgusting…

My mouth felt extremely disgusted as I can feel my taste bud screaming again just like before.

'Just like… before?'

I quickly regain clarity on my mind.

And I quickly realize that the meat that I had tried to eat before was now suddenly inside my mouth.

Immediately, I spat the meat away.

Spleech!

The chewed flesh creates a disgusting noise when it smashed onto the ground.

'What is happening?'

'How could the flesh suddenly entered my mouth?'

As there is still no light. I am still unable to see my surroundings.

But it was quickly proven to be irrelevant as all of a sudden, the disgusting meat that I despise was suddenly thrown into my mouth once again.

"Kurruu?"

Following that, I heard a small voice in front of me.

"Kuru~ kuru~~"

There seems to be a creature trying to feed me using the flesh of that worm.

And for some reason, I can feel the intention of that creature.

It wants me to live.