Find Out!

[

Hidden Quest #1: Find Out!

Difficulty: E

Description: Find out what's causing the unusual occurrence of monsters in the Darkwood Forest.

Rewards: 500 XP

]

A glowing white quest screen popped up in front of Reich's face.

"Well, that settles it," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "But seriously, 500 XP? That's it? You system guys really know how to be stingy with rewards."

[Ah—But I don't control the system!] Eri chimed in with a sheepish tone.

"Did I ask for your opinion?" Reich retorted, rolling his eyes. Without waiting for a response, he tightened his grip on his sword and continued deeper into the cave.

The deeper he went, the more oppressive the air became. Just a few hundred meters in, a putrid, almost gag-inducing stench hit his nose, making his face scrunch in disgust.

"What the hell is this smell?" he said, holding his hand over his nose. "It's like something's been rotting here for days... but there's no corpse in sight."

His sharp eyes scanned the rocky walls of the cave, the faint glow of bioluminescent moss casting eerie green shadows around him. The silence of the cave was unsettling, broken only by the faint drip of water in the distance and the soft crunch of his boots against the rocky floor.

As he ventured further, the tunnel finally opened up into a wide chamber—and the sight made him pause in his tracks.

"Well, now... this is something," he muttered, his voice tinged with unease.

Littered across the floor were the mutilated corpses of orcs. The bodies were torn apart, their limbs missing or twisted into unnatural angles. Some appeared as though they'd been ripped clean in half, the jagged edges of their wounds suggesting immense force had been used.

"A whole pack of dead orcs?" Reich said, stepping cautiously over the carnage.

"Looks like someone's been busy here."

The sheer number of bodies made his footsteps uneven, as if the floor beneath him had turned into a battlefield. He crouched down to examine one of the corpses, noticing the deep claw marks across its chest.

"These wounds… they weren't caused by weapons. Something tore them apart with its bare hands—or claws," he mused aloud, his unease growing. "Whatever did this wasn't human."

Despite his growing unease, Reich pressed on. The deeper he ventured, the more concentrated the stench became, almost burning his throat with every breath. He fought the urge to gag, covering his mouth with his coat.

"This is getting ridiculous," he muttered. "If the smell gets any worse, I might just pass out before I find whatever's hiding in here."

Yet, amidst the discomfort, a flicker of excitement sparked within him. His blood raced, his senses sharpened.

"No lies, though," he said, grinning slightly. "I'm starting to feel a little excited. Maybe this'll be my first proper fight."

Reich steeled himself as he moved forward, his footsteps echoing through the hollow cave. Whatever was responsible for the carnage, he knew he was walking straight into its lair.

*Rumble.*

A sudden, low tremor shook the cave, causing the walls to shudder and loose rocks to cascade from the roof. Reich instinctively stepped back, his eyes darting upward as stones clattered around him.

"What the hell was that?" he muttered, gripping his sword's hilt. His pulse quickened, not from fear, but from the thrill of the unknown.

The tremor subsided just as quickly as it started, leaving only the faint sound of falling debris echoing through the cavern. While the quake heightened his unease, it wasn't enough to make him retreat.

*Srreeahhh!*

A high-pitched, deafening screech suddenly tore through the silence, reverberating off the walls. Reich froze for a moment, his ears ringing. But instead of fear, he felt a rush of adrenaline.

"Finally," he said, a sharp grin spreading across his face. "Let's see if this thing lives up to the hype."

His fangs glinted slightly under the faint light as his excitement surged. No longer content to tread cautiously, Reich broke into a full sprint, the sound of his boots pounding against the rocky floor echoing through the cave.

Moments later, he came to an abrupt stop, skidding slightly on the uneven ground. Before him was… a dead end. The tunnel terminated in a solid wall of rock.

"What the—?" Reich glanced around in confusion, his sharp eyes scanning every inch of the cave walls. "There's no way. That screech definitely came from here. I couldn't have miscalculated—it was a straight path with no splits or turns."

He stepped closer to the wall, running his hand over its surface. There was no sign of a hidden passage or concealed opening. Frustration began to bubble within him.

*Whispers.*

Just as he was about to turn back and retrace his steps, an almost imperceptible sound reached his ears. It was faint—so faint that even with his heightened senses, he barely caught it.

"Huh?" Reich froze, tilting his head slightly. "What was that?"

He dropped to one knee and pressed his ear to the cold, rough ground. For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, he heard it again—muffled whispers, faint and distorted, coming from somewhere beneath him.

"Oh, you clever bastards," he muttered, a smirk tugging at his lips as realization dawned on him. "This ground is hollow. And someone—or something—down there thought it'd be smart to slap a sound barrier over it. No wonder it was so hard to pick up."

Rising to his feet, Reich unsheathed his sword, the blade shimmering faintly as he channeled his sword aura into it. The yellow glow illuminated the walls around him, casting dancing shadows in the confined space.

"Let's see how sturdy this little trick of yours is," he said, aiming the tip of his blade at the ground.

*Boom!*

With a powerful thrust, Reich drove his sword into the ground. The impact created a thunderous crack, and the stone beneath him shattered like brittle glass. The ground gave way, chunks of rock tumbling into a hidden cavern below. Without hesitation, Reich leapt down into the darkness.

As he landed with a soft thud, he straightened, his eyes scanning the new area.

"What the—?"

An unfamiliar, feminine voice broke the silence, filled with shock and disbelief. Reich's gaze snapped toward the source, locking onto a figure partially obscured by the shadows.

*****

Finally something new! Let's go! Action!

Just a request I am 400$ short on my college fees if you could donate I would appreciate it.

Paypal: @Un1que01