Chapter 4: Into the Depths

The warm light from the village behind Les grew faint as he pressed further into the Mystic Forest. He felt his pulse quicken with each step. After facing the goblins, he knew the dangers lurking in this world, but it wasn't enough to turn him back. No, this time he would push deeper—into the Hollow Maw, the rumored dungeon filled with rare monsters and hidden treasure. This was the real test, not some skirmish with low-level creatures. His journey had only just begun.

The trees closed in, their twisted branches casting long shadows across the narrow dirt path. Les felt the chill creep into the air, and with it came a heavy silence, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves. He kept his hand on the hilt of his sword, every sense alert to the possibility of danger.

After a few more minutes of walking, he saw it: a massive cave entrance, its gaping maw like a black hole in the forest floor. The Hollow Maw. The rumors had been true. Jagged stone pillars flanked the entrance, covered in strange symbols that pulsed faintly in the darkness. His gut twisted with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. He had come too far to back down now.

"Let's see what this place has in store for me," Les muttered under his breath, stepping cautiously into the cavern.

Inside, the air was thick and damp, the darkness almost suffocating. He activated the light crystal he had bought earlier, holding it out as the pale glow illuminated the path ahead. Strange etchings lined the cave walls, symbols that seemed to shift and pulse when his light touched them. There was something ancient about this place, a sense of power that thrummed through the ground.

The further in he went, the more the path opened up, until finally, Les found himself standing at the mouth of a massive chamber. His breath caught in his throat as he took it in. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, dripping water into deep, dark pools. But his eyes weren't on the scenery—they were on the hulking creature at the center of the room.

A Stoneborn Guardian.

It stood at least ten feet tall, its body encased in jagged stone armor, glowing red eyes fixed on Les the moment he entered the chamber. Les tightened his grip on his sword, his pulse racing. This wasn't some low-level goblin. The villagers had warned him about creatures like this—strong, unyielding, and nearly impossible to take down without a solid strategy.

Les swallowed, his mind racing. He could feel the weight of the Life Mirror skill tugging at him, the memories of past monsters he had faced flickering through his consciousness. He could use their agility, their battle instincts—but would it be enough?

The Stoneborn let out a guttural roar, charging at him with a speed that belied its massive frame. Les barely had time to react. He rolled to the side, just as the creature's stone fist slammed into the ground where he had stood moments ago, sending cracks splintering across the floor.

"Damn!" Les cursed, dodging another blow. The creature was relentless, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground with each charge. His sword barely left a mark on its stone armor, and brute force wasn't going to get him through this fight.

He had to think fast.

Les darted behind one of the cave's many stone pillars, using it as cover while he tried to catch his breath. The Guardian roared again, its massive arm swinging through the air, narrowly missing him as it shattered part of the pillar. Les glanced up at the ceiling, spotting the sharp stalactites hanging above. A plan began to form in his mind.

He needed to bring the Guardian to a weaker part of the cave—where the ceiling was unstable.

Carefully, he stepped out from behind the pillar, his eyes locked on the Guardian. "Come on," he muttered, raising his sword and taunting the beast. "Come and get me."

With a thunderous roar, the Stoneborn charged again. Les moved quickly, dodging its wide swings, leading the creature toward a cluster of pillars at the far end of the chamber. The ground trembled with each of the Guardian's heavy steps, its eyes blazing with fury.

As the Stoneborn slammed its fist into another pillar, Les watched in anticipation. Cracks spread across the ceiling above them, the stone groaning under the weight. Just a little more.

Les darted to the side, narrowly avoiding another devastating blow. He could feel the strain of the fight pulling at his body, his stamina waning, but he couldn't stop now. With one final roar, the Guardian lunged, crashing into the last of the pillars.

The ceiling above gave way.

Massive chunks of stone plummeted down, smashing into the Guardian with a deafening crash. Les shielded his eyes from the dust and debris, waiting until the rumbling stopped before daring to look up.

The Stoneborn Guardian lay motionless, buried beneath the rubble. Its glowing red eyes flickered once before fading out completely. The fight was over.

Les exhaled a long, shaky breath. His body ached, his muscles burning from the effort. But he had won.

Slowly, cautiously, he approached the fallen creature, his heart still pounding in his chest. There, beside the Guardian's massive body, was a treasure chest—glowing faintly in the dim light of the cave. Les knelt down, hesitating for a moment before lifting the lid.

Inside, he found a pair of gleaming gauntlets, etched with intricate designs that pulsed with magic. Alongside them, a small, shimmering gemstone caught his eye. He didn't know what it was for, but the energy radiating from it was unmistakable. It was powerful.

"These'll do," Les muttered, slipping the gauntlets into his bag and pocketing the gem.

As he stood, a sense of accomplishment washed over him. This wasn't just about the loot. It was about survival, about proving that he could thrive in this world—even with the odds stacked against him.

Les turned back toward the cave entrance, ready to return to the village. But as he walked, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. There were more dungeons, more monsters, and greater challenges ahead. And he would be ready for them.

With every battle, every encounter, he grew stronger. But more than that, he grew closer to reclaiming the life that had been taken from him.

As he emerged from the cave, the light of day blinded him for a moment. The forest seemed quieter now, almost peaceful. Les smiled to himself.

This world, this game—it was his new reality. And he was just getting started.