Chapter Eight: Cave Diver

The morning air was crisp, carrying a faint chill that clung to Oliver's skin as he jogged through the quiet village.

The sun had yet to rise, leaving the world bathed in soft twilight, and the only sounds accompanying him were his own footsteps and the distant chirping of insects.

It was the perfect weather for a run.

His breaths came steady, his muscles warm as he moved. He wasn't running for endurance or training—just to clear his mind.

That dream…

He had brushed it off as stress. After all, in the span of just a few days, he had been ripped from his world, thrown into a brutal trial, and killed for the first time. Even someone with the strongest will wouldn't come out of that unaffected.

"Guess I wasn't as okay as I thought."

But deep down, something gnawed at him.

That battle… That being. It had felt too real to be just a dream.

Oliver pushed the thought aside. There was no point dwelling on it now.

By the time he returned to his cabin, the sky had lightened slightly, though the sun still hadn't broken the horizon.

Stepping inside, he walked straight to the corner of the room, where a faintly glowing magic circle was etched into the wooden floor.

He reached out and stepped on it.

A soft pulse of energy swept through his body, washing away the sweat and exhaustion in an instant. The cleansing function—one of the few conveniences these cabins provided.

He glanced at his inventory, noting that his daily food rations had been replenished. A sigh escaped him.

"How long is the system planning to babysit us?"

Food, shelter, even magical hygiene—it was making things too easy. But Oliver knew this wouldn't last.

One day, all of this would be gone.

And when that day came, only those who had prepared would survive.

Finishing a quick meal, he grabbed his dagger and stepped outside, his eyes set on the forest.

It was time to hunt.

********

The forest was eerily silent.

Oliver had been walking for nearly an hour, his senses on high alert, yet he hadn't encountered a single monster.

The usual background noise of chirping insects and rustling leaves had faded into an oppressive quiet.

He knew why.

He was going deeper.

Until now, he had avoided this area—not out of fear, but out of practicality. The monsters here were overwhelming. Even with his ability to resurrect, he couldn't afford to waste 24 hours recovering from each death.

But with 80 kills under his belt, the risk seemed worth it.

The deeper he went, the denser the trees became, their twisted branches blocking out the light. Strange vines hung from above, draping over the path like webs, and the air itself felt heavier as if the very atmosphere was watching him.

Then—a screech.

A sharp, piercing cry tore through the silence, coming from above.

Oliver's eyes snapped upward just in time to see a dark shape diving toward him.

A Razorbeak Crow.

It was massive, easily five times the size of a regular bird, with midnight-black feathers and glowing red eyes. Its iron-like talons gleamed in the dim light, and its razor-sharp beak could pierce even metal.

Oliver moved instantly, rolling to the side as the bird's claws slashed through the air where he had just stood. He felt the rush of wind from its dive, the sheer force of its strike enough to leave deep gouges in the dirt.

The moment it pulled up, preparing for another attack, Oliver acted.

He jumped.

His body twisted in midair, and before the Razorback could react, he landed on its back.

The bird screeched in fury, flapping its powerful wings in an attempt to shake him off. Oliver held on tightly, his dagger clenched in one hand. The world blurred as the monster rose into the air, its flight erratic, jerking violently in an attempt to throw him off.

Oliver didn't panic. He just waited.

Waited for the right moment.

Then—he struck.

His dagger plunged into the bird's neck. Once. Twice. Thrice. Again and again.

Warm blood sprayed across his face, but he didn't stop until the screeching stopped. Until the bird's violent thrashing ceased.

It was dead.

But now they were falling.

The ground rushed toward them, but Oliver remained calm. He shifted his weight, using the monster's lifeless body as a cushion as they crashed down. The impact was jarring, but the Razorbeak absorbed the worst of it, leaving Oliver unharmed.

He exhaled, wiping the blood from his face just as a system notification appeared in front of him.

+5 Meta Essence

81/100 Monsters Slain

He had barely processed the information when he noticed something.

In front of him, nestled between jagged rocks, was a dark cave.

Something about it felt... off.

No, not off—familiar.

A strange, unexplainable force pulled at him, an invisible thread tugging him toward the entrance.

Oliver narrowed his eyes, his fingers tightening around his dagger.

"What... is this place?"

Then—a system message appeared.

[SYSTEM ALERT!]

You have discovered a Hidden Trial!

Trial Name: Echoes of the Abyss

Rank: 1

Location: The Maw of Ylthos

A cave shrouded in mystery, untouched by time. The walls whisper with unseen voices, and the air is thick with the scent of something ancient. No records exist of what lurks within—only that those who enter never return.

Monsters Found: ???

Trial Duration: 4 Days

Objective: Explore the cave.

Failure Conditions:

Death. Failure to fully explore the cave before the time limit expires.

Penalty: The creatures within the cave will be released into the Main World.

Rewards:

Meta Essence ???

Oliver stared at the glowing text, his heartbeat steady.

A Hidden Trial—one that no one else had discovered yet.

His lips curled into a small grin.

"Well… this just got interesting."

Oliver stepped into the cave, the cold air wrapping around him like a shroud.

The entrance was narrow, jagged rocks lining the path as he walked deeper.

Water dripped from the ceiling, the sound echoing faintly. The deeper he went, the heavier the air became—thick, suffocating, and laced with an eerie stillness.

With every step, a strange familiarity gnawed at his mind.

Then, it hit him.

The scent of death.

It clung to the cave walls, soaked into the very stone. It wasn't just the staleness of decay—it was something more. Something ancient. Something that had long since passed but never truly left.

He had smelled this before. He had felt this before.

His own death.

The deeper he ventured, the darker it became, yet his sharpened senses allowed him to navigate through the void. Every crunch of gravel beneath his boots felt deafening in the utter silence.

Then—he stopped.

Before him stood a massive gate embedded into the rock, stretching far beyond his height. Its surface was adorned with intricate black and red markings that pulsed faintly—almost as if they were breathing.

Oliver didn't hesitate.

He stepped forward, placed his hands on the gate, and pushed.

With a deep, grinding groan, the doors creaked open, revealing a void of utter darkness.

Without a second thought, he walked in.

End of Chapter Eight