The Descent

 CHAPTER 12

I was almost beaten to death by mere wolves. 

What was my purpose?

Was it getting stronger? 

No matter how much I tried standing back on my feet, I stumbled back down almost instantly. 

Was it to protect those dear to me? I've failed in that too. I let Halrig and the others die, now I fail in this Dungeon. 

I can't continue on like this. I don't even wanna live anymore. My body feels as if it's burning, from head to toe. 

I tried harder and finally I was able to open my eyes, just slightly. 

We were in the same room where the fight happened. Lara and Ros set up camp here, by the looks of it. 

I grunted as I tried to push myself up against the wall, but every movement sent waves of pain through my body.

"You're finally awake." An audible voice came from nearby. It sounded cold, but had a tinge of sympathy in it. 

I shifted my gaze to where the voice came from, and I saw Ros. He was hugging his staff with one arm while sitting down. 

"Why would you revive me?" I asked. 

"I wouldn't let a member of my party die in a place like this." He answered, forcing a slight smile on his face.

My eyes widened as I'd always thought Ros never considered me a member of the party. I never expected him to care. Not him. But maybe I was wrong.

Even as my body was trembling in pain, I felt a bit of relief hearing this. 

Lara was asleep, I quickly noticed her as she was sleeping next to Ros.

They've wasted their mana pool just to heal me. I don't know how they got rid of the poison, but it definitely must have cost a lot.

Taking a quick look around, I also realized that Ros had set up a barrier to protect us. 

Barriers especially take a long time to visualize and produce, that's why Alos is taking so long to make one, so they have to rely on artifacts more.

"How long has it been?" I asked Ros. It could be for hours or even days.

"Not long. I'd say around six hours. I can help and coordinate my attacks more, but I'll need more time to replenish my mana." He answered.

I assumed that he'll at least need another hour before fully being able to fight again.

That being said, I also needed time to rest. The poison and injuries were gone, but the pain still lingers. I feel like my head is about to burst. 

Even with the barrier around, I felt a bit uneasy. But I couldn't even move a muscle, so I had to rest as well. 

I leaned back on the wall and closed my eyes, feeling a bit uneasy and a small relief thanks to the barrier.

I didn't tell Ros that I'd be heading back to sleep, mainly because there was no need to. Anybody would've been able to tell by the state I was in.

***

"My head hurts!" I grunted. 

Opening my eyes slightly, I found myself standing in a different place. Ros and Lara were nowhere to be found.

I looked to scan the area around me, I was standing on what looked like a road carved on a large cliff. The sky was dark blue, and there were tall trees on one side, making me unable to see what's down the cliff. 

It was definitely an illusion. Just like that time with the snowy field, this is the same. I need to keep my composure. 

I started walking on the road carved along the cliff as the cold air started blowing on me. The place by itself looked even more eerie than that snowy room.

I kept shifting my gaze from one place to another, in order to find anything. Even slightly suspicious. 

Having no idea on how to leave this illusionary place, I was in a rough spot. 

I was barely saved last time, but that's because only Lara woke me up. 

Am I asleep now? Are Lara and Ros alright? I thought, 

My worryness kept growing to no end. My chest felt heavy in this eerie place, which I have no idea how to escape from.

A noise came from behind me, it was a twig breaking. I jumped out of shock. 

I looked back instantly, but there was nothing. I assumed it'd be better if I went backwards then. 

As I looked back I clutched my sword tightly, ready for anything.

The place showed no end, I walked on for minutes and minutes, but it felt like I haven't made any progress. 

I grew more wary as I kept hearing sounds of twigs breaking, and I should have been able to spot them, because this was a tight spot to hide in. 

But, I was also scared. I was all alone, under a dark sky in an unknown place. 

I heard the noise of footsteps from right behind me once more, this time I was sure it was a person. 

I swallowed as I looked back, and what I saw sent shivers down my whole body.

It was a large, monstrous beast. Resembling a bear, but far larger and terrifying. It was dark in color, and it had spikes covering its back. 

Its eyes were glowing in red under the dark blue sky, and its body was covered in voidlike black.

I noticed the same mark that was on the corrupted was embedded into its chest, growing brightly with the same book symbol.

However, it seemed as if it hadn't even noticed me.

I don't know what it was, but every fibre of my body was telling me to not move an inch. The beast was strong. Stronger than a Hollow. 

I swallowed once more as I quickly put my hand over my mouth. I grew nauseosus as my head was still aching, and my body—while better than before— it hasn't recovered completely. 

My eyes widened even more as I was standing still, the beast now almost directly in front of me. 

My hand was trembling as it was still covering my mouth, I hoped the monstrosity wouldn't notice. 

The beast kept exhaling, its footsteps shaking the entire ground. 

I knew this was an illusion, but this seemed far too real. Even with Form One, I might be unable to beat this. I didn't even want to try.

I stood completely still, like a frozen statue. Barely able to hold back my fear.

The beast passed by me, not even glancing in my direction. 

It was drooling as it kept muttering words I didn't understand, but it bore a striking resemblance to a language that was in my world. 

It kept walking forward, without looking back. 

Slowly, it disappeared in the distance. I instantly let go of my hand, to breathe again. I hadn't even realized it, but I was holding my breath. 

I kept inhaling and exhaling before I finally was able to breathe normally again.

My hands were still shivering, my resolve barely able to make me keep going. I was tired, completely tired from all of this.

Clutching my sword, which had been the only thing that stayed with me all this time. I started walking ahead. 

I frowned while walking, I tried and scanned everything but I couldn't figure it out. 

This place was looping and I had no way of breaking out of it. I've lost count of how long I've been in here. 

And if I don't make it out now, that beast will come back. 

More twigs started breaking simultaneously, as chills ran down my whole body. 

I looked quickly and noticed the same shadowy figures. They were either standing still, or peeking from behind a tree. 

I was frightened by the sight in front of me. One shadowy figure stepped up as the rest of them also followed. 

All of a sudden, they came charging at me. I was very close to just shouting the fear out of my mouth. 

But I drew my sword to face them. There was no other option. 

I have to kill them quickly. Before the beast comes back. I thought as I furrowed my brows nervously.

While fear still lingered in my body, I threw a stance and waited for the shadowy figures to get closer.

Finally, two of them closed the distance and jumped at me. 

I threw my sword to the one running at me, driving my sword through its head. While powerful, they seemed to have no intelligence or experience. 

They're like a child version of a Hollow. 

It fell on its back before disappearing into nowhere, my sword was stuck on the ground.

Instantly, I punched the one charging from the other direction. I enveloped my hands in mana before doing so, in order to get a stronger hit. 

More of them came at me before I dashed to grab hold of my blade once more. 

I reached my sword, then quickly held it with both hands and grabbed it out of the ground. 

My emotions felt all over the place. I swallowed as I felt close to vomiting.

I raised my sword and slashed one of the shadowy figures in half, seeing it disappear into small particles in front of me. 

But more of the figures came into sight, and they all jumped at me at the same time. Almost completely like the time in the snowy field. 

I couldn't couldn't react in time to fend off an attack coming from all directions.

I quickly cut through multiple of the figures that charged at me, but I was too late. 

"Form—" I said loudly, before I was heavily interrupted.

One of the figures kicked me directly into my face, which caught me off guard. 

I was left in a vulnerable position, which the figures took advantage of. 

More blows came and my whole body shivered in pain. I was knocked backwards, near the edge of the cliff. 

I looked down and saw fog covering up what was down below, and the trees still stood tall, but above the fog. 

With no intention of falling I held my ground again, but it was to no avail. There were too many of them. 

I was hit again and I stumbled downwards. I fell and kept falling as the whole world was spinning. 

I was rolling down the cliff as my whole body was breaking down.

The cliff never ended. I reached the fog, but that's what I thought. I just continued on falling as the fog kept growing more distant. 

My whole body was screaming even more in agony now. My face was completely battered by the cliff, my legs I can't even feel them. I was screaming due to the sheer pain I was facing. 

I tried to grab hold of myself with whatever I had left using my hands,

Damn it!

I grabbed the cliff by hand, but I was already falling too quickly. My nails broke and my fingers exploded in pain. 

Tears were welling up on my eyes, my nose was broken and my jaw was going to be the same sooner or later. 

"Just… let me die already!" I shouted, holding a terrible look on my face. 

Then… I finally realized it. 

To get out of this looping place, all I needed was one thing.

I needed to die.