Before entering the mine I could see a wooden sign that said:
"Monthly gift to lady Rapunzel:
Thirteen men — Done
Ten animals — Done
Five semi-humans — Done
Behemoth — soon"
That's how the writing ended, as if someone had scribbled the word "soon" with a trembling hand and fresh fear. The sign was nailed crooked, as if something had hit it before fleeing in a hurry.
I took a deep breath, feeling how the heavy air of the area pressed against my chest, and I decided to enter the mine. It was completely abandoned; no one could be seen in the place. Only ancient dust, broken rocks, rotten planks and a silence so dense that it seemed to watch me.
I decided to explore it, finding minerals buried among the gravel and rusted items that, with a bit of luck, might serve me for future battles. As I advanced, the echo of my steps bounced off the walls, as if the mine were mocking me, imitating me.
Continuing to explore I encountered huge ants affected by the mist. Their bodies were swollen and deformed, and their mandibles glowed with a sick purple tone. I defeated them with some effort, dodging their slow but aggressive attacks.
In the middle of the path, I found a ring lying on the ground. When I put it on one of my fingers, I felt as if a magical layer formed around my body, almost like a warm whisper that ran over my skin. Maybe it was a defensive item… or perhaps offensive; I didn't know, but something inside me told me I had to keep it.
I continued exploring until I reached some stairs that led to another layer of the mine, taking me downward.
The place was a bit different from the upper part, but the same monsters kept appearing… with a terrifying difference: these didn't just drop common souls, but colored souls that dissolved in the air like multicolored embers. It was beautiful and horrifying at the same time.
I drew my sword and began to eliminate every monster in the place, improving my body, my strength and my speed. The deeper I descended, the stronger the pressure in the air felt, as if something from the bottom was breathing with me… waiting to find me.
Until I went down several more floors.
And I got lost.
I didn't know exactly when it happened, but I had gone down so much that the air seemed heavier, thicker… as if I were breathing mist.
And right in front of me there was a floor full of water of a dark purple color. Upon touching it, I felt as if my whole body was burning, as if thousands of hot needles sank into my skin. It was a toxic, corrosive and living substance.
But before leaving, I could see in the distance a peculiar glow: another ring, shining like a small star in the middle of the cursed liquid.
I took air.
I took courage.
And I ran.
The toxic water began to burn me even from a distance, as if the steam itself tore my muscles. But I kept going, dodging black bubbles that exploded like acid.
And upon arriving…
There was no ring.
Only a perfectly smooth round stone, ring-shaped.
—What…? —I whispered, feeling my hands tremble.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Before I could retrace my steps, five monsters appeared around me, as if they had been waiting for me inside that puddle. Their eyes glowed with a reddish tone and their bodies dripped the same purple substance.
I had to fight while my skin was burned by the water.
It was hell.
But I managed to escape, climbing to the third floor, wounded, panting and with parts of my armor melted. I took out a medicinal drink with trembling hands and drank it immediately. A wave of heat ran through my body, relieving the burns, though not completely.
I walked a bit more, defeating a huge snail that appeared in my path, and following the rusty tracks I reached some stairs that led to another sector.
I ascended.
The air began to feel less heavy.
Almost breathable.
Until I reached an extinguished bonfire.
And next to it, an immobile man, leaning against a wall. He had a lost gaze.
—Y-you… you, here… —he stammered upon seeing me—. I beg you… help me… A Toxic Butterfly got me… I can barely move… Can you bring me Antidote Herb and Medicinal Herb…?
—It's okay, calm down. I think I have some —I replied, checking my bag—. When I was coming here, I found some and saved them.
I gave him the herbs. He consumed them with difficulty, breathing deeply several times, as if each gulp was painful. Little by little, his color improved.
—I didn't expect to find demonbeasts in an abandoned mine… —he murmured—. I guess they're everywhere now.
—They're appearing everywhere. Be more careful next time you travel or enter another place.
—Hahaha… yes, you're right. But first I'll wait to recover a bit and then I'll leave this dark place. I hope we meet again, knight.
I nodded and continued on my way, leaving him there.
Before advancing too far, I saw a huge snail blocking a route, but before deciding whether to face it or not, a figure appeared beside me, startling me:
Leaf.
—Hellooo! —she said, with her radiant smile—. How have you been? You haven't come to the forest in a long time… Oh, it looks like you're in a mine! Look look, there's something blocking the way, but don't worry, there's another path hehehe! We should continue, don't you think?
I sighed, between tired and amused. Leaf always appeared like a ray of light in the middle of my personal chaos.
We continued walking along the path she had pointed out.
Until we reached a place where a huge creature floated in the air.
A dragon.
But not a normal one.
Its body was deformed, full of pointed scales like blades. Its arms were long and grotesque, as if they had been forcibly stretched. Its jaw was split in two, and both sides vibrated as if trying to separate even further.
The monster roared upon seeing us.
The sound was so loud that I felt my ears tear. Blood shot out inside my helmet. Leaf, next to me, covered her ears with tears in her eyes from the pain.
—Is this… Godzilla? —said Leaf through clenched teeth—. Though Godzilla is more beautiful than this beast.
—I don't know what you're talking about… —I murmured—. But I think the two of us alone won't be able to defeat this thing…
—I know —she responded.
—I must summon someone else.
I raised my weapon and, using my magic, summoned Victoria.
She appeared trembling.
—M-master… A-against this demonbeast… d-do we have any chance…?
—I don't know —I told her—. But if we want to keep going forward, we must fight it.
Victoria was completely terrified. Me too. Leaf, without hesitating, launched a direct soul blast toward the monster.
It did absolutely nothing to it.
—W-wait… —said Leaf, stepping back—. This monster is not normal…
We had no time for more.
The monster lunged at us with impossible speed for its size.
I tried to get in the way.
But in doing so I received the blow.
I felt my ribs sink, the air escape from my lungs and my whole body fly against the wall. My vision became blurry, red. The blood from my mouth came out of my helmet, falling to the ground like a growing puddle.
Leaf and Victoria tried to resist.
They tried to protect me.
But they weren't strong enough.
And then it happened.
A blow.
A shadow.
A second.
Victoria was cut in half in front of my eyes.
I wanted to scream, but my throat only expelled blood. I turned my head as best I could… her body was sprawled on the ground. Her skull had exploded against the rocks; her brains spread out like a pale lake.
Leaf was also agonizing a few meters further, with tears falling from her green eyes that were slowly fading.
Hatred consumed me.
—AAAAHHHHH! NOOOOO! DAMN BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU!
I dragged myself across the ground, desperate, trying to reach where my companions were.
—Just… a little… more… —I whispered.
But the monster turned back to me.
And it began to trample me.
To tear me apart.
To destroy my body while my armor broke like wet paper.
I felt my bones break.
I felt my skin tear open.
I felt death approaching with the heavy steps of that beast.
My eyes closed.
Heavy.
Slow.
Defeated.
Until they went out completely.
—Hey, hey… are you okay, sir knight?
That voice…
—Are you alright?
I opened my eyes.
And I was there, exactly at the moment when I was giving the medicines to the paralyzed man.
As if none of the above had happened.
As if fate had sent me back just before dying.