Drake felt it in his gut. The twisting feeling never left him for a moment while they were on the way to their destination. There was not a single doubt in his mind that this task was much more dangerous than it appeared on the surface. A single misstep or miscalculation could easily lead to dire consequences.

  We can’t turn back now. I’ll have to shoulder the responsibility. It’s so much harder when you are responsible for more than just yourself. The young warrior wrestled in his mind as he looked over his fully geared companions treading along.

  Two women were as delighted as ever. Which, in turn, uplifted his spirit. Drake allowed himself a barely noticeable, dry smile. Jake’s presence was close enough for him to feel it. Yet not too close to be intrusive, just on high alert.

  So far everything was aligned well with the information they received. The thick forestation abruptly ended, and a small clearing opened before them. At the farthest edge, a dark cave opened with its grey-dark rock within the green landscape.

  The group cautiously closed in. It was definitely the place from the report. The tunnel was covered with moss, and the vines were clinging to the sturdy surface, battling for sunlight at the cracks in the rocks. Everything wants to live, no matter the place. Always trying to reach for the warm sunlight.

  There was something undeniably wrong with this place. Usually around the Gleaming Forest, this close to the town’s vicinity, would be filled with game and low-rank beasts. Yet, there were none on the way. Moreover, Drake could not feel any presence nearby. His tracking skills as a hunter only confirmed the suspicion.

  A massive area around this place was entirely devoid of any living beings. So much that even birds and bugs seemed to be avoiding it like eight hells. This smells like real trouble. At least we prepared for this with Jake.

  Yet as soon as they stepped beyond, a creepy feeling crawled behind the young adventurers backs.

  “Stay on high guard. There may be traps here. Don’t lose focus even for a moment. I don’t feel any presence so far, but this is even creepier.” Drake whispered to his companions, and two women took more precarious, ready-for-battle stances.

  He waved them to follow his lead as he entered the cave first, making sure there were no tails behind. Drake turned on the small magical lantern hung on his belt as Helena and Valentina already lit theirs. The dusky cave was now filled with dancing dim lights and shadows.

  The air inside felt unexpectedly dry, to the point of being nearly arid. They could not feel the usual cave dampness, no visible wet crevices or condensation were in sight. It felt as if someone or something had drained it all out. Artificially tempered.

  Slowly and silently, minding every step, they pressed forward. As the groups passed a rich vein. A considerable pile of tools was scattered haphazardly alongside a cluster of gas lanterns. Some were shattered and broken, their glass glinting playfully in the light of their lanterns.

  Hmm, strange. No signs of struggle in this place. It looks like it all was just discarded, but there are no tracks at all. Have no idea where to look.

  It appeared that the miners left with haste. Most likely driven forward searching for the lost deep dive group that had gone missing earlier. Could they have been lured somehow? A spell, maybe?

  “We should be getting closer,” the warrior noted, with caution in his voice. “Seems just like we were told. Weirdly enough. Hmm… How could he recall everything with such detail?”

  “Yes,” Helena replied, nodding. “It does not seem quite right, especially for the one who would be frightened to death.”

  Drake's eyes sparkled with curiosity. “I wonder… That massive hall he mentioned. Could there really be something like this here? Could this be a hidden dungeon? What do you think, Val?”

  “Well, the possibility is there. Yet there was no consensus even at the Academy on how the hidden dungeon phenomena occur. Yet, it would be great knowing exactly what we are getting ourselves into.” Valentina responded with slight uncertainty as she rolled her eyes, trying to remember. The timid demonkin clung to her staff tightly, her palms wet with sweat.

  She despised enclosed spaces and caves even more than Helena, yet she did not once complain about it. How strange…

  They slowly moved forward as the young warrior consulted his mind. A sudden thought, like a clang, and the pieces of the puzzle fell in place. The realization struck him as he abruptly came to a halt. Both women bumped into his back within the narrow path. They stood there, bruising the stumble, questioning with their expressions.

  “Wait, wait!” Drake exclaimed. “I figured something out. Follow me.” He urged them to follow as he doubled the pace. As he led the group deep into the cave with a sudden rush.

  They dashed ahead, pushing through the shadows of the dark cavern, bypassing the opening they were about to use. And the party soon came upon a spacious alcove hidden behind one of the cave’s winding curves. Drake finally made them stop there.

  “What was all that about?” The demonkin mage girl shouted, puffing, trying to restore her breath. “We just missed the entrance!”

  “You must have some explaining to do, Drake! Why change the plan so suddenly?” The swordmaiden spoke with a puzzled expression as she tapped her feet on the rocky surface.

  “I do, just come closer.” Followed the response, his face furrowed in deep concentration.

  The young warrior laid out the case he made up. At this point he was almost certain that the trap awaited them the moment they would follow the passage. It was far too dangerous to take the risk. They needed to adjust.

  “Yeah, it definitely seems fishy if you look at it like that. Did you feel anything?” Helena inquired.

  “No, there was nothing, at least not within my sphere. But I have no doubt that something sinister would await us below.” Drake scratched his head as he jiggled one of the axes in his hand, shadows dancing on his face.

  “What can we do in this case?” Valentina spoke silently.

  “Just follow me!” He rushed them forward.

  They carefully scouted further with a sense of urgency. Quite soon they came to a fork with two distinct tunnels. One way was a steep descent into darkness, while the other sloped gently upwards.

  The group halted there for a moment, and after short deliberation, Drake had come to a decision. They had to split their forces. Not ideal and risky, but the time was of an essence. And any additional way to escape was more than welcome.

  Yet with the limited knowledge of what lay below, they had to decide swiftly. So the young warrior instructed two women to take the upward path, which felt much safer. He clearly caught a hint of fresh air coming from it. And the one going down was not looking good. The young warrior could only allow himself to take on that task. Descending into the depths. Soon to be my specialty, I suppose.

  Carefully, they checked the communication devices. Those were glossy, small, polished stones with the form to easily fit into the earlobe. Together with Jake, they named those Stonecomms. Drake once again gave a short rundown on how those communicators worked.

  “I have not tested the distance yet, but I’m pretty sure it should be enough. I’m yet to refine the magic seal and technical application behind it, but it should work for now. Make sure to check in with me every fifteen minutes. Just tap the stone over with your finger; while holding it there, you can talk, and I will receive the message. Just make sure to remove the finger once you've done talking, or you will not hear me!”

  “Okay, okay! We've got this, don’t worry. But exclude your usual heroics this time! Retreat whenever it’s too dangerous. And… Do not make any premature decisions.” Helena said turning around as rushed towards the tunnel. Her hair cascading in a fluid motion. Her voice was full of vigor as she disappeared within the shadows creeping around her.

  “Good luck!” The mage girl echoed, her voice loaded with notes of concern and fear. She quickly followed her companion. As the feeling of creeping uneasiness filled her.

  “Let’s go!” The young warrior sprang forward hyping himself!

  Huh, why did I suddenly remember that? They are more than capable. They've got it! No need to worry. Drake found himself moving fast through the familiar route. The cave’s sharp stone walls pressed over him from all directions.

  The warrior navigated the twisting tunnels fast, the sound of his boots echoing through the stones. Shadows danced around as the lantern bounced back and forth on his belt, synchronized to the rhythm of his feet.

  His goal was set, his emotions under control. The young warrior did not know what awaited him there, but he knew what he had to do. Drake was ready to face it with all the power and resolve he had gathered. The person he was just a few moments ago was gone. Now he felt like a man on a mission.

  The beastfolk should be safe. Corella would be reaching them soon. He thought with each thud of his boots. Shadows were drawing closer as if they were alive, like trying to bite yet always late. A moment, and the young man was out of their reach.

  Drake took the passage back and quickly arrived at the opening they avoided. He crept inside, as he lowered his head to squeeze through the narrow space. The stone support columns collapsed. Massive stone bricks like those from castle walls complicated his passage.

  I'm sorry. That's not because I do not believe in your capabilities. It’s just. This fight is mine. It has to be! The young warrior thought to himself as he descended and disappeared into the dark unknown that eagerly accepted his presence.

  To his surprise, after crawling through the tunnel, he reached a stone staircase. It was leading him down, deeper and deeper into the core of the cave.

  The descent felt like six or seven stories. The grand interior awaited him down there. It was like a castle's welcoming hall. What was something like that doing inside the cave was beyond the young warrior's comprehension. Yet, it did not surprise him that much after all the marvels of the Ancient Library of Ultz.

  This place inside was indeed a vast and foreboding chamber. The high ceiling was lost within the dark shadows above. Stalactites hung like the fangs of a predatory beast, their points glistening with moisture that dripped sporadically into shallow pools scattered across the well-made stone tile mosaic laid floor.

  Dim, flickering light from blue torches mounted on the rough-hewn walls and columns cast a warm glow, illuminating the rich textures of the surroundings while deepening the darkness that lurked in the corners.

  Old and withered drapings were hanging haphazardly here and there. Some were barely holding on to their ghost of a form. Just one touch could turn them into dust. While a few more fortunate ones were still full of pride and hints of former vigor with somewhat vibrant colors and threads of gold and silver strings.

  The tall columns stood like proud old sentinels of this place. Lining the entire hall, their surfaces intricately carved with faded designs and markings of unknown origin. Many of which bore deep scars, charred blackened spots, cracked surfaces, and a multitude of dents. Drake couldn't help but notice that some even had a piece of metal stuck between the cracks. Telling signs of the ferocity of the conflict that had erupted within these walls a long time ago, maybe ages.

  Dust motes floated in the air, suspended in time, with a silence that was both unsettling and palpable.

  The young warrior tapped on the floor. The stone tiles were crafted from pristine stone. They appeared to withstand the flow of time nearly unscathed. Across the expanse were remnants of what once filled this massive place. Shattered weapons, broken shields, and pieces of armor littered the ground like the discarded memories of long forgotten past.

  A few broken statues could be seen at the edges, too weathered to tell if they were of men or maybe beasts.

  A chill slowly ran through the air. It felt like light gusts of wind delivered distant echoes of whispers. What did they say? Finally, Drake rested his gaze. At the far end in the center of the hall, massive wooden gates stood imposingly, carved with unknown markings and reinforced with huge metal bars.

  One side of their massive frame hung slightly ajar, darkened and dented, yet still formidable. It was as if some battering ram had tried to burst through them but failed. The scent of dust and stone mingled with something sharper and more intimidating. He could not yet grasp it, but something was wrong with this very place. Something that evaded his sight, his sphere of presence detected nothing.

  In the center of the chamber, a series of intricately arranged tapestries must have borne witness to the gatherings and rituals that seemed to take place here. Their vibrant colors were faded from age, yet they still hinted at a richness that had once filled this strange place. A temple?!

  The surrounding shadows slowly danced around in the dim blue light of the magical lights. The air thrummed with the weight of lingering hidden history and dread.

  Drake could not help but wonder about the origin of this weird place and, most of all, why he was led here. He walked slowly further. It was like a castle hidden inside the cave. What lies behind those doors… More pressing questions entered the young man’s mind. As Jake’s ever-watchful gaze was already pressing from inside.

  Things around did not make enough sense being together. Ritual gatherings, statues, gear. All served different purposes. He was almost sure that his hall was used for something else, something he could not understand.

  As he wandered close, a strange hum filled the air. A barrier at the gate? His senses tingled, telling him to tread carefully, yet his curiosity still moved him forward.

  On the tips of his toes, he tried to listen carefully, silence. Only the gushes of air and falling drops created a backdrop picture of serenity. His own footsteps sounded like an intruder breaking the balance as his reinforced boots thudded against the stone floor.

  Drake tried to guess what was the reason for those despicable men to choose this place. What was the purpose behind their actions? Why did they imprison beastfolk and commit the atrocities? There had to be something.

  He could not find the answer as his mind swirled. The place for some kind of rituals. And something behind those gates, potentially sealed? Shit, this can be literally anything, even just a rich dungeon they are looting for their selfish gain. The prisoners and…experiments. I have to know the answer.

  The young warrior once again frantically scanned the surrounding space with a thoughtful gaze. The lying, worn-out, and dusted bits and pieces of gear spread around the realization finally resurfaced. While most of it was here for quite a while, it appeared a multitude of pieces were dragged and thrown here only recently.

  So, some of it is expensive, still discarded. They are probably looking for something specific. Could it be… Oh, an artifact! Ah, so they could have used the prisoners to dig and disarm traps. But the miners?! Fuck. There’s still too much unknown.

  When he snapped out of his thoughts, it was too late. His dome was filled with presences that surrounded him from all sides. What, out of nowhere?! So fast? I could not sense them a moment ago. Teleported?!

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  It did not matter how they got here, but that the aspiring adventurer was now pitched from all sides. Every corner of the hall was now filled with the black-hooded men bearing snake insignia crests on their chests. He counted at least three dozen of them, and they kept coming.

  Each held a curved black dagger in one hand and a spiked collar in the other, their eyes gleaming with sinister anticipation. Beneath their feet, each had at least four death hounds. While certain commanded five or even six. There appeared to be at least a hundred snarling beasts. A groaning mass of fur and fangs ready to strike at their masters' command.

  “Hah, ahahaha. So that’s how it turned out! Check this out, Jake!” Drake raised his head as his laugh echoed through the hall. No answer followed, only a jerk from inside, turning his vision towards the bigger group.

  A wry smile rested on Drake’s lips, spreading into a grin across his face. Shadows dancing upon his rugged features, as he inhaled deeply the vapors of impending battle. Excitement filled his veins as he took his battle stance. Axes at the ready.

  “I’m sure we can’t just talk this out. Besides, I don’t have neither the time nor the intention.” He said that to reassure himself in his decision.

  The blades glimmered ominously in the flickering lights. The young warrior rooted his stance, moving his legs wider for additional stability. One axe down, another raised high. Ready to unleash the fury, he recently could not imagine it would be boiling within. The young boy felt invincible in his favorite battle position. He felt confidence and lethal intent dancing on the edges of his blades.

  “Come at me, if you dare!” The young warrior shouted with confidence.

  No one dropped a single word. Only a slight movement of a few hands. And in that instant, chaos erupted like a massive wave. Silent commands were reached to the beasts, and the hounds charged as one, a wave of snarling teeth and feral eyes crashing towards him, racing to be the first to bite.

  His instincts kicked in as he dashed forward, his rooted feet barely touching the ground. With a powerful twist of his hips, he launched into a twisting pirouette, his axes whirling around him deadlier than ever. The sharp edges, like the rotating teeth of the beast's open jaws.

  The first dozen death hounds got close, snapping with their mouths and swinging their claws at the adventurer. But the warrior was much too fast.

  He swung low, the blade of his left axe cleaving through multiple creatures throats, silencing their growls in a spurt of blood that painted the stone floor in dark colors. The blood mist filled the air. Drake followed up with a perfect transition into a double swing, the right axe slicing through another beast to his right, with the momentum propelling him further and further into the fray. Carving his way with each surgical swing.

  Blood sprayed, heads rolled, paws flew, and guts fell over the floor. As the young warrior navigated the chaos with ease.

  He moved forth with almost an ethereal grace, each motion fueled by a blend of precision and raw power. The young man was a whirlwind of destruction, legs dancing and axes flashing. In mere moments he had already reached throught the wave of death hounds, now amied at their masters.

  Strangely, they met him without any visible emotions. No fear, no dread, nothing was seen in their empty eyes. They simply put out their daggers, ready to fight.

  His axes finally met the dazzling polished steel with a clang. The first one shattered, and the young warrior's axe met the hooded face. The body collapsed like a dummy.

  Breathe, Drake, just breathe! On the first down. Don’t waver, concentrate, DRAKE! He reassured himself, his hand slightly trembled. But the young man gritted his teeth as he grunted and hissed through his teeth.

  The fight continued on. As Dtrake weaved through the onslaught of snarling beasts and their hooded masters. He ducked under a wide swing of a dagger and then rotated on his ankle to avoid the one from the back, no match for his keen senses. His body twisted as he brought his axe around in a brutal arc, severing the hand that wielded the steel weapon.

  But the hooded man did not even scream, simply stumbling backward, his dagger clattering uselessly to the floor, with the severed hand still clutched to it.

  No matter what he did, the others were silently watching, encircling him at a deliberate walking pace. It seemed like none of them cared at all if to live or die. Strange, are they under a spell or something? Hypnotized, maybe? What the hell is wrong with them?!

  Another dozen death hounds flanked him, relentless in their assault, but the young warrior was always a step ahead. He spun, consumed by the rhythm of combat, using a tornado of motion to burn the enemies like moths at a flame.

  With each spin of the axe whirlwind, his blades were sweeping through the air with deadly intent and surgical precision. Hounds fell in clusters, their lives extinguished with a swift and merciless grace as blood sprayed the columns and pooled under his feet. Drake was entranced within his furious dance of destruction.

  The more he fought, the more elated he got. His axes drew blood, and his spirit drew power. Dominance against the horde enemies, such despicable vile bastards, gave him the confidence to push forward. B

  lood, bits, pieces of meat, and torn limbs were flying around as growls of dying hounds and hooded figures collapsing to the floor were drowned out by each other in a cacophony of obsidian-steel meeting the flesh.

  Out of nowhere, an unusually large alpha death hound lunged at him. Right from the open flank, teeth bared. But Drake noticed the attack just in time, dropping into a roll beneath its wild leap. He emerged behind, axes raised, and in a lightning-fast motion, he slashed the beast from above. Its cadaver fell to the ground like any other. Yet another casualty in an endless onslaught.

  The sound of combat continued to reverberate off the stony walls of the hall. Like a vivid symphony of chaos. The young adventurers felt truly alive in the heat of the battle, a fierce warrior fully engulfed by the purpose. Heart racing, blood pumping, and eyes glowing.

  While the emerald hues were retreating from his gaze as the yellow glow took over. His pupils slit vertically, and the young warrior felt the immense boost to his perception and reflexes.

  As he twirled and swung, he could now feel the weight of the world lift from his shoulders. Every slice of an axe banishing the shadows of his past, the weight of his decisions simply replaced with the thrill of the battle.

  Now, finally, a hint of realization of whom he truly was crept into his mind, yet like a small thread. But it did not matter, not now. At this particular moment, everything was clear to him. He was no longer diving into murky waters.

  The confrontation dragged on and on without a respite. A surge of electricity coursed through his veins as he leaped over a pile of already fallen beasts, using it as a ramp to gain the higher ground. From this elevated position, he scanned the chaos surrounding him and carefully examined the battlefield. Jake kept his assessment close.

  Drake unleashed another brutal series of strikes from above, raining down relentless blows upon the hounds and their masters below. Each strike thudded with visceral impact, the sound of metal breaking the bones echoing in the air as bodies crumpled beneath the unyielding assaults. They all kept falling down, piling up more and more.

  The warrior capitalized on every opportunity that presented itself to him. And when there were none, he created it with a deft lunge, dodge, dash block, or perfectly timed counter.

  As he vaulted down into the midst of the hooded adversaries, axes raised high. The young desert warrior descended in a lightning-fast fury. The air was thick with the toxic odor of blood and sweat. Drake once again carved his path through the fray. But now, he could feel the relentless tide of enemies wane in numbers. Their dead forms piled up in a grotesque heap at the center of the room.

  No longer standing on the ground, he found himself towering over his foes from the backs of the fallen beasts and men beneath him. Shit, are they finally ending? How much more is there?! I will soon start feeling sore. First blisters had already popped on his plams.

  “Oh yeah! Come on! Come here and get me!” he shouted, invigorated by the killing frenzy that surged through him. “I’m only getting started!” A hint of madness glinted in his emerald eyes filled with hues of orange glow.

  “Be careful with what you wish for, kid! Don’t get too cocky! Don’t lose focus!” Jake tried to put the young man back on track.

  “I’ll keep that in mind!” Drake blurted as he lunged forward with more carnage at the edge of his axes.

  Yet, all the remaining hooded figures showed no emotion. They did not care a single bit about any taunts. They remained eerily silent, their expressions devoid of emotion as they continued their slow advance, gazing at the carnage that had unfolded around them.

  Drake saw that there was no doubt flickering in their eyes. Their demeanor was unnervingly steady throughout this whole battle.

  He was sure now, those people were entranced. Yet he could not get what their purpose was. Just to die? Or maybe waiting for something, locking me in place… stalling for time? A flash of instinct lighted in his mind. As he felt a disquieting sensation washing over him, something felt wrong. Completely amiss.

  Nevertheless, there was no choice. As the young warrior steeled himself to push forward and not let go of the initiative, no matter the unknown that lay ahead. Their numbers were thin now. Soon there will be none to oppose him here.

  With repeated swings of his axes, he conjured a tempest of destruction, ready to plunge deeper into the mass of enemies. He was now armed not only with cold steel but also with the burning fire of vengeance, fueled by the resolve to protect the ones who could not do it themselves.

  Just as he was about to engage a sizable group of hooded men, a thunderous crash filled the hall. The massive wooden door exploded into pieces. The blast was so strong that he barely maintained his balance, rooting his legs deep into the crackling stone beneath.

  Debris flew around, swiping beasts and men alike on its path. The young warrior was barely able to avoid a huge metal bar threatening to take his head as he ducked and twisted.

  The entire hall froze in silence at the aftermath. So much that even the dying ones contained their final moans, covering their mouths.

  And a beast unlike any Drake had ever seen emerged from the opening. A towering, imposing demonic apparition that stood at least three times the height of an average man showed up.

  The creature's dark red, scaled skin shimmered ominously in the dim illumination and pulsating shadows. Colossal black horns curved menacingly from its skull-like head, accentuating the underworldly presence.

  Its grotesquely muscled body was crisscrossed with sharp spikes, a truly fearsome and hellish visage. The creature’s face bore a resemblance to a skin-flayed skull, with hollow eye sockets aglow with an inner fire, with burning tongues that bit into the air. An aura of malevolent dark magic accompanied every step it took, with its black, tentacle-like hues rising from its frame. Distorting the very air around it.

  As the creature jerked its hand, a black chain leash uncoiled, pulsating with black energy that left a huge charred mark over the stones. With the flick of its other hand, a fiery sword materialized from thin air, casting an ominous, crimson red fiery glow.

  When the creature's grotesque mouth, lined with fang-like teeth, twisted into a wicked grin. It spoke in a voice that was the deepest thing Drake ever heard. More like a distorted grunt reverberating through the stony hall.

  “Ah, finally!” It inhaled loudly with a hiss. “The blood of the willing was spilled. The seal feasted on crimson. Freedom was granted to the dark one!” Its head jerked sideways, piercing Drake with its gaze.

  “For I am the harbinger of souls. For I am doom and destruction itself! I was the sealed one. The Blacklord of Harukath is finally summoned into this world. And how fortunate, what a welcome present. I welcome you to hell, human. Mha-ha-ha!” The sinister, deep laugh pressed against the young warrior’s skull.

  “Rejoice on this day, as you become my prey. The time has come to feast upon your soul.” The dark timbre of its voice felt as if it reached Drake's very soul, suffocating him with fear and dread.

  As a few unknown words flew from its mouth, all the lights around died out, and a thick black fog filled the hall. The creature snapped its chain leash and stomped toward the young warrior.

  Drake took his battle stance.

  The passage ended abruptly, and the broad daylight hit her eyes with fiery vigor. Corella successfully reached the surface.

  She was so used to the dark that it felt as if she'd gone blind from the beaming light of the sun. She saw nothing but pure white around her. Slowly her eyesight returned to her, adapting to the brimming, vibrant colors all around.

  The feline warrior saw three figures sitting not far away from the entrance on flat rocks. They spread to be entrangled in an animated conversation under the shadows of green vegetation around them.

  Corella rushed the survivors to spread around and find a place to get some rest. The sun felt scorching hot. She welcomed the fresh breeze with all her heart.

  Two women noticed the young beast-folk girl, and they rushed towards her immediately. The tall, slender man slowly followed behind.

  “You must be Corella. I'm Helena. We talked through the stonecomms Drake gave you. I’m so glad you’re safe. Can’t imagine what you've gone through. We should have come sooner.” A stunning, dark, chestnut-haired woman introduced herself, her voice soft. As she examined the survivors with her gaze.

  “Hey! And I'm Valentina. You should know our party. We bumped into each other a few times at the Company. You must be exhausted. Don’t strain yourself. Here’s some water.” The merry, white-skinned demokin girl smiled as she passed her waterskin. Helena, meanwhile, offered water to other survivors.

  The slender man butted in. “I’ve arrived only recently. Name's Jeen. You must be hungry.” An ethereally smooth-skinned wood elf passed her a bread snack wrapped in a green leaf. Correla bit into it hungrily.

  Chewing, she examined the man before her. His pointed ears were adorned with silver earrings that caught the gleaming rays of the sun. The deep blue eyes seemed to pierce through any concealment. While his smooth, long blonde hair was neatly pulled into a ponytail fixed in place with a silver-polished hairpin with an intricate crest. Down his back were the two curved short swords that rested neatly in the sheath.

  Jeen was dressed in intricately designed green leather armor and held an exquisitely carved white bow with the unusual sight of two quivers fixed to his belt at each side. Still, everything about him sang of noble grace.

  “Thanks… Everyone… I'm so glad and eternally grateful to finally leave that wretched place. It was just a nightmare without end. Thanks to… Drake. Who sent you to find us? Ah, the Company must have given an assignment.” The feral girl asked while chugging the refreshing cold water in massive gulps.

  Helena and Vlanetina traded gazes.

  “Well, it was nothing like that. We were asked to investigate the cave. But Drake felt something was wrong. We changed our initial plan. That’s how we met Jeen here.” Helena responded, thinking deeply as she crossed her hands and pressed them over her face.

  “Come to think of it. Jeen, you’ve been looking for someone from your clan?” Valentina chimed in. While Corella shot a few puzzled glances.

  “Please, I beg of you, tell me, did you see any elves while you were captive?” The elf impatiently butted. Corella felt unfathomable the notion. The man was insensitive, but she noticed a glimmer of hope lit in his eyes.

  “Urkh, I’m not sure… Let me for a moment think.” She stroked her chin as drops of water stremed down her face.

  “To be honest, I can't remember much too well. We were either drugged with something or under the spells. But I think that in one of those hazy hallucinations, I saw a group of pointy-eared, five or maybe six of them. I believe those hooded men took them deeper.” Her expression was tense as she tried to remember the details while her body instinctively shuddered. She jolted and trembled.

  “Oh, I’m sorry… Did not mean to.” The elf struggled for words.

  “But I had to ask. You must understand when it comes to your…family. Still, your words. At least this may be the trail. I have to find them, fast!” Jeen replied with a sign of relief and determination lighting in his eyes.

  “We will help you with that. We promised.” Helena said, looking at the slender man.

  “On the other hand. Shouldn't Drake already be here? You said there were just three men and six death hounds when you were separated?” The swarm maiden cleaned over the feline girl.

  “Yeah, you’re right. That was not long ago, right, just when I contacted you! He told that he would catch up as soon as he takes care of them.” Her furry ears slowly moved to the sides, like searching, above her unruly, fiery hair.

  “Huh, he should have been here long ago. More likely to catch up to you before you even reached us. He can beat a dozen hounds without as much as breaking a sweat. And, hmm, probably would take him a minute or so to get rid of three armed men at around low B-grade.” The mage girl declared as she looked towards the cave entrance. Yet, no one appeared.

  “Hey, Val, aren't you taking him too lightly? Minutes, you say, huh! Don’t you dare offend his skills any further.” She clapped on the hilt of her katana with irritation.

  “Wait?! What are you talking about?! Is he that strong?!” Corella's yellow eyes opened wide as her ears straightened up. Her tone was filled with surprise and interest as she furrowed her brows.

  “Hah, well, he is that strong and even stronger...” Just when Helena was about to finish.

  And an underground quake shook the rocks beneath, and an explosion followed. The wind gushed from the cave's entrance with massive speed, gravel, sharp rocks, and dust hit them like a storm.

  “W-What was that?! You felt it! Something must have happened. Let’s go!” The swordmaiden shouted. As the adventurers rushed inside without hesitation.

  Helena, Valentina, Jeen, and Corella finally reached the hall chamber. A horrifying scene unfurled before their eyes.

  An expansive hall was filled with the scars of a violent clash. Resembling a battlefield where two armies clashed, covered with the remnants of chaos. Stone columns lay in ruins, reduced to gravel and pebbles, while boulders and crumbled bricks littered the ground.

  The whole floor appeared battered, marked by countless dents in the once-sturdy stone and black charred marks. But most of all, one could easily have lost themselves in the grim task of counting the countless cadavers of hooded figures and death hounds sprawled across the floor in a macabre display.

  At the heart of the hall loomed a monstrous pile of slashed bodies, severed limbs, and entrails. Everything scattered around. Hacked, torn asunder, discarded parts were spread out like a weird mosaic. Blood soaked the stone tiles, a vivid tapestry of crimson and dark hues, with some rivulets still glistening as they oozed, while others had dried into nothing but dark stains.

  They saw the massive wooden gates that were totally ruined. While the splintered remnants scattered throughout the hall. With some unfortunate souls buried beneath the debris, their bodies split and broken, skulls and bones crushed into mere stains.

  Three adventurers were sure that some men and grotesque beasts had met their gruesome end at the hands of a tremendous explosion. Yet the majority were hacked and slashed with surgical precision.

  What happened here, Drake? The whole group thought to themselves.

  Cautiously, the adventurers approached the shattered gates. Beyond the opening was a stone corridor, leading somewhere deep. It was not as vast as the hall, but its floor had given way, revealing a gaping abyss at its center.

  The silence was suffocating. While dread and anticipation of the worst filled Helena's and Valentina’s thoughts. But they firmly refused to believe.

  “Look here!” Corella yelled, her voice slicing through the stillness of the silence as she dashed forward.

  They drew closer, noting the edges of the abyss were stained with blood fingerprints, and numerous bloodied footprints marred the floor.

  One of Drake's dark black glazed vambraces lay abandoned, soaked in fresh crimson of blood. In a distant corner, one of his leg guards was twisted and broken, accompanied by scattered bandoliers, leather straps, and the remnants of his shattered belt lantern. The threads of hope they had carried moments ago suddenly shattered. Hearts sank with realization.

  “No, no, no! This cannot be true. It’s not true! NO!” Valentina cried out, her voice choked with emotion as tears streamed from her eyes.

  As they all rushed to a vast pool of blood in the corner, the threads of hope snapped. There, one of the young warrior’s obsidian-metal axes was broken into bits. Glued into the half-dried mess around it…

  “What… what the hell did happen here?!” Helena whispered in disbelief, grabbing her head. She hissed, releasing barely a whisper. Her knees gave way as she collapsed to the floor…

  And so, Book One closes… but the legend is only beginning.

  Volume II will rise! It will be sharper, deadlier, and grander than before. New allies will be found. New enemies will emerge. And debts will be paid in blood.

  … and it will demand everything.

  Cheers, my dear readers!

  P.S. You are welcome to check out my other passion project. That one is a LitRPG, a very grounded take! If you are fond of action, that should satisfy your thirst!

  by Darth Artickus

  Andrew never asked to be a barbarian, yet he chose it!

  A soldier, a leader, a survivor. When war and death tore his old world apart, he woke in another, reborn with a system that offers you power. Strength without control. Rage without clarity. A class despised, feared, and dismissed as primitive.

  Yet survival has always been his weapon. In this new land of guilds, nobles, and monsters, Grimar learns to bend the system the way he once bent battlefield chaos—with discipline, cunning, and scars that will never heal. Each stat gain carries weight, each skill is a choice between life and death, and every fight drags him deeper into a world that judges him by the savagery he refuses to embrace. Or does he?

  But there is no retreat. To carve a place for himself and perhaps to find the answers about his comrades from the life before, Grimar must turn anomaly into advantage. A barbarian in name, a tactician at heart, he will face assassins, dungeons, and gods themselves to prove that survival is not only brute force but also the mastery of turning scars into strength.

  The Barbarian Anomaly is LitRPG stripped to the bone—tactical, brutal, and unflinchingly human.

  What to expect:

  Grounded Progression—every stat, skill, and level-up is earned, with weight and consequence.

  Visceral & Tactical Combat—brutal, soldier-realistic battles where strategy decides survival.

  Psychological Depth & Past-Life Shadows—trauma and discipline from Andrew’s former life bleed into Grimar’s every choice.

  Unforgiving World & System Immersion—dungeons, assassins, nobles, and stats woven seamlessly into the fabric of survival.

  Hidden Professions, Secret Classes & the Anomaly—power that doesn’t fit the rules, mysteries that defy the system itself.

  Chapters are released Tue/Thur

  Did you enjoy Book 1: Soulbound?