Author's pov
Leo was still reeling from the strange events that had unfolded in the last few days. The world seemed to shift under his feet with each passing moment. One day, he was scraping by, living in squalor with his ailing mother. The next, he had access to unimaginable riches, yet the burdens of his past still weighed on him. His mind couldn't comprehend how all of this had come to be.
He had used the gold coins from the strange treasure to provide his mother with the life she deserved. The house, once dark and decrepit, had been transformed. The roof, leaking for years, was now solid and strong. The walls, cracked and crumbling, were replaced with smooth, well-constructed surfaces. Even the furniture was renewed; soft, plush beds replaced the rickety old cots, and his mother now had new clothes that felt like a dream compared to the tattered ones she had worn for so long.
His mother's face had lit up with joy every time she saw the changes Leo made, but there was an underlying sadness in her eyes. Her health was deteriorating, despite the best medicine Leo could afford. Still, he never wavered in his devotion. He invited the village doctor every day, ensuring his mother had the best care possible.
But just as the saying went, "Happiness never stays," the joy he felt from providing for her was short-lived. His mother's health continued to decline, and it seemed there was nothing Leo could do. He was losing the most important person in his life, the one who had given him everything, and he couldn't save her. This harsh reality was eating away at his heart, but he didn't give up. He had always promised to care for her, and no matter the cost, he would keep that promise.
The night was quieter than usual.
Leo sat alone in his room, lit only by the dim flame of an oil lamp. His hands trembled as he held the ancient scroll he had hidden under a loose floorboard. The material felt alive, as if it pulsed with energy. Strange symbols shimmered faintly in the flickering light, almost as though whispering secrets meant only for him. For days, the scroll had done nothing. But now, after his long and exhausting struggle to save his mother, it had begun to glow again.
Earlier that evening, his mother had fallen asleep peacefully for the first time in weeks, thanks to the expensive medicine he'd bought with his newfound wealth. He had used some of the treasure he discovered to rebuild their home, feed his mother the best food, and even bring a doctor from a distant town to monitor her condition. But deep down, Leo knew money couldn't fix everything. His mother was fading. Slowly.
He clutched the scroll tighter, unable to bear the helplessness that had crept into his heart. A part of him whispered that this scroll—this mysterious thing that appeared when his life changed—might hold the answer. The moment he spread it out again on his desk, a wave of heat swept through the room.
A sudden jolt pulsed from the parchment and shot into Leo's chest. His eyes widened as the room spun. The lamp's flame flickered violently. He tried to scream, but his voice vanished in a whirlwind of light.
And then—darkness.
When Leo opened his eyes, the air around him had changed.
It was cold. Damp. Heavy.
He stood in a massive underground chamber that stretched endlessly in every direction. The ceiling was high, supported by stone pillars carved with runes that glowed faintly. Gold coins, sparkling gems, and ancient artifacts glittered beneath the scattered torchlight. It was treasure unlike anything he had ever seen. More than he had imagined even in his wildest dreams.
His lips parted slightly. This… this could save generations. I could—
Squish.
Leo froze.
His foot had landed on something soft. Slippery.
He looked down slowly.
A thick, grayish tentacle writhed beneath his sandal, retracting quickly like a serpent disturbed in its nest. Leo jumped back, his heart hammering in his chest. The treasure clinked around him as he scrambled away, but the noise had already drawn attention.
A deep, rumbling growl echoed through the chamber.
From the shadows, something monstrous slithered forward.
It was… unholy.
A creature of nightmares, its body coiled like a snake with countless tentacles stretching from its bloated torso. Its skin was pale and pulsating, slick with a viscous fluid that dripped onto the treasure below. A large, glowing red eye emerged at its center, followed by several smaller eyes blinking open all over its form.
The creature's mouth opened, revealing teeth as long as a human's body, sharp and jagged, dripping with venom.
Its mouth—lined with twisted, razor-sharp teeth—let out a screech that made Leo stumble backward, clutching his ears.
"Welcome, intruder," a voice echoed—not from the creature's mouth, but inside Leo's mind. "To claim what you desire, you must first survive."
Leo's heart pounded as his instincts screamed at him to flee, but something deep inside told him that he couldn't back down. This was his moment, and he would have to fight if he wanted to survive and claim the treasure.
Leo barely had time to react before one of the monster's tentacles lashed out at him.
SLAP!
He was flung across the chamber, hitting a column with a loud crack. Pain exploded in his ribs. Gasping, he tried to crawl, blood pooling from a fresh cut on his forehead. His dagger had slipped from his belt during the fall. He reached desperately for it, but a tentacle slammed down, narrowly missing his hand.
"Get up, get up, GET UP!" he screamed at himself.
Another tentacle swung at him—
Leo rolled, narrowly avoiding the impact. He grabbed his dagger and swung wildly, slicing off the tip of a tentacle. The creature shrieked, recoiling for a moment. That brief window gave Leo enough time to push himself to his feet.
But he was still disoriented.
"I need to think… can't panic… use your instincts…"
Another tentacle struck, and this time he dodged better. He leapt over a mound of coins, landing hard but keeping balance. His eyes darted around, searching for anything that could help. His body ached all over, but his survival instinct kicked in.
The monster surged forward now, eyes glowing with hatred. It wasn't just attacking—it was hunting.
Leo grit his teeth and darted behind a collapsed pillar, trying to catch his breath.
"System," he muttered under his breath, unsure if it would respond again like it had during his last encounter.
DING.
Level 1: Survival Trial Initiated.
Objective: Fight or Die.
Bonus: If successful, Relic Awakening Unlocked.
"Perfect," Leo muttered bitterly. "No pressure."
The monster's tentacle wrapped around the pillar and ripped it apart like it was made of paper.
Leo sprinted across the chamber, gold and jewels scattering under his feet. The monster chased, roaring. Its tentacles smashed into the ground, raising clouds of dust and gold. Leo felt the heat of each strike as he dodged, slipped, and stumbled.
He managed to duck beneath a tentacle and jam his dagger into the beast's side. A horrible shriek echoed through the chamber again. Dark purple blood gushed from the wound. But the monster didn't slow down—it only grew angrier.
Wham!
A tentacle hit Leo in the back, throwing him forward. He crashed into a chest full of crowns and emeralds, his vision spinning. He coughed up blood.
"You were warned," the creature hissed inside his head. "You are not worthy."
But then—
A bright light pulsed from Leo's chest. The dagger in his hand glowed red.
DING.
Level 2 reached. Skill unlocked: Slayer's Instinct.
Reflexes increased by 40%. Pain resistance increased. Adrenaline boosted.
Leo's eyes widened. His body suddenly felt lighter, faster. The pain dulled. His grip tightened on the dagger.
The next tentacle came at him—and this time, he moved with precision. Ducking low, he slid across the coins and sliced upward, splitting the tentacle down the middle.
The monster screamed again.
Leo jumped, flipping over a treasure chest, and landed on the creature's back. He began stabbing, again and again, ignoring the thick, slimy skin and the beast's thrashing. Blood splattered across his arms and face, but he didn't stop.
"You threatened my life," Leo hissed. "You dared to challenge me in my fate?"
The beast bucked, throwing him into a pile of shattered armor. Leo groaned, but didn't stay down. He limped forward, one leg bleeding, and faced the creature head-on.
"You want me dead? Then take me down yourself!" he shouted, raising the dagger one last time.
The monster lunged with its gaping mouth.
Leo jumped.
He drove the blade deep into the roof of its mouth.
There was silence.
Then a gurgling screech as the monster's body spasmed violently. It convulsed and collapsed, its limbs curling inward. Black blood oozed from its eyes and mouth as it began to dissolve into ash.
DING.
Level 3 complete. Relic: Heart of the Abyss unlocked.
Trait acquired: Monster Slayer.
Passive Skill: Shadow Reflexes activated during combat.
Leo dropped to his knees, panting. His chest heaved. His eyes were wide with disbelief.
It was over.
He looked at his trembling hands, then at the treasure before him. His vision blurred. Not from injury—but from the overwhelming realization that he'd survived. That he wasn't the same boy who once feared walking through the village after dark.
He was something else now.
A warrior. A survivor. A slayer of monsters.
And this… was only the beginning.
As the glowing relic floated toward him, Leo reached out and touched it.
The moment his fingers brushed the crystal, visions flooded his mind—visions of other monsters, deeper chambers, higher levels of power, and of himself… standing tall as a legend written into time.
He looked around at the treasure surrounding him—the riches that would secure his future and the future of his descendants. But Leo knew that the true prize was not the gold or the jewels. It was the strength he had gained, the power that had unlocked within him. The Slayer's Path had begun.
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