By now, Link's seen just about everything.
Giant spiders who dump their egg sacks on his head, thinking that he might be a tasty first meal for their progeny. Large lizards who roll around lava pits and swallow up bombs without a thought (and to their detriment). Enormous anemones who make their homes in the bellies of gigantic fish, dishing out electrodes like it's just another day for them.
He's never surprised at what he finds- not even when he wakes up seven years in the future, two feet taller and suddenly an adult. Sure, it'd taken some getting used to because what are legs, but Link takes just about everything with a grain of salt.
Until now.
His adult adventures went swimmingly until the Well. Link learned that's where he draws the line- the undead. Bad enough he had to go back in time and get the Lens of Truth. Was worse when he had to fight a Dead Hand, because honestly, those things are the grossest.
When he stepped into the Shadow Temple, he nearly noped out.
Then he remembered he's the Hero of Time and he just doesn't get that option, but let it be known- these are the things that Link doesn't do. Dead things, Shadows and Shit That Lurks in the Dark(™).
The Well was bad enough, but the Shadow Temple is something else. Ghosts and Goons everywhere. The sickly smell of decaying flesh. Disembodied voices- and sometimes heads.
He's just about done with it.
But, the thing about Link is that when he makes a promise, he follows through, no matter what. And really, who can say no to the Princess? There are only so many people in the world who can save Hyrule.
So, Link perseveres, despite the way that he holds his nose every time he walks by a crypt. Never again, he thinks. Truly can't get worse than this.
It does, naturally, because why wouldn't it.
Honestly, it's his luck, the divine curse of the Hero. Everything that can go wrong definitely does.
Within every dungeon, there's a point in which he can tell it's the end. The room that's right before the cleverly labeled Boss. Always has suspicious amounts of healing goodies and maybe even conveniently located near the beginning.
Because of course it is; nothing like working your way through an entire place to wind up right back where you start.
This is where he always pauses and gathers himself. Gives himself a pat on the back for staying alive thus far. Says a small prayer to the Goddesses and begs for help he knows they won't give. He and Zelda really have to do everything themselves, don't they?
And then it's down the hole he goes.
To land on a drum.
What the hell, he thinks in a rare moment of supreme confusion. There have been some strange and even awkward arenas he's found himself in, but he didn't think there'd be anything worse than the Underwater One.
He's wrong. There's a smack against the tightly stretched leather floor and Link's entire body lurches with it. There's the smell of death and decay and he nearly loses his stomach. And when Link looks, he's not prepared…
To see nothing. Even though there's clearly something there.
Figures.
That's the way that it always goes. Link pulls out the Eye of Truth and finds himself face-to-face with what is truly a monster. Seems like it wants to toy around with him, as it bangs the drum to a tune only it can hear.
It's hard to keep his balance but Link will adjust. He always does, because if he doesn't, far worse things will happen.
You know, like the entire fall of Hyrule.
So yeah, he's already halfway done and tired of the same bullshit.
Still, he pulls out the Master Sword and shield, and takes his stance.
"Once more, with feeling," he murmurs. "Let's go."