The young boy continued on his way towards the ruined city, determination still within his heart.

The path on his way there had very little to see, that is, if he could see anything around him. For some inexplicable reason, the ground all around the purple dirt path is pitch black, even in spite of the town being clearly visible from any kind of distance.

The boy clutched the dagger as he made his way towards the dilapidated city. Though the town seemed to have been deserted apart from some flying particles flying around the top, danger was gonna be lurking around any corner he sees, if what the masked man said was to be trusted that is.

The man's word turned out to be more true than thought, as the boy soon heard a growl, one intent on evisceration.

Turning his head towards the source, the boy finds what he was expecting. A monstrous black and white monster, white dots, jagged teeth and everything else similar to the one he was narrowly saved from before.

Seeing no other recourse, the boy takes a stance and braces himself for battle.

-Battle Start-

*The GastRonome stares at you hungrily

Knowing what he must do in order to get by, he hovered over the Fight option, and brandished his dagger before taking a slash towards the beast's white soul.

*You grazed the GastRonome: -10hp

The creature gave an irritated snarl towards the boy as the offensive and defensive positions had switched. The GastRonome kneeled over and growled before eventually leaping in the direction of the boy.

Thankfully, the boy was quick on his feet and stepped to the side before the thing's teeth could graze his red soul.

As the offensive position returns to the boy, his mind soon turns towards the monstrosity before him, more specifically, it's soul. As the white colored heart floats before it's owner, a slash mark now adorning the front where attacked, it appeared to be adorned with tiny black squares, sparkling around the heart ominously.

The boy could only stare at the odd sight in confusion, knowing that the man from before never mentioned anything about that. He didn't seem the sort to forget important details, so perhaps this was simply a detail that wasn't very important, or practical.

Regardless, the boy hovered his hand over the fight option, wanting to get this fight done and over with. With some hesitation still within himself, he took another slash towards the creature's soul.

*You managed to hit the Gastronome: -15hp

The gastronome gave an even more irritated screech towards the boy's way, and entered it's pouncing position once again.

Understanding what this motion telegraphs, the boy moved out of the way of the monster's bite, now noticing it's biting the air three times. The young boy can only shiver as the sequence switches once again, trying to keep from thinking what his fate would've been had he not bothered to dodge.

Not even hesitating, he attacked the monster's soul again, only now, the creature fell to the ground, slowly turning to dust, leaving nothing but it's dust residue, as well as some coins as it did so.

*You Won! +5xp +10 gold

-Battle End-

As he put away the worn dagger to his side, the boy simply looked over the small golden coins, covered with the dust of the creature he had just vanquished.

Before he could even dwell on the idea of picking the gold up, the coins vanished before his eyes, his small pant pockets suddenly feeling heavier as it did so. Feeling towards his right thigh, the rustling of the small, round objects confirmed to the young boy that they had for sure been teleported there.

Figuring that currency will be a necessity later on, the boy simply continues onward towards the ruined town, pretty sure that whatever he's looking for is gonna be there.

But not before pausing to question when his pants suddenly got pockets when they haven't previously.

Very little happened during the boy's trek to the city.

Though, it did very little to ease the boy's nerves, as the guttural, ravenous noises all around him broke the-admittedly comforting-sound of his own footsteps, the implied number of such creatures being countless, though the sounds of them seem to overlap one another constantly. Even if the number was any smaller than that however…

Nothing scares the boy more than ambiguity.

Still, after a little bit of walking, he eventually makes it to the dilapidated town. A town of a large size, buildings reaching for the skies-wherever they may be-all of which being juxtaposed by the very fact that the whole place appeared to abandoned, the only none feral life being that of the exotic looking plant growth, all of which had seemed to be slowly eating the surface of the building's original deep maroon with it's particular light bluish hue.

Perhaps that is simply what the plants do in this strange world?

Nonetheless, the glow was bright enough to reveal flying specs all around town, all clear, only visible as they seem to reflect the light of the source it is near.

After a bit of gawking over the visuals, the boy went on to his given goal-rations.

Unfortunately, it proved hard, as the boy could not find anything throughout as he roamed the streets, and any building's doors were either locked or the building that said door belonged to collapsed in on itself, most likely rendering anything inside or under it unusable… so he assumed, at least.

Eventually though, he found an open door of a modest home, looking worn, but still very much standing. Well, open door in the sense that it's since fallen off the hinges, flat on the ground in the opposite direction it's meant to go, but open doorway is an open doorway, right?

Inside, the interior design proved to be just as miserable as the outside, as the very same plant life seemed to be getting into it as well. In fact, the only other things that seemed to be out of place in an average home like this happens to be… the rather tall clothing within the chair by the desk.

Upon closer inspection, said clothing seemed to be covered in the very same specs the boy's saw outside, seeing as the odd moss-like substance was apparently nearby, he couldn't say he was surprised.

On the desk appears to be a piece of paper, the handwriting seeming rather hasty. By some sort of instinct within the boy, he decided to give it a read:

"To the one that stumbles upon this note, know that I wish only salvation on your clearly hardened soul. As for me, I'm most likely passed on, or worse, became part of them. Whatever comes, know that I left my rations for you towards the graveyard. It may not be much, but who knows, perhaps you will be the one to survive… that "thing".

The last part seemed to be scrawled in an even more rushed and hurried way than before.

Before the boy could analyze anything any further, he could feel his senses burning up, soon ending up in a sneeze.

Just when he got over his body's natural process, he was soon taken by surprise by another guttural sound, coming from the corner of the room, it's pure white eyes opening from the corner of the room. As it slowly came out, it proved to be yet another creature, somehow more daunting than the last, as this one seemed to be mostly mouth, as despite its wide size that doubled the desk the boy was near, it's mouth seemed to be nearly as long as said body. The uncanny thing proved to be uglier when it opened it's visage, revealing only rows upon layers of teeth, and a long tongue that seemed to be very much alive as well, as it has its own face where it glares with eyes that matches it's host.

Though taken aback by the monstrosity, he takes out his dull knife and prepares for the worst.

-Battle Start-

*The Chimerpillar bares its fangs

Having an idea of what he must do with battles now, the young boy lunged forward and swung with the best of his ability.

*You grazed the Chimerpillar: -7hp

The thing screeched a moment in reaction before it took its turn. Turns out that the tongue of the Chimerpillar had a mind of its own, as the thing simply opened its mouth and the tongue-like creature bounced off the walls of the area. The boy simply moved away to the spaces where it didn't go, thankfully leaving him unscathed and free to take his own turn again.

Deciding on what he needed, he decided to check the enemy.

*Chimerpillar: An odd beast with an odd worm for a tongue. Said tongue is the only company he seemed to have for a long time.

ATK 5 DEF 3

With that, the beast attacks once more, this time the worm giving chase to his soul, him simply running as it follows his every move. He simply made due with trying to run, and thankfully ended unhurt after the attack cycle seemed to end.

The boy didn't exactly understand how something like that works, but he wasn't about to be ungrateful, as he went to attack again.

*You hit a weak spot!: -13hp

And just like that, the thing finally fell after yet another gravely bellow, the thing soon falling to dust.

You Won! +7xp +11 gold

-Battle End-

The boy simply took a few moments to catch a breath at the very events that transpired. With the note and the monster that was apparently there the whole time, he only had a single question on his mind…

Could that have been the fate he befell?...

He didn't know, and he might never know. So shaking off the shock factor, finding it easier and easier the more he goes through to keep a stable head, as he simply exits, now having an idea of where he must look for those rations the masked man wanted.

Regardless, he could not help but wonder what it could be that he must go through going forward. Especially since he still feels like he's being watched at a distance...