I woke up to the darkness, blinking awake, and with a cold sensation to my neck.
Trickling down, there were drops of freezing water falling on me. I was laying on my stomach, disoriented but now awake. The pain suddenly struck me, as if waiting to burden my body after a marathon of running from death.
At least I was alive, and for that, I was sure of and thankful.
I let out a frustrated groan, as I tried to push myself off the rough stone beneath me. My aching hands complained from the shark angles of the rock and from the lack of energy I had. My fall did not seem so crippling.
How was I still alive? I seriously do not know. I was fortunate that I did not lose consciousness, any longer would have been detrimental to my already wounded body.
Maybe I have that main character energy?
No wait, my mom is still alive. I prefer to let it stay that way, thank you.
Dusting myself off, I realized how bright this place was. For a cave, it was too bright. Looking up, I realized why. There was a wide gaping hole. It was where I came from, obviously.
The steep stone walls, circular in motion, led up to the top where a mysterious lightsource originated from. It must've been the moon from the surface-world. It is night-time then.
I remembered a small detail from the game, or some lore video, that time works differently in the Abyss.
The Abyss.
I scowled, as I realized I fell in the same trap Tartaglia did. No matter, I just need to find an exit. Roam around, avoid monsters, the Abyss Order, potentially the Traveler's sibling, and find an exit. Very easy, lemon squeezy.
Hmm. I'm going to die, aren't I?
Well, at least I don't have my family to witness my death. Fuck the Abyss.
It was so much better to die being eaten alive by Rifthounds. Now, I'm going to get my ass torn apart and be eaten alive by untold horrors from Lovecraft's wet dreams. I hate the implications that I am dragging my death to a much more gruesome one.
I also hate the implications that destiny is leading me here.
That no matter how much I try to avoid my- Tartaglia's role in the world, the world itself will fix it for me.
Fuck no.
In the game, from a life so long ago, I saw a guy who loves his family. Yet still, willingly became the Tsaritsa's weapon, and chose that role more than his family. Wealth for his family excuse or no, Tartaglia cares not for money or Mora.
Just the thrill and blood, threatening not to kill others for he could enjoy it more if they live to fight another day.
I will not be a monster that sells himself with the excuse to provide for his loved ones. I will not thirst for violence. I will not endanger my family over a flimsy excuse like the Rooster caring.
He first lost himself in the Abyss. I pray not to make that same mistake twice.
At first I did not care, as I had other characters I liked more. Plus, I never pulled for Childe. And I quit the game after a year of playing, realizing how it was not worth the effort at all. I never cared for his story, or the characters like his family only mentioned in the background. Teucer was a little shit in the game, too much sunshine and rainbows by Tartaglia's futile attempts to save his brother's innocence.
Did the idiot not realize how much his family is in danger? Teucer will probably be killed first by Rooster, the fucker that earned that dumbass Tartaglia's trust. It will make Teucer's suffering much worse than what Tartaglia had. He was an idiot, first degree to the last.
If he really cared for his family, that he had no choice but to become a Fatui, he should've not bothered being sent there in the first place and worked hard to become a Harbinger. Worked hard to earn the Tsaritsa's favor and should've just stuck to working as a grunt. Not gain the interests of psychopathic god-killers. Not becoming one of those psychopathic god-killers like Tartaglia.
That would certainly make for a boring story for a character.
Even if destiny shoves it down my throat, I will not take the same path as Tartaglia. If I gained Foul Legacy, so be it. If I were to be forced to join the Fatui, I'll just make sure not to make any noise to attract them. I will not be the same troublemaker as Tartaglia.
I will keep my family safe.
Stick to the plan, the new plan. Get out or die. Compelling.
Glancing from the walls to the floor, this place reminded me of that scene in the movie Journey to the Center of the Earth. The one Brendan Fraser played as one of the lead roles. I always liked his movies, the Mummy series especially. Even the bad ones.
Well, time to pull out my courageous self. Indiana Jones style.
There was only one clear path, a hollow cave leading far in the distance. Since I can't climb a steep incline I'll take my chances ahead. It was dark further ahead, as the light of the moon fades the farther I am away from my landing spot.
Oh well, if it is a dead end, dying of starvation does not sound too bad.
As I descended deep into the darkness, I could feel a strange energy pulsating through the walls. Huh, the walls were alive. How charming.
Was this tunnel some sort of vein? The plants around me were glowing dim, casting an eerie light across the cavern walls where I could still barely see. At first, I thought it was some kind of trick of the light, but as I moved closer to them, I realized that they were actually emitting a soft, pulsing glow.
It was as if the world was alive and breathing, and I was witnessing it firsthand. I felt a rush of excitement as I realized that I was about to discover something incredible. It was not everyday I got to leave the confines of Morepesok. Even if I meet my end at the edge of the tunnel, at least I get a sense of adventure out of it.
Walking through the darkness, I felt thirsty. Not for violence or blood, thank goodness. It must've been half a day since I last drank water. Please don't tell me the water here is poisonous.
As I continued deeper into the cave system, the flora and fauna became increasingly strange and otherworldly. I saw vines that looked like they were made of solid crystal, mushrooms that glowed with a rainbow of colors, and flowers that looked like they were made of pure light.
Considering that this place was part of the Abyss, I'd rather stick away from those.
To make sure I was still following the hollow walls, I stuck my hands to the walls, and skimmed through it whilst it led me to wherever it leads at the end of the tunnel.
After what felt like an hour, I found a light in the distance.
Finally! Whatever horrors await, at least let me get a drink first. Being eaten alive whilst thirsty sounds bad.
Letting my hand go off the cold walls, I took a sprint and ran towards the light. My legs still burned, aching from the last desperate sprint I had. But the light ahead spurned my legs on, encouraged to find whatever is at the end.
As I reached the bottom of the cavern, I saw a strange sight.
Then the world flashed around me. What I was greeted with was not what I expected at all.
The sun.
Above me was a glowing sun, but it was not like any sun I had ever seen before. It seemingly was the only thing keeping the rest of the realm, even farther away, alight with some light.
It was pulsating with a strange energy that connected with the world below. It was as if the sun was feeding the land with its energy, giving life to the flora and fauna that surrounded me.
Wait, life?
The cliffs ahead, jutting out like spiked pillars pointing beneath the sun, were teeming with dark-colored plants. Glowing with life and alive.
The plants were unlike any I had ever seen before on the surface, even in my old world too. They were luminescent and glowed in a dim of colors. Some were so tall that they towered above me, while others were so small that they were barely visible. They seemed to be living, breathing beings, and I could feel their energy coursing through me by the strange wind that carried it around.
The wind did not carry the cold, like in the town of Morepesok, but rather a warm sensation I hadn't felt since my old life. When was the last time I escaped the snow?
For a moment, I took in the warmth. Certainly surprised by the things that I now had witness to.
I was so entranced by the beauty of this hidden world that I didn't notice the creature that was watching me. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my leg, and I looked down to see a small, writhing creature attached to my skin.
Hello there. What a cute little fucker.
"AHHHHHHHHH! Shit! Fuck! Get it off!" Panic set in as I realized that I had been ambushed by an Abyss-Crawler, a Lovecraftian beast that was a mix of dragon, snake, and fish- I recognized the little shit from the books at dad's office. Its sharp, pointed teeth dug into my flesh as it tried to pull me closer, and I knew that I had to act fast if I wanted to survive
With a burst of adrenaline, I kicked the creature off my leg and took off running. I could hear the Abyss-Crawler's enraged screech echoing off the cave walls as it gave chase. Oh hell naw.
I darted through the twisting tunnels, my heart pounding in my chest as I dodged sharp rocks and leaped over obstacles. The Abyss-Crawler was right behind me, its massive body slithering through the tight spaces with ease.
I was desperate to get away, but the deeper I ran into the Abyss, the darker it became. The clouds above blocked out the sun, casting the entire underground world into an endless twilight.
I could hear the Abyss-Crawler closing in on me, its breath hot on my heels. I was so focused on getting away that I didn't even notice the sharp rocks in front of me until it was too late.
Oh butterfingers. Or was it my legs?
I tripped and stumbled, and the Abyss-Crawler was upon me in an instant. I felt its massive jaws closing in around me, ready to tear me apart. Cue the dramatic latin music.
But just as I thought it was all over, I heard a strange humming noise, and the Abyss-Crawler recoiled in pain. I looked up and saw that the glowing plants around me were pulsing with a new intensity, their energy coalescing into a beam of pure light.
The light shot out from the plants, striking the Abyss-Crawler with a force that sent it tumbling backward. I seized my chance and took off running, following the beam of light as it cut through the darkness.
Ha! It's a plant-eat-bitch world out there.
The light shot out from the plants, striking the Abyss-Crawler with a force that sent it tumbling backward. I seized my chance and took off running, following the beam of light as it cut through the darkness.
Finally, I burst out of the Abyss and into the sunlight. I collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath and staring up at the sky. Or at least the illusion of it.
I took a heavy breath and sighed deep. Closing my eyes, I took a moment to rest from another near death experience. With an overgrown worm.
The clouds were still dark and heavy, but I could see the sun shining brightly in the center of them all. It was a surreal sight, and I knew that I would never forget the strange world beneath the earth, the flora and fauna that glowed, and the terrifying Abyss-Crawler that had tried to end my life.
Another one for the history books.
"My, oh my," A chuckling voice echoed above me. "I thought I heard some squealing, to think it was some fresh meat from the surface. What a lucky day."
I snapped my eyes open to see a grinning woman, kneeling on a particularly sharp rock overlooking the open area I stumbled upon. There was a pair of blades on each hand, one resting on her shoulder and the other on one of her knees. She was staring at me like I was a meal-ready for this hour's supper.
"You entered the safe zone without being blasted like that worm over there. I'm guessing you ain't corrupted?"
I nodded my head, a little scared if I didn't. My gut was screaming, as I had a feeling I knew who she was. I hate destiny.
"What? Can't speak? I'll gut you if you don't give me a name." That easy smile was enough for me to be convinced that she was crazy.
"A-Ajax. What's yours?" Fuck it. Might as well, I prefer to be eaten not gutted.
"Hmm. Call me Skirk."
I fucking knew it.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
No update this weekend, as I am concentrating on other works. OCF, Aether's Isekai, and Traveler's Day Off will start updating from now on. Ironically enough, I hate the Mummy movies. They were funny though...