Hunter stood at the edge of a long, winding staircase, Flowey still hidden in the depths of his bag. The air was dense and cool, the faint sounds of something distant echoing from below. He stared down the steps, taking a deep breath before descending.
"Are we really doing this?" Flowey's voice piped up from the bag. "You know, we could just... not go down here. I've heard, uh, rumors about what's down there. Big, bad stuff, like monsters that aren't friendly."
Hunter rolled his eyes, continuing to step cautiously down the stone stairs. "I didn't ask for your commentary, flower."
"Hey, I'm just saying!" Flowey huffed. "You're walking into who-knows-what, and all you've got is a rusty stick."
"Pretty sure I'll be fine," Hunter muttered, gripping the stick as if to reassure himself. I'm pretty sure my wand is in my bag, so there's that for emergencies.
At the bottom of the stairs, the space opened into a wide, dark room. Dim torches lined the walls, casting flickering shadows across the ground. There were no signs of life, but Hunter's gut told him he wasn't alone. He scanned the room carefully, taking slow, measured steps toward the center.
A deep rumble echoed through the chamber, and the ground shook beneath his feet.
"Uh… you heard that, right?" Flowey's voice was trembling slightly now.
Before Hunter could respond, a figure began to emerge from the darkness ahead. It was tall, much taller than him, with glowing eyes and a hulking, armored body. Its face was obscured by a horned helmet, and in its hand, it held a massive battle axe that looked as though it could cleave through stone.
"Well," Hunter said, voice steady despite the looming threat, "this ought to be interesting."
Flowey's petals twitched nervously from inside the bag. "Interesting?! We're going to die!"
The armored figure took a step forward, its heavy boots sending tremors through the ground. Hunter held his ground, watching its movements carefully. His SOUL appeared before him again, glowing that familiar red. But this time, Hunter wasn't caught off guard.
Flowey's voice whispered, half-panic, half-advice. "Okay, okay, remember! Move your SOUL, dodge the attacks, and—oh, I don't know—try not to die!"
The figure raised its axe, and with a swift, mighty swing, sent a shockwave of energy straight at Hunter. He reacted quickly, dodging to the side, his SOUL moving in tandem with his instincts.
"Good, good!" Flowey chirped, sounding impressed. "Now, maybe, try to hit back?"
Hunter gripped the stick and lunged forward, but his attack barely made a dent in the figure's thick armor. The creature let out a low growl, raising its axe again for another strike.
Just as the blade came crashing down, Hunter felt that same pulsing energy from before—the golden light. His SOUL flashed, shifting from red to gold in an instant. A golden sword appeared in his hand, shimmering brightly in the dim light of the chamber. Flowey gasped. "Whoa! That's… new."
Hunter didn't hesitate this time. He swung the golden blade, and it cut through the air with incredible speed, meeting the axe head-on. Sparks flew, and the creature staggered back, surprised by the sudden force.
Hunter pressed the advantage, his movements faster, and more precise than before. Each swing of the golden sword sent shockwaves of energy toward the figure, and though it tried to defend itself, its movements were sluggish compared to Hunter's newfound speed.
The creature roared, raising its axe one final time, but Hunter was ready. With a swift, decisive strike, he cut through its defenses, landing a blow that shattered the axe and sent the figure crumbling to its knees.
Hunter stood there, breathing heavily, the golden sword still glowing faintly in his hand. The armored figure dissolved into the shadows, leaving behind only silence and the faint flicker of the torches. Flowey, peeking out from the bag now, stared at Hunter in awe. "Okay, I take it back. Maybe you're not totally useless after all."
Hunter lowered the sword, and the golden light faded, his SOUL returning to its normal red color. He felt the fatigue hit him almost immediately—his limbs heavy, his breath labored. Flowey's voice turned serious. "Hey, don't push yourself too hard with that thing. It's powerful, sure, but it's draining you fast."
Hunter nodded, rubbing his forehead. "Yeah... I noticed." He took a moment to catch his breath, glancing around the chamber. The path ahead was still unclear, but he felt like he was getting closer to something—something important.
"Let's keep moving," Hunter said, tightening his grip on the stick, though a part of him wished he could call on the golden sword whenever he wanted.
Flowey, now more curious than fearful, settled back into the bag. "You know, I'm starting to think you might be more trouble than you're worth."
Hunter chuckled softly. "You're just figuring that out?" Together, they pressed onward, deeper into the unknown. Hunter walked deeper into the dimly lit corridor, his footsteps echoing faintly as he pressed onward. The oppressive silence seemed to weigh on him, but he kept moving, his senses sharp, always on alert for whatever might come next. Flowey, tucked snugly into the bag, occasionally peeked out, his eyes darting nervously as they ventured further into the unknown.
"So… what exactly is down here?" Hunter asked, his voice low as they moved.
"Monsters, traps, maybe some really old treasure. You know, the usual," Flowey muttered sarcastically. "But don't get too excited, 'cause I guarantee whatever's waiting for us isn't going to roll out a welcome mat."
Hunter kept his focus ahead. "I can handle it."
"You're confident for someone who barely knows how anything works around here." Flowey's voice carried a mix of caution and frustration. "I mean, sure, you've got your fancy gold sword thing, but that's not going to be enough if you don't know what's coming next."
Hunter gritted his teeth. "I'll manage."
Flowey let out a sigh. "Fine, your funeral, kid."
The corridor soon widened into a massive chamber. Hunter came to a stop as he surveyed the space. Stone pillars jutted out of the ground at random angles, cracked and weathered with age. Strange markings adorned the walls, swirling patterns that glowed faintly in the dim light. In the center of the chamber stood a large, ornate door, with intricate designs carved into the stone, almost shimmering with a faint energy.
Flowey immediately tensed. "That's not a normal door."
Hunter approached cautiously, inspecting the carvings. "You know what this is?"
"I've seen doors like this before," Flowey whispered. "They're usually... well, sealed. Whatever's behind it isn't meant to be opened easily."
Hunter reached out, placing his hand on the cool surface of the door. A soft vibration hummed through his palm as if responding to his touch. There was no visible keyhole, no obvious mechanism to unlock it.
"Any idea how to get it open?" Hunter asked, half-expecting Flowey to have some cryptic knowledge to share.
Flowey blinked, then let out a nervous laugh. "You're asking me? Yeah, no, not a clue. This is way above my pay grade."
Hunter stepped back, eyes narrowing. He scanned the room again, searching for anything that might help. Then, his eyes landed on a small pedestal to the left of the door, hidden behind one of the larger stone pillars. Curious, he walked over to it.
The pedestal was simple, with an empty slot in the middle and strange symbols etched around the base. Hunter knelt, inspecting the symbols more closely. Flowey peeked out again. "Ooooh, that's probably some kind of key mechanism. Bet we need something to put in that slot."
"Like a key," Hunter muttered.
"Brilliant deduction, Sherlock," Flowey quipped. "Now, where do you suppose we'll find one?"
Hunter stood up, glancing around the room once more. His eyes fell on a passageway to the right of the chamber, shrouded in shadow. It seemed to lead even deeper into the underground maze. "Looks like we're going that way," Hunter said, nodding toward the passage.
Flowey groaned. "Deeper? Are you trying to get us killed?"
"You said we need a key. This is the only other way," Hunter replied, already moving toward the passage. The air grew colder as they ventured into the narrow hallway. The walls were damp, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed in the distance. Hunter's grip tightened on the stick in his hand, ready for anything that might come at him from the shadows.
The passage twisted and turned, leading them deeper underground until they reached another room. This one was smaller than the previous chamber, with jagged rocks scattered across the floor. In the center stood a pedestal similar to the one they had seen before, but this one held an object—a small, glowing stone, hovering just above the pedestal's surface.
Hunter stepped forward, but Flowey's voice stopped him. "Wait! Wait, wait, wait. That's way too easy. There's gotta be a trap."
Hunter paused, eyes narrowing as he stared at the glowing stone. "It looks like a key."
"Exactly! Which is why it's definitely booby-trapped!" Flowey said, his voice rising with panic. "No way it's just sitting there waiting for us to grab it!" Hunter hesitated for a moment, weighing Flowey's words. But they needed the key. There was no other choice. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and reached out toward the stone.
The moment his fingers brushed the glowing surface, the ground beneath him rumbled. Stone slabs slammed down at the entrance of the room, sealing them inside.
"See? Trap!" Flowey shrieked. Hunter cursed under his breath, snatching the glowing key from the pedestal just as the walls began to move. They were closing in, inching closer with each passing second. The room was shrinking fast.
"Not good, not good!" Flowey yelled. "We're gonna be pancakes!"
Hunter spun around, searching for an exit. His eyes darted across the room until they landed on a crack in the wall—a small opening, just wide enough for him to squeeze through. Without wasting a second, he ran toward it, Flowey shouting in panic the whole way.
"Move, move, move!" Hunter yelled, diving into the crack just as the walls closed behind him with a loud crash.
He tumbled out into another narrow passage, breathing hard, the glowing key still clutched in his hand. Flowey poked out from the bag, his eyes wide with terror.
"Okay, that was… too close," Flowey panted. "But hey, you got the key! So… yay?"
Hunter stood up, brushing himself off. "Let's hope it's worth it."
With the glowing key in hand, Hunter retraced his steps back to the ornate door. The pedestal awaited him, the slot now glowing faintly as if anticipating the key's arrival. Hunter placed the key into the slot, and a deep, rumbling noise echoed through the chamber. Slowly, the ornate door began to slide open, revealing a dark corridor beyond.
Flowey let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Well, here we go. Into the abyss, once again."
Hunter couldn't help but smile. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
They stepped through the doorway, into a large room full of runes and relics.
They stepped through the doorway, into a large room filled with glowing runes etched across the walls and scattered relics lying on stone pedestals. The atmosphere was thick with ancient energy like the air itself had been charged with some forgotten magic. Hunter's eyes widened as he took in the sight, the strange symbols and artifacts giving the place a hauntingly sacred feel.
"Whoa…" Hunter whispered, stepping further into the room. "What is this place?"
Flowey, peeking out from the bag, looked equally stunned. "This... this is way older than anything I've ever seen. Like... ancient ancient. These relics—some of them probably haven't been touched in centuries."
Hunter approached one of the pedestals. Upon it lay a small, ornate shield covered in the same glowing runes that adorned the walls. He reached out, hesitating for a moment before brushing his fingers against its surface. A jolt of energy surged through him, causing him to yank his hand back.
Flowey's eyes darted from one relic to another, almost hungrily. "You sure you want to touch that stuff? For all we know, this room could be cursed or something!"
Hunter ignored him, eyes scanning the room. "There's gotta be something important here. We wouldn't have gone through all that trouble just for decoration."
As they moved deeper into the room, Hunter noticed that the runes on the walls began to pulse, their glow growing brighter the closer they got to the center of the chamber. There, standing on a larger pedestal than the rest, was a single relic that seemed to be the focal point of the room: a stone. Its material looked gold, shimmering faintly even in the dim light, with intricate designs carved along its hilt. It looked ancient, powerful, and somehow familiar.
Hunter's heart skipped a beat. He could feel something pulling him toward it—like the stone was calling out to him.
Flowey noticed his gaze fixated on the stone and immediately panicked. "Oh, no no no no, you're not thinking about grabbing that, are you? That's gotta be the most cursed thing in this whole place!"
But Hunter was already moving forward, his feet seemingly on autopilot. He could hear Flowey's protests, but they felt distant, almost like background noise. All he could focus on was the sword.
As he reached the pedestal, the runes on the walls flared to life, casting a golden glow across the entire chamber. The stone was perfectly balanced as if waiting for someone—waiting for him.
Hunter reached out, his hand trembling slightly as it hovered over the orb. He hesitated, then firmly grasped it.
The moment his fingers curled around the hilt, the room erupted with energy. The runes blazed, the walls shaking as the ancient magic seemed to react to his presence. A powerful force surged through him, connecting him to the sword. It was as if the relic recognized him—as if it had been waiting for him all along.
Flowey's voice snapped through the chaos. "Hunter, what did you DO?!"
Hunter didn't have time to respond. The ground beneath them began to tremble, and a low, ominous rumble echoed from deep within the earth. The runes, now glowing violently, started shifting, as though the very fabric of the room was being rewritten.
Suddenly, the relics around them began to levitate, their forms shimmering with magic. Hunter could feel the immense power radiating from the sword in his hand, but it was overwhelming—too much for him to control.
With a deep breath, he tried to focus, channeling the power coursing through him. The golden orb pulsed with energy, and Hunter realized this wasn't just an ordinary stone. This was something far greater.
Flowey's voice, shaking with fear, cut through the chaos again. "Whatever you're gonna do, do it fast! I think we just woke something up!"
Hunter's grip tightened on the stone as the walls continued to tremble, dust and debris falling around them. He didn't know what was coming, but one thing was clear: they were no longer alone in this ancient chamber.
From the far side of the room, a dark figure began to emerge, its form slowly materializing from the swirling energy. The ground shook harder as the figure grew larger, towering over Hunter and Flowey. Its eyes glowed with a menacing red light, and an ancient, guttural growl filled the chamber.
Hunter hid the golden stone behind his back, readying himself for whatever was about to come. "Here we go," he muttered under his breath, feeling the power of the orb hum through his veins.
The figure stepped forward, its form becoming clearer with every second. Its body was cloaked in shadows, but Hunter could make out the glint of armor beneath the darkness. It was massive, easily twice his height, and wielded a jagged weapon that looked like it had been forged in fire and darkness. Its presence seemed to warp the very air around it, distorting the light from the runes.
Flowey's voice was barely a whisper now. "Uh, Hunter? Maybe now's a good time to, I dunno, run?"
Hunter smirked. "Nah. I've got this."
With a surge of energy, the golden stone in his hand began to glow even brighter, and a radiant sword materialized in his grip, its light cutting through the dark figure's menacing aura. The stone wasn't just a relic—it was a weapon, one that resonated with his very soul.
The dark figure roared, raising its weapon to strike, but Hunter was faster. In a flash of golden light, he dashed forward, sword in hand, ready to face the ancient foe head-on. Hunter's SOUL appeared before him, and the familiar battle grid formed beneath his feet. The battle menu hovered in his vision, the usual options laid out: FIGHT, ACT, ITEM, MERCY.
Without hesitation, he hit ACT and selected Check. The voice that followed sounded cold and distant, almost like it was echoing from the ancient walls around them.
? ATK: 12 DEF: 10 A Guardian of a Shard of Farore. Wants to see if The Chosen Hero will ever come, and if it's you. Whatever that means.
Hunter squinted at the information. Farore? Chosen Hero? It wasn't the first time he'd heard something cryptic like this, but it still made his head spin. Clearly, this wasn't just some random creature—they were testing him.
Flowey's voice broke the silence. "Farore? Never heard of it. But hey, sounds like you've got something to prove. No pressure!" The Guardian shifted its stance, waiting for Hunter to make his move, its eyes glowing with that same red light. Hunter could feel the tension in the air. Whatever this thing was, it wouldn't hold back, especially if it thought he could be this Chosen Hero.
"Great," Hunter muttered to himself. "Guess I'll have to show it what I've got." He steeled himself, gripping the golden sword tightly, ready to face this head-on. The Figure swung a large ax at Hunter and he rolled out of the way. He pressed ACT hoping for a peaceful solution. No other options. Fine then, I'll manage. He thought. He hit FIGHT. Right in the chest. A green bar popped up with a red 50 above it. It was half grey. *The Guardian did NOT like that. Their Attack Increased! Their Defense raised! "Uh. That's… not good." He muttered.
The Guardian somehow conjured fire with its bare hands and sent a barrage of it towards him. Hunter ducked behind a pillar. "Are you Insane?!" Flowey screamed. "You're gonna get us KILLED, IDIOT!" Hunter looked at the orb in his hand. It looked like a Star was inside it. He put both of his hands on it and, sure enough, the voice started talking.
*The Gold Orb in your hand is cold and yet it fills you with a warm and comfortable feeling amid the battle. You are filled with a strong sense of Courage and Determination. File 1 Saved.
"Bet," Hunter said, smirking. Hunter stepped out from behind the pillar, the orb's glow radiating through his fingers. The Guardian wasted no time, charging forward with its ax raised high. But something had shifted in Hunter. He felt the warmth of the orb coursing through him, bolstering his strength.
The Guardian brought its weapon down with terrifying force, but Hunter dodged it effortlessly, his movements faster than before. He could feel the power of the Golden SOUL enhancing his reflexes. The fight had changed.
"Alright, big guy, let's see what this does," Hunter muttered. He could feel the Golden SOUL resonating with the sword in his hand. With a swift motion, he swung at the Guardian again, this time empowered by the orb's energy. The sword connected with the Guardian's armored body, sending a pulse of golden light rippling through the chamber.
*Critical Hit! 100 DMG!
The Guardian staggered backward, letting out a guttural roar as its health bar dropped significantly. But instead of retreating, it stood taller, its eyes burning with renewed fury. Its attacks were stronger now, each swing of its ax coming faster, more precise.
Hunter was barely able to dodge the next series of strikes, each one closer than the last. He skidded to a stop, panting, as the Guardian lifted its hand and summoned a wall of fire between them.
Flowey's voice chimed in, full of panic, "Hunter! This thing's not gonna go down easy! Are you sure you can handle this?!"
Hunter's eyes darted between the Guardian and the swirling orb in his hand. He had no choice but to keep fighting, but with the Guardian growing more powerful, it felt like he was running out of time.
"I've got this," Hunter muttered, though he wasn't sure if it was to reassure Flowey or himself. He glanced at the ACT menu again, hoping for some new option. Still nothing.
The Guardian raised its ax again, flames dancing around its massive frame, preparing for a devastating strike. Hunter knew he couldn't just keep dodging forever—he had to end this, and soon.
Channeling all of his focus into the orb, he felt its energy surge through him. He could feel the power of the SOUL activating once again. With a deep breath, he took a risk.
Instead of attacking directly, Hunter dashed forward, using a speed boost from the Golden SOUL. He slipped through the Guardian's fiery barrage, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. With one fluid motion, he drove the sword straight into the Guardian's chest.
The chamber shook as the blade pierced the Guardian's core. The runes on the walls flared to life, casting the entire room in a blinding golden light. The Guardian let out a final, agonized roar before disintegrating into dust, the ax falling to the floor with a heavy clang. Hunter stood there, panting, the glow of the Golden SOUL slowly fading. He looked down at the orb in his hand, feeling its warmth retreating, leaving only a faint shimmer behind.
*YOU WON! Gained 200 EXP and 500 gold!
*Your LOVE increased.
Flowey, finally emerging from the bag, stared in shock. "You… you actually did it. You took that thing down!"
Hunter smirked, tucking the orb back into his pocket. "Told you I've got this."
Flowey, recovering from his shock, slithered out of the bag entirely now, his eyes still wide with disbelief. "Well, color me impressed. I didn't think you had it in you."
Hunter shrugged, trying to play it cool even though his heart was still racing. "Yeah, well, I didn't either."
Flowey floated closer to him, eyeing the new path that had opened up. "So... now what? Are we just going to keep going deeper into this creepy place?"
Hunter's gaze shifted to the glowing doorway ahead. He could feel something beyond it, something powerful calling to him—just like the orb had. "We don't have much of a choice, do we?"
Flowey groaned. "I was afraid you'd say that."
They walked toward the glowing doorway, the air around them buzzing with energy. As they passed through the entrance, the room behind them vanished, like it had never existed. Ahead was a long corridor lined with more ancient runes, but unlike before, these weren't glowing—they were dormant, etched into the stone as if waiting for something.
"More runes," Hunter muttered. "Seems like this place has a theme."
Flowey floated beside him, a bit more cautious now. "Maybe they're warnings. Or maybe traps. Who knows?"
As the dust settled and the remnants of the Guardian vanished into the air, Hunter felt the weight of the victory wash over him. His body ached from the intense fight, but there was a strange satisfaction in the triumph. The energy from the Golden SOUL still hummed faintly within him, but it was clear that the battle had drained much of its power.
Flowey, recovering from his shock, slithered out of the bag entirely now, his eyes still wide with disbelief. "Well, color me impressed. I didn't think you had it in you."
Hunter shrugged, trying to play it cool even though his heart was still racing. "Yeah, well, I didn't either."
Flowey floated closer to him, eyeing the new path that had opened up. "So... now what? Are we just going to keep going deeper into this creepy place?"
Hunter's gaze shifted to the glowing doorway ahead. He could feel something beyond it, something powerful calling to him—just like the orb had. "We don't have much of a choice, do we?"
Flowey groaned. "I was afraid you'd say that."
They walked toward the glowing doorway, the air around them buzzing with energy. As they passed through the entrance, the room behind them vanished, like it had never existed. Ahead was a long corridor lined with more ancient runes, but unlike before, these weren't glowing—they were dormant, etched into the stone as if waiting for something.
"More runes," Hunter muttered. "Seems like this place has a theme."
Flowey floated beside him, a bit more cautious now. "Maybe they're warnings. Or maybe traps. Who knows?"
As they continued down the hallway, Hunter couldn't shake the feeling that the orb in his pocket had become heavier. He reached for it, pulling it out to examine it. The faint shimmer had returned, but something was different—it almost seemed to pulse, like a heartbeat.
Suddenly, the runes along the walls flickered to life. A low hum filled the corridor, and the ground beneath their feet trembled slightly. Hunter tightened his grip on the orb, feeling the power surging within it.
"Great," Flowey muttered. "What now?"
The runes pulsed brighter, and the corridor ahead of them began to shift. The walls slid apart, revealing an even larger chamber—vast, with towering pillars and an intricate stone floor. At the center of the room was another pedestal, but this one held no relic. Instead, a swirling vortex of golden energy hovered above it, crackling with untapped power.
Hunter's eyes narrowed as he approached it cautiously. "What is that?"
"Don't know," Flowey said. "But I wouldn't touch it, though. Seriously, I do not want to deal with another dude with an ax."
The energy in the room seemed to react to their presence. The vortex above the pedestal flared, tendrils of light spiraling out toward Hunter. He took a step back, but the energy latched onto him, wrapping around him like chains of light. Hunter gritted his teeth, trying to pull away, but the energy held him in place. The Gold Orb in his hand began to glow brighter in response, resonating with the vortex. He could feel it—whatever was happening, it was tied to him, to the Orb, and to the relics they had encountered.
And then, a voice came a different one that had spoken during the battle.
Chosen Hero... You are not yet ready.
Hunter's heart skipped 2 beats. "Not ready for what?"
The vortex pulsed, its energy intensifying. You hold the courage of the Hero, but the path ahead is treacherous. There are trials yet to face.
Hunter called out, "Trials? What does that mean?! I've already been through enough!"
The light around Him began to fade, the energy loosening its grip. But the voice lingered.
Seek the other shards. Only then will the path to your destiny be revealed. Leave this forest. Go find your friends. See what the Dark Master's Chosen has done to Phyrria.
Hunter stood frozen, his pulse racing as the mysterious voice's final words echoed in his ears. The Dark Master's Chosen... Phyrria? He gripped the Golden orb tighter, his mind spinning with the implications.
"Wait—Phyrria?" Flowey's voice was sharp, breaking through Hunter's thoughts. "What does that mean? Is that where we're going next? And what do they mean by Dark Master's Chosen? I'm getting real tired of all these vague, spooky riddles."
Hunter clenched his jaw, determination surging through him. "I don't know, but I'm going to find out. If the Dark Master's Chosen has already done something to Phyrria… then I have to stop it."
Flowey floated beside him, his expression wary but curious. "You're seriously thinking about going up against this 'Dark Master's Chosen' person? You don't even know what they're capable of. For all we know, this could be another trap! And what about the other shards? How do we even find them?"
Hunter stared at the glowing doorway that had just appeared, his gaze steady. "I don't care how many traps or trials there are. I'm not stopping now. If Phyrria's in danger, I have to do something. And if finding those shards is the only way to stop whatever's coming, then that's what we'll do."
Flowey sighed dramatically, clearly less enthusiastic. "You really are determined to get yourself into the worst kind of mess, huh?" He floated in front of Hunter, eyeing the doorway with unease. "Well, I guess it's not like I have anything better to do."
Hunter gave a small smile despite the tension. "You coming with me then?"
Flowey grumbled. "Ugh, fine. But if you get us killed, I'm holding it against you forever."
With that, Hunter stepped through the glowing doorway, the light surrounding him once again as they left the ancient chamber behind. As the door closed behind them, the mysterious voice's final warning still echoed in his mind.
The Dark Master's Chosen had already struck, and Phyrria was in danger. His path was set, and there was no turning back now.
With his Orb glowing faintly in his pocket, Hunter took a deep breath and prepared himself for the trials ahead. His friends were out there somewhere, and the fate of Phyrria rested on his shoulders.
Whatever the Dark Master had planned, Hunter knew one thing for sure: he wasn't going to face it alone.
*Perseverance