The world returns in a violent, crushing wave. A sudden, heavy pressure slams into my chest, forcing the air out of my lungs and replacing it with a searing agony. I heave, my body convulsing as I turn onto my side. The coughs are more than only a reflex; they are a purge. I retch, hacking up lungfuls of that black, musky water. It tastes like copper, bile, and stagnant rot. Each spasm feels like a serrated blade drawing across my throat, leaving me gasping for air that smells of wet stone and ancient musk. My stomach feels twisted inside, like it is tying a knot which makes me sick as I could still taste the nastiness of the environment. My ribs, already cracked from the earlier impact, scream with every shudder while my muscles feel tight and swollen, thanks to the crushing squeeze from the monster earlier. I lay there, waiting for my vision to settle down as I can still see white stars with the background being pure white, then slowly, it turns translucent until finally, It mer

The world returns in a violent, crushing wave. A sudden, heavy pressure slams into my chest, forcing the air out of my lungs and replacing it with a searing agony. I heave, my body convulsing as I turn onto my side. The coughs are more than only a reflex; they are a purge. I retch, hacking up lungfuls of that black, musky water. It tastes like copper, bile, and stagnant rot. Each spasm feels like a serrated blade drawing across my throat, leaving me gasping for air that smells of wet stone and ancient musk. My stomach feels twisted inside, like it is tying a knot which makes me sick as I could still taste the nastiness of the environment. My ribs, already cracked from the earlier impact, scream with every shudder while my muscles feel tight and swollen, thanks to the crushing squeeze from the monster earlier. I lay there, waiting for my vision to settle down as I can still see white stars with the background being pure white, then slowly, it turns translucent until finally, It mer

The silence in the chamber was a suffocating shroud. I kneel over Brixen, my hands shaking as I try resuscitating him. I don't plan on letting him go so I have no option on giving up on him. The stillness in his chest is a void that threatens to swallow my own sanity. As I drown myself in guilt and mourning, a sharp memory flickers like a shard of glass.I remember what happened back Uurok's chambers, when I watched him pull out his own core and shoved it down my throat before crushing me. Despite going through that gory ordeal, it is one thing that saved me on the brink of death. "If only I can say the same thing in this situation—" I pause as a sudden light bulb flickers above my head. What if I can try that? My head snaps toward the massive, cooling corpse of the Weaver. I act on instinct as I sprint across the cavern, my boots splashing through pools of black ichor. I lunge at the monster’s thorax, my knife carving through the rubbery flesh with desperate, frantic stroke

What is Brixen hiding? I try to understand by studying him. He has cold chills popping on his body, his face is completely drain of color and he lost appetite to eat? Could it be the core controlling him? I did something that work on me to him with hope that it will give the same result, but seeing him acting like this clearly different from what I went through in my beginning phrase. Is he seeing his own system like I see mine? Or is there anything else he is going through. I need to know. Tonight, the air feels heavy, thick with a tension that has shouldn't even be there in the first place. "Brixen, what’s the matter?" I ask, my spoon hovering over my bowl. "Why aren't you eating? You haven't touched a drop since it's been served." Brixen suddenly jolts when he heard the question like he's been caught committing a crime. He has been staring at the wall, his eyes glazed and distant. He blinks rapidly, a shadow crossing his face as if he’s trying to hide a secret behind his t

"This brings back memories." I stand with my arms crossed, the cold moisture of the cavern seeping through my boots, as I watch Brixen stumble for a tier nine.Again.A Scavenger Rat lunges at him. Brixen shrieks, a high, thin sound that echoes off the low ceiling. He flails his short-sword, the steel whistling through the empty air as he trips over a protruding root. He hits the muddy floor with a wet thwack, his face splattered with silt.I stare at him, a knot of frustration tightening in my chest. How is he able to persuade Raiders? Or even have good relationship with soldier? Yet, he’s currently being outmaneuvered by a Tier nine bottom-feeder.Even on my first day, with nothing but a rusted knife and a system I didn't understand, I was more efficient than this."Brixen, get up," I bark, the sound of my voice cutting through the damp silence."It’s fast, Jid!" Brixen scrambles backward on his heels, his breathing a series of ragged, panicked hitches. The rat hisses, a sound like