Trapped

Leaning against the cave wall, the slayer slumped onto the ground. The old lady, whose name he had not known, was now deceased and her skin had already lost its warmth. Because he had arrived late, he couldn't gather enough clear information from her. All she had mentioned was that he should seek his path home atop the mountain. Which mountain should he go to? Was there a portal there that would transport him back or not? According to the enigmatic lady, the mountain could be found at the eastern edge of the city, but which mountain specifically? To his understanding, the eastern edge of the city housed countless mountains, all inhabited by bloodsucking creatures that forever denied rudiments of sleep whenever encountered. It was rumored that these monsters were disgustingly hideous, with their long hair acting as snares, faces smeared with mucus, and nails harboring live maggots.

When men from King Xavier's entourage from the western edge of the city seized him, he overheard their conversation as they conveyed him to their ruler, even though he was unable to open his eyes at the time and only darkness was visible. They talked about how repugnant these creatures were said to be. It seemed that one of them had encountered one of the monsters during his hunting expedition, for he caught a snippet of his words from a distance, explaining that they had once caught a whiff of its scent and, with no other choice, had to climb the tallest peak and observe as they wreaked havoc. Half an hour later, they agreed that their territory was devoid of intruders and that their stress levels were merely high, prompting them to partake in a meal. Patiently awaiting from his vantage point, the slayer sought to discover what kind of repast these monsters indulged in, only to be jolted as he witnessed nothing.

Once they were all seated at their table, they commenced licking the pus from each other's faces and mouths, praising it as truly delectable. Some were even preoccupied with extracting the hidden maggots from under one another's elongated nails and feasting upon them. The sight was enough to cause the slayer to vomit for an entire week, and he openly confessed that he had yet to overcome it. "Even the mere thought of it is nauseating, what if we were to witness it ourselves?" his ever-attentive wolf retched.

"Undoubtedly revolting." "Let us explore in search of a portal that may transport us away from here," he eventually declared. Rising to his feet, he let out a sigh, summoned forth the light, and began scouring the mountain cavern for an escape route.

The duration of the slayer's journey remained uncertain, however, one thing was clear: every tunnel he embarked upon inevitably led him back to the woman's lair. A loud growl emanated from his stomach, prompting a resigned sigh as he acknowledged the extended duration of his stay. It was not easy for him to feel hunger; only after enduring a prolonged period without consuming anything did it begin to manifest. "We have indeed spent quite a while here," he whispered to his companion wolf, who emitted a feeble hum. The hunger had taken its toll on the creature as well. Although there were no adversaries or monsters to engage within the cavern, hunger and thirst had become his true adversaries. The dilemma lay in the fact that he could not wield his sword, fastened to his waist, against these foes and vanquish them.

"We shall make one final circuit," he weakly declared, rising from the stone upon which he had been seated. Recalling that they had arrived through a portal situated above them, he raised his gaze to see if any illumination would permeate the surroundings. Alas, none emerged. He had marked the path they had traversed upon entering, yet now it was obstructed by dense crimson webs, devoid of any reflective light. "Who has impeded this passage?" He contemplated surveying the walls from the terrace, but there was no one present. After deliberating for a while, he concluded that it would be more effective to summon the sun itself rather than the feeble rays he had been conjuring. The sun possessed immense power, and its searing intensity might be capable of shattering the crimson barrier above them.

"ijshhdvhefbhjfgjnm,nrejgfyrhfjkdmenw,"

He called upon the sun, ready to harness its power, but was disheartened to realize that he could conjure nothing more than orbs of light. After numerous attempts, he approached the deceased woman and contemplated the possibility of resurrecting her through the employment of ancient incantations he had rarely, if ever, employed. Resting his hand upon her forehead, he gently closed his eyes, drew in a deep breath, and silently uttered a sequence of words. Initially, they proved ineffectual, causing him to believe he had failed once again. However, he was suddenly met with the sound of the woman coughing and gasping for breath.

"Oh, you're finally awake," he grinned, but instead of expressing gratitude, the woman responded with an irritating click.

Who do you think you are, Alexander Samthon? Why are you preventing me from continuing my journey? "I've waited for countless years, during which I exerted every effort to ward off death's grasp. Now that I've encountered you and revealed the whereabouts of your true companion, you still refuse to release me," she exclaimed, coughing and clutching her chest as if in pain.

"Regaining my own life isn't a simple task, my child," her tone softened. "I am an ancient saint who was destined to save this world from monsters but failed. My power surpasses yours because as you conquer more monsters, you acquire their abilities. I have vanquished far more than you. If I were to reclaim my life, you would need to perish, or someone equally powerful would have to revive me." "I understand that you did this in order to find your way out of these caverns, but I am unable to assist you," she stated, causing him to widen his eyes in shock.

"Observe, my boy," she pointed her index finger at the crimson seal above them, "this seal was crafted by my ancestors many millennia ago, perhaps even a million years. They designed it so that when the final saint of this world perishes, it will automatically seal itself, rendering it impervious to any attempts at unlocking it, even by me." This was the information she had been given.

"So... how do I escape from here?" He inquired, taken aback. Would he have to starve to death in this confined space? Absolutely not! 

"I don't know, utilize your powers. Although I can't guarantee they will function properly since you expended them all on me but they will eventually return to normal, even stronger than before. Somewhere within these walls, there are monsters that you'll exterminate and a kingdom that you'll rescue. An elderly man among them will guide you out of here, Alexander Samthon. It's fortunate that I encountered you and now believe in your role as the saint and savior we have been awaiting. Before you find your way back home, please fulfill what I could not. Best of luck, young man," those were her final words before she gasped for breath and once again succumbed to death.

"Dammit!" The slayer shouted, kicking the lifeless stones in frustration. He attempted to flex his talons, which would normally emit a violet glow, using it to inspect if there was any concealed portal. Yet, he was astounded by the revelation made by the woman.

He now resembled a regular human being, devoid of any abilities and unable to communicate with his wolf until the day he would be granted his powers back.

"Oh, how frustrating!" he exclaimed.

His throat seared, his stomach rumbled, his head throbbed, and he struggled to breathe. Hours turned into days, days into weeks, and this marked the third week - nearly a month - of his captivity. Meandering through the pitch-black cave, he ventured down numerous unknown tunnels until his boots were completely worn out. Due to hunger and disorientation, he tripped over rocks and unidentified objects, resulting in his skin peeling and his clothes becoming tattered. If a creature were to attack him at that very moment, survival seemed highly improbable. Just as he pondered the presence of such a monster, something unexpected occurred. A deafening roar, powerful enough to shake the entire mountain and dislodge a few stones, echoed throughout. Gasping, he frantically turned to survey the surroundings, yet darkness enveloped everything.

"Hello," he called out, barely audible. The roar reverberated once more, now closer and louder than before. I cannot endure this any longer. "I must escape from here as quickly as possible," he thought, initiating a hastened sprint. He paid no mind to what may be trailing behind him; his sole desire was to discover a ray of light leading him out of this abyss.

"Someone will arrive to rescue you," the elderly woman's words echoed in his mind, causing him to cease running.

"Could this roar belong to someone who will aid in my escape?" he pondered, pausing to catch his breath. His knees weakened, and he stooped, clutching his legs as though his life depended on their support yet, he still stumbling forward and colliding with a protruding rock due to the weightiness of his head. The roar resurfaced, prompting him to slightly open his eyes and observe what lay ahead. Amidst the darkness, only the menacing glow of red eyes could be discerned, gazing at him from a short distance away.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

A putrid and unsettling odor permeated the dim passageway as heavy footsteps reverberated through it. The nauseating stench caused his empty stomach to churn in disgust, making him yearn for the crisp air of Majorii mountain. Ceasing his hurried escape, he closed his eyes and braced himself for his impending demise. "If destiny has decreed that I perish in this manner, then so be it!" he reflected, grimacing as the throbbing pain in his forehead raced through his veins, rendering his muscles numb with agony and his entire being as immovable as a stone cold. 

The gruesome creature drew closer; its visage concealed beneath oozing pustules and long, matted strands of hair that ensnared him amidst its putrefying form and maggot-infested nails digging into his chest. Could these be the fiends that guarded the eastern mountains, as the woman had warned, the gateway to his world? What had brought him to that dreadful place? Pondering this, he closed his eyes and he felt the monsters claws digging deep into his chest.

The monster hungered for his heart!