The thing before me rose up, an old man, if it could be described that way. A monster and a walking corpse would be a better definition. He was enormous and covered in medical equipment that would be used to keep someone alive, but now it served the opposite purpose.
His head alone was almost the size of my torso, with strands of dry, white hair clinging to the loose skin, just beside the opening in his skull, exposing his wrinkled brain.
The eyes below were blindfolded, covered by thick, blood-stained bandages; an oxygen mask hid his nose, so small it would be comical in a better situation, but now the stretched elastic tightened against his flesh, as did the tube coiled around his neck like a snake, connected to the tank strapped to his back, whose curved spine pressed against his skin.
Its mouth, if it could even be described as such, lacked lips; the dangling pieces of skin failed to conceal its dark gums and the few remaining teeth, yellow and rotten, broken but sharp.
The jaw was nonexistent, replaced by a large hole with the front of the neck open to the sides, displaying a long, hanging tongue, creating a pool of saliva on the floor, and a feeding tube extending forward, spilling what I believed to be stomach acid, judging by the small hole that melted the floor beneath it.
I noticed stitches on its long, thin neck, as if the head had been reattached after decapitation; other similar marks appeared sparsely around its body, as well as wounds, broken bones, and sections of rotting flesh.
The torso was oversized compared to the rest of the body, but this did not prevent it from moving. The chest was open, exposing sharp ribs that opened and closed like a mouth full of white teeth. I could see the tube descending to his swollen stomach, his intestines and other organs concentrated there, overflowing and boiling in the acid like a cauldron, being dragged across the floor now stained with red and other fluids.
He had three arms, each almost, if not longer than his own body, bent at impossible angles with the bones piercing the skin, something that didn't seem to bother him, and each hand, except for one, composed of four long fingers ending in claws.
The left arm carried a large blood-stained scalpel, a knife to him, but a sword to me. The upper right, a massive serum rod, with a bag connected to the arm that held it. And the third, ending in two fingers, an impossibly large syringe, filled with a purple liquid.
His legs were the least noteworthy part, a pair, long and wounded like his other limbs, ending in swollen toes that moved independently, like the tentacles of an octopus.
The final detail, and one that assaulted my ears, was the heart monitor stitched into his right side, its incessant beating echoing through the room.
BEEP!
BEEP!
BEEP!
HUMP! A health bar, how convenient.
Despite being blindfolded, his head focused on me, and a deafening scream shook the area.
"I'm so glad to sssee you again, Grandpa, but you ssshouldn't be here. It's time to rrrest!"
I opened Kitab and raised the Shark Teeth, preparing for combat.
The first swing came down like a hammer, the metal rod opening a hole where I had previously stood, cracking the floor tiles with a sharp snap. It wasn't long before the next blow followed, the scalpel tearing through the air in an arc, gleaming in the little light that remained.
I ducked, letting it pass over my head, and as soon as I stood up, I stepped aside, avoiding the syringe that advanced like a spear, threatening to pierce my chest.
It was my turn now; before the arm recoiled, I delivered a swift blow with the Shark Teeth. I clicked my tongue, irritated by the lack of result; the limbs of this thing didn't have much flesh, so I tore a handful of loose skin, spilling a few red threads before hitting the bone with a hollow sound.
The monster showed no pain, and the staff returned in a scalpel-like motion, covering a large area and knocking down everything in its path—beds, curtains, chairs, and more.
I leaped back, feeling a pang of surprise at the distance I'd covered, likely a combination of my superhuman strength and the Dash ability. My enemy didn't give up, lunging forward as soon as my feet touched the ground, but he didn't get far, as a Locust Swarm stopped him.
Since his eyes were blindfolded, I wasn't sure if the crows would be useful, so I chose those with a guaranteed confusion effect. During this time, I sheathed my weapon in my coat and retrieved the Meat Cleaver, the appropriate item for the enemy I faced.
Then, I decided to test my new spell, raised Kitab, and cast The Call of Cthulhu. I expected many things, except for the tentacle that held the book to my arm expanding and growing into a green mass, closing the distance like a runaway car and striking the creature in the chest.
The force behind the attack was also unexpected. Despite the ribs that served as teeth closing around it, the tentacles hurled my opponent away, flying several meters before colliding with the wall.
The resulting rumble was followed by a tremor and pieces of rubble crumbling on top of the monster.
Hm… Augur of Embrietas. The consequences of the name I chose have finally arrived.
I watched as the creature rose with a roar, throwing the weight that held it away. I wonder, do you recognize me? Do you know who I am?
The tube in its mouth moved and nauseating noises escaped its throat. A jet, a mixture of green and brown, gushed out, targeting me, and again, I used my speed to escape.
The smell was disgusting, worse than Lord of the Flies, and the molten hole it created was worrying because of how quickly it formed. The left corner of my coat, the one closest to the ground, was also gone, revealing how close I had been to death.
Xenomorph Acid, you always liked old movies, said the old ones were better, and I feel I have to agree, even though I shouldn't have watched them when I was younger. But who cares? That doesn't matter now.
A second jet came, as well as a third and a fourth. I did my best to dodge, but another one always got in my way, preventing me from continuing. I realized that if I continued like this, I would be cornered; I understand that the creature possessed intelligence.
You were the one who gave me that initial push to delve into the world of horror and terror. Books, comics, movies, manga, video games, anime—did you know all of that was real? The Old Ones exist, as do other Gods in other realities, each medium its own universe. Did you know that? Is my tragedy nothing more than a grand plan, or a completely random event?
I conjured Black Orb and the shadowy sphere advanced, dodging the jet that tried to intercept it, striking the creature on the side of the head, throwing it aside before returning in the opposite direction, drawing blood and the few remaining teeth.
I was halfway to him when the sphere returned, and as soon as the spell dissipated, I swung the cleaver.
CLANG!
Sparks illuminated the darkness, raining down on my mask as the scalpel stood in the way. Strange, I expected to be thrown back. I guess fighting from the rear made me forget I was stronger now, much stronger.
I summoned Greater Blood Golem, but didn't use my blood. The puddle that had formed on the ground between us rose, I gritted my teeth as I felt my health being drained, but it was better than wasting my mind.
The red giant delivered a crushing hook, pinning the tube against the roof of the monster's mouth. Then I used the skill I had carved into the cleaver. The weapon glowed a blinding blue, but unlike the Blue Sin's fire, whatever that was, it melted the scalpel like a hot knife through butter.
For a moment I stumbled forward due to the lack of an obstacle, but I quickly recovered, turning my body and sending a blow towards his right arm. I imagine my opponent would have roared if he hadn't had a pair of strong hands crushing his neck. In any case, I severed the limb in half, watching him writhe on the ground.
I set him aside, deactivating the cleaver's ability before he went berserk, watching as the Blood Golem did its job with efficient brutality, breaking the oxygen mask tube, causing the heart monitor's beat to accelerate.
Grandpa, I still have your things, at least the ones my mother and aunt didn't sell. Most are at home; I don't know if I'll see them again, but the wallet and the coin purse are here with me. Do you remember when you gave them to me?
The syringe struck the Golem in the shoulder. I didn't know what was inside, but my construct reverted to a red puddle, and with that, the monster coughed, a distorted sound full of agony, born from a dying man gasping for air.
I felt my heart clench at this, but deep down, I knew this wasn't the man who created me. Instead, I felt hatred for having this pale imitation, this tasteless joke, in front of me.
The serum bag burst, and the liquid flowed to its top, creating a whirlpool, and with a swing, a blade of the substance shot towards me.
My enhanced senses saw the attack coming, and my body screamed for me to get out of the way. I could only turn to the side, letting the blade graze me, drawing a thin line on the ground.
I dragged a finger across the breastplate of my leather armor, feeling the tear it made. It didn't quite hit my flesh, but it came close. Okay, he reached the second phase pathetically fast, and now he's casting spells. Nothing new, nothing new.
I summoned the cats, the dark slime oozed from the book, the monstrous felines emerged, and with a command, they spread out and surrounded the creature.
Their squeals and meows mingled with the destruction caused by the spells, the monster unable to handle them all at once. A blade of liquid split a cat in two, only for the halves to reconnect and the feline to return to combat. Another was crushed against the ground, reforming seconds later, yet another thrown away, returning to combat without wasting time.
The syringe was the most effective weapon, each injection transforming the cats into the dark slime they were, preventing them from fighting again, but for every one felled, there was another that tore at the flesh with its claws and ripped chunks from its body with its fangs.
When was the last time we saw each other? I can't remember exactly. One day, you went to the doctor, something normal, until the visits became more frequent. As a child, I didn't think much of it, but you and the other adults knew. You weren't the same anymore; despite being old, the health and energy you had were fading too quickly.
So, just like my father, you disappeared, but unlike him, everyone knew where you were. It was strange, visiting you in that white place smelling of cleaning products, full of sick people, each with their own problems and families, attended to by doctors and nurses.
You promised you would get better and come back to us, but that never happened. I don't know how long I cried, watching your body die, how each part of you that stopped was replaced by a machine. I wanted you to stay with me as long as possible, but looking back, I wonder if that wish was the right thing, I wonder if it wouldn't have been better to unplug everything and spare you the pain.
A jet of acid felled the last cat, and the monster covered in wounds focused on me again, conjuring a sphere of serum larger than my body.
BOOM!
A Black Orb intercepted it, I summoned the rats, who moved one of the hospital beds, using it as a shield against the jet of acid that came right behind. Without wasting any time, I raised Kitab and cast Greater Hurting.
An orange ring of energy surrounded its upper right arm, and with a snap…
BANG!
…The limb fell to the ground, forcing the monster to retreat into the darkness.
Can you see me on the other side? I hope not, for I am ashamed of what I have become. Are you proud of me? I hope not, for I am afraid of what I might do. I am no longer human; I abandoned that concept to survive, to fight against beings beyond my comprehension.
I have no hope of returning home, for even if I could, even if I regained my former appearance, I would no longer be the same. The body can be healed, but the mind? I doubt it after all the horrors I have witnessed.
I waited, listening to the sounds around me, the footsteps and snaps, the creaks and dripping of blood, the scratching and murmurs of a wounded animal. He was behind me, the rats and my extra eyes revealed that.
I didn't shift my position, making him think he had the advantage. His form leaped from the shadows, a tangle of rotting skin and flesh swaying in the wind. The cleaver in my hand gleamed, pushing away the shadows, and the syringe was cut, two at a time, just like his hand in the central area between the four fingers, extending up to the elbow.
I was a butcher, and the halves of his limb that fell to the ground were pieces of meat. The feeding tube was pointed at my face, however, I moved faster, pointing Kitab at its entrance and conjuring Pyromancy Trick.
His screams transformed into something I couldn't describe, the fire advanced through the tube, reaching his stomach, full of gases generated by decomposition. I recoiled, seeing something glowing beneath his skin, the flesh swelling even more, and then…
BOOM!
…His stomach exploded, spilling a mixture of acid and rotting flesh now ablaze, leaving nothing of his organs.
He didn't scream, for there was no way he could, so I approached, ignoring the putrid smell and the scorching heat. His rib-like mouth opened and closed in a slow rhythm, life leaving his body as the heart monitor's pulse weakened.
I closed Kitab, tucking it into my coat, and used my free hand to grab the monster's head by the dangling pieces of skin. I may have underestimated my strength or overestimated its resistance, for the skin tore like paper.
I sighed, frustrated by my failure, and sank my fingers into the area around his nose, piercing his skull and pulling his head toward me.
"I would sssay that to be able to move on, I would have to kill my memorrries of you, but you're not my grandfatherrr, so I have no problem with what I will do."
The cleaver gleamed again, and with a quick swing, its head was separated from its body, heading towards the ground. The body then fell with a heavy thud, and with that, silence took over the place.
67/100
Looking around, searching for the next challenge, I spotted a pair of eyes gleaming in the darkness. I opened my arms and took a step forward, the eyes half-closed and the shadowy figure that was its owner disappeared.
I was alone now, I felt a tremor running through my body, then I walked towards the nearest wall, pulling my fist back…
CRASH!
…And punching the wall with all my might, sinking my hand into the concrete. I remained like that for a few moments, clenching my teeth, letting out a growl, then I removed my fist from the wall, punching it again.
CRASH!
And again.
CRASH!
And again.
CRASH!
And again.
-XXXXXX-
I don't know how much time passed, the anger had subsided and now I was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall full of holes with Kitab open in my lap and music playing on my phone.
If I could have all the women in the world
I would take this time to leave
The pressure's on and I'm not some kind of strong man
So take this thing from me
"We won the fight."
"Yes."
"Alone, without the help of otherrr people."
"Impressive, isn't it? We came a long way."
I looked at my hands, opening and closing them, thinking about all the previous fights, all the times I went mad and almost died. How long has it been since I entered the dungeon? I… I'm not the same person anymore.
Don't give it a second thought.
I can see you've got better things to do.
So just take your things and leave.
"Ssshould I be proud?"
"I am, but you don't seem to feel the same."
"Hump! That monsterrr… All of this was an attempt to break me, to make me give up. He wanted to sssee my despairrr."
"And he failed miserably."
"I doubt that's the lassst trick up his sssleeve."
"That I can agree with. Hey, you've got something new."
"Cool Air: Summon the icy mist created by the wonders of technology to freeze your opponents."
I couldn't help but smile when I saw a new addition to my arsenal.
Hard times
(Happiest days of my life)
Hard times gone by
Hard times
(Happiest days of my life)
Hard times gone by
"Are you alright?" The book started the conversation this time.
"I don't know, I have so many thingsss on my mind. But mostly, I'm furiousss, with everything and everrryone! Lost citiesss, monsters and cruel gods, I'm tirrred of it all!"
"You and I, and I'm their creation."
"We can't continue like thisss, we need to escape their contrrrol."
"So you're going to become a New God?"
"No, I'm going to ssseek my own acensssion."
Late at night with the darkness all around me
I'm drinking all alone
Nothing here but my medicine to guide me
Since I've been on my own
"Ooohhh… For the first time, I don't know how to respond."
"Don't worrry, I have the beginning of a plan."
"The fact that it's not complete is reason for me to worry!"
I laughed, gathering my things and getting up with Kitab in one hand and the cleaver in the other.
"You will know everrrything at the right time."
Well, have you forgotten now?
Memories that continue to amaze me
Are all but over now
Then I walked back the way I came, crossing the dark corridor again. I don't know how long I walked, listening to my footsteps in the void, but I spotted a blinding light ahead, however, I felt no fear and crossed it, ready to face what was to come.
END OF CHAPTER