The deeper sections of the cave no longer felt unfamiliar.
That was the first thing Elios noticed.
Not the darkness.
Not the blood.
Not even the creatures lurking beyond the stone paths.
It was the fact that his body had already started accepting it all.
The smell no longer bothered him.
The silence no longer felt oppressive.
And somehow—
that realization felt worse than the cave itself.
Elios walked forward slowly, the faint black flow trailing around his body like smoke leaking from cracks.
Not violent.
Not yet.
But present.
His breathing remained steady as he adjusted his grip around the blade.
The cave ahead widened slightly, revealing scattered remains across the ground.
Bones.
Broken weapons.
Claw marks carved deep into stone.
Signs of repeated fighting.
Not by humans.
Something else lived deeper inside.
Elios stepped over the remains without stopping.
A low growl echoed from ahead.
Then another.
His gaze sharpened instantly.
Three creatures emerged from the darkness.
Not goblins.
Larger.
Lean bodies covered in rough gray skin, their arms hanging unnaturally low as their red eyes locked onto him.
Elios didn't hesitate anymore.
The black flow thickened.
Not consciously.
Instinctively.
The creatures lunged.
Fast.
Elios moved first.
Steel flashed through the darkness.
The first creature fell immediately, its body crashing heavily against the stone floor.
The second reached him from the side.
Elios twisted—
blocked—
countered instantly.
The blade tore across its chest.
But the third creature was already behind him.
Too fast.
Its claws cut into his shoulder.
A deep wound opened.
Blood splattered across the stone.
Elios staggered half a step.
Then stopped.
No pain came immediately.
Only heat.
A strange heat spreading through his body.
The black flow around him pulsed violently for a moment.
Then—
his senses sharpened again.
The creature moved.
Elios reacted faster.
Too fast.
His blade pierced through its throat before it could even fully attack.
Silence returned.
Elios stood still for a moment, breathing lightly.
Blood dripped slowly from his shoulder.
But the wound already felt…
different.
Not healed.
But closing.
Slightly.
His eyes narrowed.
"…What…"
He pressed his fingers lightly against the injury.
The bleeding had slowed far faster than it should've.
The black flow flickered again.
Almost like it was responding to the wound itself.
Elios lowered his hand slowly.
"…Tch."
He didn't understand it.
But he understood enough.
The deeper he went—
the more his body changed.
And somehow—
he wasn't afraid of that anymore.
That realization lingered longer than it should have.
A sharp sound echoed deeper ahead.
Not random movement.
Organized.
Elios' gaze shifted toward the darkness.
Then—
he noticed it.
Marks.
Scratches carved into the walls.
Not from claws.
Symbols.
Crude.
Primitive.
But intentional.
Elios stepped closer slowly.
The markings stretched deeper into the cave like directions leading somewhere below.
"…So there really is something down here…"
A low sound echoed suddenly.
Not close.
Far deeper inside.
But loud enough to shake the air slightly.
Elios froze.
The black flow around him reacted instantly.
Violently.
For a brief second—
his vision distorted.
The cave walls twisted unnaturally.
The darkness stretched.
And for the smallest moment—
he thought he saw figures moving inside the shadows.
Not creatures.
People.
Standing silently in the dark.
Elios blinked.
The vision vanished immediately.
Only the cave remained.
Silent.
Cold.
His breathing slowed again.
"…What was that…"
No answer came.
But the black flow around him still trembled faintly.
As if reacting to something deeper below.
Elios stared into the darkness ahead for several long seconds.
Then tightened his grip on the blade.
And continued walking.
Deeper.
Toward whatever was waiting for him below.
End.