Joel walked into the cave with a smile on his face. The darkness surrounded him, and the sounds of approaching monsters echoed through the tunnel. He didn't hesitate to use his power to kill them all.
His eyes shone with intense light.
Every monster that met his gaze immediately vomited blood, their internal organs spilling onto the ground. Death followed wherever he looked.
Joel went deeper into the cave. Suddenly, he heard a voice screaming for help.
"Someone is in the cave… it won't be easy if I cover my eyes!"
Joel closed his eyes and shouted,
"Where are you?"
Torches lined the walls every ten meters. As he stepped forward, he realized he had walked over a pickaxe.
"This cave has been maintained… maybe it's a gold mine or something similar," he thought.
He inhaled deeply and concentrated on the voice. Then he sprinted in its direction. Soon, he found a child—a girl—hiding between rocks, trying to protect herself from the monsters.
"Help! Someone help me! I don't want to be eaten!" she screamed.
Dead bodies littered the ground, organs scattered everywhere.
Joel approached with the speed of a predator, slicing one of the monsters in two with his sword. He exhaled, and a mist rose around him.
The girl stared at him, tears in her eyes.
He turned to her with a warm smile.
"Now you're safe."
She was about to leave when Joel was suddenly struck by a punch. He vomited blood and slammed into the wall.
"What just happened?"
A lady appeared. Half-human, half-monster, with black hair and a dark dress.
"So you're the one causing this trouble," she said.
Joel immediately readied himself to attack. The lady smiled with excitement.
"You're still a child… but strong. Let me devour you entirely."
She lunged at him with incredible speed, her hand transforming into a massive hammer.
The two collided with a deafening crash. Joel strengthened his arm and struck, but she easily avoided it, then hit him in the stomach, sending him flying. He landed but did not fall—he stood erect.
The lady's excitement grew, her eyes gleaming.
"Oh, you didn't fall?" she said, licking her lips.
Joel grinned.
"It's nothing compared to my daily training."
He bared his teeth and launched multiple attacks in succession. Using his momentum, he strengthened his whole body and increased his speed.
The lady stepped backward, blocking his strikes.
"How is this possible?"
She countered, but Joel avoided her attack with ease. Strike after strike, again and again—no pause.
"More! Again! Again!" he thought.
Finally, one strike broke through her defense. Joel smiled maliciously.
"An opening…"
But it was a trap. Black spikes erupted from the monster, piercing him.
The lady smiled and said,
"You're dead now."
She attacked relentlessly, tearing him apart. He fell to the ground, battered.
Joel lifted his head, his eyes blazing. Their gazes met, and she vomited blood.
"What did you…"
Her organs followed. Death consumed her.
Joel thought it was over, but then the dead bodies of the monsters began decomposing and merging together.