Cold air rose from the dark tunnel as Leon and Aether descended slowly into the depths.
The wooden ladder creaked under Leon's weight.
Below them stretched a long passage carved roughly into the earth.
Leon swallowed.
"This place smells strange."
Aether stepped off the ladder first and landed silently on the ground.
"Stay alert."
Leon jumped down after him.
His boots hit the dirt floor with a dull thud.
The tunnel was dim, illuminated only by faint blue crystals embedded in the walls.
Leon looked around.
"These weren't here before."
"No."
Aether's voice remained calm.
"They were placed deliberately."
Leon frowned.
"So someone made this tunnel?"
"Yes."
They walked deeper into the underground passage.
The air grew colder with every step.
Leon could hear faint dripping water echoing in the darkness.
Then—
He stopped.
"Did you hear that?"
Aether didn't stop walking.
"Yes."
Leon looked around nervously.
From somewhere deeper in the tunnel came a soft scraping sound.
Like claws dragging against stone.
Leon whispered,
"Please tell me that's just a monster."
Aether answered quietly.
"Most likely."
Leon wasn't sure that made him feel better.
They turned a corner.
And suddenly—
Something leaped from the darkness.
Leon barely saw it.
A shadow shot toward him with terrifying speed.
"Aether!"
The black blade flashed.
SHING!
Aether's sword cut through the air.
The creature landed several meters away.
Leon finally saw it clearly.
And his stomach twisted.
The thing looked vaguely human.
But only vaguely.
Its skin was pale gray.
Its arms were too long.
Its fingers ended in sharp claws.
And its mouth…
Its mouth was filled with rows of jagged teeth.
Leon stepped back.
"What… is that?"
The creature hissed.
Aether answered calmly.
"Not human."
Leon could tell that much already.
The creature crouched low like an animal.
Then it lunged again.
Leon forced himself to move.
He swung his wooden sword instinctively.
The creature's claws scraped against the wood.
Leon stumbled back.
"It's fast!"
The creature attacked again.
But this time—
Aether moved.
One step.
One swing.
The Void Sword flashed like black lightning.
The creature froze.
Then its body split cleanly in half.
Leon stared.
"…That was terrifying."
Aether looked deeper into the tunnel.
"There are more."
Leon's eyes widened.
"How many?"
Aether listened carefully.
"Several."
Right on cue—
More scraping sounds echoed through the darkness.
Shapes began emerging from the shadows.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
Leon's face went pale.
"That's a lot of 'several'!"
The creatures surrounded them.
Their glowing yellow eyes stared hungrily.
Leon tightened his grip on his sword.
"Aether…"
"Yes."
"You're not planning to let them attack me, right?"
Aether glanced at him briefly.
"This is training."
Leon stared in disbelief.
"TRAINING?!"
The creatures charged.
Leon gritted his teeth.
Fine.
If he wanted to survive…
He had to fight.
The first creature lunged.
Leon sidestepped and swung.
CRACK!
The wooden sword struck the creature's head.
It screeched and fell back.
Leon blinked.
"That worked!"
Another creature attacked from the side.
Leon barely blocked it.
Claws scraped across the wooden blade.
He kicked the creature away.
Then swung again.
This time he hit its neck.
The creature collapsed.
Leon breathed heavily.
"Okay…"
"I can do this."
Aether stood nearby.
Watching.
He only moved when a creature came too close.
Each time he swung his sword…
Another monster died instantly.
But most of them rushed toward Leon.
And slowly…
Leon began adapting.
He learned their movements.
Their attack patterns.
Their weaknesses.
By the time the last creature fell…
Leon was covered in sweat.
And monster blood.
Leon leaned against the wall, breathing hard.
"…That was horrible."
Aether looked deeper into the tunnel.
"This was only the beginning."
Leon groaned.
"Of course it was."
Aether pointed ahead.
The tunnel widened into a massive underground cavern.
And from inside the cavern…
A deep, monstrous roar echoed.
Leon froze.
"…That sounded big."
Aether began walking forward.
"Yes."
Leon sighed and followed.
Because whatever lived in that cavern…
Was probably the reason the entire village had disappeared.
And they were about to meet it.