Nyx stood in a loose cluster of people, each one different from the other, yet all united by the same grim necessity. The cave mission was a gamble a desperate attempt to grasp at a thread of hope in a world that had already thrown its worst at them. Around him, there were about 150 people, give or take a few. Some were in gear, ready for whatever awaited them, their faces grim and tired. A handful had powers, visible in the way their stances radiated silent confidence, though even they seemed uncertain. The rest were the ordinary ones, like Nyx trying to scrape together a living in a place where survival had become a constant struggle. Their hope was as fragile as the dust clinging to their worn boots.
Nyx felt like an outsider here, even though he was surrounded by people. The place smelled of sweat, desperation, and the sharp tang of fear. There was little talking, just the low murmur of strained voices. The survival rate for this mission was a bleak 0.1%, and the government if they even acknowledged these people's existence didn't care. The majority of the people here had no choice but to accept the risk. The reward was too great to ignore. The promise of a large sum of money for a dangerous job, the chance to escape their crumbling lives, was all that mattered.
A man stood next to Nyx, shifting nervously in his boots. His face was lined with age, his hair graying at the temples. His clothes were threadbare, his hands rough from years of hard work. He caught Nyx's gaze and gave a small nod.
"Not many are brave enough to sign up for something like this," the man said, his voice gruff but warm.
Nyx glanced over at him, a little surprised by the sudden friendliness. He hadn't expected anyone to talk to him, but he was too drained to be suspicious.
"Guess I've got nothing left to lose," Nyx muttered, feeling the truth of those words settle in his gut. His home was gone, his past nothing but ruins. The only thing left was to try and survive.
The man chuckled softly, but it was a tired, hollow sound. "Same here, kid. Name's Jarek."
"Nyx."
They shared a moment of silence as they both looked around at the others, each person lost in their own thoughts, each carrying their own burdens. Nyx couldn't help but wonder what drove them all here, what made them think they could survive where so many others had failed.
Jarek must have read his thoughts, because he spoke again, his voice quieter this time. "It's the money. I've got a family to feed. Two daughters, three sons. My wife she's a good woman. She deserves more than this life." His eyes softened as he spoke, a flicker of love and pain mixing in his gaze. "I can't let them go without. They need me. And this is the only shot I've got."
Nyx's heart twisted. He couldn't relate not in the same way. He didn't have a family waiting for him. No one to go home to. No wife, no kids, no one who needed him. It made his life feel smaller somehow, emptier.
Jarek saw his expression, the understanding crossing Nyx's face, and smiled sadly. "You don't have to understand. We all have our reasons. But what I can tell you is this... that cave, whatever's inside, it's got treasure. And the reward's not just for us. It's for the ones we love. That's why we do this. That's why I'm here."
Nyx nodded. He still didn't know what drove him, but he knew it wasn't the same as Jarek's reason. He couldn't help but admire the older man's resolve.
They didn't talk much after that, just walking alongside each other as they followed the rest of the group into the cave. The air grew colder as they approached, the entrance dark and foreboding. The group stood at the mouth of the cave, silent and tense. A leader, a man wearing an impressive set of armor and wielding a sword that gleamed even in the dim light, stood at the front, giving instructions. His rank was clear; he had the commanding presence of someone used to being in control.
"Listen up!" The leader's voice was harsh and commanding. "There's no turning back once we're inside. This mission is simple: get to the deepest part of the cave, retrieve the artifact, and return. There are monsters inside, and I don't give a damn how many of you make it back. The goal is to get the job done. Only the strongest survive here, so keep your heads down and follow orders."
The group nodded, their faces grim and serious. Nyx didn't know whether to be afraid or to feel a strange kind of relief. If they succeeded, they'd be set for life. But what would be left of them by then?
The cave was dark, and the walls were slick with moisture. The air was thick and heavy, the sound of their footsteps echoing as they made their way deeper into the labyrinthine tunnels. Nyx felt his heartbeat quicken with every step, the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped with so many others pressing against him. He wanted to run again, but he didn't. He had no choice but to keep moving forward.
The dungeon itself was a maze of sharp turns, narrow passages, and sudden drops. They were forced to fight off the occasional monster an out of place creature with slithering tendrils, or jagged claws that came out of nowhere to tear at the weak. A few didn't make it through the first few minutes of the mission. The fear was palpable, and with each death, the group grew quieter, more aware of how fragile their lives really were.
Then, they reached the first major obstacle: a massive stone door that blocked their way.
"We need to break through," the leader barked, turning to his team. "We'll use explosives. Get ready."
Nyx wasn't sure how the leader had gotten explosives probably part of the reward package but it didn't matter now. As the door shattered, they pressed forward into a cavern filled with a strange, pulsating light.
The next few hours were a blur of violence. Monsters, traps, and relentless terrain claimed the lives of several others in the group. One man tried to run but was caught by a creature with long, spiked tendrils that pulled him into the darkness before anyone could react. Another was crushed beneath the weight of a collapsing ceiling.
But through it all, Jarek stayed close to Nyx, his presence a strange comfort amidst the chaos. He would smile at Nyx, encourage him to keep moving, to stay focused on the end goal. And Nyx, despite the terror and the uncertainty, followed.
Until they reached the final chamber.
The leader, ever the opportunist, turned on them. He ordered his team to stand down, and in that moment, it became clear: He had been playing them all along. He wasn't interested in sharing the reward. He wasn't interested in anything except taking it all for himself.
Jarek tried to stand up to him. He tried to argue, to reason with the man. "We all deserve it. We've all worked hard to get here. You can't just take everything for yourself-"
The leader smirked, drawing his sword. "You think you're in charge here? You're nothing but a pawn, Jarek. This is mine."
Before Nyx could react, the leader struck, his sword cutting through the air and finding Jarek's chest. The older man stumbled back, eyes wide with disbelief as blood poured from the wound.
Nyx's heart stopped, his breath catching in his throat. Jarek fell to the ground, his hand reaching out, but no one could help him. His lifeblood soaked the stone beneath him, and with his last breath, he whispered, "Take care of them... for me... please."
Nyx was frozen. The rage, the grief, the helplessness it consumed him all at once. His limbs shook, his vision blurred with tears, but he could do nothing. The leader turned away, dismissing Jarek's death with a shrug.
And then, everything went black.