Sharp thorns slice and cut as Orio and Bear flea.
The thing chasing them wasn't human. After traveling deeper in the woods in order to find their homeland they stumbled upon a creature with dull grey skin. It had long skinny limbs and was strikingly humanoid. Though, there was no mistaking it. Just looking at the creature for a mere moment caused Orio and Bear pure dread.
It made human noises at least. Not the talking kind but the screaming kind. As if it was imitating screams of people pleading for mercy.
Many small lacerations and cuts now littered their uncovered skin. Running in a dense forest wasn't the best of ideas. Their only protection was that of the rags they wore as slaves.
To think, the very people who would have caused their inevitable deaths from beatings, overworking, and famine. Were their only protection against the beasts that inhabit the wilds.
Either die from their slavers or die from some random monster, dwelling the surface of this world.
Though, it was already a known fact for the young men. They at least had a chance with indescribable horrors, that habited this world.
The fiend continued its pursuit. It had a tall body, which caused it trouble in squeezing through small places.
Using this fact to their advantage. Orio, slid under a large collapsed tree. The tree itself had a wider trunk than some small homes. It did feel like an anomaly in the woods. After all, most trees were of a pine variety.
There was very little space to squeeze through. Bear followed his lead and quickly went under the gargantuan tree as well. Slowly crawling forward, there was an opening where the ground itself lowered.
A small cave, out of reach of the creatures' abnormally long limbs.
"Hurry." Orio spurt's out.
Both quickly move with the sounds of crackling and branches hitting the ground coming from somewhere close behind.
Luckily they both reach the small entrance to the stone cave. Looking at it for a few seconds, Orio thought it had a strange unnatural look to it. Like the roof of a building that collapsed. Either way they now had a temporary shelter.
There was enough space to almost stand at the entrance of the cave. Turning around. They both watched the grey, dull creature try and reach its long limbs under the massive tree. Moving them around frantically. Like a small toddler reaching sacredly and angrily for his missing toy under the a couch.
"Hurry."
Orio stared at the creature, while bear stared at him.
"Hurry?"
A second later the same voice was heard again. So similar that it seemed as if he repeated himself in the exact tone as well.
"Hurry?"
Though, something felt off, the vocals seemed to match. But, something inhuman was gnawing at their guts.
Bear quickly turned around and realized that the tall, dull, humanoid creature was mimicking his voice.
A bright light flickered somewhere in his head.
"I really like to dip my chopsticks in chicken droppings, it adds some flavor to my porridge."
Orio slowly turned his head to face his friend. A disgusted expression on his face.
Bear's own voice repeated back to him. Only he was not the one to speak.
"I really like, to, chicken."
"Oh come on!"
Bear seemed decently upset. Waving his hands in a manner which indicated slight frustration. The creature continued to reach under the large tree. Though its hands were a decent amount of difference from the young men. It repeated some of Bear's words.
"Come, on!"
Orio sighed, both internally and physically. Then yelled out a phrase that was quite unbecoming of a young man in his later teens.
"Big booty!"
"Big, booty."
Bear started laughing and nudged the young man on his shoulder. Orio was smiling. Then he followed Orio's example.
"Dick and balls!"
"Dick, and, balls!"
Both slightly laughed. Now it was Orio's turn.
"Big… juggers!"
"Code word authorized."
'What?'
"Big, juggers."
Suddenly the cave behind them lit up with an ethereal blue light. Turning slowly around, both saw a pedestal in the middle of the room.
"Huh,"
The cave itself didn't appear to be a cave, but rather a small dome built under ground. The place where they were currently standing appeared to have been once its roof. There was a trail of rocks and rubble leading down.
The glowing lights were formed in lines, traversing the walls in an intricate pattern.
They gave each other quick glances. Orio seemed confused, while Bear seemed strangely smug.
It was probably his way of expressing excitement.
Or he was still on that… "big juggers" thing.
Orio's head told him the former, he acted dumb, though he was decently smart, but his heart… screamed the ladder.
"Hurry."
Neither of them said that. Though, it sounded like Orio.
They slowly crawled down the mountain of rubble. The rocks were very unstable. Both of them reacted accordingly by transiting to a crab-like walk.
As they reached the bottom, the glowing lines on the walls became more apparent. Maybe it was simply the angle.
Maybe it was constellations. Or something entirely different. Either way, the patterns on the walls felt vague but meaningful.
They slowly made their way to the stone-like pedestal in the middle of the room. Unlike the rest, the pedestal glowed with an ethereal red like instead of an ethereal blue hue.
This was because the glowing lines shined red instead of blue on the pedestal. Bear turned to Orio.
"Have you seen this before?"
"No, I haven't seen anything like it. It could be some seal to contain a demon."
Bear seemed to shudder slightly at that small remark. He remained still for a second. Then caught up to Orio.
He all of a sudden seemed rather stoic, with a rather serious expression.
Reaching the small pedestal, Orio looked at it in shock. There was a large red button on top of the pedestal.
Bear's face changed slightly, showing a look of contempt.
"Who would ever be stupid enough to press this."
Orio looked at him comically.
"Right! Like anyone would be dumb enough…"
"Bang!"
A small rock happened to have broken off from the roof. Falling straight onto the large ominous button.
'You have got to be…'
Before Orio could finish that thought, the small dome suddenly erupted into chaos. Rumbling erupted from all around. As if the wall were moving. The lights quickly turned red. Enveloping the room in a ominous red hue.
There seemed to be dust falling from the ceiling as well. In front of them the wall began to fall down. They could only see if for a second before the dust covered their view.
Coughing uncontrollably, both of the young men brought their elbows to their mouths. Trying to peer through the red dust.
What have they unleashed upon this world! What foul demon was going to bring about their end! Wearing their skin while committing murder and feasting on human souls!
Nothing happened for a multitude of seconds. The dust slowly cleared. Allowing for some visibility. There was now a pathway in front of them. A tunnel leading underground. When it appeared they did not know. The patterns on the walls also shifted.
Looking at each other, worriedly they continued to eye the platform. Then they noticed that the stone pedestal was gone. In its place was a deep hole.
That's when the gears started turning. Rather, the sound of gears could be heard underneath them. Slowly a stone structure began rising from the hole that the pedestal stood. A small wooden box on top of a piece of stone.
On the box stood a note.
"You have been chosen by me to wield this great weapon. I have determined you to be pure of heart. My life will be ending soon. So I want you to continue my legacy."
Pure of heart? Wasn't the code word big juggers? Never minding that, it sounded rather enticing. It was obviously not meant for them. Though, this place was ancient. Whoever had been chosen must not have made it here.
A weapon could help them with the beasts plaguing this world. They were actually quite lucky to stumble across the gray, tall, humanoid. It wasn't as dangerous as some of the other beasts.
It was actually kind of a hopeless situation. They were in a very dangerous part of the world filled with vile beasts. These beasts couldn't hold a candle to that of a single demon. Maybe if a group of them teamed up, though they lacked the intelligence.
Still a great weapon could potentially change their hopeless situation. By the look of the rectangle box, it seemed to be a sword. There were stories of people finding mythical weapons and laying siege to entire regions of monster infected regions, alone! Or with a small group of people.
Orio turned to face Bear, knowing his history with demons he probably shouldn't have blurted his earlier words out.
Bear gave a hesitant nod of approval. Knowing that there is a very slim chance of survival.
Orio slowly grabbed the lid of the rectangle box. It was very heavy. Made out of some dense kind of metal. In fact, he couldn't even lift it by himself. Bear stepped in and it moved a few inches. Just enough for it to slide off and collapsed onto the floor with a loud shudder.
Somewhat wheezing, both of them looked inside the box, only to find a long ribbon inside.