From above, the gnome tied one end of the rope to the shaft's mouth and tossed the other end down. Due to his bulky build, he descended slowly. The cavern was filled with stalactites and stalagmites; some had grown into solid columns. Drops of water fell from the tips of the stalactites, forming small pools below. Light streamed down the shaft, and when it hit the puddles, it scattered, illuminating the cave with a soft, diffused glow.
"So, why did you jump in here? And with meat, no less," asked the gnome, Oakh.
"Shut up. One more or one less, it doesn't matter anyway," Balinor replied curtly.
A quizzical look—a veritable grimace of incomprehension—crossed Oakh's face. They moved deeper inside, and I approached the rope, intending to leave.
"Where do you think you're going?" Balinor called out. "You're coming into the cavern with us."
I obediently followed them into the depths of the cave. Water drops hit me frequently. I could feel the tension rising; we all heard a soft noise, something between a squeal and a low growl. The light from the shaft receded, plunging us into darkness, with only the flame Balinor held lighting our way.
"And what happened to your father, boy?" Balinor asked.
God, what should I make up? A fire? A battle?
"He set a battle on fire—no, wait, he was set on fire in a battle," I stammered.
"And who was he fighting against?" Oakh the gnome scoffed, a smirk playing on his lips.
"A fiend. A Hellcat."
The very three-meter-tall Hellcats that caused me a dozen deaths every time I crossed over to the Nether in the game.
Oakh burst out laughing, while Balinor merely offered a slight smile.
BOOM!
Suddenly, we heard the cavern walls erupt in a loud explosion. We all stood back-to-back. Something was circling us, like a true predator (or predators), searching for a weakness in our formation.
A flash of flame ignited from Balinor's hand, lighting up this section of the cave. And right above my face, a terrifying sight appeared: the body of a three-meter bat, with a monstrous face protruding from its dark gray fur. It had a long, wart-covered nose and deeply set red eyes. Tusks and fangs jutted out from beneath its nose, and saliva streamed down its jawline.
Gasping, my mouth dropped open in sheer fright. My skin went pale. Balinor instantly pulled a crossbow from under his coat and yelled:
"Duck!"
He fired at the creature. The bolt struck its face, exploding into a blinding flash of light. I didn't even consider fighting this monster; I turned and ran, not looking back. Balinor ran ahead, with Oakh hanging onto him.
"Let go of me!" Balinor protested.
"Run faster!" Oakh insisted.
[It was in that moment I realized that if I split my mind in two, I could activate two spells with a single incantation.]Ryu Manjuy, the great dragon who opened the Ki...
I concentrated, attempting to split my consciousness. It was easier than it seemed.
"Phantom-Woven Hand, I summon you! Fulfill my will!"
Two large, spectral hands sprouted from my back. They helped me escape, striking the ground with massive sweeps, propelling me several meters forward. Balinor summoned a wolf, which Oakh quickly mounted.
We no longer sensed the monsters, but we were cornered, pressed against solid rock walls.
"So, you're not a slave then," Balinor said, heavily catching his breath and laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
There was no longer any point in pretending.
"You only just noticed?" I retorted, breathing hard myself.
"You little cockroach! Do you know what's going to happen to you now?" Oakh snapped, irritated as always.
"Ah, let him be. He'll be dead soon anyway," Balinor dismissed him.
"You got lucky," Oakh grumbled.
"Maybe we should come up with a plan?" I suggested.
"You still want to learn our abilities?" Oakh said.
"That's a good proposition," Balinor agreed.
We all sat down in a circle, facing one another. I began:
"I'm Sven. I have no class. I've trained with a sword my whole life and know two spells: Protection from Weapons and Magic Hands. I have zero combat experience."
"I am Balinor. Paladin class, Oath of Devotion. My traits are Resilient, Vigilant, and Beast Master. I only have basic spells."
Oakh looked at us both with a scowl of distrust. He finally exhaled and spoke:
"I'm Oakh the gnome. Sorcerer class, Wild Magic subclass. I have the basics, plus my own unique spells. Also, I have more spell slots than any other gnome here."
That's not bad. I once beat a boss at level 2. I think we should first sic Balinor's dogs on the bat. Oakh will cast spells on us from a distance. That way, we can escape.
"Oakh, did you tell anyone we were going into the cave?" Balinor asked.
"No, I didn't get the chance," Oakh replied.
"Then we need to devise a plan to defeat this creature."
"But can't we just run?" I insisted.
"If we run, they'll attack the children."
"You care about the children?" Oakh questioned.
"No, but did you see how much they're worth?" Balinor retorted.
Oakh and I sat there, stone-faced, slightly frowning. And this is what he wants to dedicate his life to? God, he really is a Paladin.
"I'll be on the front line, hitting it with my Smite. Oakh, you'll attack from the other side, given your unpredictable magic. And Sven, you'll focus on drawing up Protection from Weapons," Balinor laid out the strategy.
"I have no choice, so let's do it," Oakh conceded.
"I'll help you," I promised.
Balinor drew a sword from the bracelet on his arm and made it burst into flame. Oakh and I followed behind him. I opened my system window, checking my stats.
Intelligence: Magic 9 $\rightarrow$ 11 Intelligence: Analysis 10 $\rightarrow$ 11 Dexterity: Acrobatics 11 $\rightarrow$ 13 Dexterity: Stealth 9 $\rightarrow$ 10
I must...
And then I felt it. Was I flying? An incredible pain shot through the left side of my face. All sounds merged into one.
"Sven!" Oakh's shout sounded like a booming echo.
I saw the creature attack Oakh, who managed to deflect the blow by transforming his left hand into a tiger's paw. I lay on the ground, voices echoing around the cavern.
3 Wisdom points gained. Wisdom 11 $\rightarrow$ 12: Survival 10 $\rightarrow$ 3 You have become wiser.
My body was turning cold, the air was drying out my throat, and my left eye was fading into darkness.