Things happened simultaneously and slowly, as if time itself wanted to witness this moment and I realized that the fire wasn't burning me, it was entering my skin, filling my heart consuming my soul!
The monster bit down faster than I could react, but something else answered. The book flared, and green, destructive energy blasted outward, striking the monster and sending it flying backwards.
At the same time, the energy rebounded toward me, twisting the air around me. "What the he…!" But I didn't get to finish, a portal suddenly appeared behind me and I was yanked backward with a strong force, disappearing within.
The monster raised its head and let out an ear-splitting roar that shook the dungeon.
It's precious....It has been taken.
☆☆▪︎▪︎☆☆
The first thing I realized when I came to was that I wasn't in the dungeon. The second was that I was cramped in some tight, suffocating space.
I tried to sit up but my head spun and my stomach lurched, and I gasped, letting my head flop back. What… the… I was just in the dungeon and I then remembered the monster and shuddered.
What happened?
I couldn't remember what had happened after that or where the artifact had gone. I clenched my fists, but it wasn't there. I tried to smile, but the pain in my skull twisted it into a grimace.
Another dream dashed after all. Another fleeting hope. I won't ever turn into a full Awakened.
"Hey, you're awake?"
The voice was like two stones rubbing together, deep and smooth. I thought I was alone. Surprised, I sat up fast and hard enough to slam my head against something solid that sounded with a twank!
"Hush! Keep quiet!"
I rubbed my head, but it didn't help with the splitting pain. I looked around. Though it was dark, I could see I was in a cage meant for dogs or small monsters, so small I couldn't even stretch my legs.
In front of me, another cage held the largest man I'd ever seen, faintly outlined in the dark. "Are you finally awake?"
"Yes," I croaked, confused. How did I end up here? Dungeon, monster, artifact… it all spun in my head. I instinctively flexed my mind, letting out a sharp gasp.
What the fuck? What's that thing that just flashed in my mind like a bolt of lightning?
I could see the book spinning gently inside my mind, deep within my soul. Wh… what is happening? Is this what I think it is? But the essence didn't work! I did not become Awakened!
Right?
But I can undoubtedly feel something!
"You can ask later. First, check your hands. Are you cuffed?" the man asked.
My headache pounded harder, but excitement ran through my veins. I checked my hands. "No cuffs. What cuff are you talking about?"
"He's probably an idiot," a woman said coldly from the cage beside him.
"Hush, Litha," the big man whispered. "The cuff stops you from using your abilities. You're Iron rank, right? I can sense it. Quick, use one of your skills to break the cage!"
"Iron rank?" I repeated dumbly. "I… I am Iron rank?"
"I told you, he's an idiot. Are all humans like this?" the woman sighed, resigned.
I ignored her, still reeling from the revelation, I was fully Awakened? But now that I was calming down I could feel something in my body, it's in my blood. My body felt stronger, and my flesh firmer.
I could feel it in my body, if I pushed past the pain. "I'm a new Awakened. I… I don't have any skills yet."
Silence fell.
"This is perfect. An Iron with no skills? Are you one of those brats spoon-fed with essence?" the woman said, scorn dripping from her voice.
Even the big man didn't scold her this time.
I wanted to snap back, but I just scowled. I didn't have any skills because I didn't know what they were. And Iron rank? I should be bronze, didn't I just Awakened?
I dug into my mind and summoned what I never thought I'd see in my life, a Grimoire! It came willingly. As I'd guessed, it was the book from the dungeon but now it appeared as a green hologram.
I placed my hand on it, marveling at its solidity. On the closed cover were etched the words: [Monster Necromancer Art] and [Mors].
Summoning the Grimoire with the pain in my head was too much. I slumped again, and the Codex winked out.
The big man grunted. "Well. That's impressive. A new powerful Grimoire. But strange, his aura says Iron, yet he claims to be just Awakened."
"Doesn't have the density of a skilled Iron. More like a bronze discovering his abilities… but he's Iron," the woman said, grudgingly. "Rare or epic Grimoire. They should have cuffed him."
The big man chuckled. "What a weird guy."
☆☆▪︎▪︎☆☆
I woke with a bitter taste in my mouth. Thankful I remembered where I was, I didn't open my eyes immediately. Two voices spoke close by, they are different from the big man and the woman earlier.
"Madame will be very happy… to think we captured one more."
A second voice chuckled. "And he just fell in front of us."
"I wonder if they'll be edible after the ritual. I've not eaten a barbarian before. Hopefully they are not stringy like dwarves," the first voice replied.
I didn't like the sound of that. I slowly opened my eyes, keeping my breath even, pretending to be unconscious. My cage was on a moving platform carriage, pulled by two men in black robes and masks.
Two other carriages moved ahead, each carrying cages. The voices belonged to them. How I ended up here, I didn't know. But one thing was clear, I had to get out. And fast!
I flexed my muscles without moving. Strength coursed through my limbs. My head cleared quickly this time.
I need to get out and figure out exactly what was happening.