The stone ruins stretched endlessly, numerous broken stone walls and collapsed pillars all around, forming a jagged and dangerous maze.
Lucien ran through it with a splintered wooden beam on his hand, only the half remained as it broke on his first fight. He was avoiding the obstacles in front of him as he ran with a purpose, the rotting wind hit his face. Behind him, sounds of pursuit can be heard. The cacophony of dragging and scraping sounds growing louder as it approached him, echoing through the narrow passages he went to.
After running for a few minutes, Lucien arrived at a clearing surrounded by debris and fallen pillars. Three monsters suddenly emerged from the tight narrow passage, kicking up dust as they stood in the distance. Twisted and elongated limbs can be seen from the silhouettes inside the dust clout, Ruin Ghouls slowly dragging their twisted limbs as they bared their fangs at Lucien.
Lucien learned the name of the monster when he fully absorbed its essence, its existence now becoming the source of Lucien's power.
Lucien exhaled slowly, as he tensed his whole body, preparing for the battle. He lowered his stance and tightened his grip on the splintered beam, still black with blood on the first Ruin Ghoul he killed.
One of the Ruin Ghouls lunged, hunger overtaking it's being. Lucien moved before it even lunged, sidestepping to the side with minimal movments. Lucien then thrusted the splintered beam forward swiftly, piercing the Ruin Ghoul's eye socket. The wooden beam plunged straight into the Ruin Ghoul's skull as Lucien quickly pulled the beam back.
The Ruin Ghoul dropped instantly, it's momentum dragging its body forward as it slid across the ground, covering it with its black blood.
The second Ruin Ghoul came from the side, it's clawed arm swiping towards Lucien. Lucien ducked under the swipe, pivoted, and
positioned his wooden beam below the chin of the Ruin Ghoul. Lucien then rammed the beam upward through it's throat, breaking the spinal bone as the splintered beam got stuck on it's neck.
The Ruin Ghoul choked on it's own blood and it's body twitched convulsely, it's body standing upright as the stuck wooden beam supported it.
The third ran forward, whipping its elongated limb at Lucien. Lucien ducked under it and stepped forward as the debris behind him gets shattered by the whip attack of the Ruin Ghoul, dust and fragments of rock flying all over the place. The collapsed pillars then fell, pinning the elongated limb of the Ruin Ghoul as it shrieked in pain.
Lucien closed the distance, avoiding the sloppy and predictable claw strike of the Ruin Ghoul. Lucien then slipped past its reach, driving his knee on its head, staggering it. Lucien then crushed the elbow joint of the Ruin Ghoul's clawed arm with a sharp kick, its bone snapped, the clawed arm now unusable. Lucien then held the Ruin Ghoul's head and used all his strength to rip it from its body, black blood squirting from its neck as it fell on the cracked earth, dying it black as the blood flowed inside the crevices.
Then the absorption began. Dark glowing essence seeped from the corpses, threads of shadow dust drifting toward him as the corpses slowly fade away. Lucien stood still as the essence entered his body, his eyes closed to savor the feeling of consumption.
The sensation hit harder than the last time as the three bodies supplied his body with essence continously. Heat surged through his veins, stronger and faster. His muscles tightened for a moment and then relaxed as power settled into them, his being adjusting to the new strength it acquired.
Lucien's breathing steadied, his fatigue from fighting three Ruin Ghouls gone like it had never existed. He flexed his fingers and clenched his fists slowly, his strength increased even more.
Lucien's gaze then shifted down the narrow corridor, slowly walking towards it as he disappeared into the darkness.
-----
Lucien became the hunter once more and the Ruin Ghouls the prey.
He learned their patterns and mannerisms, the way they dragged the weight of their elongated limb before lunging, and the distance of their clawed arm's reach.
Lucien also used the ruins. He still did not find any weapon for him to use. Collapsed pillars became traps to pin down the Ruin Ghouls. Narrow passages became choke points to make them vunerable. Loose and light debris became weapons for killing.
One by one, the Ruin Ghouls fell and absorbed by Lucien. Each of his kill easier than the last. Each movement cleaner and faster. With every absorption of essence, his body became tougher, his attacks stronger, his feet lighter, and his reflexes quicker.
-----
Lucien stood atop a fractured ledge that was overlooking a section of the ruined city. His sight now clearer than before, he observed the city that was crumbling. Dozens of buildings and structures was broken and fallen apart, Ruin Ghouls spread out across them. Yet one building stood apart, not broken but ancient.
A cathedral, its towering frame leaned slightly to the side, cracks webbing out its walls but uncollapsed. Parts of its roof caved in, but it was still the tallest structure around this section of the city. It's surroundings were devoid of any structures and monsters tend to avoid going near its vicinity.
Lucien felt it. A heavy oppressive presence was inside the ruined cathedral. Not an F-rank like the Ruin Ghouls he can found across the ruins. Something stronger, something more dangerous, and beneath that overpowering presence, was also something. Not a monster but a thing. It was calling Lucien over. Faint but endless, it beckons him to come closer.
-----
The cathedral loomed closer with every step that Lucien took. It's massive wooden doors had long since fallen, fragmented on the ground. Broken statues of angels lined the entrance, cracks and fragments of their body missing. Darkness permeates the place, enveloping the surroundings.
Lucien searched for a usable weapon around him, finding another splintered wooden beam. Now new instead of covered in black blood.
Why am I only finding these things? Lucien thought to himself as he picked it up and swung it a few times.
Satisfied with his new weapon, Lucien entered the ruined cathedral with no hesitation, his senses spreading as far as he can to prepare for any sudden attacks. As he slowly entered, he noticed that the air was cold instead of decaying. Dust hung unmoving in the air, undisturbed by wind. The area was still, like frozen in time.
Lucien's footsteps echoed as he journeyed deeper into the cathedral, passing by shattered pews and collapsed pillars. The darkness inside was now swallowing the light entering, barely reaching the center of the hall.
Then, a wet, slow breathing can be heard from within.
Lucien stopped his steps and tensed his whole body.
From the shadows ahead, a tall silhouette can be seen. It shifted it body, stepping forward to face the intruder of its home.
The monster was taller and broader than Ruin Ghouls. Its muscles stretched unnaturally beneath its thickened flesh that was fused with stone. Unlike the Ruin Ghouls with their decaying skin as soft as cotton, its muscles served as its armor, hardened and almost impenetrable. One of his arms was like a massive morningstar, sharp stone and splintered wood embedded on it. Its remaining arm was longer than the other, ending in hooked, clawed fingers that was glistening in the dark. Its face was distorted but it was not rotting away. Its eyes staring at Lucien, aware that someone has entered his domain.
Stronger than Ruin Ghouls, a F-rank monster. If the ranking system of this world follows the alphabet, this monster is probably an E-rank, Lucien thought to himself as he observed the E-rank monster in front of him.
Lucien tightened his grip on the splintered wooden beam on his hand as he observed his surroundings, looking for things he can use when he noticed something. Behind the monster was a broken altar. Partially obscured by the shadow and debris, a spear was on top of it. Due to the limited light and the monster appearing in front of the altar, Lucien did not see the spear clearly.
A low uttural growl escaped from its mouth, its eyes staring directly at Lucien. A warning to stay away from the shattered altar, like it was protecting it.
Lucien adjusted his stance, his sight never leaving the monster. He tensed his whole body, knowing that this upcoming fight is more dangerous than the first time he fought a Ruin Ghoul.
One hit of that spiked arm will probably puncture numerous holes on Lucien's body. He should also avoid being caught by those hooked claws if he do not want to be near the reach of the monster.
Lucien continued to observe the monster as they seem to do a staring contest, waiting for the other to strike first. Lucien also quickly gazed at his surroundings. He was searching for pillars and debris to use for his cover or to trap the monster, a weapon to replace his wooden beam as he was sure that it will not take long for it to crumble, and a path that will take him quickly to the altar behind.
I need that spear to win this fight, Lucien thought to himself when the monster moved.