A.K. panted heavily. The battle against the giant centipede had worn him out a bit. It wasn't that the monster was super dangerous but its carapace was tough and the insect was fast. He returned to his dropped bag and finished what he came here to do before moving on. He would not waste time in trying to harvest its magic core as he figured it was too young to develop one and he would be traveling downwards for an estimated 2 years. A.K. wondered how deep in the planet's crust was he really.

…

Another month had passed in this endless cave system. A.K. sprinted eyes bloodshot, a swarm of centipedes right on his tail. If it wasn't for the constant fights A.K. believes he would have gone crazy by now. He'd yet to meet anybody and the lack of social interaction was messing with his mind in ways he couldn't fully comprehend. If not for the constant fighting and foraging for edible food along the way A.K. would have snapped. Soon a spilt would be coming in the pathway ahead one side would lead to a dead-end and the other into the main area of the Catacombs.

A.K. took the right pathway and stopped after a bend. He quickly opened his bag and started to remove all the flammable materials he collected along the way. Dried moss, insect parts, and spare clothing bundling them in front of him before taking out the fire starter. It was a small little ingenious invention that utilized shavings of fire crystals. By bashing the crystals together in close proximity they would ignite the magic within a start a fire.

A.K. lit all the materials on the ground before taking off in a sprint. This would probably level his running to its max soft cap. System had done all it could to slow A.K. leveling. A.K. would have thought it'd want him to level as fast as possible to complete the mission however the way he progressed it wouldn't be long until flags were raised. Although magi humans were stronger and better than their peers it didn't mean that he could be a freak amongst them.

A.K. hoped the fire would slow the inserts down. He had run into a chamber that was basically their main nest while looking for any treasures. That riled them all up and now he was in this situation running for his life. The descent was getting steeper and the air took a bloody smell to it. A.K. ran out into a vast cavern filled with debris. A.K. started too slow coming to a walk before stopping altogether. The cavern was about 7-8 football fields in length and covered in bones. The only reason he could see the bones this clearly was that his night vision was leveling up and the ground was covered in red fluorescent moss. Swords and shields were everywhere. He walked forward and bent down to pick up a skull. Tusk were jutting from the lower jaw. Orcs. He picked up another skull and found it to be human in nature. This was a battlefield between their two races. A.K. had finally descended into the main area of the Catacombs. This is where the map stopped from here on out he needed to figure out how to navigate downwards by himself.

A.K. took a deep breath the red glow of the moss making his features look sinister. He marched forth ax now in his hand waiting and ready for anything to move. The Catacombs was a graveyard after all.

><>

My name is Alex and my dream is to be the greatest hero the Empire will ever see. This dream stemmed from my father whilst he was still alive. He always told me of the great heroes of the Empire and how we could live safely because of them. Apparently not safe enough or my family would still be here.

Alex took a deep breath before raising his greatsword. Two in the front, one in the back. He was training amongst the Duke's men after all he would need the strength to protect the Young Master.

"Come," he said.

The two in front both wielding a sword and shield advanced trying to push him towards their comrade in the back, who was looking for an opportunity to strike.

"Bit cocky today ain't we lad?"

"Aye, this one has forgotten the number of bones we've broken."

"Cedric, Charles, you've seen my improvement," Alex said right before jumping right to avoid the swing from behind.

He rushed forth swinging the blade in a horizontal sweep, hoping to either stagger one of his enemies or create distance. Instead, Charles rushed in low using his shield to change the trajectory of the blade upward.

"When an opponent is strong and outnumbers you," Cedric said circle to enclose Alex between the three of them.

"You use the terrain and magic to your advantage. Yeah, yeah you've told me this plenty of times. That isn't how a hero fights." Alex said ducking to avoid a swing to his head.

Not noticing the kick that came to his face before it was too late. The next thing he saw was Murnia's face. His head was laying in her lap.

"Quite comfortable aren't we." Murnia looked down with a teasing smile.

"I lost again huh. I can never figure out how to break that strategy."

"It's actually simple. The objective they're trying to pierce into that thick skull of yours is to turn around and run! You have to understand when the odds are against you. Why do you think our species have survived for so long." Murnia was frowning now, looking at Alex with concern.

"Do not beat yourself up over situations out of your control."

Alex sat up, choosing to stay silent as he collected his thoughts.

"Heroes don't run away from the battle," Alex said standing up and looking at Murnia with a stubborn glint in his eyes.

"You're still on that hero business Alex? We're not kids anymore. The Duke has done much to help us turn into something more. Don't waste this opportunity on a childish dream." Murnia said. Alex could see the disapproval in her eyes and it was clear as day in her tone. He turned away picking up his great-sword in the process. He walked back to the barracks thinking over what Murnia said.

Was it a childish dream to want to be a hero? Should Alex just accept his fate and ride the currents to whatever awaited him? Alex didn't know anymore. After the Slight Hands had gotten recused by the Young Master Alex never stopped blaming himself for what happened. Even to this day tensions were still high between him and Ronwick. Then there was Ivy. They hadn't spoken since the incident all those years ago. They blamed him and Alex blamed himself. What kept him going was his dream of being a hero. Getting the strength so that he could always protect his friends no matter the circumstance. That's why Alex didn't run. He couldn't not when he had people who depended on him. Not when he failed them. He vowed to never fail them again.

><>

Several days passed since A.K. enter what would be considered the main area of the Catacombs. A.K. had been through 3 other battlefields since then. These large caverns with battlefields were all over the place. Red moss glowing all throughout. A.K. was getting a bad vibe about the entire thing and a chill had replaced the initial warmth he felt when he entered this place. It was getting colder as he moved further down. Different creatures began appearing. Darker creatures with rotting flesh. A.K. had caught a glimpse of them from the distance. Ghouls. Roaming the battlefields scavenging for whatever morsels they could find. Over a thousand years had passed since any of these bones were living. A.K. wondered what sort of magic kept the bones from completely decaying away. A.K. continued to cautiously move forward his pace slowed ever since he spotted the foul creatures. He got close enough to observe their features. The ghouls were probably a full 3 meters in height if they stood up straight. Instead, they hunched to the ground like gorillas. They had clawed feet and 3 digits on their hands, two long claws, and a thumb. No lips just a razor-sharp maw ready to tear into flesh. Their eyes were red as was most of their skin or maybe that was just the glow of the moss.

A.K. was starting to regret it. What 8 years old was sent on a 5-year journey as if he was a man. If he survived and manage to take over as the next duke he would abolish this practice immediately. No child should have to survive on the edge. A.K. continued his journey forward headed into the next tunnel to take him further below. He paused something didn't feel right. A lot of things didn't feel right but this, this was screaming danger at him. A.K. duck just in time as a bolt embedded itself into the wall next to him

New Skill: Danger Sense.

A.K. paused looking at the crossbow bolt in disbelief. That would have been his head if not for his timely duck. A ping went off in his awareness and A.K. jumped back dodging another bolt in the process. Body acting before his mind could decide A.K. sprinted in the direction the bolts came from reaching to his back and removing his ax. His awareness went off again and A.K. jumped left dodging the third bolt. He could see his attacker now a slender silhouette in the distance. It appeared as if they were cocking the crossbow back to get in a fourth shot. A.K. was more than ready this time and sped up even faster towards his attacker, anger boiling.

Said attacker upon seeing A.K.'s increased speed dropped the crossbow and pulled out a curved blade shinning in the red moss light. A.K. increased his speed once again taking his attacker by surprise A.K. slammed shield first into him.

New Skill: Shield Bash

Ignoring System A.K. focused on finishing the battle first. The attacker at been blown backward but managed to stay on their feet. Just as A.K. was about to proceed forward and attack a soft voice spoke out to him.

"Wait. I did not know you weren't undead. Forgive me." That said they lowered their blade not sheathing it but showing a non-hostile stance.

The figure removed its hood and A.K. got a good look at it at her. A pale elf with bright red eyes stared back at him.

"What is your name traveler? Not many ventures into the Catacombs from this direction."

"It's only proper to introduce yourself first before asking for a name."

"I am Titled as Shadow Bolt. We elves do not easily give names not unless amongst friends."

"Is that so?" A.K. said with an inquisitive look.

"You can address me as A.K."

A.K. didn't know much of the elven culture besides the common tongue they created for easier communication amongst the races. It was not his first time seeing an elf as they were well spread out throughout the Empire. Only those who came of age and earned their Title were allowed to leave though.

"What brings you so deep into the Ghoul Lands, A.K.?"

"I could as you the same Shadow Bolt. I didn't know I needed to be interrogated to travel now."

They stare off at each other for a bit. A.K. could admit he was quite pissed at being mistaken for undead and almost killed thrice because of it. Their stare-off continued for a bit longer until the elf spoke up again.

"Forgive me, truly. I will compensate you in the near future if possible."

A.K. took a deep breath before regaining control of his emotions.

"I am on a journey to Redcoomshi and you?" Shadow Bolt gave A.K. an inquisitive look. A.K. could tell the elf was definitely a beauty but most of her body remained covered even the lower portion of her face.

"Why not just take the teleportation gate? Redcoomshi is far, far underground."

Now A.K. could barely contain his bubbling anger. First, his parents treated him like a prince and now he was reduced to an adventurer for him to travel to some hidden area on foot. Now Shadow Bolt had revealed that Redcoomshi had a teleportation gate. A.K. was mad and he barely kept the anger out of his face.

"Ahhh, you did not know. You are young, magi human perhaps? You humans all look the same after a number of years. The Catacombs are littered with teleportation gates, otherwise, it would take years to travel from the top to the bottom," Shadow Bolt said with a hint of amusement in her voice.

"No matter, the nearest one is about one week's march from here. I will take you there and pay for your ticket. Consider my debt paid after."

A.K. watched as the elf sheathe her weapon before doing the same. She went past him and collected her crossbow the bolts previously fired before moving past A.K.

Gesturing forward, Shadow Bolt led A.K. deeper into the tunnels.