The dungeon, with its cold, rough stone walls covered in moss and dampness, brought a choking sense of dread to anyone who entered. The oil lamps barely cast their flickering yellow light, and distant, unplaceable sounds — heavy footsteps — echoed, filling the humid silence of the dungeon.
Gazel and Vantias instantly reacted to the noise. They took a defensive stance, alert, ready for confrontation.
RAAAARGH!!
A scowl formed on Gazel's face. He quickly turned his head toward Vantias and said loudly:
"Stay sharp! It's coming!"
Vantias gripped his sword tightly with both hands and raised it high. His teeth ground together in a soft, unconscious gnash. He braced his feet and took a deep breath. Fear made his heart pound faster.
The sound drew closer — louder, heavier, and more intense. The roaring echo filled the dungeon tunnel like thunder.
Skreeeee!
It was a group of ogres slowly moving toward Vantias and Gazel. Ogres — hulking masses of flesh and fury. Their tough skin looked like scorched leather, covered in wounds and scars, and their small, red-glowing eyes gleamed under their pronounced brows. Jagged, yellow teeth jutted from drooping jaws, and their breath stank like death itself.
Upon seeing the number of ogres, terror spread through both of them. Gazel, more experienced, quickly adapted to the situation.
"Vantias, stay behind me! If things go bad, our first priority is survival, got it?"
But Vantias...
His legs and arms had frozen. He held the sword up with all his strength, but he had no idea how to use it.
"Damn it?! I can't move!"
In the dark heart of the dungeon, the flames of the torches danced on the wet walls. The ogres' heavy footsteps grew louder like crashing thunder.
Gazel turned his head sharply and shouted:
"Don't let fear in! Get ready to fight!!"
Fear coursed through every fiber of Vantias's being. His hands and feet were trembling, his heart beating faster. His mind raced with thoughts, but no matter how much he tried to focus, his body still shook.
Vantias tried to hide the fear on his face — not to give the ogres any advantage. In his mind, he whispered:
"I don't know how to fight! What do I do? Should I run?"
The ogres, upon spotting them, charged forward with raised weapons. With each step, their presence struck deeper fear into Vantias's heart. The battle had begun.
Gazel rushed forward with a furious battle cry, his sword cleaving through the air with terrifying force. In one swift blow, he cut an ogre clean in half.
Astonishment lit up in Vantias's eyes.
"Who *is* this guy? He just cut a whole ogre — that massive brute — in half?!"
Vantias took a defensive stance but couldn't take his eyes off Gazel's ferocious combat.
GGRRRRAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!
The ogres grew more enraged, their attacks stronger, faster, and more chaotic. Gazel fought back as best he could, but the sheer number of ogres made defense difficult.
Vantias ignored the fear in his heart. Even though his body trembled, he *wanted* to help.
He gripped his sword tightly, clenched his teeth, and hardened his resolve like forged steel. He charged at the ogres with all his strength and struck one with a powerful attack.
Clang!
But the blow wasn't fast enough to make a difference. The ogre blocked it with its heavy blade. Roaring in fury, it launched a punch straight at Vantias's face.
Time slowed in Vantias's eyes. The blow came toward him like a mighty hammer.
A panicked thought flashed through his mind:
"Damn it!! My head's gonna get crushed!"
All he could do was shut his eyes and brace for the impact.
But...
While the ogre was focused on Vantias, Gazel rushed in and shoved him out of the way. In the same moment, Gazel struck the ogre.
The blade sank deep — "SHLUNK!" — and with a bone-crunching "CRACK!", the ogre's massive arm fell to the ground. Blood sprayed out in a wet "SPLURT!", and the beast howled in agony:
"RRROOOAAARGHHHHH!!!"
In a blink, Gazel launched another attack, using the opening he had created — a fierce, swift lunge aimed at the ogre's heart.
His blade struck the ogre's chest with a heavy "THWUMP!"
Steel tore through flesh — "SHLUUUNK!" — ribs shattered with a sickening "CRACK!" as the sword pierced the beast's heart.
Blood burst out in a thick "SPLUTCH!", splattering across Gazel's armor.
The ogre's eyes widened.
GGRRUHHH!
As the ogre's lifeless body collapsed, a thunderous echo rippled through the dungeon. That was enough — the remaining ogres stared at Gazel in fear and fled, terrified, into the darkness.
Gazel raised his head, a wave of relief washing over both him and Vantias. As the ogres retreated, Gazel turned toward Vantias.
He smiled and extended his hand.
"Take my hand."
Vantias had fallen from Gazel's push. A faint smile crept onto his face as he grabbed Gazel's hand and stood up.
"Thanks, Gazel. I owe you my life."
Gazel let out a quiet chuckle and replied:
"In the world of adventurers, this stuff's normal. Took me years to learn — it's not the blade or the magic that keeps an adventurer alive... it's their companion."
Vantias raised his eyebrows at those words. Something warm stirred in his heart. It was a simple piece of advice — born from years of pain, wounds, and solitude.
In that moment, something shifted deep inside Vantias. He didn't say a word, but Gazel's words echoed through his mind and soul, making him realize the true worth of a companion — something far beyond what he had ever experienced.
He lowered his head and thought:
"That phrase... those words... that view of friendship... it's different. So different from what I've known."
"I always thought... people were just tools to reach my goals... but..."
With a stunned, contemplative look, Vantias stared at Gazel — his mind still reeling from those words — as Gazel began collecting the massive ogre teeth.
From that day on, Gazel changed how Vantias saw his companions — not as pawns or tools, but as true comrades.