The stone above the tunnel groaned.
Dust drifted down in thin curtains, catching the faint blue glow of the system map. Each impact from above sent a vibration through the walls, a reminder that my "temporary" safety was on borrowed time.
Temporary meant seconds. Maybe minutes.
I crouched, dagger low, breathing slow despite my pulse trying to punch its way out of my chest. The tunnel smelled old—wet stone, mold, something metallic. It hadn't been used in years. That was good.
Forgotten places tend to stay forgotten.
Unless the world ends.
The system map rotated as I focused on it. Thin white lines marked tunnels branching in three directions. One path ended abruptly. Another curved upward toward the surface. The third plunged deeper, into an area shaded dark gray.
I frowned. "What's gray mean?"
The system chimed.
UNEXPLORED ZONE
DATA INSUFFICIENT
Of course.
Another impact struck the entrance. This time, a crack split the archway stone, spiderwebbing outward.
Decision time.
I shifted my weight and crept deeper into the tunnel, choosing the gray-marked path. Darkness swallowed me almost immediately. The blue system light dimmed, automatically adjusting so it wouldn't blind me.
Smart. Helpful. Unsettling.
As I moved, the tunnel widened just enough to stand. My steps echoed too loudly, every footfall sounding like a signal flare. I slowed, placing my feet carefully, listening between breaths.
Nothing.
No shrieks. No claws. Just the distant rumble of destruction above.
The system chimed again.
NEW QUEST AVAILABLE
QUEST: FIRST NIGHT ALIVE
OBJECTIVE: REMAIN ALIVE FOR 24 HOURS
REWARD: SKILL SELECTION (BASIC)
FAILURE: DEATH
I snorted despite myself. "You really know how to motivate."
No response. The system didn't do sarcasm.
The tunnel opened into a larger chamber—a forgotten underground storehouse, maybe. Broken crates lay scattered, their contents long rotted away. A collapsed ceiling let in a thin shaft of light from above, illuminating drifting dust.
I froze.
Something moved at the edge of the light.
Not a shadow-creature. This thing had shape. Limbs. Too many joints.
It skittered across the floor, pale skin stretched tight over bone, eyes reflecting the blue system glow. It stopped when it noticed me, head snapping in my direction.
The system reacted instantly.
ENTITY IDENTIFIED: RUIN CRAWLER (LOW TIER)
LEVEL: 2
THREAT RATING: MODERATE
RECOMMENDED ACTION: AMBUSH OR EVADE
Level 2.
Higher than me.
The creature hissed, mouth opening wider than it should, revealing needle-like teeth. It tensed, ready to spring.
My grip tightened on the dagger.
Run? The chamber had only one clear exit—behind me. Narrow tunnel. Bad idea.
Ambush it was.
I edged behind a broken crate, heart pounding so loudly I was sure it could hear it. The crawler crept forward, claws clicking softly on stone, head jerking as it searched.
Closer.
Closer.
When it lunged, instinct took over.
I rolled sideways as it struck where I'd been, stone cracking under its weight. I came up low and drove the dagger forward, aiming where the system highlighted a faint red outline along its neck.
The blade sank in.
The crawler shrieked, thrashing wildly. Pain shot up my arm as it slammed into me, claws raking my shoulder. I barely felt it. Adrenaline drowned everything.
I twisted the dagger and yanked it free.
The creature collapsed, twitching once before going still.
Silence returned to the chamber.
I stood there, chest heaving, waiting for it to move again.
It didn't.
The system chimed.
KILL CONFIRMED
EXPERIENCE GAINED: +30 XP
LEVEL UP!
Light flared in front of me.
HOST LEVEL: 2
ATTRIBUTES INCREASED:
STRENGTH +1
AGILITY +1
Warmth spread through my body, not healing, but strengthening. My limbs felt lighter. Sharper. Like the world had shifted slightly in my favor.
I laughed—short, shaky, almost hysterical.
"I lived," I whispered.
The system wasn't done.
QUEST UPDATE: FIRST NIGHT ALIVE
TIME REMAINING: 23 HOURS, 12 MINUTES
I wiped the dagger clean on my sleeve and scanned the chamber. The crawler hadn't been alone—scraps of bone and torn fabric littered the floor. Past victims.
A glint caught my eye near the collapsed wall. I approached cautiously and found a small satchel half-buried under rubble. Inside were dried rations, cracked but edible, and a dented flask of water.
Relief hit harder than the level-up.
I ate slowly, savoring every bite, forcing myself not to rush. Panic wastes energy. The system hadn't said it, but I could feel the rule etched into my bones now.
Survival has a cost.
When I finished, I sat against the stone wall, dagger across my knees, eyes fixed on the tunnel entrance.
Above me, the empire continued to fall.
Down here, in the dark, I made myself a promise.
If this world wanted me dead, it was going to have to work harder than that.
The system chimed softly, almost approving.
HOST STATUS: ALERT
PROGRESSION: ONGOING
And somewhere beyond the stone and fire, the Forsaken Realms waited.