Chapter Three

I found myself surrounded by dark purple swirls in the room. The floor was littered with skulls and fresh heads of people, now infested with maggots. The screams of the victims echoed, causing my heart to race with fear. The stench of the corpses was overwhelming, forcing me to cover my nose with a cloth in a futile attempt to block out the smell. I knew I had to escape this horrific place before I met the same fate as those before me.

As I made my way through the room, I prayed that I wouldn't encounter any more enemies like the ones I had faced earlier. The thought of going through that ordeal again was daunting. Despite my efforts to find an exit, I was startled by the sound of a woman's voice nearby.

I followed the sound and soon saw her running towards me, pursued by monsters. I rushed to her aid, hoping to reach her before it was too late. She was a striking figure, with her dark hair flowing behind her and her skin glowing in the dim light. Adorned with jewels, she looked like a warrior princess fleeing from danger.

Assuming my combat position, I drew my dagger and readied myself for confrontation with my adversary. This was my moment to vanquish the beast and rescue the lovely lady. It was time to embody courage.

As the woman dashed past me, I lunged forward, aiming my dagger at one of the creatures while letting out a fierce battle cry. The monster lunged at me, baring its razor-sharp teeth, but I managed to sever them with a swift slice. Its anguished roar echoed as it staggered back, instinctively covering its mouth.

A confident smirk crossed my face, presenting me with the perfect opportunity to drive my blade into its abdomen. The creature disintegrated into dust, but another monster nearby let out a furious roar. I swiftly turned to face it, only to see it attempt to slash at my face with its claws. I evaded the attack, watching as it struck nothing but air.

Abruptly, another monster jumped into the atmosphere, its clawed foot pointed at my shoulder. “Ah!” I exclaimed, pressing my hand against the wound while still gripping my dagger with the other.

Breathing heavily, I stood my ground, glancing sideways in anticipation of my foes' next move. The lady winced and covered her mouth upon witnessing my injury. I sensed her gaze upon me, but I remained unfazed as long as no further threats approached her.

When one of the monsters charged at me, swinging its arms wildly, I recognized the cue to evade. As it missed, I seized the moment to plunge my blade into its chest. The creature vanished in a cloud of dust, and I relished the sound of its pained scream, allowing a smile to form on my lips.

As the ultimate beast let out a cry coordinated at me, I quickly rotated and saw it endeavoring to jump forward to nibble me. “Whoa!” I drawned back from its attack, the foul odor of its breath attacking my nostrils. Although I was relieved that it had missed, the stench was repulsive, leading me to suspect it had recently feasted on decaying corpses after dispatching its last victim.

“Heh!” I smirked at the creature while enduring the pain. I drove my blade into its chest, eliciting a scream of agony as it disintegrated into dust.

With the monster vanquished, I surveyed my surroundings to ensure no additional threats were imminent. I was not alone in this vigilance; the woman beside me was also scanning for lurking dangers, and fortunately, we found none, which brought us both a sense of relief.

“I believe they are gone,” she remarked, her gaze shifting to my injury. “Oh, you’re hurt. Allow me to assist you.”

As she rushed toward me, I withdrew my hand from the wound. Observing the blood seeping from it, she extended her hands toward the injury without making contact. A green luminescence enveloped the wound, and I was astonished by the sight. Was she a sorceress? If so, why had she not defended herself earlier? Had she perhaps lost her powers? These questions raced through my mind momentarily.

“I simply wish to precise my appreciation for your prior assistance…” the lady expressed, “in saving me from those beasts. This is often my way of rewarding you.”

“Oh, that? You are most welcome, m’lady.”

Once she completed the healing process with her magic, she withdrew her hand from my shoulder, and I turned to see that the wound had completely healed. My eyes widened in amazement as I realized there was no longer any blood.

“Well? What did you think of that?” she inquired.

“That was incredible!” I replied with a smile, rotating my shoulder back and forth. I expressed my gratitude for her healing.

The woman nodded and smiled at me. "No problem," she said. After looking around, she expressed her uncertainty about where to go. I suggested a direction and she agreed to follow.

As we walked, I couldn't help but wonder about her. "May I ask you a question?" I inquired. She gave me permission and I asked if she was a witch. She confirmed that she was, but explained that she only knew healing magic, not offensive spells.

I furrowed my brow. "You must be joking.”

"Gracious, I guarantee you, I'm totally genuine. Apologies. I am skilled in sword fighting, but..."

"But what?"

"I seem to have misplaced it. Hehe..."

"You can't be serious..."

"Why would I deceive you?" The woman then gestured towards the front. "Ah, there it is! Our way out!"

As I turned to look, I was relieved to see a doorway. We made our way towards it, and the door swung open for us. Upon entering, we found ourselves in a room filled with gleaming golden treasures. However, we soon realized that we were not alone - the room was also inhabited by a horde of monsters, forcing us to search for another exit.