As the two walked along the outside of the forest edge, they spotted some strange creatures lurking there, but went in the opposite direction to avoid a fight with the monsters.
Monster wondered what to do.
Why was he following her at all?
He believed she was merely an ally, but in reality, he was only using her to maintain his sanity after losing his memories.
They were followed by a strata-hound.
It reaches a speed of 90 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 60 km/h in less than two seconds.
It tracks them by measuring the unique electrical field of the human nervous system.
Before striking, it emits a low-frequency, barely audible humming sound.
This frequency causes acute dizziness, nausea, and temporary muscle paralysis in humans, making escape impossible.
Both Monster and Janine felt dizzy; they wanted to continue walking, but then both collapsed to the ground and could no longer move; they were paralyzed.
Monster could see the creature; it resembled a scrawny, hairless dog or a large cat, but its skin was made of translucent, leathery chitin.
He could also see its black blood flowing through its veins.
From a distance, its head resembles that of a wolf.
On closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that its entire lower jaw is horizontally divided into three distinct, needle-like jawbones.
These jawbones are designed to sink their teeth into human limbs with lightning speed.
Its front claws end in long, fused talons that act like biological spikes.
These talons penetrate deep into any surface—concrete, wood, or earth—preventing the creature from slipping on sharp turns.
It didn’t stalk them.
It used its extreme speed to ram them both at full force, instantly shattering their bones and then dragging them into the darkness.
Monster was disgusted by the sight of the creature; His save state ability brought them both back five minutes before the event, then he had to vomit.
He had seen so many bones sticking out of his and Janine’s bodies that he couldn’t bear to relive something like that.
He vomited in a bush while Janine patted him on the back.
She is now very worried about his health; They’ve only just met, and he already seems so upset.
Monster counted the seconds as he vomited.
He wondered when it would return and how fast it was moving, having just come from the south and been so swift and silent at the same time.
It had rammed them both so hard that their bones shattered and some had even been flung away as if from the sky…
it was truly not a pretty sight.
Monster spoke quietly to himself: “It must have been 50 km/h, maybe almost 60.
But there isn’t much room in this forest, so it was most likely moving at 50 km/h.”
Then, taking a deep breath, he said to himself again: “It was still powerful, but if it came from the south, that means it came out of the forest, and it’s dark there and not really empty, so it was slowed down…
that is, it wasn’t running at full speed.
I doubt we can fend off an attack from this creature…
it’s just too fast.”
Monster had just stopped vomiting, and Janine asked: “Why are you muttering so much to yourself?
Do you perhaps know by now where we can find our groups?”
Monster looked up at her and wiped some vomit from his face.
“You trust me, right?”
Janine nervously fiddled with her necklace.
She was embarrassed to be the center of attention, even though she had just asked him something he hadn’t yet answered.
Nevertheless, not wanting to be rude, she replied, “Of course I trust you, but why are you asking?
It’s not normal to ask something like that, unless you…
have a plan?”
“I have an idea, but we need to hurry, otherwise something might follow us.”
Monster told her his plan: They should jump off a cliff, but to ensure their safety, they would have to jump from a cliff with trees or water below, since they could still heal each other with magic if they only had broken bodies or other injuries; it was better than dying.
Janine looked at him as if he had gone crazy: “You’re joking…
right?”
Monster simply shook his head and led her back to the cliff they had seen to the east, from where they had come.
Janine didn’t follow him; she was afraid of Monster’s plan.
“You’re totally serious about this, right?
I’m just an A-class adventurer, what if I can’t heal your injuries?”
Monster simply said: “I trust you, Janine.
That’s why I believe you can heal my injuries if we jump into the river or crash into the trees.”
Janine’s forehead began to sweat visibly; she was thinking about how risky and pointless this plan was.
“All right…
but if your plan doesn’t work and you die, it’s not entirely my fault,” she said, and followed him to the cliff. New chapters come out on g.com first.
He nodded gravely.
He believes his plan will work perfectly.
They both reach the edge of the cliff, and Janine looks to Monster to find out when they should jump.
Instead, Monster advises her to lean slightly forward toward the edge, but to try not to fall and to stay close to the precipice.
She does as he says, and then they both feel it.
They are both paralyzed, and the strata-hound returns, racing towards them at full speed.
It seems to be able to accelerate faster this time, as the path here was clearly clear of branches and trees.
They should both fall, since they had leaned right to the very edge of the cliff.
Now they are paralyzed and fall into the river.
But Monster didn’t fall with her…
he wanted to lean over at the very edge of the cliff but didn’t have time…
now he’s paralyzed and the strata-hound is running towards him at 90 km/h.
The strata-hound wasn’t far away… but because it was running so fast, the cliff gave way beneath Monster, and he too plunged into the depths.
He didn’t see Janine as he fell; she wasn’t there.
And from above, he saw the strata-hound keep running, straight ahead, and finally tumble deep into the forest.
As Monster had planned, he had already factored in that the strata-hound would be unable to brake at 90 km/h.
The cliff was therefore perfect for sending the strata-hound plummeting to its death.
That’s precisely why the strata-hound has these claws that dig deep into the ground – so that it doesn’t slip on sharp turns, and something that is moving too fast cannot brake quickly itself.
Once that problem was solved, all he had to do was wait until he landed in the river and could get out to continue the search with Janine.
He closed his eyes and enjoyed the breeze that greeted him while he was still falling.
When he no longer felt the fall, he opened his eyes and found himself in a dark room with Janine.
That wasn’t where he wanted to end up.
He sat up and tried to figure out where he was; it was definitely cold.
The sound of clicking stone echoes.
A tall, skeletal, white-bone and black-porcelain figure descends from the ceiling like a mechanical spider before standing upright.
Its spider-like skeletal fingers twitch frantically behind its back.
Its faceless mirror-head tilts, reflecting the facial expressions of Monster and Janine.
The creature’s voice rings out like a heavy iron bell accompanied by the sound of grinding stone: “Welcome, Starved Soul.
Welcome, Accompanying Flesh.
I am The Hollow Quill, just Quill for you.
You stand at the precipice of Aethelgard’s Gauntlet.
This structure does not possess an exit for the living.
It only possesses a summit.
To escape, you must ascend five absolute phases of structural judgment.
Do not look for mercy.
The Gauntlet does not judge your worth; it judges your durability.” With a terrifyingly fast motion, one of its long bone fingers snaps forward.
It scratches directly into the stone wall, carving five deep, glowing lines that represent the stages:
Phase I: The Sunless Atrium
Phase II: The Archive of Whispers
Phase III: The Clockwork Foundry
Phase IV: The Eclipse Canopy
Phase V: The Gate of the Mirror-Keeper
The Hollow Quill turns its faceless head toward the dark archway leading into the first stage.
Its skeletal fingers begin to click rhythmically, like a countdown.
It carves the absolute constraints of the first trial into the threshold: “Hear the parameters of Phase I: The Sunless Atrium.
You enter a domain of absolute sensory starvation.
In this place, light is an enemy.
The prism-stalkers who hunt within do not possess eyes; they possess hunger.
If you spark a flame, they will see it.
If you manifest magic, they will track it.”
The Hollow Quill leans closer to Monster, its mirror-face inches from his eyes.
“You who hunger for the shadows of others—know this.
In the absolute dark, shadows do not exist.
You enter this trial empty.
If your companion bleeds, her blood will make sound.
If your heart races, they will hear the rhythm. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Step forward, or rot at the gate.”
As Monster and Janine steel themselves and walk past the Hollow Quill into the darkness, the Hollow Quill whispers a final, chilling line that only Monster can truly understand.
They went inside; if this is all the information they can get, then it’s better than nothing.
They can see nothing in the labyrinth and wander aimlessly until Monster, using his hands as ears, signals to Janine that she will listen.
At the same time, he places his feet flat on the ground to feel the vibrations as soon as a prism-stalker approaches.
He hopes to find something by having Janine listen to all the sounds she can hear along the way.
They walked and walked until Janine accidentally tripped over something…
it was the foot of a prism-stalker…
they both ran for their lives and were then separated, at least they escaped the prism-stalker…
Monster has ended up in a place he can’t see because everything looks the same: dark.
He could use his save state to turn back time… but no, that would cost him too much energy.
Instead of using his magic, Monster tries to complete these stages by applying the Hollow Quill’s predetermined rules.
Meanwhile, deep in the labyrinth, Janine had already discovered a huge, humming crystal pillar.
She had literally stumbled over it while fleeing from the prism-stalkers once again, driven by sheer terror.
She wants to find Monster.
Because that seems to be the key to getting outside…
but she’s too afraid to call his name so he’ll follow her, because there are many prism-stalkers lurking around this stage.
After a few minutes, there was a loud thud… Monster had just run around, overtaken the prism-stalkers, and was faster than them.
He shouted: “Janine, where are you?!
I would be so grateful for any help you can give me!”
Janine only let out a soft whimper, but it was loud enough in the silent room for him to hear her.
He used his flash step to cover short distances faster and then quickly reached her, whereupon they both headed towards the exit of the first stage, trusting their instincts and walking straight ahead until they found the end, but still couldn’t see it.
Upon reaching the exit gate, they encountered the floor’s boss: a massive, armored Prism-Matriarch blocking the entrance.
It is blind, heavily armored against physical attacks, and reacted to the slightest sound.
It’s crystalline skin was impenetrable with bare fists.
Janine wanted to fiddle with her necklace because she didn’t feel up to facing this huge opponent.
Monster tried to fight it alone, using a flash step to get onto its back and punching it repeatedly, only to end up with bloody fists because the skin of this giant creature is too tough.
Minutes passed and Monster was severely injured.
The Prism-Matriarch struck Monster three times in the stomach; he already has two holes in his left lung…
Monster can barely breathe, his end is near.
Janine was terrified.
What am I supposed to do without Monster?
He’s done everything here, and I’m just standing around.
I have to do something, even if it’s just something small.
Janine tries to act as bait so that Monster can come up with a good plan while she distracts the Prism-Matriarch.
Monster must act quickly because he has no time; every second determines how long Janine can last as bait.
Perhaps I should try my new spell?
No, that would be too risky.
My shadow-eating would be good.
But without light, there are no shadows.
I think I could try to create my own light.
If I used the giant’s armor against itself, that would surely produce a spark of light.
Monster tried it out: With his flash step he stole a piece of armor from the Prism-Matriarch, appeared behind it, and struck it with a metal piece of his own armor.
This ignited a spark of light.
Not behind the Prism-Matriarch, but in front of it, since Monster was already behind it.
The Prism-Matriarch then turned around, giving Monster exactly two seconds to get underneath it and reach the shadow in front of him.
He managed to grasp and devour the shadow before anything worse could happen.
This granted him the ability to see in the dark, as well as several other skills and magic from the Prism-Matriarch’s memories.
He now knew every path of the first stage, having seen the Prism-Matriarch’s memories and known the location of the exit gate.
He felt the urge to devour shadows again, but controlled himself and then noticed that the prism-matriarch had vanished.
Just like the whisper-scale had back then.
Even Monster noticed that his injuries had disappeared, perhaps because they had just completed the first phase.
They reached the second stage, but before it could begin, they encountered the Hollow Quill again.