The lantern flickered across the stone cave walls.
The cold wind of the incoming night drifted through the cracks in the rock, bringing chill with it.
Chained against the wall, Raquel's eyelids fluttered open, and as she woke up, she felt pain in her wrists and tried to shake the chains off, but it was impossible.
She asked fearfully and looked around the dark room, her eyes adjusting to the dim light.
The heavy door opened up, and through the doorway stepped a tall figure dressed in all black.
Her lips were trembling as she tried to stop her tears.
"What a pretty face you got there." The person's hand touched Raquel's cheek. "Truly beautiful."
Raquel's face turned pale, and she said, "P-please, let me go."
"No… no…" the person laughed sinisterly, "I have other plans for you."
"I want to go back home!" Raquel pleaded with tears welling in her eyes.
The person wiped her tears with his thumb.
"When I showed my friends your picture, they became quite excited. I will also let them have some fun before the ceremony. You shall be my last sacrifice before my advancement to Martial Legend."
"T-there's more of you?" Raquel asked fearfully, and bit her lips in fear. "Why would you people do this? Why are you so evil?"
The person grabbed her by the face and then whispered into her ear.
"You don't know what the word evil means. Prepare yourself; I will be coming to get you shortly!"
With that, he left and slammed the heavy door shut.
He arrived at the cold cave hallway, and as he stepped deeper into the hallway, his hood fell back, revealing his disfigured face that had lumps, moles, and scars covering every inch of his skin.
That face was a face that not even his mother would love.
He laughed sinisterly, and with that, he disappeared into the cave's immense darkness like a shadow.
Through the howling of the wind, two figures finished the climb and arrived at the entrance to the cave.
It happened to be quite high in the mountains, but they followed Julian's instructions of where he saw the climbing figures, and this was the only cave they managed to discover.
Kiernan fixed his mask on his face—the mask covered the lower half of his face—it made him look like an assassin.
Julian straightened up and walked into the cave, but as soon as he took one step inside, his martial rank vanished mysteriously.
"This is the one," he said and fixed his mask slightly. "Kiernan, if you're in danger, I don't blame you for running away."
"And I began to think that you would know what kind of person I am." Kiernan said. "If I die, I will make pretty damn sure that my enemies go down with me."
Julian nodded, fist-bumped with him, and then entered the cave.
It was very cold as it was turning night.
Unlike in the Game, there weren't any challenges ahead of them—it was just a cold cave hallway leading into darkness.
Julian took deep breaths, preparing himself mentally. There was a chance that they were too late, and they came across Raquel's corpse.
If that was the case, he would make sure that whoever did that to her would pay with their lives.
Kiernan, on the other hand, kept his emotions steady. He wasn't overthinking things and tried to keep his body warm in case they had to fight.
At that moment, they came across a tightly closed door, but there was more of the hallway leading even deeper into the cave.
"I'll open the door—keep an eye out." Julian said and sprinted to the door.
Kiernan nodded and stared towards the dark hallway, trying to hear the movements first.
Julian opened the door and creaked it open carefully.
The dimly lit room slightly brightened up, and through the light, Julian was able to see a chained young woman, her eyes wide with fear.
She was expecting the worst as she couldn't really see who opened the door because her eyes were hazy because of her tears.
"P-please no…" Raquel whispered in fear. "I-I don't want to die, please!"
"It's me!" Julian ran over to her and looked at the chains with anger in his eyes.
The chains were causing bruises on her fair skin.
"H-huh?" Raquel looked up at him, and despite the hazy vision, she recognized the voice. "J-Julian?"
"I came here for you. Let's get you the fuck out!" Julian tried to rip the chains, but couldn't. "Shit, get off!"
"He is coming shortly!" Raquel panicked. "It has soon been ten minutes since he left!"
"Kiernan, help me!" Julian shouted.
Kiernan ran towards Julian and grabbed the chains.
With a strong squeeze, he broke the chains, and one of Raquel's arms got freed.
He immediately moved to her other arm and destroyed the chains with his steel-like fingers.
Raquel fell into Julian's arms, and she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Let's go!" Julian helped her to walk and left the dimly lit room.
And as Kiernan followed after him, they all heard footsteps behind them, and as they turned around, a disfigured-looking man looked straight at them.
"N-no…" Raquel whispered in fear. "We must run!"
"This is the fucker?" Julian narrowed his eyes coldly.
"Julian, remember, saving Raquel is a priority." Kiernan said and touched him on the shoulder. "Take Raquel back to her father."
"What about you?" Julian asked.
"Me?" Kiernan pulled down his mask and turned to the disfigured-looking man. "I will make sure that he won't escape."
"Alright…" Julian patted him on the shoulder. "Kill that fucker!"
"Wait!" Raquel touched Kiernan's arm and said, "Come with us. He isn't alone. He told me that he has friends with him."
"More?" Julian's expression turned ugly.
"Do not worry." Kiernan said and shook Raquel's hand. "My name's Kiernan—I don't think we've spoken before. Follow Julian's lead, please—he will bring you back home."
"A-ah…" Raquel looked into his eyes, and she didn't know why, but she felt very secure.
Those weren't the eyes of some suicidal fool, but someone who was calm and in control.
Julian nodded at Kiernan, and then grabbed Raquel by her hand as they began running away.
"You've made a mistake," the disfigured-looking man said. "She was supposed to be a sacrifice, but now I will have to change my sacrifice. I won't enjoy it, but you must become one, then."
"I don't like the look in your eyes." Kiernan said and flexed his fists. "What is your endgame?"