Hearing the voice's grand introduction, Alvin simply asked,
"You said you stand before me, but I can't see you."
"It's just a figure of speech," the voice replied.
"Whatever, can you just tell me what I can do to stop this wound?"
"I will tell you once you come find me. Just follow my directions."
Taking a deep breath, Alvin decided to trust the voice.
The pain in his right hand never lessened. Gripping his dagger tightly, he started following the voice's directions.
After a long walk into the depths, Alvin stopped before a set of massive gates.
They stood over 20 meters tall. 'So huge...'
"Now, open the gates and enter. Then you will find me," the voice instructed.
Alvin could sense a presence behind the gate.
Slowly, he pressed his hands against it and gave a small push.
KRAAAANG!
A deafening noise echoed through the catacombs as the gates creaked open.
And there it stood.
Standing over six feet tall, its decayed skin stretched tightly over brittle bones. Clad in medieval armor and gripping a longsword in its bony hands…
A Tier-3 undead monster.
"Is that you?" Alvin asked genuinely, but the voice immediately responded,
"No. That is an undead knight. You need to take the locket it's wearing. Only then can we meet each other."
Alvin's gaze shifted toward the locket.
It looked completely ordinary. He couldn't even sense any energy from it. The only notable feature was a key hanging from it.
'That key must be the way to see the voice…'
But could he trust the voice?
'No use overthinking things.'
Taking a step into the room, a pulse of energy surged outward, sending him skidding back.
As if the creature was warning him, do not enter.
"Ugh." His right hand flared with pain as fresh blood trickled down. His resolve hardened.
"Sorry, buddy. I'll be taking that key from you."
Enhancing his body with mana, Alvin surged forward, stepping into the room.
The knight let out a guttural scream, raising its longsword in preparation.
'A Tier-3 monster. I can't use my bow or my sword properly.'
'Then speed and daggers are my best opti—'
Just as he was about to reach the knight.
It vanished.
"What?!"
Alvin spun around, slashing with his dagger.
Clang!
The longsword met his blade in a violent clash.
But the sheer force sent Alvin flying, slamming him into the stone wall.
'So strong…'
"You can't fight it with brute force."
"Both of you are at rivaling ranks, but you're already weakened."
"Try using a trick to distract it. Grab the key and make a run for it."
The voice's advice rang in his ears.
Alvin exhaled sharply, nodding to himself as he pushed off the wall.
'Damn, it's fast and insanely strong.'
The knight moved again. Alvin kept his eyes locked on its movements, refusing to underestimate it.
It thrust its longsword straight for Alvin's heart. He sidestepped swiftly, aiming to pierce its hand with his dagger.
Clang!
The blade struck metal but failed to pierce through the armor.
The knight lifted its leg, aiming to kick him.
Alvin barely dodged, ducking just in time before thrusting his dagger toward the exposed knee—one of the few unarmored spots.
This time, the attack landed.
But the creature showed no reaction. No pain. No hesitation.
It merely raised its longsword high and slashed downward.
Alvin rolled away, twisting his dagger as he yanked it free.
He sprang to his feet instantly, eyes locked on the undead.
The knight turned toward him, stepping forward.
And then, it dropped to one knee.
'This is it.'
Alvin closed in, slashing at the knight's other knee.
But the undead blocked the strike.
Alvin's breathing turned ragged. He could no longer feel his right arm anymore, only numbness remained.
The Undead Knight stood up and spun its longsword in a defensive arc. But by then, Alvin had already moved out of range.
"Didn't I say to just take the locket and run?"
The voice chimed in again.
"Alright, fine."
Alvin took a few careful steps forward. The knight adjusted its stance.
Both could sense it, this would be the final confrontation.
They locked eyes, waiting. Anticipating. Neither willing to make the first move.
Drip.
A drop of blood from Alvin's wounded hand fell to the ground.
As if that was the signal.
They both moved.
Gritting his teeth, Alvin kept his focus sharp. While dodging the knight's strikes, he willed his sigil into action.
He couldn't block. A single mistake would be the end.
'Just a little more… This much energy will be enough.'
Black mist erupted from him, consuming both himself and the undead.
Alvin lunged forward.
"Just stay dead."
His dagger shot forward, piercing through the eye slit of the knight's helmet. The creature stumbled back.
Alvin didn't waste a second. He dashed in, seized the locket, and with a swift flip, yanked it free from the knight's neck.
"Attaboy! Now run, take cover!"
The voice, which had been silent until now, suddenly roared in Alvin's mind.
"What are yo—? Holy shit!"
In the black mist, Alvin caught a glimpse of something, a burning figure.
The knight's body trembling, cracks forming in its armor, or unstable energy leaking out.
It was growing.
Without hesitation, Alvin bolted toward the gate, diving for cover.
BOOM!
The entire catacomb trembled from the explosion.
Dust and debris rained down. The gates groaned from the force, and Alvin's long hair came loose, fluttering wildly in the aftermath.
"What the hell?! Why did it suddenly explode?" Alvin demanded.
"Because that knight was a Keeper."
"A... Keeper?"
"He was bound by a curse. Without the Prince's permission, he wasn't allowed to remove the locket. If he did, then boom."
Alvin's mind raced.
'Prince? Keeper? Curse?'
He shook his head. 'No, now isn't the time.'
Still gripping the locket and his dagger in left hand, Alvin stepped into the ruined chamber. The explosion had warped its structure entirely.
"Go near that lion statue," the voice instructed.
Alvin's gaze landed on the statue. Despite the destruction, it stood untouched.
'How is it still standing?' he thought to himself.
"Now, unlock the secret door. Put the key into the lion's mouth."
Alvin extended his left hand, inserting the key.
Twist.
Click.
The sound echoed through the chamber.
Then, the voice spoke again, its tone almost amused.
"Welcome to my humble home. The Prince's Treasury."