The Dark Ascendance

Kazuki stepped out of the old man’s shop, the cool night air greeting him as the village of Grimvale lay under a dark blanket of stars. He pulled the fur-lined coat tighter around him, his mind still heavy with thoughts of Sato.

"It's already night," he muttered, glancing up at the moonless sky. "I’ll need to find a place to stay."

His feet carried him to the local inn, its windows dimly lit with the warm glow of firelight. He pushed open the door and walked in. The innkeeper, a stout man with a greasy apron, glanced at Kazuki and sneered.

"You again? What do you want?" the man spat.

"I need a room for the night," Kazuki replied coolly, his eyes cold and unbothered by the man’s tone.

The innkeeper barked a laugh. "A room? You don’t have any money, do you?" He leaned in, his breath smelling of ale. "Don’t come to Grimvale Village Inn again if you’re broke!"

Kazuki’s face remained emotionless, but he whispered under his breath, “This place is called Grimvale?” A memory suddenly flashed in his mind—the nights he and Sato spent in this very inn, sharing drinks, laughing, making jokes.

His chest tightened. Sato…

Then, another thought struck him—he had once asked Sato how they always had money for the rooms, and Sato had replied with a smirk: “We do quests from the guild.”

Kazuki’s eyes sharpened. The guild… He scanned the village streets, but the realization hit him quickly. Grimvale was too small for a guild. Guilds only existed in larger cities or kingdoms.

"Tch," he clicked his tongue, irritated by his misfortune.

With no other choice, Kazuki turned and headed out of the village, his steps silent against the dirt road. After walking a few miles, he stumbled upon a large cave entrance, its dark maw looming ahead.

"Guess this will have to do," he muttered, stepping cautiously inside.

The cave was cold and damp, and as Kazuki moved deeper into the darkness, the air grew thick with silence. His breath echoed in the narrow space, the only sound accompanying him.

Drip. Drip.

The occasional drops of water hitting the stone were the only sign of life. It was pitch black; he couldn’t see anything.

"One wrong step, and I’m dead," Kazuki said, his voice low.

But as he carefully walked forward, the ground beneath him suddenly gave way.

CRACK!

Kazuki plunged into a hollow abyss, tumbling down into the dark.

THUD!

He hit the ground hard, groaning in pain. “Ugh…”

The darkness was suffocating, but before he could even stand up, something massive slammed into him with brutal force.

BAM!

Kazuki was thrown back, hitting the cave wall. “What the—”

A deep growl echoed through the cavern. Kazuki’s eyes widened as he realized what was before him—an orc, but this one was bigger, stronger, and regenerating its wounds almost instantly.

"I can’t see a thing..." Kazuki whispered to himself, gritting his teeth. With no sight, he had to rely purely on instinct.

The orc charged at him again, its weapon swinging wildly in the darkness.

SWOOSH!

Kazuki barely dodged, his body moving out of pure muscle memory. He lashed out with a punch, his fist connecting with the orc’s thick hide.

THWACK!

But then, the orc’s weapon came down, smashing into his legs.

CRUNCH!

Kazuki collapsed to one knee, gasping in pain. "Damn it!" he hissed, gripping his leg. His body trembled as he tried to stand, but his legs were damaged—severely.

The orc loomed above him, its grotesque form visible only through the faint outline of movement. Kazuki’s heart raced, fear creeping into his chest. Am I... afraid?

His breath quickened. "I can die right here… but..." Kazuki’s thoughts were racing. He saw flashes of Sato in his mind, their laughter, their friendship. "I have to avenge Sato before I die."

He clenched his fists, ignoring the pain. "I can't... lose."

Kazuki took a deep breath, forcing his mind to focus. "Let go of the fear... Trust yourself." His voice was cold, as if talking to someone else entirely.

The orc swung its massive weapon again, but this time, Kazuki was ready. His body moved with lightning speed, dodging the attack and countering with a powerful punch.

BOOM!

The impact echoed through the cave as his fist collided with the orc’s side. The creature roared, staggering back, but it began to heal almost instantly.

Kazuki’s eyes narrowed. Regeneration...

He struck again, another punch fueled by 20% of his strength.

CRACK!

The orc roared once more, but its wounds closed as quickly as they appeared. Kazuki’s breaths were heavy, his body aching. "If I keep doing this… nothing changes. I won’t kill it."

His mind raced. He knew he could unleash 100% of his power, but that would destroy him too. His right arm was all he had left—if he lost it, there would be no recovering.

A cold realization set in. "I can't use all my strength... but..." His eyes flashed in the dark, the flicker of a strategy forming.

The orc lunged at him again, swinging its weapon with brutal force. Kazuki sidestepped, barely avoiding the blow. He could feel the raw power behind it, but this time, he didn’t panic.

He let out a slow, controlled breath, feeling his heartbeat steady. His body was weak, but his mind—his instincts—were sharper than ever.

"I’ll break you," Kazuki whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the orc’s growls.

And with that, Kazuki lunged forward, ready to end the fight.