GamerFiction

The Mage's Path: Chapter 25

Added 2025-02-24 09:51:09 +0000 UTC

Hi all,

Here’s the final chapter I owe from last week. This one was a struggle to write. Harry and Celeste continue to explore the dungeon, with a boss monster in hot pursuit.

Chapter 25

The massive corpse shambled into view, its bulk nearly filling the tunnel. Rotting muscles bulged beneath grey skin, and a dark, tattered suit hung from its frame. Unlike the other zombies, this creature moved with purpose, its milky eyes fixed on Harry with terrifying intelligence.

"Move!" Harry dove aside as the monster's fist whistled past, striking the group of zombies with devastating force. Rotting limbs detached and flew through the air, splattering against the stone walls.

The monster seized a zombie by its skull, muscles rippling as he crushed bone and brain matter between his massive fingers. He hurled the twitching corpse into two more zombies, sending them sprawling. Without pause, he charged forward, stomping another zombie's head into paste beneath his boot.

The remaining undead tried to swarm him, but the monster's raw strength proved overwhelming. He ripped one zombie in half at the waist, its spine separating with a wet crack. Another lost its head to a backhanded blow that pulverised its neck.

"Scan," Harry whispered, watching the slaughter unfold.

======

Primary Attributes: Strength: 50 | Endurance: 40 | Intelligence: 35

Defence: 30

Primary Skills

Crushing Grip: Immense strength allows it to crush opponents.

Limber: Can attach and detach arms to use them as clubs, and inflict damage on itself.

Necromantic Bite: Its bite can cause the target to turn undead if not treated in time.

Cannibalise: Consuming undead flesh restores its HP.

Adrenaline: Strength and Speed increase as HP decreases.

Monster Traits

Undead Resilience: Takes 50% less damage from physical attacks.

Weakness to Fire: Takes 25% more damage from fire.

Pursuit: Once it locks onto a target, it will continue to chase them relentlessly.

Vengeful to the End: Releases a shout when it dies to summon all zombies to its location.

======

Exp: 4000

Loot: 1000 pounds; Corrupted Flesh; Goliath’s Brain; Strange Talisman.

Description: Once the beloved son of Borley Rectory's groundskeeper, Frank encountered a monster that transformed him into something monstrous. His intelligence survived the change, making him far more dangerous than mindless zombies. His appetite for undead flesh marks him as an apex predator among both the living and undead.

======

“Why are we encountering the boss right from the beginning?” Harry complained.

The thing was too much for them to handle right now. One swing of Goliath’s fist would likely one-shot him.

As the last zombie fell, Goliath dropped to his knees beside the nearest corpse. His jaw unhinged like a snake's, revealing rows of yellowed teeth. He tore into the dead flesh with savage abandon, grotesque slurping sounds echoing off the walls.

Harry's stomach lurched. "I think I'm going to be sick."

"That's revolting," Celeste gagged, her tiny face turning an interesting shade of green.

Goliath's head snapped up at their voices, strings of rotting meat dangling from his mouth. His face split into a gore-stained grin.

"Time to go," Harry said, backing away as the monster rose to its feet.

Harry careened down the tunnel with Celeste a purple blur beside him, the thunder of heavy footsteps echoing at their backs.

"We need more speed!" Celeste shouted, her voice tight with panic.

Harry didn't hesitate and activated Wind Dash.

His body rocketed forward, accelerating rapidly. Celeste dove for his collar, her tiny fingers clutching the fabric for dear life.

An intersection loomed ahead—the main path, and another branching sharply to the right. Harry didn’t slow down, continuing along the main path. The sounds of the Goliath’s pursuit receded as he raced down the tunnel. Had it turned right?

The tunnel widened, the stone walls giving way to an expansive wine cellar. Harry skidded to a halt, momentum carrying him into a stumbling spin.

Old pendant lights cast a dim glow across the wine cellar, throwing twisted shadows between endless rows of wooden racks. The shelves zigzagged without pattern or purpose, transforming the space into a maze. Dusty bottles lined the wooden shelves, their labels long since faded to illegibility.

"Think we lost it?" Celeste whispered.

The silence pressed against their ears as they strained to catch any hint of pursuit. Nothing but the soft plink of water droplets broke the stillness.

Harry scrubbed a hand across his face. "A boss monster right out of the gate? Since when do dungeons ambush us before we've even warmed up?"

"It could be patrolling the dungeon," Celeste suggested. "It may not have an assigned territory, free to hunt wherever it wants."

“Most likely,” Harry replied. “From what the Goliaths' status revealed, it won’t give up pursuit easily. The monster is strong. I would rather explore some more before having to deal with it.”

His eyes swept the cramped spaces between the wine racks. There went his plan of summoning Golem. The passages in between the racks weren’t big enough for the golem. It would be trapped in these narrow confines, more of a liability than an asset.

The dungeon has shifted into the Weapons Phase.

He withdrew his dagger. The dungeon had specified that the phases would shift often, but this felt too quick. The danger would come when it occurred during a battle.

They entered the nearest passage. Harry's boots squelched against the thick moss carpeting the floor, decades of moisture feeding its growth. Stale air pressed against his skin, heavy with the musty scent of aged wood and vinegar.

As he continued to scan his surroundings, weathered grooves in the nearest rack caught his eye.

"Look at these markings." Harry traced the carved symbol with his fingers.

Centuries of dust filled the grooves, but the pattern remained clear—a directional arrow. His eyes tracked similar symbols along the racks, each spaced at precise intervals and all pointing in the same direction. Were they trying to lead him somewhere? The problem was, he didn’t know whether it was a trap.

Metal scraped against metal beneath his feet. The sound registered a heartbeat before instinct took over. Harry hurled himself backwards as rusted spikes erupted from the floor, their jagged tips passing close enough to snag his robes.

"Pressure plates!" Celeste exclaimed. "They're hidden under the moss. One wrong step and..."

She mimed being skewered.

Harry grimaced. It was a nasty trap.

They continued forward and reached a crossroads where four paths met. Each direction looked identical.

"This place is designed to disorient us," Harry said, glancing at his mini-map. It displayed the passages they had already walked through but didn’t help them navigate the unexplored areas.

Celeste examined the symbols. "Should we just follow the arrows?”

“I guess so.”

Following the carved arrows led them deeper into the maze and eventually, a dead-end. A treasure chest sat wedged between two racks. Inside the chest was a Whetstone, which could repair his dagger’s durability.

"The symbols change here," Celeste noted. The arrows now pointed upward.

Harry looked up. Activating Gust Leap, he launched himself upward. His fingers caught a hidden ledge, and he pulled himself onto a narrow walkway. More bottles lined the upper shelves.

"There's writing on the wax seals," Celeste said, pointing to several bottles.

Harry extracted one bottle. Its seal bore a simple design of a man running. He used Appraisal on it:

======

Swift Step Wine | Rare | Effect: Temporary Buff/Debuff | Quality; High

Description: A magically enhanced wine that increases the player’s Agility at the cost of their Perception. Consuming the wine in quick succession raises the player’s toxicity levels even faster.

* Increases Agility by 15 for ten minutes.

* Decreases Perception by 15 for ten minutes.

* Consumption +15

* Toxicity +2 ======

Harry counted the bottles. "Twelve of them altogether."

"Brilliant. The dungeon's trying to turn you into a drunk," Celeste drawled.

"These could work perfectly in my cooking recipe," Harry mused, ignoring her jab.

"You cannot be serious."

Harry stored the bottles in his inventory. He could try one later. The wine would be useful for certain situations, like escaping the Goliath.

"Over here!" Celeste called from further down the walkway.

A cool draught brushed Harry's cheek as he approached. Between the dusty bottles, a pinprick of air whistled through the back of the shelf. His fingers probed the back and discovered the edges of a small opening.

"There’s something behind here," he murmured.

They scanned the shelf methodically, testing each bottle. Most remained stubbornly fixed in place until Harry's hand struck one near the bottom. The bottle sank into the shelf with a solid click. Gears ground behind the wall, and the rack slid sideways to reveal a cramped passage.

Harry squeezed through the gap and followed the passage to a small hidden room. A chest dominated the tiny space. Inside lay a heavy key, the words 'theatre room' etched into its surface.

"Finally!" Harry's fingers closed around the key. "Another theatre room. The second half of that memory has to be here."

"And the key is buried in a secret room we could have missed entirely." Celeste shook her head. "Rather cruel, isn't it?"

"Lucky I've got you watching my back."

"Don’t you forget it."

They backtracked to the main cellar level. Harry immediately noticed something was wrong. The carved symbols along the wall had changed position while they were gone. Now they pointed urgently toward the dead end, pulsing with an insistent rhythm.

Two shelves suddenly slid back with a grinding screech—the dead end ahead and one adjacent to them. A blur of motion erupted from the side shelf. Harry rolled forward on instinct as claws raked across his side, burning like fire.

Harry’s HP: 246/270

"Run!" Celeste screamed.

Harry lunged to his feet and sprinted through the gap where the dead end used to be. A glance over his shoulder revealed his pursuer—a zombie, but leaner and more muscular than the others, its emaciated frame built for speed rather than strength.

The zombie's feet barely touched the ground as it bounded after him, closing the distance with inhuman agility. Harry activated Wind Dash, and his body surged forward. But the zombie matched his pace, accelerating to keep up.

Harry had a crazy thought as he ran. He should have drunk a bottle of wine.

Feeling the zombie catching up, Harry changed tactics, using Gust Leap to launch himself into the air and bounce off the shelves. His boots struck wooden racks as he ricocheted around several corners, gaining some distance on his pursuer. However, the advantage vanished when he hit a long straight passage.

Harry's foot triggered another pressure plate. He cleared the trap zone before the spikes could fully emerge. A shriek of pain erupted behind him as the zombie impaled itself on the rusted spears.

He skidded to a stop, turning to find the monster thrashing against the spikes that pinned it in place.

Celeste zipped to his shoulder, having fallen behind during the chase. "Ha! Not so fast now, are you?"

Harry approached cautiously, keeping well back from those lethal claws. The burning gashes in his side served as an effective reminder of their potency.

"Scan.”

======

Primary Attributes: Agility: 35 | Perception: 30 |

Defence: 10

Primary Skills

Rapid Strike: Lightning-fast claw attacks that can inflict bleeding.

Hunter's Pursuit: Sacrifices Perception to increase its Agility to match its target's speed.

Putrid Breath: Releases a toxic breath that lowers the target’s physical capabilities.

Monster Traits

Outbreak: Can infect its target with the ‘zombie’ status through open wounds.

Weakened Frame: Takes double damage from physical attacks.

Pack Hunter: Becomes stronger when other undead are nearby.

Weakness to Fire: Takes 50% more damage from fire.

=======

Exp: 60 [Base 45 + 1 per level]

Loot: 30 pounds; Enhanced Sinew; ????

Description: Once a sprinter who visited Borley Rectory, this unfortunate soul retained their athletic abilities after death. Their enhanced speed and agility make them perfect for running down prey, though their lighter frame sacrifices durability for mobility.

======

“Bloody hell,” Harry said, noticing one line in particular.

Harry's fingers trembled as he opened his status window. He had gained a new burden.

Zombie Infection (temporary): The player will transform into a zombie in 1:00:00. Find a cure before the time expires.

His heart hammered against his ribs as the implications sank in. Transformation into a zombie—would his consciousness remain? Would he become one of those mindless creatures shambling through the cellar?

"No, no, no," he muttered, hands shaking as he rechecked the status window. The timer continued its merciless countdown. "This can't be happening. What if we don't find a cure in time?"

"Harry, breathe," Celeste gripped his collar. "Panicking won't help."

"Will I die? Or just become another monster trapped in this dungeon?"

The thought of losing himself, of his mind rotting away while his body continued its cursed existence, sent ice through his veins. He'd face death before, but this—this felt worse. At least death meant an end. This promised an eternity of undeath.

"There has to be a cure,” Celeste said. “We just need to find it."

Harry forced himself to take several deep breaths. She was right—losing control wouldn't help. But the timer's steady countdown echoed in his mind like a death knell, each second bringing him closer to a fate worse than death.

"Right," he said. "Let's move."

His anger replaced his fear as he glared at the impaled zombie thrashing on the spikes.

The Dungeon has shifted into the Magic Phase.

Three Flame Darts materialised on Harry's hand. He threw the projectiles at the zombie, killing it instantly. But it didn’t appease his anger. He snatched up the loot and they continued forward.

They jogged through the wine cellar for the next thirty minutes, the infection timer driving them onwards. Three more Sprinters ambushed them but they dispatched them efficiently. They found another treasure chest, raising their hopes briefly but it only yielded mana potions. With twenty-eight minutes remaining, they pushed northward until they finally found the exit to the maze.

“What the heck is that?” Celeste asked.

A figure blocked their path, leading to the exit out of the wine cellar. Another zombie, but it didn’t move to attack, even with it staring directly at them.

“Scan.”

=======

Sommelier Sam | Level: -- | Type: NPC | Non-Hostile

Description: A former wine merchant transformed by the visiting monster's influence. Though undead, he retained his humanity and passion for fine vintages. It will trade items for the Swift Step Wine.

=======

“This is different,” Harry murmured. “Who would have thought NPCs existed inside the dungeons?”

“Let’s go speak to it,” Celeste said.

They approached the zombie cautiously. Sam extended a grey hand, palm up. Harry withdrew a bottle of Swift Step Wine from his inventory.

A trading window materialised, displaying an array of items. Harry browsed through the options.

The cheapest items were minor health and mana potions, costing one bottle each. There were also consumable scrolls he had encountered before, which cost two bottles each. Strangely, there were also a variety of metal ingots, which cost one bottle for ten. Harry didn’t purchase any but he made a note of them. They had to be there for a reason.

His eyes fell on an item. “This is what I need!”

The Purification Draught description promised to cleanse the zombie infection and grant immunity for three hours. It cost four bottles, and he could purchase an unlimited amount. More valuable items filled the bottom of the window, but he didn’t have enough for them, as they cost at least fifteen bottles.

One of particular interest was an Anti-Undead enchantment gem, which offered protection against the infected status. Another was a map of the entire dungeon but it cost twenty bottles. It would make navigating easier, but he didn’t know if it was worth the price when he could unlock the map simply by exploring.

Harry traded eight wine bottles for two Purification Draughts. He opened one and drank it, the purple liquid burning his throat as it slid down. After checking his status, the Zombie Infection had disappeared, and he gained a temporary immunity buff.

He sighed with relief.

"That was too close," Celeste said, peering at the trading window. "Look at some of these items though. They are too expensive. Do you think the bottles respawn after closing the dungeon?"

“I don’t know,” Harry said. “But there are probably more hiding in the maze.”

Sam shuffled aside, allowing them to pass.

They moved forward, but Sam's bony fingers latched onto Harry's arm. He spun around, dagger raised, but the zombie merchant wasn't attacking. Instead, Sam fumbled in his pocket with trembling hands, retrieving a crumpled photograph.

The image showed a zombie woman in a Victorian dress, her face frozen in a grotesque smile. Sam jabbed the photo repeatedly, his milky eyes conveying desperation.

A notification appeared in Harry's HUD:

======New Side Quest: Till Death Do Us Part

Description: Sommelier Sam's wife, Elizabeth, was transformed into a zombie during the monster's rampage through Borley Rectory. Though both undead, their love endures. Find Elizabeth somewhere in the dungeon and reunite the tragic couple.

Objectives:

1. Search the dungeon for Elizabeth

2. Rescue her from her imprisonment.

3. Return her to Sam.

Rewards: 2 PP; Sam will offer better trading rates.

Time Limit: None

Quest Difficulty: Moderate

======

They continued down the path, encountering two groups of shambling zombies. Each horde consisted of six undead, their decaying forms moving with mindless purpose. Harry's attempts to scan them proved futile—they were too weak to warrant individual status pages.

He had noticed how easily the zombies at the entrance were defeated. Still, their numbers posed a genuine threat. A large enough horde could overwhelm them if they weren’t careful.

They didn’t drop any items, to his disappointment. But while he was searching for loot, some mushrooms caught his eye, growing along the tunnel walls. He crouched to examine them:

======Moonshade Mushroom | Rare | Effect: Crafting Material | Quality: Medium

Description: The primary ingredient for mana potions. These fungi grow in dark and damp areas where moss grows. They must be harvested carefully to preserve their magical properties. ======

“Lucky.” Harry carefully harvested them, managing to collect an even dozen.

He gathered every cluster they passed, storing them carefully in his inventory. He'd need a substantial supply as the recipe required ten mushrooms per batch.

They stopped when they came across an iron door set into the wall, its surface scarred and weathered. A rusted sign hung above: "Prisoner Cells."

“Who puts a prison in the cellar?” Celeste asked.

Harry shrugged. “Sounds perfectly logical to me.”

Harry opened the door to reveal a medieval detention area. Iron-barred cells lined both walls, stretching into darkness.

A jailor's station occupied the entrance—a simple desk with a row of iron keys hanging on hooks behind it. Each key bore a numbered tag corresponding to different cells. The desk held only mouldering papers and an ancient ledger, its pages too deteriorated to read.

Some cells contained zombies that pressed against the bars, rotting hands reaching through gaps as Harry and Celeste passed. Their moans echoed off stone walls, creating a haunting chorus.

"Rather grim," Celeste muttered.

They reached the final cell, larger than the rest, its door lying twisted on the floor. The metal hinges had been torn from the wall, leaving ragged holes in the stone.

Inside, massive manacles hung from thick chains mounted high on the wall. Each iron cuff was large enough to encircle Harry's waist, suggesting their occupant had been enormous. A tattered bedroll lay beneath, barely visible beneath years of grime.

Harry spotted a leather-bound journal resting atop the bedroll, its pages warped from moisture but still intact. Harry picked it up carefully, mindful of its fragile state.

The writing sprawled across the pages in thick, clumsy strokes—more like a child's scrawl than an adult's hand. Smudged charcoal marks suggested the writer had struggled to hold whatever implement they'd used.

I am alone. Always alone. I abandoned Victor Frankenstein, my creator, in search of companionship, but the villagers fled at my approach. Even the dead offer more companionship than the living.

Harry felt a chill run down his spine. “Frankenstein’s monster.”

“What are you on about?” Celeste asked.

"Frankenstein's monster wrote this." Harry stabbed the page with his finger. “Victor created him. The same Victor who left his mark in the Aspen Horror Dungeon. Except, he’s more than just someone who knows the System. Victor Frankenstein is a fictional character from a nineteenth-century novel.”

“You think Victor is a fictional character from a book?” Celeste asked doubtfully. “Sounds real enough to me.”

Harry shook his head. “What if the character was based on a real person?”

“So, he has been around for that long.”

“Maybe.” Harry ran a hand through his hair. “Whatever the real story is, I’m glad Frankenstein’s monster has left. I remember Victor referring to his creation in his journal. It was so powerful that it created a rift in space and escaped the dungeon.”

Celeste shuddered. “Sounds like someone we don’t want to mess with.”

Harry continued reading the journal.

I discovered I could share my curse. A bite, a scratch—my tainted blood spreads like poison. At first, I rejoiced. Others would know my pain, my isolation. They would understand. But they emerged mindless, empty. Not companions, merely shells.

My guilt consumes me. I've created dozens of these poor souls, each one a mark against whatever remains of my humanity. This cellar will become their prison—and mine. I've constructed cells to house them, though some prove too strong for mere iron bars.

My strength builds these walls. My curse fills these cells. Let this be my penance for the monsters I've made.

Harry flipped through several pages of increasingly scattered entries until he reached the final one:

Some have escaped their confines. I should care, should stop them, but exhaustion fills my bones. Let them roam. Let them hunt. I've done what I could to pay for my mistakes. I shall leave this place soon.

As soon as Harry had finished reading the journal entry, he received a new notification.

======New Side Quest: Tracing the Monster’s Path

Description: The journal reveals the original monster's presence in the Forbidden Cellar, but not its destination after leaving. Search the dungeon for clues about where this tragic being—Frankenstein's infamous creation—might have gone next.

Objectives:

1. Find 3 pieces of evidence about the monster's activities in the dungeon

2. Discover what drove it to abandon its self-imposed prison

3. Locate a clue pointing to its next destination

Rewards: 5000 XP; 1 PP

Time Limit: None

Quest Difficulty: High. ======

"A proper mystery now," Celeste said, peering at the notification. “I'm not sure we want to find where that thing went."

"There’s no harm in completing the quest to get the rewards,” Harry replied, stuffing the journal in his inventory. “Shall we search this place? We might find something.”

Harry and Celeste searched the cell methodically but found nothing beyond the journal. As they turned to leave, Celeste paused, hovering near the fallen door.

"Harry, look at this." She traced the twisted metal with her tiny hand. "We assumed the monster broke out, but these marks... The door was forced inward. Something broke in."

Harry crouched to examine the damage. The metal had buckled inward, as if struck by tremendous force from the corridor side. "Who did this? What was their purpose?"

They searched for more clues around the door but found nothing else. They took note of the strange detail but without further context, they couldn’t determine what had happened

They returned to the jailor's station and collected the keys. Working systematically through the cells, they dispatched the zombies efficiently, though most cells contained nothing beyond more mushrooms. Not that he was complaining. Once he found the safe room, he could start brewing some mana potions. He had all the supplies he needed stored in his inventory.

In the seventh cell, they found a zombie clutching a weathered leather satchel. After Harry finished it off, he retrieved the bag. Inside lay several volumes: "Paradise Lost" by John Milton, "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens, and "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde.

"Light reading for the undead?" Celeste quipped.

Harry stored the books in his inventory. "Did these belong to Frankenstein’s monster? It was clearly educated. These might provide a clue to its whereabouts."

They cleared the remaining cells, discovering a chest the final one. Inside sat ten bottles of Swift Step Wine.

Leaving the prison behind, they followed the tunnel until a massive alcove appeared on the right wall. Steam hissed from old rusty pipes that criss-crossed the ceiling, while a furnace dominated one wall. Adjacent to it stood a blacksmith's forge, complete with anvil and tools. The mix of Victorian industrial machinery and medieval crafting equipment created an odd juxtaposition.

"What an odd combination," Harry muttered, eyeing the steam-filled room. "Why would a cellar need a forge?"

"Maybe our friend needed a hobby?" Celeste suggested.

Harry approached the anvil and hefted the blacksmith's hammer, his muscles straining under its weight. A notification pinged in his HUD:

======New Side Quest: Forging a Monster Slayer

Description: The Goliath's physical prowess makes it nearly invincible to normal weapons. Create a specialised weapon capable of dealing enough damage to bring it down.

Objectives:

1. Search the area for materials.

2. Forge 10 simple daggers to learn the Blacksmithing skill.

3. Collect rare materials for the final weapon.

4. Create a weapon capable of harming the Goliath.

Rewards: 3000 XP; 1 PP

Time Limit: None

Quest Difficulty: Moderate ======

Harry grinned. A specialised weapon could give them a fighting chance against the Goliath. The terrifying fear of facing that hulking monstrosity had lingered in the back of his mind ever since he encountered it.

Besides, crafting his own equipment opened up new possibilities. If he could master this skill, he wouldn't need to rely solely on dungeon loot.

“Somebody’s happy,” Celeste teased.

“Am I that obvious?” Harry looked around. “Let’s look for some materials.”

They searched the room thoroughly, discovering four chests carefully hidden among nooks and crannies. The first three contained a variety of materials, while the fourth yielded a leather-bound tome:

======Blacksmith's Handbook | Level: -- | Epic | Effect: Skill Book | Enchantment Slots: --

Description: A comprehensive guide to blacksmithing. It contains designs for a variety of weapons, armour and tools. More advanced designs will become visible as the player's skill level increases. Currently shows recipes for basic weapons and tools. ======

Harry flipped through the pages, noting that most of them were blank. Returning to the front of the book, he stopped on the page that showed how to make an iron dagger. The recipe was simple enough. The main components were iron ingots and leather strips.

"Should we be doing this now?" Celeste asked.

"I just want to try it out." Harry positioned himself at the forge. "Keep a lookout."

Harry placed an iron ingot into the forge, watching the metal slowly turn cherry-red. According to the handbook, the colour indicated the perfect temperature for working. He transferred it to the anvil with heavy tongs, his movements careful but clumsy.

The hammer felt awkward in his grip as he struck. His first attempts went poorly—either the metal cooled too quickly or his strikes lacked precision. One blade emerged warped beyond use, another snapped during quenching. By his fourth attempt, his arms ached from wielding the heavy hammer.

On his fifth try, something clicked. His strikes found a rhythm, each blow shaping the metal more precisely than before. He folded the edge according to the handbook's instructions, carefully hammering out imperfections. When he quenched the blade in the water, steam hissing around the hot metal, it emerged crude but functional.

Harry held the dagger up to inspect it. “I did it!”

“Great!” Celeste clapped her hands slowly. “Can we go now?”

Harry nodded happily and stored all the materials in his inventory. He could come back at any time and finish learning the Blacksmith skill. It was more prudent to continue exploring and find the safe room first.

A bone-rattling roar shattered his moment of triumph. The Goliath's massive head appeared around the corner, its eyes fixing on Harry with terrifying focus. Its gore-stained teeth stretched into a grin.

"Run!" Celeste dove for Harry's hair, tiny fingers tangling in the strands as he bolted.

They sprinted down the tunnel, the thunder of massive footsteps filling the space behind them. Harry activated Wind Dash, his body surging forward—but the Goliath matched his pace. Each time he glanced back, the monster seemed even closer.

Harry struggled to remain calm. The monster was moving faster than before. The only thing he could think of was that it had consumed some zombies before confronting them.

His hand crept toward his Spatial Pouch, as he considered using the wine. Before he could open his inventory, he spotted a door up ahead. Weathered letters above the frame spelled out "Theatre Room."

The Goliath's footsteps grew deafening as Harry fumbled the key from his pocket. His fingers jammed it into the lock, the metal scraping against metal. The monster's hot breath hit the back of his neck.

He threw himself through the doorway, slamming it shut as the Goliath lunged. The impact shook the entire frame, but the heavy door held. Another crash followed, then another, each blow threatening to tear the hinges from the wall.

"What's his problem?" Celeste extracted herself from Harry's hair and smoothed her ruffled dress.

Harry didn't respond. His attention had already shifted to the room before them—the theatre that might finally reveal what happened that Halloween night. The truth about his mother's disappearance.

The Goliath's frustrated roar barely registered as Harry took his first step into the theatre room, his heart pounding with anticipation.

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Harry learns a shocking secret about that Halloween night.

Thanks for reading.