Kain stood at the edge of a cavernous pit, staring down into the shifting darkness below. The Hollow Depths.

  The entrance was little more than a gaping wound in the earth, jagged stone and twisting roots curling around the edge like skeletal fingers. A cold wind howled up from below, carrying the scent of damp stone and something… wrong.

  “Let me guess,” Kain said. “This isn’t OSHA-compliant.”

  Alina looked confused. “Osha?”

  Kain didn't think the joke would land. "Inside joke."

  Selene crossed her arms. “You still haven’t explained what he’s supposed to do down there.”

  Alina’s violet eyes gleamed. “Survive.”

  Kain sighed. “Why is that always the answer?”

  Alina stepped closer, resting a cool hand on his shoulder. “Because the system doesn’t reward the weak.”

  Kain’s smile returned. “Lucky for me, I don’t have that problem.”

  Alina chuckled and stepped back. “We’ll see.”

  Selene’s gaze flicked toward Kain. “You don’t have to do this.”

  Kain rolled his shoulders. “I really do, though.”

  Selene’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Then don’t die.”

  Kain’s smirk widened. “That’s the plan.”

  Alina lifted a hand. A pulse of violet energy shimmered in the air, and the stone beneath Kain’s feet trembled. The silver ring on his finger pulsed in response.

  > [Trial of the Hollow Depths: Initiated.]

  [Survive and claim your reward.]

  The ground vanished beneath him.

  Kain plummeted into the abyss.

  ---

  Darkness swallowed him whole. Wind screamed past his ears, and the cold dug its claws into his skin. He twisted midair, scanning for anything solid.

  There. A ledge jutted from the wall. Kain reached out—his fingers scraped stone—he wrenched himself sideways, slowing his descent for a split second before the rock crumbled.

  “Son of a—”

  Gravity reclaimed him.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  The darkness flickered—then the world slammed into him.

  Kain hit the ground hard, rolling to absorb the impact. Pain flared through his ribs, but nothing broke. He exhaled, blinking against the dim glow that now filled the cavern around him.

  The Hollow Depths.

  The ground beneath him was smooth, like glass, but the walls were rough stone, stretching upward into infinite darkness. Wisps of pale blue light flickered along the ceiling, revealing a twisting tunnel leading deeper.

  Kain pushed himself upright. “Well. That sucked.”

  A chime echoed through the cavern.

  > [Status: Injuries Detected – Minor Bruising.]

  [Mana Regeneration Temporarily Decreased.]

  Kain groaned. “Fantastic. First trial, and I’m already at a handicap.”

  He shook out his limbs and surveyed the cavern. The tunnel ahead pulsed with a faint, eerie glow. The air was thick, heavy, pressing against his skin like a weighted blanket.

  “Alright,” Kain muttered. “Let’s get this over with.”

  He stepped forward.

  ---

  The tunnel twisted and turned, narrowing at odd angles. The deeper Kain walked, the stronger the pressure became. It wasn’t just physical—it was something else.

  The system screen flickered at the edge of his vision.

  > [Warning: Anomalous Energy Detected.]

  [System Influence: Limited.]

  Kain’s brow furrowed. Limited?

  Before he could dwell on it, the walls trembled. A low, guttural growl echoed through the tunnel.

  Kain’s fingers curled around his sword hilt. “And here I was hoping for a nice, relaxing stroll.”

  The shadows ahead moved.

  A pair of glowing white eyes snapped open in the darkness. Then another. And another.

  Figures slithered from the walls, their bodies half-formed from the stone itself. Tall, emaciated shapes with elongated limbs and razor-sharp claws. Their mouths stretched wide, splitting their faces in half. No teeth—just endless, gnawing voids.

  > [Hollowborn Stalkers – Level 10]

  [Corrupted Entities – No System Recognition.]

  Kain’s grip tightened. No system recognition?

  One of the creatures lunged.

  Kain moved.

  His sword flashed upward. Metal met flesh—or something close to flesh. The blade bit into the creature’s arm, but instead of blood, it oozed black mist.

  The thing didn’t even flinch.

  Kain ducked as claws sliced toward his throat. He twisted, using the momentum to drive his knee into the creature’s gut. It folded, but the others were already closing in.

  > [Warning: Hostiles Resist Standard Damage.]

  [Recommendation: Adapt.]

  Kain growled. “Not helpful.”

  A claw raked across his side. Pain exploded through his ribs.

  > [HP: 75/120]

  Kain gritted his teeth. Alright. If physical damage isn’t enough…

  A memory flickered—the way the creatures melted from the walls.

  Kain’s eyes narrowed. They’re part of the environment. They’re tied to the Depths themselves.

  He shifted his stance and focused.

  > [Skill Activated: Bloodlust.]

  Power surged through his veins. His sword glowed faintly as raw energy pulsed through it.

  The next time a Hollowborn lunged, Kain didn’t dodge. He stepped into the attack. His blade carved upward—this time, the creature screamed.

  Black mist burned from the wound. The creature thrashed and collapsed.

  Kain exhaled sharply. Got you.

  The others hesitated.

  Kain’s smirk widened. “What’s the matter? You were looking real confident a second ago.”

  They lunged all at once.

  Kain met them head-on.

  ---

  By the time the last creature collapsed, the cavern was eerily silent. The black mist from their bodies curled along the ground, dissipating into the shadows.

  Kain wiped blood—his own and whatever passed for theirs—from his mouth. His breath was steady, but his muscles ached.

  > [Level Up!]

  [Strength +2]

  [Skill Progression: Bloodlust – 45%]

  Kain rolled his shoulders. “Not bad.”

  A soft chime rang through the cavern.

  The air shifted.

  Kain’s gaze lifted. At the end of the tunnel, a doorway had appeared. Beyond it, faint golden light shimmered.

  He exhaled and started walking.

  The test wasn’t over yet.