The familiar weight of his pack felt reassuring as Zaro and his companions set off toward the Whispering Caves.

  They had spoke about how Zaro's affinity seemed to be an unexpectedly strong benefit against the enemies they encountered previously.

  Ramrod brimmed with Orcish enthusiasm, practically vibrating with excitement, his weapon gleaming in the morning sun like a beacon of destruction. Ezra, ever cautious, kept glancing back at the city, apprehension hinting in her elven eyes.

  Chad grumbled predictably about the lack of decent bean juice in the wilderness.

  “You'll have to show me this bean juice you keep talking about.” Zaro said.

  “You don't like bean juice? You probably prefer tea. A proper tea spiked with something strong is essential before venturing into this forsaken abyss, the mage complained, his nose wrinkling at the lukewarm milk and stale biscuits. How can a mage be expected to function without fortifying drinks?”

  A grin spread across Zaro's face. “Maybe we'll find exotic mushrooms in the caves. They might give you enough energy to levitate a village and scribe our names across the stars with lightning bolts, even if they didn't taste like bean juice.”

  Chad shuddered at the thought, revulsion etched on his features. “I would rather face a horde of corrupted goblins than ingest anything growing in this wretched place.”

  As they neared the cave entrance, dizziness washed over Zaro, the whispers intensifying around his mind like a vortex of forgotten memories and lost souls. He steadied himself, focusing on breath control and requesting a moment to prepare.

  “You're acting like a novice, Zaro, might be time to start acting like an adventurer" Ramrod jabbed.

  Ezra pressed him about the plan she had come up with, her voice low and serious as her eyes fixed on the cave entrance. Apprehension flickered across her features.

  Zaro recited their objectives. “Stick to the shadows, watch for corrupted creatures, avoid awakening any slumbering gods of destruction.” His grin felt strained despite his attempt at humor.

  Ramrod bobbed his head eagerly, adding “We should loot everything not nailed down.” His enthusiasm momentarily lightened the tense atmosphere.

  The group entered the cave, familiar dampness and chill enveloping them like a shroud. As they descended, the whispers grew louder, their voices carrying a chilling pressure of fear, anger, and despair.

  Zaro activated his enhanced Void Sense, bringing the cave alive with unseen energies. Each voice became a distinct thread in a tapestry of emotions, a symphony of suffering though with less rage than before. The very walls seemed to pulse with dark energy, the shadows deeper and more menacing than their previous visit.

  “Hey guys”, Zaro asked, “when will we know if we reach a dungeon, or are they all like this?”

  “They're all different”, Ezra said. “Sometimes as soon as one enters the threshold, it's active. Sometimes it requires things, and sometimes it's a pedestal. If you had registered with the guild you'd know that. And if you read the handbook. Don't tell me you haven't done that?”

  Zaro realized he hadn't considered the guild, having been a member in every game with the option, but somehow he was having too much fun to realize.

  “I've been busy, I'll get to it eventually”, Zaro replied.

  As they entered, the dampness and chill enveloped them like a shroud. The whispers grew louder as they descended, their voices a chilling pressure of fear, anger, and despair. It wasn't as strong as before with the beast clearance this crew performed last visit.

  Zaro activated his Void Sense again and again, eager to level it up as it proved helpful. When used, the cave came alive with a spectrum of unseen energies. The whispers intensified, each voice a distinct thread in a tapestry of emotions, a symphony of suffering but with less rage than before. The very walls pulsed with dark energy, the shadows deeper and more menacing than before.

  He noticed the void pulling him down a corridor on the right he didn't remember from the last visit. The team needed to explore and figure out that odd energy.

  Zaro noticed the ground vibrate, but it didn't seem to register to the group yet. He was more in tune with the void than ever. Firing Void Sense again highlighted what seemed like a bear monster or man bear pig. He couldn't tell from where they were.

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  “Get ready, something up ahead wants blood, he warned.”

  They kept inching ahead and found it. A deep, guttural roar echoed through the tunnels. It had found the adventurers too. A monstrous shape emerged from its cave indentation home, eyes glowing with malevolent red light. A corrupted bear, its fur matted and tangled, flesh a sickly green, claws the size of daggers.

  “Incoming!” Ramrod roared, charging forward with his weapon raised.

  The bear swiped at Ramrod, claws tearing through the air. The Orc ducked, narrowly avoiding the blow, and retaliated with a powerful horizontal swing, striking the creature's flank.

  Ezra loosed an arrow, the shaft finding its mark in the bear's shoulder. The creature roared in pain, attention shifting towards the elf.

  Zaro reacted fast with a calculated Void Step, the familiar blink of shadows flinging him to the beast's one o'clock, where he slashed with his Voidfang at its face.

  The bear howled and stood on hind legs, nearly nine feet tall!

  Another Void Step teleported Zaro to the bear's flank. Narrowly dodging its swipe, he noted its paw was basketball-sized with six-inch blades jutting out.

  Now safely behind it, he plunged his Voidfang into its back, channeling Void Drain, feeling the familiar pull as the creature's energy flowed into him, weakening its defenses. Two seconds felt like an eternity, but the corrupted void energy overcharged his mana.

  [System Alert]

  Corrupted void energy drained. Effect, overcharge mana pool active.

  Chad, chanting frantically, unleashed a bolt of lightning, the energy crackling through the air and striking the bear, sending it reeling. He must not have cared Zaro had his dagger inside, shocking his friend too. The attack knocked Zaro back, stunning him momentarily with minus ten health. The creature stumbled, fur singed and smoking.

  “Get out the way Zero”, Chad yelled as Ramrod swung his weapon , hammer side down on the creature's head with a sickening crunch.

  Zaro would remember he owes Chad a duel. But later.

  It was still kicking, so Zaro threw a quick Void Bolt, putting it out of its misery.

  300 experience added, 1,150 until level up.

  The corrupted bear let out a final, gurgling roar and collapsed, its form dissolving into wisps of shadow that dissipated into darkness, leaving behind a lingering scent of ozone and decay.

  Zaro made sure to check for another void shard or gem. He wasn’t sure if he would have this many opportunities to collect more in the future, and he wasn’t sure how valuable they could be. However he knew just with the few things he crafted with them through void control that he needed more. Just as he thought, there was another shard there, so he added that to his collection.

  The group continued descending, encountering more corrupted creatures. But with their combined skills and Zaro's enhanced Void Sense, they anticipated attacks and dispatched them with relative ease.

  As they ventured deeper, Zaro noticed a faint shimmer in the air, a subtle distortion catching his attention. He activated Analyze, and a message materialized before his eyes:

  [Analyze. Residual Void Energy detected. Traces of a powerful entity originating from a dimensional rift. Further analysis requires a higher skill level.]

  “A dimensional rift?” he muttered, curiosity piqued. “Now that's interesting.”

  It seemed the Whispering Caves were more than a simple dungeon, a gateway to something far more sinister, a portal to a realm of darkness and chaos.

  That's one thing nobody knew about Zaro here, he was accustomed to darkness and chaos. His soul seemed more at home during times of darkness in his life before. He almost forgot about all the days he spent, mad that his phone was dead and he was alive.

  However in this new world, he could do whatever he wanted and live how he wanted. He had little fears here. Because he didn't have much to lose. The familiar depression he felt was more distant than normal.

  The good thing was, he actually felt more peace here than he ever had before. And even more so in this place. Where his life could end, and he had to fight for each moment. He loved it.

  They pressed onward, following the residual void energy trail. The whispers grew louder, voices filled with urgency, as if guiding them towards something important.

  Finally, they reached a large cavern, walls lined with pulsating crystals emitting an eerie, purple light. In the center, a swirling vortex of shadows pulsed with otherworldly energy.

  “What is that?” Ramrod whispered in awe.

  “I don't know”, Zaro replied, heart pounding with excitement. “But I think we're about to find out.”

  As they approached the vortex, the whispers intensified, voices merging into a single, powerful chant resonating with the very essence of Zaro's being. He felt a pull, a seductive invitation to step into the swirling darkness, to embrace the void and become one with its infinite power.

  But something held him back. A sense of caution, a warning from the depths of his soul. This was not a place for the faint of heart, not a power to be wielded lightly.

  Zaro glanced at his companions, their faces etched with fear and determination. They were in this together, bound by shared purpose, a common enemy.

  “Ready?” he asked, voice barely above a whisper.

  They nodded, grips tightening on weapons.

  “Let me go first." If I don't come back spend my coins on women and drinks, and drinks for women.” Zaro said through a smile.

  "You sure?” Ezra asked with worry and confusion painted on her face.

  "Don't ever ask a grown man if he's sure.” Zaro replied. That was something that always got under his skin.

  Together, they stepped towards the vortex, ready to see Zaro face whatever mysteries awaited on the other side. But as he took that first step, his Void Sense flared, a warning siren blaring in his mind. The whispers, once chaotic, now pulsed with singular intent, a focused energy ancient and malevolent. It was like stepping into a spiderweb, silken void threads tightening around him, drawing him towards an unseen predator.

  The air crackled with anticipation, shadows deepening, purple crystal light casting an eerie glow on his companions' faces. Ramrod's boisterous grin replaced by grim determination, weapon held tight, ready to cleave any threat. Ezra's eyes narrowed, arrow drawn taut, senses alert for the slightest swirling darkness movement. Even Chad's usual arrogance replaced by a flicker of apprehension, his staff in one hand and his other tracing runes into the air with bright blue magical wisps trailing off of it.

  They were poised on the precipice of the unknown, ready to face whatever horrors lurked within the vortex. Zaro took that first step and a wave of dizziness washed over him, the world tilting, shadows swirling, whispers rising to a deafening crescendo. Then everything went black.