Daniel could only gape at the fortress looming before him. Finding any sign of civilization out here was a shock—but a castle? And on top of that, he was still reeling from the realization that something had been attempting to mess with his mind.

  He gave a surprised yelp as a new screen popped up with a Ding!

  Quest Gained: Explore the Fortress

  Having recently broken through a mental effect, you find yourself faced with an ancient fortress. Explore the fortress and see what it has to offer.

  Daniel stared at the screen for a moment before turning back to the fortress. There was something about it that wasn’t quite right, beyond the obvious.

  His eyes scanned the structure again, his eyes wandering over its overgrown walls, vines and moss covering patches of the stone. Some towers were collapsed, while others still had their roofs intact. Bits and pieces of other buildings peeked through the walls, their edges softened by time—

  Wait.

  Daniel’s gaze snapped back to the towers. Some were crumbling, but the wooden roofs of others were still standing? From what Daniel understood, wood would rot long before the stone became this damaged.

  Looking even closer, he picked out more oddities. The sections of wall that weren’t destroyed were pristine, untouched by nature. There was no gradual fade of greenery, just a sharp line where the moss stopped, as if the stone itself had repelled it.

  He blinked, his mind struggling to make sense of it. And it wasn’t just the roofs. Other wooden features—doors, beams—weren’t rotted away. They looked… fine. Like they’d been freshly placed. And yet, part of a broken wooden beam lay half-eaten by time while the other half remained perfectly intact.

  Daniel scratched his head, his mind racing. He glanced back at the screen, still hovering in the corner of his vision. It wanted him to explore the fortress, but he wasn’t sure if that was a good idea. He glanced at the darkening sky—night was creeping in faster than he’d realized.

  With a sigh, he turned to head back, deciding that sleep was his best option. The thought of staying out in the open any longer didn’t sit well with him. As he turned away, though, something caught his eye.

  There, standing just at the edge of the clearing, was a shadow.

  It wasn’t human. It was tall, its body hunched in a way that suggested something both predatory and intelligent. Its eyes—glowing faintly—scanned the area with sharp movements, as if it were searching for something specific.

  Daniel froze.

  The creature’s gaze flicked straight toward him, and for a moment, he swore it could see him.

  His pulse quickened. He took a step back, but the creature didn’t follow. Instead, it hesitated, and turned as if to leave, only to stop suddenly, looking in his direction.

  It tried taking a step forward—only to falter, its glowing eyes twitching before it swiveled in another direction. Each time it drew closer, it turned away as if it lost interest, but it would quickly turn back, fighting itself, struggling against something it couldn’t see.

  Daniel’s breath hitched. It was like the thing could sense him, but each time it started to move, something made it turn away.

  What could be—wait.

  The mental effect! The same one Daniel had just fought off—it was interfering with the creature, forcing it to overlook the area and, thankfully, him.

  Daniel’s heart hammered in his chest as the creature’s gaze locked onto him once more. He took another cautious step back, realizing the risk. If he tried to leave—if he stepped out of the curtain of influence—the creature would be free to chase him.

  The creature hissed, its frustration mounting as it paced again, jerking to a stop only to turn its attention somewhere else. It fought against the effect just as Daniel had, but it didn’t seem to be able to break through.

  Then, without a sound, the creature slunk into the darkness, its glowing eyes dimming with each step until it vanished into the shadows of the forest.

  Daniel exhaled sharply, his body still tense with the adrenaline. The creature was gone, for now, but he couldn’t let his guard down.

  The mental effect had saved him, but it had also kept him rooted to the spot.

  His gaze drifted back to the fortress. The strange, towering structure still loomed in the distance, a massive silhouette against the darkening sky.

  He hesitated.

  The creature was still out there somewhere, and there was no telling what else might be lurking in the shadows.

  After a moment, Daniel made up his mind and turned toward the fortress, his steps cautious but deliberate.

  The creature had been kept at bay by the mental effect, but he didn’t know if that would hold forever. If something stronger came along, it might break through. The fortress seemed like the only option now, even if it came with its own dangers.

  Daniel’s heart pounded as he stepped into the fortress, the air thick with the scent of decay and mildew. His hand clenched around his Even Cooler Stick, feeling its rough surface beneath his fingertips. The comforting texture was the only thing keeping his nerves from completely unraveling.

  He had no idea what was waiting for him in this place, but whatever it was, he had to remain vigilant.

  The fortress loomed around him, its ancient stone walls crumbling under the weight of centuries of neglect. The wind whistled through the buildings, the sound sharp and lonely in the silence. He shivered as the air grew colder, the chill seeping into his bones and tempting him to turn back.

  But he didn’t.

  He couldn’t—not until morning.

  As he moved through the outer courtyard, his boots crunched over loose gravel and dry leaves.

  He stopped for a moment, noticing large burrows dug deep into the earth. The edges of the holes were ragged and uneven, with loose soil spilling out and forming small piles around them. He couldn’t make out any details from where he stood, but the sight made his pulse quicken.

  His eyes flicked from shadow to shadow as he entered a large stone structure, one of the buildings mostly untouched by time. He looked around, finding himself in what appeared to be an entrance hall, with numerous hallways branching off into darkness.

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  And then, he saw it.

  A tall figure, moving slowly down the hall. It seemed to be wearing armor of some kind. For a brief moment, Daniel hoped he might have found someone else—someone he could ask for answers about where he was or what was happening. But as it moved closer, details became clearer: just like the fortress surrounding them, parts of it seemed untouched by time while other sections were decayed. Half of a bleached white skull was visible where its helmet had rusted away.

  Daniel’s breath hitched.

  What the hell is that?

  His first instinct was to run, but his legs wouldn’t obey. He was frozen in place, watching as the figure got closer, dragging one leg behind it in a strange, unnatural limp. The figure’s armor was old, rusted and cracked. Its movements were mechanical and jerky—like a puppet pulled along by its strings.

  Finally, he regained control of himself.

  Quickly hiding behind a broken pillar, Daniel barely dared to breathe as the figure continued its slow march down the hall. As it passed, he stilled, pressing himself against the cold stone.

  He had to stay hidden, had to stay quiet. His heart was racing, his entire body trembling with fear. That wasn’t a person. It had to be some sort of zombie or something.

  As the sound of its footsteps faded, Daniel exhaled shakily and stepped out from behind the pillar.

  Staying low, he kept his back against the wall, his movements cautious and deliberate. He was completely out of his depth, but he needed to keep moving. Tightening his grip on the stick, he crept forward, heading towards one of the hallways.

  The passage stretched out before him, dark and foreboding. The floor was uneven, cracked and broken, and the walls were overgrown with moss and vines.

  It felt like stepping into an ancient temple, claimed by nature and time.

  But as he moved deeper, something caught his eye. An area where the stone floor shifted abruptly. One part of the hallway had the same uneven, broken stone, but ahead, the floor was solid, clean, and seemingly untouched by the ravages of time.

  The walls, too—at first weathered and crumbling—were suddenly pristine. The stone was smooth, undisturbed, and eerily perfect.

  A shiver ran down his spine. He couldn’t make sense of it. How could something remain intact while everything else around it decayed? What was this place? What was that thing he had just seen?

  Before he could think further, a soft scrape echoed through the hall—a dragging sound that made his blood run cold. Daniel’s eyes snapped to the end of the hallway just as another figure came into view.

  It was dragging itself along, its body bent at an awkward angle. One foot was planted on the maintained part of the floor, while the other was trailing behind, barely attached.

  The torso was twisted, its armor cracked and ruined, revealing the skeletal remains beneath. The figure moved in jerky, disjointed motions, like an old puppet whose strings had been cut—except for one.

  Its foot jerked forward—pristine and unblemished—dragging the rest of its body behind it, the torso and limbs swaying unnaturally.

  But as it crossed into the intact section of the hallway, something changed.

  The moment the rest of its body crossed into the more maintained area, the figure jerked upward as if pulled by invisible strings, its armor creaking as it straightened and rose to its full height.

  Daniel’s breath hitched as it stood, still jerking slightly, its hollow eyes now glowing faintly in the dim light.

  He stepped back, instinctively pressing himself into the shadow of a nearby column. Panic surged through him. He had to run; he had to get out of there—he had no idea what this was or what it was capable of.

  Then, his heart dropped as another noise broke the silence—this time, from beneath his feet.

  He barely had time to react before a mass of black legs surged up from the cracks in the floor. Massive, writhing insects, each one the size of his hand, swarmed from the gaps in the stone. Their bodies were covered in dirt and grime, and the speed they moved at was terrifying. They scuttled across the floor like a flood, racing toward him with hunger in their every movement.

  Daniel’s pulse quickened, his grip tightening on the stick. He swung at the nearest bug, and the moment it made contact, the creature crumpled, lifeless.

  It was no use, however—more surged forward, coming at him from every direction.

  He didn’t have time to think. The air grew thick with the sound of the insects’ clicking legs as they neared.

  He had to get out.

  He had to move, or they’d tear him apart.

  Turning, he bolted for the nearest door, hoping it would lead to safety. His feet skidded across the uneven stone floor, his breath ragged and sharp as he sprinted.

  The bugs were close—too close. Their chittering and clicking grew louder, a constant, unnerving rasp that echoed through the silence of the fortress. They were relentless, their movements swift and unyielding.

  There was no way he could outrun them forever.

  He reached the door—a heavy wooden frame, the grain warped and uneven.

  Peculiar holes filled with dried remnants of rot and decay marred its surface, but he didn’t have time to inspect it.

  He wrenched it open, throwing his body against it as he slipped through and slammed it shut behind him. The moment the door clicked into place, he collapsed against it, panting for air.

  The bugs weren’t far behind. He could hear them scratching and scraping at the wood. But for now, they couldn’t get through.

  He looked around—trying to gather himself—and took in the room he had just entered.

  It was a small personal library, well-maintained and orderly. Rows of neatly arranged books lined the stone shelves, their spines worn but intact. Soft, glowing orbs of light hovered near the ceiling, casting a warm, steady illumination across the room.

  The air smelled faintly of aged paper and leather, a stark contrast to the decay of the hallway outside.

  His heart still raced, his limbs shaky from the rush of fear. He gripped his stick tighter, his knuckles turning white.

  What the hell am I even doing here?

  Ding!

  Before he could spiral further, a screen appeared in front of him.

  Quest Complete: Explore the Fortress

  You’ve ventured deeper into the fortress! For surviving, you receive +1 Dexterity, +1 Willpower, and +1 Perception.

  Taking a deep breath, Daniel forced himself to relax. As the adrenaline that had been surging through him started to fade, exhaustion quickly took its place, settling over him like a heavy weight.

  His body felt sluggish, drained.

  I won’t be able to run like this.

  He glanced back at the door. It seemed to be holding. Thick and sturdy, with a heavy iron bolt, it looked like it had weathered the fortress's decay for years.

  If it had lasted this long, it should hold for at least one more night.

  He’d try to remain alert, but he was struggling to keep his eyes open. He needed to rest, even if just for a little while. For now, he was safe in here.

  Before lying down, he decided to take a quick look at the bookshelves. His fingers brushed lightly against the spines of several books, the cool texture of the leather comforting.

  He pulled out a thin blue volume, its delicate gold trim gleaming faintly. It looked old, its pages yellowed with age.

  Opening it, Daniel found the text to be written in a neat, flowing script that he couldn’t read at all. After a moment of frustration, he put it back.

  His gaze drifted to the next row of books, and he pulled out a thick tome filled with detailed illustrations.

  At first, he thought it might be useful, hoping it would shed light on the beasts that roamed the fortress. But as he flipped through the pages, he quickly realized the descriptions were written in a language he couldn’t understand.

  Despite the foreign text, the illustrations were vivid and intricate, offering glimpses of strange and terrifying creatures. He couldn’t make sense of the words, but the drawings alone were enough to capture his attention.

  He turned the pages, his curiosity piqued. The creatures varied wildly—some with limbs that twisted in unnatural ways, others with eyes that seemed to watch him as he flipped past them.

  He was about to close the book when a particularly grotesque image made him freeze.

  It depicted a creature, its body stretched out over a victim, with jagged, bloodstained claws tearing into the person’s back. The victim’s ribs were exposed, their lungs visible as the monster pulled them outward, as if savoring the slow agony.

  The creature’s eyes gleamed with malicious glee, and the victim’s face twisted in pain and terror, their mouth open in a silent scream.

  Disturbed and a little queasy, he returned the book to the shelf and laid down on a large cushioned chaise, the soft fabric inviting rest. He pulled his legs up, trying to get comfortable, and then brought up his System Screen.

  Status

  Name: Daniel

  System: Quest

  Stats

  Strength: 2

  Constitution: 2

  Dexterity: 3

  Intelligence: 9

  Willpower: 8

  Perception: 10

  He stared at the screen for a moment, taking in the numbers.

  He still didn’t fully understand how they worked, but at least they were growing. Maybe tomorrow, he’d have a chance to improve them further. For now, though, the weight of exhaustion was too much to ignore.

  With a quiet groan, he finally gave in, settling deeper into the chaise, his body aching from the tension of the day.

  The moment his eyes closed, sleep quickly overtook him.

  The soft glow of the orbs above cast a gentle light, and the sound of the scratching bugs was now far behind him—replaced by the stillness of the library.