Acheron in Tensura

Day One

I sat in the darkness of the cave, my breathing heavy as I clutched the makeshift weapon I had fashioned from the Giant Bat's fang. My stomach twisted in hunger, and my body ached from the earlier scuffle. My mind was in turmoil.
'A whole week? Is Master insane?'
But there was no point in questioning it. I had chosen this. If I wanted to be her disciple, I had to prove I was worth the effort.

Hunger gnawed at my stomach like a ravenous beast. My body screamed for food, but my mind knew the truth—I had nothing.

'I need to find something. Anything.'

I retraced my steps to where I had taken down the Giant Bat. When I arrived, the sight before me was both a relief and a horror. The corpse was still there—but it had been ravaged, torn apart by something else. Bones were scattered, the flesh mostly stripped away, but there were still some remnants left.

I forced myself to take a deep breath. 'I can't be picky.' I tore off a remaining chunk of meat, raw and tough. It was disgusting, but I chewed, forcing it down my throat. Every bite was a battle between my instincts and my body's rejection.

'I need fire.' But there was no dry wood, nothing to create a spark. For now, I had to deal with it.

'This will have to do.'

Day Two

The air in the cave was thick, damp, and heavy. I hadn't stopped moving—I couldn't afford to. The moment I stopped, the darkness felt like it was closing in on me.

I came across a shallow pool of water. It was murky, but I was desperate. I cupped my hands, bringing the water to my lips. The metallic taste of minerals filled my mouth, but it was drinkable.

Then, I heard it. A low, rattling hiss.

'Shit.'

I turned, and there it was—a Tempest Serpent, coiled around a rock, its black scales gleaming in the dim light. Its piercing yellow eyes locked onto me.

'Too fast to fight head-on. Too deadly to ignore.'

I backed away, keeping my breathing steady. One wrong move, and it would strike. I tightened my grip on my bone dagger, but I knew it wouldn't do much against those scales.

Then, I saw an opening. A small crevice in the cave wall.

Without hesitation, I bolted. The serpent lunged, its fangs missing me by inches as I dived into the crevice. Its body slammed into the rocks, sending dust flying. I pressed myself against the cold stone, barely breathing. The snake hissed in frustration, then slithered away.

'That was close… too close.'

Day Three

The cave was changing me. My vision had adjusted to the darkness, my senses sharpening. Every shadow, every movement, I noticed it all. My hunger, my exhaustion—they were constant, but I was learning to push them aside.

'Adapt or die.'

I wandered deeper, and that's when I saw it. An Armorsaurus.

A massive, quadrupedal beast with thick, plated scales. It was devouring what was left of another Giant Bat. Its heavy tail dragged along the ground, the weight alone enough to crush bone.

'Fighting it head-on is suicide.'

I looked around, searching for anything I could use. Then, I saw it—a series of jagged rocks hanging above a narrow passage.

'That could work.'

I picked up a loose stone and hurled it to get the beast's attention. The Armorsaurus turned, its deep-set eyes locking onto me. A low growl rumbled in its throat before it charged.

'Now or never.'

I sprinted toward the passage, forcing the Armorsaurus to follow. As soon as I reached the other side, I grabbed another rock and hurled it at the unstable ceiling above the beast. The impact sent a chain reaction through the cavern.

With a thunderous crash, jagged rocks plummeted down, crushing the beast under their weight. Dust filled the air, making it hard to breathe. I coughed, shielding my face. When the dust cleared, I saw the Armorsaurus pinned beneath the rubble, its body twitching before finally going still.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

'I survived… again.'

Day Four

I was being hunted.

I could feel it. Something was watching me.

My heart pounded as I crept through the cave. Every step was calculated, every breath controlled. Then, I heard it—a deep, chittering sound.

I turned, and my blood ran cold.

An Evil Centipede.

Its long, segmented body slithered across the cave floor, its dozens of legs clicking against the stone. Its mandibles twitched, venom dripping from its fangs.

I can't fight that. No way in hell.

I ran.

The centipede lunged, barely missing my leg. I zigzagged, trying to throw it off. My lungs burned, but I couldn't stop.

Then, I saw it—a narrow passage.

'Please fit, please fit—'

I dove inside, scraping my arms against the rough stone. The centipede shrieked, its massive body slamming into the entrance. It tried to force its way in, but the space was too small.

I backed away, panting. My entire body was trembling.

'I almost died… again.'

I leaned against the wall, catching my breath.

'I have to survive. No matter what.'

Then, I spotted something in the darkness—a pile of dry, brittle fungus growing along the wall. My mind raced.

'Fire.'

I remembered how flint stones could create sparks. I had seen some near the water source. Gathering my courage, I left my temporary shelter and returned to the shallow pool, searching the ground. My fingers brushed over something rough and sharp.

'Flint.'

I grabbed a handful, rushing back to my crevice. Striking them together, it took several tries, but finally, a spark ignited the dry fungus. A small flame flickered to life. I carefully fed it more brittle scraps, watching as it grew.

The warmth, the light—it was like hope itself.

'I will survive this. I have to.'

(End of a chapter)