The Stellate Vortex

I hate unnecessary fights! It really is annoying. Why should I fight when I can avoid it all? And yet, here I am, dodging the attacks of a man who is towering over me, along with a child near the age of 14. Even a child is dangerous if given something sharp, and that stupid child is using a beast tooth like a weapon!

That's disgusting! Don't touch me with it! A kick straight to his jaw. At first, he wobbled a bit, until he spat some blood and collapsed.

Kieth dodged the attack of the tall man again.

"Hey, your friend bit his tongue! Don't you think you should help him?"

Kieth dodged an attack again. Each punch is dangerous. He looked over for help. Rita had killed a guy already by stabbing him with a knife. Where did she even get the knife from? Fucking psychopath.

He looked over to Vasil, who was having trouble fighting, despite his clear body advantage over the other guy.

"Hey, are you really okay being a pawn to that guy?" Kieth told the man. "Look at him! He is not even helping—just watching you struggle!"

No response. Well, he does seem to have muscles for a brain. "Rita, HELP ME HERE!" Kieth shouted for help, knowing he couldn't run around forever.

Rita was still fighting the other guy, who, somehow, despite being stabbed multiple times, was still alive and kicking.

This won't do. Oh wait, the tooth! He glanced at the body of the guy he knocked down—the teeth in his hands still look disgusting. Well, fuck, beggars can't be choosers. He ran to grab it, but the second he grabbed it, the other guy woke up and stabbed him in the thigh.

"FUCK!" He punched him again, but a blow came to Kieth's head from behind. The first blow the tall thug landed. Kieth was knocked away. He tried standing, but his legs were trembling as he looked up at the man before going blank.

He slowly opened his eyes. It seemed like he was being dragged on the ground. He looked around slowly, so as not to raise suspicion. He saw Vasil walking, tied by ropes, along with Rita, who clearly looked angry.

After a while, they threw him on the ground. He could hear a lot of people chatting.

"You found people?!" An unfamiliar voice.

"They have a lot of food and attacked us too."

Seemed like the voice of the leader.

"Frank is injured. Treat him along with Gilbert. He was stabbed multiple times."

"Ah, it's alright. It just stings. Besides, I won't die due to my ability—at least not through stabs." Kieth looked up and saw a man covered in wounds but smiling. He was blonde, and the guy who was fighting Rita.

"Think Rita and Vasil were taken away. Quite a bustling place. Seems like an underground city," Kieth thought, looking around only with his eyes as someone picked him up. He got a glimpse of the entire area. There was a clear blue sky right above, but it seemed too high to reach. He was placed inside a white tent–a tent where his stab wound was being treated. They cleaned it up and bandaged it up real fast.

"He will heal soon. So, are you going to tell Sonia?"

"Of course. These guys were also here, like us. Still, sad to see they are kids. Is he gonna wake up?"

"Try waking him up with a kiss," the doctor in the white coat suggested casually.

"What?" Gilbert asked, startled.

"I mean, he doesn't want to wake up normally, so I think he prefers being woken up with a kiss," the doctor replied with a smirk.

...

"See? He isn't waking up. Just give him a kiss!"

"Nope, no need! I'm up!" Kieth declared abruptly, sitting up and looking around. The room was cozy, but there was barely any modern equipment—only handmade furniture.

"You were pretending to be asleep?" Gilbert asked, sounding a little disappointed.

"Yeah, more or less. Also, please stop sounding disappointed. It's sending shivers down my spine," Kieth replied, stretching with an exaggerated yawn.

The doctor chuckled and walked over. "Feel better? Anything unusual?"

"Nope, not at all. Besides, I think that guy should be in more critical condition—he was stabbed around 20 times," Kieth said, pointing at Gilbert.

"You're welcome," the doctor responded with a grin.

"I didn't say thanks," Kieth retorted, raising an eyebrow.

"I know. You're welcome."

Silence filled the room.

"You should say thanks at this part, ungrateful shit," the doctor muttered, looking annoyed.

"Oh, my bad. Thanks," Kieth replied, smiling faintly.

"Also, where's my group?" Kieth asked, turning to Gilbert.

"Oh, those guys? Yeah, they're probably with Sonia," Gilbert answered casually.

"Oh, that's cool. I'll just go meet Sonia, as I totally know who she is," Kieth said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

Gilbert sighed. "She's the monarch of Makar."

"I'm assuming this city is called Makar?" Kieth asked, tilting his head.

"Yes. Here, every dead person from the past couple of millennia has gathered. Well, a large part is still in the caves, in unexplored territory."

Kieth listened as Gilbert explained the situation. Apparently, they were in a massive cave stretching as far as 80 kilometers.

Despite its size, the city had only explored a small portion of it, which was assumed to be as big as a country.

People in Makar also gained abilities unrelated to their previous lives but useful nonetheless. Gilbert, for instance, had some form of immortality.

After leaving the tent, Kieth walked through the bustling city. It resembled a large village. People seemed cheerful, and life appeared to flow smoothly. He looked up at the open area above the cave. Expeditions had been sent multiple times to reach it, yet none had ever returned.

"Maybe the outside of this cave is dangerous," Kieth muttered to himself. Well, the inside isn't exactly safe either, with all the monsters.

Kieth eventually reached a mud house and knocked on the door. He was greeted by Vasil.

"Kieth!" Vasil exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug. The gesture was unexpected but welcome. Kieth patted Vasil's back in response.

As he walked in, Kieth saw Rita sitting in the corner. She looked visibly frustrated, muttering to herself while biting her nails.

"She good?" Kieth asked.

"Just a little frustrated," Vasil replied.

Kieth looked around for a bit. "Where is Akane?"

Vasil went silent for a second before replying, "When you got hit, we lost pretty quickly... It was my incompetence. But later, when they captured us, we told them to get our friend. They went to look for her where I left her, but she wasn't there. I think she ran because she was scared."

Is that so? Well, figures. I expected her to be scared, but running away? Kieth paused. No, what should I do? Maybe I ca– No, why should I? I'm not a hero. I barely knew her. It's barely been a day since we reached here.

Rita hit him on the head as he was contemplating.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

Kieth snapped back, realizing he was lost in his thoughts. "My bad. So, can we look for her?"

"We can't. The monarch doesn't allow people to leave unless they are part of the expedition team," Rita replied. "Also, we've requested an audience. We'll leave by the evening to meet her."

"A meeting with the monarch?!" Kieth exclaimed.

Well, I guess it's for the best. We might get some answers as well.

Time passed, and they found themselves in a ziggurat-like structure, standing in front of a woman with dark skin and a slender body. She didn't pay much attention to the three. Vasil was sweating, Rita looked like she was about to pass out, but Kieth remained nonchalant, waiting as she addressed her subjects. The woman glanced at them before waving her hand to dismiss everyone else from the room.

"You must be the people who were recently brought here," the monarch began. "I already have your details. Still, I suppose you might have been scared as my men were aggressive." She looked at them from her elevated throne.

"Yeah, no shit!" Rita snapped. "They killed people and were laughing at someone dying!"

"They were traitors to the kingdom, trying to leave without permission," the Queen replied coldly.

Vasil and Rita remained silent, and it was Kieth's turn to speak. "I wish to leave this place too. Will I be executed?"

Her gaze shifted to him. "Is that so? What makes you think you can survive out there?"

"Even if I don't, I wish to see the outside world. So, I'll join the expedition team."

Vasil and Rita looked at Kieth in surprise. The Queen, however, grinned. "Is that so? Sure, but you must know the requirements."

"Requirements?!" Kieth exclaimed. He turned to Rita and Vasil, whispering, "If there were requirements, why didn't you tell me?"

"Oh... we didn't know," Vasil responded sheepishly.

"It seems like you didn't," the Queen interjected. "You need to reach as deep as 20 kilometers into this cave and map out any uncharted territory. If you are unsuccessful, you will not be allowed to leave. If you succeed in providing us valuable information, you will be allowed to join the expedition team leaving for the surface within the next week."

"Seems fair, I guess," Kieth muttered.

I'll have plenty of time to look for Akane. From what I think, they haven't discovered the part of our cabin. It'll work out well.

"Well then, you look ready," the Queen said. "Leave at your earliest convenience. If you don't return within a week, the next opportunity will be in six months."

Rita spoke up. "Wait, our friend has gone missing. Can you send people to find her?"

The Queen glanced at Rita before replying, "Your friend can look for her while he completes his task. Now leave. Your hearing has ended."

The three found themselves back on the streets.

"I'll look for her. Don't worry," Kieth reassured Rita.

"When are you leaving?" Vasil asked.

"By early morning, I suppose. I can't delay with the limited time we have," Kieth replied.

That night, Kieth lay outside on a small bed. His legs dangled off the edge, so he curled up and drifted into a deep slumber.

He woke up, but there were no stars or sky above him. All he could see was the roof of a cave. Turning his head, he realized something was wrong.

"This isn't a dream," he muttered. "What the—?"

He found himself in a narrow cave with barely enough space to stand. Panic set in.

"Rita? Vasil? Anyone?" he called out, his voice echoing. Then he heard it.

Click. Click. Click. Click.

Kieth turned toward the sound, and there it was—a spider with its flesh decaying, staring directly at him.

--------------------------------------------------------