This was the first relic Mathew had received, but it was by no means going to be the last. He admired the beauty of the relic's design through an image provided above the runic texts, but if he was being honest, apart from the aesthetic sense of its appearance, which was quite eye-catching, it provided no practical use and would be nothing more than a flashlight, or at best, an antique. A true relic of a forgotten world.
He took a sharp breath, then sighed.
Dismissing the runes, he looked round but found nothing else of note. Given how things were unfolding, Mathew couldn't shake the feeling that the codex, for some reason, was intent on making his trial a living hell.
At least he got something from all of this. He gave the chamber one last glance and readied himself to move on when suddenly the sound of something slithering against the moist, earthy floor sent a sharp jolt through Mathew. His body froze and trembled as a low growl echoed through the chamber. The growl was a deep and menacing noise that filled the air like a primal sound that hinted at something far more dangerous than the egg he had just destroyed. Yet that wasn't what motivated him to act, it was a sense of self-preservation honed to near perfection during his time living in the higher districts.
The slithering sound grew ever closer and louder. With every muscle fiber in his body screaming in protest, a silent, trembling groan escaped Mathew's lips as he pushed himself upright, moving sluggishly and desperately, trying to distance himself from the encroaching sound, one laboured, wobbly step after another.
Soon, he found himself back at the entrance to the narrow pathway, but it was too late. Mathew knew without looking, something.... something dangerous was there.
Above him, Mathew felt a presence and immediately shifted his gaze, and the sight before him cut through his hesitation like a blade, dropping a veil of dread over him. His already shallow breath hitched, and his heart beat so hard it threatened to leap from his chest.
Mathew's determination to survive screamed at him, practically begging him to listen, and honestly, he wanted nothing more than to do just that. To get to his feet and run as far away from whatever presence it was that stalked him. But an eerie compulsion held him in place. His skin crawled uncomfortably, and his hairs stood on end, then with a deep breath, he slowly forced himself to turn away, inch by inch, until a shadow flickered at the edge of his vision. His heart raced even faster. Finally, he turned back, and his eyes met the unrelenting gaze of the monster fixed on him.
Right above him, was a massive neon yellow orb the size of his head, with a deep black vertical slit down its center contracsing as it focused on him. His vision pulled back, revealing the grotesque, scaly contours of a monstrous head that loomed over and matched his frame in size. It was a daunting comparison, especially when considering that Mathew was far from small.
The moment he sighted the beast, Mathew's thoughts threatened to overtake his rationality, but using all the willpower he had left, he focused on a single thought.
'Calm down, Mathew! Don't let your emotions dictate your actions.'
That was a good philosophical way of thinking, but in this situation, there was almost no human alive who wouldn't be overcome by fear. Wait, how did a slum rat like him develop philosophical inclinations? Was he some sort of natural? Suddenly, his mind was filled with such thoughts. The beast's glazed yellowish eye was fixated on him. With its jaw hung open and saliva pooling at the corners of its maw. It exuded a chilling intensity, reminding him of a small dog that used to live in the dumpster behind the shabby apartment complex he called home.
The stray would linger around his home and beg for any scraps a passer-by could provide. Mathew remembered throwing out his trash and seeing the dog's eyes shine with a mix of desperation and hope. Its thin frame trembled as it waited for a single morsel of food.
But despite its appearance, this creature was no pitiful beggar.
Each time the young cynic took out the trash, he would oblige the diminutive animal and offer what little edible leftover food he could. But when his mother lost her job and they were forced deeper into poverty, Matthew began offering less and less. One could not offer what they did not have after all. But an animal didn't understand these concepts. No matter how intelligent they might seem, an animal is still an animal. As the days went by, realizing he was bringing it a smaller amount than the previous day, the beast's demeanour became increasingly hostile. All it needed was a reason.
Mathew came to it once with nothing in hand. Only once. But that was all it took, and finally, it snapped. and it lunged at him, its maw open as wide as its anatomy allowed. Its eyes were filled with bloodthirst, and its mouth dripping with saliva. Like the beast before him, it was starving. And just like back then, though not by choice, he was on the menu.
Mathew's face was steady, and his features were frozen in place, portraying no sliver of
emotion. But below that façade was a twister of emotions. None more dominant than fear. Why wouldn't he be so blank and unresponsive? With the way his day had been going, this was less of a surprise and more of an inevitability.
He stood frozen, eyes locked on the giant orb. The beast's attention was drawn away from him for a moment, so he followed its gaze, and his eyes widened. He looked back at the beast that was now staring back at him. Its eyes were no longer filled with a gluttonous hunger. What Mathew saw portrayed in its eyes was a seething rage. And he immediately understood what he had just done. He hadn't just stumbled upon an empty nest in the middle of a maze. No. He had invaded this beast's home. Not just that, he had gone one step further. He had murdered its young. The beast slowly inched closer and closer. Each step brings its massive frame into full view. Mathew stepped back, but it followed his every movement. He looked left the right, searching for an escape route. The creatures' growl echoed in the chamber, a low, menacing sound that reverberated in his bones.
"What do I do? What do I do?" he thought frantically, his mind racing.
He had to act, and fast. In a moment of desperation, he rid himself of all thoughts and crouched low, instinct kicking in as he dashed forward. The massive arm of the reptilian beast swiped at him. A cold air whistled past him as he hit the ground and rolled under its long scaly fingers ending with bladed claws. Springing back to his feet, he dashed forward one more.
The beast let out a roar of frustration, its eyes narrowing as it turned to follow its prey. But Mathew didn't dare to look back. His legs pumped harder and harder, each step echoing in the chamber.
Sprinting down the path, he followed into the cave he heard a rumble. Son, the floor beneath his feet trembled violently, and debris went flying past him. He ran faster and faster, forgetting that he had been starved as adrenaline flooded his veins. Soon, he saw the light of the passageway shine at the end of the path, and he ran even faster. Until he ran through it and into the hallway, he slammed the door behind him and pushed forward. But that was never going to be enough to stop such an abomination. With a thunderous crash, it shattered the wall and emerged into the passageway with a deafening shriek that rang in his ears.
Mathew glanced back, his breath caught in his throat as the beast swivelled its large head and locked him in its predatory sights. The sheer size of it compared to the creature he had seen only hours earlier was overwhelming. Making that one look like nothing but a gecko. Its body moved through the passage, scraping against the walls and roof. Mathew ran, and ran, and ran. Turning sharply around corners, ducking below the beast's countless swipes, but it all felt pointless. The beast was relentless in its pursuit. His chest rose and fell in irregular rhythm. And bit by bit, his ace slowed. No matter how far he thought he could push his body, he could not ignore the fact that he was exhausted.
"I can't keep this up much longer!"
A fresh wave of panic surged through him as he turned yet another corner. He could practically feel the heat of the creature's breath on his back. The narrow confines of the corridor pressed against the beast. It was a harsh reminder of just how little space separated predator from prey.