Legendary Shelter Survival Guide

15 minutes later,

"Alright, we're at the marked location," Jerry said, scratching his head in confusion. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire

"Mhm," Haley nodded as they advanced into the clearing.

"What is this stench?" Haley's face twisted in disgust, and she quickly covered her nose.

"...Blood." Even James grew serious. Something about the clearing felt ominous.

They were still far from the source, but with each step closer, both their faces grew paler.

"Haley, be quick," Jerry urged.

SHWING

Jerry unsheathed his large sword, holding it forward while he guarded with the shield in his other hand.

They moved swiftly, Jerry on high alert, until they reached it.

UNGGHH

Haley's stomach churned, and right on the spot, she retched, a stream of liquid pouring from her mouth. It didn't stop for several seconds, and only after she'd emptied her gut did she dare to look at the scene again.

"What the f-fuck?" she whispered.

Before them lay the gigantic bodies of the trolls, their massive forms strewn across the clearing. The duo surveyed the aftermath of what could only be described as a bloodbath, chills running down their spines.

Jerry crouched down, gingerly touching one half of a corpse, dumbfounded.

"It's so clean… How??" he muttered, but Haley was too shocked to respond. She was still reeling from the carnage that had taken place.

"Quickly, put every part of the trolls inside the inventory, Haley. We need to leave. Now."

Haley didn't respond, but she followed the command without hesitation. Her hands trembled as she touched each part, causing the bodies to vanish one by one.

"But… I don't understand," she stammered. "How could he cut them up so much… I couldn't find a single body intact. Like, what the hell?"

"I don't know, Haley. But one thing is clear… we have to stay away from Lucas, just like John said. We wait until he comes to us."

"You mean…?" she asked, her voice tinged with fear.

"He might be berserk because of those damn marks on his arm," Jerry said through gritted teeth. "It could be dangerous for us."

Haley shivered at the seriousness in Jerry's voice. It was unlike him, the most aloof person in their group, to be so grave. If someone like him was this concerned, it was only wise to take it seriously.

After a few more minutes of collecting the remains, the duo left the clearing, heading back toward the shelter without further surveying the area.

———

Lucas took a deep breath, standing before a familiar, ominous gate shrouded in darkness.

'Even after 15 years, I can still feel its hold on my arm…' Lucas thought, glancing at the mark on his arm. His heartbeat quickened momentarily before he regained control.

The mark had evolved over the years, yet its appearance remained unchanged.

'Hope the overseer isn't calling me to face that thing again. And if I do…' Lucas's thoughts trailed off as he steeled himself. The mark might not have much influence anymore, but it still had some.

With another deep breath, Lucas stepped into the darkness beyond the dungeon gate.

The next moment, the scenery shifted, and Lucas found himself in a bright, shining room. He took a step forward, unsure if he had actually moved or not.

The room was so white it felt like another void, similar to the one he had been in before, only the color had changed.

-"I am fascinated by the strengths you have reached in a month, Lucas Garde."-

A robotic voice echoed from nowhere and everywhere. Lucas glanced around calmly, trying to pinpoint the source, but he could only chuckle—it was as if the room itself was speaking.

"It wasn't a month for me. It's good to meet you again, Overseer."

As he spoke, the white particles floating in the room began to converge, forming the silhouette of a figure.

Lucas approached the silhouette with confidence, his expression steady.

The silhouette gradually took the shape of a beautiful woman with golden hair. Lucas couldn't recall if she had looked the same 16 years ago when they first met, but it didn't matter.

-"It's good to see you too, Lucas Garde."- She smiled, though her eyes remained emotionless and dead.

-"I have prepared some tea for you."- The robotic voice echoed again as the white particles compressed into a small, luxurious set of tables and chairs.

One look at the chair, and Lucas felt a wave of nostalgia. It promised comfort, with high, elegantly curved backs and detailed carvings that matched the table's motifs.

With a smile, Lucas moved toward it, his fingers brushing the chair's surface.

The table appeared to be made of high-quality wood, inlaid with mother-of-pearl designs that Lucas admired. The patterns on the legs were carved with elegant scrollwork, and even the edges were adorned with fine detailing.

"What a nostalgic sight. How did you replicate it so perfectly?" Lucas asked, clearly in a good mood.

-"I didn't. I simply used one of the memories you cherish. It all came from your mind."- The overseer replied with a smile.

"I made it for someone," Lucas said, tapping the table lightly. "We used to sit here for hours, just talking."

As the good memories flooded his mind, Lucas's expression shifted to one of irritation.

-"I can see and feel how aggrieved you are. There's no need to speak about it."-

"Then you have to give me an answer, Overseer. I NEED TO KNOW." Lucas gritted his teeth and struggled to control the anger building within him.

The overseer studied Lucas for a few moments, her face calm, before another smile spread across her face.

-"It's time for you to know some things."- She said, continuing, -"Had you been at your current level when we first met, many things would have been resolved."-

"OVERSEER, PLEASE GIVE ME AN ANSWER. I CAN'T HOLD BACK…" Lucas's voice trembled with barely restrained fury.

-"My apologies, that was crude of me. The simple answer is, yes. The world you were in was real."-

The words hit Lucas like a physical blow. His eyes blinked rapidly as he processed them.

A heavy silence filled the room until, finally, Lucas's legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees.