Absolute darkness surrounds me — not a single glimmer of light — yet a clear path to salvation has been etched into my memory. A deathly silence stretches for hundreds of yards, broken only by the thundering of my heart. Yet for me, it beats with unnatural slowness. My brigand reflexes, honed through decades, grant me the ability to think with focused rage, clarity, and swiftness even in these dire circumstances.
The squad of seven, perfectly balanced and thoroughly coordinated, perished in just a few heartbeats without a single muted death whisper. Even the wolf’s warning howl proved futile…
Both the animal and its master were instantaneously melted by the forked tongue of an otherworldly blue flame that suddenly lashed out from around the corner. The serpent itself followed, smelling out life — a sentient river of fire that had initially approached with a subtle whisper, now surged forward with a deafening roar. It erupted not only from the passage, but also through hundreds of tiny fissures in the surrounding rock, consuming everything and leaving no trace behind. Neither antimagic amulets, resistance spells, nor our elemental mage’s active water defense made any difference. Everything and everyone turned to ashes, but me…
It's not for nothing that they call me Lucky Adam, for I was the only one to heed the wolf’s warning and instinctively retreated and dove into a fetid puddle hundreds of yards behind. By some miracle, I was not boiled alive, and thus became the sole survivor of that accursed spell. Yet fortune favored me, again. I concealed myself behind a veil of vapor rising from that very puddle, then sprinted less than a mile through the dungeon’s labyrinthine passages, darting like a hunted hare.
Never had I witnessed such devastating magic. Was a demon pursuing us?! And then, a chilling realization washed over me, drenching me in cold sweat — I could not possibly have witnessed that spell. In truth, I was already fleeing… which means I have been found, my mind already under control, a mere plaything in some cruel game of cat and mouse…
It takes a moment or two to listen to myself. No, my mind still seems clear, but after I gave my all to the frantic retreat, fatigue invades my body, conquering it against my will. I don't seem to be able to even twitch my finger.
Yet a sudden cold perception pierces through my confusion suggesting salvation — the wizard. Damn wizard! So you shadowed us, undetected all along. We shall escape together. At least, that is what I’m telling myself…
A heavy disappointment spreads through the space around me.
“Didn't I tell you to bypass the outpost?”
I have no response; deep down, I know he’s right. The wizard’s warnings were unheeded. We chose to attack the outpost anyway and succeeded. Unique weapons and artifacts are my spoils… but at what cost? Are they worth the entire team? I’ll never find another like them.
Now, the distinct sounds of pursuit echo around. They’re searching for me. I hear them rush past my crevice once, then again, their footsteps circling, as if enchanted. How can they not see me? Oh, right — the wizard. But even that won’t save us now…
A grim smirk spreads across my face as I recall his tall tales. Having witnessed this bizarre “zoo” with my own eyes, I realize that his entire twaddle about some Collision that destroys the world is real.
That damn wizard parlance… It infuriated me back in the village, and it still does now. Once again, this rubbish intrudes upon my mind, and I can’t discern whether they are my genuine memories or if he’s intentionally provoking me.
“Our planet has preserved its surface, whereas what lies beneath it has changed once and for all. Dungeons now riddle it to its very core, which holds imprisoned chaos. The Collision teleports creatures from all over the Universe to these dungeons, turning them into the most severe natural selection battlefields.”
Except perhaps I haven’t seen the core…
“Get up already!” the wizard finally found a loophole. “Now!”
I wish I could. Natural selection, you say? I think I’ve lost it…
But you know what, goddamn wizard? Even in my last moments, this stirs something deep within me.
I’ve never liked you, nor has there been any respect for you, but you’re the only one who can hear me. So as long as you draw breath, I expect you to show these abominations who gets the upper hand. Not you, of course — you’re no good for anything — but the forces you’re sending in our footsteps. I won’t be giving the edge to you; I’m handing it to them.
To you, I entrust my most precious possession — my memory. Every time you recover my hidden artifacts, think of me. But there’s something even more crucial than that: my experience.
Start training them with my reminiscences.
Turn the page to Adventurers: The Beginning (Chapter 1)