The Unknown Cave

"But fuck that lion though!" Ash cursed in pain.

"I second that." Ray nodded.

"That was a shitty matchup…" Bryan muttered with his eyes closed.

Ash groaned, "Yeah, we couldn't do fuck all to that beast."

"Maybe, if we used our trump cards, we might've done something to the beast but it was way too dangerous for us to risk it all just for a 'might'." Ray patted the dust off of himself.

"I just hope we didn't get teleported deep into the Chaotic Forest…" Ash softly murmured.

After a few hours of rest, the trio were completely healed due to the mighty recovery ability of their Physiques and Bloodline.

They chose to traverse through the left path with the intention of getting the fuck out of the cave.

The cave looked dilapidated and there were mossy-like substances all over the cave. It seemed like they were teleported to a deep part of the cave.

Sounds of tiny flaps deeply echoed through the walls and drops of water constantly ticked in the cave.

Pushing away the hanging vines, they noticed a bunch of mushrooms on the side. The mushrooms had a purple base and was blue-coloured on top.

It looked weirdly colourful and was definitely creepy.

"I fucking hate caves!" Ray said with a disgusted face.

"Haha, is it because of the darkness?" Ash chuckled at his 'predicament'.

"That and all this weird ass moss and mushrooms. Just freaks me out and not to mention we may be trapped here forever." Ray felt a shiver down his spine.

"Relax, we won't be trapped here. We'll find a way out in no time." Ash comforted him.

"Guys, there's something up ahead." Bryan interrupted them.

In the complete darkness, there was something that was faintly illuminating the darkness up ahead of them through a corner.

As they ventured deep into the cave, a breathtaking sight awaited them. A vast and expansive section that stood in stark contrast to the narrow path they've been following.

The ceiling soared to dizzying heights, enhanced with clusters of glistening orbs that radiant a gentle, lustrous glow.

These orbs seemed to possess a life of their own. They floated and drifted across the section, their mystical illumination casting cascades of light upon the walls and the floor.

In the heart of the cave, a stream of water flowed gracefully, cutting through the expanse and dividing it into two different 'realms'.

The walls, embellished with psychedelic crystals, sparkle like scattered dust, casting a soft, otherworldly hue. The crystals danced with a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of colours that seem to breathe with a life of their own.

Upon closer look, there were faint white-bluish lines on the cave walls that glowed imperceptibly which gave off a mysterious aura.

Delicate ferns unfurl their graceful fronds, while they peek out from the crevices, their fragrance carrying on to the mist. Exotic flora, with blossoms as vibrant as jewels, painted the cave in a riot of colour.

There was a veil of mist clinging onto the ceiling, imbuing the air with an ethereal quality. This was like heaven and earth compared to the other chambers of the cave where the trio had to traverse through.

Stepping into the area, they felt the air crackle with an unnatural energy, pulsating with ancient forgotten whispers.

Silky tendrils reached out from the mist, gently teasing against their skin, evoking a sense of wonder.

With each step they took into this otherworldly section of the cave, the ground responded with a subtle hum, that resonated through the cave.

"Damn…" Ash muttered in awe.

An explicable emotion filled the eyes of Ray as he observed with wonder and cautiousness.

"So beautiful…" Ash was mesmerized by the unexpected beauty of the cave.

Bryan, too, was enjoying the scene with a pair of tranquil eyes.

"Never would I have thought we would come across something beautiful in this shitty cave." Ash spoke, his voice echoing against the walls.

*Thump*

*Thump*

As Ash approached the stream of water, a palpable change in the atmosphere seized his senses. A tingling sensation crept up his spine, awakening a surge of anticipation within him.

It was as if an invisible force reached out, gently prodding his mind, urging him to delve deeper into the mystery that lay ahead of him.

"Guys…"

Ray and Bryan turned to look at Ash.

"Yeah?"

"I feel something weird is going on with my body!" Ash was perplexed.

Ray and Bryan noticed the slight oddity and were immediately concerned.

"What's wrong?" Ray asked while closely observing him.

"I don't know but as soon as we got closer to the stream, I feel there's something calling out to me." Ash was kind of weirded out.

Bryan looked at the stream and back at Ash. His eyes frowned in contemplation as numerous thoughts flashed in his mind.

"I'm not 100% sure but it must be because of the stream." Ray assumed.

"I think…I need to get closer to the stream!" Ash said with an excited tone. The itchy feeling compelled him to get closer to the stream of water.

"Wait, what if-"

"Don't worry, Ray. Trust him." Bryan interrupted Ray and they watched Ash make his way to the stream.

With each step, Ash's heartbeat quickened, syncing with the pulsating rhythm of the cave itself. The gentle flow of the stream created an enchanting symphony that seemed to resonate within his veins.

Bryan and Ray felt that something mystical happened to the cave as Ash got increasingly closer to the stream.

The stream of water, ahead of him, seemed to hold a secret, something hidden that whispered to Ash's soul. He could almost taste the exhilaration in the air as his anticipation grew. He had never felt something so strong that seemed to have come from the depths of his soul.

The stream, with its shimmering surface, mirrored his excitement, its currents swirling with a newfound intensity. It seemed to invite him to jump into the water, like a parent goading a child with candy, promising him an extraordinary discovery lying just beyond its aqueous veil.

In this moment, standing right before the stream of water, Ash knew that something fantastic awaited him. The trembling in his blood became an affirmation.

He looked back at his friends and nodded with a smile, indicating that everything will be fine. With a steady breath, he steeled his resolve and jumped into the stream of water, ready to immerse himself in the unknown.

As Ash jumped into the water, he felt a sudden shift in temperature. An intense chill that cut through the water and seeped into his very core. The coolness seemed to intensify from the depths of the stream, which seemed endless from his eyes.

And here he thought, it was going to be shallow for him.

Although the sudden chill was unexpected, he surprisingly felt refreshed and calm. It was like the cooling factor of the water gave him nourishing benefits.

As he dove into the depths of the pond, the anticipation in his heart grew to an intense level. The coldness increased in concentration, sending a shockwave of intense cold coursing through his veins. Anyone else would have immediately swum to the surface and jump out of the water. But Ash had a wide smile on his face as he dived deeper and deeper.

He could feel his Energy Points rising up with each second, he spends in the frigid cold water.

Bryan and Ray stood at the bank of the stream and were kind of worried. They could see a faint mist wafting out of the stream and immediately knew the water was extremely cold. Not just that, the stream was very deep too as they couldn't find him anywhere.

"Ice cold water and he has the Heavenly Frost Technique…" Ray muttered.

"This could be a blessing in disguise kind of opportunity for him." Bryan smiled with prospective eyes.

The water itself seemed to be alive, as it guided him deeper into the depths of the unknown.

Strange and mesmerizing creatures, their iridescent scales reflecting the immutable beauty of the deep, swam gracefully by his side. Emanating an otherworldly radiance, they led him further into the unknown depths, illuminating wherever they go.

Within the depths of the water, ancient rock formations rose like towering sculptures. Bioluminescent plants and coral structures emitted soft glows, painting the surrounding with a magical luminescence.

As Ash swam onward, his heart was in sync with the pulsating coldness coursing through him.

The deeper he ventured, the more the temperature dropped, plunging him into an almost numbing sensation, despite his Heavenly Frost Physique. Yet, his anticipation overwhelmed the mere numbing sensation and shielded him from the negative, propelling him to push further into the deep.

*Thump*

*Thump*

His heartbeat quickened with excitement as his eyes suddenly widened in awe as a glimmer of ethereal light caught his attention in the almost dark surrounding.

Suspended in the water's embrace, he beheld a magical sight. An ancient, otherworldly white scythe standing with its ancient glory, erected onto the bottom of the stream.

The scythe emanated a radiant luminosity, casting an enchanting glow that pierced through his eyes. Its curved blade, crafted from a pristine white material unlike any he had ever seen before, seemed to hum with mystical energy as soon as Ash laid his eyes on it.

Intricate patterns, reminiscent of transcendental constellations, adorned the white blade, intertwining with ethereal tendrils that stretched towards its sharp tip. The hilt, built from a rare pale white-coloured material, seemed to pulse with a subtle power, resonating with As's heartbeat.

The anticipated feeling that seemed to bud within him stopped upon his first sight at the scythe. Ash instinctively knew that the scythe was calling out for him.

Ash swam closer to the scythe, his outstretched hand brushing against the scythe's hilt, immediately sending a surge of ancient knowledge into his mind. Like an old classical film, visions of obscured world-shattering battles flooded his senses.

Ash could feel the immense power brimming through the scythe from the visions currently flashing through his mind. It was an archaic weapon that had witnessed eons of existence, bearing the weight of the universe and the echoes of the cosmos.

*Snap*

Something snapped in his mind as a profound sense of destiny washed over Ash, a recognition that this scythe was not just a mere weapon, but a key to unlocking his own potential. The scythe pulsated with a call, as if acknowledging his presence and granting him permission to grasp it.

With a sturdy touch, Ash wrapped his fingers around the scythe's hilt, feeling a sudden surge of energy coursing through his veins. It felt familiar, like the merging of two souls, an alignment of a timeless bond between him and the ancient weapon.

The scythe responded to his touch, resonating with his newfound feelings and vibrated with excitement.

A burst of shockwave disturbed the calm and serene currents as the intricate patterns on the white blade glowed with a bright sense of acceptance.

Ash closely observed the scythe and the more he did, the deeper his excitement flowed. This ancient weapon would become his ally, to navigate the challenges that lay ahead in the distant future.

[Ding]

[Congratulations, Ash! You have acquired the Eternal Frozen Scythe!]