trembling slightly as his eyes remained f

ng through him like a dagger. The air in the chamber was thick with d

ut with a final, ominous groan,

rvings of long-forgotten battles. A massive chandelier hung above, its candles casting flickering shadows

eye sockets burned with an eerie crimson glow, casting faint red light on the jagged edges of its skeletal frame. I

keleton spoke in a

eleton as it spoke in a deep, calm voic

come here, l

dn't know how to respond, but since this was the first time anyone

red, trying to show respect. His whiskers twitched

s that I was told to find my way out. If you would be s

ng to appeal to the Skeleton Boss's sense o

for what felt like hours, its crimson

, you must pay the pr

reaking as it moved. Its sword gleamed menacing

I just want to leave. I'm sure you don't want me here, and I'm equally sure you know a way out. S

e softened slightly, but

er unfortunate soul sent to

Trickster? Is that w

xt words erased a

same fate as all th

as it took a step closer, the sound of its

padded feet slipping slig

ust want to leave. If you agree that me being here is

o leave this realm is to kill me. There is no othe

on Boss lunged forward with surprising speed, it

-

the air where he had stood moments before. The force of the swing sent a gust of wind t

er. With a guttural growl, it swung its sword horiz

he side, his paws scrambling for purchase on the stone floor. The skeleton's cri

fight this thing,"Fem

rward, hoping to get inside its reach. He lunged at the creature's legs, aiming to destabilize it. His

arply, catching Femi in the chest

eath from his lungs. He forced himself to roll again, narrowly avoiding a d

ess, each strike calculated to end the fight quic

oose piece of rubble near the wall. He feinted left, drawing the skeleton's

rt, he hurled it at

the creature's skull with a loud "crack"

g to strike with his axe and knock it off balance. B

t brought its sword do

hrough his armor and fur, drawing blood. He cried out in pain b

smash the skeleton's skull, but its bony hands were quicker and stronge

rs, gasping for air as the creatu

e skeleton spoke, its voice neutral.

blur as the pressure on

a person choke me in one ni

ith a final, desperate effort, he kicked out wit

le free. He dropped to the ground, coughing and gasping for air, but he didn't

et, its sword gleaming in the fl

it admitted, its tone almost re

his axe during the collision, he had no

word. He found himself mesmerized by the way the flickering light from the chandelier danced a

chandelier itself. The massive iron fixture swayed s

piration ignit

The weight.

to the mechanism ho

n formed in

d for the final strike, Femi di

the distraction was enough. Femi twisted mid-step, feet skidding on stone as he dodged past the blade's arc. His momentum carried him onto t

al links groaned under his weight, the entire fixture lurching violently. His m

rimson embers, tracked Femi's every move. A shiver prickled down hi

rs!"His shout ripped through the cha

nd the chain. His muscles screamed as he wrenched his weight downward,o

delier ripped free above him. He hit the ground hard, shoulder-first, but his ey

o work. It

eleton did

, those hollow crimson eyes fixed on hi

ur

through the air l

it knocked Femi backward, the ground trembling beneath him. His ears r

rced himself to stand. He clutched his wounded side, wincing in p

dust. His pulse hammered in

o see the Skeleton Boss enveloped in

menacing gaze b

will end so easily?" it said, i

r as he stumbled backward, h

ds trailing off into a whimper. "