Mushoku Tensei: A different path

(Rudeus POV)

According to my internal clock, I estimated that I had spent the last two hours simply resting to regain near-optimal health.

My leg still ached, but it was manageable enough to wield Magic if necessary.

Deciding I'd spent enough time lying in wait, I peered through the narrow crack I'd left open for ventilation. The tunnel beyond appeared empty.

When I was confident the coast was clear, I stepped out of my hiding place.

That's when the stench of sulfur hit me like a punch to the face. Leaning against the jagged, rough cavern wall for support, I gasped for breath. Each inhale sent sharp stabs of pain radiating from my barely healed leg. The faint glow of my staff illuminated the walls, casting twisting shadows that writhed like living creatures.

The tunnel stretched on, its oppressive silence amplifying every faint noise my staff made as it tapped against the stone floor. Minutes passed as I limped forward, the walls around me marked by deep claw gouges—a grim reminder that this was no abandoned cave.

I don't know much about those monsters. My knowledge is limited, but logic tells me this cave system isn't an impenetrable fortress. A few of them must patrol the tunnels, searching for intruders who dare to approach their eggs. Or, in my case, a terrified ten-year-old thrown into this hellhole against his will.

Suddenly, the tunnel split into two paths, the jagged openings yawning before me like the maws of twin beasts. One veered sharply to the right, sloping downward into inky darkness, while the other curved left and upward, faintly illuminated by a distant, flickering glow.

"Great," I muttered, gripping my staff tighter. "A choice between getting lost or walking into a trap."

Wandering aimlessly in this maze wasn't a great option. I was bound to stumble upon something—something deadly. I need to think carefully and make the right choice.

I stepped closer to the intersection, straining my ears for any hint of what lay ahead.

The right path was eerily silent, its depths exuding an ominous stillness that made my skin crawl. The left path carried faint sounds—dripping water and... was that a low growl? My heart sank as I realized I might not be alone. That mere thought sent a shiver down my spine.

I couldn't tell how close they were; the echoes distorted everything. But I knew one thing for sure: three of them were approaching.

Wait, how did I know it was three? Argh. I'll worry about that later.

Panic gripping me, I hastily formed another concealed alcove in the wall and slipped inside.

My breath caught as the oppressive weight of their presence enveloped me. It wasn't just fear—it was something physical. Perhaps it was their secreted body odor or poison radiating from their scales. Whatever it was, it felt suffocating.

One of them stopped right in front of my freshly reformed wall. I could hear its deep sniffing, the guttural rumble of its growl sending chills down my spine.

I clapped a hand over my mouth, my chest heaving silently as tears blurred my vision.

I was on the verge of breaking down.

I was terrified. My legs trembled so violently that they barely supported me. My body burned as adrenaline surged, and my heart pounded against my ribcage like it was trying to escape.

I can't do this.

I don't have the confidence—or the training—to survive this.

This isn't a video game where I can respawn after a mistake. This is real life. One life. No retries.

The dragon clawed at the wall separating us, its nails producing an excruciatingly loud noise. Suddenly, the other two began to close in.

I tried desperately to calm my breathing. Every second stretched into an eternity as the scratching continued, the sound digging into my nerves like claws into flesh.

I clenched my staff tighter, my palms slick with sweat. What could I do if they found me? Fight? Run? My leg throbbed angrily at the thought of either. My options were nonexistent, and the futility of it all gnawed at me.

The sniffing grew louder, more insistent. The dragon must have caught a whiff of me through the wall. My pulse thundered in my ears as I bit down on my hand to stifle a sob.

Then, as suddenly as it began, the scratching stopped.

I heard the faint shuffle of claws retreating, followed by a low growl—like a command. The oppressive presence began to fade. I exhaled shakily, not daring to believe my luck.

But I couldn't move yet. Not until I was certain the monsters were gone.

Minutes passed, maybe more. My legs screamed in protest from holding my position, but I refused to move. The tunnel was silent again, save for the faint sound of dripping water somewhere in the distance.

When I finally convinced myself it was safe, I let out a long, shaky breath and slumped to the ground. My body felt like jelly, every ounce of energy drained by the sheer terror I'd endured.

Still, I couldn't stay here. Sooner or later, another patrol would come by, and I might not get lucky again.

I pushed myself upright, leaning heavily on my staff, and forced my trembling legs to move. Each step felt heavy, but I gritted my teeth and pressed on.

As I left hiding once more, the two paths lay before me again, each shrouded in its own brand of dread.

The right path was dark and silent, a vast emptiness stretching into the unknown. Its stillness was unnatural, a void promising nothing but danger. I couldn't shake the feeling that it led into the heart of something far worse than whatever lay ahead on the left.

The left, however... There was a faint flickering light, like the glow of something alive. But that wasn't all. As I listened carefully, the distant growl cut through the silence, deep and rumbling, an unmistakable sign of something—or someone—close by. My heart raced. If I went that way, I might walk straight into a trap. But at least I'd have a chance to react, to see what was coming.

The right path? It could be a dead end. Or worse, a place where I'd wander for hours until my strength failed.

I had to make a choice. Hesitation would kill me.

The light on the left seemed to pulse with a strange allure as if it was offering me a glimpse of hope—maybe even an escape. I didn't know what awaited me, but I couldn't stand still, not when the dragon's scent still clung to the air. And I was running out of time.

I gritted my teeth, the weight of my decision sinking in. I couldn't afford to get lost. The left it was.

With a deep, shaky breath, I forced my legs to move, each step painful but resolute. The light ahead pulled me forward, and despite the growl echoing from the shadows, I pushed myself into the unknown.

The passage narrowed slightly before opening again, its jagged walls glistening with a damp sheen.

The sulfuric stench began to thin, replaced by a subtler, earthy aroma. Each hesitant step seemed to pull me closer to something unknown.

As I rounded a final curve, the tunnel suddenly widened into an expansive cavern, and the sight before me stole the breath from my lungs. It was as though I had stepped into another world.

The floor and walls shimmered with thick, glowing moss, its bioluminescent hues shifting between soft green and pale blue. The light was ethereal, casting everything in a dreamlike radiance that felt almost holy. Towering columns of moss-covered stone stretched toward the unseen ceiling, their surfaces slick with moisture and glistening like polished jade.

I froze, my awe momentarily overriding my fear. The sheer beauty of the space was overwhelming, almost alien.

My gaze swept over the cavern, drinking in every detail—the soft squelch of moss beneath my boots, the delicate, rhythmic drip of water echoing in the stillness. Even the air was different here, colder yet lighter, carrying with it a sense of ancient, undisturbed life.

But that tranquility was short-lived.

As I ventured further in, my eyes fell on something that banished any illusion of safety: large, oval-shaped objects nestled in the moss at the base of a towering column. Eggs. Their shells gleamed faintly, catching and reflecting the moss's soft light in mesmerizing patterns.

I felt a strange pull toward them, an urge to step closer despite the icy dread pooling in my stomach.

My heart sank as I realized where I was. This wasn't just a cavern; it was a nest. And these weren't just eggs—they were dragon eggs. The warmth radiating from them thickened the air around me, making it feel heavy, almost suffocating.

Every instinct screamed at me to turn back, to flee before whatever guarded this place returned.

That's when I felt it—the deep, faint tremor that rippled through the stone beneath my feet. My breath hitched as I slowly lifted my gaze toward the source of the sound.

High above, perched on a moss-draped ledge, was a massive shadow. The faint light of the moss outlined its serpentine body, its wings folded tightly against its sides. Its glowing eyes burned like embers, staring down at me with a mix of curiosity and malice.

It was the guardian of those eggs.

The rumble deepened into a growl that reverberated through the cavern. The weight of its presence made my legs feel like they might give out.

My blood ran cold as the realization set in. The dragon wasn't resting—it was protecting its brood.

Damn it. Going left was a complete mistake. But what choice did I really have? The path to the right was nothing but pitch-black darkness. Looking back, I should've turned around and headed in the opposite direction from where I had been hiding in the first place.

The black dragon shifted slightly, its massive claws scraping against the stone ledge. The glowing moss illuminated it faintly, revealing its monstrous form in unsettling detail.

Its scales were as black as obsidian, each gleaming with a faint oily sheen that seemed to absorb the cavern's light. Its golden eyes with slit pupils burned like molten metal, piercing through the gloom with a chilling intensity. The creature's broad jaw was lined with rows of teeth, each curved and glistening like polished ivory.

And its claws—those claws were unlike anything I'd ever seen. They were long and curved, almost talon-like, with a deep purple hue that shimmered faintly as if the material itself was alive. The claws looked like they could easily slice through stone, and I had no doubt they could do the same to me.

The dragon tilted its head, its massive neck flexing like a coiled serpent. It was sizing me up, its nostrils flaring as it took in my scent. A guttural snarl rumbled from its throat, vibrating through the cavern and making the air feel suffocatingly heavy.

I couldn't move. My legs locked in place, my grip on the staff tightening until my knuckles turned white. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but I knew better. There was no outrunning a creature like this, especially not with my injured leg.

I needed to think. Fast.

The dragon's eyes narrowed, its gaze flicking briefly toward the eggs nestled in the moss behind me. The faint light of the eggs reflected in its golden irises, and I realized with a sinking heart just how deeply I had trespassed. This wasn't just a lair—it was a sanctuary, and I was standing in the heart of it.

Slowly, I lowered my staff, dimming its glow to appear less threatening. My movements were painfully deliberate, each one measured to avoid provoking the creature.

"Easy…" I whispered under my breath, though my voice trembled. "I don't want your eggs. I'm just passing through."

The dragon didn't respond, of course. But the growl softened ever so slightly, its head tilting further in curiosity.

Encouraged, I took a small step backward, keeping my movements fluid and nonthreatening. My eyes darted to the cluster of eggs. They were arranged precisely, their placement protected by the thick moss and the dragon's watchful gaze.

Another rumble filled the air, sharper this time. My heart skipped a beat as the dragon unfolded its massive wings slightly, the leathery membranes catching the moss's eerie glow. It leaned forward, the ledge creaking ominously under its weight.

I froze, every nerve in my body screaming in terror at the sight of this nightmarish creature, who had every reason to be furious at an intruder near its young.

"ROOAARRRR!!!"

The roar hit me like a physical force, reverberating through my chest and rattling my teeth. Dust rained from the cavern ceiling as the dragon descended, its claws gouging deep trenches into the mossy stone. Its wings folded like a shroud of darkness, blocking any hope of escape. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

Panic surged through me. There was no reasoning with it now. The dragon's focus had shifted entirely to protecting its vulnerable hatchling, and I was an intruder in its most sacred moment.

I needed a way out—immediately.

The dragon lunged, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed. I barely had time to react.

Instinct took over as I slammed [Aqua Heartia] into the ground, conjuring a thick wall of stone that erupted from the cavern floor just in time to absorb the blow. The dragon's claws tore through the barrier like paper, sending shards of rock flying in all directions.

I threw myself to the side, the shockwave of the impact rolling me across the moss-covered floor. Pain lanced through my injured leg as I scrambled to my feet, my mind racing.

I needed an escape route—now. My eyes darted across the cavern, searching desperately.

The dragon snarled, its golden eyes burning with fury as it reared back, preparing to strike again. That's when I heard it—distant, bone-chilling roars echoing through the tunnels behind me.

I felt a sinking sensation in my stomach. The others were approaching.

The sound was unmistakable. Dozens of deep, guttural cries reverberated through the cave system, growing louder and closer with every passing second. The roar of the guardian dragon served as a call, and now its brethren were answering.

Panic surged through me as I realized I was running out of time. If I didn't find a way out soon, I wouldn't just be facing one dragon—I'd be surrounded.

Ignoring the throbbing pain in my leg, I bolted toward the far side of the cavern. The dragon behind me roared again, its massive form barreling after me. With each step, it shook the ground, its claws gouging deep trenches into the moss-covered floor.

I thrust my staff backward, releasing a powerful gust of wind that slammed into the dragon's face and staggered it momentarily. I didn't stop to look back, my focus solely on escaping.

My ears rang with the deafening roars of the approaching dragons. The sound grew louder, their fury palpable even from a distance. My heart pounded as I pushed myself forward, my eyes scanning desperately for a way out.

Then I saw it—a narrow passage tucked behind a cluster of jagged rocks, barely visible in the dim glow of the moss. Relief surged through me, but it was short-lived. The tunnel ahead was tight, and there was no guarantee it would lead to safety. Still, it was my only chance.

The guardian dragon snarled behind me, its massive claws scraping against stone as it gave chase. The air grew heavier with every roar that echoed through the tunnels, the overwhelming presence of the other dragons pressing down on me like a suffocating weight.

I stumbled into the passage, the jagged walls forcing me to slow down. Behind me, the guardian dragon roared in frustration, clawing at the entrance. The narrow space prevented it from following directly, but it wouldn't be long before it either broke through or found another way around.

The passage twisted and turned, the sharp echoes of the dragons' roars bouncing off the walls, disorienting me. My injured leg throbbed with every step, threatening to buckle, but I gritted my teeth and pressed on.

Finally, the passage opened into another cavern. My heart leaped as I spotted a faint shaft of light streaming from a narrow crevice high up in the wall—a potential escape route.

But the sound of wings beating against the air made my blood run cold. The distant roars were no longer distant. The dragons were closing in.

The guardian dragon burst into the cavern behind me, its massive form filling the space. It roared again, its fury echoing through the chamber as its kin's cries grew deafeningly close.

I raised my staff, pouring every ounce of strength into a spell. The ground beneath the dragon erupted, and a massive stone pillar slammed into its chest. The impact sent the creature staggering, but it wasn't enough to stop it. Its obsidian scales shimmered in the dim light, completely unscathed.

I conjured a spear of flame and hurled it directly at its face. The fire hit its target, yet when the flames dissipated, the dragon stood unharmed, its scales resistant to my Magic.

My heart sank. My spells weren't enough.

The dragon snarled, shaking off the attack as its claws tore into the moss-covered floor. Behind it, I heard the thunderous roar of another dragon entering the cavern. My time was up.

Gritting my teeth, I turned and scrambled up the wall toward the crevice. The rough stone scraped against my palms as I climbed, each movement agonizing. Below, the dragon swiped at me, its claws narrowly missing my legs.

The roars of the other dragons filled the cavern, their immense presence closing in like a storm. Just as I reached the crevice and squeezed through, the guardian dragon let out an earth-shaking roar, its massive body slamming into the wall beneath me.

I collapsed on the other side of the crevice, gasping for breath as I stared up at the faint light filtering down from above.

I was alive—for now. But the roaring from the cavern behind me was a stark reminder of the danger I had barely escaped.

And I knew it wouldn't be long before they came after me again.

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