**INSIDE THE CAVE**
Mark's body lay still, unconscious for what felt like an eternity – days, weeks, maybe longer...
His chest rose and fell with faint, ragged breaths – the only sign of life in the dark cave...
The only sounds were dripping water echoes and his soft, labored breathing...
THEN, suddenly – a faint twitch in his finger...
Mark's eyeless left side of his face remained still, but his right eye started to flutter open...
His head slowly lifted, his mind foggy as he struggled to awaken...
Groggily, he tried to recall what happened – fragments of agony and terror flashed back...
He looked around, taking in the damp cave surroundings – rough stone walls, flickering darkness...
His gaze searched for anything useful – a weapon, a tool, a glimmer of escape – but found nothing...
Mark's attention shifted to his own body – he was naked, covered in dried blood...
His skin was a gruesome canvas of scars and stains, yet...
As he inspected himself further, he felt a sense of surreal confusion –
Most wounds were HEALED – slashes closed, bruises faded – as if his body had miraculously recovered...
But one brutal reminder remained – his LEFT eye was gone, the socket empty and raw...
His right eye blinked slowly, adjusting to the dim light – everything looked... off...
Mark struggled against the chains binding him, rattling them loudly – his only means of creating sound...
He tried to scream, to shout for help, but only silence escaped his lips – his voice mute and still...
Frustrated, Mark looked upwards, his right eye scanning the darkness...
That's when he saw it – an enormous, rusty bell suspended from the cave ceiling...
Mark's heart sank – he thought it was about to crush him, but it hung precariously close, mere feet away...
Redirecting his focus, Mark concentrated inward, thinking clearly:
*"What... what happened to me? What is my status?"*
A soft blue glow emanated from the air before him – a holographic screen materialized!
Mark's eye widened in shock – his mental query had somehow invoked this interface...
The screen displayed his status:
**NAME:** Mark
**CLASS:** Commoner
**LEVEL:** 1
**HP:** Fully Restored
**MAX HP:** 14,821
**STRENGTH:** 12
**MAGIC:** 6
**STATUS EFFECTS:**
* **Weakened by Hunger:** -10% Strength and Agility
* **Dehydrated:** -15% Endurance and Focus
* **Silence:** Unable to produce vocal sounds
Mark's mind reeled – his body had adapted to the brutal injury, but he was now struggling to survive in other ways...
Mark wondered how his broken body and muted voice could still invoke his status screen...
Intrigued, he focused again, thinking clearly:
*"Skills..."*
But nothing happened – no screen flickered to life, no information appeared.
He tried again:
*"My Abilities..."*
Still nothing.
Mark persisted, thinking different phrases:
*"Powers..."*
*"Classes..."*
*"Attributes..."*
Each attempt failed, leaving him baffled.
Hours ticked by – or what felt like hours – Mark lost track of time...
His thirst and hunger grew, weakening his body further...
The silence effect remained, a constant reminder of his helplessness...
His right eye drooped occasionally, exhaustion threatening to reclaim him...
Yet Mark continued trying, driven to uncover clues about his situation...
Suddenly, on possibly his hundredth attempt:
*"System... Information..."*
Mark's heart skipped a beat – a faint glow hinted at a response...
A small text line appeared at the bottom of his vision:
*"System Locked. Authorization Required."*
Mark's right eye fixed intensely on those words, willing more information to appear...
The text remained static, offering no further clues:
*"System Locked. Authorization Required."*
He stared, his mind racing with possibilities...
Suddenly, his focused gaze wavered – his ear picked up a faint sound...
Distant footsteps echoed through the cave, growing slowly louder...
Mark's head turned slightly, his single eye straining towards the darkness...
His body tensed, chains rattling softly – a primal sense of danger awakened within...
The text on his vision remained unchanged:
*"System Locked. Authorization Required."*
But Mark's attention was now split – between the mysterious message and impending horror...
Mark's terror intensifies as the Creature's appears with sinister intent...
Mark's grip on the chains tightened, his mind racing – was this his torturer returning to finish him?
The footsteps stopped right outside his cell of darkness...
A faint, eerie glow illuminated the cave entrance – the Creature's stepped into view...
Mark's blood ran cold – her beautiful face twisted into a haunting smile...
She carried two ominous objects:
1. A large, wooden bucket with a liquid surface reflecting the faint glow...
2. A long, curved bone-like instrument with a narrow end – resembling a twisted horn...
Mark's single eye widened in horror as the Creature approached him...
Her smile grew wider, lips curling upward – Mark knew instinctively:
Something agonizing was about to happen again...
His body trembled violently against the chains, adrenaline fueling primal fear...
The Creature's eyes gleamed with excitement as she stopped inches from his face...
Mark tried to scream, but only silent terror escaped his lips...
**EXTREME HORROR WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT AHEAD**
Reader discretion strongly advised.
Mark's terror intensified as the beautiful yet terrifying creature loomed over him...
Her skin was deathly pale, hair wild and green like vines, and eyes gleamed with an otherworldly glow...
She gently tilted his head back with one long-fingered hand, positioning the curved, bone-like instrument near his mouth...
Mark thrashed wildly against the chains, desperate to escape her grasp – but her grip was unyielding...
His single eye bulged in fear as he tried to turn away, but her grip was merciless...
He wanted to scream, to cry out in terror – but fear of losing his last eye silenced him...
Tears pricked at the corners of his eye, but he held them back, paralyzed with dread...
Her smile grew wider as she leaned in closer...
Then, she lifted the bucket, its liquid contents sloshing ominously...
"Time for you to make more... seeds," she whispered, her voice dripping with malice...
Mark's mind reeled – what did she mean? What twisted purpose did she have for him?
His body trembled violently as he realized he was completely at her mercy...
The liquid began flowing through the instrument, heading towards his mouth –
Mark's mind screamed as he violently twisted and turned, trying to avoid the flow...
But the creature's grip was relentless, her fingers digging into his skin...
The liquid touched his lips, and Mark's body convulsed in horror –
He tried to clamp his mouth shut, but she forced his jaw open with her thumb...
The cold, creamy liquid poured down his throat, choking him...
Mark gagged, his single eye wide with terror, as he swallowed involuntarily...