Femi took a cautious step back, his feet trembling slightly as his eyes remained fixed on the unsettling sight before him. The skeleton on its bone throne loomed larger, its hollow gaze piercing through him like a dagger. The air was thick with dust, making it hard to breathe. But it was too late to turn back now. The door behind him creaked shut with a final, ominous groan, sealing him inside the chamber.
The chambers itself was a grandiose space, with towering stone walls adorned with faded tapestries and carvings of long-forgotten battles. A massive chandelier hung above, its candles casting flickering shadows that danced like specters on the walls. The air was cold, and femi could have sworn he saw his breath.
The Skeleton, seated upon its throne, was a towering figure clad in tattered remnants of ancient armor. Its hollow eye sockets burned with an eerie crimson glow, casting faint red light on the jagged edges of its skeletal frame. Its bony fingers gripped a remarkably well-preserved sword, the blade's edge serrated like the teeth of a predator.
Femi's attention snapped back to the skeleton as it spoke in a deep, calm voice that reverberated through the chamber.
"A rat folk," the skeleton declared. "Why have you come here, little mortal?"
Femi wondered if "rat folk" was what his new form was called. He didn't know how to respond, but since this was the first time anyone had spoken to him since the mysterious voice, he decided to answer.
"Hello, sir... I mean, no, oga, no boss," he stammered, trying to show respect. His whiskers twitched nervously, and his ears flattened against his head. "I don't know why I'm here in this place. All I know is that I was told to find my way out. If you would be so kind as to give me directions, I would be grateful."
He spoke in his most respectful voice, hoping to appeal to the Skeleton Boss's mercy. The intimidating entity stared at him for what felt like hours, its crimson gaze piercing. Finally, it spoke again, its voice cold and unyielding.
"If you wish to leave, you must pay the price."
The Skeleton Boss rose from its throne, bones creaking as it moved. Its sword gleamed menacingly as it grasped the hilt with it's right hand.
Femi sensed danger and began to plead, his voice rising in panic. "Look, I don't want any trouble. I just want to leave. I'm sure you don't want me here, and I'm sure you know a way out. Please, just point me in the right direction, and I'll be on my way without causing any trouble."
The skeleton's gaze softened slightly, but its voice remained cold. "It seems you are yet another unfortunate soul sent to die here by the Trickster."
Femi's mind raced. "Trickster? Is that who brought me here?"
But the boss's next words erased all other thoughts.
"You will meet the same fate as all the rest before you."
The Skeleton's blade rested on its shoulder as it took a step closer, the sound of its bony feet clicking against the stone floor.
Femi took a step back, his paws slipping slightly on the smooth stone. "Sir, it hasn't come to that. Just wait a moment. I just want to leave. If you agree that me being here is wrong, then just let me go. I was forced to be here."
The boss's response was merciless. "The only way to leave this realm is to kill me. There is no other way. So prepare yourself, Rat folk, for a fight."
Before Femi could utter another word, the Skeleton Boss lunged forward with surprising speed, its blade flashing in a deadly arc above his head.
---
Femi barely had time to react. He threw himself to the side as the sword cleaved through the air where he had stood moments before. The force of the swing sent a gust of wind that ruffled his fur. Scrambling to his feet, his heart pounded like a drum in his chest.
The Skeleton Boss didn't give him a moment to recover. With a guttural growl, it swung its sword horizontally, aiming to behead him in one clean strike.
Femi ducked low, feeling the blade whistle inches above his head. He rolled to the side, his paws scrambling for purchase on the cold, uneven stone floor. The skeleton's crimson eyes tracked his every move, its expression unreadable but its intent clear.
"I have no idea how to fight this thing,"Femi thought desperately.
But he couldn't afford to hesitate. As the skeleton raised its sword for another strike, Femi darted forward, hoping to get inside its reach. He lunged at the creature's legs, aiming to destabilize it. His axe scraped against the ancient armor, the sound grating and metallic, but the skeleton barely budged.
Instead, it brought its knee up sharply, catching Femi in the chest and sending him sprawling backward.
Pain shot through his ribs as he hit the ground, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. He forced himself to roll again, narrowly avoiding a downward slash that cracked the stone floor, sending shards of rock flying.
The skeleton's movements were precise and relentless, each strike calculated to end the fight quickly. Femi knew he couldn't keep dodging forever.
Desperation fueled his next move. As the skeleton advanced, Femi spotted a loose piece of rubble near the wall. He feinted left, drawing the skeleton's blade in that direction, then darted right, scooping up the chunk of stone.
With a grunt of effort, he hurled it at the skeleton's head.
The projectile struck true, smashing into the creature's skull with a loud "crack", causing it to stagger back momentarily.
Seizing the opportunity, Femi charged forward, aiming to strike with his axe and knock it off balance. But the skeleton recovered faster than he anticipated.
With a swift motion, it brought its sword down in a diagonal slash.
Femi twisted his body, but the blade grazed his side, slicing through his armor and fur, drawing blood. He cried out in pain but pressed on, slamming into the skeleton with all his weight.
The impact sent both of them crashing to the ground. Femi scrambled to smash the skeleton's skull, but its bony hands were quicker and stronger. It grabbed him by the throat, lifting him off the ground with ease.
Femi clawed at the skeletal fingers, gasping for air as the creature's crimson eyes burned into his.
"You are persistent, little rat," the skeleton spoke, its voice neutral. "But persistence will not save you."
Femi's vision began to blur as the pressure on his throat increased.
"Na wa, how many times will a person choke me in one night?" he thought wildly.
Desperation gave way to a surge of adrenaline. With a final, desperate effort, he kicked out with his hind legs, aiming for the skeleton's chest.
The blow landed, and the creature's grip loosened just enough for Femi to wriggle free. He dropped to the ground, coughing and gasping for air, but he didn't stop moving. He rolled away, putting distance between himself and the skeleton.
The Skeleton Boss rose to its feet, its sword gleaming in the flickering light of the chandelier.
"You fight well for a rodent," it admitted, its tone almost respectful. "But this ends now."
Femi knew he was outmatched. He had lost his axe during the collision, he had no plan, and no way to defeat this thing.
As the skeleton advanced, its blade gleaming with deadly intent, Femi's gaze lingered on the sword. He found himself mesmerized by the way the flickering light from the chandelier danced across its serrated edge, creating hypnotic patterns along the metal. The gleam seemed almost...
Suddenly, his eyes snapped upward, locking onto the chandelier itself. The massive iron fixture swayed slightly, its rusted chains creaking under its weight.
A spark of inspiration ignited within him.
"The chains. The weight. The height."
Femi's eyes darted to the mechanism holding it in place.
A risky plan formed in his mind.
As the skeleton raised its sword for the final strike, Femi darted forward, not away. He leaped, dodging the skeleton, and landed onto the throne, using it as a springboard to launch himself into the air.
His claws extended, he grabbed onto one of the chandelier's chains, his weight causing it to groan and sway.
The skeleton paused, its crimson gaze following Femi's movements with curiosity.
"Say hello to the ancestors!" Femi shouted, his voice echoing through the room.
With a fierce cry, he swung his body, using his momentum to pull the chandelier loose.
The chains snapped with a metallic screech, and the massive fixture came crashing down—directly onto the Skeleton Boss.
Femi watched, heart pounding, as the Skeleton didn't even flinch. It did not react as the weight of the chandelier crashed toward it.
The skeleton stood there, only muttering a single word:
"Kuros."
The chandelier smashed into the ground, sending up a massive cloud of dust and debris. The sound was deafening, and the ground shook beneath Femi's feet.
He landed awkwardly, his body aching from the exertion, but he forced himself to stand. He clutched his wounded side, wincing in pain, and waved his hand, trying to clear the dust from his eyes.
As the dust settled, he was shocked to see the Skeleton Boss enveloped in a metallic aura, completely unharmed.
The skeleton's menacing gaze bore down on him.
"Do you really think the fight will end so easily?" it said, its voice dripping with disdain.
Femi's eyes widened in terror as he stumbled backward, his voice shaking with fear.
"M-mama..." he stuttered, his words trailing off into a whimper. "I think I'm going to die... again."