This world really isn’t fair…

The world is controlled mostly by humans, with the exception of a few very powerful monster regions. Amongst those humans, there are a few exceptionally strong ones called Heroes. These Heroes gain an ability to choose their destiny in a way no others can. They are granted a choice of a combative class. They can utilize weapons and magic in very unique ways that most cannot. Above all, they’re designated to defenders of humanity. Not every human can defend themselves, so Heroes are tasked with the job to do what others can’t. That usually means they must defeat monsters.

While Heroes existing isn’t unfair, the fact that only humans can become Heroes is what makes it unfair. No monster has been capable of gaining the same power as the Heroes. Some have tried, and even became capable to stand against Heroes, but in the end, none of them could ever best a Hero. That has caused the monster civilizations to shrink, pressing us to live in caves, dungeons, or to build secluded bases far from any human societies. This is how monsters have survived. However, even after all of the effort monsters put into surviving, Heroes relentlessly hunt them, seeking increases to their own power and stealing the items that monsters have collected or made.

This cycle of living is absolutely atrocious!

My home is in a dungeon. A warm, winding cavern filled with traps, treasure, and most importantly, monsters. I live in a small segment on the third floor near the final chamber that the leader of our dungeon resides. The leader’s chamber is well lit, glowing brightly as blazing volcanic lava flows across the floor. Chains connected to large spikes, deeply embedded into the walls of the inner sanctum hold the throne and arena area of our leader. This would be his stage to battle any invading Heroes that seek a challenge. As for me, I sit quietly in a hallway a short distance from the leader’s room. Despite that he allows me to stay here, I feel as though I’m far too weak to be this close to his side since I’m just a skeleton.

No, I was not once a human. I may be shaped as a human skeleton, it was merely an evolutionary chain for my people that allowed us to hide, or perhaps deter Heroes from advancing through caves. Either way, I am not strong in any sense. I wield a dagger that feels far too heavy for me. I wear a leather cap on my head because I can’t lift my head if it were steel. If a Hero truly did venture here, I’d have no chance to repel them. My leader would most assuredly have to fight them afterwards. Even the other monsters felt the leader’s choice to allow me to be the final line of defense is a mistake that will cost him his life.

Be that as it may, I am quite grateful to the leader. This space is quite warm from the lava in his room. However, the light is not that efficient, so I occasionally find something that is flammable to collect fire from someone else’s torch to bring back to mine in my hallway. I slump to my feet. To even stand feels quite exhausting. My people have no need to eat. We merely absorb calcium from bacteria that forms on our bones. Some can make themselves a little tougher than others, but none of my kind is particularly strong. We do have the capability to separate limbs from our bodies, though. It helps to hide better, or to make ourselves lighter for easier escape.

I drag myself down the hall, searching for something that burns. The sound of my bones tapping against the stone floor, or my hands tapping the walls as I maintain my balance, rings through the hallway. It really gets tiring to hear after so long. After some time of searching, I find a rolled paper on the floor. I bend down and pick it up. I check the contents to make sure it isn’t something important to another resident of the dungeon. It appears to be a poster of a particular Hero. Long, blonde hair with powerful looking steel armor that’s garnished with gold and gems. I don’t know how to tell if humans are male or female, but I suppose it doesn’t matter. I doubt anyone needs this.

I continue walking until I see a light at the end of the hall. I’ve taken several turns to arrive at this point, so I must be in the Minotaur’s area. He will be quite unpleased to see me. It would take much time to venture to another’s area, so I suppose I’ll just deal with the Minotaur people and be on my way. As I continue to slink my way down the corridor, I begin to hear sounds from the area. A clashing of blades. Perhaps the Minotaur are training? As I get closer, the sounds become more and more… horrifying. They sound as if they’re being slaughtered. I approach the area with caution. I peek around the corner just in time to witness a grotesque scene.

Blood coated the floor and walls of the corridor. The light shined vibrantly off of the red fluids that decorated the area. The corpses of the Minotaur scattered across the floor. Their horns were carved from their heads. I feel my bones beginning to rattle as I become too nervous to move. I pan the room, searching for the cause of this. I hear the sound of flesh being sliced further in. Before I could attempt to get any closer, the visage of someone stands up from beyond the reach of the light. Their belt has several Minotaur horns strapped to it. They begin walking towards me, stepping into the glow of the torch. It appears to be that blonde-haired Hero from the poster! A Hero has actually found our dungeon!

I begin to panic! I know there is nothing I can do to stop this savage! He has slain the Minotaur people! I can’t compete with that level of power! I take a defensive pose, sitting on the ground in a slumped over manner to appear as a human corpse. The footsteps sloshing through blood get louder and louder as I await to be discovered. At the moment that the footsteps reached their peak, they stop. I can hear the Hero standing above me. My body runs cold, but I hold my position in hopes they move on. The Hero crouches down to me. I can hear their breathing as they lean in closer. I hope he doesn’t notice that I, too, am a monster! The Hero takes the rolled paper from my hand, then exhales as they stand back up and continued to talk down the hall.

The Hero is making their way to the leader’s room! I… I am scared. However, it is my responsibility to assist the leader in any way I can! I climb to my feet and shuffle down the hall, following the bloody footprints leading to my area. The darkness seems so much more frightening when death may be around every corner. I hear the leader roaring as I come closer to his throne room. They have engaged in combat! I step into the doorway. The blazing heat from the lava blows through my bones. The leader must be taking this fight very seriously. He is currently in the shape of a beautifully radiant dragon. Gold scales reflecting a brilliant light off of his serpent-like body.

The Hero leaps towards the leader, slashing him across the chest. The leader falls to the ground, defeated, but still breathing. “How… how did you find this place, human?” the leader gasps as he questions the Hero. The Hero leans down to the leader, grabbing a horn on his head. “We’ve known of your cavern, beast. We allowed your numbers to grow, so that we may gather resources from your corpses.” As I stand in disbelief, I know that I can’t let the leader die without so much as an attempt to save him. I unsheathe my dagger and use every ounce of energy I have to move towards the Hero.

The Hero stands up, gripping their sword, and then raise it above their head. “I’m sure your scales will make a nice shield!” The Hero shouts loudly. I successfully sneak up behind the Hero, wrapping one arm around their body, and sinking my dagger deep into their neck! The Hero shoves me back, pushing me to the ground, then writhing in pain as they hold my dagger that still remains in them. The Hero unwittingly pulls the dagger from their neck, causing the blood to flow even more aggressively. The Hero staggers over to me, gurgling and vomiting blood. The Hero becomes weak upon approaching me, dropping the sword and the dagger.

The Hero falls to their knees in front of me while trying to hold the wound. I can only watch in horror as this human bleeds profusely in front of me. The Hero looks at me one last time with the most scornful look I’ve ever seen, then they fall on their side in a pool of their own blood. The gasping and breathing stop. Their grip on their neck releases as their body goes limp. The Hero… has been slain! Suddenly, without warning, a burst of light shines around me. It’s a soothing feeling, revitalizing me, and giving me a sense of strength. I look forward towards the leader. The leader raises his head, shocked as to what he’s just seen.

“You have… defeated a Hero? That… cannot be! Heroes cannot be killed my monsters!” The leader is right! They cannot be killed by monsters! So, how has this happened?! Even more so, what was that light?! I stand to my feet. My body feels… substantially lighter. The shambling sound no longer curses me as I move. I raise my hands to observe myself. From my palm, a light emanates, showing me three illuminated objects. A Large sword, two crossing daggers, and a short sword and shield. I think… it wants me to select one.

I do not think I’d be capable of wielding such a large blade, nor do I care for the defenselessness of two daggers. To defend is what I would like to do most, so I select the sword and shield. As I touch the image, the other two disappear. The sword and shield image expands in front of me. A message appears over it that says “Level 1 Gladiator.” The leader looks down at me, shocked and somewhat appalled. “You… have become a Hero?!” I stand quietly in confusion. The leader changes their shape, returning to a smaller, less intimidating form. Their reptilian features persist, but their body has the posture of a human.

The leader comes face-to-face with me. I can feel a certain level of animosity from him. “This power… should have been mine!” He grabs me by my ribcage while snarling in my face. He then releases me and backs away. “Nevertheless, you have done your job as a dungeon defender. You have succeeded where all others have failed.” The leader turns to me with an understanding expression. “You have become… a Hero to Monsters.” I can’t comprehend what has happened, nor can I ask anyone since this has never happened before. This experience… is completely new. I just… don’t know what to do now.