Stronric and the others stood rooted in tense silence, their breaths shallow and measured as the final seconds ticked away. The atmosphere in the cavern grew heavy, laden with a sense of anticipation that neither blade nor shield could deflect. As the timer struck zero, the dwarves collectively inhaled, their bodies stiffening as they braced for the unknown.

A sudden shift rippled through the space, accompanied by a low hum that resonated in their bones. Stronric's senses were immediately assaulted—his keen nose wrinkling at the pungent mixture of wet foliage and decay. The sharp tang of rot hung beneath the earthy aroma of trees, its sickly sweetness almost cloying. The air thickened, growing hot and humid, beads of sweat formed almost instantly on their skin. Around them, the faint buzz of insects began to rise, a sound that prickled at the edges of their awareness.

Before the group, an opening had appeared. Two strides wide, its presence was both alien and unwelcoming, framed by the cavern's earthy stone walls. The rough rock was no longer bare; instead, it was overtaken by a tangled chaos of moss and vines. The greenery sprawled outward in every direction, its fibrous tendrils snaking across walls, ceiling, and floor as though seeking to devour the space itself. Some of the vines twitched, as if stirred by an unseen force, while others crept slowly but deliberately, their movements almost imperceptible to the naked eye.

The dwarves' gazes were drawn to the opening, its dark maw radiating a faint heat, as though exhaling the oppressive warmth that now filled the cavern. Stronric felt a subtle vibration underfoot, as if the ground itself were alive and responding to the intrusion.

"Morgal preserve us," Rugiel murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Her warhammer was in hand, its head gleaming faintly in the dim light, and she shifted her stance instinctively.

"Feels... wrong," Bauru muttered, his sharp eyes scanning the vines. He kept Predator, his crossbow, half-raised as the tension in his hands betrayed his unease. "I don't like places where the ground wants to eat you."

Stronric took a measured step forward, his hand brushing the haft of his axe. He let the new environment seep into him, its essence mingling with the Ruhna coursing through his spirit. The power was steady, though its flames flickered faintly, as though uncertain in this alien space.

"Keep your wits about you," Stronric said, his voice calm but commanding. "This place is alive, and I doubt it welcomes guests."

"'Ery much so," Giles muttered, his words rolling with his thick accent as he peered into the vine-choked cavern. He wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Ow should we proceeeed, eh?"

The smell of damp moss and rot seemed to curl into his nostrils, and he waved a hand in front of his face. "Pah! Zis air—'ot and sticky, like ze breath of a beast. I do not trust it."

His fingers danced over the hilt of his sword, a reflex born of unease. He glanced at the vines creeping along the walls and ceiling, their movements slow but deliberate. The buzz of insects grew louder, making him tilt his head, his sharp eyes narrowing.

"Zis place, it is alive, non?" he muttered, more to himself than the others. "I do not like places where ze dirt wants to eat my boots."

Rugiel spared Giles a side-eyed glanced, "Life finds a way, Giles. Even here."

Giles snorted, his lip curling in disdain. "Ah, yes, of course. But zis? Zis is not life—it is… 'ow you say… something unnatural, oui?"

He stepped forward cautiously, gesturing at the opening ahead with his free hand. "So, Stronric, mon brave leader, what is ze plan, eh? Shall I 'urry forward to see if ze vines bite, or do we all 'old 'ands and go skipping into zis charming jungle together?"

Stronric looked over his shoulder and nodded at Bauru. Bauru gave a nod in response and started forward the opening. "Lirian, please join our friend in scouting." Giles said when he saw Bauru.

The man huffed and while walking reach into a pouch at his waist. He drew out a small unlabeled bottle with a black liquid inside. Bauru stopped at the hallway entrance and waited for the other man to catch up. The two men met in the opening and Bauru meet Lirian's stare. For a moment they both stood and just stared at each other, as if assessing the will of the other.

"It's dark in here. You got any o' those cat eyes to see? 'Cause we ain't lightin' no torches, got it?" Lirian said as he looked Bauru up and down.

Bauru just tapped below his one good eye. "I got all I need, dont ye worry about me."

Lirian nodded and the two stepped into the hallway, but only after a few steps they disappeared, swallowed by the darkness.

"Shall we go over ze plan while zey do zeir scouting?" asked Giles as the two groups began to gather by the hallway entrance.

Stronric grunted and gave a firm nod. Armand and Rugiel maneuvered to flank Stronric on either side, mirroring his gesture.

"I'll lead." Dane said gruffly and stepped near the hallway entrance. Seren stepped behind the season warrior. She placed a hand on his back and wrapped her hard around and edge of armor. Kara stepped behind Seren and did the same. She wound a piece of Seren clothing around her hand, locking the three together. The three of them looked at giles and then looked at the dwarves and Armand.

"Grab on Rugiel, I'll be your front." Armand said he went to stand next to Dane.

"Why, pray tell, would I grab onto you?" Rugiel asked, her tone precise and laced with polite skepticism.

"It is normal dungeon etiquette, non? So you do not get lost in ze dark and you can know where I am," Armand explained, his tone light but pointed. "We want to limit ze light, after all."

Rugiel looked at Stronric and they both chuckled, Rugiel bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. Armand looked confused, his brow furrowing. "Why are zey laughing?" he asked, glancing around at the chuckling faces.

Rugiel gently patted Armand's arm, her voice carrying a refined teasing tone. "Dear knight, dwarves can see perfectly in the dark. But if you are frightened, I would be delighted to hold onto you instead," she said with a soft smile, her words laced with playful mockery.

Armand's face flushed faintly pink, and Rugiel continued, her tone light but pointed. "How else do you imagine we fight so effectively at night?"

"I 'ave 'eard rumors of zis, but I did not know it was true," Armand admitted, his face a mix of wonder and embarrassment. "My apologies, my dear lady," he added, his tone sincere despite his flustered expression.

Seren voice cut in, "The creatures that live in the dark have morals to match the pitch they work within."

Kara scoffed in agreement, and Giles began to nod along, but his motion faltered when his eyes met Stronric's.

"Now, why would ye go an' insult creatures o' the dark?" Stronric said, his chipped and broken teeth showing in a crooked smile. "What if they decide to bite?"

Stronric waited a moment before Rugiel and Stronric started to laugh again.

"Do forgive us for our jest; we are merely indulging in a bit of fun," Rugiel said, her tone smooth and composed. "If you are truly concerned about light, I can use Morgal's flame to guide our way. It is entirely within my control, and I can extinguish the light at a moment's notice, should the need arise."

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

Seren, ever quick to cast judgment, added with a dismissive wave of her hand, "Light or no, the creatures here are nothing but vermin, living in the filth they were born to. Morals? Please. They're no better than rats scurrying in the gutter."

"Rats," Kara echoed, her voice cold and biting. "And rats should be exterminated. Preferably without delay. Their existence is a blight, much like…" She let the words hang in the air, her icy gaze sweeping briefly over Rugiel before moving on, leaving the implication clear.

Rugiel stiffened but maintained her composed demeanor, her grip tightening ever so slightly on her warhammer. "How fascinating," she said, her tone laced with sharp politeness. "That you should see such certainty in beings you've likely never encountered. Shall I assume you include anyone not born in your fine cities among these rats?"

Armand cleared his throat loudly, stepping slightly in front of Rugiel as if to diffuse the rising tension. "Ah, mes amis, perhaps zis is not ze time for such delightful philosophical debates, eh? Let us not summon ze creatures you so despise by making too much noise."

Giles, still lingering near the back, chuckled quietly but stopped himself when he caught Stronric's eyes again. "I do not believe ze creatures 'ere are ze patient sort," he murmured. "Insults may not be ze wisest approach."

Stronric gave a low, rumbling laugh, shaking his head. "Aye, Giles has the right of it. You lot'll make enemies of every shadow if you keep spittin' your venom." His voice lowered, his tone taking on a more serious edge. "Mark me, if the creatures here are as dangerous as they seem, ye best put your grudges aside. A divided group won't last long in a place like this."

For a moment, the group fell silent, the weight of Stronric's words pressing down on them. The cavern around them seemed to grow quieter, as if the shadows themselves were listening.

Kara broke the silence first, her voice cool but measured. "You're right, of course. But if anything comes for us, I won't hesitate to rid us of it, vermin or not."

Rugiel stepped forward, her voice calm and deliberate. "No one questions your resolve, Kara. But remember, it is strength tempered by wisdom that sees us through, not reckless fury." She turned her gaze to the group, her eyes glinting with quiet authority.

Armand gave a small bow toward Rugiel, a faint smile playing on his lips. "As always, ze voice of reason. Lead on, dear lady."

"Not yet, lil' lady," a voice called from the shadows. Lirian stepped into view, his movements casual but deliberate. Draped over his shoulder was the limp body of a shaman, its crude staff dangling from a tether at its waist. He tossed the corpse at their feet with a satisfied shrug. "Got somethin' for ya."

Behind him, Bauru appeared, dragging another body across the cavern floor. He let it drop unceremoniously, standing over it as he adjusted Predator on his back. "Two of 'em, guardin' the entrance to the portal," he said, brushing off his hands. "Didn't even put up much of a fight."

"Speak for yourself," Lirian quipped, smirking. "I saw you almost trip over your own feet sneakin' up on the first one."

Bauru shot him a sharp look. "And I saw you almost miss your shot. Don't start actin' like you're some kinda hero."

"Miss my shot?" Lirian scoffed, his voice tinged with mock offense. "I could take one of these creeps out blindfolded. You're just jealous you don't have my finesse."

"Finesse?" Bauru snorted, folding his arms. "Is that what you call draggin' a body like you're haulin' lumber? Pretty sloppy for someone with 'finesse.'"

Lirian's smirk widened. "Sloppy? Says the guy who left a trail of blood big enough to draw a map. I'm surprised we didn't have the whole lot of 'em runnin' in here."

"Enough," Stronric cut in, his tone firm. "Save your bickering for after we've dealt with the real threat."

Lirian gave a half-hearted shrug, still grinning. "Sure, sure. Just keepin' things lively."

"More like annoyin'," Bauru muttered under his breath, though there was a faint twitch of amusement at the corner of his mouth.

Stronric crouched down, gripping the edge of one shaman's staff. His eyes flicked up to Bauru. "You're sure that's what they were doin'?"

Bauru nodded, his tone serious now. "Yeah. They were focused, didn't even see us comin'. Out front, there's a whole group of 'em doin' the same thing."

"Out front?" Rugiel asked, her warhammer held steady at her side.

"We've got a side entrance now, courtesy of the System," Lirian explained. "But yeah, more of these creeps are out there, workin' on somethin'. If we're goin' in, we gotta move fast. Won't take 'em long to figure out their buddies here ain't checkin' back."

Kara stepped closer, her gaze fixed on the portal. "If they're tampering with it, then they've already made their intentions clear. They'll tear the whole place apart if we let them."

"Bold words," Bauru said, his tone calm but pointed. "But there's more of them than us. We'd better be smart about how we hit 'em."

"We don't have time for strategy," Kara shot back. "They're vermin, nothing more. We exterminate them, quickly and efficiently."

"They weren't just vermin," Bauru said, shaking his head. "These two had power. Enough that, if there are more like them, we're not just walking into a fight—we're walking into their territory."

"Teeth or no, we'll handle it," Stronric said, standing. He lifted his axe, the movement slow and deliberate. "We take the side path and hit them hard before they can organize. Lirian, Bauru, you've seen what's out there. Lead the way."

Lirian gave Bauru a sidelong glance, his smirk returning. "Try to keep up this time."

Bauru rolled his eye but was already heading toward the side passage, Predator in hand. "Just don't trip over your 'finesse,'" he shot back over his shoulder.

The two groups formed into separate lines, their movements quiet and deliberate. Dane led the first line, followed by Seren, Kara, and then Giles. Stronric took point in the second line, with Rugiel close behind, and Armand gripping the back of Rugiel's armor to stay oriented in the dark. Morgal's flame burned low, casting a faint, flickering light that illuminated just enough of the passage for the humans to see.

The narrow corridor stretched about thirty strides before it opened into a wide cave entrance. A faint growl echoed from deeper within, followed by the soft scrape of claws on stone. The group froze for a moment, weapons tightening in their grips, before Stronric motioned for them to move forward. The System had positioned them to enter from the side. To their right, daylight streamed faintly into the cavern, framing a distant view of the Millstone camp. To the left, the cave plunged deeper into shadow, its foreboding depths swallowing the light entirely.

Stronric slowed, his gaze sharpening as he noticed the shift in their surroundings. The vegetation that clung to the walls became thicker and darker, its colors tinged with decay. The once-damp smell of moss and vines was now overpowered by the cloying stench of rot, sharp and invasive. His hand instinctively gripped his axe tighter as his eyes scanned the cavern.

The main hall sprawled out before them, teeming with gnolls. The warriors they had fought before moved in small packs of five or six, their movements sharp and restless. Mixed among them were minor shamans, their twisted forms hunched and focused, much like the one Stronric had dueled that fateful night. Unlike the warriors, the shamans were scattered, facing the cave walls, their clawed hands painting grotesque symbols onto the stone.

Stronric's stomach churned as his eyes lingered too long on the symbols. They pulsed faintly, their patterns unnatural and wrong, sending an ache through his head. The markings dripped down the walls, their source unclear. He hoped it wasn't blood, though the acrid scent in the air suggested otherwise. He glanced at Rugiel, whose expression had grown grim, her warhammer's grip tightening in her gauntleted hands.

The gnolls seemed unaware of their presence for now, the shamans muttering incomprehensible chants as they smeared the glowing sigils. The warriors, meanwhile, moved in practiced patrols, their snarls and growls low but ever present. Stronric motioned for the group to halt, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Quiet," he murmured, his words weighted with caution. "This place isn't just a den, it's alive with somethin' darker."

Armand leaned closer to Rugiel, his voice low. "Zose symbols… do you know what zey mean?"

Rugiel shook her head slightly, her posture rigid. "No," she whispered back. "But whatever they are, they're dangerous. We can't let them finish what they're doing."

Stronric gave a sharp nod and reached out, grabbing Giles by the shoulder. Giles blinked in surprise, his mouth opening as if to protest. "Oi, what's zis, then? I am not some…" Giles began, but his words faltered as Stronric fixed him with a steady, no-nonsense glare. "Fine," he muttered, scuffing the dirt with his boot. "Just tryin' to keep ze mood light, eh?" Without speaking, Stronric crouched and used his finger to trace the layout of the cave into the dirt at their feet.

He marked the entrance with a decisive point, then drew two branching arrows. One led deeper into the cave, and the other curved toward the entrance. Stronric tapped Giles's chest, then pointed to the arrow leading to the cave's entrance. Next, he tapped his own chest and motioned toward the line heading deeper into the cave. Finally, he drew a connecting arrow from Giles's path to intersect with his own further inside.

Looking up, Stronric locked eyes with Giles and nodded firmly. Giles frowned at the rough diagram, silently mouthing a few words as he pieced the plan together. After a moment of hesitation, his expression cleared, and he nodded back.

Stronric and Giles separated, each returning to their respective groups. Stronric moved with purpose, his group falling into step behind him as he motioned toward the left passage. The oppressive weight of the cave seemed to grow heavier with every stride, the flickering Morgal flame casting strange, shifting shadows on the walls. Giles's voice carried softly as he gestured to the ground, pointing to where Stronric had drawn the paths. Stronric stood still, his gaze fixed on Giles's group as they prepared to move.

Once Giles's group began shifting into position near the right path, Stronric motioned for his own group to follow him. With Rugiel at his side and Armand keeping close, Stronric led his team down the left passage, their steps steady and deliberate as the cave swallowed them into its shadowed depths.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.