The catacombs seemed to tighten around them as Adrian and Selene ventured deeper into the maze of tunnels. The air grew cooler, carrying the faint metallic tang of centuries-old decay. Flickering torches mounted on the walls offered just enough light to cast long, shifting shadows.

Adrian led the way, his sword unsheathed, and his fiery chains coiled loosely around his arm, ready to strike at a moment's notice. Selene followed close behind, her silver eyes scanning the passage with an eerie calmness that unnerved him.

Every so often, her fingers tightened on the hilt of her dagger as if expecting an attack from the shadows.

"I don't like this," Adrian muttered in a low voice.

"Neither do I," Selene replied, her tone as detached as ever. "But if the Morribane was just the beginning, we should be ready for worse."

Adrian shot her a glance, studying her carefully. "You're too calm about all of this."

"I have to be," she said simply with a steady gaze ahead.

The tunnel opened into a larger chamber, the walls lined with faded carvings that depicted scenes of people lounging amidst piles of treasure, eating and drinking in excess.

In the middle of the room, there was a large pedestal. On top of it sat a beautifully carved hourglass, with sands that glowed faintly.

Adrian approached cautiously, his eyes narrowing as he studied the hourglass. The air in the room seemed to hum with energy, and an unnatural stillness made the space feel suffocating.

"What do you think?" Selene asked, standing a few feet back.

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

His instincts screamed that this was more than a simple artifact. "It's a trap," he said finally, his fiery chains curling tighter around him.

Selene's voice was even. "Then don't touch it."

As if on cue, the sands in the hourglass began to swirl, the glowing particles moving faster and faster until they formed a vortex of light.

A deep rumble shook the chamber, and the carvings on the walls seemed to come alive, their figures shifting and twisting into monstrous forms.

"Of course," Adrian muttered, stepping back just as a deafening roar echoed through the room.

From the walls emerged creatures that resembled the figures in the carvings. Their forms were grotesque, their bodies bloated and distorted as if weighed down by their own indulgence. Each had clawed hands and glowing yellow eyes that burned with unnatural light.

Adrian's chains snapped to life as the first creature lunged at him, its heavy body surprisingly fast.

He sidestepped, slashing his sword across its side. The blade cut deep, but instead of retreating, the creature twisted, swinging its massive arm toward him.

The blow connected with Adrian's chains, sending a reverberating shock up his arm. He gritted his teeth, twisting the chains to wrap around the creature's arm.

With a powerful yank, he pulled the creature off balance, his sword slicing cleanly through its throat.

Behind him, another monster lunged, its claws aiming for his back. Selene's dagger flew through the air, embedding itself in the creature's eye. It shrieked and staggered, giving Adrian enough time to whirl around and finish it with a fiery strike.

The remaining creatures surged forward, their guttural growls echoing in the confined space. Adrian met them head-on, his fiery chains lashing out in controlled arcs.

Each strike burned through flesh and bone, the flames leaving smoldering wounds in their wake.

One of the creatures, larger than the others, swung its massive clawed hand at Adrian with incredible force. He raised his sword to block, but the sheer power of the blow sent him skidding back several feet.

"Adrian!" Selene called, her voice cutting through the chaos.

"I'm fine," he grunted, righting himself.

His fiery chains shot out, wrapping around the creature's legs and pulling hard. The beast toppled to the ground, its roar shaking the chamber as Adrian drove his sword through its chest.

Selene stayed at the edge of the fight, her glowing eyes tracking every movement. Her mind raced as she analyzed the creatures, noting their slow but powerful strikes and their vulnerability to coordinated attacks.

"They're slower after they lunge," she called out to Adrian. "Force them to overextend!"

Adrian nodded, her words sparking an idea.

He adjusted his stance, baiting the next creature to charge. As it lunged, claws slashing wildly, Adrian sidestepped at the last moment, his fiery chains snapping around its neck.

With a swift, brutal motion, he decapitated it, its headless body collapsing to the ground.

Selene moved in to retrieve her dagger. She easily avoided a large claw and quickly drove her blade into the creature's open throat before it had a chance to react. Her calm efficiency was unnerving, but Adrian didn't have time to dwell on it.

The last creature roared, its bloated form trembling as if preparing for a final attack.

It reared back, its claws glowing with the same faint light as the hourglass. Adrian's eyes widened as the energy coalesced into a deadly arc, the creature's claws slashing down toward him.

He raised his sword just in time, the impact sending sparks flying as the force of the blow drove him to one knee. The creature pressed harder, its strength nearly overwhelming.

"Selene!" Adrian shouted, struggling to hold his ground.

Selene didn't hesitate.

She darted forward, her dagger flashing as she drove it into the creature's back. It howled, the glowing light around its claws fading as it twisted to face her. Adrian seized the moment, his fiery chains snapping out to bind the creature's limbs.

"Now!" Selene yelled, her voice sharp and commanding.

Adrian poured his strength into the chains, pulling them tight until the creature's limbs were immobilized. With a final, decisive strike, his sword pierced its heart. The beast let out a choked roar before collapsing in a heap, its massive body dissolving into ash.

The room fell silent once more, save for the faint hum of the glowing hourglass. Adrian lowered his sword, his fiery chains dissipating as he caught his breath.

Selene wiped her dagger clean, her expression unreadable as she surveyed the remains of the battle. "Efficient," she said quietly.

Adrian turned to her, his concern evident. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Selene nodded, her silver eyes meeting his. "Let's keep moving."

"Yeah... The entrance to the sarcophagus should be close."

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.