As they walked through the tunnel, the bard glanced over his shoulder, then at Elara.“Is the warrior alright?” he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
She turned slightly. “Velma is suffering from a toxin inflicted by an Ivoryfang Matriarch,” she explained, her voice tight with worry.
He whistled, his eyebrows rose. “That sounds serious,” he remarked.
She nodded, eyes fixed ahead.
He glanced back at Velma, who was being carried by Isolde. “Do you know if she’s going to make it?” he asked, his voice hesitant.
She remained silent, unsure of how to respond. But Isolde spoke up, her voice steady despite the strain of carrying Velma. “Velma hasn’t told us yet,” she said, her words measured. “The venom likely has a paralyzing effect besides damaging her health.”
The bard hummed thoughtfully. “You must have had a tough battle,” he mused, his voice sympathetic.
He began to hum a song that Elara was unfamiliar with. The melody was soothing, and she felt a strange sensation wash over her. It was as if her fatigue was slowly melting away, replaced by a gentle warmth.
Ignatius, silent until now, spoke. “Thank you,” he said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Elara turned towards him, confused. Was he thanking him for the song?
Ignatius, noticing her reaction, chuckled softly. “Look at your mana,” he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
She checked her status screen, eyes widening. The bard’s song was increasing their regeneration of both mana and stamina. She could see her reserves slowly replenishing.
Elara turned towards the bard, a grateful smile on her face. “Thank you,” she said, her voice sincere.
The bard grinned down at her, his blue eyes sparkling with mirth. He reached up and tipped his hat. “You’re more than welcome, my dear,” he said, his voice warm and friendly.
He straightened, hand still on his hat. “I don’t believe I’ve properly introduced myself,” he said, his tone apologetic. “My name is Slynn.”
Elara nodded, committing his name to memory. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Slynn. Call me Alira,” she said, her voice polite.
He chuckled, his laughter like a melodic tune. She couldn’t help but smile at his easy-going nature. It was a welcome change from the tense atmosphere that had surrounded them since the battle with the Ivoryfang Matriarch.
Ignatius, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. “How long have you been wandering these tunnels, Slynn?” he asked, his voice interested.
Slynn shrugged, “fifteen minutes at best,” he said, his voice nonchalant. “Time tends to blur down here.”
After a few minutes of walking in silence, they reached the fork in the tunnel. Slynn pointed to the right, showing that he had come from that direction.
She frowned at him. “How far did you fall?” she asked, her voice hesitant. “Do you think it would be possible to climb back up, or should we head the other way?”
Slynn shook his head, his expression thoughtful. “If your goal is to find the healer, he’s probably not the way I came from,” he said, his voice certain. “You should try the other tunnel.”
Ignatius nodded in agreement, his eyes narrowing as he considered their options. “Slynn’s group hasn’t been here long,” he mused, his voice low. “That means they’re probably not closer to the boss than we are.”
Elara’s heart pounded at the mention of the boss. She knew that Krill, the healer they were searching for, would likely head in that direction. “This is our best bet to find him,” she said, her voice determined.
Isolde shifted Velma’s weight on her back, her expression grim. “We don’t have much choice,” she said, her voice strained. “Velma needs help, and fast.”
She glanced at Velma, her heart aching at the sight of the warrior’s pale face.
Elara turned towards the left tunnel, Slynn falling into step beside her as they took the lead. The group quickened their pace, breaking into a light jog as they navigated the winding path. The tunnel’s floor sloped upward, the incline gradually increasing until their legs burned with the effort.
As they reached the apex, the tunnel leveled out briefly before descending once more. The slope steepened; she leaned back to balance. The walls of the tunnel narrowed, forcing them to proceed in single file. She pressed against the damp rock, shoulders scraping it.
The tunnel twisted, forcing careful steps. She rounded a tight bend, her foot slipping on a loose rock. She stumbled, her hand shooting out to brace herself against the wall. Slynn reached out to steady her, his firm grip on her arm helping her regain her footing.
As they emerged from the narrow section, the tunnel widened once more, allowing them to move side by side again. The light from Ignatius’s flame and Slynn’s lamp cast flickering shadows on the walls, the dancing light making the tunnel seem even more eerie.
Her heart kept a steady pace as they pressed onward, the urgency of their mission driving them forward. She glanced back at Velma, still unconscious on Isolde’s back, and felt a renewed sense of determination. They had to find Krill, and fast.
As they continued their descent, the path took a sharp turn downward, becoming much steeper than before. She peered into the darkness, trying to see where the steep incline ended, but the tunnel curved out of sight. The slope reminded her of a water slide, and she felt a sense of unease at the thought of sliding down into the unknown.
Slynn came to a stop beside her, his expression grim. “This could go bad,” he said, his voice echoing off the tunnel walls.
Elara nodded in agreement.“Does anyone have an idea on how to get down without sliding and falling?” she asked, her voice hesitant.
Isolde looked over her shoulder, down into the darkness, her face illuminated by the flickering light. “We have two options,” she said, her voice steady despite the strain of carrying Velma. “We can either be very careful and take it step by step, or we can just slide down.”
The thought of sliding made Elara’s legs feel unsteady. She glanced at Velma and felt a renewed sense of urgency. They needed to find Krill as soon as possible, but the thought of sliding down the tunnel filled her with dread.
She turned to Slynn, hoping he might have a better idea. “What do you think?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Slynn rubbed his chin thoughtfully. His eyes narrowed as he considered their options. “Sliding down will be faster,” he said, his voice hesitant. “But it’s also riskier. If we lose control, we could end up hurt.”
He turned to her, his expression determined. “I’ll try to walk down,” he said, his voice steady. He leaned slightly forward into the slope, his body angled to maintain balance.
She watched anxiously as he walked sideways, his feet making more contact with the ground. Each time his foot met the slope, she could see the muscles in his legs tensing, his grip on the ground tenuous at best.
For a moment, it seemed like he might make it. His movements were cautious, his balance delicate but maintained. But on the third step, his foot slipped on a loose rock, and he let out a yelp of surprise. In his panic to regain his balance, he reached out blindly, his hand grasping at the nearest thing he could find.
Unfortunately, that thing was Elara’s leg.
She felt his grip tighten around her ankle, his fingers digging into her skin with desperate strength. Before she could react, she was yanked off balance. Her breath caught in her throat as she tumbled forward, the world tilting around her in a sickening whirl.
A scream tore from her lips as she slid down the steep incline. Her hands scrambled for purchase on the smooth stone, her fingers brushing over the cold, unyielding surface. She could feel his weight pressing against her lap, his upper body crushed against hers as they careened down the tunnel together.
The tunnel blurred around them; the darkness rushing past in a dizzying cascade. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat a frantic reminder of the danger they were in. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the impact she knew was coming.
The world spun around her as she and Slynn hurtled down the steep incline, their screams echoing off the tunnel walls. The darkness rushed past them in a dizzying blur, the smooth stone offering no purchase for their grasping hands. It felt like they were on a wild roller coaster, the twists and turns of the tunnel sending them careening in all directions.
Faster and faster they went, the wind whipping through their hair and stinging their eyes. She clung to Slynn, her fingers digging into his arms around her legs as they slid together. The adrenaline surged through her veins, heightening every sensation and sharpening her focus.
She noticed a change in their trajectory. Instead of going down, they were going up. Her eyes flew open, widening in surprise as she saw a light at the end of the tunnel. It grew larger and brighter as they approached, the speed of their descent propelling them up towards it with alarming velocity.
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As they drew closer, she felt a strange sensation through the rocks beneath her. It was a rhythmic thumping, like the beating of a giant heart. The sound also grew louder as they neared the end of the tunnel, accompanied by a cacophony of shouts and the heavy slam of something hitting the ground repeatedly.
Her breath caught in her throat as they rocketed towards the light, the thumping and shouting growing more intense with each passing second. She could hear voices, muffled but frantic, and the distinct clang of metal on stone.
Elara and Slynn shot out of the tunnel, their screams echoing through the vast cavern. As they soared through the air, her eyes widened at the sight before her. A colossal humanoid creature made of stone dominated the center of the cavern, its form reminiscent of a gorilla with its massive, powerful arms. Each of its arms bore four glowing sigils arranged in a line from its enormous, four-fingered hand up to its shoulder. The sigils emitted a soft, eerie purple light that cast an otherworldly glow on the creature’s stony surface.
The creature’s sheer size dwarfed the Ivoryfang Matriarch they had faced earlier. As she and Slynn flew above the behemoth, she spotted Esme and Tirn locked in combat with the stone giant below, dodging its arms that tried to crush them. Quickly scanning the cavern, she also caught sight of the Blackwood siblings and Gilvanis, their presence adding to the chaos of the battle.
Their dramatic entrance had not gone unnoticed, likely due to their terrified screams as they hurtled through the air. She watched as Esme and Tirn recognized her. The two warriors abandoned their fight with the stone creature, pivoting sharply and sprinting toward her and Slynn in a frantic dash.
Esme’s armor gleamed in the eerie purple light of the sigils as she sprinted across the rocky terrain. Her face set in a mask of resolve, her eyes never leaving Elara and Slynn. Each step she took measured her boots finding purchase on the uneven ground with ease.
Tirn, agile and swift, matched her pace. His axes gleamed in his hands, reflecting the otherworldly glow that filled the cavern. His gaze flicked between the stone giant and his comrades, assessing the distance and calculating the quickest route to reach them. The muscles in his legs coiled and uncoiled like a predator’s, his breath coming in controlled bursts.
The stone giant, momentarily disoriented by the sudden change in its opponents’ tactics, swung its massive arms wildly, the glowing sigils pulsing with a rhythmic, sinister light. Dust and debris filled the air as its fists slammed into the ground, each impact sending tremors through the cavern floor.
Her heart raced as she and Slynn hurtled through the air, the highest point of their trajectory already behind them. As they fell, she instinctively tried to use her Voidwalk ability to teleport to safety, but to her confusion and horror, nothing happened. She realized with a sinking feeling that Slynn’s tight grip on her must be preventing her from using her skill.
Panic gripped her as she saw the cavern wall rapidly approaching. If they continued to fall at this rate, they would surely slam into the hard stone with bone-shattering force. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps as the ground rushed up to meet them. Suddenly, she heard Tirn shout something, his voice barely audible over the chaos of the battle below.
Esme reacted instantly. She spun her massive hammer with her entire body, building up momentum. With a grunt of effort, she slammed it into Tirn, who had come to a stop before her with his axes crossed in front of him like a shield.
The impact was tremendous, the force of Esme’s strike propelling him off his feet and straight towards the wall where Elara and Slynn were headed. Just as Esme completed her maneuver, the stone giant’s massive hand slammed down where she had been standing, the impact sending up a cloud of dust and debris.
Elara watched in horror as Tirn’s back collided with the wall, the sound of the impact echoing through the cavern. She feared the worst, but to her amazement, Tirn emerged from the crater in the wall, seemingly unscathed. His resilience was astounding.
He sheathed his weapons and crouched down, his muscles coiling like a spring. Then, with a burst of raw power, he launched himself towards her and Slynn, his speed incredible. The air crackled with the energy of his movement, the force of his leap creating a rush of wind.
As he drew closer, she could make out more details of his appearance. The first thing she noticed were his eyes, glowing a fierce red, and his muscles bulging with an unnatural size and definition. He looked terrifying, far more intimidating than she had ever seen him before. The sheer intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down her spine.
Slynn, too, seemed to be in agreement with her assessment, as he screamed anew at the sight of Tirn’s monstrous form hurtling towards them. His screams echoed through the cavern, high-pitched.
Just before they collided, Tirn spread his arms wide, catching both Elara and Slynn in a powerful embrace. The force of the impact sent all three of them shooting back towards the crater in the wall. The sensation of speed and motion was dizzying, the cavern a blur of shadows and light.
She felt the wind knocked out of her as Tirn’s arms wrapped around her, his grip like iron. She clung to him, her fingers digging into his flesh as they flew. Tirn's chest muffled Slynn's terrified screams as his body pressed tightly against theirs.
They hit the wall with a bone-jarring thud, the force of the collision reverberating through Elara’s entire body. She gasped for breath, her vision swimming with stars. But Tirn’s arms held them secure, absorbing the brunt of the impact and protecting them from the worst of the blow.
As the dust settled, she looked up at Tirn, her heart still racing. His eyes met hers, glowing with an intense, almost feral light. Despite the fear and chaos of the moment, she felt a surge of gratitude and relief. They had made it. They were still alive.
She took a moment to collect herself; her head falling back on Tirn’s shoulder as she tried to get her racing heart under control. She glanced at her status screen, checking her health.
Health: 410/450
A wave of relief washed over her. The tumble had only cost her 40 health points, thanks to Tirn and Esme’s quick actions. Beside her, Slynn groaned, the sound muffled against Tirn’s chest. The cold stone that had been against her back was a stark contrast to the warmth radiating from Tirn, and she focused on the sensation to ground herself.
Lifting her head, she met Tirn’s gaze. His eyes, still glowing with that intense, almost feral light, remained fixed on her, unmoving since their impact with the wall. “Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, her breath warm against his skin.
Slynn stirred, trying to extricate himself from Tirn’s grip. “Yeah, thanks,” he managed, his voice strained, his own heart still pounding from the harrowing experience.
Tirn stared at her for a moment longer before giving a curt nod. Then, in one motion, he stood, keeping one arm securely around her while using the other to haul Slynn to his feet.
She found herself pressed against Tirn’s chest, her feet dangling above the ground. She clung to him, her fingers trying to dig into the leather of his armor as he held her aloft with seemingly no effort. The steady thump of his heartbeat under her ear was a comforting rhythm amidst the chaos.
Without warning, Tirn leaped from the crater, carrying her and Slynn with him. The sudden motion sent a jolt of adrenaline through her, her heart leaping into her throat as they plummeted towards the cavern floor. The air rushed past her, a roaring in her ears as she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact.
Time seemed to slow as they descended, the cavern floor rushing up to meet them. Tirn twisted in midair, his body a blur of motion as he prepared to land. His feet hit the ground with a resounding thud, the impact reverberating through his entire body but absorbed by his powerful legs. He crouched low, cushioning the landing for Elara and Slynn pressed tightly against him.
She opened her eyes, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she looked around. The cavern was a chaotic scene of battle, the stone giant roaring in fury as it swung its massive arms.
Tirn set her down, his eyes never leaving the giant. “Stay close,” he instructed, his voice a low growl. He released Slynn, who stumbled slightly but quickly regained his balance, his own eyes wide.
She nodded, her legs trembling slightly as she steadied herself. The ground felt solid and reassuring under her feet, a stark contrast to the wild descent they had just endured.
Her mind cleared for a moment, and she suddenly remembered Ignatius, Isolde, and Velma, whom they had left behind. A pang of worry shot through her as she turned to Tirn. “We left our group back there,” she said, her voice tight with concern. “They might come through the same way we did.”
Tirn spared a glance at the opening they had tumbled through, his eyes narrowing slightly. “They’ll be fine,” he said, his voice gruff but reassuring. He turned his attention back to the giant, his muscles tensing as he prepared for battle.
She stared at him for a moment, stunned by his apparent lack of concern. It must be confidence, a trust in his companions’ abilities. She took a deep breath, deciding to trust his judgment.
“Is Krill here?” she asked, her thoughts turning to Velma’s injuries. “Velma was hurt. She needs healing.”
Tirn, his gaze still fixed on the giant, pointed to the far side of the cavern. Elara followed his gesture, squinting through the chaos of the battle. There, she spotted Kael, his shield raised before him as he stood protectively in front of Healer Krill.
He was kneeling on the ground, his attention focused on a figure lying before him. As she looked closer, she realized with a start that it was Scout Selly. She was sitting on the ground, her face twisted in pain as Krill tended to her foot.
Elara’s stomach lurched as she caught sight of the bloodied, smashed mess that was Selly’s foot. She quickly turned away, bile rising in her throat at the gruesome sight.
Slynn followed her gaze, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of Scout Selly’s mangled foot. He swallowed hard, his face paling slightly. “I’ll go over and make myself useful,” he said.
Without waiting for a response, he took off running towards Kael and the others, his eyes darting between the path ahead and the ongoing battle, ready to dodge any stray projectiles or debris that might come his way.
Elara hesitated. What now? She turned her attention back to the stone giant, her mind racing. Using her Inspect skill, she focused on the creature.
Imperfect Stone Golem [Level:???]
The title caught her eye, and she frowned. What did “Imperfect” mean in this context? Was there something wrong with the golem, some flaw or weakness they could exploit? Or was it simply a designation for this type of creature?
Tirn’s gruff voice interrupted her thoughts. “Head for Kael,” he instructed, giving her a light shove to get her moving. Elara stumbled slightly but quickly regained her balance, setting off towards Kael at a brisk pace.
As she moved, she could sense Tirn’s presence behind her, always keeping one eye on the golem as he followed her across the cavern floor. His vigilance was reassuring.
When they were just a few meters from Kael, Tirn split off from her, dashing towards the golem with his weapons drawn. She watched him go as he closed the distance to the massive creature.
Krill, noticing their approach, turned to look at her. He gave her a nod, his expression neutral. She returned the nod, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.
She approached Kael, who turned to face her with a furrowed brow, his concern palpable amid the chaos of the battle that raged around them. “The others in your group?“ He asked, his voice steady and clear despite the tumult.
She swallowed hard before responding, her voice a bit strained. “They should be joining us soon,” she said, trying to keep her tone confident.
Sighing, she added with a touch of self-deprecating humor, “Slynn and I took the scenic route down. We, uh, might have made a bit of a dramatic entrance.” She couldn’t help but remember the image of them screaming and flying through the air—a memory that made her cheeks flush with embarrassment.
To her surprise, Kael’s lips twitched into a grin, his eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and relief. “Oh, I noticed,” he said, his tone light despite the gravity of their situation. “Quite an entrance you two made. It was hard to miss.”
Elara felt a wave of relief wash over her as she observed his expression. His playful demeanor amidst the chaos was a welcome shift from the tension that had gripped her. She managed a small, grateful smile, feeling the tight knot of worry in her chest loosen. Kael’s light-heartedness was a reassuring sign that even amid chaos, there was still room for a little levity.
