"Don't stop!" Leon rasped, his voice strained yet commanding. "Find the core!"
The recruits nodded, their faces pale but resolute, and hurriedly resumed their search. The chamber echoed with the sounds of their frantic efforts, the atmosphere thick with tension and the scent of dust and ancient stone. An almost palpable sense of dread hung in the air as if the ancient walls themselves were bearing witness to their desperate struggle.
Leon struggled to his feet, panting heavily. His armor had shattered into pieces, revealing his bloodied white dress beneath. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, the sting of his internal injuries burning through him.
"Damn, this brute," he cursed, staring at the blood on his palm. Although he knew the giant was strong, he hadn't expected it to smash through his enhanced stone wall and reach him so easily. He could only lament his current predicament, his mind racing with the grim reality of their situation.
