The chamber was bathed in oppressive darkness as Raiven's voice rang out. "Aeloria, light up this place."
Without hesitation, Aeloria stepped forward, gripping her staff tightly. She muttered a quick incantation, her voice steady, yet layered with anticipation. The tip of her staff began to glow faintly before erupting into a radiant orb of light. The illumination swept through the cavernous expanse, revealing the sheer scale of the underground mountain chamber. Gasps echoed from the group as the details of the room unfolded before them.
Towering pillars, etched with ancient, indecipherable runes, stretched from the ground to the ceiling, each one wide enough to support a small house. The carvings glimmered faintly in the magical light, as though they were absorbing and reflecting Aeloria's spell. The walls were jagged and raw, yet decorated with ominous, faded murals that hinted at rituals and battles long forgotten.
At the far end of the chamber, a vast, tranquil body of water gleamed like a mirror, its surface unnaturally still. The pool was framed by jagged rocks, some of which seemed to glow faintly as if infused with latent energy. However, the group's attention quickly shifted to the most unsettling discovery—the countless hulking forms scattered throughout the chamber.
Hordes of monstrous creatures lay dormant, their grotesque forms sprawled across the stone floor. Each one looked like a terrifying hybrid of reptile and demonic beast, exuding an aura of danger even in slumber. Their spiked, armored carapaces shimmered faintly under the magical light, revealing their defensive plating. The jagged spines along their backs formed a menacing silhouette against the cavern walls. Muscular limbs, ending in razor-sharp claws, twitched slightly as if dreaming of destruction.
Their elongated tails, covered in vicious spikes, were coiled and still, but their potential for lethal agility was unmistakable. Some of the monsters were curled up tightly, their glowing crimson veins pulsing softly as though alive with dark energy. Others lay sprawled, their malevolent eyes shut tight but glowing faintly beneath their lids.
Raiven's party stood frozen in a mixture of awe and fear. The sheer scale of the beasts was overwhelming, and the oppressive silence amplified the tension.
Thanir's hand instinctively tightened around his weapon as he scanned the room, his usually confident demeanor replaced with visible unease. "By the Abyss…" he whispered under his breath.
Lirien's knuckles whitened as she gripped her blade. "What in the name of the aeons are these things?" she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Even Milner, normally brash and unshaken, shifted uncomfortably. "Sleeping or not, I don't like this," he muttered, his grip on his axe tightening.
"They're dormant," Aeloria said, her voice trembling slightly but steady enough to command attention. She took a step closer to Raiven. "But whatever sealed this place, it wasn't to keep people out—it was to keep these creatures in."
Raiven's sharp gaze remained locked on the sleeping monstrosities. His mind raced as he considered their next move. "We proceed cautiously," he said, his commanding voice slicing through the tension. "Thanir, scout the path forward. Aeloria, keep the light steady. Milner, make sure the slaves don't lag behind. We cannot afford to wake them."
Yomi, shackled and silent, studied the monsters with an unreadable expression. His Ki sense tingled, alerting him to the immense power radiating from the beasts, even in their current state. He exchanged a glance with the crimson-haired beast girl, whose wide, fearful eyes betrayed her terror. Yomi gave her a slight nod, a silent reassurance to keep moving.
As the group began to inch forward, the faint echo of their footsteps seemed thunderous in the heavy stillness. Every creak of armor, every shuffle of a chain, felt like a potential alarm to rouse the slumbering horrors around them.
The group moved cautiously through the chamber, each step measured, each breath held. The oppressive silence was deafening, punctuated only by the faint drip of water echoing from the distant pool. The light from Aeloria's staff illuminated their path but did little to pierce the suffocating tension. Every shadow seemed alive, every flicker a potential harbinger of chaos.
Suddenly, a sharp, metallic clang broke the stillness. The old man stumbled, his frail body crashing heavily into one of the monstrous creatures. His chains clattered against its armored carapace. The sound reverberated through the chamber like a gong, and for a heartbeat, time seemed to freeze.
The beast stirred. Its glowing crimson eyes snapped open, and it let out an ear-splitting roar that reverberated through the cavern, sending waves of fear crashing over the group. The other monsters began to rouse, their guttural growls building into a cacophony of menace.
Raiven spun around, his face contorted in fury. "Milner! What the hell are you doing? I told you to keep an eye on the damn slaves!"
Milner, caught off guard, bellowed back, "How the hell is this my fault, Raiven?!"
"Enough!" Lirien interjected, her voice cutting through the rising panic. She drew her blade, its polished steel gleaming ominously in the dim light. "This isn't the time or place for your bickering. Raiven, give us your orders now!"
Raiven took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Formation!" he roared. His retractable bow snapped open in his hands, and he nocked an arrow in one fluid motion.
Lirien positioned herself in front of him, sword at the ready, her stance strong and unyielding. "Aeloria, keep the light steady," Raiven barked. "Thanir, cover the rear!"
Thanir hurled a smoke bomb to disorient the encroaching beasts, a thick, acrid fog spreading quickly. Milner, undeterred by the chaos, charged forward with a deafening battle cry. "For glory!" he roared, swinging his axe wildly at the nearest monster.
But the creatures were too many, their snarls and roars growing as they surged toward the group. Thanir's voice rang out in desperation. "We need to thin their numbers! Use the slaves as bait!"
Before anyone could protest, Thanir grabbed the old man and shoved him forward. The nearest beast lunged, its massive jaws snapping down on the old man's neck, silencing his screams in an instant.
Raiven cursed under his breath. "Damn it! He's right. We need a diversion if we're going to make it out alive." He fell back behind Lirien's expert swordplay, watching her fend off the encroaching monsters with brutal efficiency.
Aeloria crouched, using the rocky outcrop for cover as she hurled a barrage of mana bolts at the beasts. Raiven, amid the chaos, scanned the chamber. His heart skipped a beat when he realized something was amiss.
"Where the fuck are the other two slaves?" he barked, eyes darting around frantically. "The Dra'kesh! The girl! Where are they?!"
But there was no answer, only the guttural roars of the awakened monstrosities. Raiven's fists clenched, a mixture of fury and unease tightening his chest.