As the ground shook beneath their feet, the small acidic creatures swarmed toward the group with horrifying speed. Their bodies were gaunt, with elongated limbs and jagged teeth bared in a relentless snarl. Their eyes glowed with a malevolent hunger as they closed in, and the air was thick with tension.
"Get ready!" Carter shouted, raising his axe. "We need to hold them off!"
Maria readied her crossbow, her heart racing. "Zhang, what's the plan?"
Zhang gripped his spear tightly, the metal feeling solid in his hands. "We stand our ground! Maria, cover our flanks. Carter, stay close to me!"
With a deep breath, they braced themselves. The first wave of creatures lunged at them, jaws snapping. Zhang thrust his spear forward, impaling one of the beasts with a swift motion. The creature screeched, a horrid sound that echoed off the metal frame.
"Watch out!" Maria shouted, firing a bolt that struck another creature in the chest. It stumbled back, acidic saliva dripping from its maw, corroding the ground beneath it.
Carter swung his axe with fierce determination, cleaving through the next creature that charged at him. "Keep them back!" he yelled, adrenaline pumping through his veins.
"Keep moving!" Zhang urged, stepping to the side to dodge a creature that lunged at him. He pivoted and countered with a quick jab of his spear, sending the beast crashing into the ground.
The creatures were relentless, their numbers overwhelming. As they fought, Zhang noticed a group of them clustering near the metal frame, their long fingers scraping against the surface. "They're trying to get inside!" he shouted. "We can't let them!"
"Carter! Focus on that group!" Maria called, her voice rising above the chaos. She reloaded her crossbow and aimed at the nearest creature, releasing another bolt that found its mark.
With a fierce battle cry, Carter charged towards the cluster of creatures, his axe raised high. "This ends now!" He swung the axe in a wide arc, taking down two more creatures in a single blow.
Suddenly, one of the creatures, larger than the rest, let out a piercing shriek. It seemed to gather the others, directing them toward Carter. They charged, a wave of darkness surging forward.
"Zhang! They're coming!" Maria yelled, panic rising in her voice.
"Form a line! Stick together!" Zhang commanded, stepping forward to block the incoming swarm. He thrust his spear again and again, the metal glinting in the dim light as he fought off the relentless tide.
Amidst the chaos, Jason, the archaeologist of the group, had been observing the battlefield. He noticed something odd beneath the fray—a rusty lever half-buried in the dirt, partially exposed. While his companions battled, he crept closer, his heart racing as he reached for it.
"Zhang, to your left!" Maria warned, firing another bolt just in time to strike a beast.
"Keep them busy!" Zhang yelled, focused on holding the line.
With each passing moment, the battle grew more chaotic. The creatures were crafty, darting in and out, using their speed to their advantage. But the trio fought with unwavering resolve, relying on their training and instincts.
Just then, as Zhang thrust his spear into another creature, the ground beneath them trembled violently. One of the smaller beasts, in its frantic struggle, collided with Jason.
"Watch out!" Jason shouted, barely dodging as he stumbled backward. He refocused on the lever, his determination igniting as he pulled it with all his strength. The ground shuddered in response, but the lever wouldn't budge.
"Jason, what are you doing?" Zhang called out amidst the chaos.
"I think I found something!" Jason replied, sweat beading on his forehead as he strained against the lever.
Carter swung his axe, taking down another creature just as more rushed toward them. "You need to hurry!"
"Keep fighting! We need to protect that entrance!" Zhang urged, realizing it might be their only way to escape.
The creatures surged forward, a dark wave of claw and fang. "Zhang, what do we do?" Maria asked, her voice filled with urgency.
"Cover me! I'll try to figure out the entrance!" Zhang replied, rushing toward the glowing opening.
Carter and Maria fought back to back, fending off the onslaught of creatures, sweat and grime coating their bodies. "Hurry, Zhang!" Carter shouted, his breath heavy.
Zhang reached the entrance, his mind racing as he examined the glowing symbols surrounding it. "I can't decipher this yet!" he shouted, glancing back at his friends.
Suddenly, as Jason pulled with all his might, the lever clicked loudly. A deep rumble echoed through the area, and the metal frame shuddered again.
"I think I activated something!" Jason yelled, excitement blending with fear.
"Look!" Maria shouted, pointing toward the newly revealed opening. "The entrance!"
"Keep fighting! We need to protect that entrance!" Zhang urged, feeling the pressure mounting.
Carter and Maria fought valiantly, sweat streaming down their faces as they faced the relentless swarm. "What do we do?" Maria shouted, her voice strained.
"Zhang, what do we need to solve?" Jason asked, stepping back from the lever, still catching his breath.
As they fought, the ground trembled again, and the entrance glowed brighter. Zhang focused on the symbols, his heart racing. "It's a riddle!" he called out, his voice rising above the chaos. "We need to solve it to get in!"
"Just tell us what to do!" Maria replied, her focus unwavering.
As they battled fiercely, the atmosphere thickened with suspense, the air heavy with the promise of danger. The struggle seemed endless, and each second felt like a lifetime, but they were determined to survive, ready to face whatever lay ahead.