The endless expanse of white stretched out in every direction as Kael and the group moved cautiously forward. The only indication of any structure was the marble floor beneath their feet, its pristine surface shining under the bright, otherworldly light that bathed everything around them.
"This place... it feels wrong," Bram muttered, his eyes scanning the empty space.
Kael stayed silent, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword as they walked. The unsettling quiet only deepened the further they went. There were no walls, no ceilings—just the same stark whiteness, giving the impression they were walking through an endless void.
"We need to be careful," Gareth spoke up, his voice steady but firm. He turned to Kael, his eyes serious. "Especially you, Kael. Watch yourself."
Kael blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. "What? Why me?"
Lira, walking just behind Gareth, nodded in agreement. "You're the youngest here. Only two layers of mana. If something happens, you're the most vulnerable."
It took a moment for the words to sink in. Kael frowned, confusion swirling in his mind. These were the same people who had praised him earlier—his two-layered mana core, his swordsmanship. And now, they were treating him like a liability.
"But you were all impressed by my core before," Kael said, trying to understand. "Why now...?"
Gareth glanced over his shoulder, a small, tired smile tugging at his lips. "Because we're all at four layers, Kael. Bram, Lira, even Thorne. We've been at this for longer than you think."
Kael's eyes widened. Thorne, usually so gruff and silent, gave a small nod. His expression was unreadable, but there was a quiet seriousness in his gaze that told Kael everything he needed to know. They were all leagues above him, in terms of raw power.
"Thorne's layered up, too?" Kael repeated, almost disbelieving. The stoic knight's aura felt stronger now that Kael paid closer attention. The others' energy, too, seemed to press down on him subtly, making him feel even smaller in comparison.
"That's why we're saying," Lira continued, "you need to be more careful. We can't afford to lose anyone down here."
Kael's chest tightened at their words. He had spent so much time thinking he was catching up, becoming a true knight of Rheloria. But now, standing beside them, he felt the gap between them more keenly than ever.
After a long silence, they pressed on. The group's footsteps echoed faintly in the void-like expanse. Every so often, Gareth would stop, glance around, and then continue moving forward, as though there were some invisible markers only he could see.
They walked for what felt like hours before finally encountering something different—a white wall, appearing out of the emptiness like a sudden stop in the world. The group halted, all of them staring at the perfectly smooth, gleaming surface.
"Well, that's something," Bram muttered.
Gareth stepped forward, his hand reaching out to touch it. The surface was cold, smooth as ice. "It's solid. But..."
"It's too perfect," Lira finished, her eyes narrowing. "Feels unnatural."
Thorne approached, his large frame towering over the others as he stood beside Gareth. "Looks like it could be a barrier of some sort."
"Let's test it," Gareth said, stepping back.
Lira moved forward, whispering an incantation. As her hands glowed with soft blue light, she pressed them against the wall, her spell flaring briefly before fading away, leaving the wall unchanged.
"Nothing," she said, frustration creeping into her voice.
Kael stepped up, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. "Let me try." With a swift motion, he drew his sword, the thin silver blade gleaming as he struck the wall. But the moment his sword connected, a powerful rebound sent shockwaves up his arm, nearly causing him to lose his grip.
The wall remained untouched. Kael winced, his arm tingling from the impact.
"It's a barrier, alright," Gareth said, frowning deeply. "Some kind of magic... stronger than anything we've encountered so far."
"We're trapped," Lira said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Who could have set something like this up?"
"More importantly," Bram added, his voice tense, "what was this place? Why the staircase, and why here?"
Kael stared at the wall, his mind racing. The long descent, the eerie silence, and now this strange, otherworldly room. None of it made sense. Who would build something like this deep underground, hidden beneath the ruins of Eldenwood? And why were they the ones to stumble upon it?
Gareth took a deep breath. "We'll figure it out. But first, we need to find a way out of here."
Just as he finished speaking, a strange movement above caught Kael's eye. He looked up instinctively, and his breath hitched in his throat. Something was moving in the vast white sky above them—shadows, flitting back and forth.
"Look!" Thorne shouted, pointing upwards.
The others followed his gaze, and their faces paled. A grotesque shape emerged from the blinding white light, descending slowly toward them. Its wings stretched wide—bat-like, leathery, with jagged, bony edges. Horns curled from its head, and its face... twisted, hideous, with sharp fangs and glowing red eyes.
"What... what is that?" Bram stammered, stepping back in horror.
Lira gasped, her hand covering her mouth. "It's... it's a Grimwing."
"A Grimwing?" Kael whispered, feeling the dread sink into his bones. He had heard of them only in dark stories—monsters from another realm, creatures of death and chaos.
The group came to a halt, their eyes fixed on the grotesque figure descending slowly from the endless white sky. Its wings spread wide, leathery and jagged, with a sickly sheen under the bright light. Horns curled from its head, and its sharp fangs glistened as it opened its maw. Lira gasped, her face pale as she took a step back.
"It... it can't be," Lira whispered, her eyes wide in disbelief. "That's a Grimwing."
Kael looked at her, confused. "A Grimwing?"
Lira turned toward the group, her voice trembling slightly. "Grimwings are night monsters—creatures of darkness. They're usually found deep in ancient forests or old dungeons. They were thought to be extinct for centuries. No one's seen one in the wild for at least a hundred years."
Bram's eyes lit up with a mix of awe and excitement. "No way. We found one here? That's... incredible."
Gareth's eyes narrowed, but he, too, seemed intrigued. "A rare beast indeed. This might be a challenge, but if we're careful, we can take it down. Even at peak four-layered strength, we've got enough power between us."
Kael, however, couldn't shake the sinking feeling in his gut. He tightened his grip on his sword, his heart racing. "But... what if it's stronger than we think? I mean, this is no ordinary place..."
Lira glanced at him, her expression softening as she caught the fear in his voice. "Don't worry, Kael. It's tough, but doable. They're usually peak four-layer mana creatures, no stronger. If we work together, we can handle it."
Thorne, who had been silent until now, nodded in agreement. "We've taken on worse. Just keep your wits about you."
Kael swallowed hard, nodding, but the unease still clawed at his mind. He had never faced anything like this before. Sure, he had fought orcs, bandits, and beasts, but a Grimwing? A creature of myth and terror? His hand was slick with sweat, and he could feel his heart pounding in his chest.
The creature gave a low growl, its wings stretching as it neared the ground. Its talons clicked against the white marble, the sound echoing eerily in the empty expanse.
Bram unsheathed his sword, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Let's do this, then. Take it slow, be smart. We've got this."
Gareth nodded, raising his hand to signal the group. "Spread out. We take it from all sides. Keep your focus, and don't give it an opening."
The group began to move, positioning themselves around the descending beast, their faces set with determination. Kael stood at the back, his breath coming in short bursts as he tried to calm himself. They were confident—experienced. They knew what they were doing.
But then, it happened.
Just as they were about to engage the Grimwing, a high-pitched screech filled the air. The sound was piercing, like metal grinding against stone, and it caused the group to wince in pain. Kael's heart skipped a beat, and he looked up instinctively.
His blood ran cold.
Black dots—small at first, like specks against the vast white sky—were growing larger. Dozens, no, hundreds of them, appearing from nowhere, descending just like the first one. Their wings flapped ominously, and as they got closer, their grotesque forms became clearer. More Grimwings. So many that they blotted out the once bright sky, turning the infinite expanse into a growing shadow.
"No... no, no, no," Lira whispered in horror, her eyes wide as she stepped back.
"What in the gods' names...?" Bram breathed, his excitement replaced by sheer terror.
"We were only supposed to face one," Gareth muttered, his face pale as he watched the swarm grow larger. "Just one..."
Thorne's knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, his hands trembling as he looked up at the descending horde. "They're coming... we're... we're going to die"
Kael stood frozen, his mind struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. It wasn't just one Grimwing. It was an entire horde. The sky itself seemed to be raining them down, an unstoppable tide of darkness.
The others were retreating now, backing away from the center of the room, but there was nowhere to go. No walls to hide behind. No cover. Just an endless expanse of white, with death falling from above.