Eleo and Tony crashed through the trapdoor, landing with a bone-jarring thud on the cold stone floor below. Dazed, they lay still for a moment as the world spun around them. Tony groaned, forcing himself upright, his eyes scanning the shadowy chamber they had tumbled into.
The flickering light of torches on moss-covered walls barely pierced the darkness. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something metallic—like old blood. Beneath them, the floor radiated a faint warmth, accompanied by a low, ominous rumble.
"Eleo, do you feel that?" Tony asked, his voice tight as he crouched to touch the ground.
Eleo nodded, rubbing his back. "Yeah, it's warm... but not too hot. Why?"
Tony pressed his ear to the stone, his face paling as he caught deep, echoing sounds. "Damn," he whispered. "We're right above lava."
Eleo's eyes widened, his ears twitching. "Lava? But the floor's not cracking—"
"Not yet," Tony interrupted, brushing himself off. "Some magic is holding it together. But if it fails, we're toast. We need to move—"
A loud whistling pierced the air, and an iron door exploded off its hinges, slamming into the wall. Dust and stones rained down as Tony pulled Eleo behind a nearby pillar.
"Stay sharp," Tony whispered, his voice tense. "We're not alone."
From the broken doorway, the clatter of bones grew louder, accompanied by heavy, rhythmic footsteps. A group of skeletons emerged, their empty eye sockets glowing eerily. They carried rusted weapons, moving with unnerving fluidity.
But it was the towering orc that followed them that made Tony's heart skip. Nearly twice the height of a man and three times as broad, the orc's scarred green skin and jagged yellow tusks framed a cruel grin. He rested a massive battle axe casually on his shoulder.
"Well, well," the orc rumbled, his deep voice reverberating through the chamber. "A couple of lost pups wandered into my den?"
Tony stepped forward, placing himself protectively in front of Eleo. "Looks that way," he said evenly. "You're in charge, I take it?"
The orc grinned wider, his jagged teeth gleaming. "Smart bone man. But smarts won't save you. You've walked into my lair, and there's no walking out."
One of the skeletons sneered, its voice like dry leaves rustling. "He's got a rabbit with him. Gonna fight us with a bunny, bone man?"
Tony smirked. "Better than taking orders from an overgrown sack of muscle who probably can't spell his own name."
The skeletons cackled, but the orc's grin twisted into a snarl. With a violent swing, he shattered the nearest skeleton, bones clattering to the floor.
"Any more smart-ass comments?" the orc growled.
Tony didn't flinch. He cracked his knuckles. "Eleo, stay back," he said calmly. "This one's mine."
Eleo hesitated but nodded, retreating to a safer distance.
The orc roared and charged, his axe swinging down with the force of an avalanche. Tony dodged just in time, the axe slamming into the ground and sending cracks spider-webbing across the floor.
Tony retaliated with rapid strikes, but the orc absorbed them with his thick muscles. Swinging his massive fist, the orc barely missed as Tony ducked and countered with a kick to the knee.
"Idiot!" Tony hissed as cracks in the floor widened, glowing with seeping lava. Desperately, he unleashed a wave of necrotic energy, trying to seal them.
The orc bellowed, "Meat Grinder!" as he spun his axe in a deadly whirlwind. Tony miscalculated and was clipped by the blade, sent flying into the wall.
"Tony, are you okay?" Eleo called, his voice trembling.
Tony groaned, staggering upright. "I'm good. Stay back."
Summoning his strength, Tony used Bone Crusher, teleporting behind the orc and attempting to crush his limbs. The orc barely flinched.
"That all you got, bone man?" the orc taunted, slamming Tony with a brutal headbutt. Before Tony could react, the orc hurled him across the room, pillars crumbling in his wake.
"Tony!" Eleo shouted, heart pounding.
The orc chuckled darkly. "Too easy. Maybe the bunny wants a turn?"
Eleo tensed, but Tony raised a hand. "Stay... back," he rasped.
His eye socket began to glow green, his deadly aura spreading. The chamber grew cold, shadows deepening as life seemed to drain from the air. Everyone, even the orc, faltered under the oppressive weight.
Tony fired a bolt of dark energy, striking the orc and following up with bone shards that embedded deep, making the giant howl in pain. With a final leap, Tony slammed the orc into the ground.
The orc gasped, trembling. Tony turned to Eleo, giving a weak thumbs-up. "We got him."
Before they could celebrate, murmurs arose from the skeletons.
"He beat the boss," one whispered.
"Let's take him down!" another shouted, raising a sword.
The orc bellowed, "Hold up! Don't harm them."
The skeletons froze as the orc struggled upright. "You've earned my respect, bone man. What's your name?"
"Tony," he replied warily.
The orc nodded. "Follow me. I'll help you and Also." The orc whispered, "Look, I don't even work here. I just sneak in, fell down this hole, and met the skeleton people."
Eleo blinked in surprise. "Oh, so that means you were pretending to get beaten by Tony?"
Tony crossed his arms, wincing slightly from the bruises. "I don't think he was pretending."
The orc grunted, rubbing the back of his neck. "No, I wasn't. Anyway, the name's Mork, and I'll lead you upstairs and out of the castle."
Eleo raised a hand to stop him. "We can't leave without Kenji and his sword."
Mork paused, scratching his chin. "Hmm, I understand. That guy's your friend, right? Well, you're lucky I know the layout of this place. There's a weapons room a couple of floors up where he might be. Follow me."
As they moved cautiously through the dark corridors, Mork occasionally muttered about how much he hated the dampness and the creepy skeletons. The low rumble of lava beneath them grew fainter the higher they climbed, but the tension remained thick in the air.
Tony, still walking a bit stiffly, glanced at Mork. "So, if you're not one of them, why stick around?"
Mork shrugged his massive shoulders. "Free food, decent shelter. Plus, no one really bothers me here except the occasional idiot adventurers who think they're heroes. But you guys… different story. You're not just wandering in by accident, are you?"
Tony nodded. "We're here to help Kenji get his sword back. And judging by what we've seen so far, this place is full of surprises."
Kenji and Olorun sprinted down the dimly lit corridor, their shadows stretching along the stone walls. Their breaths came quick but steady, the sound of their footsteps reverberating through the hollow space.
"Hey, Olorun," Kenji said, his tone level despite the pace, "do you know where my other sword is?"
Olorun glanced back with a quick smirk. "Yeah, it's in the weapons room up ahead. Don't slow down now."
As they rounded the corner, a massive, reinforced door loomed before them. "There it is," Olorun muttered. Without breaking stride, he slammed his shoulder into it, the door giving way with a deafening crack, fragments of wood scattering across the floor.
Kenji stopped just short of stepping in, his eyebrows raised in mild exasperation. "You couldn't just open it like a normal person?"
"It was locked," Olorun replied with a shrug. "Didn't have a key."
Kenji sighed, stepping into the room. "You're nothing if not efficient."
Inside, racks of weapons lined the walls, and the air was thick with the metallic tang of aged steel. Blades of all shapes and sizes were scattered about, some dull and forgotten, others gleaming faintly in the dim torchlight.
Kenji moved quickly, his eyes scanning for something familiar. Olorun, meanwhile, kicked aside a battered shield, rummaging through a pile of spears. After a moment, he picked up a dull, rusted sword and held it out. "This it?"
Kenji glanced over, his expression unimpressed. "You're joking, right?"
Olorun smirked, tossing the blade aside. "What? It's got character."
"It's got rust," Kenji shot back, returning to his search. "I wouldn't touch that thing, let alone call it mine."
"Alright, alright," Olorun muttered, kicking through another pile. "You swordsmen and your fancy tastes…"
As Kenji sifted through another rack, a faint glimmer caught Olorun's eye. In the far corner, partially hidden beneath a tattered banner, something golden gleamed faintly. He strode over, pulling the weapon free from the debris.
The sword was striking—a masterwork of craftsmanship. Its golden blade shimmered with a faint, otherworldly glow, etched with the intricate image of a dragon in mid-flight. Black accents along the fuller added a sharp contrast, while the dragon's wings spread across the crossguard in a sleek, deadly curve.
Olorun turned it over in his hands, noting the golden orb embedded in the hilt, faintly pulsing with energy. "This has to be it," he said, holding it out.
Kenji's gaze snapped to the weapon, his eyes narrowing. He stepped forward, taking the sword carefully. The moment his fingers closed around the hilt, a subtle vibration ran through him, a sensation like reconnecting with an old friend.
"Kokuryū no Kogane," he said softly, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
Olorun folded his arms, watching Kenji inspect the blade. "I take it that's the one?"
Kenji nodded, giving the sword a brief test swing. The balance was perfect, the blade slicing effortlessly through the air. He sheathed it with practiced ease, the familiar weight at his side filling him with renewed confidence.
"Finally," Kenji said, his voice steady but resolute.
"Great," Olorun said, turning toward the door. "Now let's hope you swing it better than you look at it. We've still got work to do."
Kenji chuckled quietly, following him. "Don't worry. You'll see soon enough."
Olorun crossed his arms and stared down the corridor. "Now I need to speak with my brother about leaving."
Kenji nodded, adjusting the sword at his side. "Alright, let's go."
He turned to sprint ahead, but before he could take more than a few steps, Olorun grabbed the back of his shirt, yanking him to a halt. "Wait, fool," Olorun said, his tone deadpan. "We've got to get past his loyal men first."
Kenji groaned, throwing his hands up. "Great. How many?"
"Four," Olorun answered, as if it were no big deal.
Kenji slapped a hand over his face, dragging it down in frustration. "Oh my Godddd," he muttered, his voice muffled. "I don't want to spend another second in this damn castle."
Olorun gave him a side glance, an amused smirk tugging at his lips. "Hey, it's not that bad," he said with a shrug.
Kenji glared at him, exasperated.
Olorun chuckled, patting Kenji's shoulder. "You'll survive. Besides, it'll be good practice."
Kenji sighed, muttering under his breath, "This better be worth it."
Olorun grinned, already moving forward. "Trust me, it will be."