Kieran growled as he gripped his massive sword, the flickering torchlight reflecting off the steel as he charged headfirst into the swarm of undead. "Seraphina, get behind me!" he barked without looking back.
"Kieran, wait—!" Seraphina tried to protest, but he had already thrown himself into the fray.
His first swing cleaved through a cluster of zombies, severed limbs and rotten torsos collapsing to the ground. He didn't stop. Each slash was a precise, brutal motion, cutting through the undead with ferocity and efficiency. Yet, for every one he cut down, more seemed to emerge from the darkness, their moans growing louder and more chilling.
"Shit, they won't stop coming!" Kieran cursed, his movements becoming more frantic as the swarm pressed in. With a growl, he slammed his sword into the ground, creating a shockwave that knocked several zombies back. He spun on his heel and resumed slashing, his blade cutting through decayed flesh and bone like a whirlwind of steel.
The relentless horde, however, was unyielding. As Kieran focused on the oncoming zombies in front of him, he failed to notice the swarm gathering behind him. Rotten hands reached out, clawing toward his back.
"Kieran!" Seraphina's voice rang out sharply.
Before he could react, she dashed forward, torch in one hand and her slim sword in the other. With a fluid motion, she swung her blade, cutting down the zombies that had crept up behind him. Flames from the torch singed the air, adding a fiery glow to her strikes.
Kieran glanced over his shoulder, breathing heavily. "What the hell are you doing? I told you to stay back!"
"And let you get swarmed? Not a chance," Seraphina shot back, her voice defiant as she plunged her sword into another zombie. "You may think physical strength is all that matters, but even you can't fight them alone."
Kieran smirked faintly, despite the chaos around them. "Fine, but don't slow me down, mage."
"Don't you dare underestimate me, Orc," Seraphina retorted, her movements surprisingly graceful as she continued to fend off the undead.
The two fought back-to-back now, their actions synchronized despite their bickering. Zombies continued to swarm from the darkness, but together, they began to carve a path through the seemingly endless horde. Kieran grunted as he swung his blade, slicing through another zombie. "Burn them!" he shouted over his shoulder, his voice filled with urgency.
Seraphina's eyes widened as she deflected an incoming zombie with her sword. "You want me to what?! Are you insane? We're in an enclosed space!"
Kieran turned his head briefly, smirking despite the blood and chaos surrounding them. "We're already up to our necks in trouble! A little fire won't make it worse!"
Seraphina gritted her teeth, glancing at the torch in her hand. "You know, sometimes I think you actually enjoy being reckless," she muttered, stepping back as she assessed the horde.
"Less talking, more burning!" Kieran barked, slamming another zombie into the ground with his blade.
With a reluctant sigh, Seraphina held the torch out, flames flickering wildly. She muttered under her breath, her other hand making a quick, intricate gesture. "I swear, if we both burn to death, I'm haunting you in the afterlife."
A wave of fire erupted from the torch, roaring forward and engulfing the zombies ahead. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as the undead creatures shrieked and writhed in the inferno. The flames illuminated the dim space, casting long shadows on the walls.
Kieran shielded his face from the heat with his arm, grinning. "See? That's more like it!"
Seraphina glared at him. "Next time, you're the one handling the fire, Orc!"
"Deal," Kieran replied with a chuckle, stepping forward to finish off the few zombies that had escaped the blaze. As they finished off the last of the zombies, both Kieran and Seraphina took deep, labored breaths. Kieran sheathed his sword with a grunt and started walking, his heavy steps echoing in the dim corridor.
"Wait!" Seraphina called, catching up to him. "Don't just charge ahead like that!"
Kieran didn't respond, his focus sharp. Suddenly, a faint noise reached their ears—distant and guttural, carrying a haunting, high-pitched edge.
"Is that... more zombies?" Seraphina asked, her grip tightening on the torch.
Kieran stopped, tilting his head to listen. His pointed ears twitched, honing in on the sound. "No," he said, his voice tense. "Screaming. A man screaming."
As they cautiously advanced, the noise grew louder. A sudden burst of light and movement came from the shadows ahead. A soldier appeared, running straight toward them, engulfed in flames. His face was charred beyond recognition, one arm was severed, and his exposed ribs jutted out from his torn torso. His screams were a horrifying blend of agony and despair.
"Help... me!" the soldier cried, his voice hoarse as he stumbled past them, leaving a trail of blood and fire in his wake.
Seraphina gasped, frozen in place. "Oh my gods! We have to help him!"
"No," Kieran said coldly, grabbing her arm to stop her from running after the man.
"But—"
"We can't do anything for him!" Kieran snapped, his tone sharp and unwavering. He glanced back at her, his eyes fierce. "He's as good as dead, and we don't have time to waste. Calvin and the others are still in that damned castle. Remember why we're here!"
Seraphina's eyes filled with conflicted tears as she looked at the burning soldier, whose screams faded as he disappeared down the corridor. She clenched her fists, forcing herself to nod. "Fine. Let's go."
Without another word, Kieran turned and continued down the hall, his sword at the ready. Seraphina followed, her torchlight flickering against the dark walls. As Kieran and Seraphina pressed forward, the dim corridor began to give way to a flickering orange glow emanating from a wide archway up ahead. They quickened their pace, their footsteps echoing against the stone walls.
When they reached the edge of the hall, the scene before them stopped them in their tracks.
Inside a massive chamber, Calvin and Loris were locked in a desperate battle against a monstrous creature. It stood nearly twice the height of a man, its grotesque form an unholy amalgamation of features—a muscular beast's body, goat-like legs with jagged hooves, and a horned head crowned with fiery, glowing eyes. Its claws slashed at Calvin, who deftly dodged, while Loris struck out with his blade, barely scratching its thick hide.
Behind the monstrosity stood a man cloaked in dark robes, his face twisted in a malevolent grin—Ashren. His voice rang out, dripping with cruel amusement.
"Kill them," Ashren commanded, his tone cold and resolute.
The monster roared, its bellow shaking the very walls of the chamber, as it lunged forward, forcing Calvin and Loris to retreat to evade its deadly swipes.
Kieran's grip on his sword tightened, his jaw clenching. "Looks like they've got their hands full."
Seraphina's torchlight flickered as she drew in a sharp breath. "That thing... What is that?"
"Doesn't matter," Kieran muttered, stepping forward. "Let's end this."