The air in the chamber turned colder as the eerie silence settled over them. The Guardian's shattered remains smoldered at Dante's feet, the acrid smell of burnt flesh filling the room. He clenched his fist, still trembling from the raw power of the Bloodline Chronicle coursing through him.
"That... was the weakest one," Leah whispered, her voice shaking.
Dante turned to her, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean, 'the weakest one'?"
Leah pointed to the far end of the chamber, where the floor sloped down into a spiraling staircase. Above the archway, ancient glyphs glowed with crimson light, pulsing like a heartbeat. Symbols etched into the walls began to shift, rearranging themselves as if reacting to the Guardian's defeat.
"This isn't just one chamber," Leah said, her voice rising with urgency. "It's a labyrinth. Each level has a stronger Guardian than the last. The seal wasn't meant to be broken—it was meant to trap something far worse below."
Dante's blood ran cold. The realization hit him like a blow. "You're telling me we just scratched the surface?"
Leah nodded. "And if we stay, we won't survive the next one."
As if to confirm her words, the room began to quake. The ground beneath them groaned, and cracks spiderwebbed across the floor. From the walls, shadows began to seep out, coalescing into monstrous forms. Their growls echoed, their eyes glowing like molten fire.
"We have to go. Now!" Leah shouted, grabbing Dante's arm.
Dante hesitated, his gaze flickering to the staircase leading deeper into the chamber. A part of him wanted to press forward, to uncover the full extent of what the Bloodline Chronicle had unlocked. But the sight of Leah's terrified face pulled him back to reality.
"Fine," he muttered, his voice tense. "But we'll be back. I need answers."
Together, they sprinted toward the entrance. The shadows gave chase, their howls deafening, their claws scraping against the stone. Dante could feel the weight of their malice, the oppressive energy that seemed to sap the strength from his legs.
The archway leading to the surface was in sight when one of the shadowy creatures lunged. Its claws raked across Dante's back, sending him sprawling to the ground. Leah turned, fear flashing across her face as she yanked him up with all her strength.
"Move!" she screamed.
Dante staggered forward, adrenaline and the Chronicle's power barely keeping him upright. He reached the archway just as the first shadow pounced, its claws missing him by inches as Leah pulled him through.
As soon as they crossed the threshold, the chamber door slammed shut behind them. The runes on the door flared brightly, sealing the entrance once more.
Panting, Dante leaned against the cold stone wall, his body trembling from exhaustion. Leah knelt beside him, her face pale but determined.
"That was too close," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dante nodded, his mind racing. The Bloodline Chronicle hummed faintly within him, almost as if it were alive, urging him to return to the labyrinth and finish what he had started.
"We'll come back," he said, his voice firm. "When I'm stronger."
Leah stared at him, her eyes searching his. "You almost got us killed, Dante. This power… it's not just yours to control. It's tied to something bigger, something ancient. If we go back, we need to be prepared."
Dante didn't respond. He gazed back at the sealed chamber door, the pulsing glyphs a constant reminder of what lay beneath. He didn't just need to be stronger—he needed to know what was waiting for him.
And next time, he wouldn't run.