The seventh floor felt like a descent into hell.
The group stood at the edge of a massive cavern, shadows stretching endlessly before them. The air was cold, thick with the stench of decay. In the center of the cavern, a narrow stone bridge stretched across an endless void. A faint hum of unseen forces reverberated through the air, sending a chill down their spines.
Lorian stared at the bridge, his stomach in knots. It was impossibly narrow, with no rails or barriers to prevent a fall. How do we even cross this? he thought, his voice barely a whisper. "How do we cross this?"
"It's the only way forward," Darian answered, his voice steely. He glanced at the others, his sword gleaming faintly in the dim light. "Stay close. Stay quiet. Don't look down."
Seris knelt near the edge, inspecting the stone with narrowed eyes. "Claw marks," she muttered, running her fingers over deep gouges etched into the rock. "Something's been here... something big."
"Great," Joren grumbled, tightening his grip on his spear.
"Let's move," Darian ordered, stepping onto the bridge. The others followed, their movements cautious and deliberate.
Lorian brought up the rear, his heart pounding. Every step felt like a mile, the abyss beneath him a dark, yawning chasm. Focus, he told himself. Just one step at a time.
The Ambush
The silence shattered like glass.
A piercing screech echoed through the cavern, followed by the sound of wings slicing through the air. Lorian snapped his head up, eyes wide, his breath catching as skeletal creatures with serrated wings and glowing red eyes descended from the shadows above.
"Incoming!" Darian shouted, unsheathing his sword.
The first creature swooped down, claws aimed at Seris. She spun, narrowly avoiding the attack, and slashed upward with her daggers. One of the monster's wings was torn apart, sending it spiraling into the abyss.
Darian stepped forward, his sword flashing as he cleaved through another monster mid-dive. "Hold the line!" he commanded, his voice unwavering despite the chaos.
Joren thrust his spear forward, impaling a creature that lunged at him. He yanked the weapon free, blood spraying across the bridge. "They're faster than they look!" he growled.
Lorian's hands trembled as he watched the battle unfold. He raised his hands, attempting to use his telekinesis on one of the creatures. The monster veered sharply, sensing the attack, and Lorian's blast missed by mere inches.
"Lorian, focus!" Seris shouted, spinning to deflect a claw aimed at his chest. "Don't just stand there!"
Lorian swallowed his fear. I have to help. He reached out again, this time catching a creature mid-flight. With a grunt of effort, he slammed it into the bridge. Joren finished it off with a swift thrust.
But the creatures kept coming.
Tension Peaks
The group was losing ground. The monsters were relentless, their numbers seemingly endless. The bridge creaked under the strain, cracks snaking across the stone surface.
"Fall back!" Darian yelled, his sword flashing as he cut down another monster. "We can't hold this position!"
"Fall back to where?" Seris retorted, defending against two creatures at once, her daggers a blur.
Lorian's chest tightened. His breaths were shallow, and his muscles ached. Another creature dove toward him, claws raking his arm. Pain shot through him, and he stumbled, nearly losing his balance.
Joren caught him by the shoulder. "Stay on your feet, kid!" he barked, shoving Lorian forward.
Desperation clawed at Lorian's mind. He saw the exhaustion on Darian's face, the blood dripping from Joren's arm, and Seris's determined but weary stance. We're not going to make it.
And then he saw it—a massive boulder, perched precariously near the edge of the bridge. An idea sparked in his mind.
"Cover me!" he shouted, sprinting toward the boulder.
"Lorian, wait!" Darian's voice echoed, but it was too late.
Lorian's Moment
Lorian reached the boulder, his chest heaving. His hands pressed against its rough surface, and he focused every ounce of his energy into his telekinesis. The boulder was heavy—too heavy. His vision blurred as he fought to maintain control.
"Come on, come on," he muttered, his voice strained.
With a final roar of effort, he pushed. The boulder broke free from the bridge, hurtling toward the swarm of monsters. It slammed into their center, scattering them like leaves in the wind.
For a moment, silence reigned. The creatures that remained retreated into the shadows, their screeches fading into the distance.
Lorian collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. His body trembled, drained of every ounce of energy. Joren's hand landed on his shoulder. "You did it, kid," he said, his voice filled with awe.
But their victory was short-lived.
The Collapse
A low rumble filled the air, growing louder with each passing second. The cracks in the bridge widened, chunks of stone plummeting into the abyss below.
"Run!" Darian shouted, urgency in his voice.
The group sprinted toward the other side, the bridge groaning beneath them. Lorian's legs screamed in protest, but he pushed himself forward, stumbling after the others.
And then, the ground beneath him gave way.
The abyss yawned open, swallowing him whole. Lorian felt himself falling, the weightlessness pulling at his stomach. His fingers grazed the edge of the bridge, but it was slipping away, vanishing into the darkness.
"Lorian!" Seris's voice echoed in the distance, filled with panic.
The last thing Lorian saw was the faint glow of the bridge, growing smaller and smaller as he plummeted into the abyss.
And then, nothing.
End of Chapter 5