The tunnels stretched endlessly ahead, twisting and turning into the unknown. Their only light source was the faint glow of Kael's shard, casting flickering shadows along the damp, uneven walls. His breathing was heavy, his limbs weak, but he pressed forward. They had no choice but to keep moving.
Rion walked beside him, silent, but Kael could feel his brother's worry. He was barely holding himself together. The fight with the Sentinel had drained him, and now, with the weight of the Resistance's survival on his shoulders, there was no time to rest.
Behind them, Maren led the remaining fighters. A dozen at most. The battle had cost them too much. Some still carried fresh wounds, while others had the hollow expressions of those who had seen too much death.
"We can't keep running blind," Maren muttered. "These tunnels stretch for miles, but the Dominion isn't going to just let us escape."
Kael exhaled sharply. "You think they're following us?"
"I know they are."
A heavy silence settled over the group. Kael glanced at Rion, whose fists clenched at his sides.
"We should stop for a second," Rion said hesitantly. "At least to catch our breath."
Maren shook her head. "Stopping means dying. We keep moving."
Rion swallowed hard but nodded. Kael reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Stay close to me."
Then, from behind them, a sound echoed through the tunnels. A low, unnatural growl.
The Dominion had sent hunters.
Kael barely had time to react before the first creature lunged. It moved fast—too fast. A blur of muscle and shifting shadows, its glowing red eyes locked onto them.
"Move!" Maren shouted.
Kael shoved Rion to the side just as the beast's claws raked through the air where he had stood. The creature's body twisted, almost snake-like, as it landed gracefully, its teeth bared in a twisted grin.
Then, more of them emerged from the darkness.
Hounds.
Not real hounds, but something worse. Twisted beings of magic and raw hunger, engineered by the Dominion to track and destroy anyone who opposed them.
They were outnumbered.
Kael drew his dagger, but his hands trembled. His shard flared weakly, still burned out from the fight with the Sentinel. He wouldn't be able to unleash another full-scale attack.
Maren didn't hesitate. She was already moving, her blade slashing through the first Hound's neck. Black ichor sprayed from the wound, but the creature barely faltered.
"They don't go down easy!" she warned.
Kael grit his teeth. Of course, they wouldn't.
A Hound lunged at him. He dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding its claws. Another came from behind, but Rion—of all people—stepped in, driving a broken spear into its side.
"Rion!" Kael gasped.
His younger brother panted, fear in his eyes, but he held firm. "I-I can fight too."
Kael had no time to argue. More Hounds were closing in.
The fight was chaos.
The tunnel became a battleground of flashing steel and snarling beasts. Kael's every movement was sluggish, exhaustion weighing him down. Maren fought with precision, but even she couldn't keep up with their numbers.
One Hound broke through their defenses. It lunged for Rion—
Kael reacted on instinct. He shoved Rion aside and slashed upward with his dagger. The blade sank deep into the creature's jaw, but it only enraged it. The Hound slammed its weight against him, pinning him to the ground.
Pain exploded through Kael's ribs. He struggled, but his strength was failing.
Then—
A burst of fire erupted from his shard. Weak, flickering, but just enough. The flames scorched the Hound, forcing it to recoil.
Kael gasped for air, rolling onto his knees. His vision blurred.
"Kael, get up!" Rion pulled at his arm. "We have to move!"
Maren struck down another Hound and looked toward the far end of the tunnel. "We can't keep this up! We have to fall back!"
But where? The tunnel only stretched deeper into the unknown.
Then Rion pointed. "There! A passage!"
Kael barely saw it—narrow, almost hidden against the rock. It might be their only chance.
The group broke into a sprint. The Hounds howled in rage, their claws scraping against stone as they gave chase.
Rion was the first to reach the passage, slipping through with ease. Maren followed, pulling one of the injured fighters through with her.
Kael was the last. His legs ached, his body screaming at him to stop, but he forced himself forward.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the tunnel walls trembled. Something was happening.
Kael turned just in time to see the Hounds stop.
They didn't chase them in.
Instead, they backed away, their glowing eyes fixed on the passage's entrance.
Then, slowly, they retreated into the darkness.
Kael's stomach twisted. This wasn't right.
The Dominion's Hounds never gave up the hunt.
Maren caught her breath beside him. "Why did they stop?"
Kael didn't answer. He stared deeper into the tunnel ahead.
It was quiet. Too quiet.
A different kind of danger awaited them here.
And whatever it was, it was far worse than the Hounds.