Jarek had stolen plenty of things before.
But nothing had ever triggered an earthquake.
The vault rumbled around them, glass cases shattering as magic pulsed from the Amulet of Veilborn. A deafening alarm rang through the underground chamber, its shrill cry bouncing off the marble walls.
Tobias groaned. "Brilliant. Just brilliant."
Jarek ignored him, shoving the amulet into his coat. "We need to move—now!"
Lena was already sprinting toward the nearest corridor. "No arguments here!"
Sylva flicked her daggers. "We're not making it far if he gets up again."
Jarek didn't need to ask who he was.
The Vault Keeper rose slowly, dust crumbling from his coat. His gaze locked onto Jarek—no longer amused, but furious.
"You," he growled, "have made a mistake."
Jarek flashed an uneasy grin. "Not the first time!"
The Keeper moved.
Jarek barely had time to react. The man vanished, reappearing just inches away. His dagger swung for Jarek's throat.
Jarek threw himself backward.
The blade sliced through air, missing by a hair.
The Keeper didn't stop—his next strike coming even faster.
Lena intercepted, her sword clashing with his in a violent burst of sparks. "Jarek, GO!"
Jarek hesitated.
Lena snarled. "NOW!"
He cursed and ran.
A Maze of Trouble
The vault was a labyrinth.
Stone hallways stretched endlessly, twisting into dead ends and hidden passageways. Jarek sprinted after Sylva and Tobias, his heart hammering.
Behind them, Lena's sword rang against the Keeper's dagger.
Jarek's chest tightened. She better not die on me.
Sylva skidded to a stop at an intersection. "Left or right?"
"Uh—left?" Jarek guessed.
Tobias groaned. "You guessed?!"
They went left.
Immediately, an iron gate slammed down in front of them, blocking their path.
Tobias glared. "Oh, fantastic. You guessed wrong!"
Sylva spun back. "We need another way—"
The ceiling groaned above them.
Jarek barely had time to react before part of the vault collapsed, separating them from the main chamber.
Dust and debris choked the air.
Jarek coughed. "Perfect."
Sylva wiped dirt from her face. "Looks like we're on our own."
Tobias exhaled. "I hate magic vaults."
Jarek took a shaky breath. "Alright. We find an exit, regroup with Lena, and—"
A loud snarl echoed down the hallway.
Jarek tensed. "What was that?"
Tobias paled. "…You don't want to know."
Jarek turned just in time to see the shadows move.
Something large stirred within the vault.
Then, from the darkness, four glowing red eyes blinked open.
Jarek's stomach dropped.
Oh, hell.
The Guardian of the Vault
The creature emerged from the shadows.
A monstrous, four-legged beast—its skin dark and metallic, its jaws lined with serrated fangs.
Jarek froze. "Oh. That is worse than the Keeper."
Sylva swore. "It's a Warden Hound."
The beast snarled, stepping forward. Clawed feet scraped against the stone, leaving deep gouges in the floor.
Jarek swallowed. "Tell me it's friendly."
The Hound lunged.
Jarek shoved Tobias aside, dodging just as razor-sharp teeth snapped where his head had been.
Tobias yelped. "I'M GONNA SAY NO!"
The Hound whipped around, its massive tail slamming into Sylva.
She rolled with the hit, twisting mid-air to land on her feet.
Jarek's breath raced. No time to think.
The Heart of Ruin stirred.
Let me in.
Jarek gritted his teeth. "Fine. But don't—"
The Hound lunged again.
Jarek moved faster than thought.
He sidestepped the attack, pivoting just in time to bring his sword down—
Dark energy crackled around the blade.
Jarek's strike connected.
The Hound shrieked, staggering back as a gash of black fire burned across its side.
Sylva's eyes widened. "What the—?"
Tobias gawked. "Okay. That's… new."
Jarek ignored them.
The Hound wasn't dead.
It recovered fast, its wounds sealing shut in seconds.
Jarek cursed. "Of course it regenerates."
Sylva lunged, her daggers flashing. She slashed at its legs, forcing it to stagger.
Tobias held out a hand—magic gathering—and hurled a burst of energy at its head.
The spell hit, sending the Hound skidding back.
It growled, furious now.
Jarek exhaled sharply. "We are not winning this fight."
Tobias adjusted his coat. "Took you this long to figure that out?"
Jarek clenched his jaw. They needed to run.
The ceiling rumbled again.
More of the vault began collapsing.
Jarek's mind raced. Think, think—
Then he saw it.
A crack in the wall, just behind the Hound.
A possible exit.
Jarek pointed. "There! We can squeeze through—"
The Hound charged.
Jarek reacted instinctively.
He let the Heart's power surge, stepped forward, and swung his sword in a massive arc—
Dark fire exploded outward.
The shockwave slammed into the Hound, sending it flying backward.
Jarek didn't wait.
"RUN!"
Escape & Aftermath
They sprinted for the gap.
Sylva slipped through first. Tobias squeezed in next.
Jarek slid through last, just as the Hound recovered—its jaws snapping at his heels.
They tumbled out into a dark tunnel, the vault sealing shut behind them.
Jarek gasped for breath.
Sylva coughed. "That… was too close."
Tobias groaned. "I think I broke something."
Jarek slowly stood. His fingers tightened around the Amulet of Veilborn.
They had escaped—but at a cost.
They were separated from Lena.
And the Vault Keeper was still out there.
Jarek exhaled.
They needed a new plan.
Fast.