Kaelen and Sigrid stood over the creature’s twitching corpse, its black ichor pooling across the stone floor. The oppressive atmosphere seemed to lighten slightly, though the Abbey’s unholy silence remained unbroken.
Kaelen nudged the beast’s head with his boot. “You weren’t kidding about servants. That thing was tougher than most.”
Sigrid knelt beside the body, her silver hair catching the faint red glow filtering through the cracked ceiling above. She ran her hand over the creature’s flesh, her glyphs faintly glowing as she murmured a spell. A moment later, she recoiled, her face grim.
“It’s bound,” she said, standing abruptly. “Its will isn’t its own. Something stronger is controlling it—holding its very soul hostage.”
Kaelen frowned, sliding his blade into its sheath. “And let me guess. That ‘something stronger’ is in here with us?”
“Undoubtedly.”
Kaelen smirked. “Good. Saves me the trouble of chasing it down.”
Sigrid shot him a sharp look. “This isn’t a joke. Whatever’s inside this place has corrupted these creatures and driven them mad. If we’re not careful, it’ll do the same to us.”
Kaelen waved her off, his grin unshaken. “Relax, Argent. I’ve handled worse.”
They pressed deeper into the Abbey, the air growing colder with each step. The grand hall opened before them, its once-majestic arches now crumbled and overrun with creeping vines. At its center stood a massive altar, carved from black stone and adorned with faded runes that glowed faintly in the dim light.
Kaelen approached cautiously, his hand on his sword. “This feels like a trap.”
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“It is,” Sigrid said flatly.
As if on cue, the runes on the altar flared to life, bathing the room in a sickly red light. A low, guttural voice echoed through the chamber, reverberating in their bones.
“Who dares disturb my sanctuary?”
Kaelen rolled his shoulders, stepping forward. “Kaelen Drayth, monster hunter extraordinaire. And you are…?”
The voice laughed, a sound that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. “Bold. Foolish. You’ll make a fine addition to my collection.”
The shadows around the altar began to writhe, taking shape. A towering figure emerged, its form shrouded in darkness, save for its glowing crimson eyes. The creature’s voice oozed malice as it loomed over them.
“You mortals are nothing but playthings. Your resistance is meaningless.”
Kaelen drew his sword, his grin sharpening. “Playthings? You’ll be choking on those words in a minute.”
Sigrid stepped beside him, her silver blade gleaming as she murmured a spell under her breath. Her glyphs flared, and a protective barrier shimmered into existence around them.
“Try not to get killed,” she said coldly.
Kaelen smirked. “I could say the same to you.”
The creature struck first, its massive claw slamming into the ground where Kaelen had stood a moment earlier. He darted to the side, his blade flashing as he delivered a powerful slash to its arm. The attack barely seemed to faze the creature, its form shifting unnaturally as it turned toward him.
Sigrid raised her hand, tracing intricate runes in the air. A burst of radiant energy shot forth, striking the creature in the chest. It staggered, roaring in fury as the magic burned through its dark flesh.
Kaelen seized the opening, charging forward and slicing into the creature’s leg. His strength and precision were unmatched, each strike landing with brutal efficiency. But the creature was relentless, its movements growing more erratic as it lashed out with increasing ferocity.
Sigrid’s spells kept the creature at bay, her magic a constant barrage of light and force. But each incantation drained her, the toll evident in the faint tremor of her hands.
“We need to end this quickly,” she said, her voice strained.
Kaelen nodded, his focus unyielding. “I’ve got an idea. Keep it distracted.”
Without waiting for her response, he sprinted toward the altar, weaving between the creature’s wild attacks. Sigrid hesitated, then redoubled her efforts, unleashing a series of searing beams that forced the creature to focus on her.
Kaelen reached the altar and placed his hand on its cold surface. The runes pulsed violently, resisting his presence. He gritted his teeth, driving his blade into the stone. The altar trembled, cracks spidering across its surface as the red light began to flicker.
The creature let out a deafening scream, its form convulsing as the altar’s power waned. Sigrid unleashed one final spell, a brilliant surge of energy that pierced through the creature’s chest. It collapsed with a thunderous crash, its body dissolving into shadow.
Kaelen stepped back from the altar as it crumbled into dust, the oppressive atmosphere lifting. He turned to Sigrid, his grin returning.
“Well, that was fun.”
Sigrid sheathed her sword, her expression unreadable. “Reckless,” she muttered. “But effective.”
Kaelen chuckled. “That’s my specialty.”
The Abbey was silent once more, the curse broken. But both hunters knew this was only the beginning.
“Ready to find out what’s really behind this?” Kaelen asked, his tone lighter th
an the weight of their task.
Sigrid nodded, “Always.”