The shattered remnants of the altar lay scattered across the floor, the once-persistent hum of dark energy now a fading echo. Kaelen stood amidst the debris, the blood-red glow replaced by an eerie calm. The Abbey, though quieter, was far from safe.

Sigrid’s silver hair caught the faint moonlight filtering through the cracked ceiling. She approached the broken altar, her hand tracing the air above the ruins. Her glyphs shimmered faintly, reacting to the residual magic.

“It’s not over,” she said, her voice as cold as the chill that still lingered in the air.

Kaelen leaned casually on his sword. “Of course it isn’t. Wouldn’t want things to get too easy, would we?”

Sigrid ignored his sarcasm, her attention locked on a faint symbol etched into the floor beneath the altar’s remains. The rune was unfamiliar, its jagged lines pulsating faintly with residual energy.

“This isn’t just a curse,” she murmured, kneeling to inspect the symbol. “It’s a tether. Something below is feeding this place its power.”

Kaelen stepped closer, his grin fading slightly. “Below, huh? Great. I was just thinking we needed to descend into a dark, cursed basement. Perfect way to spend an evening.”

Without another word, Sigrid pressed her hand to the rune. The air around them shifted, and the ground trembled. A section of the floor collapsed inward, revealing a spiraling staircase descending into the depths of the Abbey.

Kaelen peered into the darkness, his sharp eyes catching the faint glint of something far below. “Well, you first, Argent. You opened it.”

Sigrid stood, brushing dust from her gauntlet. “Stay close. If you fall behind, I’m not coming back for you.”

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Kaelen smirked, falling in step behind her as they descended. “Don’t worry about me. Just try not to trip in all that fancy armor.”

The staircase spiraled down seemingly without end, the air growing colder and heavier with each step. The faint glow of Sigrid’s glyphs provided their only light, casting eerie shadows on the rough stone walls.

The passage eventually opened into a massive underground chamber. Stalactites hung from the high ceiling, dripping water into a shallow pool that reflected the crimson glow emanating from the far end of the room.

At the center of the glow stood a massive, ornate door, its surface covered in pulsating runes similar to the one above. The air hummed with raw power, and Kaelen felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

“Whatever’s behind that door,” he said, his voice low, “it’s not going to be happy to see us.”

Sigrid stepped forward, her silver blade drawn. “Good. Neither am I.”

She approached the door cautiously, her glyphs flaring as she muttered an incantation. The runes on the door flickered in response, their light dimming slightly.

“It’s warded,” she said, glancing back at Kaelen. “Breaking it will take time.”

Kaelen unsheathed his sword, scanning the chamber. “And while you’re working your magic, I’m guessing something nasty will show up to stop you?”

As if on cue, a guttural roar echoed through the chamber. Shadows stirred along the edges of the room, and Kaelen’s grip on his blade tightened.

“Called it,” he muttered, stepping in front of Sigrid.

The first creature emerged from the darkness, its form humanoid but twisted, with elongated limbs and glowing red eyes. It was quickly joined by more, a dozen or so figures shambling toward them with murderous intent.

“Buy me time,” Sigrid said, her focus locked on the door.

Kaelen grinned. “My specialty.”

The creatures charged, their guttural growls filling the chamber. Kaelen met them head-on, his sword cleaving through the first with a brutal efficiency that left no room for error.

Another lunged at him, claws raking the air. Kaelen dodged, pivoting to deliver a crushing blow to its side. The creature crumpled, but two more replaced it, their red eyes burning with hatred.

“You weren’t kidding about these things,” Kaelen called out, his tone still laced with grim humor.

Sigrid didn’t respond, her focus unbroken as her hands traced intricate patterns in the air. The runes on the door flared brightly, resisting her magic with every pulse.

Kaelen ducked another swipe, his blade flashing as he parried and countered. Despite the odds, his strength and adaptability kept him in control, each movement calculated and precise.

“Almost there,” Sigrid said, her voice strained.

Kaelen glanced back, spotting a larger creature emerging from the shadows. It stood nearly ten feet tall, its body rippling with unnatural muscle. Its roar shook the chamber, and even Kaelen felt a flicker of unease.

“Take your time, Argent,” he muttered, gripping his sword tighter.

The massive creature charged, its footsteps shaking the ground. Kaelen met it with a roar of his own, his blade slicing through the air as he aimed for its neck.

The creature blocked with an arm thicker than a tree trunk, swatting Kaelen aside like a ragdoll. He hit the ground hard but rolled to his feet, shaking off the

impact.

“Alright, big guy,” he said, his grin returning. “Let’s dance.”