Kaelen’s grin sharpened as he faced the towering beast. The creature charged, its heavy footfalls thundering in the chamber. Kaelen stood his ground, waiting until the last moment before sidestepping and delivering a precise slash to its side.

The beast roared in pain, its massive arm swinging toward Kaelen in retaliation. He ducked under the blow, rolling across the slick stone floor and coming up behind it. His sword struck again, carving a deep wound across the creature’s back.

“Not so tough,” Kaelen muttered, though his breath was heavier now.

The creature spun with surprising speed, its clawed hand reaching for him. Kaelen dodged, but its other arm caught him in the ribs, sending him skidding across the ground.

“Kaelen!” Sigrid’s voice cut through the chaos.

“I’m fine!” he shouted back, forcing himself to his feet. He winced, pressing a hand to his side where blood was already seeping through his tunic.

The smaller creatures swarmed again, but Kaelen’s blade was a blur, cutting through them with brutal efficiency. He fought like a force of nature, his strength and adaptability keeping him a step ahead of his enemies.

Meanwhile, Sigrid’s glyphs flared brighter, her incantation nearing its climax. The runes on the door shuddered, their resistance waning.

“Kaelen, I need a moment longer!” she called, her voice strained.

“You’ve got it,” he replied, gritting his teeth as the larger beast charged again.

This time, Kaelen didn’t dodge. He braced himself, meeting the creature head-on. His sword clashed against its claws, sparks flying as they exchanged blows. The sheer force of the encounter shook the ground beneath them.

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Kaelen’s strength and resilience shone as he outmaneuvered the beast, his strikes calculated to exploit its weaknesses. A slash to the knee brought it down, and with a powerful upward swing, he drove his blade through its throat.

The creature let out a final, gurgling roar before collapsing in a heap. Kaelen pulled his sword free, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.

“Done yet, Argent?” he asked, his voice laced with exhaustion.

“Now!” Sigrid shouted.

The chamber filled with a blinding light as the runes on the door shattered, their power dissipating in a deafening crack. The door creaked open, revealing a dark corridor that stretched deeper into the earth.

Kaelen staggered toward Sigrid, his sword dragging behind him. “You know, I could’ve used some of that magic over here.”

Sigrid glanced at him, her silver eyes briefly softening. “You handled it.”

He smirked. “Barely.”

She stepped through the doorway, her expression turning cold once more. “Rest later. This isn’t over.”

Kaelen sighed, straightening up and following her into the darkness. “Of course it isn’t.”

The corridor was narrow and suffocating, the walls lined with ancient carvings that seemed to writhe under their light. The oppressive air grew heavier with each step, and even Kaelen’s usual sarcasm fell silent.

At the end of the passage, they emerged into a vast underground chamber. In its center stood a black obelisk, its surface covered in the same jagged runes as the door above. The obelisk pulsed with a dark, malevolent energy, casting long shadows across the room.

Kaelen’s hand tightened on his sword. “This is it, isn’t it? The source of the curse.”

Sigrid nodded, her glyphs glowing faintly. “It’s not just a curse. It’s a conduit. Something far worse is using this as a gateway.”

Before Kaelen could respond, the air around them rippled. A figure emerged from the shadows near the obelisk, its form humanoid but wreathed in darkness. Its eyes burned with an unnatural light, and its voice dripped with malice.

“You should not have come here,” it said, its tone both calm and menacing.

Kaelen stepped forward, his blade at the ready. “Funny. I was just about to say the same to you.”

The figure tilted its head, as if amused. “You cannot stop what has already begun. This world will fall, and you will join it in ruin.”

Kaelen smirked. “Big talk for someone about to lose.”

The figure raised a hand, and the chamber trembled. Shadows erupted from the ground, taking shape as monstrous forms. The air filled with their guttural growls, and Kaelen tightened his grip on his sword.

“Sigrid,” he said without looking back, “I’m guessing you have a plan.”

She stepped beside him, her silver blade glowing faintly as her glyphs flared. “Destroy the obelisk. I’ll hold them off.”

Kaelen raised an eyebrow. “You? Holding them off? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”

Sigrid’s cold gaze silenced him. “Just go.”

He nodded, a rare seriousness overtaking his usual bravado. “Don’t die on me, Argent.”

“Don’t waste time,” she replied, already moving to intercept the first wave of creatures.

Kaelen sprinted toward the obelisk, weaving through the chaos as Sigrid’s magic erupted behind him. Her spells lit up the chamber, each burst of energy tearing through the advancing monsters.

The dark figure watched Kaelen’s approach, its burning eyes narrowing. “You think you can stop me?”

Kaelen grinned, his

sword gleaming as he closed the distance. “I’ve been told I’m full of surprises.”