I couldn't help but shudder in revulsion as I dragged myself out of the tunnel's tomb-like confines. "Note to self," I muttered, trying to shake off the claustrophobia, "next time, take the damn stairs." I needed a hug. A mom. A bottle of vodka. Two. Make it two big bottles so I could wipe the memory of the tunnel from my brain.

Looking around, I found myself in a dimly lit room with rounded and polished stones set at irregular intervals almost as tall as the ceiling. Dirt and moss clung to every surface. We were in a catacomb, and the air was thick and heavy with the scent of decay and damp earth.

A shattered skeletal human arm—at least, I think it was human—was shoved between the floor and wall. Dim torchlight struggled to penetrate the darkness, casting long, erratic shadows. Some areas were almost pitch black, the torches unable to reach the far corners of these ancient burial chambers.

“Are you alright?“

She knelt in front of me and took my hands. Held them tightly and pulled me close. I gave her an awkward half embrace, grateful Darby wasn't witnessing this. EchoAnilTrine had a deep reverence for me that I didn't fully understand. She was a hot elf. Not gonna lie. But she was also at least a thousand years old. The ultimate hot cougar, I guess.

"Echo," I breathed, relief washing over me. "You have no idea how good it is to see a familiar face." I returned her embrace, allowing myself a moment of comfort in this chaotic world.

"It is so good to see you well, Liam."

“Echo. Where in the hell are we? Is this a tomb?"

She nodded.

EchoAnilTrine looked unchanged from the last time I had seen her—the amalgamation of three posthumans blended together into a beautiful female elf. Even in the dim light of the hall, her green and violet eyes shimmered as she stared at me. Echo's long golden hair was perfectly coifed as it spilled down her back. She wore the same figure-hugging light blue armor, with short swords on her hips.

“Yes, Liam. And I have friends. There is so much to tell you, but I sense we must get out of here. A significant threat grows to the east. Something that was supposed to have been locked away for-“

“The Ormithral. Yeah. We’ve already had a run-in. That's how we ended up here. Where's Stretch?"

I stared at Echo, relief washing over me at the sight of a familiar face. But before I could fully process our reunion, a tall elf stepped forward, his presence commanding attention.

"You were able to escape the confines of The Nexus, and yet you returned?" She didn't answer my query about Stretch.

Where in the hell was our talking toy companion? I'd grown tired of his endless quips during the first day here, but they had become a source of humor and had on many occasions brought laughter to whatever grim threats we had faced. I guess he had become a friend at some point. I actually missed him and his mount Cindi, even if his cinderclaw liked to try and piss acid on my feet from time to time.

"Yeah," I chuckled. "We jumped to get out. Darby created a potion that prevented us from getting squashed." I gave her a quick rundown of what we'd been up to. She gasped when I mentioned the dragon, the darkening sky, and how we'd been forced to flee a vast horde of crimson reapers.

"EchoAnilTrine, we must make haste. Time is of the essence," a tall elf declared, his voice rich and authoritative. He met my eyes and said, "I am AldorionBreylis."

"Liam." I nodded.

His clothing was a patchwork of stitched-together flamboyant garb. He reminded me of FinnCharles, except that postie had been an uptight asshole. The jury was still out on one. The multicolor ensemble was an assault on the senses as a medley of hues and textures fought each other for dominance.

A long, slender rapier hung at his hip, its hilt glinting with inlaid jewels. Behind him stood four other elves, each dressed in similarly extravagant, if slightly less garish, attire.

Snapping out of my daze, I remembered my friends. "We need to hurry!" I exclaimed. "My companions are trapped. There's a door nearby that'll free them. We have to find it!"

As if on cue, a bone-chilling roar echoed through the halls of The Nexus, causing the walls to vibrate. My heart raced as I tried to get my bearings, but the twisting corridors had left me completely disoriented.

My hand snapped to my side, and a great sword appeared in my hand. "The fuck was that!"

"We need to hurry!" I exclaimed. "My friends are trapped. They're probably worried sick, thinking I've abandoned them. We have to find that door!"

Another terrifying bellow shook the floor beneath our feet. I turned to Echo, fear creeping into my voice. "What the hell is making that noise?"

Echo's eyes darted nervously. "Liam. We will help you locate that door with utmost haste."

A sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach as I realized just how perilous the situation was. If I died here, I would respawn at the site of the dead dragon. It was the same site that was probably swarming with crimson reapers. Worse, the elves would not know where to find my friends, and they would be trapped and have no idea what had happened to me. I had a big sword and was strong, but facing an army of those ravenous beasts alone would see me dying repeatedly.

"Alright, let's spread out and search for that door," I said, meeting each elf's eyes. "It's large, stretches to the ceiling, and looks like burnished copper. Remember, we're not just opening a door - we're saving lives."

We fanned out into the network of ancient tunnels, the air thick with the musty scent of decay and damp earth. Flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows on the walls. I tried to ignore the hollow eye sockets that seemed to follow our every move.

"Watch your step," I called out, noticing how uneven the floor was—centuries of neglect had left the stone cracked and treacherous.

As we searched, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. I ran my hand along the cold stone, hoping to find some hidden mechanism or clue.

"Liam, over here!" Echo's voice echoed through the chamber. I rushed to her side, nearly tripping over a pile of bones in my haste.

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She stood before a section of wall with a split seam that matched what I had seen on the other side before I'd pushed myself into the tunnel.

"Darby!" I yelled, then pressed my ear against the wall, straining to hear any sound from the other side. For a moment, I thought I caught the faintest whisper of Darby's voice, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

EchoAnilTrine produced a palm-sized stone and held it aloft. A light formed in the center and soon filled the space.

"We must make haste. The dead are hungry here," AldorionBreylis advised.

The light had done the trick and illuminated a small lever to the side of the door. It had the same rusted patina as the walls and had been nearly invisible in the dark. "There!" I rushed to a space.

It was stuck well and fast. I pulled, yanked, struck, but it wouldn't budge.

"Allow me," AldorionBreylis offered.

He did, and the lever wouldn't budge. We both got on it, but it was rusted shut.

Then, an idea struck me. Or should I say, an idea to strike—struck me.

I quickly pulled out the Titanguard sword. With the grip in both hands, I jumped in the air and used the heavy pommel like a hammer. One strike was all it took to bust the lever free.

A low rumble filled the air. The wall before us began to shift and groan, ancient gears grinding to life after years of disuse. Slowly, painfully, the door started to open.

"Darby! Leech! Can you hear me?" I called out, my voice echoing in the chamber beyond.

"You found us," Thandroot called from inside.

I quickly ducked in and found my friends patiently waiting.

"Hey, now," Leech rose to his feet and grinned as he spotted EchoAnilTrine behind me.

I stepped into the chamber, relief washing over me as I saw my friends safe and sound. Darby's eyes lit up, a smile breaking across her face as she rushed towards me.

"Liam! You made it!" she exclaimed, pulling me into a quick hug.

Leech grinned, clapping me on the shoulder. "Thought we'd lost you there for a minute, buddy."

Even Trogs, in his stoic way, nodded approvingly. "Good to see you in one piece. I feared the worst when you did not return."

"Couldn't come back. I wasn't able to turn or back once I'd made the second turn."

Trogs clapped me on the shoulder and offered the equivalent of a troglodyte smile. Don't get me started on how terrifying that looked.

As the others gathered around, Darby's expression shifted slightly when she spotted EchoAnilTrine behind me. Her smile tightened, and her eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.

Sylara was back on her feet but leaned over, hand on Thandroot. The dwarf stared at Echo and the other elves, his face painted with awe.

"Guys, I want you to meet some new friends," I said, gesturing to the elves. "This is EchoAnilTrine, AldorionBreylis, and... um, the Technicolor Dream Team," I finished lamely, realizing I didn't know the others' names.

AldorionBreylis stepped forward, his colorful attire catching everyone's attention. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance," he said with a slight bow.

"You're a high elf," Thandroot said.

Echo glanced at me. I shrugged. I hadn't gone into detail with the dwarf regarding how we all knew each other. He'd already expressed disbelief about where we'd come from. Better to keep quiet for now so we could hurry and get the hell out of this tomb.

Before we could continue the introductions, a resounding, reverberating thump echoed through the catacombs. The sound sent a chill down my spine, and my companions tense up while glancing around nervously.

EchoAnilTrine's face grew serious. "We must move quickly," she said, her melodic voice tinged with urgency. "The dead are restless here and grow more active by the moment."

Darby's eyes flicked between EchoAnilTrine and me, a mixture of concern and something else - was it jealousy? - in her gaze. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then thought better of it and nodded.

Another thump, louder this time, reverberated through the chamber. Dust and small pebbles rained down from the ceiling.

"What exactly do you mean by 'the dead are restless'?" Leech asked, his hand instinctively moving to his staff.

EchoAnilTrine's eyes met mine, her expression grave. "There are places where fallen heroes reside. In death, they deserve a place of rest and reverence."

"Leefser preserve," Thandroot put in.

"Indeed, friend dwarf." She shifted her gaze to Leech. "There are also places where fallen villains are entombed. Those who have in some way caused great harm to the land of Eldrath."

"No," Thandroot said. "Say that is not-"

"I am sorry, friend dwarf. We are in The Maledicted Vault."

Thandroot stepped back and uttered Leefser's name.

His words were cut off by a bone-chilling howl that seemed to come from everywhere at once. The torches flickered, casting wild shadows on the walls as a cold wind blew into the tiny space.

"Damn. We're trapped between the demons outside or the dead inside," Thandroot said.

"I'm just gonna say it," Leech grinned.

"Say what?" EchoAnilTrine

"It's time to get our fuck on!"

Before laughter could bubble up, I couldn't help it. AldorionBreylis just looked so damn serious and a little constipated. A skeletal arm came into view through the doorway. A skeleton, you say? How bad can that be? Just smack it down and get back to it. It's not the first skellie you've faced.

The rotted arm that came into view was easily ten feet long. It was attached to an even larger beast, a grotesque abomination that resembled a rotting, oversized caterpillar, but it was just bones and flesh. It dragged a sack of what looked like throbbing intestines in its wake. The creature lumbered toward us, its decaying exoskeleton creaking and groaning with each slithering movement.

SYSTEM MESSAGE: Skelegore the Unraveled has appeared! It has all the bones, all the guts, none of the personal hygiene. Get ready for a fight that's both gruesome and gut-wrenching. This colossal beast snakes its way around tomb-like confines, looking for potential treasure seekers. The skelegore likes to eat carrion, and that's what you're going to be when this fight is over.

I gripped my Titanguard sword tightly and rushed forward, bringing the sword down on the skeletal arm with all my might. The impact sent shockwaves up my arms, and the sound of shattering bone echoed through the chamber.

As shards of bone blasted around me, I realized the true scale of the monstrosity we faced. The beast was colossal, its segmented body stretching far beyond the reach of my sword and down the length of the catacomb passageway. Its empty eye sockets glowed with an eerie light, and its jaw hung open, revealing rows of long, serrated teeth.

Thandroot and Darby leaped into action beside me. The dwarf drew a large mace from his temporal tote and unleashed a spell that burst from the weapon's head. Powerful yellow light illuminated the entire area and made the skelegore flinch.

Darby's arrows whistled through the air, finding their mark in the beast's decaying flesh. Each shot was precise and deadly, but the creature seemed unfazed by the onslaught. She'd picked up a quiver that provided different arrows. She yanked one with a firey head and shot the beast in the neck. Flames raced across the putrid flesh, causing the thing to howl. That got its attention.

EchoAnilTrine moved with fluid grace, her twin short swords flashing in the dim light. She danced around the beast's flailing limbs, her blades cutting deep into its rotting hide.

AldorionBreylis, the newcomer, drew his rapier with a flourish. The blade was slender and elegant, but it thrummed like it had an inner power. He raced around the beast, over a sweeping arm attack, and came up in a graceful lunge near the skelegore's head. His strike was quick and precise, targeting the eye socket.

It reared back, and a ghastly howl filled the air.

I leaped over a flailing skeletal arm. The Titanguard sword felt heavy in my hands as I rolled under the Skelegore's massive head. Its putrid breath washed over me, nearly making me gag.

"Watch out!" Darby's voice rang out, but it was too late.

The beast's second arm lashed out with terrifying speed as I tried to regain my footing. I barely had time to brace myself before it slammed into me, the impact knocking the wind from my lungs. Pain exploded through my body as I was hurled against the stone wall.

The collision was brutal. My vision blurred, and I could taste blood in my mouth. My health bar flashed red, dropping to just under a tenth. I slumped to the ground, struggling to catch my breath.

"Liam!" Echo's voice cut through the chaos. She appeared at my side, her eyes wide with concern.

I gritted my teeth, fighting against the wave of dizziness that threatened to overwhelm me. "I'm okay," I managed to gasp, though I was far from it. My ribs ached, and every breath sent sharp pains through my chest.

Pushing myself up, I gripped the Titanguard sword tighter. The Skelegore loomed before us, its massive form filling the chamber. I triggered a heal to renew my health.

"Not today!" I yelled, and raced back into the fight.