The hunters drew their weapons and assumed battle formation. The tunnel’s width allowed three people to move freely without colliding, yet they spread out to leave extra room for evasive maneuvers.
Holding their weapons at the ready, the warriors retreated in unison, luring their enemy into the light of crystals scattered on the ground. The Labyrinth’s inhabitants were used to hiding in the dark, and if they could be drawn into the light, the humans would gain the advantage.
In the tunnel’s darkness, a chattering sound began. Deep, guttural noises alternated with tongue clicks and clattering. Sweat dripped from the focused faces of the warriors as they gripped their weapons tighter. The worker needles did not move in groups, indicating that the first rank had encountered a patrol of combat individuals.
A few more cautious steps backward, and a pale silhouette emerged from the darkness. The creature stood on its hind legs, its gaunt form towering up to the stone ceiling of the tunnel. Its bony front limbs twitched, creaking with long, stiletto-like claws. A mouth gaped on its eyeless face, and a narrow, long tongue slithered out between rows of sharp, thin teeth. Behind the creature, its kin waited, emitting wretched, guttural sounds. They were significantly smaller than the group leader, their slippery brown bodies pressed to the ground in dark corners.
Maxat raised his hand in a swift gesture, and along with the warriors in the front row, crouched. The air was sliced by whistling sounds as a rain of arrows fell upon the enemy. Metal arrowheads pierced the brown hides but left no scratch on the white creature. The enormous needle didn’t even bother to dodge. The arrows bounced off its sturdy, shiny hide, falling to the ground.
A particularly loud whistle pierced the air; an arrow struck the pale creature’s face with lightning speed. It recoiled, retracting its tongue. A series of clicks emerged from its closed throat, turning into a growl. The creature tensed its powerful hind legs and, pushing off, charged at the hunters. Its foul-smelling body crashed into the soft human forms, breaking their formation. The warrior unfortunate enough to face the creature head-on didn’t even have time to scream before dying. The creature’s onslaught crushed bones, twisted gear, and shattered weapons. Elite equipment was no better than paper in a direct confrontation with this elite monster.
“Fall back,” Maxat shouted. “Aim for its legs. Immobilize this beast.”
The white monstrosity advanced, leaving a bloody trail. The smaller brown creature following the leader chattered excitedly, jumping onto the warm remains and sinking its thin teeth into them with delight. The other creatures followed its example. They had no interest in living, breathing flesh. Scratching and biting, the small creatures shrieked at each other, unwilling to share the prey.
Meanwhile, the needle leader took down another warrior, its razor-sharp claws now dark with blood.
But the hunters’ efforts were not in vain. Their attacks repeatedly landed on the enormous beast’s lower limbs, piercing its skin and scratching its bones.
“What’s ahead? Where is it leading us?” growled Maxat. The narrow tunnel was not the best place for a confrontation, and unlike the creatures, the hunters had no room to showcase all their abilities.
The scouts’ response confirmed the blood mage’s worst fears. “Captain, we need to break through. We’re in the dead pit zone.”
Gritting his teeth, Maxat stepped aside, letting two heavily armed warriors pass forward. Simply slowing the creatures wasn’t enough. No matter how many hunters had to be sacrificed to destroy the white beast, Maxat couldn’t allow the squad to retreat further.
One of the warriors leaped at the creature and swung his hammer. His partner followed closely, aiming a two-handed sword at its lower limbs. The creature dodged the hammer but failed to block the blade. Its hind leg buckled, the bone bending at an unnatural angle. The creature let out a piercing chatter, slashing wildly with its claws. Fortunately, the warriors rolled apart in unison.
A few more strikes like that, and the white beast would lose its mobility, making it easier to hunt. And without their leader, the other creatures posed little threat to the first rank.
The warrior with the two-handed sword sprang to his feet and swung for another strike, but his partner stumbled clumsily to the side. His left leg disappeared beneath the ground. Amidst the screeches of the creatures and the labored breathing of the men, it was difficult to discern anything else. Yet another sound joined the cacophony—a cracking, popping noise.
The hunters had no chance to help, not even to warn their comrade of the danger, as the warrior and his hammer fell through the ground. His desperate scream echoed from the gaping hole.
“Watch your step. We’re right above their nest,” commanded Maxat, his eyes burning with rage. Even in his worst scenarios, he hadn’t expected the first rank—the most experienced and capable among Azur’s ranks—to fall into such a trap so clumsily.
The massive white beast stopped at the edge of the opening, its long tongue stretching out, savoring the desperate human scream.
Finally, the hunters had a chance to break the distance between themselves and the creatures and regroup. The ground beneath their feet cracked. No one dared to step twice in the same place.
“Over here,” a voice called from above, and a rope end dropped from somewhere overhead. A stranger leaned out from a crooked opening that gaped like a hatch in the tunnel’s ceiling, energetically waving his hand to attract attention. “Hurry up! The other creatures aren’t far,” he added irritably, throwing down more ropes.
“There’s a pocket here, captain. Should we push through or retreat?” A hunter tugged on a rope to test its strength and stood still, waiting for the senior’s decision.
The stranger smirked. “There’s enough room for everyone! At least for the first ones.”
“Hold off the creatures,” ordered Maxat to a few warriors. “Everyone else, climb up.” He didn’t hurry to let the white beast out of his sight, aiming his sword at it.
One by one, the first rank deftly scrambled up the ropes. Most discarded their gear to squeeze through the opening, then helped their comrades from above. The squad acted quickly and efficiently.
The creature leader finally sensed its prey slipping away. Its mouth opened wide, and an ear-splitting wail echoed through the tunnel. The warrior closest to the creature wobbled but stayed on his feet thanks to Maxat’s timely help. Grabbing the warrior by the elbow, Maxat tossed him to the back row and stepped forward himself.
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“Prepare yourselves,” the blood mage growled through clenched teeth.
A surge of energy flowed from his body. The blood mage’s suppression overwhelmed both humans and creatures alike. The hunters recoiled from their captain, while the creatures writhed and squirmed on the ground.
Unlike the brown juveniles, the white beast stood firm on its legs. Its predatory mouth opened, and a narrow tongue extended toward the blood mage. A thin, whining screech began in its foul throat, growing stronger with each passing moment. The needle was either summoning more of its kind or, more likely, calling even more dangerous beings, singing a siren’s call.
“Everyone up,” shouted Maxat, hurling a dagger into the treacherous caller’s throat. Another hunter acted alongside him. Risking exposure to the blood mage’s suppression and the creature’s counterattack, Imber brought his blade down on the vile face. The combined assault took effect on the creature, weakened by the external suppression. It hissed and recoiled, interrupting its wail.
In retaliation, its sharp claws targeted Imber. He was too close to successfully dodge. The warrior raised his blade, hoping to weaken or at least partially block the blow. His lips twisted, bracing for the impending pain.
The creature roared furiously and lunged at Imber with all its weight, but it collided with a barrier of dense, cold air. The enormous pale body flew into the wall, leaving a clear imprint in the stone. Its limbs twisted from the force of the impact, but the creature continued trying to break through the suddenly impenetrable barrier. It chattered frantically, and the small brown creatures following it seemed to lose their minds. One by one, the creatures hurled themselves at the “Shield,” not sparing their bodies. The barrier rippled with each collision but showed no signs of breaking.
Imber knew who could awaken such a powerful rune. Yet, it was still hard for him to believe how terrifyingly fast blood mages’ growth was. Under the “Shield’s” protection, the warrior focused on the offensive.
Imber’s blade struck a brown creature in the face. Another creature immediately took its place, launching a powerful claw strike at the barrier. Suri winced. She felt every hit on her barrier. The intense strain made her head throb. The essence of the “Shield” was restless, threatening to escape her control and dissipate. The stronger the creatures’ assault, the harder it was to maintain the true speech. But how could she retreat now?
“Step aside,” Avalon warned the squad members, drawing his bow. A ripple ran through the air around him. Deep within Avalon’s body, a spark ignited, and when it turned into a flame, he released an arrow filled with power. The arrow whistled through the air, disappearing from view, and reappeared as it struck the hind leg of the white monstrosity. Hissing, green fluid spilled onto the ground. One after another, arrows vanished into the air, embedding themselves in the bodies of creatures that managed to break through Imber’s defense line.
From the other end of the tunnel, behind them, a chatter and clatter grew louder. The hunters had no other path but up.
“Don’t delay,” Maxat said as he passed Suri and disappeared from view, climbing up.
Cassia touched Suri’s hand, and she tore her gaze from Imber and nodded toward the escape route.
“I’ll follow right behind you,” she said.
“Then I’ll go first and help you up,” Cassia agreed. Nimbly climbing up, she realized another hunter was climbing behind her, and Suri was simply out of her sight.
She called out anxiously, “Suri!”
“Move aside,” the hunter rudely shoved her, squeezing through the hatch.
The price for deception didn’t take long to manifest. Suri hadn’t intended to mislead Cassia, but she wanted to ensure a safe retreat for the first rank for just a little longer.
Someone roughly grabbed her arm and yanked her, pressing her against a hard chest. “They’re close,” she heard a hoarse whisper. “Can you smell their stench?”
Suri shuddered at the sight of the terrifying empty eyes staring at her from beneath the cloak. A sour aroma hit her face. She pushed the man away with all her strength, breaking free from his grasp. But Tilek had no intention of letting her go. He pulled her closer and, leaning to her ear, whispered, “They’re going mad from the smell of blood, and I’ll offer them the perfect sacrifice.”
Suri’s blood ran cold. Not daring to break control over the “Shield,” she crouched and rolled to the side, avoiding man’s grasp. Fear overwhelmed her, but her body instinctively evaded, recalling past training. Tilek grabbed the edge of her cloak, but it slipped from her shoulders and hung limply in his hand.
“Hmm,” he tossed the cloak aside. “You wanted to save everyone? I’m giving you that precious opportunity.”
Blood mage’s relaxed pose belied his deadly intent, making Suri’s hair stand on end. How could she resist not only an experienced warrior but one of the strongest blood mages?
Without wasting a second, she dashed for the rope. Anything to be in sight of the others. But Tilek easily caught up and shoved her back. Suri fell to the ground, the earth beneath her giving way. With a crack, the ground collapsed under her weight. She panicked, spreading her arms to catch onto roots and sharp rocks. Finally, she managed to grip the edge, hanging over the abyss.
Her name, “Suri,” echoed repeatedly from the hatch above. But those nearby were saving their own lives, and those who most wanted to help were too far to know what was happening.
Tilek leaned over the chasm, his greedy gaze fixed on the bracelet on Suri’s bloodied wrist. He gently stroked the ornament, admiring its texture and color.
“I’ve waited so long for the Heart’s blessing. And here it is, right in my hands.”
He grabbed Suri’s arm and pulled on the bracelet. However, the thin branches entwined around her arm like a second skin.
“Don’t resist,” Tilek hissed through his teeth and drew a dagger.
The blade pierced her palm, and Suri screamed. Sharp, tearing pain spread through her body. Her vision darkened, and she began to lose consciousness. Somewhere in the distance, she heard her own scream. She begged for forgiveness. Never before had the words of the true speech been so hard for her to utter.
“Shield.”
A swirling stream of cold air surrounded her body. The barrier battered warrior’s face, tearing at his armor, but he didn’t loosen his grip.
“You might have had a chance if you hadn’t shown me your ability earlier,” his insidious voice whispered in her face. Enormous pressure crushed her lungs. She gasped, unable to breathe. Opening and closing her mouth like a fish out of water, she helplessly watched as a black shadow emerged from Tilek’s body and slowly entered hers.
A foreign will took control of her. Pain surged in waves, but Suri didn’t make a sound. Blood mage shook her, and the barrier popped like a soap bubble. Then Tilek turned his attention to the bracelet.
His power was blinding. The man`s entire body emitted a blue glow. Such power couldn’t have originated from one wanderer and had once been united with other people.
Suri’s gaze filled with anger. Her heart pounded in a furious rhythm, the only thing still obeying her will. But even that wouldn’t last long.
Tilek raised an eyebrow in surprise, his mouth twisting mockingly. What could such pathetic attempts mean to him? When she stopped breathing, her power would remain in his hands.
“All the Heart’s power belongs to me. And only me. Because I’m destined to reach the bottom of the Labyrinth.”
The girl hung over the abyss. The person who wanted her dead was the only one keeping her from falling.
Suri mentally reached out to the being dwelling in her consciousness. [You desire to reach the bottom of the Labyrinth, and only I can make that journey. Because no other path has ever existed for me. Such is our agreement, Shug.]
The bracelet’s spike was dormant; her vision blurred with a dark haze, and her chest burned from lack of oxygen.
[How can you break your word… without even telling me how you know my mother…]
In an instant, the bracelet sprouted numerous branches that intertwined with the dagger embedded in her flesh.
Tilek realized something was wrong too late. “Why can you still use power? I have you under my control… Or is this… Whose power is this?!”
Crushing the dagger like a toy, the bracelet extended its branches and stabbed into the man’s shoulder. He staggered and cried out in pain, releasing his grip. Suri slipped free, and the bracelet squelched out of the blood mage’s body. Something glistened on its sharp branches.
Suri lost consciousness and silently fell into the den of beasts below.