They descended the stairs and found themselves in a cavernous chamber.

The air was light but damp. The scent of water and fresh moss filled their lungs. Before them stretched a vast lake of deep blue, bordered by black rocks and towering weeping willows, their branches trailing across the water's surface.

Veil (hands on his knees, breathing hard): "Are we resting here?"

Alynia (eyeing the rocks warily): "No breaks this time, Pup. Look at the rocks. Too many hiding spots. This is an ambush waiting to happen. Remember the forest—let's not make the same mistake twice."

Veil (frustrated sigh): "Great... But you're right..."

He straightened up and got into position, scanning the surroundings. The breeze rippling across the lake's surface suddenly picked up speed.

CRACK

A nearby boulder exploded into shards. Veil instinctively raised his arms as a creature emerged. It was massive, its limbs covered in dark stone plating. Its head resembled that of a ram, with twisted, razor-sharp horns.

Alynia (shouting): "A Gravalorn! Those things are living tanks!"

BOOOOM

The ground trembled beneath their feet, fissures spreading outward from the Gravalorn's impact. The tension in the air escalated instantly.

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Alynia (dodging a horned charge): "We need strategy. Veil, keep it busy! I'll take out its legs!"

Veil (yelling): "Easier said than done!"

He raised his hands, calling upon the water from the lake. A wave surged forth, crashing against the Gravalorn, drenching it.

Veil (shouting): "Alynia! I can freeze its legs!"

Alynia (leaping aside): "Do it! But do it fast!"

Veil extended his hands, and a wave of cold spread outward. The water beneath the Gravalorn's feet hardened into a thick layer of ice.

Veil (panting, grinning): "Yes! It's stuck!"

A movement caught the corner of his eye. A Furilithe—a creature resembling a panther, but larger, faster—lunged toward him.

Alynia (yelling): "Pup, get down!"

She tackled him to the ground just as the Furilithe sailed over them. The beast landed with a heavy thud, its claws gouging deep into the stone floor.

Alynia (growling): "Focus! I won't be here to save you every time!"

Veil (getting up, eyes resolute): "Yeah, yeah, I know... You handle the Furilithe! I've got an idea for the Gravalorn!"

Alynia gave a quick nod before sprinting toward the Furilithe, claws bared. Veil turned back to the Gravalorn, which was desperately trying to break free, stomping its massive hooves against the ice.

Veil (whispering, focused): "The more you move, the deeper you sink..."

He called upon both water and wind. The cold intensified. The ice around the Gravalorn's legs thickened and spread. The creature thrashed with all its might, but the more it struggled, the tighter the ice clenched around its limbs.

CRUNCH

The sound was like a tree snapping in half. The Gravalorn let out a furious roar, but its legs were completely immobilized.

Veil (shouting): "Alynia! I got it!"

Alynia (slashing into the Furilithe's side): "Nice work, Pup! But I'm still busy here!"

The Furilithe pounced on Alynia. This time, she couldn't fully dodge. The creature rammed into her, sending her rolling across the ground. She got back up, wiping a thin trickle of blood from her lip.

Veil (worried): "You okay?!"

Alynia (wiping the blood away, eyes fierce): "I'm fine... I've had worse. Playtime's over. We finish this together."

Veil nodded and braced himself. They attacked in unison. Alynia dashed toward the Furilithe from the right, drawing its attention. The beast turned, readying a counterattack.

Alynia (yelling): "Now!"

Veil summoned a crashing wave, knocking the Furilithe off its feet. In an instant, Alynia pounced, sinking her claws deep into its neck.

The creature thrashed but couldn't rise again. The duo stood, breathing heavily but victorious.

Alynia (wiping sweat from her brow): "Teamwork..."

Veil (glancing toward the lake's surface): "Yeah... but we're not done yet..."

A long, sinuous shape was slowly emerging from the depths of the lake.