Sophia looked around, then pointed across the pit. “Look, Mave! That wall across that cliff! It’s a cross mark there. It’s Reyl’s habit to mark the path every time he hunts in a place he’s never visited! It means they have indeed passed through here! Oh Reyl, he’s such a great man, never forgetting to look out for his partners."

Again, a suffocating feeling crept into Maven's heart to find out more on just how close Sophia and Reyl really were. But she quickly buried that feeling. Maven then said, “All right, then let me jump over it first to measure its width.”

The elf took five, six steps back to square off for her jump. Then with one breath she dashed to the fringe of the cliff and jumped…

Her feet moved like she was walking on the air…

Her hands moved like she was swimming…

Until she landed crouching across the cliff.

Maven turned around and shouted to Sophia, “Sophia, the cliff is pretty wide. Reyl and Declan successfully jumped across it, but I’m not sure if you….”

“I can! I’m sure of it, just you see!”

With her staff hanging on her shoulder, Sophia quickly squared off, then ran as fast as possible to the fringe. Then she jumped far… and far….

Sophia tried reaching the other side with her feet, but she failed, even though she was only an inch away. She tried to reach out her hand, and still failed… By that point, it was the pit fall that was almost sure to welcome her in death.

Maven looked below, then dexterously caught Sophia's hand. With one forceful stamp she pulled Sophia as hard as she could. The red-haired girl plunged safely on to the ground. Or to be precise, on her savior's body.

Maven moaned in pain.

Sophia who was still shaken from a verge of death, was paralyzed on Maven’s body, a very awkward position for the elf girl. Maven cleared her throat. “Ehm, Sophia… Sophia!”

Sophia was abruptly startled, rolling to the right and sprawling. She was panting. From the side, Maven looked at her, then the red-haired girl looked back. The two of them made an eye contact in silence. Then they bursted in laughter.

“Oh, Maven, thank you for saving my life," said Sophia.

“Well, anything to help a friend in need.” answered Maven before standing up and offered her hand. Sophia took it and rose up as well.

“Umm, Mave… please don’t tell Reyl about us… ‘piling up’… just now, okay?” Sophia requested.

Maven replied in a playful tone, “Why, of course. I won’t tell him that we were ‘piling up’. Instead, I’ll tell him we were ‘overlapping on each other’.”

“Oh you…” Sophia pushed the shoulder of the elf who just became her best friend. Once again they laughed.

Maven then re-drew her archery set. “Let’s go, Sophia. We better hurry if we want to catch up with the guys. They’re probably in need of our help.”

Sophia nodded, she grabbed upon her hooked magic staff with both hands and started following her agile partner.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

==oOo==

Meanwhile, Declan and Reyl kept advancing through the dark tunnels of the cave.

“Shouldn’t we wait for Maven and Sophia first, Reyl?”

Without turning to face Declan, the warrior in all black answered, “No need. Let us pave the way for them. You’ve seen me leaving many marks, right? Maven and Sophia are clever women, they’ll catch up by following the corpses of the monsters we’ve killed in this labyrinth.”

He then pointed. “Ah, look Declan! A wide open space. It seems to be the center of the cave, where Udmelekh lives.”

Declan responded by stepping into the opening. His expression changed aghast, like ten thousand ghosts were confronting him.

This room that was shaped like a dome was filled with skeletons scattering on the ground, as well as a big pile of human, animal and monster skeletons in the middle.

The formation of stalagmites, stalactites and pillars that resembled rows of teeth of a massive jaw. The rancid smell of the dry blood and rotten corpses. All of them formed decorations that reminded everyone who saw it of hell.

“So, this is the throne of the ‘kingdom of the monsters’, Mordsgard. But it seems that the queen is not here at the moment,” said Declan while readying his stance.

“Yes, you’re right.” Reyl put his map into his pocket. “Unlike monster queens in general, this one is pretty ‘active’. Besides, I think the situation here is too quiet… too easy. What if we make things merrier around here?”

“It’ll probably more fun after Maven and Sophia catch up with us. But upon seeing all those things here, I think we need to start without them,” Declan answered.

“All right, let’s get ready.” Reyl took a deep breath then yelled as loud as he could.

His yell was greeted by boisterous roars, followed by rumbles echoing through the entire cave.

The ground was shaking, the gravels were jumping.

“Yep, this is a trap. Even after becoming a monster, Udmelekh remains a clever being.” Declan expressed his awe.

Reyl readied his sword. "Yup. C'mon Dec, stop talking. Bring out all you've got. Here they are!”

A horde of monsters of various kinds, ranging from those with the size of a monkey to that of an elephant was charging into the hall of the monster queen, ganging upon the two human intruders.

A moment later, the two reckless men threw down the gauntlet on the entire kingdom of monsters and charged back, swinging their weapons in frenzy with moves powerful enough to break through one thousand men.

Reyl slashed his sword with criss-crossing patterns. It was his martial move, The Deity Plucking the Stars, mincing the enemies as fast as glistering stars.

Meanwhie Declan's trident was stabbing at high speed, with the technique he called Diligent-Spirited Assault. The holy mystical power thickly wrapped over the tip of Gracia Vadis, carving deathly hole on each and every weak point he spotted. Except when blocked, no thrust was in vain.

Among the surrounding monsters, one with a shape similar to giant crab pushed forth then clasped its equally giant claw around Declan, squeezing and lifting him high.

Seeing his partner in that predicament, Reyl turned back to help. “Hang on, Dec! I’m coming!”

“No… need!" Along with a loud shout, Declan exerted his energy. He pushed with all his might, forcing the claw to open and get torn. After freeing himself, he used his position in the air by plunging the tip of the trident which he rotated like a drill, breaking open the hard shell of the giant crab, all the way to pierce its head.

“We shall break through them!” With the energy Declan just exploded recently, he had little choice but to ‘run amok’ with his technique Steep Path of Righteousness. Stabbing and slashing with irregular pattern yet aimed, he kept running through the monsters indiscriminately.

“Yeah, keep going towards that narrow tunnel!” Reyl followed behind while occasionally turned around to fend off and cut down an attacking imp. He concurrently shot a streak of Crescent Firebolts to behead a rat demon behind the imp.

On the other hand, the ex-cleric got away from the surrounding monsters. He kept running through the tunnels and narrow crossroads, until he arrived in a big tunnel filled with stalactites and stalagmites similar to the entrance of Mordsgard Cavern.

Suddenly Declan lost his balance. He fell on his own like a snapped kite. His previously bursting aura vanished abruptly. Declan forced himself to stand up, but he fell again. This time, his entire body was shaking.

Reyl who arrived near him didn’t comment, as if he already expected it. He only looked at Declan with a frown, while readying his stance.

“Hmph, why are you looking at me like that? Do you want to mock me for exploding my inner energy prematurely? Cut the chase and spit it out!” Declan snarled while pressing his hand on his heartburn due to his forceful energy usage.

“No, Dec! Look behind you!”