I glance into the dark void beyond the cave's mouth, where the faint outline of a staircase descends into the earth. Each step is crudely hewn, as if carved in haste, and the flickering light of the torch barely penetrates the oppressive darkness within.

"This has to be it," I say, gripping my sword tighter. "Kylen's team must've come this way."

Domnik straightens, his expression grim. "If they did, they weren't planning to come back out. It had to have been a last resort to escape the vampires. Smell that?"

The air is thick with the stench of rot and decay, a rancid smell that claws its way into my lungs. I nod, swallowing hard.

Without another word, we step into the cave. The torch's flickering light seems to retreat, swallowed whole by the blackness as we cross the threshold. A chill runs through me, not from the cold, but from the oppressive weight of the air, heavy and stifling, like the mountain itself is alive and watching.

"Stay close," I whisper. My voice barely carries, smothered by the suffocating silence.

The staircase stretches endlessly downward, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the walls. Each step feels like a descent into the unknown, the shadows growing thicker, the air colder. And with each breath, the stench grows stronger, wrapping around us like a noose.

At the bottom of the staircase, the tunnel opens into a vast chamber. We stand in near-total darkness, save for the faint glimmers of light ahead, where torches mounted along the walls illuminate a grim scene: bloodstains smeared across the ground, drag marks leading into a fork where three tunnels branch off into the abyss. In the center of the room, a path forks in three directions, each corridor disappearing into darkness.

Domnik whistles softly. "A labyrinth. Of course it's a labyrinth."

I kneel to inspect the ground, my fingers brushing the dried blood smeared across the stone. "They were here," I say, standing and pointing to the leftmost corridor. "The blood trail leads this way."

Domnik hesitates. "And the other two paths? What's waiting for us there?"

As if in answer, a low, guttural growl echoes from the darkness, followed by the shuffle of footsteps. The sound grows louder, closer, until shapes begin to emerge from the shadows—rotting flesh, lifeless eyes, and the unmistakable stench of decay.

"Zombies," I hiss, drawing my sword.

Domnik raises his hands, a small flame flickering to life in his palm. "How many do you think there are?"

"Enough to keep us busy," I reply, stepping back as the first wave stumbles into the light.

The zombies lurch forward, their movements jerky and unnatural. I swing my sword in a wide arc, the blade cleaving through the closest one with sickening ease. Domnik hurls a fireball, the flames engulfing a cluster of the undead and lighting up the chamber.

"Watch your back!" Domnik shouts as a zombie lunges at me from the side. I spin, driving my blade into its chest before kicking it away.

The fight is chaotic, the narrow corridor forcing us to fight shoulder-to-shoulder. Domnik's fire keeps the horde at bay, but for every zombie we cut down, two more seem to take its place.

"We can't keep this up," Domnik says, panting as he incinerates another group.

I glance at the leftmost corridor, the blood trail still faintly visible. "We push through. The trail's still there."

Domnik nods, summoning another burst of fire. "Lead the way. I'll cover you."

We press forward, carving a path through the horde. The zombies claw at us, their lifeless faces twisted in grotesque mockeries of humanity. My sword cuts through them like a reaper's scythe, but the weight of their numbers is suffocating.

Finally, we break through to the next corridor. The zombies seem reluctant to follow, their moans fading as we move deeper into the labyrinth.

Domnik leans against the wall, his chest heaving. "I don't know how much more of this I can take."

"We're not stopping," I say, my voice firm. "Kylen's down here somewhere, and we're not leaving without him."

Domnik sighs, pushing off the wall. "Fine. But next time, let's bring a bigger army."

We move deeper into the labyrinth, the shadows growing longer and the air colder. The stench of death is everywhere now, clinging to our clothes and skin.

And in the distance, I hear it—a faint, chilling sound. Laughter, echoing through the dark.

The eerie laughter grows louder with each step, bouncing off the stone walls in a distorted, mocking symphony. It sounds like it's coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once, sending a chill racing down my spine. I grip the hilt of my sword tighter, the sweat on my palms mixing with the grime of the labyrinth.

Domnik glances at me, his hand glowing faintly with the promise of fire. "That doesn't sound like your average zombie."

"No," I say, my voice tight. "That sounds like something worse."

The tunnel widens into another chamber, the air here even heavier with the stench of decay. Faint, flickering torchlight reveals figures in the distance, their pale faces gleaming unnaturally in the dim light. Vampires. A dozen of them, their red eyes locked onto us as they step out from the shadows, fangs glinting like daggers.

"Well," Domnik mutters, his flames sparking to life. "That's new."

One of the vampires steps forward, his movements unnervingly graceful. His lips curl into a sinister grin. "Fresh meat," he hisses, his voice like silk over broken glass.

"Not today," I snap, raising my sword. With a flick of my wrist, I ignite a small flame in my free hand. It dances along my palm, casting long shadows against the walls. The sight makes the vampires pause, their smiles faltering for just a moment.

The lead vampire laughs, low and guttural. "Ah, The Scarlet Phoenix. Let's see how long that flame lasts."

He lunges, impossibly fast, but I'm faster. I hurl the flame in my hand, and it explodes in a burst of heat and light. The vampire shrieks as the fire engulfs him, his body convulsing before crumbling to ash.

The others recoil, hissing and shielding their eyes from the light. Domnik takes advantage of their hesitation, launching a fireball into the crowd. The chamber fills with the acrid smell of burning flesh as two more vampires fall.

"Not so tough now, are you?" Domnik shouts, his flames roaring to life as he steps forward.

But the vampires recover quickly, their movements a blur as they swarm toward us. I swing my sword in a wide arc, the blade catching one in the chest and sending him flying into the wall. Another lunges at me from the side, but I summon a burst of fire, the flames roaring up my arm and blasting the creature away.

Domnik fights at my side, his fire weaving through the chaos like a living thing. The two of us move in sync, our attacks complementing each other as we cut down the horde. But for every vampire we kill, another seems to take its place, emerging from the shadows like a nightmare come to life.

"We need to move!" Domnik yells, his flames flickering as his energy wanes.

I nod, my breath coming in ragged gasps. "Follow me!"

I throw another fireball to create a barrier between us and the remaining vampires, the flames roaring to life and forcing them to retreat. Domnik and I sprint toward one of the tunnels, the blood trail from earlier still faintly visible on the ground.

The laughter returns, louder this time, echoing through the tunnel as if mocking our escape.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"This thing's toying with us," Domnik growls.

"Let it," I say, determination hardening my voice. "We'll burn it to the ground."

The tunnel twists and turns, the oppressive darkness pressing in on us. My flames flicker at my fingertips, lighting the way as we push deeper into the labyrinth. Every step feels heavier, every breath harder to draw, but we don't stop.

Ahead, the tunnel opens into another chamber. This one is different—larger, with high ceilings and walls lined with strange symbols carved into the stone. At the center of the room stands an altar, its surface stained dark with what can only be blood.

Domnik steps forward cautiously, his flames dimming as he surveys the room. "This is it. This is where they brought Kylen's team."

I nod, my gaze fixed on the altar. The symbols on the walls seem to pulse faintly, as if alive. The air hums with energy, dark and foreboding.

"Be ready," I say, tightening my grip on my sword. "Whatever did this isn't far."

And then, from the shadows, it steps forward. Not a vampire, not a zombie, but something else entirely. Its eyes glow with an unnatural light, and its body seems to shift and ripple as if it's not fully solid. It smiles, revealing rows of jagged teeth, and the laughter we heard earlier spills from its lips.

"Welcome," it says, its voice dripping with malice. "I've been waiting for you."

The creature's voice echoes through the chamber, its tone heavy with dark amusement. It takes a step forward, and with each movement, the shadows around it seem to stretch and writhe like living things. My heart thunders in my chest, and every instinct screams at me to fight—to burn it all down.

Domnik's flames flicker in his palms, casting erratic light as he braces himself. "What the hell are you?" he growls, his eyes narrowed.

The creature grins wider, its eyes glinting like polished obsidian. "I am what your nightmares are made of," it says, voice slithering into my mind. "The first of many. But you may call me Vyxathar."

I tighten my grip on my sword, my fire powers flickering dangerously around my hand. "We're not here for a chat, Vyxathar. We're here for my brother, Kylen, and whatever else you've taken."

Vyxathar's laugh is a high-pitched, unsettling sound that crawls beneath my skin. "Kylen? Ah, yes. The boy who wandered too far. But he was never meant to return. No one does, not when they're brought here."

I step forward, fire flaring brighter in my hand as I level my sword toward him. "Then I guess we'll have to make sure you don't leave this place either."

Vyxathar's grin widens into something sickeningly predatory, and with a flick of his wrist, the shadows around him grow and churn, twisting into forms of dark, writhing creatures. Their eyes glow like embers, and their bodies are made of nothing but pure darkness, taking the shape of twisted, nightmarish beasts. Zombies and vampires seem to spring forth from the shadows themselves, pouring into the chamber.

"Not enough to stop us," I mutter, raising my sword.

Domnik's flames surge, roaring to life in his hands as he hurls a massive fireball into the oncoming wave of darkness. The explosion sends creatures flying back, the force of the blast lighting up the cavern in an intense burst. But still, they come—more, relentless, their faces twisted in grotesque mockeries of the living.

I let out a breath, summoning more fire into my palm, and without hesitation, I hurl it forward. The flames burst forward in a blinding wave, searing through the dark beasts and forcing them to dissipate like smoke. The chamber fills with the heat of the fire, the air crackling with energy.

But Vyxathar is watching us, his smile never faltering. "Impressive," he says, his voice a low growl. "Your brother opened something in this labyrinth, and now you are going to do the same so that I might follow."

Before I can react, the creature raises his arms, and the shadows around us twist violently, forming into a vortex of darkness at the center of the room. I can feel the energy building, something ancient and wrong swirling in the air.

"Domnik!" I shout. "What do we do?"

But Domnik is already ahead of me. With a burst of fiery energy, he leaps into the center of the chamber, sending a torrent of flames to disrupt the vortex. His power crackles, a bright, violent force that seems to momentarily halt the oncoming darkness.

But Vyxathar only laughs, a twisted, mocking sound. "Foolish boy. You cannot burn away what has already been born into this world."

The vortex swells, and from it, shapes begin to emerge—shadowy figures with glowing eyes, each one more terrifying than the last. Vampires, demons, creatures from nightmares, all stepping out of the swirling darkness, their twisted forms taking shape in the dim light of the chamber.

Domnik's flames flare out of control, spiraling into the creatures, burning them with searing heat. But still, they keep coming. I summon more fire into my palm, hurling it at Vyxathar, hoping to break his focus.

The flames sear through the air, striking him square in the chest. But the impact does nothing. He simply laughs, his body seeming to absorb the fire like it was nothing more than a fleeting breeze.

I growl, frustration building. This isn't working. We need a way to close the gateway, not just fight off his minions.

"Domnik!" I shout again, cutting through the chaos. "We need to close that vortex! Find the source of it!"

Domnik, his chest heaving with exertion, looks up at the swirling mass of shadows, then back at me. "Right. On it!"

He charges forward, his fire coiling around him like a shield. I follow close behind, slashing through the creatures that try to block our path. Each step feels like it's pulling us deeper into the heart of this nightmare, and the weight of the power surrounding us presses harder with every moment.

The vortex looms above, its dark energy threatening to swallow everything in sight. I see it—a pulsing core at the center, where the darkness is thickest.

"There!" I shout, pointing. "That's the source!"

Without waiting for Domnik's reply, I push forward, my fire blazing in front of me like a wall. I feel the heat surge through me, feeding into the flames, but it's not enough. The core is strong, too strong.

"Domnik, now!"

Domnik leaps forward, hurling a massive fireball at the center of the vortex. The explosion is deafening, a shockwave of heat and light that makes the ground beneath us tremble.

For a moment, the vortex falters, the darkness writhing and twisting as if in pain. But it doesn't collapse. It roars in fury, and then, with an unnatural force, it bursts wide open, spilling shadow and darkness into the chamber like a flood.

"No!" Vyxathar's voice is a roar of rage.

In that moment, everything seems to freeze—the ground, the air, the swirling darkness, all of it. And then, with a final, desperate surge of energy, I thrust my hand toward the core of the vortex. Fire erupts from my palm in an unrelenting blaze, lighting up the entire cavern in a blinding white-hot fury.

It's then that I feel it—the pull, the crackle of energy, the sudden surge of power as the vortex begins to collapse, pulled inward by my flames. And with a final, thunderous explosion, the shadows dissipate, vanishing into nothingness.

The chamber falls silent. The vampires and undead monsters are gone.

Domnik grins, his face lit up by the lingering embers of his flames. "Now that's what I call teamwork!" His laughter bounces off the stone walls, and he glances at me with a cocky smirk.

I shake my head, trying to maintain my usual composure, but I can't help the smirk creeping onto my own face. "Don't get used to it."

Turning back to the now-empty chamber, the faint echoes of our recent battle fade, leaving an unsettling silence. My gaze sweeps across the desolate space. "What do you think caused all this? I mean, why are the vampires here so... off? They're not normal."

Domnik's grin falters, replaced by a look of concentration. "There's an energy here—it's... different. I felt it on the surface, but down here, it's way more intense. Feels like it's seeping into the walls." He points to a dark corridor on the far side. "Come on, this way."

I follow closely as Domnik stretches his hand out, conjuring a flickering flame that casts eerie shadows across the rough stone walls. The air grows heavier with every step, the oppressive energy pressing down on us like a weight.

We stop at a dead end. Domnik runs his fingers over the smooth stone surface, brushing away years of dust and grime. Strange symbols, faintly glowing, begin to emerge—a language foreign to my eyes.

"Daemonic," he mutters, almost to himself. "It's been a while since I've tried to read this."

I lean in over his shoulder, inspecting the intricate etchings. "Daemonic? Seriously?"

He nods, squinting at the runes as his fingers trace their lines. "Yeah, give me a second... Okay, here it is. It says, 'Prove yourself divine, or leave and never return. For no Daem nor mortal may live to see what lies within.'"

I raise an eyebrow. "Why would they write that in Daemonic? Wouldn't Celestial or something be a better fit for this whole 'divine' vibe?"

Domnik shrugs. "They're technically the same language—two sides of the same coin. Guess it depends on who carved it." He steps back, gesturing toward the wall. "Either way, it's your turn. I'm guessing you're the one who needs to 'prove yourself divine.'"

I step forward, hesitating for just a moment before placing my palm against the cold stone. A small flame dances to life in my hand, flickering brighter as it touches the runes. The wall trembles beneath my touch, the vibrations building into a low rumble. Slowly, it begins to lower, revealing a descending passageway.

"Well, I guess that worked," I say, glancing over my shoulder with a grin.

Domnik opens his mouth to respond, but before he can, the ground beneath me collapses.

"Red!" Domnik's shout echoes as I plummet into the darkness, the floor closing back above me with a deafening thud.

"Domnik!" I shout back, panic clawing at my voice. The air rushes past me, cold and damp, before I land with a resounding splash.

The icy water steals the breath from my lungs, but I manage to break the surface, gasping. I swim to the edge, the jagged stone cutting into my palms as I pull myself onto the slick ground. Before I can catch my breath, a voice reverberates through the cavern.

"Welcome, Magnus."

The voice is deep, steady, and ancient, the kind that seems to echo inside your very soul. My blood runs cold at the sound of it.

I spin around, scanning the darkness, but there's no one there. Suddenly, a door on the far side of the cavern creaks open, revealing another dimly lit passage. Before I can move, a piercing scream cuts through the air, followed by another splash.

I whirl back toward the water just in time to see Domnik surface, coughing and sputtering as he swims toward me.

"You okay?" I ask, reaching out to help him climb onto the edge.

"Yeah, just loving this little trip so far," he mutters, shaking water from his hair as he hauls himself out. "What the hell was that?"

"Don't know. But we're not alone." I glance toward the newly opened passage, the flickering light casting unsettling shadows against the walls. The voice still lingers in my mind, its words heavy with meaning.

Domnik follows my gaze. "I'm guessing that's our next stop?"

"Looks like it." I stand, flames flickering to life in my palms once more. The firelight dances against the slick stone, illuminating the passage ahead. "Stay close. Whatever's waiting for us, it's not gonna be friendly."

Domnik nods, his own fire flaring up, casting a warm glow in the cold, oppressive darkness. Together, we step toward the open door.