They were silent as they journeyed deeper into the cave. They could also tell they were near their objective as their torches flickered and their electronics buzzed randomly which became more frequent the deeper they went. Which indicated that the magical energies in the area were potent enough to interfere with their equipment. Though one thing was not clear to them, the fate of the witch remained a mystery.

There were risks to using magic, even a trained and skilled magic user could fall victim to its consequences. Doing something wrong, mispronouncing a chant, or drawing the wrong symbols would lead to consequences unforeseen to the user of magic. If they were lucky, it could be nothing, the spell unable to work. The other scenario for doing a spell wrong is they cast a different spell which could have its own sets of issues, either injury or death. Yet that is merciful and a far more desired outcome than the worst-case scenario. Failure could lead to the summoner being transported into the Realm of the Dead, the plain where magic as a source originated, the place where all users of magic draw their power. A dimension that surges with power with the souls of all things living, a place and a plain of reality that keeps life and the natural world in order. Once transported there, the victim will be overcharged with magical energies, ripped apart, and put back together as the dimension breaks down and resembles them on a cellular level a million times over. They would never die; they would never rest until the universe finally ceased to exist.

While Ryan walked alongside Jackson, he wondered if he should start learning how to cast basic spells. After seeing his torch flickered, he wondered if a simple light spell could illuminate the entire cave. Though he was thankful that the spirit was so kind enough to provide them with an illuminating source, even if he knew the reptile could see perfectly in the dark.

Then he noticed something odd, something strange. The light of his torch couldn’t penetrate the darkness at a certain point. Ryan stopped Jackson and pointed at the strange phenomenon, ‘something ain’t right. It shouldn’t be like that.’

Jackson saw what he meant and turned around to aim the light of his torch behind them to see that they were surrounded by a thick layer of darkness.

Then, the darkness moved. Slowly approaching them, consuming the light of their torches. ‘Fire at will!’ Jackson ordered, shooting his shotgun at the advancing void. Ryan shot as well, hoping it would do anything. Only to see that the darkness absorbed their bullets like a peddle falling on a vat of slime. No matter how many bullets they put into the advancing creature, it kept moving to them, ready to devour the two soldiers that entered its cave.

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Ryan panicked, terrified that he would die in the cave. Then the spirit gave Ryan a calm smile as it raised both of its arms, their palms aimed at the darkness that surrounded them. Both the reptile and Ryan covered their eyes as a blinding light eviscerated the darkness from existence, it screamed and howled while it disintegrated from the spirit’s radiant light.

The young man chuckled, trying to process that he faced a near-death experience, only to survive because of the spirit that followed them. ‘Damn, the little guy is a friend all along.’ The spirit looked up at Ryan to give them a nod.

The reptile glared at the spirit, before looking back at Ryan. ‘Or hunting,’ they coldly replied.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Horrifica don’t just threaten humanity, other times they hunt other Horrifica.’ Jackson replied while he continued walking deeper into the cave.

Ryan rolled his eyes while he followed the reptile. ‘Sure, I know that. But that spirit is still a friend, hell, look at them smiling. They clearly like my company, not sure about you.’

Jackson didn’t reply, nor interested in Ryan’s jab when they had no real means to fight the new creature that lives in the caves. Ryan could tell that the reptile didn’t trust the spirit or liked that they had to rely on it to keep themselves alive.

The young man opened his mouth to talk to the reptile and remove the awkward silence between them. ‘Well, if it makes you feel better, I…’

Before Ryan could react, a dark tendril wrapped around his leg and tripped him. Knocking his battle rifle from his hand and the hat from his head while the creature dragged him deep into the cave. Jackson tried to grab him, but the reptile was too slow to save him from the grasp of the wrathful beast. Ryan screamed in terror, trying to kick the tendril away as it pulled them deeper into its territory.