I stared at the entry, my mind racing. The description was a cruel joke, offering a glimmer of hope only to snatch it away. The bridge beneath us seemed to groan under the weight of our impending doom, the cold stone slick with blood and ichor. Thomas’s face was set in grim determination, his jaw clenched.
Without warning, he charged forward, a blur of motion. His sword sliced through the monsters, but instead of stopping them, they split, regenerating into more horrid forms.
His movements were precise, almost mechanical, as he threw the pieces over the edge. For a moment, I stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest. And then I realized what he did.
The pit wasn't a pit—it was a rising lake of blood, fed by the endless tide of abominations, already filling with the guillotined monsters.
I forced myself to move, jumping into the pool below. The blood was thick and viscous, clinging to my skin like a second layer. The metallic tang filled my nostrils, making bile rise to my throat, but I pushed forward.
The creatures flailed wildly, their limbs thrashing as they struggled against the viscous, dark-red liquid that clung to them like a sticky web. Their distorted faces were locked in expressions of silent agony, eyes wide with terror, mouths open in soundless screams. The thick, syrupy substance proved too resistant for them to advance, trapping them in place.
Desperation surged through me as I realized the creatures were too numerous to bypass. Gritting my teeth, I did the only thing I could think of. "Lightning Slam!" I shouted.
Raising my arms to the sky, I felt the crackling energy surge from within, radiating from every pore. Lightning arced and danced around me like an explosion of raw power, illuminating the dim chamber in brilliant, blinding light. With a fierce cry, I brought my hands down, slamming them into the bloody pool.
Bolts of electricity cascaded outward, snaking through the crimson liquid and striking each monster with lethal precision. The creatures convulsed, their bodies jolting violently as the lightning coursed through them. The stench of burning flesh filled the air, mingling with the metallic tang of blood.
Panting heavily, my body trembling from the exertion, I forced myself to move in the brief respite. Blood dripped from countless wounds, mingling with tears that streaked down my face. The overwhelming pain and exhaustion threatened to overwhelm me, but I couldn't afford to stop.
I stumbled forward, pushing through the temporary lull, and found myself below the platform. The dim light above cast long, sinister shadows, and the air was thick with the stench of blood and ozone.
I clawed my way up to the platform, my fingers slippery and numb. I managed to get my leg over and rolled onto my back. The lamp, our only hope, was just within reach. But as my hand closed around it, it vanished, slipping through my grasp like water.
“No!” My scream was torn from my throat, raw and desperate. Thomas’s scream told me he saw the whole thing.
The Djinn appeared, mocking us with a twisted grin; the lamp held aloft like a trophy. His laughter was a dagger, twisting in the wound of our hopelessness.
The room seemed to close in around us, the walls pulsating with the eerie glow of the Djinn’s magic. Thomas’s eyes were locked on the creature, his expression a mask of defiance.
“Don’t give in to this monster. We‘ll beat him,” he said, his voice a steady anchor in the chaos. “We fight with everything we’ve got.”
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The chase that followed was a blur of motion and noise. Thomas leaped over the abominations with practiced ease, his movements fluid and precise. I plunged back into the blood, swimming through the tide of monsters, my muscles burning with exertion. But just as I pulled myself up onto the other side of the bridge, the door slammed shut behind Thomas, leaving me alone with the horrors of the pit.
I pounded on the door, my fists aching with the effort. The blood continued to rise, inching closer to the platforms. The abominations flailed as the axes continued cutting the ceaselessly multiplying monsters, their cries a cacophony of pain and despair. I hugged my knees to my chest; the cold seeped into my bones. The nightmare seemed endless, an inescapable loop of terror and hopelessness.
Crystal’s voice cut through the haze of my thoughts, sharp and scathing. [Are you seriously giving up just like that?]
“What can I do? The door won’t budge!” My voice was barely a whisper, choked with exhaustion and fear.
[If I had a body, I would throttle you. Do you see your friendly neighborhood boss over there, munching happily away on abominations?]
“Yes?” I glanced over, the sight almost comical in its absurdity. My goblin king was feasting on the endless supply of monsters, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around it.
[Why don’t you have him knock on the door before giving up?]
I blinked. It was obvious that knocking on the door was one of my only ways forward, especially considering how low on mana I was after using Lightning Slam. The thick, acrid air filled my lungs as I struggled to regain my breath, the room's continuous flooding adding to the growing tension.
It took a while to coax him over to my side. The creatures' grotesque forms still thrashed in the bloody sludge, making every moment feel like an eternity. The air was heavy with the stench of ozone and blood. When he finally reached the door, I asked him to knock it down, hoping against hope. He threw his weight against it, but the door didn't budge. The sound of his futile attempts echoed in the chamber, a cruel reminder of our predicament.
"Ahhh!" I screamed in frustration, the sound reverberating off the walls.
[Use your overpowered magical spells, or try anything other than immediately giving up?]
C’mon, Rod, get it together. I know you can beat this, I chided myself.
The words were a spark, igniting a fire in my chest. My breath came in ragged gasps, but I forced myself to my feet, the weight of my exhaustion bearing down on me. The former boss goblin was within reach, and I had to push through. Summoning the last vestiges of my strength, I cast Mana Drain on him.
Mana Drain was a spell of dark elegance, pulling the shimmering essence of mana from a target and channeling it into the caster. As I focused, my hands glowed with an eerie blue light, and I felt the cold, hungry tendrils of the spell extending toward the goblin. His eyes widened in panic as the magical energy left his body, flowing into me as he died. The rush of stolen power was intoxicating, filling me with renewed vigor and strength.
With my mana reserves replenished, I prepared to cast again. I closed my eyes, focusing on the familiar pull of power within me. The room seemed to shrink away as I delved deep into the icy cold at my core, drawing out the threads of magic. "Fireball!" I shouted, releasing the spell. The fiery orb shot from my hands and splashed harmlessly against the wall, leaving only a scorch mark.
“Ice Beam!” The spell left a small hole, barely a pinprick, but it was enough. I felt the magic drain from me, the cold seeping into my veins. My vision blurred, and my head swam, but I held on, pushing the spell further. The pain was a constant, throbbing ache, but I ignored it, focusing on the task at hand.
Finally, the hole was big enough. I collapsed, my body trembling with exhaustion. My HP was dangerously low, the bar flashing red in the corner of my vision. I fumbled for a potion, the cool liquid a balm against the burning in my throat. As my health was restored, I grabbed my bag, stuffing it with the rest of the potions Klericho and I had bought last run potions, and tied it to my belt. I was ready.
As soon as I crawled into the new room, the stifling air hit me, thick with the scent of sulfur and burning wood. Sweat clung to my skin, dripping down my face and stinging my eyes. I had to dodge as the Djinn sent spell after spell in my direction, the air crackling with raw energy. I barely had time to catch my breath before retaliating, launching a couple of fireballs that exploded in a blaze of orange and red, illuminating the room in a fiery glow. The heat from the flames washed over me, mixing with the adrenaline coursing through my veins.