A low rumble echoed through the chamber, and the ground trembled beneath our feet. Dust cascaded from the crumbling ceiling, mingling with the stale air and filling my lungs with grit. The uneven floor was strewn with loose gravel and jagged rocks, remnants of earlier shakes. Each step sent small stones skittering ahead, their clattering sounds swallowed by the vast darkness. The distant groan of shifting rock made my skin crawl, and a metallic taste settled on my tongue.
We shouldn't be here. My pulse quickened, each heartbeat hammering louder than the last. "This whole place could collapse," I said, my voice barely masking the fear gnawing at my gut.
Maris smirked, the flickering torchlight casting sinister shadows across his face. He waved a dismissive hand, the gesture as casual as brushing away a fly. "Relax, we're safe—for now."
"For now?" I echoed, fists clenching so tightly my knuckles ached. "That's not exactly comforting."
He ignored the sharp edge in my tone, reaching into his pack to pull out the Stone of Separation. The sight of it made my blood run cold. The runes etched into its surface began to glow, pulsing like a malignant heartbeat.
A chill crept down my spine. "What are you planning to do?" I demanded, taking a cautious step back as the air grew thick with arcane energy.
He held the stone aloft, his eyes reflecting its eerie light. "Fulfill my destiny," he said, the words dripping with cryptic menace.
My instincts screamed at me to run, but my feet remained rooted. Crystal's light flared at my side, casting a harsh red hue over us. He's crossing a line. "Maris, this isn't funny. That stone—it's dangerous. You know what happened to the others."
His gaze locked onto mine, and for a heartbeat, I glimpsed something fierce and unhinged flickering in his eyes. "I know exactly what I'm doing, Rod," he snapped. "You think I don't notice your distrust? The way you look at me—like I'm some sort of threat."
"Can you blame me?" I shot back, my voice rising like a drawn blade. "You've been hiding things since we got here. I read the diary. I know about the expedition and the sacrifices. Whatever you're planning—it won’t end well."
He chuckled, but the sound was hollow, devoid of warmth. "So you found the diary. Clever boy. But you still don’t understand. They were afraid, but I’m not. I'm embracing the power this island offers."
"Power?" I shook my head, disbelief twisting in my gut. "That 'power' destroyed your crew. It's a poison, Maris, and it's consuming you."
His face hardened, eyes narrowing to slits as he stepped closer. The stone pulsed faster, mirroring the tension between us. "They were weak. Unwilling to do what was necessary."
My hand hovered near my mace, fingers itching to grip the familiar weight. Every muscle in my body coiled, ready to spring. "And what exactly is necessary?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Another rumble shook the chamber, and cracks spiderwebbed across the ground beneath us. A fissure opened near the altar, belching noxious gas that burned my nostrils. The acrid stench clawed at my throat, bringing tears to my eyes.
"The island demands a sacrifice," he said, his voice low and final, each word a nail in the coffin of our friendship.
My heart pounded against my ribcage like a caged beast. He's lost it. "You're insane if you think I'm going along with this."
He smiled then—a sad, distant expression that sent a shiver through me. "I was hoping you'd understand," he murmured.
Before I could react, he raised the stone high and began chanting in a language that grated against my ears like shards of glass. The runes flared with blinding light, and the chamber vibrated, resonating with the dark incantation.
Stolen novel; please report.
I have to stop him. I lunged forward, swinging my mace. "Stop this, Maris!"
He moved with unnatural speed, sidestepping my attack as if he could read my intentions. I stumbled as my mace hit empty air, the momentum pulling me off balance. Maris seized the opportunity, slamming his shoulder into me. The impact was like a battering ram. [Damage dealt: 5% of health.] I grunted as I was knocked back, boots skidding across the dusty floor.
"Stay out of this, Rod!" he growled, eyes burning with manic intensity. "This is my destiny!"
We began to circle each other, weapons at the ready. The dim light cast elongated shadows that danced like specters on the walls. The air hummed with arcane energy, raising the hairs on the back of my neck.
He's not the man I knew. I feinted left and swung my mace toward his ribs. He parried with the stone, sparks flying as metal met enchanted crystal. The jolt traveled up my arm, numbing my fingers.
"You're making a mistake!" I shouted over the clamor, desperation creeping into my voice.
He sneered, lips curling back to reveal clenched teeth. "The only mistake was bringing you along."
Maris thrust his dagger toward my abdomen. I twisted just in time, the blade slicing through my tunic and grazing my side. A sharp sting flared, and warmth spread as blood seeped from the wound. [Damage dealt: 10% of health.]
Gritting my teeth against the pain, I retaliated with an upward swing aimed at his chin. He ducked, but not fast enough. The mace clipped his shoulder with a satisfying thud. [Damage dealt: 8% of Maris's health.] He hissed in pain, staggering back.
Maris slammed the stone onto the ground. A shockwave rippled outward, cracking the floor and throwing me off balance. I fought to keep my footing as the chamber heaved, the world tilting like a ship in a storm.
"Face it, Rod. You can't stop me!" he shouted, his words echoing like a death knell.
I steadied myself, drawing upon my inner reserves. Think, Rod. Use your head. Channeling magic into my free hand, I unleashed a bolt of light toward him. He raised the stone, forming a shimmering barrier that swallowed the attack whole.
He laughed, the sound distorted and eerie. "Your tricks are useless!"
Frustration gnawed at me. I need a new plan. The chamber offered little cover, but the unstable environment could be turned to my advantage. I charged forward, then at the last moment, dove to the side, landing near a cluster of loose rocks.
Maris turned to track me, confusion flickering across his face. Seizing a stone the size of my fist, I hurled it at him. He deflected it with ease, but the distraction bought me a precious second. I closed the distance between us and swung my mace at his legs.
He leaped back, but his heel caught on a crack in the floor. He stumbled, arms pinwheeling. Now! I delivered a solid blow to his thigh. [Damage dealt: 12% of Maris's health.] He cried out, dropping to one knee.
"Give up, Maris!" I urged, breathing hard. "It doesn't have to end this way!"
He glared up at me, hatred seething in his eyes like venom. "You naive fool!" With a snarl, he thrust his hand toward me, and a burst of dark energy erupted from his palm.
The blast struck me square in the chest, a searing agony that stole my breath. [Damage dealt: 15% of health.] I was thrown backward, crashing into a pillar. Pain exploded across my back, stars dancing in my vision.
Coughing, I struggled to stand. "Since when... could you do that?" I rasped, each word a battle.
He rose slowly, the stone's runes glowing brighter, casting sinister shadows on his face. "The island grants me power beyond your comprehension."
The atmosphere thickened, oppressive and suffocating, as tendrils of shadow coiled around his arms like serpents. He lashed them at me, and I dodged, rolling across the gritty floor. The tendrils struck the pillar behind me, shattering it into rubble that rained down like deadly hail.
I can't keep this up. Summoning my strength, I channeled healing energy to close my wounds. Crystal's light shimmered, soothing the burning pain and restoring some of my vitality. [health restored by 20%.]
Maris was relentless. He summoned more tendrils, each one whipping through the air with lethal intent. I weaved between them, sweat stinging my eyes, muscles screaming in protest. There has to be a way to reach him.
"Stand still!" he bellowed, frustration cracking his voice.
"Not a chance," I retorted, spotting an opening. Desperate, I scooped up a handful of loose gravel from the floor and flung it toward his face. The tiny stones pelted him, causing him to flinch and shield his eyes.
"You'll pay for that!" he snarled, momentarily blinded.
Using his brief distraction, I closed the gap and swung my mace at the stone in his hand. He noticed at the last second, jerking it away, but the mace clipped his wrist. [Damage dealt: 5% of Maris's health.] The stone slipped from his grasp, skidding across the floor and coming to rest near a gaping fissure.
"No!" he yelled, diving after it.