I halted mid-step, every muscle locking into place. The eerie sound sliced through the oppressive silence, sharp and deliberate. My eyes widened as I scanned the dimly lit corridor, the flickering torchlight casting long, wavering shadows that seemed to writhe on the damp stone walls. The air was thick with the scent of mold and something else—something metallic and foreboding.

Skritch. Skritch.

The noise echoed, its unsettling rhythm reminiscent of claws scraping against bone. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up—a primal warning that I was no longer alone. I tightened my grip on the haft of my axe, the worn wood slick in my sweating, calloused palm. The weight of it had been comforting during my descent into these ancient tunnels, but now it felt woefully insufficient—a child's toy against the unknown horrors lurking in the dark.

Something's here.

I needed to get out. Now.

Spinning around, I searched for the exit, but where the archway and door had been moments before, there was now only a solid wall of rough-hewn stone. My heart skipped a beat, then pounded against my ribcage like a wild animal trying to escape.

"No, that's impossible," I whispered hoarsely. "I just came through here. Where's the door?"

The skritching grew louder, more insistent. It seemed to emanate from all directions, enveloping me in a suffocating cacophony of dread.

Skritch. Skritch. Skritch.

My chest tightened, each breath becoming a shallow gasp as the air grew thick and stale. A chill seeped into my bones, and cold sweat dripped down my brow. Panic clawed at the edges of my mind, threatening to consume me.

Calm down, Jamie. Think.

I took a cautious step backward, my boot slipping slightly on the slick, blood-covered stones. The torchlight dimmed, the flames shrinking as if recoiling from some unseen force. Shadows stretched and twisted, morphing into grotesque shapes that leered at me from the periphery of my vision.

Then, from the darkness ahead, a figure began to materialize—a grotesque silhouette crawling toward me with a nightmarish fluidity. My stomach lurched as the creature emerged into the flickering light, each of its movements defying the natural order.

What in the world...

It was a monstrosity—an overly, almost comically large human-like torso fused unnaturally atop dozens of spindly, insect-like legs that moved in unnerving synchronization. The legs clicked and tapped, each joint bending at impossible angles. Each limb ended in a razor-sharp point, scraping against the stone floor to produce that relentless skritching. Its skin was pallid, almost translucent, stretched taut over protruding bones and sinew. Dark veins pulsed beneath the surface, throbbing like worms trapped under thin ice. A gaping maw yawned open in its chest, lined with multiple rows of jagged, glistening teeth that dripped with a viscous black ichor. Two luminescent eyes were set deep into a once again too large, but otherwise featureless face, glowing with a cold, malevolent light that pierced the darkness. They were empty yet piercing, as if they could see straight into my soul and found it wanting.

A cold wave of terror washed over me, more intense than any fear I'd ever known. My instincts screamed at me to run, but my legs felt anchored to the ground, heavy and unresponsive—as if the shadows themselves were holding me in place.

Move, damn it!

I forced myself to take a shaky step back, then another. The creature mirrored my movements, its many legs skittering forward with horrifying grace. The sound of its approach was a maddening symphony of clicks and scratches, echoing off the walls and burrowing into my mind.

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Skritch. Skritch. Skritch.

The noise was relentless, a sinister metronome ticking down the moments until my demise. I swallowed hard, my throat dry, trying to steady my racing heart that threatened to burst.

Think, Jamie. You didn't come this far to die here.

I clenched my jaw, forcing down the rising tide of fear. The creature's luminescent eyes locked onto mine, a chilling connection that sent shivers coursing through my body. Its gaping maw, lined with those horrid teeth, widened as if in anticipation.

No time to hesitate.

Gripping my axe tightly, I steadied my breathing. The manipede hissed, its many segmented legs tapping an eerie, discordant rhythm that echoed off the damp stone walls. It began to circle me, each movement calculated, predatory.

I mirrored its motion, keeping my distance, eyes darting for any sign of weakness. The stale air was thick with tension, every muscle in my body coiled like a spring.

Without warning, the creature lunged forward, its razor-sharp limbs slicing through the air. I raised my axe just in time, the metal clashing against its chitinous claw, sparks flying upon impact.

The manipede recoiled, hissing venomously, then darted to the side with inhuman speed. I swung my axe in a wide arc, hoping to catch it off guard, but it leapt over the blade effortlessly, landing behind me.

Damn it!

I spun around, barely ducking under a swipe aimed at my head. The creature's tail whipped out, catching me across the leg. Pain seared through my calf as I stumbled, but I forced myself to stay upright. [25 damage]

My back hit the edge of a wooden table, knocking over a rusted lantern that shattered upon the floor. Glass shards scattered across the blood-soaked stones, mingling with the spilled oil.

Think, Jamie. Use your surroundings.

The manipede charged again. I feinted to the left, then swung right, aiming for a gap in its armored exoskeleton. The blade connected, slicing into softer tissue. The creature screeched, a high-pitched wail that rattled my teeth, black ichor oozing from the wound.

Enraged, it attacked with renewed ferocity. I was driven back, struggling to parry the relentless onslaught. Each clash sent shockwaves up my arms, numbing my grip on the axe.

I can't keep this up.

My foot caught on a loose stone, and I fell backward, landing hard on the scattered glass. Sharp pain erupted along my back as shards pierced through my jacket.

The manipede loomed over me, its jaws snapping hungrily. Desperation clawed at my chest. My hand closed around a sizable piece of glass. With a swift motion, I hurled it at the creature's face.

The shard struck one of its luminescent eyes, shattering it. The manipede recoiled, a guttural howl escaping its maw as it thrashed in agony.

Now!

I scrambled to my feet, ignoring the searing pain, and swung my axe with all the strength I could muster. The blade bit deep into the creature's side, eliciting another pained shriek.

The manipede began to convulse, its form flickering and distorting. Flames from the spilled oil and broken lantern ignited, casting wild shadows across the room. Through the chaos, the creature's body started to transform.

You've got to be kidding me.

[Oh sweet it has a second form! I wonder if it'll turn into a god. maybe gain a halo?]

A brief thought passed through my mind, Halo? What? but instantly my attention was back on the monster.

The exoskeleton cracked and peeled away, revealing twisted human-like limbs beneath. The manipede rose upright, its many legs fusing into two, albeit bent at unnatural angles. Muscles rippled under pale, translucent skin. Its featureless face contorted as features pushed through, like a grotesque sculpture coming to life.

My breath caught in my throat as recognition hit me like a sledgehammer.

Elric.

His eyes—those same piercing eyes—glared at me with a mixture of rage and sorrow. The gaping maw in his chest remained, teeth gnashing hungrily.

"No... this isn't possible," I stammered, stepping back until my spine pressed against the cold stone wall.

"Why, Jamie?" the creature spoke, its voice a distorted echo of Elric's. "Why did you betray us?"

My mind reeled. Was this real, or some twisted illusion conjured by the darkness?

"You're not real!" I shouted, gripping my axe so tightly my knuckles turned white. "I saw you die! You begged me to end it."

"Death is not the end here," it replied, taking a deliberate step forward. "You ended nothing."

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog of confusion and fear. Memories of that fateful night flooded back—the heated argument, the flash of anger, the sickening crunch as my axe met flesh.

"I didn't have a choice," I murmured, more to myself than to the apparition before me.

"There is always a choice," it hissed, the monstrous visage overlaying Elric's face once more. "And now, you will face the consequences."

It lunged with supernatural speed. I barely managed to raise my axe in time, the blade clashing against its clawed hand. The force of the impact sent vibrations up my arms, causing me to drop my weapon, which shattered onto the floor.

"Join us," it whispered, eyes glowing with unearthly light. "Embrace what you've become."