According to his map, Sinclair had a labyrinth of side tunnels to navigate before reaching the final area where monsters were rumored to emerge from uncharted depths. Accompanied only by his two formidable Direwolf companions, Leia and Chewy, the trio set forth as if the world was theirs for the taking.
As Sinclair walked, he hummed a low tune, his axe slung casually over his shoulder. He was on high alert but couldn't deny the monotony of the journey. For nearly an hour, they trudged through dimly lit corridors towards the first junction. The map indicated a 200-yard-long tunnel that led to what used to serve as sleeping quarters for miners and staff.
As they approached the tunnel, they noticed an increasing number of tracks etched into the dirt. Leia sniffed the air and growled softly, "The stench here is abominable. It reeks of the same foul odor we encountered under the volcano when we battled the Myrkr."
"At least we have an inkling of what we're facing," Sinclair said, steeling himself for what lay ahead. Activating his Visage of the Wolf skill, he was immediately overwhelmed by scents he'd managed to ignore until now. The odor was pungent, a mélange of sulfur and decay, confirming Leia's observations and setting their collective nerves on edge.
Feeling a heightened sense of awareness from the Visage of the Wolf skill, Sinclair couldn't deny the foulness that invaded his nostrils. It was a pungent, sulfuric scent tinged with the distinct aroma of decaying organic matter—much like what they had encountered during their battle with the Myrkr beneath the volcano.
He took a moment to center himself, looking down at Leia and his other Direwolf companion, Chewy. Their ears were perked and their bodies tense, clearly picking up on the cues their enhanced senses provided.
"I don't like this," Chewy growled softly, his eyes glowing with a feral light.
"Neither do I, but we knew what we signed up for," Sinclair responded, gripping his axe tightly as they cautiously approached the tunnel's entrance.
They reached the threshold and stood there for a second, scanning the dark recesses of the tunnel that stretched ahead. Sinclair's wolf-enhanced eyes could make out something glistening on the walls, something that looked unsettlingly organic.
"Stay alert. If it's like the Myrkr, this could be a nest," he warned, his voice barely above a whisper.
Stepping cautiously into the gloomy expanse of the tunnel, every sense heightened to its fullest, Sinclair felt both Direwolves tense up beside him. He himself felt a rising wave of dread emanate from the pit of his stomach. And then he heard it—a low, rumbling growl reverberating through the tunnel, punctuated by what sounded like the skittering of many legs.
As they moved deeper into the darkness, the growl turned into a cacophony of hisses and roars, and that's when Sinclair knew they weren't just facing a singular beast but a horde. Gripping his axe with both hands, he looked back at Leia and Chewy one last time, as if to say, "Here we go."
They rounded the final bend of the tunnel, and what they saw made Sinclair's blood run cold. There, in the dim light cast by his lantern, was an abomination of nature—an entire colony of creatures, more grotesque and horrifying than the Myrkr, fanning out across the cavern and looking right at them.
The creatures hissed collectively, a chilling sound that echoed off the tunnel walls. Sinclair stood his ground, his Direwolf companions growling menacingly at his side, their eyes locked onto the monstrous assemblage before them. More centipedes. Just what he wanted to see he thought.
These centipedes were grotesque aberrations—bulbous growths sprouted from odd locations on their bodies, and missing legs punctuated their segmented forms. They looked as if they'd been subjected to the mutating influence of radiation for far too long.
Their smell was as horrendous as ever, and, true to form, they lunged at Sinclair the moment they saw him. He quickly assessed their levels and realized these creatures wouldn't contribute to his experience points.
Seizing a chance to showcase his newfound powers, Sinclair vaulted into the center of the wretched horde, setting off his Primal Resonance ability. As if caught in some malevolent spell, every mutated centipede found itself compelled to focus solely on him. Then, with a battle cry, he triggered his Hurricane Onslaught skill.
Drawing upon the swiftness of Tempest and the ferociousness of Frenzy, he morphed into a living whirlwind of destruction. His body became a blur, almost ethereal, as he unleashed an awe-inspiring spectacle of martial prowess. He dashed through the writhing mass of monstrosities with the speed of a gale, his axe landing rapid, devastating strikes with each deft maneuver.
He cleaved through chitinous exoskeletons, shattered mandibles, and severed limbs with a finesse that made the brutal act appear almost elegant. The dissonance of clashing metal, cracking shells, and his own feral roars filled the cavernous space, drowning out the skittering and screeching of the beleaguered pests.
But even as he reveled in this rampage, he could feel his stamina depleting at an alarming rate, a drawback of the very skill granting him this incredible potency. Just as the last effects of Primal Resonance began to fade, he delivered one final, sweeping arc of his axe, ensuring that nothing remained but a gruesome tableau of dismembered and obliterated foes.
The chamber now resembled a war zone—shattered chitin and dismembered appendages strewn haphazardly, as though caught in the aftermath of some cataclysmic storm.
Standing at the heart of this chaos, Sinclair took a moment to catch his breath. Chewy and Leia looked on from the entrance, their heads tilted in a mix of awe and puzzlement. "Well, that was quite the spectacle. Lucky we're not concerned with experience points," Leia conveyed through their telepathic bond.
"My apologies, guys. Next time, I'll make sure both of you are part of the action. It's unfair if only one of us can't gain regular experience," Sinclair stated, his voice tinged with genuine remorse as he surveyed the tunnel ahead. Its shadowy expanse seemed even more foreboding now, a perfect backdrop to their weighty conversation.
A reassuring thought from Leia reverberated in his mind. "Don't worry, Sinclair. That experience perk applies to both of us as well. Since we're bonded, we've been sharing your experience gains. Leveling up is a bit more challenging for us; we only get a fraction of the experience unless we're directly involved in combat."
Sinclair paused, his eyes widening as he absorbed this revelation. A fleeting look of guilt passed over his features. "I had no idea. I apologize for hogging all the action then. Our next priority should be getting you both to level 25 so you can undergo your racial upgrades. That is an option at level 25, right?"
A confirming thought from Leia resonated in his consciousness. "Yes, that's how it works now. Initially, it might have been different, but your milestones are now ours since we're bonded to you."
Sinclair nodded, his gaze turning resolute as he peered into the depths of the tunnel that lay ahead. "Excellent. We'll make reaching level 25 for both of you our next goal. Given the ominous challenges we're about to face," he gestured vaguely at the dark tunnel, "we'll need every advantage we can muster."
"If we're aiming to level both of you up, and you're sharing the same experience handicap as I am, we should strategize to make this more efficient," Sinclair suggested, his tone tinged with urgency. He absently traced a circle on the hilt of his axe, pondering his next words. "Here's the plan: if we encounter monsters that are level 50 or below—essentially those that won't offer us any experience gains—I'll handle them swiftly. For anything above that, you two will take the lead, and I'll step in to clear out any extras."
He paused, letting his gaze flit between his Direwolf companions, searching their eyes for any signs of dissent. "How does that sound?"
"That works for us!" They both sent back in unison.
"Perfect, we're in agreement then," Sinclair grinned looking at his companions.
"Alright, time is of the essence. We have a dozen more tunnels to scour, and I'd rather not spend all day doing it," Sinclair declared, his voice tinged with a yearning for the comforts of home. "I want to rest in my own bed and see how things are going at Wolf's Run."
For the next intense 8 hours, the trio transitioned from a leisurely walk to an agile sprint, hurtling through the labyrinthine tunnels with a renewed sense of urgency. On only two occasions did they encounter enemies potent enough to meet their level threshold. On those instances, Chewy and Leia took center stage, displaying an uncanny level of synergy. The way they moved and fought, it was as though they were not two beings but one seamlessly coordinated entity. Their prowess left Sinclair both proud and awestruck, grateful for the allies at his side as they navigated the dark maze that lay before them.
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Resting at the threshold of the gaping fissure, the trio took a moment to catch their breath and regroup. This unforeseen breach into the Dark Elves' tunnels had been discovered at the terminus of their final marked route—a tunnel that seemed to have been forced open from the other side, probably by whatever creature had been using the natural tube.
As they munched on their provisions and took refreshing sips of water, their eyes remained vigilantly fixed on the mysterious hole. It was a foreboding gateway to unknown dangers, and they couldn't afford to lower their guard.
Sinclair had promptly utilized a new messenger spell to contact City Lord Garret. The spell, though costly, was proving its worth. By channeling mana into the arcane formula and vocalizing a brief message, he was able to instantly relay vital information, a capability he found immensely valuable. The only caveat was that it worked exclusively for recipients residing on the same world, which meant he couldn't "call home," so to speak. Still, in that moment, he felt a bit more connected to his allies and better prepared for whatever lay ahead.
Lord Garret's assurance that reinforcements were en route did little to quell Sinclair's eagerness to forge ahead. Recent upgrades had imbued him with a newfound sense of invincibility, a sensation that teetered on the edge of overconfidence.
"Alright, you two. Let's move forward and scope things out," Sinclair declared.
As they approached the imposing breach, its sheer size and cavernous depth seemed to swallow the ambient light, rendering the space a black maw in the heart of the mountain. The opening was not just a hole; it was a yawning abyss, a silent challenge that seemed to dare them to uncover its secrets.
Sinclair leaned cautiously into the dark expanse, peering both to the left and right. The tunnel seemed to stretch endlessly in both directions, a labyrinthine tube that defied immediate exploration. Swiftly, he ignited a pair of torches designed for their camping expeditions and hurled them down the tunnel. Each torch sailed through the air, casting flickering shadows on the tube's walls before landing about a hundred yards away. Neither revealed any immediate threats—just more tunnel.
"Chewy, Leia, move towards the light in the left tube and check how far it goes. If you encounter any hostile movement, alert me immediately and retreat. Understood?" His tone was firm, brooking no room for misunderstanding.
Though Chewy and Leia had grown formidably strong, Sinclair couldn't shake off a paternal sense of caution. They were capable, yes, but he'd rather err on the side of prudence than expose them to avoidable peril.
The tunnel was a marvel of natural architecture, its walls smoothly rounded as if shaped by ancient flows of molten rock. As Sinclair advanced, the enormity of the subterranean world struck him. The immense weight of stone overhead pressed down like an unseen burden, instilling a sense of awe and insignificance.
Reaching his torch without incident, he glanced back to confirm that Chewy and Leia had made it to their own light source. Through their telepathic pack link, they collectively agreed that no immediate threats were in sight.
"I'll carry our torch further, while Leia scouts ahead to see if this tunnel branches or leads somewhere," Chewy's voice echoed in Sinclair's mind.
"Understood. Just make sure to stay within my line of sight. Avoid taking any sudden turns that could hide your torch from view," Sinclair cautioned.
Emulating Chewy's plan, Sinclair gripped his own torch and hurled it down the tunnel once more. Keeping the torch at a distance was a tactical choice; its immediate glare would distort his vision, painting everything beyond its radius in impenetrable shadow. The torch sailed about another hundred yards before it struck a sidewall, revealing a gradual curve in the tunnel up ahead.
The tunnel wasn't just stretching straight into the abyss; it was meandering, as if snaking its way toward an unknown destination. This suggested purpose, or at least a more complex geography, and that in itself was a revelation worth considering cautiously.
Chewy and Leia had ventured a considerable distance before encountering a collapsed section of the tunnel. "Lord, it appears that the tunnel has caved in. We can't proceed any further. Should we return to you or head back to the breach?" Leia inquired through their mental link.
"Return to the breach," Sinclair directed, his thoughts crisp with authority. "I'm going to head back myself and carve out a quick message. Then I'll send an update to Lord Garret, advising her to set up a blockade at this opening."
As Sinclair began to retrace his steps through the tunnel, a sudden flash of black flickered at the edge of his vision. He spun around, but nothing was there. He tossed his torch further down the tunnel to illuminate any potential threats, but still, it revealed nothing—no lurking shadows or ominous figures.
Deciding it was merely his mind playing tricks on him, Sinclair abandoned the torch and turned back towards the breach. The tunnel stretched out before him—a few hundred yards of pressing darkness, punctuated by the light from Chewy and Leia's torch ahead.
Just as he was 50 yards from the breach, his torch was abruptly extinguished—no sound, no scraping, just an unsettling plunge into darkness. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled as though cold fingers had caressed him, or as if an ice cube had slipped down his shirt. Instantly, he broadcasted an urgent thought to his companions: "RUN FOR THE BREACH!"
Taking his own advice, Sinclair sprinted towards the breach with adrenaline-fueled speed, reaching it well ahead of Chewy and Leia. He whirled around, unsheathing his weapon in one fluid motion. Taking a defensive stance, he effectively blocked the tunnel's entrance, eyes straining to penetrate the inky blackness. He was ready for anything—or anyone—that might emerge from the depths.
Chewy and Leia burst through the breach only moments after Sinclair had retreated into the opening.
"What did you see?" Chewy panted, his eyes searching Sinclair's face for answers.
"I didn't really see anything," Sinclair replied, still catching his breath. "I left my torch as a marker, and something extinguished it. Then I had this incredibly ominous feeling that told me to run, so I didn't waste any time."
"No harm in listening to one's gut," Leia interjected, her telepathic voice tinged with a mix of relief and curiosity. "How far out are the reinforcements? Maybe one of the priests has a spell they can teach you for dark vision. It would certainly be more practical than lugging around torches."
"Hold on, let me check." Sinclair quickly activated his messenger spell and received an immediate response.
"They're about 10 minutes out. I asked if anyone in the group has a dark vision spell, and it seems most clerics or mages working in the mines have one. Someone should be able to teach it to me when they arrive," Sinclair informed his companions, his voice carrying a trace of relief.
As they stood there, an eerie wind suddenly began to gust through the tunnel from the direction Sinclair had just fled.
"I don't like the feel of that. Quick, flank me," Sinclair ordered, his eyes narrowing.
They positioned themselves, weapons at the ready, as the sound began to escalate. Now they could hear scraping and clawing carried by the wind, interspersed with the heavier pounding of what sounded like large feet. Whatever was coming, it sounded like a lot of them, and Sinclair braced himself.
"If there's a swarm coming, we need to confront it in the tunnel, not out here in the open. Things could slip past us and ambush the reinforcements," Leia advised, her voice tinged with urgency.
"Damn, you're right," Sinclair responded. "Follow me."
Leaping back into the breach, Sinclair stayed within the cone of light projected by their remaining torch. With quick thinking, he pulled out a jar of accelerant—the same kind he'd used to deal with the Myrkr in Scotland. He'd rigged the jar with a small, spark-generating device purchased from the system store. Flinging the jar forward, he watched it shatter; the device activated, sending sparks flying. Instantly, the accelerant ignited, casting an orange glow that revealed dozens upon dozens of eyes reflecting back at them. Some eyes were large, others small, but all seethed with a feral, focused rage aimed directly at him.
As Sinclair quickly assessed the oncoming wave of creatures, he realized that while most were below the experience threshold he needed, there were enough formidable foes among them to cause concern.
"Keep them away from my flanks and the side tunnels as much as you can," he instructed Chewy and Leia, gripping his axe tightly. Despite the terrifying situation, he couldn't help but feel invigorated. This was a moment where he had control, and he wouldn't be pushed around by these hostile beings. Plus, he had a few new tricks up his sleeve.
Activating his Telekinesis skill, Sinclair began grabbing stones, spinning them at high speeds, and launching them like projectiles at the approaching monsters. Initially, he managed only one or two per second, but soon the pace quickened, mimicking the rapid fire of a semi-automatic rifle. The smaller creatures at the vanguard of the assault were decimated as they funneled down the tunnel.
As the larger creatures began to close in, Sinclair activated his Savage Cleave ability, felling three of the brutes in a single swing. Yet more beasts took their place, crawling over the fallen to continue their assault. Unyielding, he swung again and again, activating Savage Cleave and using Focused Charge to surge through smaller pockets of foes, cutting down monsters that were distracted by his two companions.
Leia was holding her own, sending energy blasts into the crowd of enemies with her magical attacks. Chewy, not to be outdone, glowed a faint red before darting forward like a comet, slashing at the tendons of one of the larger creatures. The monster toppled, its legs giving way just as Sinclair's axe came swinging upward on the next stroke.
Together, the trio formed a formidable line of defense, each member contributing their unique skills to repel the tide of darkness surging toward them.
The relentless swarm of creatures surged forward, their eyes glowing ominously in the firelight. Despite the odds, Sinclair felt a thrill of adrenaline. He knew he had an ability he hadn't yet tested in such a cramped space—Sunder. It was a risky move underground, but they were running out of options.
"Brace yourselves," he shouted to Chewy and Leia, who instinctively widened their stances.
With a powerful swing of his axe, Sinclair unleashed Sunder. The ground vibrated, fissures splitting the tunnel floor. Several creatures tripped and fell, buying them precious seconds.
From the throng emerged a colossal creature with an elongated snout and massive tusks. It charged with terrifying speed. Sinclair couldn't dodge in time but used his hefty axe to block, the impact sending shockwaves up his arms and pushing him back a few feet. The creature's tusks scraped against the blade, sending sparks flying.
Leia seized the moment, firing a radiant bolt of energy that hit the tusked beast squarely in its face. Chewy leapt onto its back, claws rending through thick hide.
"Fall back!" Sinclair commanded as he felt a claw nick his shoulder. The trio retreated, Leia launching magical bolts and Chewy slashing with his claws. But it was evident they were losing ground.
In a last-ditch effort, Sinclair activated Hurricane Onslaught. He became a whirling cyclone of destruction, his axe a blur as he darted through the enemy ranks. Over a dozen creatures fell, including the large, tusked beast that had charged him earlier. The maneuver was exhausting but effective. For a moment, the creatures hesitated, their numbers noticeably thinned.
It was then that Leia took a glancing blow from a creature's spined tail, leaving a painful gash. "Keep going, I'm fine!" she growled, immolating another enemy with a blaze of magical fire.
Chewy, too, wasn't unscathed; a fanged creature sank its teeth into his leg. Blood oozed from the wound, but he shook it off and continued his rapid-fire assault.
Sinclair himself felt the sharp pain of a claw penetrating his side, breaching his armor. He gritted his teeth; they were accumulating wounds, and the line was about to break.
But then, distant but growing louder, came the sound of marching—the clinking of armor, the steady beat of boots on stone. Reinforcements.
"Just a bit longer, Chewy, Leia," Sinclair bellowed, his voice tinged with newfound hope. The two looked at him, their eyes locking for a brief second before turning back to the hellish tide before them.
They would hold. They had to.