Shadow froze as a voice from his nightmares echoed through the dim labyrinth. It was a voice that clawed at the edges of his mind, dredging up memories he had long buried.
"Hello, brother," the voice drawled, dripping with venomous familiarity.
Shadow’s blood ran cold as his ruby eyes darted toward the source. Standing there, cloaked in an aura of dark power, was Balthazar.
“You’re dead,” Shadow snarled, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and disbelief. “Alex killed you.”
The necromancer’s lips curled into a mocking smirk. “Oh, sweet brother, do you really think a brute like Alex could end me so easily? I’ve simply been waiting… watching… for the perfect moment to return.” He took a step forward, his presence suffocating, his voice a whisper that seemed to echo from every direction. “And now, here we are.”
Shadow’s surroundings shifted, the labyrinth fading as he found himself in a place he thought he would never see again—Balthazar’s twisted laboratory. The stench of decay and chemicals was overwhelming, and the dim light from the alchemical flames cast grotesque shadows on the walls.
Shadow looked down at his hands and felt his stomach lurch. They weren’t his hands anymore. Where once there had been flesh and shadow, now there were only the crude, metallic instruments Balthazar had grafted onto him so many years ago: a mace and a pick. He tried to scream, but his voice came out as a gurgling rasp, just as it had back then.
“Much better,” Balthazar said, his tone dripping with sadistic delight as he approached Shadow. “How dare that meddlesome Alex lay his hands on you? My perfect little creation, tarnished by his crude tinkering.” He reached out, as if to touch Shadow’s face. “But don’t worry, brother. I can fix you. I can make you whole again… mine again.”
Shadow wanted to lunge at him, to fight, but his body wouldn’t obey. He was paralyzed, a helpless spectator trapped in a waking nightmare.
Balthazar leaned in, his face inches from Shadow’s. His smile widened, revealing unnaturally sharp teeth. “But first, wake up.” His voice turned into a guttural roar. “WAKE UP, YOU BASTARD!”
Shadow jerked awake with a gasp, his eyes wide and frantic. Lump’s massive hands were gripping his shoulders, shaking him like a ragdoll.
“Wake up, dammit!” Lump shouted, his voice loud enough to echo through the labyrinth.
Shadow blinked, his mind racing to piece together reality. Lump’s face was inches from his own, his breath hot and reeking of mead.
“What happened?” Shadow rasped, still disoriented.
“You tell me! You were guiding us, then you just stopped and stared off into nowhere,” Lump explained, his tone laced with annoyance and concern. “Halsin saw some apparition of a woman he called Jolana, and then-.”
Before Lump could finish, a deafening crash echoed through the chamber. The group’s attention snapped to Halsin, who had transformed into a towering fire elemental. His flaming scimitars clashed against a grotesque abomination of rotting wood and mud, each strike sending embers scattering into the air.
Shadow’s ruby eyes narrowed, his focus sharpening. The shadows around him trembled as if alive, then surged forward in the form of massive claws. The dark tendrils tore through the abomination, carving a gaping wound in its side. Halsin seized the opportunity, charging forward and smashing into the creature with the full force of his elemental form. The monster let out a guttural roar before collapsing into a pile of sludge.
As the remains of the abomination hissed and smoldered, Halsin reverted to his elven form, his breathing labored. He wiped sweat from his brow and approached the group, his expression grim but composed.
“Are you alright?” he asked, his gaze fixed on Shadow.
Shadow nodded curtly, his voice steady but cold. “I’m fine. The hags must have realized we know how to navigate their traps. They’re using their magic to try and stop us. Illusions, apparitions… they’ll throw everything they can at us now.”
Lump frowned. “So what do we do?”
“We press on,” Shadow said firmly. “But don’t expect it to get any easier.” He turned to Halsin, his gaze softening slightly. “How are you holding up?”
Halsin hesitated, his usually steady demeanor faltering. “If I said I was fine, I’d be lying,” he admitted, managing a weak smile. His voice carried a weight of sorrow that was impossible to ignore.
Lump’s curiosity got the better of him. “Who was that woman? The one you saw?”
Halsin’s face darkened, his eyes clouded with emotion. He opened his mouth to speak, then paused, as if searching for the right words. “She was someone I loved. A long time ago.” His voice was barely above a whisper, the pain in his tone unmistakable.
Before Lump could press further, Shadow’s elbow jabbed into his ribs, drawing a grunt from the half-ogre.
“We can discuss this later,” Shadow said, his tone leaving no room for argument. He turned and began walking deeper into the labyrinth, his movements precise and deliberate.
Lump rubbed his side, shooting Shadow a disgruntled look. “You didn’t have to hit so hard,” he muttered, but followed nonetheless.
Halsin lingered for a moment, his gaze lingering on the shadows where the apparition of Jolana had stood. Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself and joined the others, his resolve renewed but his heart heavy with unspoken grief.
The group pressed deeper into the labyrinth, the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on them like a physical weight. The air grew thicker, carrying with it an acrid stench that burned their throats. Shadows flickered unnaturally along the jagged walls, and the faint hum of something unnatural began to grow louder with every step.
“Do you hear that?” Halsin asked, his voice tense. His sharp ears twitched as he tried to pinpoint the sound.
“Hear it? I feel it crawling under my skin,” Lump grunted, his fists clenching instinctively.
Shadow’s ruby eyes narrowed, scanning the dim corridor ahead. “Stay alert. This isn’t a natural sound. Something’s coming.”
The hum intensified, transforming into a low buzz that echoed off the stone walls. Suddenly, a wave of dark, writhing forms burst from the shadows ahead. Thousands of insects—a seething, chittering mass—swarmed toward them, their iridescent bodies shimmering with a sickly green glow. Each insect was grotesque, its mandibles glinting and venom dripping from its tiny, barbed appendages.
“By the Oak Father,” Halsin murmured, his eyes widening as the swarm surged forward.
Shadow’s crimson eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, his hand raised, a faint necrotic glow already crackling at his fingertips.
“Stand behind me!” he barked, his voice sharp and commanding. Lump and Halsin hesitated only briefly before retreating a few steps, their eyes fixed on the seething swarm.
The cursed insects were relentless, surging toward them like a tide of darkness, their venomous intent palpable. Shadow inhaled deeply, the shadows around him trembling and converging, swirling into a dense vortex at his chest. With a guttural roar, he unleashed a torrent of necrotic flames. It burst forth like a dragon’s breath, an onyx blaze that illuminated the twisting walls of the labyrinth in its eerie, consuming glow.
The flames roared across the swarm, searing through the insects with devastating precision. Their bodies disintegrated upon contact, turning to ash that scattered into the air like faint whispers. The necrotic energy didn’t just destroy; it seemed to consume, pulling the very life essence of the cursed creatures into its black maw. For a brief moment, the air was clear, the swarm pushed back by the sheer intensity of Shadow’s attack.
“Keep moving!” Shadow ordered, his voice cutting through the still-echoing roar of his flames.
Shadow’s necrotic flames roared forth in an unrelenting wave, carving a path through the cursed insects. The labyrinth was awash with the eerie glow of his dark magic, the flames consuming the swarm in writhing tendrils of shadow. Each insect caught in the blaze dissolved into nothingness, their hisses and screeches swallowed by the roaring inferno. Yet, as he unleashed another torrent of necrotic fire, something shifted.
Shadow’s hand faltered mid-motion, the dark energy sputtering and fading as though the connection to his magic had been severed. His crimson eyes narrowed, confusion flickering across his usually unreadable face. He tried again, summoning the power that always answered his call, but the flames sputtered weakly and died out, leaving only faint embers that fizzled against the stone floor.
“Damn it,” he growled under his breath, his voice tight with frustration.
As if sensing the opportunity, the swarm surged forward, their buzzing crescendoing into a maddening roar. The insects’ movements grew more erratic, their venomous stingers glinting as they hurled themselves toward the group with renewed fury. The room seemed to darken as the swarm enveloped it, their relentless advance filling every corner with writhing shadows.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Lump stood his ground, swinging his massive fists with unyielding strength. Each punch landed with bone-crushing force, scattering the insects momentarily, but it was clear the swarm was too vast to be held back by brute strength alone. “They’re not stopping! Shadow, what’s going on?” Lump shouted, his voice tinged with rare unease.
“My magic…” Shadow began, his tone low and clipped as he struggled to reignite the flames. “Something’s interfering.”
Halsin, standing a few paces away, was already fighting off the swarm with a combination of his staff and druidic magic. His expression shifted from focused to grim as he watched the swarm grow denser, their movements almost unnaturally coordinated. He swung his staff in a wide arc, a gust of wind scattering the insects briefly. “The hags must have set wards to suppress certain types of magic.”
“Perfect,” Shadow muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He stepped back, assessing the battlefield. “We need to find the source of this interference. Halsin, can you—”
“There!” Halsin interrupted, pointing to the right. Hidden among the jagged rocks and twisted roots was a glowing rune etched into the floor. The symbol pulsed faintly, its light matching the sickly green hue that flickered across the swarm.
“The rune is amplifying their strength and suppressing ours,” Halsin deduced, his voice firm despite the chaos. “We need to destroy it.”
“Then let’s move!” Lump bellowed, barreling forward, his fists smashing through the mass of insects that blocked their path. The swarm closed in around him, their venomous stingers gleaming like shards of obsidian in the faint light, creating an almost suffocating sense of dread that seeped into every fiber of his being. stingers grazing his skin, but he pushed on, determined to reach the rune.
Shadow followed closely, his movements precise and calculated despite the chaos. He used his agility to dart through gaps in the swarm, his dagger slicing through the insects that got too close. Halsin brought up the rear, summoning vines that erupted from the ground to hold the swarm at bay. He struggled as his magic was suppressed.
As they neared the rune, the swarm seemed to sense their intent. The insects converged on the group with frenzied aggression, their sheer numbers threatening to overwhelm them. Lump roared in defiance, his massive fists slamming into the ground, creating a shockwave that momentarily cleared the area around them.
“Shadow, do it!” Halsin shouted, his voice strained as he held off the encroaching swarm with a protective barrier of twisting vines.
Shadow didn’t hesitate. Drawing on every ounce of power he punched the center of the glowing rune. His fist sank deep, and a burst of dark energy erupted from the point of impact. The rune’s light flickered wildly before extinguishing entirely, leaving the room in near-darkness.
The effect was immediate. The swarm’s movements grew disorganized, their coordination unraveling as the magical interference dissipated. One by one, the insects collapsed, their bodies crumbling into ash that was carried away by an unseen wind. Within moments, the room was eerily silent, the oppressive presence of the swarm gone.
Shadow straightened, his breathing heavy as he pulled his fist from the now-dead rune. He turned to Halsin and Lump, his expression as unreadable as ever. “After this labyrinth we should enter their lair . ”
Halsin nodded, lowering his staff as the protective vines receded.
Lump grinned, flexing his sore fists.
Shadow’s gaze lingered on the remnants of the rune, his thoughts unreadable. Without another word, he turned and motioned for the group to follow. “Let’s keep moving.”
The labyrinth seemed to grow darker as they pressed on, the air heavy with the promise of greater dangers ahead.
The labyrinth opened into a massive chamber, its walls and ceiling covered in sprawling roots and glowing fungi. The air was thick with a damp, earthy smell, and the faint hum of magic vibrated in the air. In the center of the chamber stood a raised platform, where three green hags loomed over a small, gnarled sapling. Their hands hovered above the fragile tree, pouring their magic into it. The sapling pulsed faintly, each beat radiating a sinister energy.
The group froze, their eyes locked on the grotesque ritual. Just as they prepared to advance and end this once and for all, a fourth figure materialized from the shadows. The air grew colder, the presence oppressive.
Halsin’s breath hitched, his body stiffening. His knuckles whitened around his staff as he whispered, “Grandmother Grey...”
The hag that appeared was ancient, far older than any they had encountered. Her hunched form was draped in tattered rags that hung like cobwebs, and her skin was as rough and gnarled as tree bark. Strands of brittle, gray hair clung to her scalp, and her eyes, clouded and gray, gave the impression of blindness. Yet, her gaze pierced them as if she could see more clearly than anyone.
"Oho," she rasped, her voice like dry leaves rustling in the wind. “What do we have here? A reunion?”
Halsin took a step forward, trembling with rage. “You should be dead,” he growled. His usual calm, the measured demeanor of a druid, was gone, replaced by raw anger.
Grandmother Grey’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Ah, Halsin. Such a spirited boy. Look at you now, all grown up. What's with this animosity? You’re who you are today because of me.”
The party’s eyes turned to Halsin, confusion written across their faces. Lump furrowed his brow. “What’s she talking about?”
Halsin’s jaw tightened as he struggled to find the words. Before he could respond, Grandmother Grey chuckled, her voice dripping with malice. “Oh, he didn’t tell you? Let me explain how dear Halsin became the man he is today.”
Shadow’s hand shot out, gripping Halsin’s shoulder to keep him from lunging forward. “This is a trap,” Shadow said, his voice calm but firm. Halsin’s muscles tensed under his grip, but he didn’t move.
“Wise, little human,” the hag crooned. “Now listen closely. And don’t even think of interrupting. Any step further, and you’ll die where you stand.”
She spat to the side, clearing her throat with an air of grotesque nonchalance. Then, with a smirk, she began her tale. “Long ago, there was a druid—an elf woman who loved the forest. She made her home deep within its heart, befriending the creatures that lived there. One day, she saved a young bear cub, sick and orphaned. She nursed him back to health, and as the years passed, the bear grew into a mighty grizzly. The two were inseparable.
“But the bear... oh, the bear had a secret. He had fallen in love with her.” Grandmother Grey’s voice dipped, almost tenderly, before taking on a mocking edge. “He knew she would never be his partner , so he sought out the wise and beautiful woman who lived at the edge of the forest.” She paused, her smile widening. “That woman was me.”
Halsin’s face twisted with fury. “You tricked him.”
The hag ignored him, continuing her story. “The bear begged me to help him become human. I told him of a rare flower that grew far to the north, one that could grant his wish. If he brought it to me, I promised to transform him. And so, he went, enduring countless trials to retrieve it.” Her tone grew sing-song, almost gleeful. “When he returned, he handed me the flower, his heart full of hope. I baked it into a pie for him—oh, the smell of that pie. Delicious.”
Shadow’s eyes narrowed, his hand tightening on Halsin’s shoulder as he felt the druid tremble.
“He ate every last bite,” the hag continued. “And true to my word, I transformed him into a man. A tall, strong, handsome man with elven features. He was overjoyed. He thanked me, hugged me—a bit too tightly, but I’ll forgive him for that. Then he rushed back to his beloved’s home to show her what he had become.” Her voice turned cold, dripping with malice. “But when he arrived, what did he find? Blood. Her blood. Her body, butchered, laid out on the table. And next to her, another pie. My pie. One of them. The other was eaten by Halsin, but both were made with the meat of that elf woman. You wanted her heart, so I gave it to you.”
Halsin’s roar of anguish echoed through the chamber, his staff trembling in his grip. “You monster!”
Grandmother Grey chuckled, her laughter like dry twigs snapping. “Oh, Halsin. You spent a century chasing the breadcrumbs I left for you, didn’t you? Searching for me, hoping for vengeance. You even lost your dear friend in one of my little lairs. What was his name? Iem, wasn’t it?”
Halsin’s breath hitched, and his knuckles whitened. Shadow’s grip tightened, anchoring him to the moment. “Don’t,” Shadow warned. “This is what she wants.”
The hag smirked, her clouded eyes gleaming with cruel satisfaction. “Come now, Halsin. You’ve come all this way. Don’t you want to finish what you started?”
The chamber fell into an oppressive silence, the weight of Halsin’s anguish filling the air as his past clawed its way back to the surface.
Lump placed his massive hand on Halsin’s shoulder, his touch firm but calming. “Halsin, calm down,” he said, his deep voice carrying a rare softness. “This isn’t you. Don’t let her win.”
Halsin’s breath came in sharp bursts, his chest heaving with barely contained rage. Slowly, he closed his eyes and exhaled, forcing himself to reign in the tempest within. The fury burning inside him didn’t extinguish, but he managed to leash it, at least for now.
The smirk on Grandmother Grey’s ancient face faltered as Halsin’s composure returned. She tilted her head, scrutinizing him like a predator assessing prey that had proven unexpectedly resilient.
“Oh, Halsin, we’ve had our fun,” she crooned, her voice dripping with malice. “But I think it’s time to end this. Perhaps I’ll use your remains to bake another pie.” Her brittle laughter echoed through the chamber as her form shimmered and vanished, leaving an oppressive silence in her wake.
A deep rumble shook the ground, and a wall of thick, twisted roots erupted from the earth before them, blocking the path to the three hags on the platform. The roots writhed unnaturally, as though alive, pulsating with a sickly green glow. Slowly, the wall began to shift, the tangled mass contorting until it took the shape of a hulking humanoid figure.
The root guardian’s upper body loomed over them, its bark-like skin crackling as it moved. Its eyes glowed with a baleful green light, and vines snaked around its massive frame, giving it an almost skeletal appearance. It raised a gargantuan fist, gnarled and bristling with thorns, and brought it crashing down onto the ground. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the roots that blanketed the chamber floor, animating them like serpents.
The roots slithered toward the group, writhing and twisting as they sought to ensnare their prey. Shadow’s ruby eyes narrowed as he darted back, his hand already ablaze with dark, necrotic energy. “Keep moving!” he shouted, unleashing tendrils of shadow that sliced through the approaching roots.
Lump’s fists smashed down on the writhing roots, crushing them into splinters. “Shadow, I hope you have a plan !” he growled, his usual bravado masking the creeping unease in his voice.
Halsin transformed into his bear form, his massive claws raking through the roots as he roared his defiance. He tore through the writhing mass, his mind focused on reaching the guardian and the hags beyond. The air was thick with the tang of magic and the earthy stench of decaying plant matter.
The root guardian let out a deep, guttural groan that reverberated through the chamber. It raised its fist again, but this time, it aimed directly for Lump. The ogre’s eyes widened as the massive appendage descended toward him. He had no way to avoid it , he was to big and to slow to dodge the attack so he braced himself, planting his feet firmly on the ground.
“You’ll have to hit harder than that!” Lump bellowed, swinging his fist upward to meet the oncoming blow. The impact was thunderous, sending shockwaves through the chamber. But the guardian’s sheer force was overwhelming. The ground beneath Lump cracked as he was driven to his knees.
“Lump!” Halsin roared, his bear form bounding toward his companion.
The root guardian didn’t stop. It reared back and brought its other fist down with a force that seemed to shake the entire chamber. Lump roared in defiance, his voice echoing like a thunderclap, but the massive blow connected with brutal precision. His towering form crumpled under the sheer weight of the strike, the sound of splintering bone and tearing flesh reverberating through the cavern.
Shadow and Halsin froze for a split second, the horrifying scene unfolding in slow motion. Lump’s massive body hit the ground with a sickening thud, his limbs twisted at unnatural angles. His chest heaved for a moment, a desperate attempt to draw breath, before his body stilled completely. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the earthy floor as the faint light in his eyes flickered and dimmed.