Elijah Merrows tightened his grip on the conjured bow as he led the group deeper into the winding tunnels. Ahead of him, luminescent crystals shimmered like distant stars in an endless night sky. Behind him, roughly eighty other survivors trudged in a straggling formation, every footstep echoing across wet stone.
It had been a day—perhaps two—since they’d left the coliseum. The concept of time had warped in these lightless caverns, guided only by short periods of rest or urgent travel. Each moment threatened new perils or the System’s next twisted trial.
“How’s your leg?” Elijah asked softly, glancing sideways at Gideon Pierce. The older man had insisted on walking near the front, though he still favored one leg.
“Functional,” Gideon said, voice low but firm. He leaned on a gnoll spear as a makeshift cane. “Lauren’s healing helped, but it still aches. Don’t fuss over me, Merrows. You’ve got enough on your plate.”
Elijah nodded, suppressing a faint smile. Gideon’s stubborn pride was oddly reassuring—if the ex-Marine had enough energy to complain, they weren’t in complete crisis mode yet.
Nora Reyes stepped lightly over a protruding rock. She glanced back to ensure the line of survivors behind them had no stragglers. “We should be coming up on the narrower passage soon, right?”
From behind, Vince Anders piped up, electric sparks occasionally flickering around his hands like nervous static. “Yeah, about five minutes that way, then a left fork. At least, that’s how I remember it.”
They’d scouted earlier routes in small teams, leaving marks to guide the larger group. Now, the plan was to circle around the volcanic region where the lava drakes lurked, find a safer path upward or outward.
Sandra Lewis strode at Elijah’s other side, her posture erect despite the tension. “Keep eyes on the ceiling,” she reminded, voice carrying to those behind her. “Those cave crawlers might drop from above.”
A hushed ripple spread through the survivors, many of whom raised makeshift torches or glimmers of conjured light. The occasional drip of water from stalactites made the atmosphere all the more nerve-racking.
They proceeded without incident for another ten minutes. The narrow tunnel opened into a broader cavern flanked by jagged rock formations. Pale fungus clusters glowed near the walls. A shallow stream trickled along one edge, feeding a basin that disappeared under a rocky overhang.
Elijah halted, raising a hand to signal the group to do the same. “This wasn’t on our earlier map, was it?”
Vince shook his head, stepping up to peer around a stalagmite. “We never came this way in the scouting runs. That’s… interesting.”
Some of the others clustered warily, scanning the large chamber. Nora activated a faint swirl of wind around her ankles, ready to leap into action at any sign of danger. Lauren moved protectively closer to Brittany, who still carried the group’s precious supply of boiled fish and fungus in a salvaged bag.
“Everyone, stay sharp,” Sandra said. “We’ll move in slowly. If it’s safe, maybe we can set up a short break.”
Elijah and Gideon took point, prodding the ground with spear shafts to check for hidden pitfalls. The rest followed in small groups, scanning every shadow for the glint of insect eyes or the flicker of draconic scales.
As they reached the cavern’s center, something glimmered near the base of a large rock formation—a faint, reflective patch. Gideon’s brow creased. “Hold on.”
He bent down, tapping his spear near the patch. It revealed a small depression in the stone floor, partially filled with an opaque liquid that shimmered under the torchlight.
Elijah used Identify, but the low-rank skill returned only a meager Unknown Substance (Concealed). “Not sure what this is,” he said, squinting at the strange fluid.
Greg, the conjuration specialist, stepped forward. “Let me try something.” He conjured a tiny flame in the palm of his hand, leaning carefully over the patch of fluid. The flame’s reflection rippled across the liquid surface.
Suddenly, the fluid sizzled. A tiny spark flicked from the conjured fire and ignited a narrow, meandering line along the ground—a seam of some flammable residue. A small flame streaked across the floor, illuminating a winding path that led to a series of cracks in the cavern wall. It died out almost immediately, leaving behind only a faint glow of embers.
A collective gasp rippled through the group.
“Oil?” Vince guessed, mouth slightly open. “Or some weird magical version of it?”
Elijah tapped at the blackish residue with the tip of his shoe. It smelled faintly sulfuric. “Could be a natural tar deposit,” he said, recalling vaguely that certain caves could harbor pockets of flammable substances.
Sandra exhaled in relief. “If it’s stable enough to harvest, this could be useful for torches or maybe even weapon enhancements.”
Gideon pursed his lips. “But it’s also a liability. If something ignites it while we’re in here, we get a fire or explosion.”
Quietly, the group took stock. They’d discovered a new resource, but it might be a double-edged sword. While some volunteers tried to scoop small amounts into battered containers, Elijah, Nora, and Vince continued scouting the cavern’s perimeter.
At the far side, behind a rock pillar, Nora spotted a tunnel partially obstructed by fallen rubble. She motioned Elijah over. “Looks like it collapsed at some point. Maybe we can clear it?”
Elijah tested the smaller stones. They shifted with minimal effort. “This might be the route we need. Let’s see if we can open a path.”
A handful of others joined in to help. Within minutes, they’d dislodged enough rubble to reveal a partial opening. A faint draught of air teased Elijah’s face from the other side—cool and carrying a trace of unfamiliar smells.
Nora beckoned Vince closer. “Zap a bit of light in there, see how big it is.”
He obliged, conjuring a small electrical orb that drifted inside. The corridor beyond looked wide enough for two people abreast. Strange, swirling patterns were carved into the walls—similar to the ones they’d seen in the coliseum puzzle, but older, more worn.
“Another puzzle, or leftover architecture?” Vince wondered.
Before they could investigate further, an urgent shout came from behind them. “Hey, over here!”
Elijah turned, heart jumping. A commotion had broken out near the shallow stream. People scrambled back, brandishing weapons. “Bugs?” he called, expecting more crawlers.
Instead, two squat amphibian-like creatures emerged from the water, each roughly the size of a large dog. Their slimy, mottled skin glistened, ridged with short spines. One parted its wide jaws, revealing rows of needle-sharp teeth, letting out a wet croak.
Identify gave Elijah a partial reading:
[Fanged Toad – Level 3]
Without waiting, Gideon braced himself, spear at the ready. Sandra stepped to his side, holding a sturdy gnoll sword. Lauren and Brittany retreated behind them, heartbeats drumming.
A loud croak echoed, and the first toad lunged with surprising speed. Gideon thrust, piercing its flank. Thick, dark fluid oozed from the wound. The toad hissed, twisting to clamp its jaws on the spear. Gideon gritted his teeth, struggling to wrest it free.
Elijah fired an arrow at the second toad, the spectral missile striking near its hind leg. Nora swooped in with a slash of wind-laced steel, biting into the creature’s tough hide. It croaked in pain, thick tongue lashing out. She barely twisted aside in time.
Chaos erupted as more survivors rushed to help, forming a semicircle around the toads. Vince hurled a crackling bolt of lightning, causing one creature to spasm. A final thrust from Gideon ended its struggles.
The second toad spewed a glob of viscous fluid that splattered across the ground, sizzling where it hit. Elijah recognized the faint tang of acid. “Watch out!” he shouted.
Sandra sidestepped expertly, sweeping her blade across the toad’s neck. The creature let out a guttural croak, flailed, then collapsed as Nora delivered a finishing strike to its head.
For a moment, the cavern was filled with panting, the reek of acid and blood swirling in the damp air. Then a hush fell.
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No additional toads appeared from the stream. People cautiously approached the fallen creatures. Harold, timidly stepping close, used Purification Light to see if the carcasses carried poisonous residue that might endanger them.
“Anyone hurt?” Elijah asked. A few had minor burns from the acidic spittle, but none were grievously wounded. Lauren quickly tended to them with her Recovery Sigil, neutralizing the worst of the pain.
While the group consolidated, murmurs of fear and frustration spread. “We can’t take more of this,” someone whispered. “Every time we settle down, something attacks.”
Elijah sympathized. They were all on edge—hungry, exhausted, battered. Another wave of monsters, no matter how small, felt like a harbinger of more doom.
Gideon scanned the faces, brow knit. “That’s exactly why we shouldn’t linger. We should clear that tunnel and move on.”
Sandra nodded in agreement. “The only question is if it leads anywhere better—or if we’re walking into a worse trap.”
From across the cavern, Vince, who’d been examining the swirling patterns in the newly revealed tunnel, called out, “I see an inscription or something. Might be another puzzle clue.”
At that, curiosity overrode hesitation. Elijah gestured for a few capable fighters—Thomas, Patrice, and Misha (whose arm was mostly healed)—to guard the main entrance while a smaller contingent examined the carvings with Vince.
They ducked through the partially cleared rubble to find the corridor stretching maybe thirty feet before curving out of sight. The carved symbols on the walls glowed faintly under conjured light. Elijah ran his fingers over them, searching for a reaction, but felt only cold stone.
Vince scrunched his nose. “If I try using Identify…” He focused for a few seconds, then sighed. “Just says ‘Unknown Runes—Insufficient Skill Level.’”
Nora studied the swirling lines, noticing a motif reminiscent of the puzzle platform sigils. “Could be related to those guardians we fought in the coliseum.”
Elijah frowned. “The System might want us to follow this route. Let’s see if we can glean anything from these patterns.”
With Sandra shining a conjured flame, they traced the runes in a slow, methodical path. Occasionally, a shape resembled a bow, a spear, or other stylized weapons. Others looked like humanoid figures in various poses—some kneeling, some reaching upward.
Gideon, leaning on the spear, grunted. “Looks like a story told in pictures. People ascending or receiving power?”
Elijah nodded, noticing how the final set of runes near the curve depicted a gateway shape. “Might be leading us to another test.”
Vince shuddered. “I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.”
Still, the consensus was clear. If they stayed in this cavern, fanged toads, crawlers, or something else would eventually find them. Pressing on was the only real choice.
Returning to the main group, Elijah and the others relayed what they’d seen. The survivors quickly resumed clearing rubble. While some labored over the blockade, Greg used carefully controlled conjured flames to burn away rotted debris. Others hammered at larger stones with gnoll spears or hammered nails from the coliseum salvage, slowly chipping them loose.
A pair of watchers stood guard near the stream, vigilantly scanning for more amphibious predators. Meanwhile, Lauren, Harold, and Brittany tended to those still nursing old wounds or stress. The group labored for nearly an hour, determined to forge a path forward.
At last, the gap widened enough to admit two people side by side. A wave of cooler air drifted through, carrying a subtle metallic tang. The survivors approached with caution, forming an orderly line.
Gideon took point this time, despite the limp, with Sandra close behind. Elijah, Nora, and Vince followed, ready for immediate combat. The rest trailed in pairs or small clusters, each cluster having at least one person with a halfway decent weapon or skill.
They ventured past the turn in the corridor. The swirling rune carvings continued along the walls, growing more elaborate. Here and there, small crystals jutted out, flickering as if responding to their presence. Elijah could almost swear the runes were reacting to them, glowing brighter when they stepped near.
Eventually, the corridor ended abruptly in a broad archway. A large door of ancient stone, banded with coppery metal, blocked their path. Patterns of runes formed a circular crest at its center. A hush fell as they assembled around it, an unspoken question hovering in the stale air: Another puzzle? Another deadly trial?
Elijah took a breath, reaching out carefully to place his palm against the circular crest. A faint hum vibrated through his hand. The runic circle brightened, revealing the same four glyphs associated with their Sigils—bow, spear, wind, and lightning—plus several other less distinct symbols.
System Notice:
“Path of Unification: Sealed. Conditions Not Met.”
Elijah stepped back, reading the lines that flashed in his vision. “It’s locked behind some requirement.”
Nora narrowed her eyes. “Conditions not met. Does it say anything else?”
He shook his head. “No, just that it’s sealed. Could be we need more Sigils, or a higher average level, or something else entirely.”
Gideon’s face darkened. “So we cleared all this rubble for nothing?”
Vince raised a hand. “Hey, let’s not lose hope. Maybe we can figure out the condition.” He inspected the circular crest, but his low-ranked Identify skill only repeated the same message.
Sandra tapped her chin, studying the runes. “The puzzle in the coliseum needed four participants with certain classes. Maybe here we need a bigger variety of Sigils, or multiple classes working together?”
Elijah glanced around at the throng of survivors crowding the corridor behind them. “If that’s the case, how do we get more Sigils? The ones we have came from beating that puzzle guardian.”
Nora frowned. “There could be another hidden puzzle, or guardians in these caves. Or maybe we need to find certain runes to unlock new Sigils.”
A ripple of frustration spread through the onlookers. Tired murmurs of “We’re stuck again?” drifted through the damp air. For a moment, it felt as though they were right back in the coliseum, blocked by an impenetrable puzzle door.
But Sandra squared her shoulders. “Let’s not forget we have that back route leading around the lava drakes. Maybe there’s another trial or chamber we missed.”
Elijah nodded, forcing optimism into his voice. “If the System is guiding us, there must be a path to meeting these ‘conditions.’ Let’s regroup.”
They headed back to the cavern. A wave of discouragement hung over many. The group was growing weary—mentally, physically, emotionally. Each stumbling block in this endless labyrinth threatened to unravel them.
Still, they persisted. The survivors set up a small perimeter to rest again. Some nibbled on the remaining boiled fish or fungus. A few braved a second attempt at gathering that oily residue, hoping to craft better torches.
Elijah perched on a rock, turning over the door’s puzzle in his mind. Gideon approached, wiping sweat from his brow. “Any ideas?”
“None yet,” Elijah admitted. “But I keep thinking about the puzzle platform in the coliseum. We had to fight guardians, gather ‘Synchronization Essence.’ Then the Sigils appeared.”
Gideon pursed his lips. “So maybe we have to do something similar. But where?”
Nora joined them, arms crossed. “We did see that nest of drakes earlier. If there’s a puzzle guardian, it might be in the same area. Or maybe deeper.”
Elijah suppressed a shiver. Fighting baby drakes was one thing—facing a brood mother or an entire nest? That could wipe them out. Yet the System seemed to push them toward challenges big enough to yield major progression.
Sandra, overhearing, inclined her head. “We might not have a choice. If the door demands more Sigils, a strong enemy might be the key.”
A tense silence followed. They all knew the risk. But the alternative was indefinite entrapment, scrounging in these caves until either the environment or the System’s next wave ended them.
Brittany, sitting nearby, overheard the conversation. Pale-faced, she ventured, “We’ll need a plan if we’re going after those drakes. We can’t just rush in.”
Elijah nodded. “Definitely. We can set traps, or coordinate ranged attacks.” He looked at Vince. “Your lightning might be good for staggering them if it’s anything like the gnolls and guardians.”
Vince attempted a small grin. “Yeah, I can ramp up the voltage if I channel it carefully. But the big ones might resist it more.”
Gideon tapped the butt of his spear on the stone floor. “Let’s gather a strike force of the best fighters and magic users, go for the drakes or any guardian they might be guarding. The rest stay behind at a safe distance.”
Lauren, who’d been quietly tending to someone’s scrapes, looked up in alarm. “Then we’ll be split. If the main group is attacked, they won’t have you to defend them.”
“A risk,” Sandra said. “But a smaller team moves faster and doesn’t draw as much attention. We can also station a few strong fighters to protect those who stay behind.”
Elijah looked around at the battered faces: these were ordinary people just days ago. Now they spoke of raids on monstrous nests like it was the only logical choice. A swirl of conflicting emotions ran through him—fear, guilt, and a strange sense of unity.
Nora quietly placed a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll figure this out. Step by step.”
He nodded, inhaling slowly. Step by step. That was all they could do.
By the time they finished deliberating, a rough plan had emerged:
1. Scout the Drakes’ Lair: A small group of agile fighters and ranged attackers—Elijah, Nora, Vince, Gideon (insisting he was fine), Sandra, and perhaps two or three more with decent abilities—would slip around the steamy caverns to locate the main nest.
2. Set a Perimeter: The rest would remain in a more defensible area. If the scouting group triggered a major fight, they’d lure any threats away from the main contingent.
3. Engage or Retreat: If they found a puzzle guardian or a feasible chance to kill some of the drakes, they’d seize it. If it proved impossible, they’d pull back before risking too many casualties.
Lauren and Harold would remain with the larger group, prepared to handle injuries. Brittany, who could maintain her Fortifying Song, would also stay behind to bolster morale. The heavy weight of Gideon’s presence in the fight seemed necessary—he was one of their strongest melee combatants.
“Let’s rest for a while longer,” Sandra advised the group. “We’ll head out after everyone’s had a chance to eat.”
Elijah, numb with exhaustion, found a rocky ledge to sit on. Closing his eyes, he listened to the muted sounds of conversation, anxious breath, and the distant drip-drip of water. Each moment that passed deepened his resolve. They had come too far to let doubt paralyze them.
He remembered the door’s inscription: “Path of Unification: Sealed.” If that was the only exit from these caverns, then they had no choice but to unify their strength and break through—no matter what monstrous obstacles the System threw at them.
And somewhere in the shadows, he suspected, the System was watching. Its silent orchestration shaped them into something new—Ascendants, perhaps. He only hoped the cost wouldn’t be too high.