The newly formed party turned through the curve in the tunnel and stepped into a massive, rocky chamber. Crystals of varying shapes and sizes grew from every wall and corner of the room. A thin stream of water poured from a hole in the ceiling, pooling into a large glistening pond at the center of the cavern. Vines as thick as a man's arm climbed the walls and ceilings, pink spotted flowers that opened and closed in a rhythmic pattern dotting them. Soft light emanated from each flower's pistil, sending a shimmering beam that refracted into a rainbow of colors through the crystals growing on the rocks. The result was a beautiful tropical light show.

“Holy shit,” David muttered, gazing around the room. “This reminds me of the time-”

“Stay focused,” Beck ordered. “This is a red zone, remember.”

Elijah hated to agree with Beck, but she was right. They had no idea what to expect down here.

“Watch my body,” Avery whispered to Elijah before slinking back into the tunnel and taking a seat on top of a flat rock. A small pool of mananite coalesced within her palms before rising like wisps of smoke and forming a small blue sphere. It popped out of existence and Avery’s body went limp.

Elijah moved to stand in front of Avery, blocking Beck and David’s view of her. Luckily, they were too focused on studying the room and didn’t even bother turning around. Barely ten seconds later, life returned to Avery’s body and she stood.

“That was fast,” Elijah muttered, raising an eyebrow. “Did you check the entire area already?”

“Yes, I’ve been practicing. No sign of life besides the plants in the room. We should keep our guard up. An unseen enemy is the most dangerous, and we’re in a red zone.” Avery whispered.

“It might be red because of the plants,” Elijah replied, moving forward to be closer to the other two.

David was examining the pool in the center, with Beck standing a few yards back. The ripples coming from where the pouring water hit the lake reflected the rainbow light of the crystals, making it strobe and pulse psychedelically.

The beautiful scene was shattered as a fleshy worm the size of a tree trunk erupted from beneath the calm lake. Its pink body pulsated as it whipped through the air and wrapped around David, constricting his arms to his sides.

“Shit!” David screamed, as he began to get dragged into the drink. “Help!”

Beck began to yell orders, which Elijah ignored as he dashed toward David and the monster. The refracting light in the room made it difficult to use Shadow Step. He realized that wouldn’t be able to make it there before the worm dragged David completely into the water.

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Thin glowing purple lines appeared on the beast like a lattice and its movements slowed, as if moving through molasses. Avery’s Hex spell took its full effect as a bolt whizzed through the air next to Elijah and embedded itself into the worm, causing it to squirm and loosen its grip on David and allowing him to get one arm free.

“Get off of me, you massive penis!” the captured man yelled, repeatedly bashing his gauntleted hand into the worm. He was now waist deep in the water and slowly getting deeper.

Elijah leapt into the air and unsheathed his dagger, the tip glowing red hot. He crashed into the worm, his blade sliding into the beast with ease all the way to its hilt. Flesh sizzled and burned around the blade, but it wasn’t deep enough to cleave it in two.

Another bolt sunk into the beast.

Leafy green vines erupted from the water towards Elijah and the beast like striking snakes, sending rainbow colored mist into the air. Elijah yanked the blade free and flipped it into his other hand. Elijah slashed through the vines before they could reach him, each one decaying to ash as soon as it was severed.

“Those are mine, you idiot!” Beck yelled from the shoreline. Green manamite fluttered from her fingers like falling leaves.

“Then say that! I don’t have time to figure out if they’re friendly right now!” Elijah yelled back. The worm thrashed and Elijah tightened his grip on the squirming flesh, hanging onto it with just his legs as if riding a mechanical bull.

Another set of vines exploded from below the surface of the water, this time making it all the way to the worm and wrapping around it like a tourniquet. Elijah took his dagger and sliced along the side of the worm opposite to his first cut, this time cleaving it in half. The piece he’d cut off crashed into the water while the rest of the worm sank back, dropping both Elijah and David into the pool. The lattice of purple veins dissipated from its body just before it sank beneath the ripples.

“Get to the shore, now.” Elijah said, his tone deathly calm as he strode to the shore as quickly as he could.

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” David replied as he trudged through the water.

The pair made their way out and away from the pool, regrouping with Avery and Beck. David removed his shield from his back, strapped it to his arm and then unsheathed his sword, steeling himself for another confrontation.

“What the hell were you doing out there? Sabotaging your own teammates' spells?” Beck demanded, striding towards Elijah.

She reached a hand out, attempting to grab Elijah’s collar and drag him down to her level. Elijah’s grabbed her wrist in a vice grip, his eyes cold.

“Don’t. Touch. Me.” Elijah’s words dripped with malice, each one a threat, and his eyes darkened.

Beck’s eyes widened and she held Elijah’s glare for only a second before looking away, beads of sweat forming on her brow. Avery stood to the side, watching like a hawk for the first sign of real trouble. David barely seemed to even register what was going on as he stared intently at the pool. Elijah released Beck and she quickly took two paces back, rubbing at her wrist.

“Just-just don’t do it again,” Beck muttered.

Elijah and Avery shared a glance, but something splashed in the water.

Pondwater bulged as a massive, bulbous green frog emerged from the depths. Flowers similar to the ones in the cavern grew from various spots on its body and hanging from its mouth was what the group had previously thought to be some sort of worm - a massive, severed tongue.

“Well at least it wasn’t its cock,” David half-laughed.