Raven's grip tightened on her sword's hilt as the group ventured warily through the dark cavern, its blood-red walls seeming to pulse with a sinister lifeforce. She could sense this place was deeply unnatural, permeated by powerful dark magic unlike anything she had encountered through the portals before.
Her tactical senses were on high alert, augmented hearing straining to detect any signs of movement in the unnerving blackness shrouding them. She had fought many battles and explored dangerous realms, but none felt so fundamentally wrong. This place was not meant for mortal men.
Beside her, Lt. Wolfe kept glancing her way, as if to reassure himself she was still combat-ready despite her unease. She gave him a quick nod in response.
"Stay vigilant," Minxes warned from ahead. "I don't like how quiet it's become."
Raven had noticed that too. After the initial whispers and skittering, an oppressive silence had descended. The only sound was their own footsteps and nervous breathing. It set her teeth on edge.
"Maybe we scared 'em off," Landers chuckled from the rear.
"I doubt it," Raven said darkly. "Something's coming, I'm sure of it."
Just then, Sofia cried out as her foot sank into the strangely pliable stone floor. She thrashed in panic as a black tar-like substance gripped her legs, dragging her down.
Wolfe dove forward to grab Sofia's arms as she sank waist-deep already, the ravenous stone gulping her down. "Hang on!"
But she was pulled from his grasp. Her terrified scream cut off abruptly as she disappeared fully into the dark mire. It slowly smoothed over, leaving no trace of her existence.
Raven stared in horror. Their guide, their mission - it had all just vanished in an instant.
"We have to get out of here, now!" Minxes ordered.
Raven turned to run, but her feet stuck fast, fused to the floor. Around her, the others cried out as the same tarry trap ensnared them.
She slashed her blade against the sticky substance to no avail. They were well and truly caught in this fiendish snare.
Raven felt the ravenous stone churning beneath her boots. But she would not give up so easily. Whatever dark forces controlled this place, she was ready to fight with her last breath. And she suspected that final battle was fast approaching...
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Sofia unleashed torrents of golden flame, desperately trying to drive back the shadowy behemoth before them. The creature towered over her and the others, writhing tendrils lashing out to ensnare them. Around its monstrous form, pools of ravenous black stone churned, devouring the remaining mercenaries one by one.
"Keep hitting it with everything you've got!" Sofia yelled to Minxes, Wolfe, and Raven nearby. They were the only ones left standing against this nightmarish entity.
Minxes etched runes flared as she hurled arcing blasts of energy. Raven slashed recklessly with her aura sword, dodging the beast's attacks with preternatural speed. And Wolfe emptied round after round from his pistols, eyes calculating weak points.
Still the creature came on, shrieking furiously. Two more men disappeared into the stone, their screams abruptly silenced. Sofia redoubled her own fiery barrage, the mana scalding her veins.
"You cannot stop my ascension, mortals!" the towering monster roared. "This realm shall fuel my powers to unimaginable heights!"
"Not if we banish you first, demon!" Sofia shot back. She remembered the poor chained prisoner's warnings - this cursed beast had to be the master of this domain.
They were weakening it, she could see cracks forming in its defenses, its smoky form growing translucent in places. But it was also taking a toll on the three soldiers. And Sofia had no reserves left to draw from.
As a spiked tendril whipped toward her, she knew she had one chance left to strike a decisive blow. Mustering the last of her mana, Sofia released it in an enormous cascading burst of pure golden light.
The creature's deafening howls shook the cavern walls. Where the shimmering blast struck, its dark form began to rapidly disintegrate.
"No... my beautiful realm... you cannot take it from me!" the demon wailed. But its protests turned to silence as Sofia's attack consumed it fully, burning away the ancient evil until nothing remained.
Around them, the churning stone stilled and hardened. An unnatural red glare faded from the walls. The dark power permeating this place had been destroyed at its source.
Panting, Sofia sank to her knees. They had won but at great cost. She was the only member of her expedition left standing.
A familiar voice echoed in Sofia's mind.
> Congratulations [Sofia Price]! You have reached Level 2, Mana User!
Sofia closed her eyes, letting out a long breath. The victory felt hollow. She had proven herself and gained power, yet failed utterly in her mission.
At least Minxes, Wolfe, and Raven had survived this ordeal with her. Together, the four weary survivors could make the long trek back home through the lifeless portal. They would emerge wiser and stronger than before from this shared trial.
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Raven stood at attention before General Arters, keeping her face neutral despite the anger simmering inside her. Most of her team was dead, and now she had to explain their botched mission to the higher-ups.
"At ease, Captain," Arters said gently. He had always been a reasonable commander, able to see beyond rigid protocol.
Raven relaxed slightly. "Thank you, sir. I wish I was bringing you good news, but the fact is the operation was a disaster."
She recounted the ill-fated expedition - the civilian explorer Sofia gaining powers, the merchants' incompetence, and the final confrontation with the monstrous portal entity.
Arters leaned forward, concern creasing his brow. "A demon controlling the realm itself? This is deeply troubling."
Raven nodded grimly. "Yes sir. These corporate expeditions are dangerously unprepared. Men will keep dying if we can't increase oversight."
The general sighed heavily. "You know my hands are tied on that front. The companies have allies in high places."
Raven clenched her fist. "Permission to speak freely?" At his nod, she continued, "It's wrong, sir. We're needlessly sacrificing soldiers and civilians to line fat cats' pockets."
"You won't get an argument from me," Arters said. "But there are powers greater than mine at play here."
Raven exhaled, trying to contain her frustration. She understood the politics, but hated feeling complicit in this farce.
"I know you'll keep fighting for what's right, Captain," the general said sympathetically. "It's all we can do - make our voices heard and lead by example. Change comes slowly to institutions like this."
Raven managed a crisp salute. "Understood, sir. I appreciate you hearing me out."
As she left the office, Raven resolved to be that voice of dissent, no matter the cost. She would not sacrifice her integrity for expediency, not when lives hung in the balance. There had to be a way to temper profit with ethics before it was too late.
Arters believed in her, and that gave Raven courage. Step by step, she would push back against the darkness of greed and callousness threatening to consume their mission. Justice would prevail, if she refused to yield.