image [https://i.imgur.com/eY2gF5l.png]

"Hush, Mila," whispered Graybeard, his voice barely audible. "You're making too much noise." He cautiously approached the entrance to the cave, with Mila following closely behind, vigilantly and carefully preparing her staff in case they were ambushed.

The entrance of the cave was heavily guarded by undead dwarves, equipped with axes and rifles. The mindless undead wandered about, unaware of Graybeard and Mila's presence. Clad in their formidable metal armor, these undead were stronger and more dangerous than typical skeletons and zombies. Their eyes emitted a mystical green energy, a testament to the necromantic powers that animated them.

"How are we going to defeat them?" Mila questioned, concern evident in her voice.

"Defeat them?" Graybeard whispered back, keeping his tone low. "That's the last thing we want to do. Who knows how many undead lurk within the cave? If we attack even one of them, it will alert all of them."

"But it doesn't seem like we have much of a choice. I don't think we can sneak in without them noticing," Mila replied, her determination evident.

Graybeard took a moment to consider their options, stroking his beard in deep concentration. He observed the patterns of the undead's movements, analyzing the situation carefully.

Crouched behind a massive boulder, Graybeard held his axe tightly, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Mila stood ready, prepared to act swiftly at a moment's notice.

Hours passed, and the guards showed no signs of leaving their posts. Graybeard's impatience grew, but he remained focused.

Mila, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, asked, "What are you waiting for?"

Graybeard's eyes narrowed as he maintained his concentration on the guards before him.

"The undead," he explained. "They follow their orders tirelessly, but their mindlessness can sometimes lead them astray. If we're going to engage them, we want to catch them by surprise."

Just as Graybeard finished speaking, one of the undead guards wandered away from the entrance, heading towards the rear.

Graybeard's eyes gleamed with opportunity. "Now," he whispered to Mila, his voice filled with anticipation. "It's our chance. Follow me, and be ready to move."

Stealthily, the two companions crept away from the boulder, taking utmost care not to alarm the zombies. Graybeard approached one of the guards who was sitting near the cliff, keeping a watchful eye over the forest. Meanwhile, Mila focused her magical energy and cast a sleeping spell on the guard stationed at the entrance. However, due to the inherent resistance of the undead to sleep effects, they knew they had only a brief moment before the guard would awaken.

With precision and swiftness, Graybeard struck the guard closest to him, swiftly severing its head. The lifeless body tumbled down the cliff, vanishing into the depths below. In a fluid motion, he dispatched the guard defending the entrance, severing its head as well. Knowing that striking the armored parts of the guards would create a noise that could alert the other undead inside, Graybeard aimed for their vulnerable necks, where no armor protected them.

With the two guards eliminated, Mila breathed a sigh of relief. But Graybeard cautioned her, "Don't be hasty. There's still one more."

Just as his words faded, the last guard that had wandered off returned, fixating its necromantic gaze upon Mila and Graybeard.

"Holy Light!" Mila exclaimed, conjuring a powerful beam of light that disintegrated the undead guard's bones into ashes.

"That spell of yours, you shouldn't use it so quickly," Graybeard reprimanded. "We need to conserve our mana for as long as possible."

Mila frowned, ready to argue. "If I hadn't cast the spell, all the undead would be alerted by now."

A low growl reverberated through the cave, causing the two companions to fall silent.

With caution, Graybeard whispered, "Something evil lurks inside. I can feel it in my bones..."

Mila nodded, fully comprehending their perilous situation. The two slowly retreated, taking cover behind the massive boulder, preparing themselves in case the monstrous creature inside the cave emerged.

With unwavering vigilance, they waited behind the boulder, the sound of echoing footsteps reverberating through the cavernous halls. Each step grew louder, accompanied by a metallic clanking noise.

"Stay alert," Graybeard whispered, his resolve unshaken, his axe tightly gripped in his hands.

And then, from within the depths of the cave, the abomination emerged. It was a grotesque sight, unlike anything the world had ever witnessed. A bloated zombie, towering three times the size of Mila and Graybeard, clutching an enormous butcher's knife in its massive hands.

The creature's eyes pulsed with eerie green necromantic energy. Its body was a grotesque patchwork of stitched-together limbs and body parts, a horrifying amalgamation of creatures and humans.

The abomination wore armor, a breastplate adorned with skulls and bones. It surveyed the ground, noticing the destruction of the undead guards.

Instinctively, Graybeard gestured to Mila, urging her to remain silent. They held their breath as the abomination scanned its surroundings, its gaze shifting from side to side. Emitting a low growl, the abomination turned, scratching its head, and retreated back into the cave.

Releasing a collective sigh of relief, Graybeard addressed Mila. "That was a close call..."

"But we still have to kill it, right?"

"No... That is a monster beyond our capabilities. We can't afford to engage in a fight with something unknown... We should rely on stealth as we make our way inside," Graybeard asserted, his voice filled with caution.

Mila pondered in silence, weighing the options, while Graybeard cautiously peered over the boulder to ensure their safety.

"Alright, let's proceed," Graybeard muttered.

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The two moved forward with careful steps, approaching the mouth of the cave.

"You know... This situation gives me an idea," Graybeard murmured.

"What idea?" Mila inquired, curiosity evident in her voice.

"That abomination we encountered—it didn't seem particularly intelligent. Despite its allies being slain, it didn't bother to investigate and simply returned inside..." Graybeard explained, his mind racing with possibilities.

"What are you suggesting?" Mila asked, intrigued by his train of thought.

"Well, if it lacks intelligence, perhaps we can find a way to trap it," Graybeard proposed, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.

"Ah, I see where you're going with this. But do you have a specific plan in mind?" Mila inquired.

"Of course I do!" Graybeard responded confidently. "They used to call me a tinker, you know!"

"I believe the word you're looking for is 'thinker'," Mila corrected with a hint of amusement.

"Ah, so that's the one... Anyway, here's my idea," Graybeard began, enthusiasm filling his voice. "We'll dig a massive hole right at the front entrance of the cave and lure that abomination out..."

"But it won't just fall into the hole willingly," Mila interjected, considering the creature's limited awareness.

"Exactly! It's not that foolish. But that's where your air magic comes into play. We can use it to push the beast from behind and into the hole," Graybeard explained, his eyes shining with anticipation.

"I'm not entirely confident in my abilities," Mila admitted, her voice tinged with doubt.

"Don't worry, lass. If you're unsure, you can always use your air cutter to target its legs. They seemed to be unarmored, from what I observed," Graybeard suggested, trying to boost Mila's confidence.

"But..."

"Trust me, dear Mila. Your old uncle Gray isn't known for making foolish decisions," Graybeard reassured her.

"Fine," Mila relented, giving in to Graybeard's plan. She wasn't entirely convinced, but she trusted his wisdom and experience.

Graybeard retrieved a shovel from his back and tossed it to Mila, who questioned what he wanted her to do with it.

"Go on, start digging,"

"You're not going to help?" Mila asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Bah! Me? Digging? Do you want to see an old man break his back?" Graybeard scoffed. "I'm getting too old for physical labor like this. You'll understand when you reach my age..."

Mila sighed, shaking her head. "Here we go again," she muttered, grasping the shovel and beginning to dig the hole at the front entrance.

"Don't give me that attitude," Graybeard chided playfully. "When I was your age, I was the fastest miner in our town. Oh, the amount of coal I would bring back!"

Mila paused her digging and looked at Graybeard with a curious expression. "Why do you always talk about coal? What about mining iron?"

Graybeard chuckled, adjusting his worn helmet. "Iron, eh? Well, the thing is, mining iron is a lot more challenging. The ore is harder to extract, and the pay isn't as rewarding. Coal, on the other hand, is in high demand everywhere. It's like gold for us dwarves."

image [https://i.imgur.com/7fgH3qs.png]

The sun beamed brightly overhead, casting its radiant glow upon the two as Mila's brow glistened with sweat. She persevered, determined to complete the task at hand.

As Mila continued to dig, she encountered more resistance. The ground beneath her shovel grew denser, revealing gravel and large rocks that impeded her progress.

As the shovel struck against the gravel, producing an audible noise, Graybeard's senses heightened. "Be careful with that shovel! We don't want to alert whatever is inside."

Mila sighed in frustration. "But these rocks! How am I supposed to dig through this?"

"What are you talking about?" Graybeard inquired, stepping closer to inspect the hole she had dug.

"Damn it..." He cursed.

Wiping his brow, Graybeard looked around their surroundings. "We're in a mountain, for crying out loud! How did we forget to bring a pickaxe?"

Mila sat down by the entrance, taking a breather and wiping the sweat from her forehead. Graybeard joined her, a look of frustration etched on his face.

"This ground won't budge," Graybeard grumbled.

Mila pondered for a moment, then a spark of an idea lit up her eyes. "What if we lure the creature outside again?"

Graybeard stared at her, bewildered. "Are you out of your mind?"

"No, seriously," Mila persisted. "There must be more entrances to this cave. What if we lure the creature outside and then collapse this entrance, giving us a chance to sneak in through another way?"

Graybeard continued stroking his beard, lost in deep thought. "Hmm... Maybe..."

The pair glanced into the cave, surveying their surroundings to assess the situation they faced.

Inside the cavern, a set of stairs led upwards. The walls were covered in moss, and the ground was overrun with vegetation, causing the stairs to break in places due to the roots.

The interior of the cave was shrouded in darkness, with only the stairs visible before them.

Graybeard sighed, realizing the potential consequences of collapsing the entrance. "No good... If we blow up the entrance, we might cause significant damage. This isn't like one of the dwarven caves where it wouldn't matter. Being above ground adds a whole new level of complexity."

Mila's determination grew stronger. "Then we have no other choice!"

Graybeard raised a hand to pause her. "Wait a minute, though... Remember what we did during the battle against the undead goblins?"

Mila furrowed her brow, trying to recall. "What about it?"

A flicker of excitement sparked in Graybeard's eyes. "If we create a flame and you use your air magic to intensify it, we could burn those creatures within the cave walls. It may not be as effective against the big brute, but it will certainly take care of any smaller threats."

"And what about the big one?" Mila questioned.

Graybeard's voice took on a serious tone. "For that, we'll need to rely on our wits... We will lure it out, well, the flames will do that for us, and once it does, we will have the advantage... But clearing out the smaller threats first will give us a better chance at dealing with the abomination."

Graybeard reached into his bag and retrieved a small potion bottle, carefully cradling it in his hand.

"This here is a holy elixir," he explained, his voice filled with a mix of pride and caution. "I went out of my way to purchase it before we set off. If all else fails, we can use it against that horrid abomination."

Mila glanced at the potion, her eyebrows raised in surprise. "You bought it... You promised me we wouldn't delve into such things!"

Graybeard nodded, a tinge of guilt evident in his eyes. "I wasn't planning to use it, Mila. I just wanted to be prepared for any situation that might arise. Trust me."

Mila's expression softened, realizing that Graybeard had only intended to ensure their safety. "It's fine... No need to explain. I trust your judgment, Graybeard."

Mila nodded, understanding the plan. "Alright, let's do it. We'll unleash our fiery assault on those hidden within and face whatever comes our way."

Graybeard, giving her a reassuring smile spoke as he braced himself. "That's the spirit, Mila. Together, we'll overcome any challenge. Now, get ready."

image [https://i.imgur.com/lhqCDcB.png]

God Tier Item: Holy Elixir

A remarkable concoction that defies replication by any known means. This extraordinary potion, particularly in its sacred form, harnesses a torrent of celestial energies, endowed with miraculous healing properties that can resurrect the departed and triumph over the grasp of death itself. Furthermore, it possesses the unique power to vanquish any malevolent undead or unholy adversary, guaranteeing their ultimate demise.

image [https://i.imgur.com/Qj0qq7o.png]