The oppressive silence lingered as the beings words echoed through the chamber, his voice unnaturally deep for his childlike form. Emma's heart thundered in her chest, but she forced herself to maintain composure. A bitter smile curled her lips.

"Wait," she said, her voice steady despite the panic clawing at her mind. "Before you decide to eat either of us, why don't we talk first?"

The being paused, his jagged teeth glinting as he chuckled—a sound like the grinding of broken glass. "A mortal wishes to chat with me? How amusing."

Emma swallowed hard. Her body felt as though it was on the verge of collapsing under the oppressive force it exuded. "Well," she began, keeping her tone casual, "it's only polite. I mean, I’d at least like to know the name of the one planning to devour me. What should I call you? Mr…?"

For a moment, the twisted being seemed to consider her words. His childlike face tilted slightly, his hollow black eyes narrowing as if in thought. Finally, his lips curled into a grotesque smile. "You may call me…... Matana."

The name struck her like a bolt of lightning. Emma’s breath hitched as her vision blurred. Her mind reeled, her thoughts splintering as the name echoed endlessly in her skull. Matana… Matana… Matana…

Her knees buckled, and her hand shot out to steady herself against the cold stone floor. A visceral nausea churned in her stomach, her body screaming in revolt as though the very sound of his name was poison.

Across the room, Maverick wasn’t faring any better. Blood trickled from his eyes, nose, and ears, staining his face with crimson streaks. His breaths were labored, rasping and uneven, and he coughed violently, droplets of blood spraying the stone.

Matana sneered. "Weaklings," he spat, his tone laced with disdain. "You mortals are no fun." He turned away, striding toward the far end of the chamber. "Die slowly, if you wish. I have far more important matters to attend to."

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Emma’s body trembled, but she managed to lift her head to watch as Matana reached the far corner of the room. There, the ancient carvings on the walls glowed faintly, their light trembling as if in fear of his presence.

Matana raised his small, misshapen hand and bit down on it with his teeth. Blackened blood oozed from the wound, dripping onto the stone floor. He began to chant, his voice taking on a cadence that resonated through the chamber, shaking the walls with each word.

"As the darkness consumes the light in its brightest hour,

And as the moon takes dominion over the sun,

I, Matana, shall reclaim my rightful place…"

The air grew colder with each line, a biting chill that seemed to gnaw at Emma’s very bones. Matana tilted his head back slightly, his grin widening.

"My time has come," he declared, his voice booming. "My wait is over. The time for my reawakening… Has Arrived!"

The ground trembled violently, cracks splintering across the stone floor. Ancient runes flared to life before dimming into nothingness, their energy drained into the growing vortex of darkness gathering around Matana.

The shadows twisted and writhed, converging on him like a living entity. Slowly, they formed a formless black mass, an egg-shaped cocoon that pulsed ominously.

Emma’s body jerked as the invisible force that had bound her dissipated. Not too far from her, Maverick collapsed to his knees, coughing and gasping for air.

"He’s… rebirthing himself," Emma muttered, her voice hoarse. Her eyes locked on the grotesque black cocoon that was steadily growing larger. She scrambled to her feet, grabbing Maverick by the arm. "We have to destroy it! Now, before it’s too late!"

Maverick nodded weakly, his hand clutching his dagger as he rose unsteadily. He opened his mouth to speak, but a loud CRACK silenced him.

Both of them froze as the egg splintered, a jagged line spreading across its surface. From the crack, a single eye emerged—glowing and catlike, its golden iris narrowing as it fixed its gaze on them.

Emma’s heart sank as recognition struck her like a hammer blow. It was just like the same eye she had seen depicted in the dungeon’s carvings—the otherworldly being the gods once fought but had failed to completely destroy.

The eye blinked slowly, its gaze filled with hunger.

The egg shuddered again, larger cracks spreading across its surface as the oppressive air thickened once more.

Emma and Maverick could do nothing but stare as the cocoon began to pulsate, the being inside straining to emerge.

"Matana’s awakening…" Emma whispered, her voice barely audible over the trembling earth. "And we can't do anything to stop it?."