Navigating through the devastated remnants of their earlier conflict, they advanced cautiously out of the room, stepping over rubble and past stains of blood. The hallways were eerily silent, devoid of any Naga presence.

Reaching a lengthy stone corridor at the base, they proceeded until their path was limited to a right turn. Zach signaled a halt, indicating their proximity to the entrance. He scaled the wall with ease, surveying the scene outside for an extended period before descending.

"An army is arrayed outside," Zach reported.

"An army?" Immanuel asked.

"How many?" Syl inquired.

"Around a hundred, including one big general. They resemble corpses forgotten for a cycle."

"Zombies?" Immanuel asked with a frown.

"I'm unfamiliar with that term. They are odorless, motionless, amidst a fierce snowstorm," Zach detailed.

"Is the exit accessible?" Immanuel asked.

"The blizzard obscured my view."

"Should we exploit the snow for cover and escape? When is the amulet usable?" Immanuel asked.

"The amulet won't work for at least a day. We have to confront them, we have to honor the dungeon," Zach asserted.

"What? My God, that does not make any sense." Immanuel protested.

"Who do you worship?" Syl whispered curiously.

"I don’t care what the dungeon wants is what I am saying."

"It's about honor," Zach stated, his brown eyes conveying earnestness.

"I do believe the dungeon will test if we are worthy of its gifts, and that the door will open only if we are victorious," Syl added firmly.

Immanuel, exasperated, said, "First, let's confirm the ghosts that attacked us when we arrived are still here and eliminate them to prevent a rear assault."

Agreeing, they moved towards the entrance, finding the heavy double doors open, with snow swirling in. The ghosts, armed with lethal claws, hovered menacingly in the hallway.

"Allow me to engage first. If they materialize to attack, you strike," Syl instructed, transforming into her King Cobra form. As she advanced, the ghosts swooped down silently.

As the ghosts swooped down, targeting her back with their ethereal blades, Zach and Immanuel sprang into action. Immanuel, flashed next to Syl, dispatched one ghost with a clean horizontal slash. Simultaneously, Zach, agile as ever, leapt onto Syl's head, clamping down on another ghost that dared to draw blood from her neck.

The battle intensified, with more ghosts swarming them. Immanuel executed a strategic roll over Syl's back, severing another ghost in his path. Syl rotated her head a full 180 degrees, striking with viper-like precision at a ghost that had dared to assault her tail. Amidst the chaos, Immanuel stole a glance outside, observing rows upon rows of the zombie army, led by a grotesque general that he could see briefly between the gusts of snow. They stood frozen and eerie, as if time itself had halted their march.

Dancing and weaving around Syl, Immanuel moved with a newfound serenity, a stark contrast to his initial panic upon arrival. Together, they fought in seamless coordination, protecting each other's flanks. As the battle wore on, Immanuel noticed the toll it was taking on Syl, with wounds gradually marking her body. Yet, she remained unyielding, swiftly retaliating against each ghostly strike.

Finally, as the last ghost fell, Immanuel approached Syl with concern, gently examining her wounds. However, Syl, ever vigilant, had already shifted her focus to the hallway, scouting for additional threats. Gazing out at the assembled army, her tongue flickered out, sensing the air.

"Let's thoroughly inspect the rest of the castle, take a rest, and then battle our way out," Immanuel suggested, his tone resolute.

They began their exploration, traversing rooms that Immanuel had only glimpsed during his frenzied escape.

Their journey wasn't without interruption. The ghosts occasionally emerged, though no Naga.

In a grand room, Immanuel attempted to store chairs from an imposing table, but discovered they were resistant to his storage magic.

Eventually, they found a sizable chamber. Deciding it was safe enough for rest, Immanuel set up their tent.

They ate a fish together before retreating in the tent to sleep.

-----

Immanuel awoke to the sounds of a skirmish, initially jolting him from his slumber. Peering outside, he was greeted by the sight of Zach and Syl in their beast forms, engaged in a spirited spar.

Zach, embodying agility, darted across the room with swift, calculated movements. Syl, in contrast, struck with rapid bursts of speed, her attacks almost catching Zach. In a deft maneuver, Zach used his tail to catapult himself backward, evading her. Mid-air, the bone wings from the amulet shot out from his back. They resembled the skeletal framework of a large bat, with each bone intricately connected. Between these bones stretched a material that shimmered with an iridescent quality. The overall effect was both eerie and beautiful, like the remains of a majestic creature from another world, now part of Zach.

Zach hovered above ground for a moment before landing.

“That is absolutely incredible!” Immanuel couldn't help but exclaim, his voice tinged with excitement and disbelief. “I thought the amulet needed more time to be functional?”

He hurried over to Zach, eager for a closer look. “Do it again, if you can.”

Zach, displaying a rare grin, explained, “The integration isn't complete. It demands significant energy to activate, even briefly.”

“You like them, don’t you?”

Zach responded with a soft affirmation, “They feel like a natural extension of me.”

“My God. You both are extraordinary. I've been striving to unlock my alternate form for ages—”

“Which God are you referring to?” Syl interjected, she had a playful hoarse voice in her King Cobra form.

"I will be able to transform," he declared, his fists clenched in determination. Meanwhile, Syl reverted to her human form, her naked figure moving gracefully towards her robes as she spoke. "I possess certain herbs that might help you with your transformation. They are traditionally used in ceremonies and celebrations, influencing the mind to manifest thoughts into reality," she explained, her voice betraying a hint of reluctance. "They can evoke fear and anger, but also bliss and insight. They could make you violent, but they could also be the key to your transformation."

Immanuel responded dryly, "Ah, psychedelics." He said, "Once we're out of this icy hell and if I still can't fly, I'll give them a try."

Feeling a deep chill, he asked, "Is it getting colder here?"

Zach confirmed, "It is."

"Maybe it's night or a normal temperature fluctuation."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Syl, still not clothed, added, "The temperature plunged suddenly, as if at the push of a button."

Curious, Immanuel inquired, "Can you transform into your snake form while wearing your robes?"

Syl responded, "I believe so. The robes are remarkably elastic and adjust with my form. My only concern is damaging them in combat." As she spoke, Immanuel thought he caught a fleeting, mischievous smile on her face.

"So, shall we explore further or confront the army?" Immanuel inquired, weighing their options.

"We can continue exploring," Syl suggested, "until the temperature falls again. It may become too cold to proceed safely."

They ventured out. They encountered numerous doors along their path, but despite their efforts, these remained immovable and impervious to their weapons.

In one chamber, they stumbled upon an array of grotesque statues again. Immanuel's curiosity piqued, he attempted to store one, but to no avail. However, when he tried with a smaller statue, resembling a Koffing Pokémon, he was successful.

"Look at this, I managed to store this Koffing-like statue. Keep an eye out for smaller ones; they seem storable," Immanuel announced.

Zach, eyeing the statues with visible distaste, questioned, "Why bother with these?"

Immanuel responded, adopting a sage-like demeanor, "Rule number four, my friends: Loot everything. One person's trash is another's treasure."

Syl echoed the sentiment, "Indeed, what is discarded by one may hold value for another."

Immanuel bowed slightly, hands still clasped, playing the part of the wise leader. But their moment of levity was cut short as the temperature plummeted once more, a chilling reminder of their precarious situation. They exchanged knowing glances.

Immanuel saw Syl’s breath, visible as wisps of vapor in the frigid air. Syl, protecting herself from the cold, drew her hood over her head.

They made their way towards the exit.

---

They stood in the open hallway that was now knee deep in snow. Syl initiated their strategy, "I have a plan," she began. "Zach, can you scale the wall and then use your wings to reach their leader?"

"I can," Zach confirmed, his tone resolute.

"I'll engage the sword fighters," Syl continued, "and Immanuel, you need to target the archers. They're positioned to the left. It'll be impossible to fight effectively under a barrage of arrows."

"Understood, I'll handle it," Immanuel agreed, though he couldn't shake off the creeping nervousness.

Immanuel voiced his concern, "I'm hesitant about splitting up. If I'm too far away to use my flash ability, I won't be able to assist."

Zach reassured him, "Trust in our plan. I'll conserve enough energy for the wings and the fight. Taking down their leader might just end this."

Immanuel, feeling the intensity of the moment, readied his staff and ax. "I suspect blunt force might be more effective against these frozen zombies."

Zach, preparing for his part, began tapping his foot rhythmically, instructing Immanuel to do the same. When Immanuel had the same rhythm tapping his foot Zach instructed, "Count to 55."

Immanuel, tapping in sync nodded.

“Slow down. You’re speeding up.” Said Zach.

“Sorry. Nervous.”

As Zach moved to jump up the wall he looked at them both, "One for all and all for one."

‘Of Fuck,’ Thought Immanuel while repeating the slogan. “One for all and all for one.” Followed by Syl.

Zach jumped up the wall and moved up.

---

Syl's voice echoed in the hall, "I can barely see them through the snow now."

Immanuel, focusing intently, tried to ignore her to maintain his count.

...30

...40

...50

51...52...53...54...55.

60!

"Go," he commanded, bursting out alongside Syl's immense snake form. The sword fighters, eerily in sync, unsheathed their swords in a frightful display of unity. 'A sergeant's dream,' Immanuel mused wryly, 'to have an army of mindless zombies.'

Veering sharply left, he closed in on the bowmen. They were already drawing their bows, preparing their first volley. As he approached the frontline of sword fighters, Zach's figure was lost in the snowy haze above him.

The first volley whistled through the air, and at that moment, Syl collided with the front line in a thunderous impact, bulldozing her way through like a rhinoceros. The arrows, thankfully, targeted Immanuel. Just as they neared, he utilized his flash ability, instantly transporting himself to the line of defenders.

Immanuel channeled energy into his staff, executing a powerful horizontal sweep. The impact was less destructive than he had hoped; the first zombie absorbed the blow with its head, merely swaying from the force but remaining unscathed, and counterattacked with its sword. Immanuel reacted instantly, flashing away to evade the strike.

Now in the midst of the enemy, a second volley rained down, arrows embedding themselves in the zombies around him. He weaved agilely among the lumbering undead, an idea forming as he noted how the arrows pierced their frozen forms.

Immanuel's movements became a rhythmic dance of combat among the zombies, their imposing sturdiness counterbalanced by their sluggish pace. He deftly maneuvered between them, striking and dashing away, using his flash ability to evade incoming arrows. "I can manage this," he thought, finding his rhythm in the chaotic battlefield.

Suddenly, Zach's voice cut through the distance, "On me!" Immanuel's focus shifted instantly.

With a surge of urgency, Immanuel used his flash ability twice in quick succession. He then glimpsed the massive form of the giant zombie, just as Zach's bloodied form leaped onto the general's arm that was descending in a deadly arc towards him.

Immanuel charged towards the giant. As the zombie swung its arm backward, he slid beneath it, striking it with all his might using his staff. The impact felt like hitting cold, unyielding steel; it barely made an impression.

Realizing the futility, Immanuel threw down his staff and pulled out his sword, channeling a massive surge of energy into the blade. Meanwhile, Syl broke through to the last line of soldiers. She rose to the height of the zombie, her pincers slicing through its arms and deep into its side forcing him in place.

In that moment, a volley of arrows rained down upon them, striking Syl. Immanuel's heart surged with anger and guilt as he intensified his attack, focusing on the zombie's leg. His sword strikes, powered by sheer determination, chipped away at the icy flesh, sending splinters flying.

Zach yelled out, "The HEAD!" while he leaped from Syl's back, expertly fending off an attack aimed at her. With a fluid motion, he slammed against another zombie's chest, using his momentum to deliver a powerful blow to yet another assailant. His tail, gripping a fourth enemy, swung around in a lethal arc, striking with force.

Zach, a blur of motion, continued to defend Syl, darting around to intercept the soldiers that dared approach. Syl, in her massive form, retaliated with powerful strikes of her tail while holding the leader in place. Amidst this chaos, another volley of arrows descended, two finding their mark in Immanuel's shoulder and thigh, drawing blood and pain.

Immanuel jumped on the general’s shoulder and started to strike down with all his power, trying to cleave its head in two. The creature, in a slow, agonizing motion, began to contort its arms, attempting to free itself from their relentless assault. Immanuel, summoning every ounce of his strength, raised his sword and delivered blow after blow.

Immanuel's focus narrowed to the singular task at hand. As his sword struck the giant zombie's head, ice splinters erupted from the impact. Temporarily oblivious to the chaos of battle surrounding him, he hoisted his sword once more, pouring all his energy into the blade.

With a forceful swing, he brought the sword down again, noticing a small fissure beginning to form in the icy skull. Around him, the battle raged on. He could sense Syl's struggle as she held her ground against the overwhelming might of the zombie general. The encroaching zombies converged from all directions.

Channeling every bit of his strength into his sword, he raised it high once more. He felt the energy coursing through him, converging into the weapon in his hands. With a determined cry, he brought the sword down.

At last, the giant's head split apart. Exhausted and injured, Immanuel fell down with the general, blood seeping from several arrow wounds. Zach rushed to his side, using his tail claw and hands to break off the dangerous parts of the arrows and pull them out before moving to Syl.

Immanuel, struggling through his pain, offered his arm to Syl, a silent plea for her to use her vampiric abilities to heal. "Take," he managed to gurgle out, guilt weighing heavily on him.

"Syl," he began, but was quickly silenced by Zach, who was diligently tearing his black suit to create makeshift bandages. "Stop talking," Zach urged, focused on stemming the flow of blood.

The cold was still relentless and the snow almost completely obscured their view. Rising to their feet, Immanuel, Zach, and Syl began to gather their bearings amidst the aftermath of the battle. Immanuel paused by one of the fallen zombies, examining its ice sword. He began to collect the ice swords, storing them.

Zach, ever resourceful, darted away and returned with a bundle of bowstrings from the fallen archers. Immanuel added these to his storage, ensuring no resource from the battlefield went to waste. He started storing the ice zombies, hastening his actions as the cold intensified.

Meanwhile, Syl in her human form was engrossed in retrieving something from the chest of the boss zombie. As Zach and Immanuel moved towards the dungeon exit, Syl extracted a dark blue crystal from the creature. Tossing it to Immanuel, she instructed, "Store this."

With the crystal safely stored, they finally made their way out of the dungeon. The stone entryway, once a symbol of foreboding dread, now felt unexpectedly warm. Stepping into the sunlight at the end of the stone hallway, Immanuel blinked against the bright light and heard a scratch. His gaze quickly shifted to their surroundings, only to find they were encircled by a tribe of bipedal rats.

“What the fuck,” He said aloud.