Greg's brow furrowed, a mix of irritation and fascination knitting together above his. "Why did I even agree to this?" he muttered under his breath, his voice carrying in the unnerving silence. His latest question concerned a particularly complex glyph. "What're the expansion capabilities? Do you think that the room will continue opening new doors, Cal? Why did I rush to join from my studies if you weren’t going to answer!"

Cal Run turned to Greg with a stoic face, "questions later, Greg. We need to move. Honestly, I don’t know much about it – I was hoping you did," he said, his tone carrying an edge of command.

"Move? To where?" The dwarf's curiosity was piqued despite his complaints. He straightened, eyeing Cal with suspicion.

"Where Jerry fell," Cal stated flatly, pushing himself off the wall. "It's likely the key spot for whatever we're seeking."

"Likely?" Jaxon echoed, skepticism lacing his words. "Or you're just guessing?"

"Time's not our ally." Cal's dark eyes scanned the group, his lips pressed into a thin line. "We find the egg or we find trouble. Either way, we can't stand around admiring the décor."

Cal remembered their cautious exit from the room. Luckily the water level had immediately receded. The cavern's mouth revealed a vista that stole the breath from their lungs. He was surprised by the amount of water the vase had released. An artificial lake lay cradled in the embrace of jagged cliffs, its surface a mirror reflecting the eerie glow of bioluminescent lichen clinging to the stone faces.

Cal and the team had walked around its edges occasionally seeing dead bodies, of humans and beasts alike. They had gathered quite the haul of loot from these corpses, but each face weighed heavily on Cal’s mind. They had drowned. He suspected that not many, if any, survived.

"Fine," Greg conceded, though his tone suggested anything but agreement. "But don't think I'm done with these questions."

Elena whispered to Cal, her violet eyes capturing the surreal beauty in one glance. "It's like we've stumbled into another world."

"Doesn't seem natural," Cal agreed, squinting at the horizon where water met blue crystal in an impossible line. He sighed after looting another dead swordsman, tossing the sword, armor and belongings into his spatial treasure.

"They came for us Cal. Don’t let it get to you." Elena's fingers tightened around her bow, the weapon an extension of her unease.

"That doesn’t mean they don’t have their own stories," Cal nodded, stepping closer to the edge and peering into the undisturbed surface below.

A moment of silence passed between them before Elena's voice, soft as a whisper, broke it. "Cal, are we the villains here?"

He didn't turn to face her, but his jaw clenched. "We did what we had to do. Survival doesn't always leave room for morality, Elena."

"Maybe not," she conceded. "But when does survival become murder?"

Cal's gaze finally met hers. "You've never been one to dwell on conscience."

"Perhaps I'm tired of being what I am... or maybe seeing Joe die—" Her words faltered, and she looked away.

"Joe… I was careless. We were careless. The guideweaves, the abilities that everyone has. They’re unpredictable, powerful." Cal said firmly. "I’ve been overconfident."

He paused, then continued, “this isn’t the first time I’ve… I’ve had to do something like this, Elena. I’m sad that it’s gotten easier. Dozens of people, Elena. Despite what he did, I don’t think Tobin was a bad guy.”

"Nothing about this is easy," Elena replied. "But hesitate, and you're next."

Their conversation hung in the air, mingling with the mist rising from the lake. Cal turned his attention back to the water, his thoughts as murky as the depths below.

The majority of the journey was in silence with Greg peppering questions in between. Temp would answer some, but most were ramblings. In their silence, the remaining members reflected on their own worries. Cal could sense the unease from Jabor. Jaxon wore a mask, hiding his turmoil, but Cal knew it was there. Jenna was easy to understand – she was a ball of fury. She lashed out on anything living, adding a small fortune of beast cores to their stockpile.

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They had already been moving for 15 hours according to Temp’s mapping when Greg's breath hitched, a sudden gasp slicing through the hushed murmurs and tense atmosphere. His body stiffened, reflecting a terror that was foreign to his usually composed demeanor.

"Something's... wrong," he choked out, voice barely above a whisper. His hands reached out, grasping at the empty air as if trying to catch hold of something unseen.

"Greg?" Jenna's voice cut through the tension, sharp and commanding. She was at his side in an instant, her hand on his shoulder, steadying him. The flirty smirk she often wore had vanished, replaced by an expression etched with concern.

"Can't... can't go on," Greg stammered, his knees buckling. “I’m getting drained, this… this…” He crumpled, seemingly by an invisible force that seemed to claw at the very essence of his being.

"Jabor!" Jenna barked, turning towards the cervidian who stood rigid, his jock-bro stature now serving a purpose beyond mere intimidation. "Get him back, now."

Jabor nodded, stepping forward without hesitation. His turmoil fell away, revealing a glimmer of genuine worry as he scooped Greg up in his powerful arms. Greg's head lolled, his murmurs fading into the cavernous echoes around them.

"Quickly, Jabor. His life may depend on it. You both should head to the room," Jenna instructed, her usual seductive tone replaced by the steel of authority. “I felt the pull of something as well. I think we are heading in the right direction. This will be more dangerous than I imagined.”

"Got it." Jabor's words were terse as he pivoted on a hoof, darting back toward the enigmatic room with Greg in tow.

"Careful with him," she called after Jabor, watching until the pair disappeared around a bend.

The rest of the group exchanged uneasy glances, each grappling silently with the sight of their comrade's distress. But there was no time for lingering doubts; urgency clawed at them just as fiercely as whatever had seized Greg's soul. They pressed on, driven by necessity, leaving the security of the familiar for the haunting unknown.

The cavern air grew colder, a sure sign the group was nearing the unseen heart of this subterranean world. They trudged in silence, following the invisible tether that had latched onto Greg's soul. Each step was purposeful; time was the predator at their heels.

"Whatever it is, it's close," Cal muttered, his voice low but edged with anticipation. "And so is Jerry."

Elena nodded, eyes scanning the shadows. "The egg must be near."

Jaxon's gaze flitted from stalactite to stalagmite, the gray of his eyes hard as flint. "It's feeding on the energy. Look at the trees and the grass. They are dying. The energy in here is... different."

"We're indeed inside a cauldron," Jenna whispered, her usual playfulness absent. She walked beside Jaxon. "All the components are here—energy, life, and us. Half of the plants here are treasures. Was Cageman planning on cooking us into a treasure?"

"This must be his experiment," Cal said, piecing together their thoughts. "Cageman is using us as energy in his equation."

Elena added, her violet eyes reflecting the weight of their situation, "we need to find that egg before we become part of some twisted scheme. Hopefully that will stop whatever is happening."

"Then let's not waste more breath," Jaxon suggested, the steel in his tone matching the resolve in their steps.

The team quickened their pace, now more than ever aware of the stakes. The pull intensified, a silent siren call guiding them toward destiny or doom.

“Temp,” Cal said curtly. “How are we doing. Do you have an update on our status? Did you learn anything about the skills that you bought?”

“Yes, Cal. I have learned quite a bit. Let me share my status first. You have not taken any additional beast cores. I… I suggest you do – this fight may be more challenging than any of us expect.”

"You’re right." Cal motioned towards the spatial treasure to grab a strength/dexterity beast core. He had ten now. More than enough for another title. He hesitated. The rush he would feel after taking a single stage-two core was intense. He would have to space them out in the little time he had.

"The increase to my attributes should be useful support if we have to face off against any enemies."

Name Temp Class Mortal chair (level 32 / 50) Bloodline Lineage of Leonidas Attributes STR VIT VIG DEX INT WIS LUK Total Effective level Base attributes 32

(+32) 37

(+32) 32

(+32) 32

(+32) 32

(+32) 32

(+32) 350 574 82.00 Total attributes 50 53 47 47 47 47 434 725 103.59

Cal acknowledged Temp's attributes, but his gaze didn't waver from the path ahead. His fingers brushed against the cool wall of the cavern, “this is where he is. Jerry." The fallen warrior, the artist of the journal. Brother to the cervidians.

"Jaxon, Jenna," Elena said, "we need to be ready for what's ahead."

"Yes, I’m ready," Jenna replied without looking at her.

Jaxon grunted, the sound a rough agreement. Jenna nodded, her fingers dancing over her weapon.

The path narrowed, forcing them into a single file line. Above, the stalactites loomed like ancient spears, poised to strike. They pushed forward, the pull in their chests a compass leading them ever onward. The mission was clear: find the egg before it consumed them all.