Capítulo 16: Fallen Into Darkness
Panting heavily, Nizara wiped the sweat from his brow, scanning the dense forest around them. "Are there more enemies deeper in?" he asked, his voice tinged with exhaustion. Zalthor, equally winded but maintaining his usual composure, glanced into the shadows ahead. "It's hard to say," he muttered, "but this place reeks of more trouble."
Nizara furrowed his brow. "What about the supplies? Were they safely delivered to Thornshade?"
Without a word, Zalthor performed a swift hand sign, sending a faint pulse of shadow magic through the air. Moments later, he nodded. "The clones completed the delivery without any issues. The supplies are secure."
A brief silence fell between them as they caught their breath. Though the first part of their mission was accomplished, the atmosphere remained thick with tension, both aware that something more dangerous could be waiting just beyond the next line of trees.
After a brief exchange, they both nodded, agreeing to press deeper into the forest. "We can't turn back now," Zalthor stated, his tone steady but his eyes alert. "If there's more out there, we'll find it."
"Right," Nizara replied, gripping his blade tightly as they advanced, their senses on high alert.
Each step was cautious, their eyes sweeping every shadow, every rustle in the underbrush. As they moved deeper, the air grew thicker, almost suffocating. The distant sounds of the forest faded into silence. Suddenly, Zalthor raised a hand, his sharp gaze focusing ahead. "Hold up," he whispered, a hint of tension in his voice. "Something's different here."
"What do you mean?" Nizara asked, glancing around as unease crept up his spine.
Zalthor moved forward slowly, scanning the area until he spotted a large rock half-buried in the ground, covered in moss. It was engraved with strange, ancient writing. "Look at this," Zalthor said, narrowing his eyes at the symbols. "I've never seen anything like it."
"What is it supposed to say?" Nizara wondered aloud, stepping closer and reaching out to touch the stone. The symbols were crude, carved deep into the rock, but the language was unlike anything either of them had encountered.
"No idea," Zalthor muttered. "But I don't like it. Feels like a warning."
As they tried to make sense of the markings, the ground beneath Nizara suddenly shifted. "Wait—!" Nizara shouted, but it was too late. With a sharp crack, the earth caved in, and he vanished into the pit below.
"Nizara!" Zalthor called out, his voice filled with urgency as he rushed toward the edge of the pit. But before he could react further, the ground beneath him also gave way. He felt himself falling through the darkness, his mind racing as he tried to grab hold of anything to stop his descent.
They both landed with a thud in separate chambers, the cool, damp air wrapping around them like a shroud. Nizara quickly rose to his feet, rubbing his arm where he landed. "Zalthor?" he called out, but his voice echoed into the distance with no response.
Meanwhile, in his own chamber, Zalthor stood and dusted himself off, his keen senses immediately noting the absence of Nizara nearby. "Great," he muttered under his breath. "This complicates things."
Separated by walls of earth and stone, they both realized they were now underground, alone in the dark, with no idea of how deep the danger truly went.
Nizara took a deep breath, his eyes straining against the pitch-black darkness that surrounded him. "It's too dark in here," he muttered to himself, his voice echoing faintly in the cold, empty chamber. He reached out, feeling the rough, damp stone walls as he started walking cautiously, trying to get his bearings.
"Gotta find a way out… but where do I even start?" he whispered, his mind racing as he replayed the events leading up to this moment. Every step he took was careful, his senses heightened as he listened for any signs of movement. As he moved further in, he couldn't help but feel like the walls were closing in, the air growing heavier.
"What's going on here? That writing… was it some kind of trap? Or maybe…" he trailed off, trying to piece things together as he continued deeper into the unknown.
On the other hand, Zalthor surveyed his surroundings with a sharp, analytical gaze, his concern for Nizara growing with each passing moment. "Damn it, this isn't good," he muttered, frowning as he attempted to summon his Shadow Aether. To his frustration, no clones emerged. "An anti-magic field," he realized, his frustration mounting. "Of course, this place is warded against magic."
His mind raced, worried about Nizara's recklessness. "I have to find a way out of here, and fast. He's not exactly the type to think things through in a pinch," Zalthor thought, shaking his head. He carefully examined the walls and floor, searching for any weaknesses or hidden mechanisms, while keeping his thoughts focused on how to deal with their predicament. "I need to find a way to signal him and get us both out before things get worse."
Zalthor continued his search through the dark, oppressive underground, his thoughts focused on the group he had encountered earlier. His keen intellect and experience told him that this place held more secrets and dangers than he had initially anticipated. The unsettling quiet and the eerie glow of the distant firelight only heightened his sense of urgency.
As Zalthor moved cautiously through the narrow, winding passages, he stumbled upon a group of people huddled in a makeshift camp. Their faces were illuminated by the flickering flames of a small fire they had managed to start, casting long, jittery shadows on the walls.
He approached them with care, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "Hold on. I'm not here to cause trouble," he said in a calm, steady voice. "Can you tell me who you are and how you ended up here?"
The group looked up, their expressions a mix of fear and suspicion. A man stepped forward, holding a crude spear with a cautious stance. "We don't know who you are. How can we trust you?"
Zalthor nodded, understanding their wariness. "I'm not with the bandits. I'm on a mission to investigate their activities. I fell through a trap and ended up here, just like you. I'm here to help."
The tension in the group began to ease slightly. A woman with worry etched on her face stepped forward. "We've been stuck down here for days. We fell through a trap and haven't been able to find a way out. We're running low on supplies and starting to lose hope."
Zalthor's expression softened with sympathy. "I'm sorry to hear that. I'll do my best to help you get out. First, let's figure out the layout of this place. Do any of you have any information or clues about this underground area?"
A man in his thirties, looking tired but resolute, shook his head. "We've only explored a small part of this maze. It's mostly just tunnels and chambers, and we haven't found any clear exits."
Zalthor took a deep breath, resolving to find a solution. "Alright, I'll take the lead. Stay close and keep your eyes open for anything that might be helpful. I'll start by examining the walls and floor for any hidden passages or clues."
As Zalthor began his investigation, he couldn't shake the concern he felt for the group. Their situation was dire, and the maze-like nature of the underground made it even more challenging. His thoughts also drifted to the ancient symbols he had found earlier, hoping they might hold the key to their escape.
The group watched with bated breath as Zalthor carefully examined his surroundings. The dim light of the fire barely illuminated the walls, making every shadow seem ominous. Zalthor's sharp eyes caught the faint outlines of ancient symbols etched into the stone, and he paused to study them.
One of the men approached, peering over Zalthor's shoulder. "What's that?"
"It appears to be some sort of inscription," Zalthor replied, tracing the symbols with his fingers. "It could be a clue or part of a mechanism for a hidden passage."
Before Zalthor could investigate further, a sudden rumble shook the ground. The floor beneath him shifted, and he realized too late that he had triggered another trap. The stone beneath him gave way, and he fell through a hidden hole, landing hard on the cold, uneven ground.
The impact knocked the breath out of him, and he groaned as he pushed himself up, disoriented. He could hear the distant shouts of the group above, but their voices were muffled and indistinct.
As Zalthor regained his bearings, he noticed that the area he had fallen into was even darker and more oppressive than before. The narrow tunnel he found himself in was silent, and he had no way of knowing if it led to more traps or simply another section of the maze.
Determined not to be deterred, Zalthor continued his exploration, hoping to find a way to reunite with the trapped group and complete his mission.
Meanwhile, Nizara continued to struggle through the oppressive darkness of the underground chamber, frustration evident in his grumbling. "This place is a maze and a half. How long am I going to be stuck down here?"
His complaints were abruptly cut off when a low growl echoed through the darkness. Nizara's eyes widened as a massive, hulking creature emerged from the shadows. Its eyes gleamed with a predatory glint, and its claws were sharp and menacing. The beast's sheer size and ferocity made Nizara's pulse quicken.
"Well, finally," Nizara said, his mood shifting from irritation to excitement. "Things are getting interesting."
He attempted to activate Swiftstride, but found his magic unresponsive. "What the—?" He frowned, trying again, but his powers failed him. The beast seized the opportunity, lunging at him with a powerful swipe of its claws. Nizara barely managed to dodge, the force of the attack stirring the air around him.
"What's going on?" he muttered, confused and alarmed. "Why isn't my Swiftstride working?" He quickly tried to channel ThunderBlade V1, but the spell fizzled out. The beast roared and charged at him, slashing him with a powerful strike that sent Nizara crashing against the stone wall. He hit the ground hard, pain coursing through his body, and blood seeped from his wounds.
Despite the pain, Nizara began to laugh, his eyes gleaming with a mix of exhilaration and defiance. "This is going to be one hell of a fight if I can't use magic!" he shouted, pushing himself up with a grimace. "Let's see what you've got!"
The two clashed fiercely, trading blows in the dimly lit chamber. Nizara's agility and raw strength kept him in the fight despite the creature's brute force. Every swing of the beast's claws and every dodge by Nizara was a testament to their ferocity and determination.
The underground chamber became a battleground of sweat, blood, and raw power, with each combatant refusing to back down.
*To Be Continued…*
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