Chương 32: Arc 1 - Dark Whispers
The deeper we ventured into the dungeon, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The air was thick with malevolent energy that clung to our fur and feathers like a damp mist, making every step feel heavier, every breath more laboured. The walls of the narrow passageway seemed to close in around us, their surfaces cold and slick with moisture that hadn't been there before.
Zephyr, walking beside me, kept his wings tucked close to his body, his feathers shimmering with a faint, ethereal light that did little to dispel the darkness. His usually bright eyes were narrowed, scanning the shadows ahead with a growing unease. I could sense his worry, even without words.
"It feels like we're being watched," Orish muttered, his ears twitching as he tried to listen for any sound beyond our own movements. His voice was low, almost a growl, and I knew he was on edge.
I couldn't disagree. The dungeon felt alive, as though the walls themselves were pulsing with some dark intent. "Stay alert," I whispered back, my voice barely above a breath. "This place is playing tricks on us, but we can't afford to let our guard down."
The passage began to widen, and as we moved forward, a faint glow appeared in the distance—a soft, eerie light that seemed to pulse with its own rhythm. We approached cautiously, our steps slowing as the light grew brighter.
As we rounded a corner, the source of the light came into view—a set of ancient runes carved into the stone walls, glowing with an unnatural luminescence. The symbols were unfamiliar, but they radiated a power that made the fur on the back of my neck stand on end.
Mellander, who had been walking just behind us with Zephyr at his side, moved forward to examine the runes. His green eyes reflected the glow, giving him an otherworldly appearance. He reached out, not to touch the runes, but to hover his hand over them, as if feeling the energy they emitted.
He murmured something to his group, and though I understood his words perfectly, I knew my siblings and Zephyr wouldn't. "These runes are a gateway, a bridge between our world and another," Mellander said, his voice tinged with worry. "The energy here… it's wrong. This dungeon is more than just a place—it's a door to something darker."
Orish turned to me, sensing the importance of the moment. "What did he say?" he asked, his voice carrying a note of curiosity mixed with concern.
"He said this dungeon is connected to other dimensions, realms filled with dark energies," I explained, translating Mellander's words for my siblings and Zephyr. "If we're not careful, this place could become a full-blown gateway, letting those dark forces seep into our world."
Orsus grunted, his muscles tensing. "So we're walking through a ticking time bomb. Great."
Lorelin, ever the optimist, tried to reassure us. "We'll get through this. We just need to stick together and be cautious. We've already faced some of this dungeon's threats. We can handle whatever comes next."
As we moved past the runes, Mellander began to speak again, this time more to himself, but I listened closely, understanding every word. "These dungeons are not isolated places," he said, more to the air than to anyone in particular. "They're part of a network, a web of gateways scattered across the world. Each dungeon is a node, and together, they form a network of dark energy that can influence the reality around them... So the things published recently about the dungeons are correct... it's all true..."
I turned to Zephyr and the others. "He's saying these dungeons are like a spider's web. If we disturb one, the whole network reacts. It's all connected, and if we're not careful, we could trigger something much bigger."
Orish frowned, his gaze locked on the runes. "So what's our next move?"
"We proceed carefully," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "We need to find out more about this place, about the runes and how the dungeon connects to the other dimensions. If we can't close the gateway, maybe we can at least prevent it from fully opening."
Mellander, still studying the runes, looked at me, then at Zephyr. Though he couldn't communicate with the others, the concern in his eyes was clear. This was a delicate operation, and one wrong move could have catastrophic consequences.
Zephyr, sensing Mellander's worry, turned to me. "I guess he's thinking that we need to find the source of the dungeon's power. The heart of the gateway. If we can disable it, we might be able to stop the dark forces from breaking through."
I nodded, determination settling in my gut. "Then that's our goal. We find the heart of this place and shut it down before it's too late."
As we prepared to move on, the elf, Samara, suddenly stiffened, her keen eyes catching something in the shadows. She whispered something to the others, and I caught the words, "Something's ahead."
I quickly passed her words to my siblings. "She's spotted something," I murmured, and they tensed, ready for action.
The group fell silent, all senses focused on the direction Samara was pointing. The shadows seemed to writhe and shift as if they were alive. The fae druid stepped forward, raising his hand to summon a faint glow of greenish light that pushed back the darkness just enough to reveal a path ahead.
Suddenly, there was a low growl, and a figure emerged from the shadows—a creature unlike any we had encountered before. It was tall and thin, its body a mass of twisted, shadowy tendrils that seemed to be constantly shifting and changing shape. Its eyes—or what passed for eyes—were two glowing orbs of deep crimson, fixed on us with an unsettling intensity.
Mellander quickly gestured to the group to stay back, his expression one of deep concern. He whispered something to the others, and I caught the word "Wraith." The tension in the air thickened as the creature glided closer, its tendrils reaching out as if searching for something.
[Activating skill: Eyeglass]
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Species: Wraith
Threat Level: Very High
Common Tactics: Stealth, Ambush, Soul Drain
Weaknesses: Light-based magic, Holy energy, Fire
Description:
-Physical Form: The Wraith is a shadowy, ethereal being composed of dark energy. Its body is semi-transparent, with a constantly shifting form that makes it difficult to predict its movements. It has no discernible face, only two glowing red orbs that serve as its eyes. Long, tendril-like appendages extend from its body, reaching out as if searching for something to latch onto.
-Abilities: The Wraith can phase through solid objects and is nearly silent in its movements, making it an expert at ambushes. It has the ability to drain the life force of its victims, weakening them while simultaneously strengthening itself. Its presence alone can induce feelings of dread and despair in those nearby.
-Notes: Wraiths are typically found guarding places of great dark power or acting as sentinels in dungeons connected to other dimensions. They are highly sensitive to magical energies and can be drawn to powerful spells or artefacts. Engaging a Wraith in combat is extremely dangerous; it's often wiser to avoid or outmanoeuvre them.
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I relayed the information to my siblings. "It's a Wraith—a guardian of some sort. We need to be careful. These things are dangerous." I passed more information to my siblings and Zephyr about this being.
Orish's eyes narrowed as he studied the creature. "What's it guarding? And why is it here?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "But it can't be good. We need to find a way around it or disable it without alerting the entire dungeon to our presence."
Zephyr stepped forward, his feathers bristling with energy. "Maybe we can distract it, create a diversion so we can slip past."
Mellander seemed to have the same idea, as he nodded to Zephyr and whispered something to the rest of his group. The human warrior, Ignar, nodded in agreement and began to move to the side, clearly ready to act.
The plan unfolding was simple but risky: Mellander and Zephyr would create a distraction, drawing the Wraith's attention while the rest of us slipped past and continued down the passage. I didn't like the idea of splitting up, but I knew it was our best chance.
I watched as Mellander began to chant softly, his voice barely audible. The air around him shimmered with magic, and a faint green glow began to spread from his hands. Zephyr, sensing the magic, added his own energy to the mix, creating a gust of wind that swirled around the Wraith, momentarily confusing it.
"Now!" I hissed to my siblings, and we moved quickly and silently along the wall, keeping as low as possible. The Wraith, distracted by the swirling magic and wind, didn't seem to notice us as we slipped past. I could feel the dark energy pulsing from the creature, a constant reminder of the danger we were in.
As we reached the other side of the chamber, I turned back to see Mellander and Zephyr quietly retreating after casting a brief illusion thanks to Zephyr's wind magic, their plan was successful. The Wraith remained focused on the illusion, its tendrils grasping at the empty air as it searched for the source of the disturbance.
Once we were safely out of the Wraith's range, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "That was too close," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.
Orsus, ever the optimist, snorted. "At least we didn't have to fight it. I'm not sure I'd like our chances against that thing."
Lorelin nodded in agreement, her usually calm expression tinged with worry. "We need to be more careful. If that's what we're facing down here, we might not be so lucky next time."
Mellander and Zephyr rejoined us, and I could see the strain on their faces. The effort of creating the distraction had taken a toll, but they had succeeded in keeping us safe.
The druid gave me a weary nod. "We're getting closer," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But the deeper we go, the more dangerous it's going to get..."
I nodded, appreciating the gravity of his words. The further we ventured into this dungeon, the more I realized how high the stakes were. This was more than just a test of our strength or skills—it was a battle for survival against forces we barely understood.
As we continued deeper into the dungeon, I again had the feeling that something was watching us, waiting for the right moment to strike...
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