Belial gathered himself and pressed on, forcing his aching legs to keep moving.
He had only a sliver of hope that that door was at the top floor of these dark catacombs. His breath was heavy, his muscles screamed for rest, but he couldn't falter. Not now. Not when Xin and the rest of the survivors might still have a chance.
The air was thick with decay, the stench of rotting flesh and old blood clinging to the damp stone walls. Each step echoed ominously, as if the catacombs themselves whispered warnings. Shadows flickered wildly from their torches, twisting the passage into a nightmarish labyrinth. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the air became. Something lurked in the darkness, watching, waiting. Belial could feel their unseen gazes, could sense the movement just beyond the veil of light. But he couldn't let the others know. Not yet. That was a truth he would carry alone.
"When we reach the top floor," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper, "there will be a chance to save Xin and the others. We have to keep moving."
Raven, clad in full-body black armor that gleamed dully under the torchlight, gave him a sidelong glance but said nothing. The younger girl, The young girl, gripped her dagger tighter, her blonde hair damp with sweat, her breathing labored. The exhaustion was catching up to them all. Belial could see it in the slight tremor in The young girl's fingers, the stiffness in Raven's normally fluid movements. If they didn't get a moment to recover soon, they'd be at a serious disadvantage.
A deep, horrifying rumble echoed through the chamber. The ground trembled beneath them, dust sifting from the cracked stone above. Then, from the shadows, they emerged.
Three Pentacores—grotesque abominations with three massive, whip-like tails and two elongated appendages lined with serrated spikes. Their pale, sinewy bodies twitched with unnatural movements, glowing red veins pulsing beneath their skin. Their gaping mouths split open with unearthly shrieks, revealing rows of jagged, needle-like teeth. The sound sent a shiver down Belial's spine.
He barely had time to react before one of the Pentacores lashed out. He twisted his body, the creature's tail missing him by inches but shattering a stone pillar behind him. Dust and debris rained down. Another tail shot toward The young girl, and Raven intercepted, his armored gauntlets catching the brunt of the attack with a thunderous impact. The force sent him skidding backward, but he held firm.
"They're fast!" The young girl hissed, ducking as a whip-like appendage slashed through the air where her head had been moments before.
"Stay behind us!" Belial ordered, drawing his curved longsword.
Without their abilities, this battle would be nothing but raw endurance and skill. And right now, they were already worn out and exhausted. But they had no choice. If they didn't fight with everything they had, none of them would leave this place alive.
Raven lunged forward, his armored fist crashing into the nearest Pentacore's torso. The creature reeled back, its inhuman screech splitting the air. Belial used the opening to strike, his blade cutting a deep gash along the creature's side. Black ichor sprayed across the ground, sizzling as it touched stone.
A tail lashed toward him. He barely parried in time, the sheer force vibrating through his arms. Pain shot through his wrists, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward. The young girl darted between them, her dagger a flash of silver. She slashed at a second Pentacore's leg, the wound shallow but enough to cause it to stumble. A moment later, a tail shot toward her like a viper. She wasn't fast enough to dodge completely—pain exploded in her side as she was flung against the wall.
"Little girl!" Raven shouted.
She groaned but forced herself up, blood dripping from her lips. "I'm fine!" The lie was obvious in her strained voice.
Belial clenched his jaw. The creatures weren't slowing down, and their movements were erratic, unpredictable. They needed to end this—now.
"Raven, take the left one! I'll handle the right!" Belial commanded.
Raven surged forward, his fists like battering rams as he hammered into the chin of the Pentacore, making it stagger. A subtle crack sounded through the air, but Belial didn't know if it came from the creature or Raven's armor. He charged the other, blade flashing in a deadly arc. He ducked under a tail swipe and spun, driving his sword deep into its eye before ripping it free. The creature screeched and flailed, but Belial didn't let up, cutting it down with a final strike across its throat.
The last Pentacore lunged for Raven, its whip-like appendages aiming for his exposed joints. The young girl, still recovering, threw her dagger with pinpoint accuracy, striking the beast's eye. It shrieked, thrashing wildly, and in that moment of distraction, Raven delivered a devastating punch. His gauntlet met the creature's skull with a sickening crunch. The Pentacore crumpled, twitching before finally falling still.
Belial remained in place, panting, his blade still dripping with black ichor. His arms trembled. They had won—but barely. He turned to check on The young girl, who leaned against the wall, pressing a hand to her bleeding side.
"Let me see it," he said, kneeling beside her.
She shook her head. "It's not deep. I can keep moving."
The young girl panted, slumping against the cold stone wall, her breaths ragged. Sweat clung to her skin, and her limbs felt like lead. "Plus, we… need a break."
Belial wiped his blade clean with a quick flick of his wrist, his expression unreadable. He exhaled through his nose, glancing toward the corridor ahead. "Not for long. We have to keep moving."
Raven dropped onto a broken pillar, flexing his fingers. His knuckles were raw, bruised from the force of his blows. He rolled his shoulders and peered at Belial through the darkness. "How much further?"
Belial hesitated, gaze lingering on the spiral staircase at the chamber's end. "Not far. We just need to reach the top."
The young girl let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. "Easier said than done."
Silence settled over them, heavy and thick. The flickering torches along the walls cast restless shadows that twisted and danced against the stone, as if mocking their exhaustion. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, blood, and something fouler that lurked deeper in the ruins.
"You knew they were coming, didn't you?" Raven finally broke the quiet, his voice low.
Belial stiffened. "What are you talking about?"
Raven's dark eyes gleamed beneath his helmet. "You weren't surprised. And before they even appeared, you were tense. On edge. I've seen that look before."
Belial's grip on his sword tightened. He couldn't tell them. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Raven leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. "What are you hiding?"
The young girl groaned as she forced herself upright, oblivious to the tension simmering between them. "Whatever it is, can we talk about it after we get out of this nightmare? Because I'd rather not die in some forgotten hole underground."
Belial forced himself to relax, nodding. "Right. Let's move."
With weary steps, they ascended the narrow, spiraling staircase at the end of the chamber. The stone was uneven, worn by time and whatever creatures lurked in the depths. Every step was agony, their muscles screaming in protest, but they pushed forward. There was no other choice.
As they reached the top, Belial's stomach twisted with dread.
A corridor stretched before them, its dim light revealing a mass of grotesque figures packed shoulder to shoulder. Lanky, skeletal creatures with elongated claws and distended jaws chittered as they snapped their teeth. Hulking brutes, their bodies covered in jagged, stone-like armor, exhaled heavy, guttural breaths. Eyeless horrors slithered along the walls, their bodies twitching with unnatural spasms.
Belial's heart sank. "This is… worse than I thought."
Raven stood firm, rolling his shoulders as his breathing steadied. "No choice but to fight through."
The young girl wiped the sweat from her brow, her grip tightening around the hilt of her dagger. "Or die trying."