The three villains moved through the dungeon's ruined streets, their steps quiet on the cracked stone. Rhan led the way, his tattooed arms flexing as he scanned the shadows.
Tony followed close, fiddling with the device on his wrist, while Scarlet trailed behind, twirling her blade between her fingers.
"Almost time," Rhan said, his voice low. "The Ancient One's waking up soon. It's going to feast good."
Tony glanced at the dead zombies scattered around—headless, vines cut clean through. "Hunters aren't half bad, huh? Took out a bunch already."
Rhan smirked. "Doesn't matter. They're walking right into it. Won't even know what hit them."
Scarlet stopped suddenly, her head tilting like she caught a scent on the wind. "Wait. Something's off." She sniffed again, eyes narrowing. "Smells like a zombie… but not. Weird."
"What are you on about?" Tony asked, frowning.
"There's a presence," she said, ignoring him. "Over that way." She pointed northeast, toward the tower, then took off running without another word.
Rhan sighed. "She's always like this. Let's go."
---
Fin sat against a crumbling wall, his dagger resting on his knee. Juliana had finally stopped skulking in the shadows and joined him, sitting a few feet away. Her metal shard lay beside her, close enough to grab if she needed it.
"Thought you'd keep hiding," Fin said, glancing at her.
"Didn't see the point," she replied, her tone flat. "You knew I was there."
He nodded. "Fair. You holding up?"
She touched her side, wincing. "Well enough. You?"
"Hungry," he admitted as his stomach growled loud enough to echo in the empty room.
"Same," she said, her own stomach rumbling in response. "Nothing to eat in this damn place."
"Yeah, unless you count zombie vines," he said dryly. "Pass."
She gave a small, reluctant smile. "Hard pass."
They sat in silence for a moment, the distant groans of zombies filling the air. Fin leaned his head back, trying to ignore the ache in his gut. "You think there's a way out of here?"
"There has to be. That tower… if it started this, maybe it ends it too."
"Maybe," he agreed. "I just hope my Guild's still alive somewhere in here."
She looked at him, curious. "You really think they're here?"
"Hope so. Came all this way for them." He paused, then added, "What about you? What's your plan?"
"Survive," she said simply. "Figure out what's keeping me from turning. Then stop it—for good."
He nodded, respecting that. "Guess we're both chasing answers."
Before she could reply, a shadow moved on a rooftop nearby. Fin's instinctively went for his dagger, but he didn't stand yet. Juliana noticed too, her body tensing.
Up above, Scarlet stood watching them with curious eyes. She zoned in on Juliana first, her eyes narrowing.
"Huh, that's so strange," she muttered to herself. "How's she immune?," She scanned her body just by looking at her, "Ohh, very interesting. I want her."
Then her gaze shifted to Fin, and a slow grin spread across her face. "Oh, that little hunter from back then. He looks stronger now."
Fin caught her staring and stood, "Who's that?" he asked Juliana, keeping his voice low.
"No idea," she whispered back, grabbing her metal shard. "But she looks like trouble."
Scarlet leaped down, landing lightly a dozen feet away. She straightened up, twirling her blade casually. "Well, well. What do we have here?"
Fin stepped forward, keeping Juliana behind him. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"Ahhh, how adorable. I like you more and more," she said, her grin sharp. "Anyways, I'm just curious. You—" she pointed her blade at Juliana—"smell like one of them, but you're not. How does that work?"
Juliana glared. "None of your business."
"Oh, it's my business now," she said, stepping closer. "I like rare things. You're coming with me."
"Not happening," Fin cut in, raising his dagger. "Back off."
Scarlet's eyes flicked to him, amused. "Cute. You've got some bite now, huh? Saw you stumble in here like a lost puppy. Guess you're not so helpless anymore."
"Try me," he said, his voice steady.
She laughed, low and dangerous. "Tempting. But I'm not here for a fight—yet." She tilted her head, studying them both. "You're heading to the tower, aren't you?"
"What's it to you?" Juliana snapped.
"Hmm, well, nothing really, You will know soon enough." She turned back, like she was about to leave then she just vanished and appeared in front of Fin. He was so off guard he almost tripped.
"watch your step there cutie." She said, holding him by the chin, her face too close to his.
He tried to pull back but his body wouldn't respond at all, 'what the hell?' He looked at the girl, 'Dammit, this person is dangerous, should I activate my power? No, that's too risky, what now?' His mind searched for answers but nothing came up.
"Relax, I won't kill you, but," she moved over to Juliana who was also helpless against her, "I will be taking her." before Juliana could struggle, she got hit by the neck, knocking her out.
"Consider yourself lucky." She said to Fin before disappearing.
After she left, Fin felt his body loosen up, like a weight had lifted. That presence she had—it was unlike anything he'd faced before. Even if he drained every zombie in this dungeon, he doubted he'd come close to touching her strength.
Frustration boiled up, and he slammed his fist into the wall. The crack echoed through the empty room.
He regretted it instantly. Shuffling footsteps closed in—zombies, drawn by the noise.
Fine. He'd take it out on them.
He gripped his dagger, mana surging into the blade as the first zombie burst through the doorway. Its vines pulsed green, but Fin didn't hesitate. He ducked its claw, spun, and slashed through its neck. The head rolled, and he kicked the body aside.
Two more stumbled in, faster than the last. He leaped forward, driving his dagger into one's chest, then yanked it free to slice the vines on the other. They dropped, lifeless.
Breathing hard, he scanned the room. More were coming—he could hear them down the hall. Too bad for them, their were running to their deaths.
"Let's fucking go," he muttered, charging toward the sound.