Zorayel and the Ten Pillars of MAA moved cautiously through the dimly lit cave, their footsteps echoing against the stone walls. Outside, the remaining mages stood alert, watching for any sudden changes.
"Do you see anything unusual?" Zorayel asked in a low, calm voice.
"They're still chanting," Durein replied, his eyes closed as he viewed through his summoned bat's vision. "It's strange… they should've noticed us by now."
"It's possible they're anticipating us," Miren said, his tone thoughtful and steady.
"We need to stay cautious," Zorayel warned, his eyes scanning the dark corridors ahead.
"Tch, let's just blow up the damn cave," Rahzei grunted, cracking his knuckles. "That way we won't have to waste time chasing them."
"We're not here to destroy—we're here to capture," Zorayel snapped, shooting Rahzei a sharp glare. "Besides… he might be here."
The mood immediately shifted.
"What will you do if you find him?" Miren asked quietly, sensing the weight in Zorayel's words.
"I'll let Master decide that," Zorayel said, his voice cold and resolute.
"How deep is this cave?" Zorayel asked again, trying to estimate how much farther they had to go.
"That's what's odd," Durein replied, frowning. "My bat reached the end much faster than this."
"Hey, beautiful witch," Rahzei called out with a smirk, "can you check if there's any kind of magic messing with our perception?"
Liraeth stopped in her tracks, turning back with an icy glare. "What did you just call me?"
"He meant it as a compliment," Arceal grinned, trying to defuse the tension.
"Yeah, well, idiots like you don't know how to compliment properly," Liraeth muttered. "I've already checked—there aren't any active spells distorting the path…"
She paused, her expression darkening. "But… I do sense something strange up ahead."
"My foresight isn't working," Arceal suddenly said
Zorayel's expression hardened. "Everyone, keep your guard up."
They continued forward in tense silence, the only sound the soft tapping of boots against stone. After another thirty minutes of walking, they arrived at a strange stone structure embedded within the cave. The air was colder here, heavier.
"What is this place…?" someone whispered.
"This… isn't what I saw through the bat's eyes," Durein said, confused. "The layout's completely different."
"Guys," Orion called, pointing to a large door carved into the stone. "Look at that."
It was unlike the other doors—adorned with ancient runes glowing faintly in the dark, pulsing like a heartbeat.
They tried to push it open, but it was sealed with a powerful spell.
"Let me try," Liraeth stepped forward, raising her hand with a confident spark in her eyes.
"Revert." Her voice echoed with power.
With a loud shatter, the protective spell broke into glowing fragments and dissipated into the air.
The heavy door creaked open slowly, revealing a long-forgotten chamber beyond.
"Let's move," Zorayel said.
They entered the room
The room felt like a royal chamber—dark, vast, and cold. A faint silhouette of a throne stood at the far end, barely visible through the gloom.
"What in the world is this place…?" Zorayel muttered, his eyes scanning the eerie shadows.
Suddenly, the massive stone door slammed shut behind them with a thunderous echo. Without warning, every wall-mounted torch in the room ignited on its own, casting flickering shadows across the stone walls.
As the room lit up, glowing magic circles began to swirl across the floor.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of monstrous figures materialized from the summoning glyphs.
"Kraggors…?" Zorayel gasped.
The Kraggors were hulking, green-skinned beasts, roughly human in size but far more muscular. Their towering mammoth-like tusks curled out from under snarling jaws. Though savage, they stood upright like humans, gripping giant logs as weapons.
"What are Kraggors doing here?" Zorayel asked, his voice sharp with tension.
"Look up!" Selvana shouted.
A second wave of magic circles glowed on the ceiling. From them, massive spider-like monsters dropped down—each the size of a cart.
"Iktomi," Orion said, his voice laced with dread.
The Iktomi had glowing red eyes that pierced through the darkness. Their venom-dripping fangs clicked in anticipation as their green-dotted black carapaces shimmered in the firelight.
"These too?" Arceal muttered.
"Now it's getting interesting." Rahzei cracked his knuckles with a wicked grin. "Finally!"
The Kraggors charged forward with thunderous roars, their logs smashing through stone and debris.
"Enhancement Spell: Firesome Fist!" Rahzei shouted, his fists igniting with blazing energy. His first punch sent a Kraggor flying, smashing into its kin with crushing force.
Rahzei dove in like a madman, pummeling the creatures with wild, burning strikes.
"Sword Art: Divine Judgment," Drevalan said calmly. He barely drew an inch of his blade—and in that instant, over half the Kraggors were sliced cleanly into pieces.
"Those were my prey!" Rahzei shouted in irritation.
"Then don't be slow," Drevalan smirked, sliding his sword back into its sheath.
"Defensive Barrier!" Ysera raised her arm. A glowing wall of magic formed just in time to block a barrage of boulders hurled by the Kraggors.
"Don't slack off!" she barked at the group.
Above them, Iktomis dropped from the ceiling like living nightmares.
"Watch out!" Zorayel yelled as he slashed through several descending spiders.
"Be gone." Selvana vanished into the shadows. With silent fury, her enchanted blades shredded the Iktomi in mid-air, as if an invisible storm had been unleashed.
"Why do they keep coming?" Zorayel asked, panting.
From the still-glowing summoning circles, even more Kraggors and Iktomis emerged.
"Future Sight," Arceal whispered. His eyes shimmered like galaxies.
"What do you see?" Zorayel asked quickly.
"We've been fighting for over an hour… and their numbers keep growing. Eventually, one by one… we all die," Arceal said grimly.
"These bugs could never kill me!" Rahzei scoffed.
"Don't be an idiot!" Miren snapped. "You know these drawn-out fights drain our mana."
"I'm already starting to fade," Selvana admitted, clutching her side.
"Because you're overusing your spells," Miren added.
"I feel it too," Orion said.
"Same here," Ysera nodded,
"Even I'm starting to weaken," Miren said.
"It feels like… someone is draining our mana," Zorayel said, his tone darkening.
"In my foresight," Arceal said, "Ysera and Servin died… because Ysera couldn't summon her barrier in time. Rahzei pushed himself too far and collapsed mid-fight."
Zorayel's eyes sharpened. "We need to retreat. Everyone, scatter and look for an exit!"
The Pillars fanned out, watching each other's backs as they searched the vast, cursed chamber.
"There's nothing," one of them called. "No path!"
"These monsters were summoned," Zorayel said. "Find a magical trail—trace the caster!"
"It's no use," Durein said, sweat dripping down his face. "I can't sense a damn thing."
"Damn it…" Zorayel clenched his fists.
Suddenly, a thunderous explosion tore through one of the side walls. Smoke filled the air as debris scattered everywhere.
From the breach, Aeron, Allesio, and Arcane stepped through the smoke like warriors summoned by fate.