The ground trembled beneath them. Dust and loose stones rained from the tunnel’s ceiling as Kael sprinted forward, his pulse hammering against his ribs. The distant groan from before had grown into a monstrous roar, reverberating through the underground ruins like the very earth was crying out in pain.

  Phantom took point, rifle raised, scanning every shadowed crevice as they pushed forward. "This whole place is coming down!"

  Elysia's staff flickered with energy as she glanced back. The prisoner followed at a measured pace, unbothered by the quaking surroundings. Its violet eyes pulsed with unreadable intent, the remains of its chains dragging behind it.

  Lyria risked a look back. "I hate to ask, but… is it with us or against us?"

  Aldric reloaded his weapon. "Depends on how much it wants to kill the abyss."

  Behind them, the darkness moved. The black tendrils seeping from the cracked floor coiled together, forming grotesque shapes—half-formed creatures, their hollow eyes glowing with cold malevolence.

  Then, the first one stepped forward.

  A creature unlike anything Kael had seen. Its body rippled like living ink, humanoid but distorted, limbs stretching unnaturally as if it hadn’t yet decided what shape to take. Its face was a blank void, save for two pinpricks of white that locked onto them.

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  Then it lunged.

  Kael fired. The gunshot shattered the stale air, the bullet striking the creature’s shifting form—but instead of piercing, it sank into the inky mass.

  No wound. No effect.

  "Damn it!" Kael hissed.

  The creature lunged again. Phantom intercepted, his rifle barking out precise, controlled bursts. This time, the rounds forced the creature back, sizzling where they struck.

  "Energy rounds work!" Phantom shouted.

  Elysia raised her staff, tracing a sharp symbol in the air. A surge of blue-white light erupted from her palm, slamming into the creature. It shrieked, its body convulsing violently before dissolving into black mist.

  But more were coming.

  Dozens of them, rising from the abyssal cracks.

  Lyria cursed. "We’re not making it out of here alive at this rate!"

  Then, the prisoner moved.

  Without a word, the robed figure lifted its hands. The air bent around it, space itself rippling as if reality was recoiling from its presence.

  Then—BOOM.

  A wave of violet energy exploded outward.

  The abyssal creatures shrieked in unison, their inky forms twisting violently as the wave of power tore through them. One by one, they disintegrated, reduced to nothing but wisps of black smoke.

  Silence followed.

  Kael exhaled sharply, lowering his weapon. "That’s… effective."

  The prisoner turned its glowing gaze toward him. "This is only a fragment of my strength. Against what is coming, it is nothing."

  Elysia’s eyes darkened. "Then we need to get to the surface. Fast."

  The ground beneath them trembled again. This time, the tunnel behind them collapsed entirely.

  There was only one way left to go.

  Forward.