Upon arriving at the bandit hideout, the Crimson Blades crouched low behind a rocky outcrop, their eyes fixed on the cave entrance. The air smelled of damp stone and charred wood, and the faint flicker of torchlight illuminated the rugged opening.

  Severus glanced at the group, keeping his voice low. “According to the intel, there are at least fifteen of them inside—maybe more if they’ve taken prisoners.”

  Everah crossed his arms. “They mostly operate at night, right? If that’s the case, most of them should be sleeping. If we can get in quietly, we might take them out before they even know what’s happening.”

  Severus nodded. “Exactly. But first, we need to deal with the two guards at the entrance.”

  Nova smirked. “I’ve got an idea.”

  Nebula raised a brow. “Oh? Do tell.”

  Instead of answering aloud, Nova leaned in and whispered the plan into Nebula’s ear. Her sister’s expression shifted from confused to irritated.

  “Okay, okay, I mean—it could work…” Nebula admitted, looking irritated.

  Everah narrowed his gaze. “Are you going to share with the class, or…?”

  “Nope.” Nova grinned. “Just sit back and enjoy the show.”

  Severus exhaled sharply. “Fine. But if this goes sideways, we’re improvising. If you do take them out cleanly, we’ll slip inside while the rest are asleep and eliminate them quietly.”

  Nova gave a mock salute. “Got it. Be back in a minute.”

  With that, Nova and Nebula disappeared into the shadows.

  Ten minutes passed.

  Everah and Severus waited patiently, their hands on their weapons, eyes trained on the cave entrance. Then—movement.

  From the tree line, two figures came stumbling forward, their clothes torn, bodies covered in what looked like blood, and their limbs trembling as they ran in a desperate, disoriented sprint.

  It was Nova and Nebula.

  Their faces were contorted in panic, eyes wild as they frantically glanced behind them, as if something was chasing them through the woods.

  Then, just five feet from the cave entrance, they collapsed on top of each other, breathing heavily, limbs tangled in an uncoordinated heap.

  The two bandits on guard immediately straightened, eyes wide in alarm as they took in the sight of the disheveled, blood-streaked women.

  “Oi, what the hell—?” one of them muttered, already stepping forward.

  The other followed, gripping his rusty axe tightly, but neither raised their weapons. Their expressions shifted from suspicion to intrigue, their eyes flicking between the two fallen women and the forest beyond.

  From the ground, Nova and Nebula frantically gestured toward the trees, their voices low and urgent, though too far away for Severus and Everah to hear.

  The guards hesitated, exchanging a brief glance, before they turned their back to the girls, squinting their eyes at the woods.

  That was their mistake.

  In a single, fluid motion, Nova and Nebula struck.

  Their hidden daggers flashed, the steel sinking into the exposed flesh of the men’s necks, just below the skull. The bandits barely had time to react before their bodies seized, a sickening gurgle escaping their lips as they slumped forward, collapsing lifelessly in the dirt.

  Nova and Nebula rolled them aside, wiping the blades clean as they looked toward the tree line.

  Severus smirked. “I’ll admit—that was impressive.”

  Everah raised a brow. “And disgusting. What the hell did you two use for blood?”

  "Deer blood," Nova answered, casually wiping the streaks off her arm. "Figured it’d look convincing enough."Gonna grab our armor real quick. If we do have to fight, I’d rather not do it half-dressed."

  Nebula groaned, tugging at the ripped fabric barely holding her top together. "Did we really have to shred our clothes? I mean, it worked, but I’d rather not have my tit sticking to my armor like some tragic romance between skin and steel."

  Nova smirked, already heading toward their packs. "What man is gonna resist running to help a half-naked, blood-covered woman?"

  Nebula sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately, you make a valid point."

  Severus chuckled, arms crossed. "She really does."

  Everah shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I hate how effective that was."

  Nova tossed Nebula’s armor at her, grinning. "Now quit complaining and suit up. We’ve got bandits to kill."

  As they approached, Everah and Nebula exchanged a quick glance before raising their hands. A faint, invisible pulse of energy spread from their fingertips, wrapping around the group. The metal plates of their armor dulled, their usual clinks and shifts now completely muted by the spell.

  The cave yawned before them, flickering torchlight casting jagged shadows along the rocky walls. Now, they were ghosts.

  Nova motioned for everyone to stick close to the shadows.

  "Alright," Severus whispered, keeping his voice barely above a breath, "we do this quietly. No heroics, no charging in."

  Everah smirked slightly. "Says the guy who usually likes to kick in doors."

  Severus shot him a look but ignored the comment. "We stick to the plan. If we can take them out in their sleep, we will. If not, we eliminate them before they can raise an alarm."

  Nova nodded in agreement. "Then let’s get moving."

  As they moved deeper inside, the stench of sweat, stale ale, and damp earth thickened. The passage split ahead—one tunnel leading into what sounded like a common area, the other curving into a sleeping chamber where low snoring echoed against the stone.

  Nova exchanged a look with Nebula. They could handle the sleeping ones.

  Severus and Everah gave silent nods before veering toward the common area, where at least four men sat muttering around a fire, their weapons resting nearby.

  Time to get to work.

  Nebula crept forward first, stepping lightly across the dirt floor, her blade drawn and ready.

  Six bandits were sprawled out across bedrolls, weapons within reach but not in hand. The flickering light barely touched their sleeping faces, and the heavy scent of cheap ale meant at least half of them were deep in drunken slumber.

  Nova counted them silently. Six. Too risky to attack all at once.

  She crouched low, reaching into her pouch and pulling out a small handful of dried leaves—crushed sleeping powder, a trick they had picked up back in the village. With delicate precision, she sprinkled a fine dust over the nearest bandit’s face. The moment he inhaled, his breathing slowed into something unnaturally heavy.

  One down.

  Nebula, meanwhile, had moved to the far side of the room. She raised her hand, magic gathering silently at her fingertips, and with a simple flick of her wrist, thin tendrils of ice crept across the floorboards, freezing the boots of two bandits to the ground.

  A subtle trap. If they woke up and tried to move, they’d snap awake too late.

  Then, the real work began.

  Nova moved first, drawing her dagger and plunging it into the throat of the nearest man. There was no time for resistance—only a wet, choked gasp as she covered his mouth and let him slump back against the bedroll.

  Nebula followed suit, driving her blade deep into another’s chest, silencing him before he could stir.

  One by one, they moved through the room, executing their marks with eerie precision. By the time they were finished, the six men lay still in their beds, never knowing what had happened.

  Nova wiped the blood off her dagger and nodded toward the tunnel. "Let’s see how the others are doing."

  In the other chamber, four bandits sat drinking and eating, their weapons leaning casually against the cave walls. A game of dice clattered against the wooden crate they used as a makeshift table.

  Severus stayed hidden behind a stack of barrels, Everah crouched beside him, hands crackling faintly with energy.

  "Two on the left are barely paying attention," Severus whispered. "I’ll take the farthest. Can you handle the one near the fire?"

  Everah grinned. "You doubt me?"

  Severus moved first.

  He stalked forward, moving soundlessly, his blade flashing under the dim torchlight as he grabbed the closest bandit from behind. One swift slice across the throat, and the man went limp before he could make a sound.

  The next bandit, barely having time to register movement, turned—only to see Severus’s blade sinking into his gut.

  Everah, meanwhile, extended a single hand, releasing a controlled burst of air. It was subtle but strong enough to extinguish the fire, plunging the chamber into darkness.

  Confused shouts filled the air.

  Before the remaining two could react, Everah stepped forward, hand raised, his palm crackling with faint, silent energy. A flash of blue light, and suddenly the air shifted—a thin arc of electricity snapped forward, frying the nearest bandit’s nerves before he could make a sound. His body jerked violently, his scream cut off as his brain overloaded.

  The last man turned, fumbling for his sword in the dark, but Severus was already on him.

  A hard kick to the knee sent the man crashing to the ground, and before he could shout for help, Severus drove his blade into his heart.

  Silence.

  The fire pit let off nothing but thin tendrils of smoke, and the only sound in the chamber was the steady dripping of blood onto stone.

  Everah exhaled, lowering his hand. "Well, that went well."

  Severus rolled his shoulders. "We’re not done yet."

  With most of the bandits silently eliminated, the Crimson Blades moved deeper into the cave, their boots still muffled by Nebula and Everah’s silence spell.

  But as they approached the last chamber, something felt off.

  The usual sounds of drunken snores or idle chatter were absent. Instead, there was a low murmur of voices, tense and aware.

  Nova peered around the corner, her stomach tightening.

  Inside the large cavernous chamber, four remaining bandits sat near a firepit, backs straight, weapons within arm’s reach. Unlike the others, these men weren’t lounging carelessly or drinking themselves to sleep.

  They were waiting.

  At the far end of the room, a man sat at a table, rolling a coin between his fingers. He was built like a fortress, his arms thick with corded muscle, his weathered face scarred from years of battle. His one good eye, the other hidden beneath a jagged scar and a blackened patch, flickered toward the entrance lazily. His massive greatsword rested against the table, within easy reach.

  This was no ordinary bandit.

  The chief of the bandits—and from the looks of it, a seasoned veteran who had seen dozens of fights and lived to tell the tale.

  Nova's chest tightened.

  They weren’t dealing with common thugs anymore.

  Nova silently motioned for the group to spread out, gesturing for Nebula to move left while Everah and Severus took the right.

  The plan was simple—eliminate the weaker bandits first, then deal with the chief.

  But before they could make their move—

  "You lot can drop the sneaking act."

  The gravelly voice cut through the air like a blade, freezing the entire group in place.

  The bandit leader hadn’t even turned his head.

  The other bandits instantly grabbed their weapons, crossbows raised, swords unsheathed in a flash of steel.

  Shit.

  They had been made.

  "Well, go on then," the chief muttered, flipping the coin once more before catching it mid-air. "Let’s see what you’re worth."

  Then, all hell broke loose.

  The two crossbowmen were the biggest threat, and Nova knew it.

  She and Nebula moved first, dashing toward the men before they could fire.

  The first bolt shot forward, barely missing Nova’s head as she threw herself into a roll. She came up just as the bandit was reloading, slashing her dagger toward his wrist—

  But she miscalculated.

  Instead of landing a clean cut, the bandit twisted away, using the crossbow like a club to slam into her side.

  "Gah—!"

  She stumbled, pain shooting through her ribs. The moment’s hesitation cost her—the bandit was already drawing his dagger.

  Nebula, meanwhile, faced her own opponent, dodging a close-range shot before lunging forward, her sword slashing toward his chest.

  The bandit parried, sending her blade skidding off his own. He shoved his shoulder into her, forcing her back a step, then slashed toward her midsection.

  She barely managed to jump back, but the blade still cut shallowly across her thigh.

  Severus had taken on a duelist, a man wielding two curved sabers. He was fast—faster than any normal bandit.

  The first slash came high, the second low, forcing Severus to backpedal immediately.

  He parried one strike, sidestepped another, then went on the offensive—his blade darting forward in a clean, calculated thrust.

  But the bandit twisted, barely avoiding it, his own blade whipping toward Severus’ exposed ribs.

  Severus barely brought his sword up in time, the clash of steel ringing out as they locked weapons.

  The bandit grinned, pressing forward. “Not bad. But I’ve been doing this a lot longer than you, boy.”

  Severus’ grip tightened. “We’ll see.”

  The largest of the remaining bandits charged straight at Everah, a massive warhammer in hand.

  Everah barely had time to jump back, the weapon slamming into the ground, sending up a spray of dust and shattered stone.

  The force alone could have caved his ribs in.

  Nope. Not happening.

  He threw up a hand, sending a wave of compressed air straight at the brute’s chest.

  The man stumbled back, but only for a moment before rushing forward again.

  Everah’s eyes narrowed.

  This one was tough.

  Nova dodged another slash, barely keeping up as the crossbowman turned swordsman pushed her backward.

  Her arms burned, her movements sloppy, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

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  Too fast. Too unpredictable.

  She tried to block, but the bandit kicked her leg out from under her, sending her sprawling to the ground.

  The dagger was coming.

  She rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the killing blow, but the bandit was already bringing it down again—

  A sudden blast of frost erupted from the side.

  The bandit froze mid-motion—literally.

  His arm froze over, ice locking his joints, and in that instant of hesitation, Nova surged forward—her dagger slamming into his throat.

  Blood splattered across the cave floor as he slumped over.

  She turned to Nebula, who was panting, her hand still glowing with frost.

  “You okay?” Nova asked.

  “Fine.” Nebula winced at the cut on her thigh, but she still stood strong. Taking on the last bowman was going to be quick for them.

  The clash of steel rang through the cavern, drowning out even the distant shouts and magic bursts from the others.

  Severus was locked in combat with the twin-bladed duelist, a man faster than any bandit he had fought before now.

  Each time Severus struck, his blade met nothing but air as his opponent weaved effortlessly between his attacks, twin sabers spinning and slashing in fluid arcs.

  "You’re good, kid," the bandit sneered, sidestepping a thrust and bringing his left saber down toward Severus' shoulder.

  Severus barely managed to deflect it, but the bandit was already pivoting, twisting his second blade toward Severus' ribs.

  Severus gritted his teeth, throwing himself back just in time, but he wasn’t fast enough—

  The saber's edge sliced a shallow cut across his side.

  Severus hissed in pain, stepping back, keeping his guard up.

  The bandit smirked, flipping his sabers casually. "What's wrong? That armor slowing you down?"

  Severus narrowed his eyes. The bastard was toying with him.

  He was faster, that much was clear. His movements were fluid, unpredictable, practiced—the way he fought wasn’t just banditry.

  This guy had been trained.

  Probably a sellsword or rogue knight turned criminal, Severus thought grimly.

  And the way things were going?

  He was going to lose if he didn’t do something.

  Severus took a slow breath, tightening his grip on his sword.

  The bandit was fast, but fast fighters had a pattern.

  They relied on constant movement, on keeping their opponent reacting rather than attacking.

  If Severus wanted to win, he had to break that rhythm.

  The bandit came in again, his sabers flashing in an intricate pattern—one high, one low.

  Instead of dodging, Severus did something reckless.

  He stepped forward.

  He took the low blade to his leg, gritting his teeth through the pain—

  But in return, he got inside the bandit’s guard.

  The moment of surprise was all he needed.

  Severus slammed his armored forearm into the bandit’s face, breaking his nose with a sickening crunch.

  The man stumbled back, his balance broken for the first time.

  Severus didn’t waste the chance.

  He lunged, blade aimed straight for the bandit’s heart.

  The rogue recovered fast, twisting just in time to avoid the killing blow—

  But Severus’ blade still sank deep into his side.

  The bandit gasped, staggering back, clutching his wound.

  "You… bastard," he spat, blood trickling from his mouth.

  Severus lifted his sword, pointing it at the wounded man. "You got sloppy."

  The bandit roared, rushing forward for one last desperate strike.

  Severus sidestepped smoothly—

  And with a single clean swing, he took the man’s head off.

  The body crumpled to the ground, the head rolling to the side, eyes still wide in shock.

  Severus exhaled, wiping the blood from his blade.

  "Fast, but predictable.

  The moment Severus struck down the last duelist, the bandit chief finally stood

  .

  His eye glowed with sharp calculation, his greatsword gleaming in the firelight.

  He rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck. "Alright then. Let’s see what you lot are really made of."

  Then he moved.

  And he was fast.

  His first swing nearly took off Nova’s head, forcing her to dive away.

  Severus barely brought his sword up in time, their blades clashing so hard it rattled his arms.

  Nebula rushed in to help—

  Nova as well after she quickly recovered.

  Too slow.

  The chief twisted, kicking Nova in the stomach and sending her crashing into the wall. Nebula swung her blade, but the man grabbed her wrist mid-strike and twisted it—forcing her weapon from her grip.

  She barely had time to react before he backhanded her, sending her sprawling to the ground.

  They were outmatched.

  But they weren’t giving up.

  “Alright,” Nova coughed, pushing herself up. “Round two.”

  The Crimson Blades barely had a moment to recover before the bandit chief lunged forward, his massive greatsword swinging in a deadly arc.

  Severus barely managed to raise his blade, catching the strike, but the force behind it was monstrous. The impact sent a shockwave through his arms, and he was forced back a step, his boots skidding across the dirt.

  Nova, still catching her breath from the earlier blow, pushed herself off the ground. This guy was on a completely different level.

  There was no gritty vengeance story, no tragic past—just a man who had spent his life killing, stealing, and surviving. A man who knew every trick in the book and was stronger than all of them combined.

  And worst of all?

  He knew it.

  Severus was first to re-engage, stepping in with a sharp thrust aimed for the chief’s ribs.

  But the bandit leader anticipated it.

  Rather than blocking, he simply twisted, letting the blade graze his side as he used his greater strength to shoulder-check Severus—sending him stumbling backward.

  Then he turned on Nova and Nebula.

  The twins moved together, flanking him from both sides.

  Nova struck first, aiming a quick slash toward his leg, hoping to weaken his stance.

  He sidestepped with ease, but that was the distraction.

  Nebula followed up immediately, her blade glowing with a faint shimmer of frost as she swung at his exposed side.

  The chief reacted instantly.

  He let the blade cut into his arm—a shallow wound—but it didn’t even slow him down. Instead, he snatched Nebula’s wrist with his free hand and twisted violently.

  She let out a sharp cry of pain as her dagger fell from her grip.

  Nova lunged to help, but the chief was faster.

  He drove his elbow into Nebula’s gut, knocking the air out of her, then turned and swung his greatsword in a wide arc—straight at Nova.

  She barely had time to react.

  The sword was coming—too fast, too strong.

  She ducked, throwing herself into a roll just as the blade cleaved through the air where her head had been.

  But the moment she came up, the chief was already on her again.

  A boot slammed into her chest, sending her crashing back against the cave wall.

  She gasped, pain exploding through her ribs.

  Shit. This guy was relentless.

  As the others fought for their lives, Everah was still locked in a brutal duel of his own.

  The massive bandit brute towered over him, his warhammer swinging with bone-crushing force, each impact shaking the ground.

  Everah had speed and magic, but this bastard had raw power.

  Everah barely managed to sidestep another downward swing, the warhammer slamming into the cave floor, sending a shockwave of dust and stone flying.

  He felt the rush of air as the weapon missed him by inches—too close.

  One hit, and I’m dead.

  But dodging wasn’t enough.

  He needed an opening.

  The brute grinned, showing yellowed teeth as he lifted his hammer once more.

  "Not much of a fighter, are you, mage?" he sneered, shifting his stance.

  Everah smirked. "I don’t have to be."

  He raised a hand, gathering energy, and sent a bolt of lightning straight at the brute’s chest.

  But to his shock, the man barely flinched.

  The electricity crackled, surging across his chainmail-covered body—but instead of collapsing, he just growled through gritted teeth.

  He was still standing.

  Everah barely had time to process what happened before the brute charged again, swinging his hammer in a devastating arc.

  Everah threw up a wind barrier, hoping to absorb the blow—

  But the brute was too strong.

  The warhammer smashed through the defense like paper, slamming into Everah’s shoulder.

  Pain exploded through his arm as he was sent flying backward, crashing into the cave wall.

  His vision blurred for a second.

  Damn it...

  He pushed himself up, his left arm screaming in protest—probably dislocated.

  The brute laughed, rolling his shoulders. "Tougher than you look, mage. But you’re done."

  Everah wiped blood from his lip, inhaling sharply. "Not yet."

  The brute charged again, hammer raised for the final blow.

  But this time, Everah didn’t move.

  Instead, he focused.

  As the brute closed the gap, Everah waited—timing it perfectly.

  Then, just before the hammer crashed down, he threw his good hand up, releasing a massive shockwave of compressed air.

  The force hit the brute square in the chest, lifting him off the ground and slamming him into the cave ceiling.

  A sickening CRACK echoed through the cavern as the bandit’s skull struck the stone.

  Before he could even react, Everah twisted his fingers, and the air shifted again—

  Sending the brute crashing back to the floor—hard.

  His body hit the ground with a heavy thud, limbs twitching

  Everah staggered forward, holding his injured shoulder as he looked down at the barely-breathing brute.

  The bandit groaned, trying to push himself up—dazed, bleeding, but still alive.

  Everah clicked his tongue. "Persistent bastard, huh?"

  Then he lifted his boot—

  And stomped down on the brute’s throat, crushing it instantly.

  The bandit let out a strangled gasp before falling still.

  It was over.

  Everah exhaled sharply, wiping sweat from his brow.

  "Gods, I hate brutes."

  Everah took a second to regain his breath, rolling his bad shoulder with a grimace.

  Then, hearing the sounds of battle still raging, he turned—just in time to see Severus and the twins struggling against the Bandit Chief.

  His fingers crackled with energy again.

  And with that, he joined the fight.

  Before the chief could press the attack, a crackling bolt of energy shot past his face, barely missing.

  He turned just in time to see Everah, hands glowing with arcane light.

  "You hit hard," the mage said, eyes narrowing. "Let’s see how you handle this."

  Everah threw out a hand—a shockwave of force blasted forward, aiming to send the chief flying.

  But the bandit leader dug his boots into the ground, holding his position against the magic like a boulder in a storm.

  With a grunt, he lowered his shoulder and charged, closing the distance before Everah could cast again.

  Everah barely managed to throw up a defensive barrier, but the chief’s raw power smashed through it like glass.

  A massive fist slammed into Everah’s stomach, lifting him off the ground before slamming him down hard.

  The mage hit the floor with a harsh gasp, coughing as he tried to regain control of his breath.

  Nova’s head was spinning, her body aching from the force of the earlier hit.

  She had to think.

  They couldn’t win a straight fight against this guy—he was too strong, too fast, too experienced.

  But he wasn’t untouchable.

  She forced herself to her feet, glancing at Nebula, Severus, and Everah.

  They were all hurt, struggling to get back up.

  They needed an opening.

  Her eyes darted around the cave, searching for something—anything—that could turn the tide.

  Then she saw it.

  The overhanging stalactites.

  An idea flashed through her mind.

  She had one shot.

  "Severus! Nebula! Keep him busy!" Nova shouted, her hands already glowing with fire.

  She didn’t wait for them to respond—she took off, moving toward the far side of the cave.

  Severus, still panting, gritted his teeth. "You heard her!"

  He lunged forward, forcing himself back into the fight.

  The bandit chief swung again, and this time, Severus barely avoided getting cut in half.

  Nebula, despite the pain in her wrist, rejoined the fray as well, darting in with quick, sharp slashes—not aiming to kill, but to distract.

  And it worked.

  The chief snarled, his focus locked on them, his movements slightly slowed from the small wounds accumulating on his body.

  Nova finally reached the spot she needed.

  She aimed her hands toward the ceiling, fire coiling at her fingertips.

  Then, with one powerful blast, she sent a controlled explosion straight into the stalactites above.

  The cave rumbled.

  Crack.

  Crack.

  The rock formation above began to give way.

  The chief’s head snapped upward, eyes widening.

  He barely had time to react before the heavy stone came crashing down.

  A cloud of dust erupted as the stalactites collapsed, burying the bandit chief beneath a pile of jagged rock.

  For a moment, the cave was silent, the only sound was the heavy breathing of the Crimson Blades.

  Then, from beneath the rubble, there was a faint guttural wheeze.

  The chief was still alive—but pinned.

  Severus stepped forward, sword raised.

  There was no hesitation.

  With a single, clean strike, he drove his blade into the chief’s chest, silencing him for good.

  It was over.

  The group stood there for a moment, taking it all in.

  Everah groaned, pushing himself up. “Next time, let’s fight something weaker.”

  Nebula wiped the blood from her lip, wincing. "Agreed."

  Nova let out a breath, leaning against the cave wall, a small smirk on her face. "Well, we won, didn’t we?"

  Severus sheathed his sword. "And we’re getting paid."

  Nebula sighed. “We did, yeah. But before we do anything, we need to tend to our wounds.”

  In silent agreement, the four took a moment to heal, knowing their injuries could worsen if left unchecked. Even after sealing their wounds with healing magic, the lingering pain remained, a dull reminder of their battle. Once they had tended to themselves, they began searching the room.

  As Nova moved through a particular area, she caught a scent—something foreign, something that didn’t belong to the bandits. Her nose twitched as she tried to pinpoint its source. After a moment, realization struck. She turned to the others, her gaze locked onto a seemingly ordinary section of the wall.

  “There’s a hidden door here,” Nova announced. “I smell something—or someone—behind it.”

  Nebula tilted her head, inhaling deeply before her eyes widened in surprise. “Oh wow. If we hadn’t been actively searching, we might’ve missed this. Nice catch, sis.”

  “Thanks. So, how do you guys sugges—”

  Before she could finish, Severus grabbed the massive warhammer the brute had wielded in their earlier fight and swung it full force against the wall. The stone crumbled under the impact, revealing a hidden passageway beyond. He tossed the hammer aside and glanced back at the others.

  “I’m not wasting time looking for a damn lever or button. Let’s go.” Without hesitation, he stepped forward.

  Nova smirked. “Well, that’s one way to do it.” She followed him inside.

  Nebula groaned. “Okay, but can we at least check for traps before rushing in?”

  Everah pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh before trailing after them.

  The hallway stretched endlessly, each step echoing against the stone walls. It felt like they had been walking for ages before they finally reached a large metal cage. Inside, sprawled across the cold floor, was a massive beast—its form cloaked in darkness, its breathing slow and steady in deep slumber.

  Even in its resting state, the creature radiated an overwhelming aura of dread. Its body was covered in a thick, midnight-black coat, darker than the void itself, absorbing all light around it. Wisps of violet mist coiled from its fur, shifting and twisting like living shadows.

  Its claws—razor-sharp and gleaming with a ghostly purple glow—curled slightly into the stone beneath it, leaving faint scorch marks. Its tail, long and whip-like, flicked lazily in its sleep, trailing a faint shimmer of spectral energy.

  But it was the head that sent a chill down their spines. Twin glowing amethyst eyes, even in slumber, flickered ominously beneath a set of long, curved horns that jutted back like the crown of some forgotten nightmare. Its fangs, partially exposed as it exhaled, shimmered with dark, venomous energy, a corruptive force that could rot flesh with a mere bite.

  Everah’s blood ran cold the moment his eyes fell upon it. Staggering back, he nearly lost his footing. “H-How in the hell did these bandits capture that thing?”

  Severus turned to him, his brow furrowed. “You know what it is?”

  Everah swallowed hard. “It’s an Umbrawolf. They were thought to have gone extinct since the Fifth Era—over two hundred years ago.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “The Demon King Asatoth used them in his war against the world. Just one of these things could wipe out an entire city.”

  As if responding to his words, the creature stirred. A low, guttural growl rumbled from its chest, and the air around them seemed to grow heavier. Its violet eyes snapped open, glowing like molten amethyst in the darkness, locking onto them.

  The Umbrawolf had awakened.

  "Those bastards must have something keeping this thing tame, or it wouldn’t still be here," Severus muttered, his grip tightening around his weapon.

  "I don’t know what could possibly tame something like this," Everah replied, eyes locked on the beast. "But it’s awake now, and if that cage isn’t enough to hold it, we could die at any moment."

  Nebula glanced between them, uncertainty flickering in her gaze. "Should we just leave it, then? If it’s hostile, setting it loose could be a death sentence for us all."

  Before anyone could answer, a voice, smooth as shadow and heavy as the void, filled the room.

  "You are not the humans who have been guarding me. What is your purpose in being here?"

  The words slithered through the air, curling into their minds like tendrils of darkness. It was deep and resonant, yet eerily smooth—like a whisper carried from the depths of an abyss. The voice did not merely echo; it resonated, as if it came from everywhere at once, vibrating in the marrow of their bones.

  Each syllable carried a layered reverberation, as though three voices spoke in eerie unison—one a low, rumbling growl, another a haunting whisper, and the third something melodic yet unnatural, like the lull of a forgotten nightmare. The air itself seemed to quiver under the weight of her words, and the temperature dropped, a creeping chill coiling around them like unseen fingers.

  It was not just heard—it was felt.

  There was no immediate rage, no outward hostility, but the unmistakable presence of power, vast and unknowable, watching them with cold, predatory curiosity. For a moment, the very light in the chamber dimmed, as if her voice alone had the power to smother it.

  Everah took an uneasy step back. "Dear Nesareen, I didn’t even know they could speak."

  Severus exhaled, cautiously stepping back as well. "Well, at least she knows we’re not those bandits. That’s something… might mean we actually have a chance of surviving this."

  Nova, though gripped by the same fear as the others, forced herself to step forward. Keeping her voice steady, she addressed the creature. "We’ve taken care of the humans who had you trapped here. It was an accident that we ended up in your presence."

  The beast regarded her for a long moment before speaking again, shifting lazily as if she had not a care in the world.

  "This is not confinement. This is… mere boredom." Her glowing violet eyes gleamed as she lowered herself comfortably back onto the ground. "Each day, those humans came here, thinking they could break me, thinking they could use their feeble strength to tame me and sell me off like livestock. I allowed it to continue… because I was simply bored." Her voice deepened slightly, her tail flicking idly behind her. "I wait for the day my Lord rises again and takes back what was once his."

  A heavy silence followed, the weight of her words settling over them like a storm on the horizon.

  Nova hesitated before responding. "I… see. Well, we have no intention of harming you. If that’s the case, would you allow us to leave peacefully?"

  The Umbrawolf regarded them carefully, her glowing eyes narrowing slightly. For just a fleeting second, something flickered in them—perhaps curiosity, perhaps something else. Unless one could read a beast well, the subtle shift in her expression would have gone unnoticed.

  With slow, deliberate movements, she lowered her head, bringing her gaze level with theirs.

  "I have no desire to keep you here, nor to hunt your kind. You may leave whenever you wish. I, too, should seek a new home… until my master returns."

  Nova let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. "Thank you." Turning toward her companions, she forced a nervous smile. "Well, you heard her. We can leave."

  Everah was already halfway to the exit before she had even finished speaking.

  Nebula lingered, unwilling to abandon her sister just yet, and Severus—despite the fear gripping him—refused to leave them alone with the beast. With that, the three of them followed after Everah, leaving the Umbrawolf in the shadows of the chamber.

  She watched them go, her luminous eyes gleaming in the dim light.

  "…I suppose it is time I leave as well."

  And with that, she melted into the darkness, vanishing like a whisper into the void.