As we descended deeper into the cave, the narrow passage swallowed us in darkness, our torchlight flickering against the damp, uneven walls. The air was thick, carrying the faint stench of rot and damp earth. Every step echoed, swallowed by the suffocating silence that stretched ahead.

  My grip on my daggers tightened. The deeper we went, the heavier the quiet became, pressing down on me like an unseen weight. The only sounds I could hear were the steady chisel of fire crackling from our torches… and my own heartbeat, pounding like a war drum inside my chest.

  Sweat traced a slow path down my forehead, stinging as it reached my eyes, but I didn’t dare lift a hand to wipe it away. My focus was locked on every shadow, every crevice, every subtle movement in the gloom. I was the vanguard—if something lunged at us, I had to be the first to react.

  The cave sloped downward, the path uneven beneath our boots. I swallowed hard, unease creeping into my bones. How deep did this place go? A cold thought slithered into my mind—I didn’t like where this was heading.

  No one spoke. Not a single word.

  We moved cautiously, senses sharpened to the limit, our breathing hushed as we descended further into the unknown.

  Somewhere deep inside, an unsettling feeling gnawed at me.

  Maybe… we shouldn’t have taken this job.

  How long had we been walking? It felt like forever. The oppressive silence pressed down on me, heavier with each step. No voices, no sounds—just the rhythmic crunch of boots against damp stone.

  It was starting to get to me.

  And just as that thought crossed my mind—

  A low, guttural growl rumbled through the darkness ahead.

  Grrrrrrrrr…

  Every muscle in my body went rigid. Instinct took over—I froze my entire body in Bitter Ice, bracing myself for whatever was lurking in the shadows.

  The others reacted the same way.

  We stood still, our breaths shallow, listening.

  But nothing happened.

  I squinted into the abyss ahead, straining to make out any shape, any movement—anything. But there was only silence. A thick, suffocating silence that made my skin crawl.

  The firelight from our torches flickered restlessly, casting shifting shadows along the cavern walls, but it did little to cut through the oppressive darkness beyond.

  How long had we been standing like this? Seconds? Minutes? It felt like an eternity.

  I didn’t know what to do.

  Were we supposed to move forward? Ignore the sound and keep going? Or turn back before we walked straight into something we weren’t ready for?

  A deep chill crept into my bones.

  I took the first step forward, then the second. My breathing was steady, but my pulse pounded against my ribs. I didn’t need to glance back to know that no one else was moving. Their silence told me enough—I was alone in pressing forward.

  Swallowing hard, I slid my dagger back into my belt and reached a hand backward, feeling blindly through the air. A brief moment passed before the familiar weight of wood pressed into my palm. Someone had handed me a torch.

  I gripped it tightly, exhaling softly. Now armed with a light source, I wasted no time thrusting it forward, the flickering flame casting erratic, shifting shadows along the cavern walls. My other hand tightened around the hilt of my dagger, ready to strike at whatever lurked in the abyss ahead.

  I stepped forward, the torchlight pushing back the suffocating darkness inch by inch. Each flickering movement of the flame revealed more of the cave’s rough walls, the jagged stone formations glistening with moisture.

  Then—drip.

  A single drop of water fell from above, splashing against my shoulder. My breath hitched. Instinctively, I raised my torch upward—only for my blood to run cold.

  Huddled against the ceiling, clinging to the rocky surface like twisted insects, were goblins. Their beady eyes glowed in the firelight, locked onto us with predatory hunger.

  My eyes widened in horror. Just as I opened my mouth to warn the others—

  A goblin lunged.

  Its sharp teeth clamped onto my outstretched hand, but instead of tearing through flesh, a sickening crunch echoed through the air. My frozen arm had saved me—it couldn't bite through the hardened ice. Still, it gnawed and thrashed desperately, its jagged teeth scraping against the unyielding surface.

  "Ahh—!" The weight of the creature knocked me off balance. I tumbled backward, my torch slipping from my grasp, the light momentarily flickering as it hit the ground.

  Panic surged through me, but I reacted on instinct. My free hand clenched into a fist, ice-hardening in an instant. With a surge of force, I slammed my knuckles into the goblin’s skull. A sickening crack rang out as its neck twisted unnaturally, its body going limp.

  Just as I shoved the lifeless goblin off me, another one leaped down from above. Its sharp teeth were bared, its clawed hands outstretched as it lunged straight for my leg.

  I had no time to react—no time to harden my body.

  But before its jaws could sink in, a flash of steel cut through the air.

  Victor’s curved sword slashed clean through the goblin mid-air, sending its limp body tumbling to the ground. Without missing a beat, he grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet.

  I barely had time to steady myself before I realized—

  They were all down now.

  The goblins had dropped from the ceiling, their wiry bodies crouched low in the flickering torchlight. The fire cast long, dancing shadows along the cave walls, stretching their hunched forms into monstrous shapes.

  Twenty of them.

  The torch lay on the ground between us, its glow barely holding back the suffocating darkness.

  Victor, Kai, Sarah, and Milio shifted beside me, forming a triangle formation with me at the front. None of us spoke. None of us moved.

  We were waiting.

  And so were they.

  Then, without hesitation, Milio fired.

  His arrow whistled through the air, striking one of the goblins square in the chest. The creature let out a sharp screech but didn’t drop—it wasn’t a fatal hit.

  That was all it took.

  The rest of the goblins let out guttural howls and charged.

  I reacted instantly.

  Rushing forward, I positioned myself as the first point of contact, making sure to draw their attention. If they focused on me, it would leave them open for Victor and Kai to strike from behind.

  And it worked.

  As the wave of goblins crashed into me, I only hardened my arms, legs, and head—avoiding my joints to keep my mobility.

  Clawed hands grabbed at me. Sharp teeth sank into my forearms and legs, but they found no flesh—only the unyielding surface of Bitter Ice.

  One goblin leaped at my face, shrieking wildly. I caught it mid-air, gripping its skull in my frozen hands before slamming it against the cave wall with a sickening crack. Before it could recover, I drove my fist into its head, shattering bone.

  Meanwhile, Victor moved like reaper in the chaos, cutting down goblins that swarmed around me. Each time a goblin hesitated or flinched back from biting me, they met the flash of a blade and collapsed, lifeless.

  But the goblins weren’t stupid.

  They quickly realized their teeth and claws were useless against me.

  And so, their frenzied eyes turned elsewhere.

  Shifting their attention, they set their sights on the others.

  I gritted my teeth.

  I needed to move fast.

  The goblins lunged at Victor and Kai, who were positioned just behind me. Some managed to slip past them, breaking formation and rushing toward Sarah and Milio.

  I didn’t hesitate.

  Victor could handle himself—I was sure of that. But Milio and Sarah were vulnerable. I turned on my heel and sprinted toward them.

  Milio was already moving.

  The goblins barreled toward Sarah, their jagged teeth bared. But before they could reach her, Milio rushed forward, delivering a sharp front kick to one of them. The force sent the creature flying straight toward me.

  I caught it mid-air.

  With a single, crushing slam, I drove it into the ground, feeling bones snap beneath my grip.

  Two more goblins remained.

  Milio reacted first, drawing his bow and losing an arrow. The projectile embedded itself in the head of one of the creatures, killing it.

  Sarah, quick on her feet, swung her torch wildly, the flames flickering through the cave. The remaining goblin flinched back, hissing at the sudden burst of light.

  That was all the opening Milio needed.

  His second arrow struck true—right between the goblin’s eyes. It collapsed instantly.

  With them handled, I turned back to Victor and Kai.

  Victor was a whirlwind of destruction.

  Victor moved like a whirlwind of steel, effortlessly weaving through the goblins' attacks with razor-sharp precision. Every swing of his blade was calculated, every movement fluid. Any goblin that dared to enter his strike zone was cut down in an instant, their bodies falling before they could even register what had happened.

  He dodged their frantic swipes with ease, his footwork flawless as he sidestepped and countered in a single, seamless motion. With each devastating kick, he sent goblins tumbling, only to follow up with swift, merciless slashes that ended them before they could recover.

  Watching him fight was mesmerizing—an unrelenting display of skill and efficiency, as if the battle itself bent to his rhythm.

  Kai, on the other hand, had created a perfect zone of control around Victor.

  His sword extended with each swing, forcing the goblins to keep their distance, cutting down any that got too close. It wasn’t the most aggressive fighting style, but it was effective—ensuring that Victor never got overwhelmed.

  I sprinted forward to assist.

  A few goblins still lingered in front of Kai, snarling and readying their attacks. I didn’t give them the chance.

  Drawing my dagger, I hurled it forward. The blade struck one goblin square in the throat. Before the others could react, I closed the distance, grabbing the nearest one and driving its skull into the cave wall with a sickening crunch.

  Then, moving fluidly, I retrieved my dagger from the fallen goblin and spun to slash another across the neck, its lifeless body crumpling to the ground.

  One by one, the remaining goblins fell.

  And then—silence.

  I exhaled heavily, scanning the cave.

  The bodies of the goblins lay strewn across the rocky floor, their blood staining the dirt beneath them.

  We had won.

  I blinked, breathing heavily, waiting for that familiar rush—the surge of power that came with leveling up.

  But it never came.

  That was weird.

  I had killed at least five goblins. I thought I would have gained at least a couple of levels from this fight. But when I checked, I was still stuck at level three.

  I frowned, glancing down at the carnage around me.

  The goblin corpses lay scattered across the cave floor, their mangled bodies piling on top of one another. Blood pooled beneath them, forming a thick, viscous puddle that reflected the flickering torchlight.

  The smell hit me next.

  A putrid, gut-wrenching stench—metallic, thick with iron and something even worse. It was the stench of raw flesh, of something left to rot. It clung to the damp air, filling my nose, seeping into my lungs, suffocating.

  My stomach twisted violently.

  I could feel it bubbling up—my throat tightening, my body rejecting what I had just witnessed. The mix of gore and overwhelming stench blurred together in my mind, warping into something unbearable.

  The walls of the cave seemed to close in. My breathing grew ragged. The sight of the blood—the sheer amount of it—was suddenly too much.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Then—

  "Argh—!"

  I turned away and vomited against the cave wall.

  My body lurched violently, my stomach emptying itself in painful heaves. My hands braced against the rough stone as I coughed and gagged, my vision swimming. The acidic taste burned my throat, making my stomach twist even more.

  For a moment, all I could hear was my own ragged breathing, the distant flicker of torches.

  I clenched my jaw, spitting the last remnants of bile from my mouth.

  Damn it.

  I didn't think I was this weak.

  I had always assumed I could handle gore, that I'd be fine with it—but seeing this much, all at once… it was different. Overwhelming. It wasn’t just a bit of blood—it was everywhere, soaking the ground, pooling beneath the bodies, the thick, metallic stench clinging to my skin and clothes.

  I took a shaky breath, wiping the back of my hand across my mouth. The taste of bile still lingered.

  A hand patted my back.

  "You okay?" Milio asked, his voice softer than usual.

  He rubbed slow, reassuring circles against my back, making sure I got through it. I was grateful for that—it helped, even if just a little.

  After a few moments, I forced myself to straighten up. My stomach still churned, but the worst of it had passed. I exhaled sharply, trying to shake off the lingering nausea.

  Then, embarrassment crept in.

  I was the only one who reacted like this.

  Victor looked unbothered. Kai and Sarah barely seemed phased. Even Milio, despite his usual attitude, wasn't affected like I was.

  Had I been the only one caught off guard by the sheer amount of blood?

  I clenched my fists.

  "Let's take a small break," Victor said, his voice steady. "Then we move forward."

  We all nodded in agreement.

  Yeah… I needed that.

  After a few minutes of rest, we ventured deeper into the cave.

  I still wasn’t feeling great. My stomach churned, and the lingering scent of blood clung to the back of my throat. A part of me just wanted to turn back, to go home—but I knew that wasn’t an option. We had to keep moving.

  The path sloped downward, the air growing colder the further we went. Then, after a short descent, we came to a split. Two entrances loomed before us, both equally uninviting.

  "So… which way?" I asked, gripping the torch in my hand a little tighter.

  Silence.

  I had expected Victor to take the lead—to make the decision like he always did. But he didn't. Instead, he was watching me, waiting. He wanted me to choose.

  That made me hesitate.

  I turned to Milio. "Which way?"

  Milio tilted his head slightly, then shrugged. "Left."

  I wasn’t confident enough in my own judgment to make the call, so I went with his suggestion. Without further hesitation, we turned left.

  The tunnel was narrow, the walls jagged and damp. We walked carefully, the flickering light of the torch guiding our way. But after a short distance, the path came to an abrupt halt.

  A dead end.

  "Great," I muttered under my breath, frustration creeping into my voice.

  But as I lifted my torch higher, the dim glow flickered against something unexpected.

  Scattered across the ground were weapons—rusted swords, shattered spears, crude daggers—all abandoned and left to decay. Some were snapped in half, others dulled from excessive use. Useless.

  In the far corner, something else caught my eye. A few copper coins, half-buried in the dirt, glinting faintly in the firelight.

  I wasted no time, scooping them up. Any money was better than nothing.

  But just as I finished picking up the coin, my eyes landed on something even better.

  A chest.

  It was pushed off to the side, half-hidden behind discarded weapons and debris. At first glance, it looked like any ordinary storage chest, but… it was massive. Larger than any chest I’d seen before.

  More importantly—it was chained shut. Thick iron links wrapped tightly around it, secured with a heavy lock. Whoever put it here wanted to make sure no one could get inside..

  Excitement buzzed through me as I rushed toward the chest, my heart pounding in anticipation.

  “Milio, get over here,” I called, barely containing my excitement. “I think we just hit treasure.”

  Dropping to my knees, I inspected the heavy lock binding the chest shut. Without wasting a second, I grabbed my dagger and struck it, hoping to break it open.

  Clang.

  The blade barely left a scratch.

  Milio crouched beside me, taking my dagger and giving it a few harder strikes of his own. The metal rang out with each hit, but the lock didn’t even budge.

  “Damn thing’s tough,” Milio muttered, frowning.

  Gritting my teeth, I straightened, my fingers curling into a tight fist. Ice surged across my knuckles, spreading in jagged, glacial patterns as I reinforced it with Bitter Ice. Cold mist coiled around my arm, the sheer force of the frozen energy making the air crackle.

  This will work.

  With every ounce of strength I could muster, I swung my ice-hardened fist down onto the lock.

  BANG.

  A sharp crack rang out, and the metal shattered under the impact. The chains loosened instantly, falling away with a dull clatter.

  Milio and I wasted no time, quickly removing the broken links and tossing them aside. Eagerly, we gripped the lid and tried to pry the chest open—only to find it still wouldn’t budge.

  Locked.

  Of course.

  I scowled. "Guess we’re not done yet."

  Once again, I encased my hand in ice and wound back for another strike—this time, aiming at the chest itself.

  BANG.

  Nothing.

  Not even a dent.

  I stared at it in disbelief. This chest was stronger than my ice? Stronger than the power granted by a goddess?

  That could only mean one thing—whatever was inside was important.

  There had to be something valuable in there.

  Determined, I turned to Victor and gestured for him to step in. Without hesitation, he crouched beside the chest, inspecting it closely.

  Now, all three of us were huddled around it, trying to figure out a way to crack this thing open—one way or another.

  "What are you guys doing? We need to move."

  Kai’s voice cut through our focus like a blade. As he approached, I caught the tension in his posture, the urgency in his tone.

  "We will," Milio muttered, his attention still locked on the chest. "Just as soon as we get this thing open. A little help wouldn’t hurt, you know."

  "No." Kai’s voice came sharper this time, edged with frustration. "We don’t have time for this. We can deal with it later—right now, there are people here who need our help."

  We froze.

  People?

  I frowned, straightening as I turned to him. "What do you mean, people? I thought we were here to clear out goblins."

  Kai’s jaw tightened. His eyes flickered with something unreadable.

  "The goblins don’t just kill outright," he said quietly. "They keep humans. They keep animals. Anything they can store for later… so they can eat them alive when the time comes."

  His voice was steady, but there was an underlying weight to his words.

  "The longer we stay here, the more time passes—and that could mean the difference between someone living and dying."

  A cold shiver ran down my spine.

  Why were we only hearing this now?

  Why hadn’t he told us earlier?

  A thick silence settled over us. The flickering torchlight cast jagged shadows across the walls, stretching Kai’s figure like a ghost among the stone.

  Then, Victor slowly stood up.

  His movements were deliberate, unhurried—but something in the air shifted the moment he rose.

  His sharp gaze locked onto Kai, expression unreadable.

  Then, in a quiet, almost detached voice, he spoke.

  "I finally remember now."

  The weight behind those words sent a ripple of tension through the cave.

  Without breaking eye contact, Victor reached for his sword. His fingers curled around the hilt, and the soft whisper of metal leaving its sheath filled the air.

  He didn’t raise it. He didn’t need to.

  The presence alone was enough.

  Kai stiffened. He didn’t move, but the signs were there—the slight twitch of his fingers, the way his shoulders tensed, the flicker of unease in his eyes.

  Victor took a single step forward. “You don’t have the one gold, do you?”

  Silence.

  Kai’s throat bobbed slightly, but he didn’t respond.

  Victor exhaled slowly. His tone sharpened. “I knew something was off. There was a job posted about a cave rescue before. The reward was fifteen silver if I remember correctly.” He tilted his head slightly. “That was your job, wasn’t it?”

  Kai remained silent.

  Victor’s grip on his sword tightened. "If you lie to me, I'll cut you down the same way I did that damn ostrich."

  The air grew heavy, thick with something unspoken.

  Kai finally lowered his gaze, shoulders sagging.

  Then, after what felt like an eternity, he whispered, "Yes."

  My stomach twisted.

  I pushed myself up, my voice sharp. "The fuck?"

  Kai clenched his fists. His expression was twisted in frustration, eyes dark with something between anger and exhaustion. "What else was I supposed to do?"

  "Not lie to us," I shot back.

  Victor let out a low breath, turning away, shaking his head. "We’re leaving. But first, we’re opening this damn chest."

  Milio glanced at Kai briefly before turning back to the chest, running his hands over the surface, muttering something to Victor. From the fragments I caught, they were discussing whether we could haul the chest outside instead of breaking it open here.

  I let out a slow exhale and turned my attention to Kai.

  He stood slightly apart from us, his shoulders hunched, his gaze fixed downward. His entire posture radiated defeat. The firelight flickered against his face, making the shadows beneath his eyes look deeper, darker.

  I should have felt sorry for him.

  But I didn’t.

  Yes, he had used us. His reasons might have been noble, but that didn’t erase the fact that we had risked our lives under false pretenses. Those people he wanted to save? I didn’t know them. They weren’t my concern.

  Pushing aside whatever lingering thoughts remained, I turned my back on Kai and stepped toward Victor and Milio, slipping into their conversation.

  “You’re all the same.”

  Kai’s voice broke through the heavy silence, raw with frustration, every syllable laced with a bitterness that cut deep.

  His fists clenched, his body trembling—not just with anger, but with something deeper.

  “Nobles, commoners—it doesn’t matter. The only thing you people care about is money. That’s it. That’s all that ever matters.”

  His voice cracked, the weight of something unspoken pressing into his words.

  “I left my life behind because I thought—no, I hoped—I’d meet people who actually gave a damn.” His eyes burned with something close to desperation. “People who weren’t ruled by greed.”

  He exhaled sharply, his fingers curling tighter at his sides.

  “I posted that job a week ago. A whole week.” His voice trembled. “Fifteen silver to save lives. Do you know how many people took it? None. Not a single damn person.”

  A bitter laugh escaped his lips.

  “Every hunter, every so-called warrior, said the same thing—‘Not worth it for fifteen silver.’” His teeth clenched so hard I thought they might crack. “Are you people insane? We’re talking about human lives.”

  The weight of his words settled like a stone in my chest.

  Then he looked straight at me.

  “Tell me the truth.” His voice was quieter now, steadier, but somehow heavier.

  “If I had told you this was a rescue mission, and the reward was only fifteen silver… would you have even considered taking it?”

  Silence.

  A long, suffocating silence.

  Victor looked away. Milio shifted uncomfortably. Sarah didn’t say a word.

  But I… I couldn’t look away.

  Because deep down, I already knew the answer.

  He was right.

  There were people here—suffering, trapped, waiting for someone to save them. And I had been ready to turn my back on them.

  I had cursed the gods for never helping me when I needed them most. I had hated them for abandoning me.

  And yet…

  I was no different.

  I clenched my fists, the weight of my own hypocrisy settling like a stone in my chest.

  No more.

  Before doubt could creep in, I pushed myself to my feet.

  I turned to Kai, meeting his gaze head-on.

  "I'm sorry." My voice was steady. "I'll help."

  Victor shot up from where he was sitting, his expression darkening. "You can't be serious, Bel. That guy lied to us."

  I met his gaze without hesitation. "Yeah, I know." My voice was steady. "But there are people here. People we can still save."

  Victor let out a sharp breath, his jaw clenching. "So what? That man wanted to save people, but he was willing to put us in danger to do it."

  "Sure, that might be true…" I exhaled, keeping my tone measured. "But I know for a fact that we won’t die here. You probably didn’t even break a sweat during that fight."

  Victor’s fists tightened. His eyes flashed with something unreadable.

  "We’re not going."

  "I am."

  His expression twisted in frustration. "Fuck, do you even realize your life isn’t just yours anymore? We share a debt."

  "I know. That’s exactly why I won’t die."

  Victor let out a frustrated growl before turning toward Milio. "Milio, say something to this idiot."

  Milio, who had been sitting silently, finally turned to face us. His expression wasn’t angry—just tired. "Bel, let me ask you something." His voice was quieter than usual. "If the next person asks for help to save someone, but they only have a single silver to offer, would you help?"

  I blinked. "What?"

  "You don’t owe your life to everyone," Milio continued. "You need to understand that. Our survival comes first—then others. Sure, we could save them, but there’s always a risk. May Be small, maybe big. But a risk, nonetheless. And this time? The reward isn’t even that good."

  I met his gaze, my mind racing.

  He was right. It wasn’t a good deal.

  But still…

  "I know," I admitted. "But we can start with this. We’re already here, and we can handle this cave. The money isn’t that bad, either. Sure, we were promised one gold, but fifteen silver is still a decent amount."

  Victor narrowed his eyes, studying me like he was searching for something just beneath the surface. Then, his voice dropped—low, sharp.

  "What’s with you?"

  I frowned. "What do you mean?"

  "Why are you so dead set on this?" His voice was unreadable, but there was an edge to it. "Why are you helping people you don’t even know?"

  "Because I care."

  Victor scoffed. "We both know that’s not the real reason."

  He stepped forward, his gaze piercing—digging into me like he was looking through me, into something I wasn’t even sure I understood myself.

  "You’re like me, Bel." His tone was quiet, but firm. "You don’t actually care about people. Not in the way you think."

  He tilted his head slightly, his expression shifting into something almost knowing.

  "But I can see it in your eyes." He exhaled slowly. "You feel guilty, don’t you?"

  My breath hitched.

  "I’ve met plenty of people like you," Victor continued. "People who don’t save others because they care—but because they’re trying to make up for something. So tell me, Bel…"

  His voice dropped to a whisper.

  "What are you so guilty of?"

  Something inside me twisted.

  “…Guilty?” I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper.

  I shook my head, trying to push back the strange unease curling in my chest. "That's not true."

  Victor didn’t look convinced. His eyes bore into me, sharp and unrelenting.

  "Then why are you shaking?"

  I opened my mouth.

  Nothing came out.

  Guilt?

  No. That wasn’t it.

  I was angry.

  Angry at being stuck in a dead-end job.

  Angry at the gods for giving me a broken life.

  Angry at my mother—for abandoning me.

  Angry at my stepfather—for everything he had done.

  Angry that I had been locked away in juvenile prison…

  Wait.

  Why was I in prison again?

  A sharp chill crept up my spine.

  I tried to think back—to remember—but my mind slammed into a wall. A thick, suffocating haze blurred the edges of my thoughts, twisting them into something unreachable.

  I had felt guilty for something.

  Something I had done.

  Something that was the real reason I had ended things that night.

  I wanted to make up for it. To atone.

  And to do that, I had to make things right.

  …Wait.

  Why was I feeling guilty again? Wasn’t I angry?

  Yeah. That’s right.

  The people trapped here—they reminded me of me. That’s why I wanted to help them.

  That was the reason.

  That was all there was.

  …Right?

  I stiffened, locking eyes with Victor.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I want to help these people because I want to.” My voice was steady, but I wasn’t sure if I believed it.

  Victor didn’t blink. He studied me, his gaze sharp, dissecting.

  Neither of us moved.

  The tension between us was thick, an invisible weight pressing down.

  Victor parted his lips, about to say something—

  ROOOAAARRRRR!

  The cave trembled.

  A sound—deafening, monstrous, unlike anything I had ever heard before—ripped through the cavern, shaking the very walls around us.