An uneasy feeling crept over everyone as the ground opened up, revealing only the spiral staircase leading downward. Zaphara stepped closer to the stone steps, letting her gaze wander over the strange runes etched in red along the floor."If we can figure out what these symbols mean, we might understand what we’re dealing with," Zaphara whispered, running her fingertips over the carved signs. "But I have no idea what language this is…"

  Before she could utter another word, Aaron was already a few steps ahead, descending further down. With careless impatience, he waved the others over. "What are you staring at? Get down here and take a look!"

  Zaphara furrowed her brow. "Can’t you wait for five seconds, dwarf?! Maybe this is a place better left undisturbed."

  Aaron didn’t respond and continued downwards. The others exchanged brief glances before following him – though with extremely mixed feelings. As they descended deeper, a damp, moldy smell enveloped them, and the constant dripping of water echoed ominously through the darkness. The walls, covered in moss and old cobwebs, suggested that no one had set foot here for centuries.

  Eventually, the winding staircase opened into a wide hall, its stone walls cracked and overgrown with greenish moss. In the center of the room stood a massive door flanked by two pillars. On both pillars, on the walls, even above the door itself, the word STOP was painted in large, red letters.

  Lunara took a step forward and grimaced. "Is that… blood?" The paint looked undeniably fresh.

  Seraphion nodded silently, but before he could say anything, Zaphara’s gaze drifted to a row of skeletons leaning against the wall. They wore black robes, now long torn and covered in dirt. Yet they were unmistakable at first glance. Talon seemed to recognize them too, as he took a startled step back.

  "Those… robes," Zaphara murmured, her voice uncharacteristically strained. "This can’t be…"

  Talon audibly swallowed and let out a short, nervous laugh. "Alright, people, I think we’ve seen enough, right? There’s nothing to gain here, so… let’s just get out of here, okay?"

  Zaphara, who rarely showed fear, suddenly looked unsettled and nodded weakly. "Yeah, this… this is a bad idea. All these warnings couldn’t be more obvious. We should leave."

  "I agree," Lunara said immediately. She cast a quick glance at the gigantic STOP letters and shook her head. "Anyone who warns that forcefully probably means it."

  "Maybe…" Seraphion began, but he quickly fell silent as Aaron cut him off.

  "Just a quick look," Aaron said as he was already heading towards the door. "We're here, so I might as well take a peek behind it. It can't be that we all run off right away. We need to know if this is where those damned lightning bolts are coming from or if something else weird is going on!"

  Lunara raised her hands defensively. "Aaron, that's really not a good idea. Look at everything! The symbols, the skeletons..."

  Aaron sighed, clearly annoyed. "Go back to the surface if you're scared. I'll just take a quick peek behind this door and then I'll follow."

  Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, but in the end, Seraphion took his words seriously. "We should head up. Should we at least—"

  "No, no, just go," Aaron waved them off impatiently. "I'll catch up."

  Zaphara was the first to leave – she shot Aaron a scathing look before the rest of the group followed her. As they reached the base of the stairs, they heard the metallic creaking of the door as Aaron carefully pushed it open. He had barely cracked it open when a loud crash tore through the air.

  In the span of a heartbeat, a massive stone wall dropped down from above, sealing the exit completely. Zaphara, who was standing right in front of this newly formed barrier, widened her eyes in shock and stumbled back. Lunara and Seraphion cried out in surprise, while Talon took a step to the side, as if trying to shield himself.

  Aaron, who had let go of the door and now stood behind them, quickly realized what had happened: "Uh... Guys...? That wasn’t supposed to happen—"

  "Shut up!" Zaphara snapped at him, pressing her fingertips against the cold stone. It was obvious she was struggling to think clearly.

  Lunara planted her hands on her hips and barked at Aaron, "Are you completely insane?! As if the giant 'STOP' letters weren’t enough, no, you just had to take a look. That's a whole new level of stupidity, even for you!"

  Aaron raised his hands apologetically but didn’t say a word. His expression made it clear that he understood the gravity of his mistake.

  Zaphara took a deep breath. "Alright... So... We need to figure out how to get out of here." Then, an idea crossed her mind, and her icy gaze locked onto Aaron's eyes. "Blow up the wall – like you did back in the tavern."

  The dwarf furrowed his brow. "That wasn't... a normal thing. I still don’t know how I shattered the wall back there. It was a fluke. I can’t just do it on command."

  "Fantastic," Zaphara commented icily. "Which means you're useless."

  At that moment, she noticed Talon’s odd, jittery behavior. Normally, he maintained a distant composure, but now he was shifting nervously from one foot to the other.

  Zaphara was about to confront him about an alternative escape route, but another thought crossed her mind instead. "Talon," she began sharply, "You’re supposed to be an experienced fighter. So why are you shaking more than Lunara on a freezing winter morning? Something’s not right with you."

  Seraphion immediately adopted a conciliatory stance. "Maybe... Talon has some kind of phobia? Shouldn’t we be considerate, especially now?"

  Talon took a shaky breath. "I... I know these robes. And believe me, we need to get out of here. As fast as possible."

  "Excuse me?" Zaphara whirled around to face him, grabbing him by the collar and yanking his face close to hers. "What do you know about this? Speak!"

  An uncharacteristically dangerous look flickered across Talon’s face, and despite the nervous twitching in his eyes, a hint of his old fighting spirit resurfaced. "Let. Me. Go," he warned through gritted teeth. "I’m not Lunara, and I won’t take this from you. It’s bad enough that we’re trapped here."

  Zaphara hesitated, visibly taken aback by his tone. Lunara and Seraphion immediately tried to mediate. "Hey, both of you, calm down!" Lunara exclaimed in frustration, while Seraphion added, "We have bigger problems than tearing each other apart. Can we save this argument for later?"

  Zaphara eventually shoved Talon away, though not without a final, piercing glare. "We’ll talk later. Got it?"

  With a grim expression, Talon brushed off his collar as if wiping away her touch. "Looking forward to it," he replied dryly.

  As a semblance of calmness returned, Zaphara took a hesitant breath and absentmindedly ran her fingers through her hair. Her gaze swept over the group as she worked to regain her composure. "Alright, we’re stuck here. Then we should at least know what we can rely on if we need to fight."

  She stepped back and pointed at Aaron. "You start. What are your abilities?"

  Aaron scratched his beard and waved his massive axe impatiently. "Not much to say: I’ve got my axe. Period. That thing back in the tavern... that wasn’t normal for me."

  "Great," Zaphara muttered dryly before turning to Seraphion. "And you?"

  Seraphion gave a slight bow, as if making a courtly gesture. "I’m a greatsword fighter and can use some fire magic if needed."

  Lunara blinked in confusion. "Greatsword fighter? Where exactly are you keeping your greatsword?"

  With an almost apologetic smile, Seraphion placed his palms together and slowly drew them apart. In a gentle shimmer, a massive sword began to materialize between his hands, as if forming from thin air. "I carry it with me at all times," he said softly. "It’s just... not visible."

  "Impressive," murmured Lunara, her golden eyes watching the spectacle with fascination. "But... how—"

  "We don’t have time for that now," Talon cut her off, pointing nervously at the sealed door. "Personally, I prefer using curses. I can weaken my targets, slow them down, or inflict other inconveniences. But if it comes to it, I’m not helpless with a sword or bow either."

  Zaphara nodded approvingly. "Useful." Her gaze then fell on Lunara. "Well, dust bunny, what about you? Another fox-ear-cleaning show?"

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Lunara snorted indignantly but chose not to respond to the provocation. "I use shadow magic and specialize in it. In close combat, I can barely manage with a dagger – but I prefer to keep my distance."

  Zaphara raised an eyebrow. "Alright. I mainly rely on ice magic, as you’ve probably noticed by now." She made a slight face. "I also have some shapeshifting abilities that are handy in close combat, but I’d rather save that for an emergency."

  As she spoke, her gaze swept over her mismatched companions, as if she were already devising a plan. "Okay, let’s sum it up: Aaron and Seraphion take the front. You’ll defend the sides. Talon stays a bit behind to harass the enemy from mid-range with curses or arrows – whatever’s needed. Lunara and I form the backline and provide the main magical damage."

  A murmur of agreement went through the group. Only Seraphion furrowed his brow thoughtfully. "If you can take on beast forms, wouldn’t it be smarter if you... maybe... took on the role of a tank?"

  Zaphara met his gaze with icy composure. "I’m keeping that as a last resort. We might need the element of surprise if we really get into trouble. As long as you two at the front hold the line, we should be fine."

  Seraphion nodded. "Understood. I’ll take the right flank."

  "And I’ll take the left," Aaron grumbled.

  Talon merely shrugged, while Lunara looked around uneasily. "Alright then... to the door?"

  Even though each of them tried to appear composed, a heavy silence hung in the air. The hall felt colder than before, as if the activation of the mechanism had drained all warmth. The walls, covered in moss, glowed faintly in the dim light that seeped through the ceiling’s opening.

  With cautious steps, they moved forward. Only the faint clinking of Seraphion's conjured sword could be heard. Lunara took shallow breaths of the clammy air, while Talon stood ready, prepared to shoot or cast a curse at any moment.

  The massive door groaned under the combined pressure of Aaron and Seraphion and slowly slid open. Beyond it stretched an enormous hall, so vast that even the glow of their improvised light sources couldn’t reach the walls or ceiling. It was pitch black, eerily silent, as if every movement would be swallowed by the darkness.

  At first, the oppressive stillness felt as if they had stepped into a giant void. But no sooner had they entered the room than the door behind them slammed shut, causing them all to flinch. A heartbeat later, red flames burst to life in sconces around the chamber, as if invisible hands had lit them all at once. The glow was unnatural, a glaring red like fresh blood, casting an ominous light on the towering walls of the hall.

  "That color again," murmured Zaphara with a nervous undertone. "The runes outside were the same... This can’t be a coincidence."

  She was about to continue when something fell before their feet – or rather, lay on the ground in front of them. Amid the flickering light crouched a monstrous creature, coiled like a predator waiting for the right moment to strike. Its massive, fleshy limbs pulsed with a rhythmic red glow, and a distorted, almost human skull protruded from its body, accompanied by long, bony extensions that resembled claws. A rancid stench of rust and old blood filled the air.

  Slowly, the creature raised its head and turned it toward the group, its two glowing eye sockets flickering in the crimson torchlight. A barely audible growl emanated from its throat before it straightened in one fluid motion.

  "Positions!" Zaphara hissed. She raised her hands, a faint frost flickering over her fingertips. "Aaron, Seraphion at the front! Talon behind them – Lunara with me at the back for ranged attacks!"

  Aaron and Seraphion stepped forward, weapons at the ready. "If that’s how you want it, monster, here I am!" shouted Aaron, swinging his axe. Seraphion held his summoned greatsword steady, faint sparks of fire dancing along his left hand.

  Talon notched an arrow, its tip gleaming in the red light.

  Lunara raised both hands, small shadowy clouds swirling around her arms like thick, viscous tendrils. Beside her, Zaphara quickly prepared her ice crystals, letting them circle around her palms.

  At first, the monster appeared almost hesitant, as if testing the waters. Then, with a powerful leap, it lunged forward, its claws spread wide. Aaron blocked the first swipe with a heavy swing of his axe, while Seraphion simultaneously parried another strike. Sparks flew as the creature recoiled, letting out a deep, rumbling screech.

  "Now!" shouted Zaphara, hurling several ice shards. They soared in bright arcs through the air, striking the creature’s shoulder and leaving a trail of frost that crept across its skin. Almost simultaneously, Lunara unleashed a shadowy sphere that expanded into a pulsating net aimed to ensnare the monster.

  For a moment, it seemed as if the creature was paralyzed. But with an enraged snarl, a red glow pulsed through its body, shattering the remnants of ice and dispelling the shadowy net. It staggered briefly but then sprang forward once more – this time charging straight into Seraphion’s defense.

  Seraphion swung his greatsword in a precise arc, bringing it down from above. A burst of flame accompanied the blade, hissing as it traced along the monster’s claws. Aaron, positioned slightly to his right, seized the opportunity and drove his axe into the creature’s ribs. The blow produced a grating noise, forcing the beast to curse and stumble back, nearly collapsing.

  As it retreated, it moved directly into Talon's line of sight. With steady hands, Talon released an arrow. The shaft pierced the monster’s fleshy thigh, causing it to howl in pain. “Hit!” Talon shouted.

  At that moment, Lunara stepped forward and muttered an incantation, casting a shadowy shroud over the monster's eyes. Dark tendrils coiled around its vision, blinding it. It thrashed wildly, striking at nothing, unable to find a target. Another volley of icy projectiles from Zaphara followed.

  Things were looking good. Their formation was working: Aaron and Seraphion blocked the frontal assaults, Talon supported them from mid-range, while Lunara and Zaphara unleashed their magical power from the rear.

  But this advantage didn’t last long. In a cunning maneuver, the creature feigned a frontal attack on Aaron, only to latch one of its claws onto his axe’s handle. In one swift, brutal motion, it wrenched the weapon from his grasp. The axe spiraled through the air, embedding itself into the wall with a shrill screech. All Aaron could do was shout in confusion, “Damn it!”

  Seraphion tried to buy Aaron some time to retrieve his weapon. “Get your axe! We’ll hold it off!” Talon fired another arrow, hitting the beast in its side, but it merely growled in fury and danced around them with agile steps.

  Aaron dashed toward the wall, desperately trying to pry his axe free. Meanwhile, the creature revealed its true strategy: it abandoned its attacks on him and Seraphion, instead charging directly at Zaphara and Lunara.

  “Watch out!” Talon shouted, realizing he had no time to place himself between the women and the monster. In a panic, he fired off a curse – a green shimmer flickered through the air, slowing the creature for just a heartbeat. But the next blow had to be taken by Lunara herself. She gathered her shadows, forming a black dome around the monster. A vicious snarl echoed as the creature tore through her barrier.

  Before Lunara could react, a clawed strike crashed against her shoulder, nearly knocking her off her feet. Zaphara rushed to her side, summoning gleaming icicles that rained down upon the monster, striking its head and back. But in the same motion, the creature spun around, its sharp claw driving deep into Zaphara's arm. Blood sprayed through the air as her body was violently thrown against a stone pillar.

  “It hit her!” Lunara screamed, stumbling as she tried to gather her strength once more.

  Zaphara coughed, feeling the warm wetness spreading across her abdomen. She looked down at her hand, finding it stained with blood. Her grip around an ice crystal trembled as she fought to suppress the pain.

  Meanwhile, Aaron finally reached his axe. But as he tore it from the wall, Seraphion began losing ground. The monster no longer focused on the front line; it weaved and dodged skillfully, exploiting every mistake.

  Talon stood several steps back, his line of sight blocked by the chaotic skirmish. Every arrow risked hitting an ally, and every curse required a moment of stillness that the beast refused to grant. It was a hopeless situation.

  The battle devolved into chaotic disarray. Aaron and Seraphion attempted to reform the frontline but nearly collided with each other. Lunara focused on launching shadowy orbs, but her breaths came in labored gasps, and her spells fizzled as the monster remained in constant motion. Zaphara, slumped against the wall, tried to wrap her arm in an icy shackle to stop the bleeding.

  “Damn it...” she hissed, wincing as the monster lunged in her direction.

  Aaron, adrenaline still pumping through his veins, threw himself in front of Zaphara with a desperate battle cry. He swung his axe in a wide arc, hoping to intercept the charging beast. But the creature was faster; it feinted low before surging upwards with bone-crushing force, its jagged claw slicing toward Aaron's chest.

  For a heartbeat, time seemed to freeze: Aaron's weapon hung mid-swing, the monster dodged below it, and its long, skeletal limb shot forward like a spear aimed at Aaron’s left arm. A sickening, inhuman crunch echoed through the chamber as bone and flesh were ruthlessly torn apart.

  Aaron gasped, trying to scream – but the pain was so intense that only a strangled choke escaped his lips. Then the sound broke free, raw and agonized, echoing off the cold stone walls. Blood sprayed in an arch across the floor, a crimson mist clouding the vision of his comrades.

  The creature’s maw had clamped down on Aaron’s shoulder, gnawing and tearing. Amidst the sickening squelch of ripped flesh and Aaron's ragged screams, it was impossible to fathom the pain he endured. With a violent jerk, the monster flung its head back – and Aaron’s left arm was wrenched free, still gripped in the creature's claws.

  The dwarf, now missing a limb, staggered backward, blood gushing from the gaping wound in his shoulder.

  "Aaron!" Seraphion shouted in horror as he desperately tried to strike the monster. But it dodged with a vicious roar, letting the remnants of Aaron's arm drop to the ground before turning its glowing eyes back on its enemies.

  Aaron himself slid down the wall, his remaining hand pressed tightly against the gaping wound, trying to stem the flow of blood. His face was pale, eyes wide with pain and shock. Zaphara struggled to rise, pain searing through her own wounds. Her heart sank as she saw Aaron's severed arm lying a short distance away on the ground, while its owner gasped for air.

  With empty eyes, Aaron stared at the pool of blood growing around him. His body trembled from the pain, but he gritted his teeth. He wanted to say something, maybe an apology, but no sound came out. Death loomed closer than any of them had ever feared.

  Seraphion stood his ground with grim determination, but Aaron’s support was gone.

  Zaphara groaned softly, trying to stand, but her body refused to obey. Her vision blurred, the pain in her arm throbbing, her side burning. Blood trickled onto the cold stone floor. In fragmented visions, she saw Aaron sitting motionless, his head resting against the wall, his severed arm lying nearby in a puddle of dark red. Lunara was gasping for breath, Talon was out of arrows, and Seraphion was hopelessly overwhelmed.

  No... it can't end here. Not now, not like this, she thought in a daze. Images of black smoke filled her mind, smoke that once consumed her hometown. She still had vengeance to take on the men in those robes. Was she really about to die in this cursed tomb, at the claws of a mad beast?

  Suddenly, a tingling sensation coursed through her nerves, as if she were falling into a deep abyss. In the next moment, she found herself in an entirely different place: a vast plain of snow and ice, blindingly bright yet serene. The air was frigid but oddly comforting.

  "Where...?" she whispered, but no sound left her lips.

  Before her stood a figure clad in pure, shimmering robes, hair so white it made the snow seem dull in comparison. There was a gentle, cold light in her eyes as she looked at Zaphara.

  Zaphara recognized her immediately, a mixture of awe and fear surging through her: Crystella, the Goddess of Winter.

  As the world around her was consumed by blood and chaos, Zaphara stood in the silent domain of her deity.