Chapter 13.4. Dark Dungeon.

As the army descended into Dark Dungeon’s shadowed depths, an eerie stillness settled over procession. Torches guttered weakly against oppressive blackness, casting dancing shadows that seemed to writhe with malevolent intent.

The air grew heavy, thick miasma of despair and ancient evil permeating very stones. Monsters lurked amidst inky gloom, their obsidian forms barely discernible until too late – striking with swift silence on those, who were caught unaware.

Nellisandra used her magic, weaving intricate wards to protect companions. Even with enhanced torchlight and magic lanterns, invaders could barely see. The darkness seemed to swallow light itself, leaving only sense of creeping dread for company. Unlike others Nellisandra Trevor and Grim had skills, or in case of cat-sith – natural ability, to see in darkness, and surrounding absence of light did not bother them. But others it kept on guard whole time.

The dungeon twisted around them like serpentine maze, corridors branching off into endless black labyrinth. Each step echoed hollowly behind, as if mocking the audacity to intrude in the dark realm meant remain unseen.

And still they pressed forward, driven by purpose and unwavering determination.

– This darkness is unnatural, – Nellisandra murmured, her voice barely audible above rustle of their footsteps: – It feels like it’s alive – watching, waiting.

Grim shifted beside his master, whiskers twitching as if sensing invisible currents in air:

– The dungeon seems to feed on fear itself, – he mused lowly, eyes gleaming in faint points of light, within oppressive gloom.

Trevor sighed heavily:

– You’re right. It’s like the shadows are hungry for our terror, – he paused, glancing around warily at other adventurers, stumbling through pitch-black halls: – We should be grateful that Avone made sure we have skills, which allow us to see in the dark.

Nellisandra nodded grimly, watching mages struggle to conjure paltry light, against all-consuming dark.

– The advantage of enhanced sight cannot be overstated in place like this. Glowing stones and magic lanterns do give enough light, but also attract all monsters, who can lunch surprise attacks.

As if echoing her words, a muffled scream rang out from passage ahead, followed by sounds of violent struggle and chilling hiss.

– I asked Ashindale and other leaders to allow me to lead them. But I was denied.

– They said that you want to steal all the glory?

– Aye, they did. The same happen to you?

– It did.

As they ventured deeper into dungeon’s twisted bowels, monsters grew more fearsome, their obsidian forms melding seamlessly with enveloping darkness. The air itself seemed to thicken, heavy miasma of despair and primal dread.

Ahead, warriors clashed against swarming horde of shadow-beasts, steel ringing against chitin as they desperately fought back rising tide of malice. Screams of falling rang out amid chaos, blood mingling with ichor, staining cold stone beneath their feet.

Nellisandra casted protective spells on her closest companions. Grim snarled lowly beside her, his eyes blazing emerald, as he prepared to lunge into fray.

Trevor moved amidst carnage like beacon of hope, holy light around him, which draw monsters’ attention away from wounded comrades. Yet even his divine might struggled against sheer numbers – and more kept pouring out of inky passages, drawn by scent fresh blood. Several dozen black, wolf sized rats attacked them, when they reached crossroads. Their bite was poisonous, and Nelly had to concentrate on casting Cure, to heal those infected by poison. Trevor protected her, cutting every beast, who dared to threaten his friend. Grim also launched ahead, increasing his size, he dwarfed even monster-rats, and was much stronger and faster than these monsters. He bite and used his claws, and together with Trevor, they protected Nellisandra and their wounded comrades.

The party fought back-to-back, a desperate dance of survival amid swirling sea of monsters. Time lost meaning here, where only heartbeats counted – and each one drew them closer to brink of oblivion.

– Food is running low, – informed Trevor his friend after a week.

– We did not had such problems before, – sighed Nelliasandra: – Are we going back?

– We only reached floor six. And they want to find the passage to floor seven, before retreating.

– I see. But I do not like their strategy. They keep pushing forwards, as fast as they can.

– Well, we usually explored whole floor, before descending. But they might know better.

– Let us hope so, – sighed Nelliasandra. Both she and Trevor had magic bags and enough supplies in them, but not everyone had magic bags, and potions and supplies were becoming a concern.

As Nelliasandra, Trevor and their battered group stumbled into immense cavern, an eerie stillness settled over them – broken only by distant skittering echoes and occasional drip of water from stalactites above. Lanterns and glowing stones provided scant illumination, leaving most of vast space cloaked in impenetrable darkness.

Nelliasandra’s All Seeing Eye skill allowed her to pierce shadows, revealing dozens of tunnels branching off in every direction. Before anyone could react, a deep growl rumbled through chamber, sending icy chill down spines.

From each passageway came the thunder of paws on stone, and then they appeared – massive wolf-like creatures, their obsidian fur rippling with supernatural speed and strength. Eyes gleamed red in darkness, fixated on intruders like hungry predators stalking prey.

– Brace yourselves! – shouted Trevor, who also had Night Vision skill and saw the danger: – There are bests all around us! We will need to hold them off and find a way out!

And then Nelly saw him. Giant human like shape, wrapped in shadows. Floor guardian Wolf-Shepherd. Monster raised his arm and casted a spell. And worse thing possible happened to invaders. All light sources dulled, and all light disappeared.