Chapter 14.2. Delving into darkness.

As Lilith and her band of mercenaries journeyed through dense forest expanse, days blurred together in rhythm of endless marching, interspersed by occasional hunts.

Each dawn broke crisp and clear upon woods, dew glittering leaves like scattered gems. Shimmering rays pierced canopy overhead, as companions shouldered gear, setting forth once more, towards looming mountain range.

Hours stretched languidly into afternoon lulls, where talk turned into playful banter or stories shared around crackling campfires come nightfall. Kragor regaled listeners with tall tales of past exploits, while Sharr imparted wisdom, gleaned in snake-like people homeland.

During halcyon mornings brimming with bird-song symphonies, Cian and Azael sparred lightly with blades clashing melodiously, both honing combat acumen for challenges ahead.

When game proved scarce, Lilith led parties off-trail on small foraging excursions, relishing chance to connect with earth elemental roots. Never strayed far from encampment – safety paramount above all else.

Nights grew cooler, as they climbed steadily upward terrain, signaling winter’s inevitable descent onto lower realms. Still, spirits remained high, despite mounting uncertainty, bond among travelers strengthening with each mile trodden.

After five grueling months traversing wilds, Lilith and her companions finally reached their destination – the ominous entrance to Training Dungeon.

Nestled deep within rugged mountain base, the cave mouth gaped like maw of some slumbering beast.

A shimmering red barrier stretched across opening, its eerie glow illuminating jagged rock formations. The translucent membrane pulsed faintly with inner light, as if alive and aware of their presence. They all felt fear piercing their bodies.

– Careful, – Sharr hissed warning, yellow eyes narrow slits, as he scanned for traps or ambushes: – This place reek of ancient magic – not all friendly.

Kragor nodded gruffly in agreement, his massive horns catching sunlight gleam menacing promise. Lilith laughed, embracing almost forgotten feeling, when approaching the dungeon.

– Been a long time, since I went to a dungeon. Rest for now, we go in tomorrow, – she ordered. It was time for her companions to become stronger, after all, she had great plans for them all. She had a plan and they needed to get stronger, just like her, in order to make her plans a reality.

Lilith took out meat, which they hunted down while on their way here. With abundance of prey at their disposal, Lilith took charge. organization efficient preservation techniques.

First, she directed Sharr and Kragor to construct sturdy wooden racks for drying meat, leveraging minotaur’s strength to haul necessary materials from nearby forest.

The air soon filled rich smoky aroma, as Azael expertly tended flame beneath carefully arranged strips venison boar. Cian meanwhile oversaw meticulous salting process, rubbing generous portions coarse sea salt, deep into exposed muscle tissue.

Hours passed in steady rhythm of preparation. Each member fell in natural roles based on skills and experience – a testament to Lilith’s leadership and carefully assembled team.

Nights brought respite to weary muscles, but also opportunity for Sharr to demonstrate unique preservation method, passed down to snake folk generations. By carefully wrapping choice cuts inside fresh hide, he created airtight seal, to naturally extend shelf life, weeks beyond typical expectations.

Lilith observed the process with keen interest, filing away mental notes for future expeditions. The more self-sufficient her party could remain in field, the better chances for success, when facing unknown dangers ahead.

Once ample supplies were preserved, Lilith gestured towards her magic purse, lying open beside campfire.

– Azael, if you wouldn’t mind? Let’s make sure nothing goes to waste during our little excursion.

Scooping up cured haunches of smoked ribs, Fallen angel dutifully packed each item with practiced efficiency, the bag’s interior seeming bottomless regardless bounty poured within. Soon overflowing stores vanished completely – vanquished into mysterious extra-dimensional pocket.

She sealed entryway with firm tug drawstring, then strapped her Female Purse to her waist. Incredible item indeed – yet another advantage helping to stack deck favorably ahead for treacherous journey inside the dungeon. Turning gaze skyward, now fully loaded squad at ready, Lilith inhaled, bracing lungful crisp of evening breeze. Tomorrow at last… tomorrow will begin truth test to test her slaves. But before that some final preparations were needed.

Lilith took out two rings and gave one to Kragor, while other she gave to Sharr.

– These rings will allow you to see in the dark. Cian do you have your artifact?

– Yes, – Cian demonstrated her a bracelet around his armpit: – I trained to use it in Zhen Wu temple.

– Good. Azael you have excellent night vision, so we won’t need any light sources. For now get proper rest, for tomorrow we delve inside the dungeon.

Next morning they checked their weapons, and Lilith gave Sharr several pieces of parchment and appointed him their map maker.

Sharr accepted parchment and map-making duties with solemn nod, yellow eyes narrowing, focus on task at hand. If any possessed keen eye for detail to navigate treacherous depths ahead, it was snakeman scholar, whose hobbies included maps and unknown land research, and excellent innate sense of direction.

With all preparation complete, Lilith led them inside the most dangerous place in lands of Tuatha Dé Danann. Lilith led charge towards yawning cave mouth – shimmering red barrier parting reluctantly to allow passage.

The moment their feet crossed threshold, oppressive darkness enveloped party like suffocating cloak. Picking path carefully, they ventured deeper – each step weighted with careful consideration, potential traps lurking in shadows beyond reach rings enchanted vision.

It wasn’t long before first encounter materialized: A skittering mass of dark fur and glinting eyes resolved into massive spider creatures – their bulbous forms rippling with muscles, promising painful demise to any, who underestimate threat they posed.

– Spiders! – Lilith hissed warning, already readying her blade.

As planned, Kragor and Cian charged into battle, axe and sword flashing in dim light. The giant spiders reared up, hissing challenge – a deadly dance of limb and fang against steel.

Lilith used Slow spell. Earth bubbles appeared beneath monsters, slowing movements to almost a crawl. Seizing advantage, the frontline warriors hacked through exposed underbellies – spattering viscera staining ground, as lifeblood poured forth. The air filled with shrill cries of anguish, as spiders toppled one by one.

– Now! Sharr, Azael – finish them off! – Lilith barked. With numbers thinned and foes crippled, the scholar snakeman and fallen angel joined in swift execution dance. Blades flickered with deadly precision, putting beasts out of misery.

As last spider succumbed to combined assault, an unearthly glow emanated from twitching corpses.

As victorious cheer subsided, Lilith’s sharp command echoed off dripping stone walls: – Cut out their magic stones quickly! No telling what other threats lie ahead.

Reluctantly dragging focus from precious life force absorbed, the warriors bent tasks assigned. Blades flashed again amid carnage, this time seeking hidden gems, pulsing within matted chitinous carcasses.

Kragor grunted exertion as axe bit deep to expose shimmering stone. Beside him Cian worked precise, with economy of motion, delicate fingers freeing treasure sought, without marring prized find.

Sharr and Azael lent aid where able, yet neither possessed minotaur’s raw might nor warrior’s honed technique. Their efforts proved slower, less elegant in contrast.

Through it all Lilith kept vigilant watch, eyes scanning dark reaches of corridor beyond, for signs of imminent danger. Even here midst enemy fallen, she remained ever alert, lest complacency prove fatal flaw.

At last with all magic stones gathered and placed inside Lilith’s Female Purse, party reformed ranks and prepared to continue trek deeper.

– Let’s move out, – Lilith announced with steely resolve. I want to see what other surprises this damn dungeon throws at us. The group marched forward into shadowy unknown – ready to face next challenge, with blades sharp and spirits higher from the first successful battle.

Skittering claws heralded next ambush – a seething tide of rat-like creatures pouring from cracks fissures lining tunnel walls. Their beady eyes glittered with malevolence, as they swarmed forward, fanged maws snapping in hungry rage.

– Slow! Slow! – Lilith weaved her spell rapidly. Earth bubbles appeared beneath beasts, slowing them down before cascading effect rippled outwards engulf entire pack.

Kragor and Cian charged into fray axe and blade singing in deadly harmony. Their powerful strikes cleave through rat-lines like scythe wheat, scattering gory chunks of fur and viscera with each impact. The frontline warriors carved bloody path midst stumbling masses – a whirlwind of destruction none could withstand.

As numbers thinned, Lilith called second wave into action:

– Sharr! Azael – finish them off while they’re weak!

The fallen angel and scholar snakeman darted forward with practiced efficiency, putting down beasts with swift precise strikes. Yet the relentless tide seemed endless. For every rat that fell two more sprang to replace it, their sheer numbers threatening overwhelm, even slow-cursed advantage granted them.

– Pull back! – Lilith barked suddenly, realizing trap: – Reform and prepare defensive formation! We’re not going down here!

The warriors retreated carefully, covering each other’s backs against desperate lunges. Forming tight circle they held ground – blades flashing in grim determination, as horde pressed close.

And so the battle raged on a bloody stalemate testing wills and endurance of both sides. The Training Dungeon had many tricks up its metaphorical sleeve. But Lilith and her companions refused to be beaten by mere vermin, no matter how numerous. Battle ended and tired warriors again gathered magic stones. Lilith allowed them rest and them ordered to move forward.