Chapter 14.5. Delving into darkness.

 

They needed three months to clear floor six, before going deeper. There they discovered familiar dark corridors and caverns with  giant animal like monsters, but those were familiar prey to Lilith and their exploration run smoothly, until they run into a pack of low level floor guardians.

They came face-to-face with monstrous beings who defied imagination: Hydra-Maned Lions, fierce beasts boasting multiple heads each capable of spewing devastating elemental blasts! Flames, ice, lightning erupted from maws snarling challenge, as party froze momentary in shock.

– Shit, – Kragor grunted, tightly gripping axe: – Those things look nasty. Any ideas how take them down?

Lilith narrowed eyes, assessing situation swiftly:

– Severed regenerating limbs prevent endless respawns, – she said, already casting her Slow spell. She exhaled relieved, when her spell worked. It was always a gamble, casting a spell on floor guardians.

 

 

Azael nodded with grim determination, and squeezed the hilt of his sword. The battle raged fierce – each companion fighting role complementing others in dance deadly precision. Cian danced nimble strike glancing blows, while Kragor and Sharr focused on taking out specific heads, between coordinated defensive spells and enhancement spells, casted by Lilith.

Yet even with combined efforts victory proved elusive – heads grew back fast, severed limbs regenerated maddeningly fast. Only through relentless teamwork did they slowly whittle down each beast’s strength. Lilith observed the battle. There were four beasts in total, and they were too many for her mercenaries to handle.

Lilith casted her Primordial magic Remove Resistance spell, and then used Paralysis. One by one she used her spells until all four beasts were immobilized.

– Now’s our chance! – she shouted: – Focus on severing heads and limbs before they can regenerate!

Kragor roared, as he charged forward, his mighty axe cleaving through fur and flesh to lop off a writhing neck. Cian darted in beside him, his blade flashing silver, as it sliced cleanly through another regenerating limb.

Azael and Sharr worked tirelessly using their swords, weakening the beasts’ defenses, while Lilith continued to cast spells – ensuring that the party’s strikes remained devastatingly effective, against these otherwise nigh-unkillable monsters.

One by one, the Hydra-Maned Lions fell, their mighty forms reduced to twitching piles of viscera and gore. The air reeked of charred flesh and acrid magic as the last beast finally succumbed – its remaining heads slumping lifelessly onto the stone floor.

Lilith wiped sweat from her brow, a grim smile playing at her lips.

– Good work everyone, but don’t let your guard down just yet.

She glanced around warily.

– We still have a long way to go, before this place is truly conquered.

Still this was her best catch yet. Four valuable magic gems – biggest magic stones, at her disposal, and monster materials from four floor guardians.

After two long months of methodical exploration and combat, Lilith stood before the stairs leading to floor eight – her party battered but triumphant behind her.

Cian approached Lilith with a look of reverence and awe in his eyes.

– Lilith, until now only a select few legendary Tuatha Dé Danann have reached the eighth floor. To stand before this threshold is an accomplishment worthy of great pride. You’ve led us far beyond, what most could ever hope to achieve. Whatever challenges await below, I know we’ll face them together – stronger for every trial overcome thus far, – Cian looked at Lilith with  eyes shining with excitement: – No matter what lies ahead my friend, I am honored fight beside such a fearless leader. Let us descend into depths unknown together – for glory of my people and yours!

Lilith just shrugged, but nodded:

– Let’s go, – she ordered.

As party descended into eighth floor, they were greeted with a sight that defied expectations – a sprawling ruined town stretching far on horizon, beyond their  ability perceive its limits.

Abandoned stone buildings stood in various states of decay, some little more than crumbling piles of rubble, while others remained eerily intact. Ancient cobblestone streets wound maze-like paths between structures.

Eerie silence pervaded air – broken only by soft whisper of wind rustling through hollow windows gaps and missing walls. No signs of life were visible, save occasional scurrying creature darting and hiding in shadows. Yet feeling being watched persisted, constant unshakable nagging sensation over Cian’s spine.

The group moved cautiously, weapons drawn ready encounter ambush lurking every corner and turn. Strange hieroglyphs adorned certain surfaces – worn faded time yet still hinting ancient secrets long forgotten. Lilith glanced around warily, eyes narrowed in assessment.

– Get ready to face undead, – warned Lilith.

The others nodded, tensing collective breath as they pressed deeper into maze of unknown dangers, awaiting discovery midst crumbling ruins.

Yet their first challenge were traps. As Kragor stepped on one of the stones, small pike flew out from below and pierced his leg. Minotaur fell down, moaning in pain. Lilith moved swiftly, cutting the pike in two, ripping the piece that stuck in flesh out and using her magic to cure the wound.

– Never happened before, – she murmured to herself. remembering that in past one of her former party members had Trap Detection skill and always warned them, where not to step.

– Watch your steps, – she shrugged. Not much else she could suggest. Yet several more times they were wounded by traps, luckily avoiding death, but few wounds were close enough to end lives of her men.

As party ventured deeper into ruins, an oppressive atmosphere settled over them – pressing weight and dread, constricting lungs and stifling breath. Shadows seemed thicker somehow, twisting malevolent whispers echoing through abandoned streets, sending shivers through racing spines.

Lilith raised her hand to halt progress, staring into distance, where swirling mist coalesced to unnatural shape, before manifestation. Spectral figures began materializing from shadows, insubstantial wisps writhing hunger, which were fed by fear alone.

Spectral Whispers! The ethereal beings drifted towards group, hunger palpable in their  emanations, feeding of fear and desperation of souls, unfortunate enough to cross their paths. Their ghostly touch burned icy cold, leeching vital essence and leaving from victims just husked shells.

– Stay close and protect each other! – Lilith urged. Her voice strained against mental assault barrage, that created doubts and insecurities, threatening to consume reason. Paralyzing terror engulfed mercenaries – slowing reactions, leaving exposed to attacks from specters’ insatiable appetites. Only sheer grit and determination kept them from collapsing, under their mind assault.

Lilith summoned  her magic and casted Destroy Undead. Desperately channeling mana into the spell, she unleashed torrential wave of magic radiance, hoping to obliterate all unholy corruption in vicinity! To her horror, ghosts merely dissipated momentarily – reforming mockingly whole once more! Mercenaries cried in agony, as spectral fangs sunk deeper, sapping last scraps of strength and willpower.

In moments Lilith would witness companions devoured completely. Her own resistance skills allowed her to endure, but she was the only one, who was still able to fight. Sharr fell on the ground. The spectral horde surged forth, engulfing defenseless scholar and rapidly draining life essence.

Panicked desperation seized group – their attacks proved to be futile, and entities seemed impervious to mortal blades. For the first time panic started to take over Cian and he glanced back, ready to run, but there were other Spectral Whispers approaching from behind as well.