Another roar followed, now closer. The runes shone once again, following the roar's echo.
Kyle spoke commandingly. Staring in front.
"Thorn, go ahead. Follow him too, Phes."
Both nodded and stood ahead of the group. Kyle, Val and indra behind. Their faces filled with worry.
The roar echoed again, this time accompanied by wind, blowing the fire out. The cave plunged into darkness once more.
Phes lit both of her fists, surrounding them with light. Suddenly, the whole cave rhythmically shone. The roar moved from front to back. Each second, it ramped up in speed. It wasn't a beast—it was the cave itself.
Kyle's eyes shook as he watched the runes. Only some were beginning to shine, specific symbols correlating with significances of entry.
"This…"
"It's not a beast."
Each second, more of them lit up.
"Be ready!"
"We are going in…"
Everyone stared at Kyle in disbelief. A second later, all the runes glowed, growing brighter and brighter—until light was all they could see.
Blinded, they foolishly attempted to shield their eyes. As the light dimmed, their sight slowly returned.
Everything around them was darkness.
Suddenly, lights began flickering. Val opened his eyes. Around him, the rest of the group began to regain their sight. With his touch, Val felt concrete underneath—an old, slightly tainted floor. The scent was horrible, barely bearable. It was the scent of death itself.
Candles began igniting in front of them, revealing their surroundings. It was a path lit on both sides by candlelight. The flames swayed unnaturally, responding to something unseen.
It felt like an ancient cathedral. The walls were tall, long windows revealing a starry night. Val looked at the windows next.
Outside?
Where are we?
No…
Kyle spoke, his breath heavy.
"This…"
"We are inside Netherfall."
Val looked ahead.
A corridor filled with candles led to a distant door. Mist crawled low along the floor, not as dense as the mist outside, but thick enough to quicken their hearts. The windows bore intricate patterns—symbols of the cross and half-moon, with a red circle on top.
The oppressive silence only made it worse. Every sound—each breath, each shift of weight—echoed like a scream.
Kyle spoke again.
"Gather."
Each of them moved close to one another, Indra holding her wand tightly, lacking confidence. All of their gazes scanned the surroundings. Suddenly, the corridor rumbled. High above, something creaked in the ceiling.
Everyone lifted their gaze.
Something shone. A lantern sat still in the dark.
Val exhaled, releasing the tension in his chest.
Kyle pulled a rope from his bag and placed it behind his back. His gaze was fierce.
"Move forward, and be care—"
The entire room trembled.
The lantern high above fell in front of them. Their faces paled.
It was a tall beast.
Its legs were dark, thin, and towering. Its torso held by thin gray skin. Its arms were long, the ends of its fingers replaced by sharp claws that almost reached the floor. Its head was a lantern, encasing a candlelight. Its maw hung from below the lantern, teeth sharp and dark like its skin. Its breathing was heavy and strong. A Daunter.
"HUFF."
"HUFF."
Its tongue began to peek out, saliva running down and dripping onto the floor.
The Daunter approached, its steps heavy, claws grating the floor and making it shudder.
Thorn spoke in a strong yet low voice.
"Damn it."
"Everyone behind!"
They all gathered behind Thorn's shield.
Kyle shouted from behind them.
"Indra—water!"
Indra nodded, raising her wand high. Clouds began forming unnaturally inside the cathedral-like building.
Phes moved to the side, her fists surging with flames. Water spread across the floor.
The Daunter turned its head toward Phes, the lantern glowing with a red hue. Flames danced erratically inside the lantern-head.
Phes sped forward, carefully watching her footing on the wet floor.
Kyle sprinted behind Val. Val looked toward him, intrigued but focused, blade gripped tightly.
Is he leaving?
No.
Kyle wouldn't do that. He has a plan…
Kyle's voice came from behind Val and Thorn, nervous and agitated.
"Distract him!"
The beast grunted, raising its claws toward Phes. She dashed along the slick floor, legs splashing through the water. Flames burned in her right hand, the other fully made of fire.
The beast stumbled slightly, slipping as it swiped and missed her. The entire corridor trembled.
"ROAR!"
Phes shouted.
"Indra! Thunder!"
Indra nodded. One of the clouds above quickly darkened. Her eyes closed, her face tense with concentration.
Lightning struck. It hit the lantern, forcing the Daunter to collapse to the floor, cracks splintering beneath it.
Val's head throbbed. His brows furrowed.
Damn it.
I can't do anything.
He stared at Thorn in front.
I only make him need to cover me.
Phes stepped forward toward the lantern-beast's head.
Indra ended the rain.
Phes's fiery hand turned into a large sphere above her. She aimed it at the lantern. It creaked—burning, cracking, shattering like glass.
"CREEK!"
Its voice forced Val and Thorn to cover their ears.
A bead of sweat rolled down Phes's face. She dashed back, nearing Thorn, Val, and Indra.
She took a deep breath.
All of them stared at the trembling, collapsed body.
Kyle's voice rang out from behind them.
"It's not over!"
"Lure him here!"
Val looked back. Kyle had tied a rope between both ends of the corridor.
The Daunter still lived.
The lantern above its jaw now broken.
Its limbs still moved.
It pressed its claws into the floor, slowly raising itself.
The group sprinted toward Kyle, dashing past the rope.
Thorn jumped over it.
Val stared at the rope for a second.
Is this not too obvious?
The Daunter now stood, walking toward them. Its feet hit the ground hard. Its posture low.
"ROARR!"
It increased its pace, claws dragging across the wet stone. It moved desperately, sprinting toward them with bloodlust.
Val's eyes shifted toward Kyle.
"Why is it running like that?"
Kyle stared at the beast, a smirk on his face.
"Look closely."
"The lantern was how it could see us."
"Its skin is as hard as steel—so we couldn't just punch through it."
Thorn added,
"So we might as well just hold him down."
They moved further back. The beast neared the rope. Its claws hung low, flailing wildly.
Finally, it reached the rope.
Its first long, stiff leg hit the trap—
In attempting to raise the next, it failed.
It fell again.
Kyle ran in as it collapsed, grabbing the other end of the rope. He shouted:
"Thorn, now!"
Thorn commanded roots to burst from the ground, grabbing the beast's hands. Kyle looped and tied the rope around both of its feet.
The room shook.
"CREAK!"
But the Daunter couldn't move.
Nor could it see.
It tried to shake itself free—
But nothing worked.
It stood, trapped.
Breathing heavy.
"Huff."
"Huff."
Kyle groaned as he secured the final knot. The beast was bound.
Indra, Phes, and Val stood next to each other, slowly regaining their composure.
Kyle spoke.
"Indra, put water on his mouth."
Indra nodded, walking slowly with Thorn by her side.
The beast's maw now in front of them, its teeth sharp and jarring.
Indra gulped as she placed her wand in front of the beast's mouth.
She closed her eyes. Her wand shone slightly, and a river of water burst out of it, making the beast groan and shake its limbs uncontrollably. Cutting off its air. It attempted to bite. Thorn held its jaw open, letting water keep entering.
Until finally, its limbs stopped resisting. Its deep breath gone.
The corridor now silent.
Indra stopped the beast. Dead.
Val, right behind, touched her shoulder, holding his katana in the other hand.
Indra opened her eyes to see the beast now dead.
Everyone relaxed, now staring at the door far down the corridor, creaking open slowly.
The candles, shut from the earlier water, ignited again—signaling for them to move forward.
Kyle exhaled and stared at the rest nervously.
"We need to stop this…"
"If there's more of this outside…"
"I'm sure the Netherfall will reach the city in no time."
Indra stared at him.
"How can we stop that?"
Kyle looked toward the door.
"Don't worry. I have the key for the gate between this season and the land of none…"
His eyes fierce, his teeth grinding.
"Let's stop that woman."
"I will make her pay for what she did to you…"
He shifted his gaze toward Phes.
She also gazed strongly at the door.
"Only if I don't burn her to ashes first."
Indra, still shaken, her eyes gray, filled with determination.
"She will regret not being an heir to life."
Thorn clutched his hand with great strength.
Val nodded.
I won't just watch…
Not this time.
His eyes lit faintly with a hint of blue. No one noticing.
They all began heading toward the now open door. The path long and ominous.
The door leading them toward the heir of death now opened—ready to welcome each of them.