"Keep them coming towards us, Nes. They're slow, and they won't be able to surround us," Fayde said, his voice calm but urgent.
It wasn't the kind of strategy that earned glory or admiration, but Fayde had no interest in theatrics. His priority was survival, nothing more. As they continued drawing the enemy deeper into the ruin, a low, guttural roar echoed from the stairwell behind them. This one sounded different. It was heavier, as if something massive was clawing its way up from the depths.
"We need to wrap this up quickly. Whatever is making that noise is getting closer, and we don't want to be stuck dealing with both at once," he called out, though he could tell the others had already come to the same conclusion.
They moved swiftly, reaching the location Fayde had picked out earlier. The terrain here worked in their favor. The floor was scattered with broken stone and crumbling walls, and the corridor narrowed to the point where only three people could stand shoulder to shoulder. The stone walls pressed in from both sides, creating a single path of approach that would force the enemy into a bottleneck.
"Listen carefully," he said, scanning the group. "Allein, Tris, take the long way around and hit them from behind. Reia, Nes, and I will hold the front here. Allein, if you have the time, enchant Tris's shortsword. She's going to need it."
"I'm on it!" Allein replied, already gathering her magic. Tris gave a single nod, sharp and confident, and the two of them took off at a run, slipping between the ruins and out of sight. If they moved quickly, they would have just enough time to get into position.
Fayde turned to Reia and Nes, gripping his sword tightly. "You ready?"
Reia gave a firm nod. "Always."
"They're coming," Nes said as the sound of heavy footfalls reached them.
The elite Lizardmen emerged from the far side of the passage, marching with synchronized steps. Their shields were held high, and their sabers glinted faintly under the broken light filtering through the ruins above. There was no pause in their advance. These were not mindless creatures or reckless scouts. They moved with the discipline of trained warriors.
Fayde stepped forward to meet them, flanked by Reia and Nes. The initial clash was immediate and brutal. Metal rang against metal, and the impact of each blow sent sharp tremors through his arms. His Void enhanced blade cut through the narrow openings in their armor, the dark energy along its edge searing into flesh with every strike. The three of them moved with practiced coordination, attacking and defending as one.
One of the Lizardmen crumpled under Reia's blade, followed closely by another who fell to Fayde's strike. Despite the strength of their opponents, they were holding the line. Each step forward was hard won, every breath sharp with effort. Fayde could feel the weight of the fight settling into his shoulders, but they couldn't afford to slow down.
Then, from behind the enemy formation, a sharp cry pierced the din of battle. Two Lizardmen suddenly fell in opposite directions, their bodies cut down in an instant. Tris and Allein had arrived. Their timing was perfect, and the surprise of their ambush sent a ripple of confusion through the remaining enemies.
Fayde saw the moment hesitation set in. One of the Lizardmen shifted his stance, uncertain whether to turn or hold position. That single lapse was enough. Fayde surged forward with renewed strength, driving his blade into the staggered line. Reia and Nes followed suit, pressing the advantage as their enemies began to break.
Surrounded and disoriented, the remaining Lizardmen struggled to maintain any cohesion. Their attacks lost precision, their formations collapsed, and one by one they fell under the combined assault from front and rear.
At last, the final warrior dropped to the floor in a heap, his shield slipping from his hand as the life drained from his eyes.
Fayde took a long breath and lowered his weapon. Around him, the others began to loosen their grips as well. For a brief moment, the only sound was the heavy rhythm of their breathing. A few shaky laughs broke the silence, strained and tinged with disbelief.
But before the relief could settle in, another roar erupted from the stairwell behind them. This one was louder than the last, and it carried a depth that shook the very floor beneath their feet.
Fayde turned sharply toward the stairwell, his body already tensing. The sound had been impossibly close, far deeper and more powerful than anything they had encountered so far. It wasn't just noise; it was a warning, a declaration. Whatever was coming had weight, purpose, and the strength to back it up.
Tris shook her head as she wiped her brow, her voice dry despite the tension. "This is why no one in their right mind explores dungeons unless they're desperate or suicidal."
"Now really isn't the time for that," Reia replied, steady as ever. Her tone was calm, but there was a subtle edge to it that brought everyone back to focus.
Without further discussion, the group moved. They retraced their steps, boots crunching against broken stone as they rushed toward the source of the sound. The corridor narrowed again, and the air grew heavier with each step.
They arrived just in time to see something enormous pushing its way through the stairwell.
The creature was shaped like a Lizardman, but everything about it was wrong. It was not just taller; it was thicker, broader, packed with coiled muscle and dense scale. The stone around it cracked as it pushed through the narrow passage, forced to crouch low and drag its body up the stairwell. Each movement sent grinding echoes through the chamber. The creature didn't charge. It didn't need to. It simply advanced with crushing force, tearing stone loose with every lurching step.
Fayde stared, his throat tight. "What is that?"
"I'm not sure," Nes answered, his voice quieter than usual. "Maybe their king?"
The fact that Nes had spoken at all was alarming. He rarely offered commentary unless the situation was truly dire. For him to break the silence now sent a chill crawling down Fayde's spine.
If even Nes was concerned, they might not survive this.
A strange vibration settled behind Fayde's eyes. It was not physical, but it pressed against his thoughts like a presence trying to be heard. The voice had returned. It was faint at first, a low murmur beneath his awareness, yet persistent and rhythmic, like a half remembered memory clawing its way back from the dark. Though he couldn't understand what it was saying, he knew it had meaning. He just wasn't ready to grasp it.
Down below, Reia and Nes had already moved into position, meeting the creature head on. Their strikes were precise and timed, but the Lizard King's sheer mass made every attempt feel insignificant. Even when a blow landed, it barely staggered. The creature responded with slow, deliberate swipes that carried monstrous power. It wasn't fast, but every movement carried the weight of a mountain.
Fayde's eyes tracked Reia's motion as she darted in again, her twin blades flashing as she struck. He saw her dip beneath one of the beast's wide swings, sliding into a vulnerable position just beneath its chest. It was a risky move, but one that might have given her a chance at a real wound.
Then she did something that made his breath catch.
She charged directly into its path.
"No," Fayde whispered, the word torn from his throat.
He reached out instinctively, hand stretched toward her as if that could stop what was coming. She was already too far. The words he wanted to shout caught in his throat and dissolved before they reached his lips.
The Lizard King turned with startling speed. Its massive arm swung out and closed around her like a trap.
Fayde could only watch.
The monster lifted her effortlessly and slammed her into the stone floor with a sickening crack. She did not scream. Her body bounced once before going still, and then the creature released her, casting her aside as if she were nothing more than a scrap of cloth.
A sound built in Fayde's chest. It wasn't a scream, but something heavier, more primal. His hands trembled. His legs felt frozen to the ground. Panic rose inside him, sharp and uncontrollable, and for a moment he could not move. He could not breathe. The sight of Reia lying motionless shattered something inside him.
A thread that had been stretched for too long finally snapped.
And then the voice returned, no longer whispering. It spoke clearly, and it filled every corner of his mind.
"Consume me. Now."
The command struck like thunder inside Fayde's mind. It was not a request or a plea. It overwhelmed every other thought with the force of something ancient and undeniable. He didn't understand its full meaning, but in that moment, he didn't need to. He simply obeyed.
He let go of everything else.
Dark mist erupted from the dungeon walls, drawn as if the stone itself had come alive. The air thickened, the pressure rising until it felt like the world was holding its breath. The mist wrapped tightly around his body, spiraling upward and lifting him off the ground in a sudden surge of energy.
The pain that had gripped his limbs vanished in an instant. Every ache, every weakness, every trace of exhaustion faded away. In its place came a flood of strength so vast it nearly drowned his senses. It did not feel entirely his, but it moved through him as though it belonged there.
He touched down lightly, steadier than before. The heaviness that had clung to him moments earlier was gone. His vision cleared. His breathing slowed. He could hear everything now, from the monster's ragged breaths to the quiet gasps of his companions and the faint, fading rhythm of Reia's heartbeat.
The Lizard King unleashed another roar. The sound rolled through the chamber like a crashing wave, striking everyone in its path. Reia remained motionless. Nes dropped to a knee. Allein staggered and caught herself with one hand against the ground. Tris braced, her balance faltering as the force pressed down on her.
Fayde alone remained standing.
The pressure broke around him like water around a stone. It could not touch him anymore.
He was no longer afraid. His thoughts were clear, focused on a single purpose. His movements were precise, his balance perfect. It was as if his body had always known what to do, even if his mind had only just caught up. The mist tightened around his arms and surged toward his blade, coating it in a thick, jagged layer of shifting black energy that pulsed with power.
He advanced toward the creature without a word, each step stronger than the last.
Then he leapt.
Fayde's body collided with the Lizard King in a single, devastating motion. He didn't slash or swing. He drove his blade forward with purpose, piercing straight through the creature's massive chest. The impact was explosive. Black mist trailed behind him like a comet, and the force of the strike sent a shockwave through the monster's body.
There was a sharp crack as the Lizard King's chest split open around the blade. Blood and fragments of bone exploded outward, and the weight of its body began to buckle. Its arms dropped to its sides, lifeless, and its head tilted forward in silence. No roar came. No final cry. Only a hollow thud as the massive corpse hit the floor, shaking the stone beneath their feet.
Fayde dropped down with the landing, his legs barely able to absorb the force. He knelt as the mist around him faded, retreating back into the walls or disappearing into the air. His strength ebbed, draining from him just as quickly as it had come. Breathing became difficult again, his chest tightening under the return of fatigue.
He forced himself to move.
His gaze swept across the battlefield until it locked onto her. Reia lay motionless near the edge of the fallen beast, her body limp in a pool of dust and blood. He stumbled toward her, pushing through the dull ache in his legs, ignoring the trembling in his arms.
He reached her side and dropped to his knees.
She wasn't responding. Her skin felt too cold, her body too still. He pulled her into his arms and held her close, listening for any sound, any sign of life.
Then he heard it. Faint, but there. Her breathing had not stopped, but it was shallow and slowing. Each inhale sounded weaker than the last.
The others had begun to stir behind him. He could hear Nes approaching cautiously, Allein's footsteps close behind. None of them said a word. Whatever they had seen in that moment had robbed them of language.
Fayde couldn't focus on any of it. His world had narrowed to Reia alone. He brushed the blood away from her cheek and pressed his forehead to hers.
She was still alive, but she was slipping away.
"Allein!" Fayde's voice cracked as he turned to look over his shoulder. "Please, heal her!"
Allein was already close, her face pale as she knelt beside them. She placed her hands gently over Reia's chest, but after only a few seconds, she pulled back. Her head shook slowly.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "The damage is too severe. Even if I had more time or more mana, I couldn't fix this."
The words hit Fayde harder than any weapon ever had. He clenched his jaw, his breath catching in his throat. He wasn't angry at her, not truly, but the helplessness tore through him, and he needed somewhere to put it.
"Don't say that. You have to try again!" His voice rose, rough and frantic.
Nes stepped in, his tone sharper than usual. "Don't yell at her. She's telling the truth. There's nothing she can do."
Fayde's hands trembled. His mind raced, desperate for any solution, any option that hadn't already been exhausted.
"Tris!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the ruined corridor. "You have to know something. Do something!"
But Tris only stood a few steps away, frozen in place. She stared at Reia with wide eyes, her expression hollow. Her hands hung loosely at her sides, and she didn't respond. It was as if she were witnessing something she had seen before and could do nothing to prevent.
Tears began to fall freely from Fayde's face. They cut through the grime and blood on his cheeks, but he didn't feel them. He couldn't feel anything but the growing weight inside his chest.
"Please… Reia, don't die. You can't. I need you."
Her body was still so light in his arms. He could feel the life draining from her, and he was powerless to stop it. Her eyes fluttered faintly, and her lips moved, but no real sound came. He leaned closer, bringing his ear to her mouth.
"I'm... sorry," she whispered, barely audible.
"No. Don't say that." His voice cracked again. "You didn't do anything wrong. This is all my fault."
He gritted his teeth and squeezed her hand, as if that alone could keep her tethered to this world.
"I don't want to lose you."
Silence settled around them. Nes and Allein stood nearby, watching but saying nothing. There was nothing to say. Fayde's grief was unfolding in front of them, raw and unbearable.