The growl deepened, reverberating through the cavern and sending a chill down my spine. I glanced at the others, and despite their bravado, I could see the tension in their faces. Logan tightened his grip on my hand, his other hand twitching at his side like he was ready to spring into action at any moment.
“Yeah,” Logan muttered, his voice low. “Staying home sounds pretty great right about now.”
The red eyes moved closer, emerging from the shadows to reveal a hulking creature. Its form was almost humanoid, but its body was coated in something that looked like molten stone, constantly shifting and dripping to the cavern floor. A pair of curved horns protruded from its head, and its mouth opened to reveal rows of jagged teeth, glowing faintly with the same light as the orb on the pedestal.
Liam was the first to act, stepping forward with his dagger raised. “Whatever this is, it’s protecting that orb. It’s tied to the balance.”
“Yeah, no kidding,” Mal said, her voice strained. She drew her knife, though the size difference between her and the creature was almost laughable. “Anyone got a plan, or are we just winging it again?”
I took a step forward, pulling Logan and Liam back slightly. “We don’t have time to wait or analyze. That thing doesn’t want us near the orb, and if the orb is what I think it is-our next step-we’re going to have to fight.”
“Great,” Logan said with a grim smile. “Fighting big shadowy things is turning into a full-time job.”
The creature roared, a sound that seemed to shake the cavern walls. Before we could react, it lunged, slamming its massive fists into the ground where we had been standing seconds before. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, scattering us in all directions.
Logan recovered first, spinning on his heel and hurling a blade of golden energy at the beast. The strike hit its shoulder, making it stagger and roar in pain, but the molten substance quickly filled the wound. “That’s not good,” he muttered.
Liam leaped in next, his dagger glowing with the faint light we had summoned earlier. He struck at the creature’s side, carving into its molten flesh. The beast howled and swung an arm at him, but Liam ducked and rolled away, regrouping near Mal.
“Looks like light hurts it,” Liam said, catching his breath. “But it heals too quickly. We need to hit it harder-together.”
“Big surprise,” Mal shot back, though her tone was already sharper with focus. “Let’s light it up, then. Audrey, you’re the tactical genius-what do we do?”
I glanced toward the orb on the pedestal, an idea forming in my mind. The orb pulsed in rhythm, as if it were alive, reacting to the battle around it. It seemed to be amplifying the creature’s power, feeding it with the same energy it radiated.
“We need to cut it off from the orb,” I said, pointing at it. “That thing’s feeding it strength. If we can separate it, we’ll have a chance.”
“And how exactly do we do that?” Logan asked, sidestepping another attack from the creature. His golden blade flickered in his hand, the energy waning. “It’s not just gonna let us waltz over there and steal it.”
“It doesn’t have to let us,” I said firmly. “We need to split up. Keep it distracted while I go for the orb.”
Mal shot me a dubious look. “You sure about this? Not a lot of backup on that plan, and we just fell through a literal hole in the ground.”
“I’m sure,” I said, though my pounding heart betrayed my nerves. “The connection between the orb and the creature is tethered. If I can sever it, you’ll all have a shot at taking this thing down.”
Logan’s eyes locked onto mine, the heat in his gaze both worried and determined. “We’ll cover you. But don’t do anything reckless. Promise me, Audrey.”
“Promise,” I said quickly, already moving toward the pedestal.
Mal let out a frustrated growl. “Fine, but this thing better not have a second form or I’m throwing the orb off a cliff.”
The creature bellowed again, furious and relentless. It charged at us with surprising speed for something its size, targeting Logan and Liam with vicious swipes. They dodged in perfect synchronization, their movements sharp and practiced, keeping the creature’s attention away from me.
Mal darted in and out like a shadow, striking at its legs and retreating before it could retaliate. “Hey, ugly!” she shouted. “Over here! What, scared of a little knife work?”
Her taunts worked, and the creature spun toward her, giving me the opening I needed. I sprinted toward the pedestal, my pulse pounding in my ears. The orb glowed brighter as I approached, its rhythm syncing with my heartbeat. I reached out, hesitating only briefly before my fingers made contact.
The moment I touched it, a surge of energy coursed through me, almost overwhelming. Images flashed in my mind-moments of balance and imbalance, the struggle between light and dark across ages. The orb was a fragment of the Spire’s power, connected to everything we had seen and fought against.
But it wasn’t just a source of energy. It was alive, its essence resonating with the pulse of the universe itself.
The creature let out a deafening roar behind me, sensing what was happening. Its attacks grew more desperate, its molten form thrashing wildly. Logan and the others struggled to contain it, their light flickering under the intensity of its assault.
“Audrey, hurry up!” Mal yelled, her knife barely deflecting a swipe that sent her stumbling.
I closed my eyes, focusing on the orb. It was tethered to the creature, yes-but also to the balance. I could feel the connection, like a strand of golden light that needed to be severed.
Using everything we had learned from the Spire, I channeled the energy we had summoned earlier. The light flared through me, searing and relentless, breaking through the orb’s barriers. With a final surge, I pulled the tether free.
The reaction was immediate. The creature howled in agony, its molten form beginning to crack and crumble. The orb’s glow dimmed slightly, but its energy remained, steady and calming.
“Now!” I shouted, spinning to face the others.
Logan didn’t hesitate. With a roar of his own, he unleashed a massive wave of golden light, the power amplified by our connection. Liam and Mal followed suit, their combined energy striking the creature with devastating precision.
The beast’s form disintegrated, its molten body crumbling into ash that scattered across the cavern floor. The glow in its eyes extinguished, leaving behind only silence.
For a moment, none of us moved. The tension in the air slowly eased, replaced by the lingering warmth of our combined efforts.
Logan approached me first, his expression both relieved and stern. “I thought you said no reckless moves,” he muttered, but his faint smile betrayed his pride.
“I promised I’d get it done,” I said, holding up the now-dormant orb. “And I did.”
Mal let out a loud sigh, flopping onto the cavern floor. “Someone tell me we’re done for today. My legs are officially done dealing with ancient shadow monsters.”
Liam chuckled softly, though his exhaustion was evident. “Let’s get out of here first. Then we’ll see.”
As we stood together, the glow of the orb casting soft light around us, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. But in the back of my mind, a question lingered: if this was only the beginning, what greater darkness awaited us?