Reincarnated Into A World Of Elves As The Only Man

The Descent Into White

The southern passage stretched endlessly before them, a narrow corridor carved from ancient stone that seemed to swallow their footsteps. Naia’s breath came in visible puffs as she walked beside Mika, the cold seeping through their armor despite their steady pace. The silence between them was broken only by the echo of their boots against the weathered stone floor.

"How long have we been walking?" Naia asked, her voice echoing softly off the weathered walls.

Mika’s earth-blade remained ready in her grip, her eyes scanning every shadow and alcove they passed. "Long enough to know we’re being led somewhere specific," she replied, her tone clipped with concentration.

Naia glanced back the way they had come, thinking of the split in the courtyard. "I hope Ester and Soren have found something on their path. Viva needs her sisters right now."

The passage had been monotonously straight for what felt like hours, with no branching paths or distinguishing features to mark their progress. The only constant was the gradual descent, the floor sloping downward at an almost imperceptible angle that made Naia’s ears pop occasionally from the changing pressure.

"There," Naia whispered, pointing ahead to where the corridor finally opened into a wider chamber.

They emerged into a circular room with several passages branching off in different directions. The walls were covered in the same weathered stone, but here the surfaces showed signs of deliberate carving—symbols and patterns that had been worn smooth by countless years of neglect.

A flutter of movement in the shadows above made them all freeze.

The creature descended slowly, its form shifting and undulating in ways that defied easy description. Naia recognized it immediately—an Eren humic, one of the rare beings that had bonded with her friend during his time in the otherworld.

Mika’s reaction was immediate and violent. Her earth-blade swept upward in a killing arc, the weapon humming with deadly intent as it carved through the air toward the descending creature.