Chapter 71: The Beast Beneath
The scent of ash still lingered in the air, a grim reminder of the skeletal titan that Inigo had blown to pieces only minutes ago. Charred bones and broken horns littered the cavern floor like a battlefield long abandoned, and yet the oppressive silence that followed didn’t offer comfort. If anything, it felt like the calm before something worse.
Their boots echoed against the stone as the team pressed deeper into the dungeon, cautious and silent. The tunnels narrowed, then widened again into jagged halls supported by ancient beams and rough-cut stone arches. The light from Serina’s hovering [Lumen Orbs] barely reached the end of the corridor ahead, and the magical glow they cast only deepened the shadows around them.
Inigo held his M4 Carbine low, trigger finger resting loosely, barrel aimed at the dark. He walked beside Elira, while Lyra and Serina stayed close behind. His Desert Eagle holstered at his side, ready for close encounters.
"This is further than most reports reached," Elira noted, her voice calm but laced with tension. "The other parties that tried to clear this place never made it past the third chamber."
"Which one are we in now?" Lyra asked, nocking an arrow and scanning the ceiling.
"Fifth," Serina answered.
Inigo grunted. "Love it when we go off the map."
They pressed on in tense silence, weapons ready, every sense sharpened. The path sloped downward. Faint vibrations ran through the soles of their boots.
Then, the tremors returned.
But this time—they were heavier. Rhythmic. Like the heartbeat of something massive, buried beneath stone.
Everyone stopped.