Chapter 25: Childhood Friend
They quickened their pace, running toward the end of the corridor where the voice pleading for help had come from. As they drew closer, an incredibly strange pressure emerged. It wasn't like a monster—it felt more like a catastrophe.
Alvaric even gulped. "Whatever's in there... it's stronger than the Giant Sandworm."
Niva quickly turned to him in shock. She swallowed hard, knowing her master would never lie. If he said that, then it was the truth. A chill ran down her spine. Her legs felt frozen, unwilling to move toward the end of the corridor.
The closer she got, the more intense the pressure became. Even breathing was difficult for Niva. She didn't know what awaited them, but she knew her master had spoken the truth.
"Are we still going in there, Master?" Niva asked. She felt it would be better to turn back.
Alvaric swallowed again. Fear gripped him too, but he nodded. "Of course."
Alvaric kept walking forward without any hesitation.
***
Marie and Kael were completely exhausted. The rest of the Hollow Fang members were gone. Only the two of them remained. Their condition was dire—there was no way they could keep fighting.
Marie couldn't even move her body anymore. "We're going to die here."
She gave a faint smile. For a moment, she pictured her childhood friend. That thought gave her a strange sense of peace, though it saddened her that she wouldn't live to see her childhood friend become awakened. That had been their dream since they were little.