Chapter 17: THE ABYSSAL BETRAYAL
The sound of Raiven’s bowstring snapping reverberated through the cavern as he unleashed a torrent of arrows into the encroaching swarm of monstrous beasts. Each arrow struck with deadly precision, piercing eyes, throats, and limbs, yet the sheer number of creatures barely faltered.
As Raiven whistled sharply, the arrows shimmered with faint, magical light, reversing their flight path to return to his quiver, ready for another volley.
"Thanir!" Raiven barked, his voice raw with rage and desperation. "Where in Aeons are the rest of those fucking slaves?"
Thanir, struggling with all his might, had both arms braced against the jaws of a hulking beast trying to clamp down on him. The monster’s jagged teeth gleamed inches from his face as he grunted, veins bulging in his arms. "I don’t know! They’re gone!" he spat, barely managing to hold the beast back.
Nearby, Aeloria stood trembling, her staff raised high, casting a dome of light that flickered like a dying flame. Her face was pale, sweat dripping down her forehead as her mana reserves dwindled. With every passing second, the strain of maintaining the light spell—while deflecting the occasional stray beast—became unbearable.
A stray claw grazed her shoulder, ripping her robe and drawing blood. She winced but kept the light steady, knowing the group would be blind without it.
Lirien, her blade a blur, deflected the whip-like tails of the monsters closing in. Each strike reverberated through her arms, the steel tails nearly unyielding against her blade. She growled under her breath, slashing with precision to keep the horde at bay. Suddenly, a guttural roar of pain tore through the chaos.
"Milner!" Lirien shouted, her head snapping toward the source.
Milner stood in the middle of the fray, his massive frame swarmed by the beasts. Claws, teeth, and tails tore into him from every direction. His axe swung wildly for a moment before a monstrous tail drove through his chest. Blood sprayed across the cavern as his lifeless body crumpled beneath the frenzied onslaught.