"How far does this tunnel go? We've been walking for hours," Rey complained, his voice echoing through the narrow space.
They had already encountered two waves of golems, and the repetition of combat was starting to wear on his nerves.
"Just keep walking," Jett replied without turning back.
"Yeah, we'll definitely find something. I'm sure of it," Cedric chimed in, a tone of determination in his voice. "At least we're lucky it's just one straight tunnel: no branching sections to throw us off."
The tunnel felt endless, a narrow, dimly lit path that seemed to stretch into oblivion. The walls were smooth and cold, devoid of any markings or signs of life, amplifying the sense of isolation. Every sound of their footsteps seemed to grow louder, adding to the eerie loneliness.
"Exactly," Jett added, "we don't need to waste time finding the right route."
"I guess that's true," Rey muttered as he continued walking, still feeling the weight of the journey but comforted by the simplicity of the path.
Suddenly, they were greeted by another wave of golems, their massive stone forms rising from the ground in unison.
"This is becoming very annoying," Rey sighed, clearly tired of the repetitive encounters.
"Alright, let's do this," Jett said, stepping forward, not wanting to waste any more time.
Rey unleashed his [Inferno] skill and Jett casted {Hell Fire}, flames roaring to life as they enveloped the golems. Simultaneously, Cedric activated his [Excavation] skill, causing the ground beneath the golems to collapse, trapping them in a pit. Rey moved swiftly, finishing them off with precise strikes.
Together, their combined efforts reduced the golems to rubble. "That should just about do it," Rey said as the last of the golems crumbled into dust.
They resumed their walk, the tunnel seemingly endless once again, until Cedric and Jett suddenly came to a stop, causing Rey to nearly bump into them.
"Why are we stopping?" Rey asked from behind, not able to see what had made them freeze in their tracks.
As he stepped forward, his eyes widened at the sight before them: an enormous stone door, intricately carved with ancient symbols.
As the trio stood before the massive door, Cedric's gaze lingered on the two stone figures that flanked it. Upon closer inspection, the figures weren't just statues: they appeared too lifelike, their features intricately detailed. Jett narrowed his eyes, his gut churning as a sinking realization dawned on him.
"Look at that," Cedric muttered, pointing at the two massive stone figures flanking a colossal door.
"Wait a second," Jett muttered, moving toward the figure on the left. "Cedric... Rey, do you see what I see?"
Rey and Cedric stepped forward, eyes widening in unison as they examined the figure more closely. The figure's face, though partially encased in stone, was unmistakable. The delicate features, the familiar aura: even through the petrified state, it was clear.
.net
"That's... Seraphina," Cedric said, his voice barely above a whisper, the shock weighing down his words. "How the hell did she end up like this?"
Jett clenched his fists, staring in disbelief. "No way. Seraphina... turned to stone? This is insane."
"If she's here," Rey added, glancing at the other statue next to her, "then this might be the princess." He hesitated, eyeing the second figure. The face wasn't as familiar, but the regal attire and stance made it clear that this wasn't just anyone.
*****
Meanwhile, back with Asher and the others, they stood facing the medusa-like figure that had emerged from the fallen golem. Her form was ethereal, her body seemingly made of swirling shadow and stone, and her eyes glowed with an ominous power.
Medusa was still strong, barely phased, and they were quickly running out of options. The fight had gone from difficult to impossible in a matter of minutes, and they realized that this wasn't a battle they could easily win.
Asher glanced at Evelina, who caught his gaze. Despite the dire situation, they shared a faint smirk. It was awkward, yet somehow comforting. They might be in over their heads, but they weren't going down without a fight.
"Alright, guys," Asher said, his voice steady. "Anyone who can't use physical attacks, stay as far away from her as possible. We'll figure this out."
Matthew, now without his bear, nodded grimly. "I'll keep her busy. You guys find a way."
The team regrouped, bruised and exhausted but she was just too strong.
*****
Jett stepped forward cautiously, pulling the crown from his storage space, the golden glint catching the low light in the tunnel. "I want to test something," he said, glancing at the massive door before them.
Cedric quickly pieced it together and nodded in agreement. "Oh I see what you're trying to do, it's worth a shot."
Rey, on the other hand, furrowed his brow in frustration, clearly out of the loop. "Why does it feel like I'm always the last one to catch on when you two start scheming?" he grumbled, crossing his arms.
Jett smirked, sliding the crown onto his head. "Maybe if you tried paying attention, you wouldn't be asking that question."
Rey rolled his eyes, watching as Jett stood expectantly in front of the door. They all waited, but nothing happened. The air remained still, the heavy stone door unmoved.
"So...? What exactly are we waiting for again?" Rey asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Jett and Cedric exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of disappointment and confusion.
"I really thought that would work," Jett muttered, just as he stepped closer to the door. Suddenly, the ground rumbled beneath their feet, and the door began to shake, the stone creaking and groaning as it slowly slid open, revealing a pitiful sight beyond.
Inside was a pitiful sight. Freya knelt on the ground, her hands glowing with soft magic as she worked to heal Elora, Evelina and Finn, whose face was pale and drained. Marcella and Morrigan were busy feeding healing pills to Finn and Asher, who looked battered and barely conscious. The air reeked of exhaustion, the toll of the fight evident in every corner of the room.
But what grabbed their attention was the figure of Medusa standing in the center, her cold, deadly gaze fixed on them, her snakes writhing as if preparing for the next attack.
"Seems like we're not too late," Rey said, a grin creeping across his face despite the grim scene.
Jett's eyes sparkled with a dangerous excitement. "Say, Cedric, you ready to be a hero? It's your time to shine."
Cedric shrieked, he couldn't reciprocate their excitement, "More than ready."
It was clear: Jett and Rey's excitement wasn't just for the fight. It was for the thrill of the challenge. They were stepping into the lion's den, and they couldn't be more eager for what came next.
*
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[[Sigh, this evil author just took out some pets to quench his wicked thirst.]]
"You really don't have to put it like that though."