The group scrambled for cover as the trap continued to trigger, the ground beneath them trembling with the force of the mechanism.
Dust and debris filled the air, making it difficult to see, but Rain's quick thinking saved Golly from a deadly fate.
As the dust settled, Golly coughed and looked at the devastation around them, his face pale. "I-I can't believe I missed that," he stammered, visibly shaken.
He then laughed it off and shrugged. "Must be from old age."
Rain was still catching his breath, and gave Golly a judgmental stare. "Guess it's a good thing you've got more than just the back of your hand to rely on down here."
'Take this seriously! Our lives are in your hands here!' Chi snapped, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Golly nodded, the usual swagger in his step replaced with caution. The gravity of the situation settled over him like a heavy cloak, each step now measured and deliberate.
The near-fatal mistake had rattled him to the core, stripping away any remnants of overconfidence. He could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on him, the lives of his companions hanging in his hands.
From that moment on, Golly moved with meticulous caution, his eyes scanning every inch of the path ahead, the memory of the deadly trap still fresh in his mind.
The danger in the mines was no longer an abstract threat — it was a living, breathing force that could snatch them all away in an instant.
As they moved forward, Santi's sharp eyes caught the subtle difference in the stone's texture, and she quickly signaled the group to halt.
With a careful toss of a small rock, she activated the trap, causing a volley of arrows to shoot out from the walls. They all ducked and waited as the deadly projectiles whizzed past before continuing.
Further in, the floor beneath them began to shift, revealing a pit of sharp spikes. Chi, with her agility, leaped across with ease, securing a rope for the others to use.
Rain's breath hitched in his throat as he gazed at the towering figure before him. "T-that's . . . Gorm?" he stammered, disbelief and fear tinging his voice.
The man — no, the monster — standing before them was a hulking colossus, a veritable Goliath wrapped in thick, menacing armor that seemed to pulse with a dark, malevolent energy.
Every inch of him radiated power, a terrifying, overwhelming presence that made the air around him feel suffocating. His armor was etched with ancient runes, each one glowing with a sinister light that seemed to drink in the surrounding darkness.
Beneath Gorm's massive boots, the ground was inscribed with a vast, intricate magical circle, its lines and symbols glowing with an eerie, otherworldly light. The circle pulsed with energy, like a heartbeat, and from its center, black tendrils of magic snaked outward, connecting to the shackled figures bound to the walls.
These unfortunate souls, their faces twisted in pain and fear, had their very life force and mana siphoned away, the energy flowing through the runes and into the ritual.
The circle was a gateway — a portal to the underworld — and it was almost complete.
"Gorm! Where are the gnomes? Where are the citizens of this place?!" Golly demanded, his voice cracking with worry.
Gorm remained motionless on his throne, his cold, unblinking gaze fixed on them like a predator watching its prey. He didn't so much as twitch in response, his silence more unsettling than any threat.
"Does he even understand us?" Rain whispered, glancing at Golly. "Or is he speaking some ancient, forgotten tongue?"
Suddenly, Gorm stirred. The simple act of him rising to his full height was enough to send a wave of dread crashing over the group.
He was even more imposing standing up, a mountain of armor and raw power that seemed to scrape the ceiling of the chamber. The atmosphere grew thick with tension, and the very air seemed to vibrate with an ominous energy.
Then, breaking the silence, a deep, guttural voice reverberated through the chamber, sending shivers down their spines. The sound was ancient, like the grinding of tectonic plates beneath the earth.
"All shall be sacrificed to open the underworld."