The deeper Kael, Lorian, and Selene moved into the cavern, the more the air changed.
What had been cold before became bitter, stale, and heavy—like every breath they took was borrowed from the dead. The tunnel ahead widened into an enormous chamber, its roof hidden in shadows. Strange symbols glowed faintly on the walls, etched in a sickening green glow that pulsed like a heartbeat.
Then, without warning, the torches lining the walls ignited on their own.
Green flames hissed to life one after another, illuminating the chamber in a sickly light.
And at the center of it all… she stood.
The Dark Priest.
Draped in tattered black robes, a bone mask covering her face, and a crooked staff clutched in her pale hand. Wisps of necromantic mist curled at her feet like loyal pets.
She tilted her head the moment they stepped inside.
“So,” she whispered, her voice soft and chilling. “More intruders. More offerings for the grave.”
Lorian stiffened. Rachelle took a step back.
Kael did neither.
He stepped forward, lightning already buzzing faintly around his fingers. “You noticed us too quickly.”
Her laugh echoed through the cavern—mocking, amused, cruel.
“My dear child… There is nothing in my domain I do not see.”
Kael didn’t wait.
In one fluid motion, he summoned the thunder spear into his hand and hurled it directly at her chest. Lightning crackled violently as it shot across the chamber, tearing through the air with enough force to char stone.
It struck her dead-on.
A thunderous blast erupted, dust and broken rock exploding outward.
Lorian shielded Rachelle.
Rachelle braced herself against the shockwave.
When the dust cleared—
The Dark Priest stood exactly where she had been.
Untouched.
She raised a single finger, wagging it slowly.
“Bold,” she said, “but foolish.”
Her voice shifted—darker, layered with something ancient.
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“Rise.”
Black mist poured from her feet, swirling and condensing.
The ground shook.
Bones rattled beneath the earth.
Two massive armored forms erupted from the stone ground.
Death Knights.
Each stood nearly eight feet tall, clad in blackened, cracked armor fused with bone. Their empty helmets hissed faint green smoke. They wielded massive, two-handed greatswords capable of splitting a boulder in half.
“Kill him,” she commanded.
Both Death Knights charged Kael.
Lorian swore. Rachelle grabbed her spear.
Kael stepped forward.
The first Death Knight swung its blade with terrifying speed for a creature its size. The sword ripped through the air like a gale. Kael ducked under the swing, lightning surging in his legs, and slammed the end of his spear against its breastplate.
The impact cracked the stone floor—but the Death Knight barely staggered.
The second Knight attacked immediately.
Kael barely blocked the downward strike with the shaft of his spear.
The collision nearly numbed his arms.
They’re stronger than the Durahan… way stronger.
He pushed off, spinning away as both blades smashed into the ground where he had been standing. The cavern floor split open under the force.
Behind him, the Dark Priest spread her hands.
“Let us see how long you last.”
She snapped her fingers.
Skeletons rose from piles of bones along the edges of the chamber—dozens of them—rushing forward with rusted swords.
Lorian and Rachelle reacted instantly.
“Kain!” Rachelle shouted. “We’ll handle these—just focus!”
They clashed with the skeletal horde, metal clinking, blades shattering bone. Kael’s focus remained locked on the two Death Knights stalking toward him.
The first Knight swung again—a horizontal slash aimed to cleave him in two.
Kael jumped back, the blade missing him by inches.
The second Knight followed up, stabbing forward.
Kael twisted sideways, narrowly dodging.
He countered—thrusting his lightning spear directly into the Knight’s helmet. Lightning exploded, but the undead monster merely jerked backward, the armor glowing hot but not breaking.
“They’re absorbing too much…” Kael muttered.
The first Knight lunged. Kael blocked again.
The impact sent a shockwave through his arms.
He slid across the stone floor, boots scraping, but kept his stance.
He dashed forward again, jabbing the spear into the Knight’s knee joint. Lightning sparked, cracking bone.
This time, the Knight staggered.
Kael spun, using the momentum to deliver a sweeping strike at the second Knight. The spear connected with the side of its head, shattering part of its helmet.
Both undead monsters staggered, but only barely.
They’re adapting… reacting… learning my movements.
It was becoming a war of attrition, and Kael knew he couldn’t play that game.
The first Knight roared—an unholy metallic sound—and brought its blade down with monstrous force.
Kael tried to dodge—
—but the second Knight grabbed him from the side.
A cold, iron grip crushed against his ribs and slammed him into a stone pillar.
Kael gasped sharply, the wind knocked out of him.
The first Knight swung downward.
Kael pushed off the pillar with all his strength, rolling aside as the blade cleaved the stone pillar in half.
He leapt to his feet, breathing hard, lightning crackling louder around him now.
The Dark Priest laughed softly from behind her mask.
“Struggle more. Your suffering feeds the grave.”
Kael ignored her.
He tightened his grip on the spear.
The Knights advanced again.
Kael exhaled once.
Then—he moved.
He dashed forward, lightning bursting from his feet. The first Knight swung—Kael ducked under it and struck upward, jamming the spear between the cracked armor at its shoulder joint.
The Knight’s arm fell limp.
Kael ripped the spear free.
The second Knight tried to cleave him in half. Kael flipped backward, the blade slicing inches from his chest.
He landed, planted his feet, and thrust the spear again—aiming for the gap in armor near its ribs.
Lightning detonated inside the undead knight, causing it to stumble back violently.
Kael breathed hard.
They were bleeding energy—weakening—but not falling.
And Kael felt it.
His stamina was draining.
His arms were trembling.
His chest burned with every inhale.
If I keep this up… I’ll collapse before they do.
He locked eyes with the two Death Knights.
They charged.
And Kael made a decision.
A dangerous one.
He stepped back, raised his spear—
And lightning swirled around the weapon, changing shape.
The shaft twisted.
The blade dissolved into arcs of crackling energy.
The air vibrated violently.
Rachelle, fighting skeletons behind him, glanced over her shoulder and froze.
“What is he—?”
Lorian shouted, “KAIN, WAIT—!”
The Death Knights charged straight at him and Kael pulled all the electricity into his hands.
The spear stretched.
Bowed.
Reshaped.
Lightning circled around it like a living storm.
Kael clenched his jaw against the pain ripping down his right arm.
And then
The thunder spear
became a thunder bow.
Pure lightning formed the string.
A massive arrow of blinding energy condensed between his fingers.
The cavern trembled from the raw power.
Rachelle's eyes widened.
Lorian stumbled backward.
Even the Dark Priest stopped speaking.
Kael lifted the bow, electricity burning his hands.
I have had enough
He aimed at the charging Death Knights
