Kate reached the shelter, her breathing was heavy.
She'd run all the way back here.
"They found the First Monarch Dungeon."
The captain stood up quickly.
"Show me."
Kate turned around and started walking.
The captain followed.
Luna stood up as well and followed behind them.
"Where are the others?" the captain asked.
"They're still inside."
"How far?"
"I don't know."
Kate shook her head.
"They told me to come back as soon as they found it."
The captain's expression became serious.
"Did they enter?"
Kate nodded.
"Brody said they were going in."
The captain stopped.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he continued walking.
"If we're quick enough, we can reach them before they get too far."
They continued through the woods.
Kate kept moving as fast as she could.
Luna walked beside the captain, her eyes closed.
After a while, she suddenly stopped.
Kate looked at her.
"What is it?"
Luna opened her eyes.
"I can feel them."
"The others?"
"No."
She looked toward the direction Kate had come from.
"Something else."
Kate frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Luna didn't answer immediately.
There was a strange expression on her face.
"There are a lot of them."
The captain's expression hardened.
"How many?"
"I can't tell."
Luna closed her eyes again.
"But they're deep."
She opened them.
"And they're moving."
Kate tightened her grip on her bow.
"Then we need to hurry."
The captain nodded.
"Keep moving."
They continued toward the dungeon.
The forest became quieter as they approached.
Soon, Kate could see the rocky slopes in the distance.
She pointed ahead.
"There."
The captain looked toward the cave entrance.
His expression changed.
"So it really is here."
Luna stopped beside him.
She stared at the entrance.
Her face became pale.
"What?"
The captain looked at her.
"There are more inside than I thought."
Kate looked toward the cave.
"How many?"
Luna shook her head.
"Too many."
The captain was silent for a moment.
Then he looked at Kate.
"You're staying here."
Kate frowned.
"What?"
"Your strength is wasted inside."
He pointed toward the cave.
"It's too narrow. You won't have the distance you need for your arrows."
"I can still fight."
"I know."
The captain looked at her.
"That's why I need you outside."
Kate stared at him.
"But—"
"No."
His voice was firm.
"Stay here and cover the entrance. If anything gets past us, you deal with it."
Kate looked at the cave.
She didn't seem convinced.
The captain turned toward Luna.
"Let's go."
Luna nodded.
They started toward the entrance.
Kate remained where she was.
She watched them disappear into the darkness.
For a moment, she stood there alone.
Then she looked down at her bow.
"Fine."
She turned toward the forest.
"Just don't make me wait too long."
...
Merlin and the others kept walking deeper into the dungeon.
Eventually, they reached a dead end.
"Where to now?" Brody asked.
Leon turned to the right.
He brushed his hands against the wall as he walked back the way they had come.
He looked down.
There was a small space between the walls.
Leon reached into his bag and pulled out a piece of paper covered in drawings.
He placed it against the wall.
Then he pressed his palm against it.
The wall began vibrating rapidly.
A moment later, it shattered into smaller pieces of rock and rubble.
Behind it was a narrow passage.
It sloped too steeply downward, disappearing into darkness.
Brody entered first, followed by Leon and Harvey.
Merlin stood at the entrance for a moment.
Something about the passage didn't feel right.
He couldn't explain why.
He followed them.
The passage became narrower as they descended.
Soon, Merlin could barely see the walls on either side of them.
Then he heard something.
A faint scraping sound.
He stopped.
Harvey looked back at him.
"What?"
Merlin didn't answer.
The sound came again.
This time, from ahead.
Brody stopped.
Leon raised his pendant.
Its light spread through the passage.
Nothing.
Then something moved along the wall.
Merlin's eyes widened.
Another one appeared behind them.
Then another.
And another.
They were coming from both directions.
The creatures crawled out of the darkness, their bodies low to the ground and their limbs pressed tightly against the walls.
Brody tightened his grip on his spear.
"We're surrounded."
One of them suddenly rushed forward.
Brody thrust his spear into its chest.
It slammed against the weapon, but another immediately took its place.
Harvey stepped backward.
"There's no room."
More of the creatures began pouring from the darkness behind them.
Merlin looked toward the rear.
There were too many.
He tightened his grip around Requiem.
Harvey stood beside him.
"We'll hold this side."
Merlin nodded.
The first creature lunged.
Merlin spun Requiem.
The blade caught it across the face, sending it crashing against the wall.
Another came immediately after.
Merlin stepped back and swung again, but the narrow passage made the movement awkward.
The blade struck the creature.
It staggered.
Harvey finished it with his staff.
"Don't let them get past us," Harvey said.
Merlin looked ahead.
Brody and Leon were struggling to keep the creatures in front of them from reaching the others.
There wasn't enough room for everyone to fight at once.
If even a few creatures slipped past either side, the entire group would be overwhelmed.
Merlin gripped Requiem tighter.
Another creature charged.
Merlin raised the scythe but couldn't strike. The narrow passage wouldn't allow it.
Instead, he positioned Requiem's blade in front of him.
The creature's own momentum worked against it.
It slammed into the blade.
Requiem cleaved through it.
For a brief moment, Merlin felt something strange.
A vibration traveled through the scythe and into his hands.
Then he heard it again.
That humming.
It was faint, almost like a distant melody, but this time it sounded clearer than before.
Merlin stared at Requiem.
The sensation disappeared as quickly as it had come.
He didn't have time to think about it.
Another creature lunged at him.
Merlin and Harvey continued holding them off from behind, but they couldn't advance.
Harvey looked back.
Brody was being overwhelmed.
"I'm sure you can handle this yourself," Harvey said.
He quickly rushed to help Brody without giving Merlin time to answer.
Merlin couldn't even answer because more Wall Crawlers leaped toward him.
He held Requiem out with both hands, using the size of the scythe to his advantage.
As soon as the Crawlers landed on the shaft, Merlin impaled them with the blade before giving them time to settle.
Again, that strange sensation passed through his hands.
The humming returned.
Merlin gritted his teeth.
What is this?
He didn't have time to think about it.
They soon began to advance.
As the passage grew tighter, Merlin rested his back against Leon, who was right behind him.
The entire group clustered together, with Harvey and Brody at the front, Merlin at the back, and Leon in the center.
It wasn't exactly comfortable, but it was the only way to get through.
For now, Merlin handled them fine, repeating the same strategy and hoping they wouldn't become overwhelmed.
Merlin swung his scythe again, killing another two.
The humming returned.
This time, Merlin could almost make out another note within it.
The passage went silent.
Merlin could hear Requiem again.
This time, it felt different.
It wasn't a melody.
It was a cry.
For some reason, it made Merlin anxious. A feeling of fear settled within him.
He looked ahead.
There was nothing there.
And yet, he expected something.
"A horde is coming."
Leon's voice pulled Merlin from his thoughts.
The passage went silent.
The crew tensed.
As for Merlin, his limbs shook as adrenaline surged through him. His anxiety rose.
He raised Requiem, ready to cleave the next unlucky beast that came their way.