Round 80

The stones groaned beneath their feet like a beast waking from long slumber, the air thick with the stink of old death and fresh magic gone wrong. Jeane's wings twitched instinctively, feathers aching against the oppressive weight that pressed in from all sides—this wasn't natural, wasn't right. The central rune pulsed again, its sickly green light painting their faces in shades of decay as it grew brighter still.

Halie clutched her holy symbol tighter, the silver metal cool against her palm as she fought to maintain her balance on trembling legs. "Something's wrong," she breathed, more statement than question. The magic here felt... hungry. Wrong. Like something ancient and malevolent was stirring below them, awakened by their presence.

Varrika caught herself against the wall as the ground lurched violently, her scarred hands scraping stone that felt unnaturally cold even through her gloves. She could feel it in her bones—the weight of centuries pressing down, the ancient magic thickening like oil in the air around them. The central rune pulsed again, its light growing brighter still with each passing moment.

Jeane forced herself to take a deep breath, grounding herself against the rising panic that threatened to overwhelm her. They hadn't come all this way just to turn back now—not when they were so close to retrieving the Time-Splitting Sword, not when Merrin's life hung in the balance of their success. The air might crawl with malevolent intent, the magic might be wrong and hungry, but they'd faced worse before.

Halie met her gaze across the flickering torchlight, blue-grey eyes wide with apprehension but steady with determination. "We should proceed with extreme caution," she said softly, already scanning the walls for signs of traps or hidden threats. "Whatever's down there... it knows we're here now."

Varrika nodded grimly, mace held ready in one hand as she prepared to descend the treacherous staircase. The stones groaned again, a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through her very teeth. "Stay close," she growled, more command than request. "And for the love of all that's good, don't touch anything unless you have to."

The central rune pulsed once more as they began their descent, its sickly green light seeming to reach out like grasping fingers, beckoning them downward into the waiting darkness.