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The cold air of the mine grew heavier as the dragoons and special forces moved deeper into the abyss. Parker kept his breathing steady, his eyes scanning every shadow, every crevice. Colonel Eli moved beside him, his expression steely and composed, his mind already a few steps ahead, planning the best routes.Behind them, Reilynn, Evelynn, and Gabriella moved in sync, their movements fluid and silent. The rest of the squad, now divided into teams of eight, fanned out along the tunnel walls, ready for the Colonel’s next command.“We’re going to split up from here,” Colonel Eli announced, his voice low but firm. “We’ll take the central tunnel. The rest of you—split into six teams. I want each team to sweep and clear the side tunnels. Stay sharp and stay quiet. Do not engage unless absolutely necessary. We don’t want to set off any alarms.”“Yes, sir!” The men responded in unison, their training taking over as they adjusted their formation.Colonel Eli continued, motioning to the two nea
Kerrigan awoke with a sharp, burning pain in her lungs, each breath like inhaling fire. She blinked against the oppressive heat, her vision blurry and unfocused as she struggled to take in her surroundings. Sweat trickled down her face, stinging her eyes as she squinted through the haze of steam and smoke that hung thick in the air.She was in a cave, far underground, the walls illuminated by the searing orange glow of molten lava that flowed just a few feet away.The heat was unbearable, the kind that scorched the skin and made the air shimmer. She could feel the sweat soaking through her flannel pajamas, clinging to her skin as her body tried desperately to cool itself in the sweltering inferno.Her hands were bound tightly behind her back, her wrists raw from the rough rope that bit into her flesh. Her legs were tied together, making any movement almost impossible, and a heavy metal collar around her neck chained her to the wall, its iron biting into her skin with every shift.She s
Kerrigan’s head throbbed, and she struggled to keep her focus on Kelan as he wiped sweat from his face with the back of his hand, smearing some of the dark liquid across his cheek. He looked at Prima Zadok, irritation clear in his eyes.“Do I really have to stick around in this sweltering pit?” he grumbled, loosening his collar as if the heat was suffocating him. “I’ve got better things to do than sweat it out in here.”Zadok’s cold, piercing eyes shifted from the Soul Stone to Kelan, his expression impassive. “Take two liters of her blood. After that, do whatever you want with her.”He returned his attention to the altar, his focus never wavering from the twisted ritual he was preparing. “Just don’t kill her until I have what I need.”Kerrigan’s heart pounded in her chest, dread clawing at her insides. She pulled at her restraints, trying desperately to inch away, but Kelan moved with a cruel efficiency, setting up an IV stand he had retrieved from a corner of the cave.Kerrigan stru
The dragoons moved swiftly through the dimly lit tunnels, their footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. Faolan led the way, her keen senses guiding them as she sniffed out any trace of danger. The faint scent of blood and sweat clung to the air, mingling with the stench of mold and damp earth—a reminder of the grim reality of the mine. Shadows danced along the walls, flickering with the dim light of their torches as they navigated the maze of passages, each one more foreboding than the last.Parker’s grip tightened around his rifle, his senses on high alert. The team had cleared several tunnels, silently taking out guards with swift, lethal efficiency, but they had yet to find Conor or Kerrigan. Each step deeper into the mine heightened the tension; the deeper they went, the more the walls seemed to close in, the oppressive heat and stifling air bearing down on them.As they rounded a corner, Faolan stopped abruptly, her ears perking up as she let out a soft whine. She sniffed the
The team moved with purpose, a unified force sweeping through the dark, winding tunnels of the mine. Conor and Kerrigan remained at the center, their hands clasped together, a tangible connection of blue and green lightning mixed with gold, coursing between them.Every step they took sent a pulse of energy rippling outwards, the raw power of Celia and Abraxas reshaping the very air around them. Conor could sense that this was only a taste of the power of the dragons, but it was building with each moment he and Kerrigan were united.Parker took the lead, his rifle up and ready as he scanned the corridors ahead. Faolan trotted beside him, her nose twitching as she picked up traces of unfamiliar scents—blood, sweat, and something darker, something tainted with an ancient malice. The dragoons moved with precision, their eyes sharp and every muscle coiled like a spring ready to snap.The alarms continued to blare, echoing through the stone passages. The shrill, grating sound served as a co
Zadok stood, the fractured Soul Stone pulsing in his grip, its dark energy flaring like a twisted sun. The chamber was a battlefield of light and shadow, each strike of magic and burst of gunfire rattling the stone walls.Conor and Kerrigan, despite their combined might, were being pushed back, every ounce of their power barely keeping the dark onslaught at bay.The dragoons were scattered, bloodied but still fighting. Parker’s shoulder hung limp, Reilynn and Evelynn struggled to fend off the shadowy blasts, and Colonel Eli barked orders, his resolve unbroken even as the tide seemed insurmountable.Conor was on his knees, his breath ragged, pain etched across his face as he tried to stand and protect Kerrigan.Zadok’s sneer widened, his face contorted in a grotesque mask of victory. He raised his hand, shadows coiling around it like serpents, ready to deliver the final blow.“Kneel before Falik, and accept your end,” he growled, his voice dripping with malice as the room darkened with
The aftermath of the battle hung heavy in the stifling heat of the chamber, the air thick with the acrid stench of sulfur and charred stone.Conor held Kerrigan close as they sat on the floor, his grip firm as she clutched her knees to her chest, slowly rocking, her soul threatened to buckle under the weight of their shared loss.His own back was a smoking mess of charred skin that hurt to move, but he still held her, refusing to let the woman he loved deal with this pain of loss alone.Gabriella’s sacrifice had saved them all, but her absence left a hollow ache that gnawed at the edges of their resolve.Colonel Eli moved to the edge of the lava pit, his face drawn and grim. His eyes fell on the Soul Stone, its jagged pieces scattered near the molten rock, still pulsing faintly with the dark energy of Falik.The once-whole artifact, so dangerously close to full power, was now a fractured mess, its ominous glow sputtering like a dying ember. Yet even in its weakened state, the stone ra
The mine tunnels echoed with the weary footsteps of the dragoons as they made their way toward the exit. The oppressive darkness and suffocating heat of the mine were finally behind them, but the weight of their losses hung heavily in the stale air.Faolan led the way, her keen senses guiding the team through the labyrinth of rock and stone, her nose twitching at every new scent.As they moved, soldiers from the split teams began to rejoin them, their faces grim. Some men were visibly wounded—bandages hastily wrapped around arms and legs, blood staining their fatigues. Many limped, others leaned on comrades for support, but all were determined to get out of the mine with as few casualties as possible.Parker took a headcount, his expression growing darker with each tally. “We’re missing eight,” he said, his voice rough with frustration and fatigue. “Three of the teams are down men, and the rest are hurt.”Reilynn’s face was set in a hard line as she scanned the group. “We knew it was