The roar of the beasts thundered through the tunnels, blending with the staccato burst of gunfire and frantic screams. Nikolai Velona, eyes sharp as a blade, assessed the situation with chilling precision. The air was thick with adrenaline, and each passing second drew them closer to the edge of annihilation.
"Regroup! We pull out in five minutes! Secure the exit!" he commanded, his voice slicing through the chaos like a steel edge.
The soldiers, trained for moments like this, moved with disciplined precision, forming a defensive perimeter. Their weapons, engineered to eradicate these abominations, thundered with deafening force, keeping the creatures at bay.
Aisha stood her ground beside Sanathiel, sword raised, eyes burning with unwavering resolve, shielding him with every fiber of her being.
"Aisha, we can't stay here," Nikolai urged, approaching quickly.
She met his gaze without flinching, her voice laced with unshakable determination."I won't leave without Sanathiel."If he fell here... then everything they had fought for would be in vain.
Nikolai held her gaze for a heartbeat. Understanding there was no convincing her otherwise, he nodded sharply."Fine. But we move. Now. Everyone to the exit!"
The group began to fall back, firing at the creatures clawing their way into their path.
As the howls of the Nevri beasts filled the tunnel, Aisha felt no fear—only clarity. Heavy stares burned through the ranks of wolves, and amidst them she heard a voice whisper:"You seem so familiar… who are you?"
With a single flick of its fingers, one man after another twisted and contorted—transforming into werewolves before their eyes. The ambush caught the soldiers off guard. They weren't coming for the group. They were coming for Sanathiel.
Aisha moved like a shield of flesh and will. With a brutal slash, she severed claws mid-air, blood spraying her face as severed limbs spun through the darkness.
Behind her, another creature lunged—but was gunned down by Nikolai's men. As the heat of liquid splashed her back, Aisha felt it: her skin exposed, her clothing torn—revealing her mark."Zairana... Nevri," Solomon whispered.
Aisha pressed on, her broken blade held firm, refusing to release Sanathiel as she dragged him forward. The weight on her shoulder, the burning in her legs—none of it mattered. She would not yield. She would not let him fall.
Every corner of the tunnel seemed to harbor lurking death. The LED lights from their helmets flickered, casting jagged shadows along the moss-covered walls.
"Move! Hold formation!" a soldier shouted, gunning down a charging beast.
Aisha pushed forward, Sanathiel's faint breath against her neck."Hold on, Sanathiel. I won't abandon you," she whispered, voice raw with conviction.
The air thickened, reeking of sulfur and charred flesh. The beast did not snarl. Did not growl. It simply watched. And that—was the most terrifying of all.
Near the exit, Nikolai turned sharply to his squad.For a single breath, no one moved. No time. No air. Only the grim certainty that if that thing advanced, none of them would escape.
"Two minutes left! Move!"
Far ahead, a flicker of light cut through the darkness. Hope ignited in their chests."There! The exit!" a soldier shouted, pointing toward the tunnel's end.
But just as they thought salvation was in reach, the creature tilted its head—almost amused by the terror it inspired. Then it took a single step.
One step. Enough to send tremors through the floor.A thunderous roar exploded behind them.
A massive creature, eyes ablaze with hatred, emerged from the shadows.Its skin was blackened stone. Its claws left burning trails on the walls as it passed. Its eyes… did not shimmer like the others. They were hollow. They were death.
Its immense size and speed rendered the entire group insignificant.
"Cover!" Nikolai barked, spinning to confront it.
The soldiers formed a wall of fire, unloading their weapons with precision. Aisha clenched her jaw, dragging Sanathiel toward the light.
"Don't look back! Run!" Nikolai roared, fighting to buy them precious seconds.
Fresh air struck Aisha's face as she finally crossed the threshold. Her chest heaved. Her legs trembled. But she didn't stop until Sanathiel was safe on the ground.
"We made it," she whispered, tears blurring her vision as she looked at him.
Sanathiel raised his gaze, emerging from the shock of seeing his people—what remained of them—still alive. His face was pale, battered.
"Thank you… Aisha."
She gave him a faint smile, brushing his cheek softly."You don't need to thank me. We're in this together."
For the first time in so long, Sanathiel no longer felt alone. But... did he deserve to be saved?His life had been sacrifice. Self-imposed punishment. Now, in Aisha's eyes, he saw something else: hope. And that terrified him more than death itself.
But he said nothing. He simply closed his eyes, allowing himself—for the first time—to believe that perhaps, just perhaps... there was something more left for him.
Moments later, Nikolai and his squad burst through the opening, gasping, their legs burning with every step. Their lungs were fire. But they couldn't stop—not now.
"Good work, team," Nikolai said, his gaze sweeping over them with pride before turning to Aisha and Sanathiel."This isn't over. We need to regroup. And plan our next move."
"What do we do now?" Aisha asked, voice steady but laced with concern.
"We find a way to stop those beasts—and the men controlling them," Nikolai replied grimly."But first, we need a place to regroup. Somewhere safe."
Aisha nodded, knowing the battle was far from over.As she looked at Sanathiel, his life hanging by a thread, she silently vowed: I won't let you fall again.
With new alliances forged and resolve burning brighter, the group prepared for what they knew would be an even deadlier fight ahead.
The fear remained—but it no longer paralyzed her. In its place burned something stronger. Something absolute.
("Yet deep in the suffocating dark they left behind... something stirred.Eyes older than the tunnels. Hunger older than the war.And now—it had caught their scent.")