Unnamed

The air grew colder as the group moved deeper, their footsteps echoing on the cracked stone floor. The battle with the centipedes had taken a heavy toll on them, but they had emerged victorious. Now, with the generals slain, the only thing left to do was find the leader of the swarm - the ruler.

"We're close," Karl murmured, glancing at the others. "The ruler is near. Stay alert."

Patrick nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His armor scratched from the previous fight, but his resolve remained as strong as ever. "We won't let it get the better of us. Not now."

Leah moved silently ahead, her eyes gleaming in the dim light. Her movements a blur as she assessed the surroundings. "If we're going in, let's make it quick. The longer we stay here, the more danger we're in."

Matt followed quietly, his dark eyes ever-watchful. He moved without a sound, staying close to the shadows, already preparing himself for whatever lay ahead.

Trish tightened her grip on her battle axe. She was nervous, still shaken from the previous encounter, but her determination was stronger than ever. "I'm ready," she whispered, though she couldn't hide the tremor in her voice. "Let's finish this."

Karl took a deep breath, his mana having replenish considerably. "We'll need to stay focused. The ruler won't be like the others. It's the head of swarm."

They moved deeper into the subway, the air growing colder, more oppressive. The walls were slick with an unnatural, oily substance, and the ground seemed to hum beneath their feet. It was clear they were nearing the heart of the infestation.

Eventually, they reached the center of the chamber a massive, open space with a deep pit at its center. From the depths of the pit, the sound of something stirring echoed up, reverberating through the stone walls. The queen was down there.

"That's it," Karl said, his voice tight with tension. "It's waiting for us."

Without warning, the pit cracked open, and a monstrous, hulking figure began to rise from the depths. The ruler appeared, a massive centipede-like creature, emerged, it's armored body glistening in the dim light. It's eyes, glowing with an eerie green light, locked onto the group, and a terrible screech filled the air, rattling their bones.

They used basic detection.

[Fog centipede matriarch: level ???]

"Brace yourselves!" Patrick shouted, brandishing his sword as the matriarch's massive tail lashed out, sweeping through the air with terrifying speed.

Karl raised his staff and used [earth spike], and the ground trembled beneath his feet. Although, he wasn't strong enough to stop the matriarch outright, but he could slow her down. He focused his magic and sent a shockwave through the earth. Earth spikes erupted from the ground, encircling the matriarch and momentarily trapping her in place.

Patrick charged forward, his sword raised, and swung at the matriarch's exposed flank. The sword cut deep into her armor, but the matriarch's tough hide barely flinched. She shrieked in fury and swung her massive tail toward him. Patrick used [fortification] just in time to block the attack, but the force of the blow sent him stumbling back.

"Get away!" Trish shouted, her battle axe raised high as she charged forward to help. With a swing, she struck the matriarch's tail, but it barely slowed the creature down. Her heart raced, fear creeping into her chest.

"Trish, back up!" Leah called, moving fast as ever. She darted past Trish, her scimitar flashing as she aimed for the softest parts of the matriarch's body, but her strikes didn't seem to do much damage either.

The matriarch, enraged, swept her tail again, knocking Leah off her feet. "Leah!" Trish shouted, but Leah was already back on her feet, ready to move again.

Karl's used [lesser heal], and waves of healing magic surged outward, enveloping his companions. The warmth spread through their bodies, soothing the bruises and fatigue that had built up over the fight.

Patrick straightened, feeling the surge of energy from Karl's skill. "Thanks, Karl," he said, his voice steady once more. "Let's keep pushing."

Karl gave a small smile. "We need to take her down before she gets another chance to strike."

The matriarch, enraged by their persistent attacks, screeched again, her movements erratic as she tried to break free from the earth spikes Karl had summoned. Trish, sensing an opportunity, ran toward the matriarch's exposed side, her battle axe raised.

She swung with all her might, the blade biting into the queen's soft underbelly. The queen howled in pain, but still, it wasn't enough.

"We need something bigger," Karl muttered, his eyes scanning the battlefield for any advantage.

Leah moved quickly, her agility giving her the edge as she darted in and out of range, her scimitar slicing at the matriarch's joints, trying to weaken her armor. But the creature was still too strong.

Matt finally emerged from the shadows, his eyes sharp and calculating. He knew the matriarch's weak spots better than anyone, and he took advantage of the distraction the others were causing. With a swift motion, he leaped onto the queen's back, sliding his dirk into a gap in her armor just beneath her head. The matriarch shrieked again, this time the sound tinged with panic.

Karl seeing the opening, he used [earth spike] and thrust his staff into the ground. The earth beneath the matriarch trembled, sending sharp earth spikes shooting upward, piercing through her thick armor. The matriarch shrieked one final time, her body convulsing, her red eyes flickering as her movements slowed.

"We've got her!" Patrick shouted, raising his sword for one final strike.

With a unified effort, they struck at the queen's vulnerable spots—Leah's scimitar, Matt's precision strikes, Trish's powerful blows with her axe, and Patrick's final, forceful sword thrust. The matriarch let out a final, deafening screech before collapsing to the ground, her body twitching one last time before going still.

[ You have defeated the ruler of Mistveil ]

The chamber fell silent, the oppressive atmosphere lifting as the matriarch's presence faded. They were victorious.

"That... was too close," Karl panted, his voice tired but relieved.

Patrick lowered his sword, breathing heavily. "We did it. It's over."

Trish, standing at the edge of the battle, wiped the sweat from her brow and exhaled deeply. "I didn't think we'd make it through that one."

Karl, still catching his breath, smiled at her. "You did great, Trish. We all did."