Chapter 34: Preparation for the Unknown

The glow of the runes on the walls pulsed softly, casting a warm, steady light over the chamber. For the first time in what felt like days, the group had a moment to catch their breath without the threat of imminent death looming over them. The oppressive mist was gone, replaced by a stillness that was almost soothing.

Ethan sat cross-legged on the smooth floor, idly spinning his glowing pipe in his hands. His legs ached, his ribs throbbed, and his mind was still racing from the fight in the floating chamber. He'd never admit it out loud, but he was grateful for the reprieve. "So," he said, breaking the silence, "does anyone else feel like this room is the Forge's way of saying, 'Sorry for almost killing you'?"

Naomi leaned against the wall, her bow resting at her side. She snorted softly. "If this is an apology, it's a bad one."

"Better than nothing," Lucas said, seated nearby as he wiped the sweat from his face. His shield lay beside him, its surface battered but still intact. "We'll take what we can get."

Karis stood near the center of the room, her posture as rigid as ever. Her knife was still in her hand, the blade catching the faint light of the runes. "This isn't a reward," she said, her tone cold. "It's a reset. The Forge isn't done with us."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You really know how to kill a mood, don't you?"

"I'm keeping us alive," Karis shot back, her sharp gaze locking onto him. "That's all that matters."

---

Naomi crossed her arms, her gaze thoughtful. "She's right," she said, glancing around the room. "The Forge is giving us time to prepare. We'd be stupid not to use it."

Ethan sighed, leaning back against the wall. "Fine. Let's prepare. But for what, exactly? Another wave of nightmare creatures? Another death maze? I mean, we have no idea what's coming."

"That's why we strategize," Lucas said, his tone calm but firm. "We've seen how the Forge works. It adapts to us, reacts to our movements. If we stay predictable, it'll keep pushing us into situations we're not ready for."

"Lucas has a point," Naomi said, nodding. "We need to change how we approach this. Be more proactive instead of just reacting to whatever the Forge throws at us."

Ethan rubbed his temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache. "Okay, great. Be proactive. But how, exactly? I'm not exactly a tactical genius."

Karis stepped forward, her voice cutting through the conversation. "We start by reviewing our strengths. The Forge has given us tools—our stats, our skills. We need to understand them, use them more effectively."

She turned to Naomi. "Your new skill—Phantom Shot. It targets weak points and ignores obstacles. That's an advantage we haven't had before. Use it to disrupt enemies before they even reach us."

Naomi nodded. "Understood."

Karis's gaze shifted to Lucas. "Iron Resolve. You're already our strongest defensive line, but this will let you last longer in drawn-out fights. Use it to hold the line while the rest of us adapt to the situation."

"Got it," Lucas said, his expression serious.

Finally, Karis turned to Ethan. "Unyielding Strike," she said, her tone less harsh than usual. "It increases your damage when you're hurt. It's risky, but it could be a game-changer in the right situation."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "So, what, you're telling me to let things beat me up so I can hit harder?"

"No," Karis said sharply. "I'm telling you to be smart. Use it as a last resort, not a first option."

"Great," Ethan muttered. "No pressure or anything."

---

The group spent the next hour refining their strategies, testing their skills, and discussing how to handle the unknown. Naomi practiced her aim with Phantom Shot, firing arrows into glowing runes on the walls to test its precision. Lucas experimented with his defensive stance, adjusting his movements to take full advantage of Iron Resolve. Ethan practiced his mobility, using Shadowstep to phase between different points in the room while swinging his pipe in wide, arcing strikes.

Karis, meanwhile, observed them all with sharp, calculating eyes. She offered corrections where necessary, her voice steady but unyielding. Her own knife never left her hand, the blade flashing as she practiced rapid strikes against the air. Despite her calm exterior, the tension in her shoulders betrayed her unease.

---

As the group finished their preparations, the stillness of the room began to shift. The faint hum of the runes grew louder, and the air grew colder. The glow of the walls dimmed slightly, and the floor beneath their feet began to vibrate.

"What now?" Ethan asked, his voice wary. He gripped his pipe tightly, his eyes darting around the room. "Is this the Forge's way of telling us time's up?"

Karis's gaze snapped to the center of the room, where the runes were flaring brighter. "Get ready," she said, her voice sharp. "Something's happening."

The group moved into formation, their weapons raised as the vibration intensified. The light from the runes pulsed faster, the hum growing into a deep, resonant roar. The air crackled with energy, and the ground beneath their feet began to shift.

Then, without warning, a fissure opened in the center of the room, jagged and glowing with an ominous red light. The mist surged upward, coiling like a living thing, and from its depths came a sound that froze the blood in their veins—a deep, guttural growl that echoed through the chamber.

"Oh, come on," Ethan muttered, his grip tightening on his pipe. "Can't we catch a break for once?"

The growl grew louder, and from the fissure emerged a massive claw, its obsidian surface glinting in the dim light. The claw was followed by another, and then a hulking figure began to rise from the mist—a creature unlike anything they had seen before. Its glowing eyes burned with an unnatural fire, and its jagged, armor-like body seemed to pulse with raw energy.

The group stared in stunned silence as the creature fully emerged, towering over them with a presence that radiated malice.

"Okay," Lucas said, raising his shield. "Now what?"

Karis stepped forward, her knife gleaming in the red light. Her voice was steady, but her eyes were locked onto the creature. "We fight."