Chapter 10: Chasing Shadows, the Monster Mash, and a Confession from the Closet

"They're coming," Ling Chen said, his voice a strained whisper that barely cut through the echoing silence of the caverns. He didn't need to see the monsters to know they were closing in. He could feel their presence in the air, a palpable wave of hunger and malice that prickled his skin and sent a shiver down his spine. The air itself seemed to vibrate with their approach, a low, guttural hum that resonated deep within his bones.

"Then we run," Zhan Yi stated simply, his voice a low, unwavering rumble that brooked no argument. His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword, the knuckles white against the polished obsidian. There was no fear in his eyes, no hesitation in his movements. Only a cold, unwavering determination to protect Ling Chen from harm, a purpose that seemed to override all other considerations.

And protect was what he desired, that much Ling Chen can be sure of. But why was that the case? Why was the infamous Obsidian Tyrant so fiercely dedicated to his safety?

The question swirled in Ling Chen's mind, a perplexing riddle that he couldn't seem to solve. He pushed it aside, forcing himself to focus on the immediate danger. There would be time for introspection later, assuming they survived this ordeal.

Zhan Yi grabbed Ling Chen's hand, his grip firm and reassuring, a silent promise of strength and protection. "Stay behind me," he ordered, his voice leaving no room for debate. It was a command, not a request, and Ling Chen, despite his usual inclination towards independence, found himself obeying without protest.

And then they ran.

The caverns erupted with the sounds of their frantic footsteps, the skittering of claws on the uneven stone, and the guttural growls of the pursuing monsters. The darkness was disorienting, a swirling void that swallowed the light and twisted familiar shapes into grotesque parodies. It was difficult to see more than a few feet ahead, making every step a gamble, every turn a potential dead end.

Ling Chen stumbled repeatedly, his already aching muscles protesting with each jarring impact. His Amplified Sensory Perception, usually a blessing, now felt like a curse, bombarding him with a cacophony of conflicting signals: the sharp sting of loose gravel against his bare skin, the metallic tang of blood from a fresh scrape on his knee, the overwhelming scent of damp earth and decaying vegetation.

"Are we there yet?" a shrill voice suddenly pierced through the din. It was the sound of his sentient underwear.

Ling Chen nearly tripped over a protruding rock, his face contorting in a mixture of exasperation and morbid amusement. Of course, his sentient boxers would choose this precise moment to weigh in with their usual brand of unsolicited commentary.

"Honestly, Master," the underwear continued, its fabric fluttering nervously. "This is hardly conducive to maintaining a proper level of hygiene. And I'm detecting a distinct lack of suitable laundry facilities. Not to mention, that my fabric is hurting so bad. Can we get out of here before you die? No offense!"

Before Ling Chen could even formulate a response, another, more forceful voice cut through the air. It was Zhan Yi, his voice laced with a barely suppressed irritation.

"Silence," Zhan Yi said, giving a glare to it, as if it were a worthy foe.

Before he could reply, a loud and high shriek cut them off.

Despite the pain, the fear, and the ever-present threat of imminent doom, Ling Chen couldn't help but find a small measure of dark humor in the situation. Only he could find himself fleeing for his life through a monster-infested cavern with a sentient pair of underpants providing a running commentary on the state of his personal hygiene, while at the same time, the most fearful one was an undying. He realized then that it had made him think there's someone behind the world.

They were just doing something that they had, what power could they have changed about them. It was such that he would see all humans as equal. The world just made sense. As Ling Chen was thinking all of this, Zhan Yi then decided to get his attention back.

They rounded a sharp corner, their path leading them into a narrow passage that seemed to burrow deeper into the earth. The walls were slick with moisture, and the air grew thick with a pungent, almost suffocating odor that made Ling Chen's stomach churn.

He activated his Sensory Resonance, attempting to penetrate the gloom and discern what lay ahead. What he found sent a shivers down his spine.

"I don't like this," the underwear squeaked, its fabric trembling violently. "I sense… unhygienic conditions ahead. And something else… something… wrinkly. Oh dear, I think I'm going to be sick."

Ling Chen ignored the underwear's increasingly frantic complaints, focusing his attention on the path ahead. He could feel the presence of the monsters closing in, their hunger growing stronger, more palpable, with each step. They were gaining on them, their guttural growls echoing through the narrow passage, a promise of violence and death.

Suddenly, the passage opened into a large cavern, its vastness hidden by the oppressive darkness. Ling Chen squinted, his eyes straining to adjust to the gloom. He could just make out the faint outlines of towering rock formations, jagged stalactites hanging from the ceiling like teeth, and a vast chasm that stretched across the cavern floor, disappearing into an abyss of impenetrable darkness.

"Master!"" the sentient underwear announced. "The ground is collapsing!"

Before Ling Chen could even grasp the full implication of the warning, the world shifted beneath his feet. The ground began to tremble, the cavern walls groaned, and a section of the floor directly in front of them cracked open, revealing a gaping fissure that plunged into the black depths below.

"Move!" Zhan Yi shouted, his voice sharp and urgent. He grabbed Ling Chen's arm, pulling him back just as the ground beneath them gave way, sending a shower of rocks and dust cascading into the abyss.

They stumbled backward, narrowly avoiding falling into the chasm. The ground continued to tremble, and more cracks appeared in the cavern floor, spreading like a spiderweb around them.

"What now?" Ling Chen asked, his voice laced with a mixture of fear and exasperation. "Any bright ideas, Underwear?"

"I am getting very dizzy"" stated the underwear. "And getting visions again..It may affect my ability to help master with his situations"

What the underwear shouted was also the same that he felt. The amount of pressure there felt unexplainable, and as he struggled he saw a giant beast closing on him.

If they went with the prophecy, that was the end. So as they approached, he had a plan to follow to protect everything, including the underwear that made him laugh in the face of death. But would that plan work? This made them feel more scared.

The cave suddenly lightened.

Zhan Yi saw the beast. With no words, he charged forward, ready to take all the beasts, but with that all came at a cost. That he couldn't hold all.

There were too many of them. As the cave was enlightened, he saw millions of the walls monsters coming to their directions. He had no plan in place.

But he was not alone,

"Now, is the time".

Those were his thoughts as he activated his resonation to resonate throughout the world.

He could now do it, or nothing. He was being pushed, and if he didn't do it now all the deaths would be all his. Was it a guilt that he would be bearing? For what and why?

As his power exploded the room went dark.

The power that he had was to control the five senses. That would be useful now. What he will do will be to explode all the monster's five senses so that they would be in distress, giving them an escape.

The plan worked, but what was the cost? As the monsters screamed, he fell back. They had to get out of here immediately.

They had to act. What can they do to be back there? As all those questions came by, all of a sudden-

Suddenly, a section of the cavern wall began to glow, revealing a narrow passageway that had been hidden behind a cleverly disguised illusion. It was an opening they wouldn't have seen if they have not resonated their full power. And that would also come at a risk.

"Over there!" Ling Chen shouted, pointing towards the newly revealed passage. "That's our way out!"

Zhan Yi nodded, grabbing Ling Chen's hand and pulling him towards the opening. They ran as fast as they could, their footsteps echoing through the cavern, the guttural growls of the pursuing monsters growing closer with each passing moment.

But just as they reached the passageway, the ground beneath them began to tremble violently. The monsters are back!

The cavern ceiling started to collapse.