Demon site Apocalypse

The team stood silently at the twisted entrance of the demon site, nestled just beyond the Iron Mine. The mouth of the cave loomed like a waiting beast, jagged rock edges like teeth threatening to devour anything bold enough to enter. The sky above had dimmed, casting eerie yellow-orange rays upon the cracked soil. The stench of sulfur crept in with every gust of wind.

"This is it," Zayan said, adjusting his gauntlet. "Yesterday, there was smoke. No sign of life. But today... something feels off."

But as they stepped into the mouth of the site, silence dominated. The echo of their footsteps bounced off the hollow cave walls. No enemies. No movement. Nothing.

Minutes passed.

Then they came to a fork: two caves split left and right like a serpent's tongue.

Zayan narrowed his eyes. "Yesterday, we walked this path. There was no split."

Kaelen knelt, running his fingers along the dusty ground. "Fresh tremors... this must be new. The cave is reshaping."

Arslan stepped forward. "Then we stay together. No risk."

Kaelen shook his head. "Two caves. Twice the danger, or twice the opportunity. We divide. Apex and Zenith on one side. Mythics on the other."

Arslan paused, thoughtful.

"Then I lead the Mythics," he said calmly. "We'll take the left."

Kaelen nodded. "As you wish."

Weapons were drawn, light spheres activated. The two teams nodded to each other before silently disappearing into their respective paths.

[Left Cave - Mythic Team]

The deeper they walked, the colder it got. Steam rolled along the floor like ghostly mist. Yuna cast a dim healing aura to light the path. Orien led the front, his Soulflash technique crackling around his hands. Tharion, blades ready. Seris with poison-tipped daggers in hand.

Suddenly, a screech broke the stillness.

From the shadows, Abyssal rats poured forward. Twisted, larger-than-normal rodents with eyes glowing crimson and sharp metallic claws.

Tharion roared: "Incoming!"

The Mythics lunged into action. Arslan pivoted, ducking under a leaping rat and cleaving it in two with a dark swipe.

Orien: "Flank left!"

Seris spun, releasing a cloud of toxic mist. Three rats hissed, clawing at their faces as they disintegrated.

Yuna focused her energy. "Shield dome, now!" A glowing sphere enclosed the team momentarily, repelling a wave of leaping vermin.

Arslan moved like a shadow through them, landing silent blows, his Shadow Vein Channeling enhancing his agility. Within moments, the swarm fell silent. Black blood stained the ground.

Seris wiped her blade: "These aren't ordinary pests. They're scouts."

Yuna: "Which means something worse is coming."

As they pressed forward, they entered a chamber lit by eerie violet flames. And there they stood: five of the creatures described by the previous scouting party—humanoid, slender, black as oil, with glowing marks etched across their skin. Their eyes pulsed red. Their claws scraped against the walls, twitching.

And then—they moved.

Fast.

Tharion shouted: "Too fast!"

In an instant, two of them lunged at Seris and Yuna. Arslan's instincts screamed. Time slowed.

He invoked Shadow Stride, disappearing in a blur of shadows, reappearing in front of the two Mythics. His blade intercepted both attackers, throwing them back.

Orien: "Arslan! You okay?!"

Arslan winced, nodding: "Yeah... but listen. It's time."

His body surged with black energy as he invoked Dark Infusion, releasing a wave of dark mist that latched onto the four Mythics around him. Their weapons, eyes, and aura began to glow with dark intensity.

Seris gasped: "What is this power?!"

Arslan: "Borrow it. Fight as if you're Apex."

And they did.

Tharion charged, hammering a creature into a wall with Earthshock. Seris moved faster than ever, slicing one through with dual daggers while flipping midair.

Yuna, empowered, delivered both healing and slicing light arcs, supporting each teammate.

Orien's Soulflash turned blinding. His palms burned white-blue as he slammed a creature down with a soul burst.

The enemies howled.

Minutes passed in pure chaos.

Screeches. Explosions of energy. Heavy breathing. Footsteps scraping against stone.

Finally... silence.

All five of the creatures lay slain. Their bodies turned to obsidian dust. The chamber flickered with residual energy.

Yuna: "We... did it?"

Then, a sound.

THUMP.

Arslan gasped. His hand clutched his chest. His legs gave way.

Yuna screamed: "Arslan!"

Seris: "He used too much energy! Dammit!"

He collapsed, breathing ragged.

Tharion grabbed him: "Hold on, brother!"

Orien knelt: "I can pulse his energy back—"

Yuna: "No time! Something's... something's coming!"

The cave began to shake.

From the deeper halls, a monstrous horde emerged—dozens of Abyssal rats and 10 more that creatures, flanked by snarling Imps, small winged demonoids with jagged teeth and flaming claws.

Tharion: "Damn it! We're not ready!"

Yuna: "Protect Arslan!"

. Orien released a large Soulflash barrier.

Tharion: "No running now. Let's finish what we started."

They formed a circle around Arslan's collapsed form.

Just then Kar'Thael whispered "Arslan!! What's happening??? You are not tired....No stamina deplicit but then why????"

TO BE CONTINUED___---____---