Dragon of Endless Evil

As Victoria touched the corpse...

" What is this? Kinetic energy waves?! Don’t stay here!! "

But they didn’t have time to back away.

*BOOOMM*

The corpse exploded, violently projecting discharges of blood and Chi.

***

In the deepest level of the Catacombs, there was not only darkness: the air there was much hotter and more humid. The putrid smell did not help, nor did the increasingly narrow corridors and the Third Sense Daugrs that prowled there.

Kristian and Katelyn constantly used their < First Sense: Sight > to move around and avoid any unnecessary confrontation. Using their Chi permanently already exhausted them fast enough.

It was then that they heard an explosion coming from above.

The entire area trembled for a few seconds before an uneasy silence returned.

"What was that? Some idiot brought explosives?" Katelyn murmured to herself.

" Daemon... I have to go back up. He might be in danger! "

But Katelyn clicked her tongue, annoyed, and grabbed his arm. " If he’s really in danger, he’ll run away. Daemon is neither a kid nor an idiot. "

"... You’re probably right... I’m worrying for nothing. "

Katelyn clicked her tongue again, slightly annoyed. " You sound like a father talking about his son. You’re really hopeless, Kris... "

" He is still part of the Sword Clan. As the heir, I have to ensure his safety, that’s perfectly normal... And it is part of my responsibilities as the future patriarch. "

Katelyn remained silent for a moment, looking behind her, then finally said:

" If you want my opinion, we should be more worried about our own safety... "

Behind them indeed stood two Third Sense Daugrs.

Kristian quickly drew his two swords.

" This is going to be difficult... Get ready, Katelyn. "

She also drew her rapier from its sheath. Katelyn was at the Second Sense; Kristian, for his part, had reached the Third without yet having mastered the corresponding Sword Sense. And so, they were not really in danger.

" We have to finish them quickly, avoid making too much noise and attracting other enemies. " commented Katelyn.

The two Daugrs straightened in the same movement. One of them opened a mouth far too wide, revealing a row of irregular teeth covered in dark drool, and let out a howl unpleasant to the ear.

" The one on the left is the fastest, I can feel it from his Chi. " warned Kristian, both blades low, in a crossed guard stance. " I’ll take him. Handle the other one, he’s slower but more massive... If possible, don’t let him grab you. "

" Got it. "

The swifter Daugr charged first, its claws slicing through the air in a low arc aimed at Kristian’s legs. Thanks to his Blade Perception, the Snowfall heir perceived the path of the strike a fraction of a second before it actually came. He pivoted on his back foot, letting the claw cut through empty air a few centimeters from his thigh, then countered with a reverse slash of his right blade. The steel cut through the grayish flesh without meeting bone.

The monster did not even seem to feel the pain. It spun on itself with surprising speed and followed up with a headbutt, jaws wide open, aiming for Kristian’s throat. The latter bent his knees, dropped under the trajectory, and struck upward with his second blade.

"That was close..."

The tip sank under the creature’s chin and came out through the top of the skull, shattering in the process the core lodged in the cranial box. The Daugr froze solid, then collapsed with a dull sound of rotten flesh hitting the stone.

"You managing on your side?"

On her side, Katelyn was facing the second Daugr, more massive, whose disproportionate arms swept the air with brutal but predictable force. She stepped back two quick paces, letting the first claw strike cut through the void in front of her, then parried the second with her palm, a metallic shock resonating in the narrow corridor.

Even with < Steel Breath > she felt the power of the blow rise all the way into her shoulder.

" He hits hard but he’s slow to recover! " she called to Kristian. " After every missed strike, there’s a rhythm opening. "

She dodged a third blow by pivoting on herself, letting the creature, carried by its own momentum, stumble slightly forward. That was the opening she had been waiting for. She followed up with a lunging thrust, her blade sinking deep into the Daugr’s torso, seeking the core.

She felt it under the tip of her rapier, a dense mass, unlike the surrounding flesh she had pierced, and with a twist of the wrist, she shattered it.

The Daugr let out a final piercing cry before collapsing.

" Two less. " breathed Kristian as he wiped his blades on a piece of cloth torn from his cape.

" Let’s hope there aren’t any others hanging around. " replied Katelyn as she sheathed her rapier. " The noise must have carried far, with the echo in these corridors. "

They exchanged a knowing look, then resumed their path without further delay, plunging quickly into the maze of the Catacombs... Staying in the same spot for several minutes made them vulnerable to group attacks.

After about ten minutes of running... Kristian noticed something ahead.

" There’s a point of light ahead! "

" You think it’s a trap? "

" It’s not one yet as long as we haven’t fallen into it. Let’s go. " said Kristian.

The two rushed toward the source of light. Kristian slowed as he entered a room. High up, one could see the glow of the moon reflecting in the center of the chamber, where an altar stood. A jar was chained there by two chains connected to stone pillars.

" Is this... "

" It seems to be Pandora’s Box... " said Kristian as he approached slowly.

" Why doesn’t Pandora’s Box look like a box? " asked Katelyn with a light laugh.

" Does it really matter? Anyway, go check around if there’s anyone. Then we’ll find a way to take it. "

" Okay, I’ll be right back! " said Katelyn as she left through a different entrance from the one they had used.

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