Pantheon Online

Chapter 313 The Dark Web (Part 2)

Chapter 313 The Dark Web (Part 2)

Bjorn's breath came in heavy, ragged gasps as he adjusted his grip on Ania. She was still unconscious, her body feverish against his own as he carried her through the dense underbrush. The rain had slackened into a fine mist, clinging to everything like a second skin. Allyce panted beside him, her eyes constantly scanning the darkness that pressed in from all sides.

'What was that back there? It was a good hiding place! Damn it! We can't keep moving her when she's like this!'

"We need to find shelter soon," Allyce murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "She won't last much longer like this."

Bjorn grunted in response. 'She's right. But what are we supposed to do in this accursed place?' Seeing Ania like this, so fragile and silent, sent a cold dread through him that no enemy ever had. 'She's the light of Skardia. Nothing can happen to her. She'll be the one to lead the next generation.'

The trees here were ancient, their gnarled roots twisted across the ground like grasping fingers. The deeper they went, the quieter the world became. Even the ever-present chirp of birds had faded into an uneasy hush. Bjorn shifted Ania's weight slightly, feeling the strain on his shoulders.

Allyce suddenly held up a hand, halting him mid-step. "Listen."

He did. And then he realised what had been bothering him. 'No birds, no rustling leaves. Everything's gone now. There's just silence.'

Then, a low growl rumbled from the darkness beyond the trees.

Bjorn instinctively reached for his blade, his muscles tensing in anticipation. At the same time, Allyce nocked an arrow, her sharp eyes scanning the thick forest around them.

A pair of glowing eyes blinked into existence between the trees. Then another. And another.

"Wolves?" Bjorn whispered.

"Not wolves," Allyce replied grimly. "Look at their eyes."

Bjorn did, and his stomach twisted. There was something wrong about the way they gleamed. Too intelligent, too aware. These were not mere beasts.

Ania stirred weakly in his arms, a faint mumble escaping her lips. Bjorn risked a glance down. Her fever had worsened, beads of sweat dotting her brow despite the cool air.

"We don't have time for this," he muttered.

A shape moved in the mist, stepping forward into the dim light filtering through the trees. It was tall, humanoid in shape but unnaturally lean. Its skin seemed to shift like shadows woven into flesh. The eyes burned with an eerie luminescence, locking onto Bjorn.

He tightened his grip on his sword. "Allyce..."

The creature lunged.

Bjorn barely had time to twist out of the way, his blade slicing through the air where it had been a moment before. Allyce loosed an arrow, the projectile striking the creature's shoulder. But instead of sinking into flesh, it simply passed through, as though hitting fog.

"Damn it!" she cursed, already nocking another.

Bjorn swung his sword in a clumsy wide arc, forcing the creature back. But more shadows were shifting through the trees, closing in. They were surrounded.

"You're right," Bjorn sighed. Ania stirred again, a pained whimper escaping her lips. Bjorn clenched his jaw. "We don't have a choice. We need shelter."

Allyce exhaled sharply but nodded. "Fine. But keep your blade close."

They crossed the threshold into the ruins, the air inside was thick with the scent of damp stone and something else... something faintly metallic. The fire in the brazier did not waver, nor did it cast warmth. It simply burned, its cold light stretching shadows across the crumbling walls.

Bjorn laid Ania down against a smooth patch of stone, brushing damp strands of hair from her forehead. 'Her breathing is getting faint.' Allyce hovered nearby, her back to him as she kept watch on the entrance.

"I'm going to take a look around," Bjorn grunted. "Keep an eye on her."

"Of course. Don't take too long. I don't feel safe here."

"I know what you mean," Bjorn sighed. "That's why I must try to find any clues about this temple."

A silent nod passed between them before Bjorn set off to explore the darkness. His eyes peered into the darkness as he moved closer to the nearest wall. 'If there's other passages leading to this room I'll find them if I stick to the wall.'

The old, gruff Skardian ran his fingers over the decaying murals etched into the wall as he followed it. 'It's too dark to make them out. I can't make sense of the things I can anyway.' He silently groaned to himself as his footsteps echoed off the floor. 'Is that supposed to be... a spider?' Bjorn mused as he spotted a particularly large image. 'Ha, seems like Allyce has some great intuition. But I can't think of any spider Gods from the races that used to be near here.'

He traced the lines of the image as he tried to gain more clues. 'Are these cocoons of spider silk?' His frown deepened as he reached the next connected image. 'What's this? Are these... No, I better not even think that in a place like this. I should return to Allyce.'

It didn't take him long as he had already gone full circle around the room.

"There are no other passages unless hidden. It's strange." He sighed even as Allyce relaxed a bit.

"We should rest, but not for long," she muttered. "I don't trust this place."

Bjorn nodded, but exhaustion was already clawing at his limbs and mind. The moment his body stilled, the weight of their journey pressed down on him. He blinked, trying to push away the pull of sleep, but the fire's eerie glow seemed to flicker hypnotically, drawing him deeper into its light.

A whisper brushed by his ears.

Bjorn snapped upright, his sword in his hands before he even realised he had moved. Allyce spun as well, her arrow nocked, her breath sharp.

"Did you hear that?" Bjorn whispered.

Allyce nodded, her knuckles white from grasping her bow. "Yes."

But the ruins were empty. Only the cold fire remained, its flame flickering as if something unseen had passed too close.

Then, from the darkness beyond the temple walls, came a single, deliberate footstep.

Bjorn gritted his teeth and raised his blade.

Something was coming. Coming for them...