The darkness tore their world apart.
Kano felt the wind whistling in his ears as his body plummeted into the abyss alongside the lifeless form of the Manticore. Somewhere nearby, stones were crashing, and he could hear his comrades' screams. Gravity relentlessly dragged them downward into the unknown.
BOOM!
Kano hit the hard stone floor. His body rolled forward, and he groaned in pain. He felt warm liquid on his forehead—blood. But that wasn't the main thing.
—"Is everyone alive?!"—he shouted sharply, trying to orient himself.
Beneath them stretched a dark stone corridor, illuminated by a white-blue light seeping through the cracks between massive blocks. It created an eerie, ghostly atmosphere in this place, something otherworldly. The air felt unnaturally cold, and the walls emitted a strange aura.
—"I'm here..."—Sheila replied, wincing slightly from the pain. Her hand pressed against a wound on her side, blood seeping between her fingers.
Lianel quickly approached her, ran her hand over her chest, and pulled out a small vial of healing potion. Without a word, she handed it to Sheila.
—"Will you take it, or should Kano?"—she said, squinting.
Sheila took the vial, handed it to Kano, and exhaled heavily. He needed it more. Then her gaze slid to the still body of Gelbrik. She clenched her jaw and, suddenly raising her eyebrows, asked:
—"Where's Terron?"
Kano froze for a moment, the vial almost choking him as it remained clenched in his teeth. His fists tightened, and then...
—"Bastard!"—he exploded. —"Coward! Scum! He just left us! He shoved Gelbrik to his death and ran like the pathetic worm he is!"
Rudgard, still holding Gelbrik's crystal in his hands, snorted viciously.
—"Rat! Premature traitor! Damn coward! If I ever see him again, I'll crush his skull with my hammer!"
Kano calmed down, his eyes blazing with fury, but he knew—now was not the time.
Their gazes slowly turned to the corridor they had landed in. The light in it flickered through the cracks between the enormous stone blocks, creating a strange white-blue glow. It illuminated everything around them with a ghostly sheen, reminiscent of the afterlife. The air was cold, and the walls exuded an almost ominous aura.
Before them lay Gelbrik's body. The Manticore's massive carcass had collapsed on top of him, with only the warrior's hand sticking out from beneath it. His chest was torn open, and the beast's claws remained embedded in his body.
—"Damn..."—Rudgard whispered, looking at his fallen comrade.
Silence hung heavily in the air.
Rudgard slowly approached, bent down, and reached toward his chest. From the center of the dead warrior's body, a glow slowly began to emerge. His life force, sealed in the magic crystal, surfaced. The Soul Crystal.
The dwarf took it, squeezing it in his palm. His face remained impassive, but his eyes revealed true sorrow.
—"Thank you, my friend... You'll still help us in your final fight..."—he whispered, hiding the crystal in the pouch on his belt.
Kano looked away, understanding that they had neither the strength nor the time to mourn their loss. They still didn't know where they had fallen.
—"What is this place?"—Lianel muttered, glancing at the walls.
Rudgard ran his hand along the dark stone.
—"These are ancient ruins. Deep, ancient..."—the dwarf squinted, inspecting it closer. —"This stone wasn't worked by humans, or even dwarves. This is something much older."
Kano walked over to the Manticore's corpse, and his eyes widened.
—"What the..."
Right in the creature's chest glowed a massive purple crystal. Its light was faint, but the colossal power hiding within it was undeniable.
Rudgard raised his head, and his eyes sparkled.
—"No... this is impossible..."—he cautiously reached toward the crystal, but before touching it, quickly pulled his hand back. —"I've never seen anything like this. Its energy is so dense that, if we used it for an explosion, even the mountains would tremble."
He bit his lip, scrutinizing the find.
—"This... is a treasure. But also a danger. Its energy could wipe a city off the face of the earth."
Kano and Lianel exchanged glances. They both felt that this crystal was no mere trophy. It was something far greater...
And perhaps, it would lead them to even greater trials.
Kano took the crystal in his hands. It glowed in the half-darkness, as if it were smoldering from within, pulsing with faint light.
—"How else can we use it?"—he asked, turning the crystal in his palms.
The elf Lianel stepped closer, leaned in so that her hair brushed against his shoulder, and whispered softly:
—"You can absorb it, merge with it. It will enhance your strength and mana. But the effect depends on the crystal itself, how compatible it is with your magic... and your race. Some will gain more from it, others less."
Kano blinked.
—"So... I can just swallow it?"
Lianel snorted, her lips brushing against his ear, and Kano felt her breasts press against his arm. He tensed, but she, seemingly unaware of the effect she was having on him, continued:
—"No. You need to kneel, press the crystal to your chest, and feel its power. Then... you must desire it. Not just want it, but yearn for it, with all your heart. If your thoughts are true, the crystal will merge with you on its own... Just like with your helmet,"—her voice turned almost purring.
Kano, unsure whether it was her proximity or her words that flustered him more, coughed awkwardly and, to change the subject, extended his hand with the crystal:
—"Well then, who wants to become stronger?"
Silence. Everyone exchanged glances. Dwarf Rudgard grimaced and crossed his arms over his chest:
—"You're a fool. This is a trophy of unimaginable worth, and you're just handing it off to the first person you meet? Are you really that thick?"
He crossed his arms tighter, then sighed:
—"But I have honor. I won't take it. It's yours."
Sheila, the assassin, silently nodded in agreement with the dwarf's words. Lianel looked at Kano, sizing him up, and said:
—"You need to get stronger so we don't have to babysit you anymore."
Kano raised his eyebrows but stayed silent. He knelt down, pressed the crystal firmly to his chest, and closed his eyes.
His mind cleared. He wanted power. He yearned for it. He wanted to become powerful enough to protect this world.
The crystal responded. A burst of energy coursed through his body. Powerful, pure strength. But...
Something was wrong.
He couldn't control it. It didn't belong to him. It was something alien. He tensed, trying to force the crystal to obey, but it was useless.
And then—a memory.
The helmet. His perfect, flawless helmet.
A dream. Boots waiting for him in a mysterious place, deep beneath the mountain.
And suddenly, everything became clear.
Kano smiled widely, then laughed, tilting his head back.
—"This isn't for me,"—he said, opening his eyes.
His voice rang out, clear and confident.
—"I must become stronger only in battle. I must break through my limits on my own. That's the only way for me."
Everyone exchanged looks.
Rudgard stared at him, incredulous, and asked:
—"You're seriously not joking?"
Kano extended his hand once more, offering the crystal.
—"So, who wants this incredible power?"