The deeper I went, the heavier the heat sat on my back. Not constantly—more like pockets of breath from something sleeping beneath the stone. Every few steps, the air trembled, just enough to make my vision wobble.
Ember Veil dulled the burn, but not by much.
Still felt like the floor wanted to cook me slowly.
I kept moving anyway.
The metal-clang heartbeat of this place came and went in uneven rhythms. Sometimes it echoed far. Sometimes close enough that the sound vibrated in my teeth.
And sometimes… something tapped between the clangs.
Three taps.
Pause.
Three taps again.
Shadeborn signal. I didn't know the meaning. Didn't need to—not yet.
My claws clicked over a ledge edge and onto a downward ramp. The slope curved deeper into red haze. A few broken anvils lay on their sides like someone tossed them in frustration.
Or boredom.
Heat drifted from the cracks between slabs. Not dangerous… but annoying. Made Echo Sense cough out half-useful readings.
A faint shift behind me made me stop.
Not Ravagers.
Not Forgelings.
Lighter. Cleaner. Precise.
I turned slowly.
A Shadeborn stood between two massive pillars, half-hidden. Slender, long limbs, mask smooth and blank except for a faint, glowing sigil on its forehead. A spear rested loosely in one hand, tip dragging lightly over the stone.
It didn't move.
Didn't blink—not that it had eyes.
It just watched.
"…Right," I muttered under my breath. "You again."
The Shadeborn didn't react.
I took a step forward.
It slid back. One smooth motion. Not retreating, not fleeing. More like it denied the idea of being touched.
Then it turned and walked into a darker corridor.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Just enough for me to follow if I chose.
I hesitated.
Following something intelligent was rarely a good idea.
Then again, this place wasn't giving me much choice.
I went after it.
The corridor curved sharply left, then descended into a wide chamber. Heat washed over me in a wave that made the shadows inside my skin twitch in irritation.
The Shadeborn stood at the far end of the chamber, spear tilted downward.
Waiting.
No—pointing.
At something on the ground.
I approached cautiously.
A corpse lay there.
Forgeling. Mask cracked. Limbs broken cleanly, not smashed. Spear wounds. Shadeborn kill.
Why show me this?
A warning?
A message?
A… test?
Before I could decide, the Shadeborn withdrew a few steps. Its mask tilted, like listening to something behind me.
My claws tightened automatically.
A low growl rolled along the walls.
Not Ravagers. Wrong pitch. Too heavy. Too slow.
Something padded out from the shadows of a melted forge.
Four legs.
Massive shoulders.
Skin like cooled magma, cracked in bright orange lines.
Jaw split wider than it should, glowing faintly.
A Molten Gnashbeast.
Bigger than anything I'd seen on this floor so far.
Its steps made the ground tremble slightly—not from weight, but heat.
The Shadeborn stepped aside.
Not helping.
Not fleeing.
Observing again.
"Of course," I muttered. "Why not."
The Gnashbeast lowered itself, claws carving glowing lines into stone. Heat thickened around it. The air shimmered between us, warping Blink paths before I even tried.
It lunged.
Not fast at first—just a heavy, straight-line charge.
I dodged left. Blink tugged right. I landed messy, stumbling over a cracked slab. The Gnashbeast slammed past me and skidded, molten saliva dripping onto the floor.
The saliva hissed, burning holes through the rock.
Okay. Nice.
It turned slower this time, building heat, cracks widening across its shoulders as the light intensified. A soft rumble vibrated in its chest.
This thing could explode too. Bigger blast than the Ravager alpha.
I didn't wait.
I Blinked—timed it between two heat distortions—and got beside its hind leg. My claws struck upward.
The fur wasn't fur—magma-scarred hide. Tough. Claws cut halfway in, scattering bright particles.
The Gnashbeast kicked back harder than expected. I rolled over stone, more from surprise than damage.
It lunged again, head low. I barely dodged as its jaws snapped shut beside me, releasing a burst of scorching air.
My shadows recoiled. Ember Veil strained to keep up.
The Shadeborn watched from the corner. Silent. Still.
"Anytime you want to help," I grunted. No reply.
The Gnashbeast came again but differently this time—zigzagging, making the heat distortions worse. Its movement dragged the air with it, pulling shadow pockets out of shape.
I Blinked—
the distortion threw me early—
I landed directly in its path.
"…Oh, wonderful."
I ducked under its jaws and carved across its underside. This time my claws dug deeper—into softer flesh beneath the cracked shell. The Gnashbeast screamed, a deep metallic bellow.
Heat exploded outward.
Not a blast—just a huge wave.
I staggered, skin tightening, Ember Veil straining.
The beast backed up, glowing brighter. Too bright.
It was charging a real explosion.
I didn't wait to confirm.
I sprinted around it, Blinked behind a pillar that barely held together.
A deep thoom rolled out.
The pillar split at the top, dust raining down.
I peeked out.
The beast wobbled. Shell cracked wide open along its back, ember energy leaking like steam.
Weak spot.
I charged before it recovered.
It tried to turn but too slow now. I leapt onto its back, claws sliding into the crack. The heat roasted my hands past Ember Veil's comfort zone, but I forced deeper. Shadows screamed, skin threatening to melt.
I didn't stop.
I pulled—
—and ripped the crack wider.
The Gnashbeast spasmed and collapsed, molten light pouring out. I stabbed downward into the glowing core and tore it free.
The beast went still.
Essence rushed into me like a wave of hot sand.
[Devour Successful]
[Large Essence Acquired]
[Predation Level: 7.5 → 7.7]
[Ability Progression Accelerated]
Heat slowly loosened around me.
I breathed out—habit.
Then looked toward the Shadeborn.
It hadn't moved.
But something was different now.
It tapped its spear against the floor once.
Tap.
A second Shadeborn—this one broader, heavier armor—stepped out from behind another pillar.
A Hunter.
Not a scout this time.
Its mask carried deeper sigils.
The spear held differently—balanced for killing, not warning.
My claws tightened on instinct.
The Hunter stared at the Gnashbeast corpse first.
Then at me.
Then its mask tilted slightly, like acknowledging something.
A decision maybe.
It turned away, walking into the next corridor.
The first Shadeborn followed.
Both disappeared into the red haze.
A message.
Clear enough:
They were done observing.
Next time, they would be testing.
I watched the shadows settle where they had been.
My claws still burned slightly.
Floor 3 wasn't done with me.
Neither were they.
And whatever lay deeper…
It wasn't going to wait quietly.
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