The search for Wally came to a stop when they were blocked by seven Firespitters. A number that Horus would have normally seen as a sign to retreat.
He got in front of June as the footsteps drew near. "Contact."
"What?"
"I mean we have enemies coming. Seven. But don't worry, we can take them. Just stun them on my signal and stand back."
June watched him, unsure of that, but she still readied herself for the monsters. She began the song, doing a variation of it that he hadn't heard before while she distanced herself.
He unclipped his sword and drew it with a metallic hiss. The Firespitters were rushing towards them now, coming from three separate tunnels. They had heard June's song.
He got into one of the forms he was taught. The Deimos Form. His mana was too weak for the sub-skill he wanted to use, but using a swordsmanship form could bypass this.
Deimos was meant to harness mana and restrain it from reaching its maximum strength while channeling it into a celestial steel sword.
Weakening mana and storing enough in his sword until it pushed back violently. Then he would have an easier time using the third sub-skill of [Twilight Swordsmanship].
The first monster rushed out one hole, already spraying fire over the dark tunnel. The light illuminated its small body on all fours and the holes all over its metallic skin.
Jumping out of the way, Horus swung his sword through empty air as he approached, channeling Twilight mana through his body and the stance.
He swung his sword hard, using only his physical strength and the quality of his blade to slash through one of the monster's legs as it jumped.
Not stopping, he danced past as the monster crashed to the dirt, flowing through stances and weakening the mana thrumming through his arms.
Each time he completed a swing his sword pulsed with celestial light as mana was pushed into it, then dimmed significantly as he suppressed it.
The other six Firespitters came out with varying numbers from different directions. His sword met each of them, managing to disable three more enemies.
Six Firespitters, each surrounding him, filled the space with white-hot jets of flame, while the last charged at him.
Horus jumped and phased through all of it, landing behind one of the Firespitters, and resisting the urge to plunge his blade through its back.
If he used the mana in his blade to phase it through his enemy's defenses, then all the mana in it would be poured into the attack, effectively wasting all that mana.
He continued dodging and leaving weak gashes in the bodies of the enemy. His mind strained with each strike as he tried to restrain his mana from lashing out and ripping through the Firespitters.
Deimos was also not very suitable for fighting four-legged creatures.
He stumbled as he had to dodge mid-stance and took a glancing charge to his shoulder. Firespitter skin was like molten metal; pain exploded through his body.
He squinted, focusing his mind to contain the mana, and jumped out of the way of another attack.
"Horus! What are you doing?!" June yelled, still playing her song, waiting for his signal. Her expression was ripe with worry and something else he didn't recognise.
He waved her off, too focused to talk, and continued building mana. He could sense it was almost ready and began herding the Firespitters.
They were very smart, simple machines meant to destroy whatever was in front of them and posed an immediate threat.
The monsters chased after him, while the ones he crippled crawled behind them, lining up perfectly.
His back was to June now and his sword was pulsing with enough energy to shatter a lesser blade.
"Now!"
June's song ended with a sudden note, its sound coursing through the air and sliding into the Firespitters' bodies.
The air around them began to vibrate as a line of hazy air formed around the stunned monsters.
Horus performed the upward slash with perfection, completing the Deimos form. He had practised it since he was a child, repeatedly. Day and night, in sickness and health, in calm situations and near-death ones.
Even with the pressure on his mind and the pain in his left arm, the slash ended with his sword pointed to the heavens.
But the sub-skill came out sloppy.
Silver light erupted from his blade, ripping through the earth with unstoppable force, consuming the lined-up Firespitters.
The sound of the earth being cleaved and the force of the mana splitting air shook the dungeon.
The light of the slash illuminated June's fiery red hair and astounded expression. Her silver eyes widened in disbelief.
When the light faded, two of the Firespitters were sliced in half while the other five were severely dented and disoriented.
Horus rushed forward while June was still frozen. He quickly slashed through and killed whatever remained alive, collecting cores and skill shards.
"That. Was. Felling. Awesome," June said finally. She walked slowly, studying the deep gash Horus' strike left in the ground, muttering under her breath, "... clean through metal. What could even stop that? Wait, why are you rushing?"
Horus was slicing up the already dead Firespitters recklessly. He said through clenched teeth, "The noise."
June's eyes widened. Noise attracted Firespitters and they would certainly feel the vibrations of Horus' killing blow.
She rushed over and helped him pick up the skill shards while he focused on carving up the monsters, glancing at the walls and the holes all around them.
"How close are they?" she whispered.
"We can make it," was the best he could say.
Once they were done, he grabbed her and they both ran into a tunnel, pulling out one of Shiv's maps.
They both crouched at a particular section. The sound of footsteps filled Horus' ears from different directions.
Finally, he stopped at a section and turned to June, making a silent gesture to her. They both stood watching the crossroads.
His sword was raised, swirling lights on it illuminating his sweat and his black hair matted against his forehead.
June's breathing was too loud. He turned and signalled to her. Calm down. But she wasn't listening; her silver eyes flickered between each tunnel and the sound of scuttling feet.
He grabbed her face and forced her to look him in the eye. "We're gonna be alright," he whispered.
Their faces were so close he felt her warm, sweet breath. The reflection of his own glowing eyes stared back at him through her eyes.
Before he knew it, her breath became low and harder to hear. Their foreheads touched and he used his thumbs to close her eyes.
If she saw the Firespitters peeking out of tunnels all around them she would lose composure. They were more than twenty just here, each checking for any sign of noise.
Horus searched for them, checking for a Scout Firespitter which had farther sensing range. With where they were standing now, nothing should be able to sense them if they didn't make any sounds.
The creatures crawled out of the holes, their steps slow and careful. Rubble fell from the ceiling high above them, landing close to June. She jolted a bit, but Horus tightened his grip around her.
He could feel her heartbeat against his chest, pounding like a drum, but it was slowly slowing down, matching his own stable heartbeat. Like he was saying with his own body that there was nothing to fear.
Even though it wasn't true.
More of the monsters crawled from the ceiling closer and closer. Soon they would be near enough to feel the vibrations human bodies leaked into the earth.
Horus' hand drifted to his sword with grim thoughts. He could escape with some bad injuries, but June would most definitely die.
It was a standard trade in Bloodhaven, foot soldiers giving their lives for the commander. As long as the most important piece survived, the lives of lessers were not wasted.
Many Mundanes had died to support him, their families told him it was an honour for their son to die to save the life of Horus Twilight.
It would be an honour.
But Horus vehemently opposed the idea in his mind. He prepared to fight to the death, he charted a path to the first floor in his mind, and thought quickly of who would have healing potions.