Chapter 6 - Flames of the forsaken temple

Everglades temple squatted in cypress swamp, sinkholes belching methane. Gator eyes glowed paths to ruin. Elara led, keys packed, Kai rear-guard. "Pit traps," runes warned. False step skewered crewman—howls as he bled out, chum for beasts.Doors creaked to humid glow. Voss mercs lunged—Elara's ex's elite. "Traitor slag!" boss roared, swinging. Clangs rang; Kai double-machete'd two, eviscerating—guts sizzling humid. Elara whirled death, severing fist then jugular—spray hosing stone.Voss bore; Kai blocked, rib-slashed deep. Bellowing, countered, steel lung-piercing, ribs splintering. Captain dropped gurgling. Elara cleared remnants, machete slick.Ash-victory collapse; Kai sagged to her. "Price paid." She stanched, lips fever-skin. "Forever." Third key pulsed flame-veined. Embrace carnal, slick sweat-blood, near-death haste.Key mapped finale. Swampward, Elara knew: gore glued, love honed edge. Mutiny homebound, flames cleansed hunt.