Feet pounded on rough stone and uneven rock. Cyfuno's breath labored and his heart thundered within his chest. The thrill of the chase was pumping enough adrenaline through his veins to power him for what felt like forever. This was it, this was living, he could never want for anything more. Freedom, or what felt like it at least, he only had to keep running, to not get caught.
He had descended into the depths of this forsaken place in search of something priceless. And he was almost there, he could feel it. Through the winding passages and dark halls of this underground labyrinth was his prize. The creatures pursuing him and his companions were merely side attractions. Hardly worth the effort it would take to be rid of them. Not when so many more would seep out through the cracks in the world to take their place.
This was a domain forgotten by Ein Soph.
The veil between the light of the world and the Maw that lurked on the other side was so thin here that Cyfuno could practically feel the darkness of the other world crawling through, calling to him, trying to seduce him into drawing it further through the tattered remains of the barrier. He could feel that part of himself that he hated reaching back, responding. Strangling the desire was becoming harder and harder. He felt like he was sinking at times, drowning in a sea so vast he could never hope to see the surface of it. It would fill his lungs, his head would swim with the intoxicating weight of it and clear thought would float away...
He throttled the desire immediately before it even had a chance at swaying him. He had more important things to be doing than tearing himself further apart.
"Are we getting any closer?" Holland asked, a little panic in his voice.
The poor man had never done too well around the darker forces of the world. Too much time spent with the Enkeli, basking in the warmth of their power. Anything else had always felt wrong, twisted too far in the wrong direction for his tastes after that.
Cyfuno glanced back at the three flowing him.
Holland, Solaris, and Ril all dogged at his heels, keeping up as best they could.
"Soon." Cyfuno said.
He concentrated, felt the pulse of magic echoing from further down the abyssal cavern to reach him.
A black bisected arm clawed from the gloom of the cavern wall to tear at him.
Eyes narrowing he split it off from the rest of the oozing darkness without a second thought.
The Husks were getting more brazen the deeper they descended.
They passed through an archway into a vast, open amphitheater. Etchings lined the walls. Depictions of wars long since forgotten and ancient gods fallen out of all memory. The rise and fall of civilizations covered these walls and stretched on into the shadows. But it was the doorway that they were interested in.
Ancient runes were carved into the enormous gateway, all surrounding an intricate tree with roots that seemed to grow straight down, deep into the Maw itself.
They all stood before the door, ready.
This was to be freedom for them all, true freedom. No more false promises. Gone would be the sham they had been slaves to. This was living.
Cyfuno reached out his hand and pushed.
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