Alynia cast a quick glance at Veil. He held his dagger tightly, his eyes locked on the wolves, who moved with an almost unreal fluidity, their black bodies trailing wisps of shadow that faded like fleeting memories. The room's silence was broken only by their controlled breathing and the palpable tension between the two groups. Every second stretched out, thickening the air until it was ready to snap.
Then, the silence shattered.
One of the wolves snapped its jaws violently, the sound ripping through the air like an explosion, piercing the makeshift ear protection Alynia and Veil had put in place. The echo was unbearable, but there was no time to react—two wolves lunged at them without a sound, their steps eerily silent.
Veil rolled to the side, dodging the fangs aimed at his chest. Alynia, on her end, tried to counter the attack with her sharp claws, but they met only the vaporous shadow surrounding the wolf, slicing through as if striking a mirage.
The wolves quickly repositioned themselves, their movements calculated, their glowing red eyes reflecting a disturbing intelligence. They seemed to study Veil and Alynia's every move, toying with them like predators playing with their prey before the final blow.
Then they struck again.
Each assault was preceded by a howl or a snap of jaws—like a declaration of intent that echoed across the room, further disrupting their focus. The first wolf lunged at Veil with blinding speed. This time, Veil didn't try to dodge: he dropped low to the ground and thrust his blade upward into the wolf's path.
But his blade hit nothing.
How...? Veil thought, shocked.
He looked up just in time to see the wolf shift mid-leap, dodging his dagger with unsettling precision. Only a trail of shadow lingered in the air for a brief moment before vanishing.
Meanwhile, Alynia, crouched low, waited for the charging wolf. She stayed perfectly still until the last moment, then pivoted to the side, narrowly avoiding the snapping jaws just inches from her face. Taking advantage of the creature's momentum, she struck back swiftly, slashing the wolf's front right leg with her claws.
The wolf landed heavily, letting out a piercing howl that forced both Alynia and Veil to cover their ears despite their improvised protection. The cry echoed through the chamber, muddling their senses and deepening their disorientation.
That's their weapon. Without these barriers, their howls and snapping would've overwhelmed us by now, Alynia realized.
But she had no time to think further. The third wolf, which had stayed back until now, suddenly leapt toward her. Still on the ground from her previous dodge, Alynia rolled to evade the attack.
However, a shadow fell across her path.
As if by magic, the wolf appeared exactly where she had rolled, materializing in a fluid motion—like teleportation. Caught off guard, Alynia had no time to react.
Veil, seeing it unfold, didn't hesitate. A raw surge of energy burst from his body as he focused his mana in an instant.
BOOM.
A blast erupted, shaking the entire chamber. The echo of the explosion was so intense it nearly knocked them unconscious. The sound pounded their eardrums, their vision blurred, and a sudden wave of dizziness took hold.
I can't see anything anymore... This wind, this echo... it was a mistake. Every breath blinds me, Veil thought, critical.
Alynia... I have to pull myself together, or we won't make it, he thought, panicked.
Unable to control his trajectory after releasing his power, Veil crashed straight into the wolf in a brutal collision.
The impact sent the creature flying several meters. Taken by surprise, the wolf couldn't anticipate the hit—Veil's speed had been too great. But though successful, the move left Veil vulnerable. He landed hard on his back, sliding across the smooth floor before coming to a stop not far from the beast. Alynia, still reeling from the deafening echo caused by Veil, found herself alone and disoriented.
The two remaining wolves, assessing the situation, wasted no time. One charged Alynia, the other sprinted straight for Veil.
Alynia and Veil, their vision still blurred and senses scrambled, saw the shadows rushing toward them. But their bodies, still numb from the echo's effects, didn't react fast enough.
Alynia tried to dodge, but a claw grazed her arm, leaving a bloody gash. Veil rolled away in desperation, but the creature—fast and precise—landed near him. Its claws tore into his left leg with violent force, ripping a cry of pain from him that echoed throughout the chamber.
Alynia, shaky but determined, rose and stumbled toward Veil. Her hurried steps—unsteady but urgent—were aimed at driving off the wolf pinning her companion to the ground.
I won't let it happen! Alynia thought, furious.
Veil's amplified scream, carried by the room's echo, only further clouded her focus. Her lupine ears, still sensitive despite the protection, suffered with every soundwave like another blow.
Fueled by a silent rage, she pushed through the pain and hurled herself at the wolf. The creature, alert, dodged with ease and cast its shadow in the opposite direction. Like teleportation, the wolf instantly reappeared at the shadow's edge—ready to strike back.
But Alynia had anticipated the move.
You won't get me twice, she thought, focused.
She changed her course at the last second, leaping onto the wolf. Her claws tore into the creature's throat, ripping a strangled growl from it. Without giving it a chance to retaliate, Alynia drove her other claws into the beast's side, plunging them deep before yanking them out in a swift motion.
The wolf collapsed heavily to the floor, its dark mist slowly dissipating. All that remained of the creature was a lifeless body.
Alynia immediately turned toward Veil. She dropped to her knees beside him, her eyes quickly scanning his wounded leg. Though the scratches weren't too deep, blood was flowing, pooling on the smooth floor.
"Hold on, Little Wolf," Alynia murmured, her voice urgent.
Veil, wincing in pain, tried to sit up with her help.
"Sorry... I left you alone," Veil murmured, guilty.
Alynia clenched her jaw, fighting her own exhaustion, but said nothing. She supported him, helping him back to his feet while being careful not to put pressure on his injured leg.
I'm a burden... I have to pull myself together, Veil thought, frustrated.
Despite the throbbing pain, Veil stood upright, leaning slightly on Alynia.
"You're still standing. That's all that matters for now. We'll make it… together," she murmured, calm but firm.
She had barely spoken those words when a sharp pain shot through her back. A cry nearly escaped her lips, but Alynia held it in, knowing that even the slightest sound would amplify their suffering. She winced, biting her lip to keep anything from slipping out.
The wolf Veil had knocked away had gotten back up. Faster than expected, it had closed in on them, its claws slashing Alynia before she could react.
Veil, alerted by her sudden movement, pulled her toward him, raising his dagger in a defensive motion. But he had no time to counter. The second wolf—the one that had positioned itself behind them—lunged with blinding speed.
Alynia, still close to Veil, caught sight of the attack thanks to the abrupt motion of his arm pulling her in.
No time to think, Alynia thought, alert.
She slipped free from Veil's grip, drawing the dagger at her belt in one swift motion. Veil turned his head just in time to see the shadow stretching through the air.
Alynia, acting on instinct, shoved Veil aside and hurled herself into the beast's path. The dagger gripped tight in her right hand was ready to pierce its mark.
The wolf, realizing its compromised position, tried to cast itself into its own shadow to retreat. But Veil, having predicted the move, extended his own blade at the exact spot where the creature would reappear.
CRACK.
His dagger sank deep into the wolf's flank, slicing across its length. The creature crashed to the ground, the impact ringing through the chamber like a wave of pain hammering their already weakened minds.
The last remaining wolf, seeing its companions fall, bared its fangs in a defiant gesture. It snapped them violently, each sound like a hammer blow reverberating through their skulls. Alynia and Veil, both worn down by the fight and the relentless noise, struggled to remain conscious.
Alynia glanced at Veil, giving him a subtle signal not to move.
What is she doing? Veil thought, confused.
She stepped forward slowly—first with careful, measured steps—then picked up her pace, locking eyes with the wolf. The snapping jaws stopped instantly, the predator now fully focused on Alynia.
She moved to the side, feinting a direct attack. Then, in a sudden shift, she lunged at the wolf.
Without a word, Alynia pointed sharply toward the back of the creature with a swift, precise motion. Behind it.
Veil finally understood her plan and moved silently to position himself behind the wolf. The creature, fixated on Alynia, didn't notice his shift.
When the wolf cast its shadow to dodge her, it reappeared directly in front of Veil—who was already waiting, dagger in hand.
THUNK.
Veil drove his blade precisely into the wolf's skull, killing it instantly. The creature collapsed without a sound, its shadow-wrapped body slowly dissipating until nothing was left but a lifeless corpse.
Veil, drained, let himself drop to the ground, sitting heavily. The sound of his fall echoed faintly in their minds.
Alynia stood still, breathing hard. Just as they thought it was over, a CLICK echoed through the silence.
They exchanged a tired glance, their faces etched with fatigue and wounds.
It's not over... Veil thought, worried.
A deep, continuous sound echoed through the room. The central tile began to rise slowly, lifting until it reached the ceiling. Veil murmured to Alynia, asking what was happening—but he immediately realized his voice produced no echo.
He gently tapped the floor with his fist, but again, no sound resonated. Curious, he slowly removed the pieces of cloth from his ears and murmured once more. This time, he could faintly hear his own voice.
The amplified echo that had dominated the room was gone.
He turned to Alynia and motioned for her to remove her own protection. She followed suit, her ears still lowered from the lingering pain, but her senses gradually returned to normal.
"We can finally breathe..." Veil murmured, relieved.
Another sound rang out—distinct and mechanical: a CLACK, followed by a heavy, rhythmic noise, like a mechanism being set into motion. A section of the room's wall slowly lowered, revealing an opening.
Still seated, Veil looked up at Alynia. He stood carefully, wincing slightly from the pain, and moved to stand beside her.
"Should we go check?" he asked, curious.
Alynia nodded silently, still too breathless to answer. Together, they moved forward cautiously, both feeling the toll of the previous battle. Their breathing was shallow, their bodies heavy, and their heads still rang from the echoes of howls and amplified noise.
When they reached the opening, they discovered a massive door, now open, revealing a spiral staircase descending deeper into the dungeon. Alynia stared down the staircase with a slightly worried frown, then turned to Veil.
"We'd better heal up before moving on," Alynia replied, her smile tight, exhausted.
Without waiting for a response, she sat down on the floor and pulled a small vial from her pouch.
"Bring your leg closer," she ordered, calm but authoritative.
Veil crossed his arms, a smirk tugging at his lips as he recalled their first meeting in the cave.
"Honestly, the pain's way more bearable like this than with your magic remedy," Veil said teasingly.
Alynia raised an eyebrow, giving him a look that mixed amusement and mild annoyance.
"Keep complaining and I'll dump the whole vial on it at once," she shot back, half-serious, half-playful.
Veil sighed, lifting his hands in mock surrender before reluctantly moving closer. Alynia soaked a cloth with the liquid from the vial and gently pressed it against the wounds on his leg.
"By the gods, it burns! Is this really supposed to heal?" Veil groaned, wincing.
"Stop whining. Move too much and I'll do it again," Alynia replied, calm but mocking.
She wrapped his leg in a small bandage, her hands quick but precise. Veil clenched his jaw, enduring the pain as best he could—but she still managed to make him smile.
Alynia then turned to her own wounds. She soaked a fresh piece of cloth with the same remedy and applied it to the gash on her arm. The sting was just as sharp, but she forced herself not to show any reaction in front of Veil.
I'm stronger than him. No way I'm letting it show that it hurts, thought Alynia, determined.
After a few seconds, she seemed to hesitate. With a light sigh, she broke the silence.
"Little Wolf... Can you help with my back? I can't reach it," she asked, her tone awkward.
Veil nodded, knelt behind her, and took the soaked cloth. Gently, he dabbed it over the wound running across her back.
Though the injury wasn't deep, Alynia winced slightly from the sting of the liquid. Veil noticed her reaction and gave a small, teasing smile.
"So, is it bearable, or should we switch places?" Veil joked, teasing.
Alynia turned slightly, giving him a mock-stern look.
"Keep going. And shut up," Alynia retorted, curt but amused.
Once the treatment was done, they both stood up. Though exhausted, they exchanged a determined look.
"We made it this far. We'll make it further," she said confidently.
Without a word, they stepped toward the passage that had opened before them. The staircase plunged into even deeper darkness—a promise of greater dangers yet to come.
They began to descend, wary of what lay ahead, but ready to face it together.