The ground beneath Junzo and his companions shook violently, the cavern rumbling as if the very earth was protesting their presence. A deep, guttural sound echoed through the vast space, making it seem as though the world itself was tearing apart. The walls cracked, and massive chunks of rock began to plummet from above. The air felt thick, heavy with the weight of something ancient and powerful awakening.
[System]
Warning: Cavern Collapse Imminent.
Escape time: 5 minutes.
All players are advised to leave the area immediately.
Junzo: "We need to move, NOW!"
Rina's eyes widened in panic as the ground beneath her feet cracked open, revealing a deep chasm that seemed to stretch infinitely downward. The whole cavern was collapsing. Dust filled the air, and the flickering light from their spells barely illuminated the chaos surrounding them.
Rina: "What is happening?! Why is the cavern collapsing?"
Junzo's mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. The defeat of Valthor, Abyssal Sorcerer should have been their victory, their escape. But something was wrong. The magic they had disturbed, the Abyssal Pool, wasn't just a source of Valthor's power it was a seal, a containment for something far more dangerous.
Junzo: "I think we just released more than we bargained for. The sorcerer was only a servant."
Garron: "A servant? What do you mean?!"
Junzo: "The Abyssal Pool wasn't just feeding Valthor's magic it was holding something back. And now that we've destroyed it, whatever was sealed is free. We need to get out before it gets worse."
[System]
Warning: Sealed Entity Awakening.
Entity: Unknown.
Threat Level: Extreme.
A deafening roar echoed from deep within the collapsing cavern. It wasn't Valthor's voice, nor any sound they had heard before. It was something ancient, primal, and filled with pure malice.
Kai: "This is bad. We have to move!"
Without wasting another moment, Junzo turned to lead the group, his mind still racing with questions. They had to get out of this collapsing cavern. But escape was easier said than done. The walls were crumbling, and paths that had once been clear were now filled with debris. The Abyssal Pool had triggered a catastrophic chain reaction that was threatening to swallow everything in its path.
[System]
Teleportation to nearest safe zone is now unavailable.
Teleportation cooldown: 10 minutes.
Junzo cursed under his breath. The Teleportation system had been disabled, and they were trapped inside the cavern. Their only option was to move fast, to outrun the impending collapse.
Junzo: "We need to go up, now! This way!"
He pointed toward a narrow, jagged tunnel that led toward the surface. It was a risky move; the tunnel was barely wide enough for them to squeeze through, and the tremors had already begun to cause the rocks above to shift. But it was their best chance.
Garron: "Move, everyone!"
They sprinted down the tunnel, the sound of rocks falling behind them like the heartbeat of the collapsing cavern. The air grew thick with dust, making it harder to breathe. Junzo pushed through the pain, focusing on the tunnel ahead, ignoring the fear that gnawed at the edges of his mind. He couldn't afford to lose focus not now.
[System]
Health Warning: Air quality is rapidly deteriorating. -10 HP per second.
Rina: "We can't keep this up for long. We need fresh air!"
Junzo didn't respond. He couldn't afford to waste energy. He needed to get them out.
The tunnel was narrow, and their progress slowed as they dodged falling rocks and unstable ledges. Every step felt like an eternity, but finally, after what seemed like an age of rushing through darkness, they saw the light of the surface ahead.
Kai: "There! I see the exit!"
But just as they thought they were free, the ground in front of them shattered, and an enormous clawed hand reached up from the depths of the cavern. The ground trembled violently as the creature emerged, its dark, scaly body nearly filling the entire tunnel. Its eyes were glowing with an eerie red light, and its breath was like the gust of a thousand storms.
[System]
Entity Detected: Abyssal Leviathan.
Threat Level: SSS.
Recommended Action: Immediate retreat.
Junzo froze, his heart pounding in his chest. The Abyssal Leviathan the very entity that had been sealed in the depths of the cavern. The creature's enormous body blocked their path, its glowing eyes focused on them like a predator scenting its prey.
Junzo: "Retreat! Retreat now!"
Kai: "There's no way we can fight that! We need to run!"
They had no choice. With the Abyssal Leviathan blocking their only escape route, their only hope was to outrun it. Junzo's mind raced as he searched for a way out. They were in a dead-end, trapped between the advancing creature and the collapsing cavern behind them.
Suddenly, a blinding light filled the tunnel. It wasn't from their spells or abilities it was from the Abyssal Leviathan's body, radiating a strange and terrible energy. The creature roared, sending shockwaves through the tunnel that made the ground quake beneath their feet.
Junzo: "No time to waste! Keep moving!"
With no time to hesitate, they dashed toward the small gap above the creature's head, a narrow opening in the rock that led to the surface. The Abyssal Leviathan roared again, and its massive claws slashed down, narrowly missing Kai as he ducked under them.
[System]
You have activated Shadow Dash!
You move at triple speed for 10 seconds.
Kai's agility kicked in, and with his Shadow Dash, he was able to reach the gap above the Leviathan's head and climb through just in time. Junzo was close behind, using his staff to push against the rocky walls for leverage. Rina and Garron followed swiftly, barely managing to avoid the Leviathan's claws.
Garron: "We're almost there!"
With a final burst of speed, they reached the surface, tumbling out into the daylight as the cavern continued to collapse behind them. The Abyssal Leviathan roared one final time, its enormous form vanishing into the depths below.
They collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air, covered in dust and blood, their bodies trembling from the ordeal. They had escaped, but the fight was far from over. The Abyssal Leviathan was not the only danger they had released.
Junzo: "We're not safe yet. This is just the beginning."
The future seemed uncertain, but one thing was clear: their journey was far from over. And as Junzo looked toward the horizon, he could already feel the weight of the next challenge bearing down on them.