Into the Darkness!
After about fifteen minutes of galloping, Shadow finally slowed to a halt. He sniffed the ground and tottered, searching for any signs of the trails they were following.
The place appeared ordinary at first glance, just like any other part of the woods: trees swaying gently, herbs carpeting the forest floor, and grasses swaying in the breeze. But despite the apparent normalcy, Shadow had come to a stop, as if sensing something amiss.
"You sure they're here?" Azrael asked as he dismounted the horse, peering at Shadow with a curious gaze.
Shadow shook his head in response.
Azrael rolled his eyes before scratching Shadow's back, hoping to find some clue that would lead them in the right direction.
"Nothing, huh..." he sighed, shaking his head in frustration.
Azrael ignited his mana, heightening his sensory perception. He could feel the flow of mana, akin to liquid coursing through his eyes, ears, and even his skin.
His body heated up, a drawback of lacking a mana core.
Closing his eyes, he plunged into silence. Gradually, he tuned into his own heartbeat, then Shadow's heartbeat. The faint chirping of birds, the rustling of branches, and the scurrying of ants beneath him became discernible.
Then, like a faint whisper, he heard something that should have been too subtle for him to pick up. A sound emanating from below, beneath the ground.
"Got you," Azrael exclaimed with a smile lighting up his face. "They're underground. We just need to figure out how to get in there."
Shadow neighed in agreement and attempted to break through the ground with his hooves, but to no avail. Azrael shook his head.
"Brute force won't work; we need a magical solution."
Determined, Azrael lowered himself onto all fours and pressed his head against the ground. Sure enough, he could sense something below—a faint murmur of voices, like people engaged in conversation.
Azrael pressed his hands firmly against the ground, channeling his mana into the earth. With his enhanced mana perception, he could see the faint black hue of his mana sweeping through the ground like a dark river.
"Why black? I thought it was silver last time. Huh... strange."
He continued to guide his mana in a circular motion across the ground, and as he did, he heard faint popping noises, like latches being unlocked.
"A magic lock! It appears this is a concealed base," Azrael excitedly said.
As the popping noises ceased, a circular fog began to form on the ground. In a mysterious dance, the earth within the circle vanished, revealing a dark opening beneath.
Shadow jerked back in surprise, then cautiously stepped forward, craning his head to peer into the darkness below.
"Stay here, buddy," Azrael said, patting the curious horse. "I'll be back with them soon, okay?"
From below, confused voices echoed as if they never anticipated someone unlocking the magical seal.
Shadow regarded Azrael for a moment, and then, as if understanding, nodded his head in approval.
Azrael took out his knives and coated them with his Mana. His body heated up in response, a side effect of the intense magical infusion, but he had no other choice.
With determination in his eyes, he took a step down, peering into the darkness. Realizing that nothing would be visible from this vantage point, he made a decision.
In a leap of faith, Azrael jumped into the void, plunging into the unknown depths below.
...
As Azrael descended through the void, the air seemed to ripple around him, distorted by the sheer force of his descent. The heat generated by his mana-coated knives intensified, casting an ethereal glow that illuminated the surrounding darkness with flickering shadows.
The rush of wind and the echoes of distant voices enveloped him, swirling around like whispers from another realm.
Suddenly, he landed with a thud on solid ground, the impact jolting him back to reality. As he regained his bearings, Azrael's eyes adjusted to the dim surroundings, taking in the eerie atmosphere of the hidden base.
To his surprise, Azrael found himself standing in a vast cavernous chamber. Intricate runes adorned the ceiling, adding an otherworldly touch to the underground space.
Stalagmites protruded from the ground like ancient sentinels, and torches lined the walls, casting flickering light and creating long shadows that danced across the stone surfaces.1
However, he quickly realized he was not alone.
The thud of his landing had drawn attention. Azrael found himself sandwiched between two startled guards. But they weren't just any guards – they were creatures with ugly, green features, big ears, and grotesque faces.
Goblins.
Before the Goblin had a chance to react, Azrael moved with lightning speed. He whirled around, extending his arm, and in a matter of seconds, two stiff bodies thudded to the ground, their throats swiftly slit open.
Gurgling sounds echoed in the cavern, and blood poured out like a crimson fountain, staining the rocky ground.
Azrael glanced left and right, confirming there were no more Goblins in the vicinity. His predatory instincts on high alert, he remained vigilant.
Satisfied with the silence, he proceeded to loot the corpses. In a swift motion, he retrieved a ring, a small bag of coins, and a key from them.
"Hmmm..." Azrael carefully examined the key and ring. The old key had an odd shape, which could prove useful since Goblins were known to guard treasures and lock everything up tight.
The ring, however, was oversized for him. Despite his best efforts, his small fingers couldn't fit into it. But the large ring could still be useful in the future, maybe for trading or as a distraction if needed.
Next, he swiftly dragged the two lifeless Goblin bodies and concealed them behind a large stalagmite, out of sight.
Surveying the cavern, Azrael assessed his options. The way he had come from was engulfed in complete darkness, making it impractical to consider going back that way. The only illuminated path lay ahead, a narrow road winding its way up to an uncertain destination.
With a deep breath, Azrael steeled himself for what lay ahead. Gripping his knives tightly, he moved forward stealthily, his senses on high alert as he ventured down the illuminated path, knowing it was his only route forward.