I've Bitten My Tongue Again

"I'd bet my boots that one or more of those creatures is what's holding Cekt back." Jake voiced aloud, an air of revelation dancing in his eyes. "It would explain the temporal distortion."

Yet, in an unexpected twist, Xi didn't share his confidence; her doubts echoing within his mind due to their soul connection.

"Xi?"

[It's nothing.] She reassured him with her soothing voice, but he could feel her lingering worry. [I hope I am wrong. Even if I am right, it is already too late, anyway.]

Jake gave her the space she needed, sensing where her fears might be rooted.

Their optimistic hypotheses only held water if they underestimated the Dungeon Digestor that had claimed the Magnetic Resonator for itself. So far, the creature's performance had been disappointing, seemingly validating their assumptions. But this could just be a trap.

Had they been snared by the enemy's ploy from the very beginning, their strings plucked by a puppet master?

THUD, THUD, THUD!