Story 436: The Labyrinth Below

The oppressive darkness enveloped the team like a living entity, its silence broken only by their labored breaths and the faint hum emanating from Viper’s glowing tome. The void they had entered was vast and featureless, but as their eyes adjusted, faint patterns began to emerge on the ground beneath their feet. Intricate symbols, etched into the stone, pulsed faintly with a dull red light.

“Stay close,” Rook ordered, his voice low but firm. “We don’t know what’s out there.”

Ghost moved ahead, his silhouette melting into the shadows as he scouted the area. Shadow followed, her rifle raised and her eyes scanning the horizon. Bulwark brought up the rear, his massive frame a reassuring presence against the unknown.

“The energy here is… suffocating,” Viper whispered, her voice trembling. The tome in her hands felt heavier than ever, its glow casting eerie patterns on her face. “It’s like the air itself is alive.”