I darted forward, my dagger flashing as I closed in on the queen's guards. The first Viperath lunged, its fangs bared, but I sidestepped smoothly, slicing through its neck in one fluid motion. The creature hissed its last, collapsing in a heap. The others reacted instantly, coiling and striking in a frenzy, their scales glinting under the dim cave light.
Ezekiel, meanwhile, was holding his own against the main horde. His sword swung in wide arcs, cleaving through the snakes that swarmed him like a living tide. "There are too many!" he grunted, dodging a bite that nearly grazed his leg. He stomped on one, crushing its head, but another slithered up his back, forcing him to spin and slash it away. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he kept them at bay, his movements precise but strained.
