Esharok's eyes flickered with a mixture of apprehension and resolve. Without waiting for further invitation, he gestured toward the darkened entrance of a long-abandoned sector of the hive an ancient network of catacombs that once housed the rulers and spiritual leaders of the Kazi.
Esharok:
"Come," he rasped, voice low but steady. "There are things I dare not speak openly in these ruins. Let us go where our ancestors once whispered their secrets."
Saumu hesitated only briefly, exchanging a sharp glance with Kizito. Then, with a nod, she signaled her team to follow. The squad moved swiftly, descending into the shadows of the underground labyrinth it was cold, damp, and filled with echoes of long-forgotten power.
Saumu's Discussion with KizitoAs they walked deeper into the catacombs, Saumu turned to Kizito, her brow creased with concern.
Saumu:
"Kizito, what do you think he fears? That something even the Kazi are terrified of… what could be lurking beneath this world?"
Kizito's expression was grim as he considered her question.
Kizito:
"The Kazi are primitive, but their instinct is strong. They've survived centuries by fearing what they cannot see. If Esharok is moved to lead us here, it's because they believe whatever dwells underneath threatens us all."
She clenched her fists, her voice growing bitter.
Saumu:
"Their paranoia may be justified. A continent-sized hole, some ancient power buried deep who knows what horrors hide beneath that ruins? It's no coincidence that they abandoned their own mighty palace their empire's heart long ago."
She paused, glancing back at the screens displaying the ruins of the border world's former grandeur. The towering spires and glittering citadels of the palace were now shattered, overgrown, and covered in strange, pulsing growths.
Her eyes flashed with fury and sorrow.
"What did they do to this place? To their own home? This was once a hub of power an extension of their might. Now… it's a hollow shell," she whispered, clenched fists trembling with emotion.
For a moment, she was lost in her fury, anger boiling beneath her calm exterior. Then, slowly, she took a deep breath, regaining her composure.
Saumu:
"We can't afford to be led by fear… but I understand why they are terrified."
Esharok Speaks to ShailiaMeanwhile, Esharok led the group into a vast, subterranean chamber an ancient crypt lined with relics, glyphs, and symbols that still shimmered with residual energy. Once seated, he turned to Shailia, gazing at her with piercing, cautious eyes.
Esharok:
"There is something far worse than the silent shadows of the surface the real threat we dare not speak of openly."
Shailia stepped closer, her senses tingling as she felt the depths of his fear.
"What is it?" she asked softly.
Esharok's voice lowered into a grave whisper.
"A beast… a worm, perhaps some ancient creation of the universe's deepest darkness. It's an abomination with millions of teeth, sharp as shards of obsidian, capable of tearing through matter and spirit alike. It lurks in the abyss beneath our feet, weaving through the bones of this world, waiting for the moment to rise again."
He shivered despite himself, eyes darting to the shadows.
"It is not like the silent ones this creature is a living nightmare an ancient predator from the void before the worlds were born. It devours everything in its path and leaves destruction that corrupts even the great powers of the galaxy."
Shailia's breath caught in her throat. Her mind spun with the implications a living, breathing nightmare cloaked in darkness, hidden beneath a planet that the Kazi feared to even speak of.
"And you believe it still dwells beneath this world?" she asked.
"I do," Esharok confirmed grimly. **"And I believe it is aware of us, watching, waiting for the moment to reawaken. The Kazi fear what they call the worm and for….