Chapter 42: The Monster of the Abyss
Kaelen froze in place, rigid on the narrow rock protrusion. The deep whisper that rose from the abyss echoed in his ears, not just as a sound, but as a palpable vibration in the air, as if a massive being was breathing in the depths. Behind him, Emily, Caleb, Ethan, and Laila froze, their eyes fixed on the black void, fear etched on their faces.
"What is that?" Emily whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the flowing water.
Kaelen had no answer. He gripped the flare tighter and aimed it towards the source of the sound, but the darkness was too dense for him to see anything. The whisper grew stronger, turning into a low, deep, shuddering growl.
Suddenly, something moved in the darkness below. It wasn't one thing, but several. Glowing, yellow eyes appeared, shining in the darkness like burning embers. They were moving slowly, rising from the depths of the abyss, growing larger with each passing moment.
"They're... they're not just one..." Caleb said, his voice trembling.
When the creatures rose high enough to reach the faint light of the flare, they revealed themselves. These creatures were not like the Commander or the monsters they had faced before. They were massive, serpent-like beings, but covered in dark, slimy scales, and had huge, leathery wings that resembled those of bats, but they were torn and tattered. Their heads were flat, and their glowing yellow eyes were fixed on them with lethal coldness.
They were Abyss Dragons.
There were three of them, coiling and moving in the air beneath them, emitting a low growl. Their wings flapped with a faint sound, creating cold drafts of air in the passage. Their massive bodies filled the abyss, and every movement they made threatened to knock them off the narrow protrusion.
"Don't move!" Kaelen yelled, his voice barely coming out. He knew that any sudden movement could be their end.
The dragons were rising slowly, as if they were examining their prey. A foul smell, like sulfur and death, emanated from them. One of them was getting closer, its flat head rising slowly towards them, its yellow eyes gleaming with malicious intelligence.
The distance between it and Kaelen was shrinking fast. He could feel the cold heat of its breath on his face. Its huge jaws were slightly open, revealing sharp teeth, long and pointed, that could tear through anything.
These creatures were faster and more agile than the previous monsters. They moved in the air with skill, as if in their natural element.
"What do we do?" Laila whispered, tears of fear glistening in her eyes.
Kaelen realized they were trapped. Behind them, the relentless Commander. In front of them, a dark abyss filled with dragons. And on this narrow protrusion, there was no place to hide or fight.
One of the dragons began to get closer, extending its long neck towards Kaelen, as if preparing to pounce. Time was running out.