"No one said we'd be fighting monsters in here!" Anna shrieked as she flung herself backward. Kevin surged past her, his blade flashing once—clean, merciless—and the hound's head spun away with a wet thud.
They had barely left the ceremonial hall. The exit wasn't the problem; thanks to William's sharp sense of direction, they knew exactly where to run. But knowing meant nothing when a storm of corrupted beasts kept pouring in, clawing over broken stone and snapping at the air like starved demons.
All of them aimed for Emma—or the one she was holding.
The child's frightened breaths trembled against the dim surroundings. Her scent—thick with Nyx's essence—rolled off her like invisible steam. To corrupted creatures, it was a call, a temptation, a feast. And every monster in this cursed place was answering.
"Above! And the left flank—three closing in fast!" Gloria yelled, pulse hammering as she tracked the shifting shadow.
