Belial's sharp gaze flickered to a broken stairwell leading up to another blocked exit. But this time, beyond the rubble, he saw something different—faint light seeping through the cracks. It was dim, barely noticeable, but in the suffocating darkness of the catacombs, it stood out like a beacon of hope.
"That could be our way out," he said calmly, careful not to waste too much of his oxygen.
But before they could make a move, a grotesque sound gurgled through the chamber.
The creature shifted.
It was grotesque, slimy, and utterly unnatural. A beast-like entity formed of pure, pulsating flesh, yet something about it carried a twisted semblance of humanity. It had hind legs—thick and muscular, yet misshapen, supporting its hunched and monstrous frame. Two faces adorned its body, both melting as if they had been forcefully fused with its flesh. One face rested atop its head, its lips curled into a disturbing smile, while the other sat embedded in its stomach, frowning as though in eternal agony.
The dim glow of the luminescent flowers reflected off its grotesque, ridged skin—petrified flesh shifting with every unsettling movement.
Then it let out a screech.
A horrendous, ear-splitting screech that echoed through the chamber, vibrating through their very bones. The force of it sent a rush of stale air through the space, rattling loose pebbles from the cracks in the stone walls.
The three stood their ground.
Belial's fingers twitched, reaching into the air. A dull grey screen materialized before him, flickering as data scrolled across it. Then, with a swift motion, his weapon materialized.
Bloodfang.
The curved longsword gleamed in the eerie glow, its crimson edge pulsing as though it was alive. He hoisted it up, shifting into a firm stance, adjusting for the growing fatigue that gnawed at his body from the lack of oxygen.
"Raven, cover me," Belial ordered, his voice steady.
Raven gave a curt nod, raising his armored fists, his stance unwavering.
"Xin, distract it from a distance."
Without hesitation, Xin darted to the shadows, positioning himself strategically. The creature's many eyes twitched, its grotesque faces contorting as it registered their movements.
Then it lunged.
The ground trembled beneath its weight, each step shaking the chamber. The room wasn't particularly large, yet somehow, the sheer presence of the creature made it feel suffocatingly small. Or perhaps it was simply too massive to be confined in such a space.
None of that mattered.
It stood between them and their only chance at escape.
Belial took a controlled breath. He didn't charge in recklessly—his energy was already waning from the lack of oxygen. Every movement had to be precise, calculated. One mistake, and it could mean the end.
His grip on Bloodfang tightened.
Man, I wish Oracle was here.
At this moment, Belial had no idea what rank this creature was. That was the most dangerous part. If it was merely a Minor mirror monster, he stood somewhat of a chance. But if it was a Balancer or higher, he was in trouble.
Hell, if it was an B rank, it would already be enough to overwhelm him.
But there was no tme for doubts.
The creature roared again, a deafening, unnatural sound that reverberated off the chamber walls, making dust and tiny fragments of stone rain down from the ceiling. It crouched, tensed like a predator preparing to strike. The foul stench of decaying flesh filled the air as it moved, a sickening mix of rot and something worse—something old, something forbidden.
Xin took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. From his concealed position, he readied his daggers, flipping them in his hands. He was fast—faster than the others—but speed alone wouldn't be enough against something like this. He needed precision, needed to find a weakness. The problem was, the thing looked like it was made entirely of pain and death.
Raven took a step forward, lifting his fists. His armor was heavy, reinforced, built for enduring punishment. He could take a hit better than either of them, and he knew it. The plan was simple: he would engage, draw its attention, while Belial sought an opening.
The beast lunged first.
Raven reacted instantly, raising his gauntleted arms just as a grotesque, clawed appendage slammed into him. The impact sent a thunderous shockwave through the chamber, and for a moment, Raven skidded backward, his boots carving deep grooves into the stone. The sheer force of the strike sent vibrations up his arms, but he held firm.
Belial seized the opportunity, dashing forward with Bloodfang raised. The blade gleamed as he slashed at the creature's side, aiming for the exposed tissue between its plated flesh. The sword bit deep, dark ichor spilling forth as the creature let out a furious, distorted wail.
Xin sprang into action, using the distraction to his advantage. He darted along the chamber's edge, his movements silent, his eyes trained on the creature's weak points. He let a dagger fly—aiming for the grotesque, grinning face on its head. The blade struck home, embedding itself into the melting visage.
The reaction was immediate.
The beast thrashed, its massive form convulsing as it howled in agony. Its clawed arms flailed wildly, striking the walls and sending shards of stone flying in every direction. One struck Xin in the shoulder, knocking him off balance, but he gritted his teeth and pushed through the pain.
Belial didn't hesitate. He pressed the attack, using the creature's moment of distraction to drive Bloodfang deeper into its body. He twisted the blade, eliciting another shriek from the beast. Dark tendrils of energy pulsed from the wound, wrapping around the weapon as if trying to devour it.
Raven took his chance, launching himself forward and delivering a devastating punch to the creature's stomach. The impact sent a ripple of force through its body, causing the distorted, frowning face embedded in its torso to contort in agony.
The battle was far from over, but they had drawn first blood.
Belial steadied himself, exhaling slowly. His body ached, his lungs burned, but he couldn't falter now.
Belial and Raven kept fighting, their movements fluid, instinctive—every swing, every strike, a desperate bid to overpower the abomination before them. The catacomb creature, despite its grotesque appearance and erratic movements, fought with terrifying precision. It was not just a beast. It was something worse.
Belial ducked under a wild swipe of its clawed limb, feeling the air shift violently as the blow narrowly missed his head. He countered with a swift, upward slash of Bloodfang, the curved blade carving into the creature's side. Dark ichor spattered the stone floor, sizzling upon impact. The wound gaped, but it did not slow the monster.
Raven took the opening, stepping in and delivering a bone-crushing punch to the creature's frowning stomach face. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through its body, distorting its already melting flesh. It reeled, staggering backward, but only for a moment. Then, with an unholy screech, it lashed out again.
Raven met it head-on.
Bracing himself, he lunged forward, his massive armored fist colliding with the creature's twisted torso. The impact was like a cannon blast, sending ripples through its grotesque form. The thing shrieked, its multiple eyes flickering with something almost akin to intelligence—something malicious. But Raven didn't give it a moment to recover. He slammed his gauntleted fist into its torso again, cracking whatever passed for ribs beneath its hideous flesh. The force sent it skidding back, its talons gouging deep trenches into the stone.
It retaliated with terrifying speed.
One of its clawed limbs lashed out, aiming for Raven's exposed side. He twisted, deflecting the strike with his forearm, though the force of it sent vibrations up his arm. He clenched his teeth, countering with an uppercut that sent the creature's grinning head snapping backward.
Belial saw the opportunity. Bloodfang gleamed as he surged forward, slashing diagonally across the creature's torso, aiming for the space between its fused faces. The blade sank deep, and another hideous screech tore from its throat. Yet, still, it did not fall.
It was adapting.
The grotesque, frowning face in its stomach convulsed, and suddenly, a second set of elongated arms erupted from its sides, grotesque and sinewy. It moved unnaturally fast, using its new limbs to launch itself at Raven like a blur of flesh and bone. He barely had time to react before it crashed into him, sending them both tumbling through the dust-laden air.
Raven hit the ground hard, his armor scraping against stone. The creature loomed over him, its claws raised for a killing blow. But before it could strike, he threw his weight forward, rolling beneath it and driving his elbow straight into its gut. The force buckled the thing's form, sending it lurching forward.
Using its own momentum against it, Raven twisted around, grabbing the nearest limb and yanking with all his strength. With a sickening crack, the grotesque arm tore free, dark ichor spraying from the wound. The creature howled, writhing in agony, its remaining arms flailing wildly.
Belial didn't waste the opening.