Zane tensed as the jungle rustled around him, the thick air heavy with the scent of moss and decay that clung to his lungs like a damp cloth, the disc's faint glow barely cutting through the dense foliage that brushed his face with damp leaves that left trails of moisture. Gideon stirred beside him, his cough weak but persistent, a sound that echoed faintly off the unseen canopy, a fragile thread of life in the oppressive heat, while Kael stood alert, her cracked staff dim, its green light flickering like a dying flame that struggled against the encroaching shadows. Stability at 1%, his HUD murmured in a soft green, the suit's systems teetering on the brink with a faint whine that grated on his nerves, the humidity seeping into the cracks like a slow poison that sapped his strength. Armor integrity at 15%, it added, a grim tally of his battered state, the metal creaking with every movement, the heat pressing against his skin like a suffocating blanket.
"Something's out there," Kael whispered, her voice low and tense, her eyes scanning the shadows where the vines swayed as if alive, their movement a silent threat that set his heart racing in the stillness. Zane nodded, his hand hovering over the disc, its power nearly gone, the jungle's silence pressing against his ears like a held breath, amplifying every rustle, drip, and distant call of unseen life. Gideon groaned, his hand clutching his side where fresh blood seeped, a stark contrast against the mossy ground, the sight fueling a knot of worry that tightened his chest and spurred his resolve to protect his mentor at all costs. The air grew heavier, the humidity wrapping around him like a shroud, the jungle closing in with every passing second.
A shadow darted, and Zane spun, catching a glimpse of glowing eyes before a creature leaped—sleek, scaled, with claws glinting in the dim light, its hiss cutting through the quiet like a blade. He dodged, the disc sparking uselessly with a faint pop that died too soon, and Kael struck, her staff clashing with a hiss that sent sparks flying into the undergrowth, the beast retreating with a snarl that reverberated through the trees, shaking leaves loose. "We need to move," she said, her tone urgent, pulling Gideon up with a grunt, her strength waning but unwavering as she braced against his weight. Zane supported his mentor, the old man's weight dragging at his arms, the heat sapping his energy with every labored step, his legs burning with the effort.
They pushed through the undergrowth, vines snagging their clothes with a tearing sound that echoed faintly, the heat clinging to Zane's skin like a second layer that made his breath shallow and his vision blur at the edges, the jungle closing in with a suffocating embrace. His leg throbbed, the cold damage from the tundra lingering like a dull ache that pulsed with each movement, but he pressed on, supporting Gideon, whose breaths grew shallower with each labored gasp, the sound a constant reminder of their perilous situation. His HUD pinged with a sharp alert: Life signs detected. Proximity: 30 meters, the sound tightening his chest, the jungle's depths hiding more threats with every rustle of leaves. The foliage thickened, the air growing dense with the scent of wet earth and something metallic, a hint of danger lurking.
More creatures emerged, their scales shimmering with an oily sheen that reflected the faint light, eyes glowing in pairs that pierced the gloom, surrounding them with a tightening noose that made his heart pound against his ribs. Zane swung the disc, its edge catching one with a dull thud that jarred his wrist, but the impact strained the suit, the metal creaking under the pressure with a groan that echoed. Kael's staff flared, taking down another with a crack that reverberated through the trees, but her strength waned, the green light fading to a flicker, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts that fogged the humid air. "Hold on!" he shouted, his voice echoing off unseen trees, the sound swallowed by the dense canopy, the jungle absorbing his plea.
A roar split the air, a deep rumble that shook the leaves and sent droplets raining down, and Veyra appeared, her tendrils coiling from a new rift that tore open with a groan, the ground trembling under her power. "You're mine," she sneered, her eyes blazing with a cold fury, tendrils lashing out with a whip-like snap that knocked Kael back with a cry, her staff skittering across the moss with a clatter. Zane lunged, protecting Gideon with his body, the disc sparking faintly with a desperate pulse that offered a sliver of hope, but the creatures closed in, their claws raking the earth with a grating sound, the circle tightening with relentless intent. The heat intensified, the air thick with tension and the stench of their scales.
The ground trembled, a hidden temple rising from the jungle floor with a groan that shook the roots, its stone glowing with runes that pulsed like a living heartbeat, the structure ancient and imposing against the green. His HUD flashed: Energy source detected, the words a spark of hope in the chaos, a lifeline amidst the storm. Zane dragged Gideon toward it, his arms burning with effort, the suit's servos whining, Kael staggering to her feet with a wince, her resolve unbroken despite the blow, her face set with determination. Veyra's tendrils pursued, snaking through the air with a sinister grace, the rift widening with a guttural roar that shook the trees, her presence a storm of power that threatened to engulf them.
Inside, the temple was cool, its walls etched with ancient symbols that glowed softly, casting dancing shadows across the stone, the air thick with a power that tingled against his skin like static, a stark contrast to the jungle's oppressive heat. The disc pulsed, Stability at 2%, and Zane spotted a pedestal at the center, a crystal glowing blue with a light that promised salvation, its hum resonating in his chest. He reached for it, but a tendril yanked him back with a brutal tug that sent pain shooting up his arm, Veyra's eyes blazing with fury, her voice a hiss, "Not yours to take," the words dripping with venom. The temple shook, stone dust raining down in a fine mist, creatures pouring in with snarls, their claws scraping the floor with a harsh scrape that set his teeth on edge.
He fought, the disc's edge cutting a tendril with a snap that echoed, the dark energy dissipating with a hiss that filled the air with a burnt scent, the crystal's light flaring brighter with each strike, a beacon of hope. Kael joined, her staff striking with a renewed burst of green that clashed with the shadows, and Gideon's weak voice urged, "Do it," his words a faint but firm command that spurred Zane on, a lifeline to his fading strength. He grabbed the crystal, energy surging through him like a lightning strike that made his nerves sing, the disc stabilizing at 5%, its hum vibrating in his chest, but the temple cracked, fissures spreading like veins across the walls. A new rift pulled at them with a fierce tug, Veyra's scream echoing as the structure began to collapse, the ground giving way beneath their feet with a thunderous roar.