In the heart of the mountain, a colossal gate of black stone loomed in silence. Faded runes were carved upon its surface, as though forgotten in the darkness of millennia.
Mamir, Ener, and Runya stood before it. No matter how they tried, the gate would not stir.
Runya placed her hand upon the stone and whispered softly:
— "These… these are ancient fairy inscriptions. It says here: 'Darkness yields only to light.'"
Mamir's eyes sharpened. After a moment of silence, he drew his blade. Raising the Elven Light Sword high, he let its radiant glow pour forth. The runes lit one by one, and the gate trembled as it slowly opened.
From within came the stench of decay. Chains clattered in the distance, and muffled screams echoed through the depths.
As the trio advanced, a voice resounded from the shadows:
— "Kirarya… she was brought here. But she never escaped…"
Mamir's blood ran cold. Runya's breath caught in her throat.
And then the shadows gave birth to monstrous forms. They had the bodies of black lions, streaked with crimson lines that glowed like burning embers. Each beast bore three heads, with eyes blazing like fire. Five of them emerged.
Mamir lifted his sword, Ener gripped his dagger, and Kabur reared with a fierce neigh. The first clash shook the depths. The Elven Light Sword cut through a beast's hide, and the creature roared in pain—but the wound sealed quickly, and it lunged again.
The battle raged. Mamir slashed across a beast's snarling faces, forcing the three heads back with a furious howl. Ener struck with blinding speed, his dagger raining blows like a storm. Yet the creatures were unyielding—every wound closed, and they grew only more savage.
A triple strike of claws scraped across Mamir's armor; jaws snapped at Ener's shoulder, missing him by an inch. Both men fought with every breath, dodging by sheer agility, their movements driven by desperation.
Then came a fleeting chance. One lion's three heads lunged at once, momentarily aligning. Mamir saw it, roared, and with all his strength swung his radiant blade. The Elven Light Sword severed all three throats at once. The beast howled in agony before collapsing into smoke and shadow.
At the same moment, another lion hurled itself upon Ener. Its massive frame crashed down like a wall of death. Ener rolled to the side, catching a split-second opening. Without hesitation, he drove his dagger into the monster's chest. Light exploded from the wound. The beast convulsed, roared, and fell lifeless to the ground.
But victory was short-lived. The three remaining lions pounced together, their claws like steel and their threefold jaws closing in for the kill. Mamir and Ener were thrown down, breathless, helpless beneath the crushing weight of darkness.
And then Runya screamed. It was no ordinary cry—it shook the stones, pierced the marrow, and carried an ancient melody. Her eyes blazed white, her hair lifted as though in a storm. Forgotten fairy magic awakened.
Light burst from within her, filling the tunnel. The three shadow-lions were caught in its brilliance, writhing and shrieking as their crimson stripes burned like fire. In seconds, their bodies dissolved into ash and silence.
Mamir and Ener staggered to their feet. Runya's eyes still held the glow of that ancient power. Kabur stamped the ground, snorting steam from his nostrils.
Before them stretched a tunnel even darker, descending deeper into the abyss. Behind them, the great gate had sealed shut.
The only path left was forward—into the depths of hell itself.
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"If you enjoyed it, adding this book to your collection would make me really happy, my friends."