Mamir, Ener, Runya, and Necor followed the mermaid Runfey into the shadow-drowned undersea cavern. Before them rose the ruins of a palace, its moss-covered stones still bearing traces of ancient splendor. Then, a colossal shadow tore through the waters: a winged, monstrous octopus. Krakven had appeared.
— "So, the little prince has finally reached me," the beast growled, its voice rumbling through the depths. "I am Krakven! Without your army beside you, your fate is sealed. And look what I command!"
Darkness flooded the cavern. From the shadows emerged twisted forms—merfolk-like creatures with fish tails and human torsos, crowned with horns and wings. Krakven roared:
— "Tear them all apart!"
The battle erupted. Mamir drew his Sword of Elven Light, Ener raised his massive black blade, and Necor unsheathed his twin black swords. Shadow creatures swarmed like a tidal wave. Ener's greatsword cleaved five at once, Necor's twin blades sliced six more, and Mamir's radiant strikes felled three. Yet their numbers only multiplied.
Runfey suddenly noticed the crimson gem embedded in Krakven's forehead. Every time it pulsed, more shadow creatures were born. She whispered to Runya:
— "That stone… it's creating them!"
Runya cast a telepathic spell, relaying the truth to Mamir, Ener, and Necor. Without destroying Krakven and that gem, the fight was hopeless. Mamir surged forward through the water, determination burning in his eyes. Ener and Necor cut down any monster that dared approach him.
Krakven's laughter thundered as all eight tentacles lashed out. Mamir darted between them, his blade flashing. He slashed one tentacle deep, severed another, forcing Krakven to shriek in pain. The monster recoiled, then lunged again.
Suddenly, a cloud of black ink erupted from Krakven's maw. Mamir's sight vanished in the darkness. In that instant, a massive tentacle coiled around his leg, smashing him against a jagged rock. The cavern shook.
His ribs cracked under the impact, but Mamir never let go of his sword. With a roar, he drove his blade into the tentacle gripping his leg. Krakven bellowed in agony, the limb convulsing as its tip was sliced off.
But the beast was relentless. Another tentacle wrapped around Mamir's torso, slamming him into the ocean floor. He gasped as the water rushed from his lungs, pain searing through his chest.
Meanwhile, Ener was ensnared, a tentacle crushing the space beneath his ribs. Necor's arms were pinned, struggling to keep hold of his twin swords. Runya cried out as her stomach was squeezed, while another limb bound Runfey's waist, dragging her close.
At last, all five were trapped within Krakven's monstrous embrace. The beast's laughter rumbled like thunder:
— "It's over! You are all my prey now!"
The tentacles squeezed tighter. Bones creaked, lungs burned, cries of pain filled the cavern. Runya poured her magic into healing, her light weaving over the group, but she knew she could not sustain it for long.
Krakven mocked her cruelly:
— "Let's see how long you last, fairy girl…"
Then—something unimaginable happened.
Mamir's eyes flared with golden light. A brilliant white radiance burst from his entire body, piercing the abyss. The light was so pure, so powerful, that every shadow beast screamed and disintegrated.
Krakven recoiled, his voice filled with fear and fury:
— "What… what is this?! How can this be?!"
The radiance didn't only destroy—it empowered. Ener felt his wounds knit together, Necor's strength doubled, and Runya's healing magic surged with newfound intensity. She stared at Mamir in awe, whispering:
— "This light… it's giving us strength!"
Mamir, trembling with pain yet blazing with resolve, roared:
— "Second round, Krakven!"
The brilliance within him erupted again, flooding the ocean with blinding light. Krakven shrieked in agony, forced to release them all as his tentacles thrashed wildly.
And thus, the chapter closed in a storm of light and shadow.
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