The cave system twisted like veins — narrow passages, sudden drops, walls slick with condensation.
Kael led — shadows probing every corner, lighting just enough to see without giving them away.
Miko followed close — breathing shallow, the seal pulsing in rhythm with her steps.
They'd been moving for hours.
No talking.
Just the drip of water and the scrape of boots on stone.
Then — a sound.
Footsteps — behind them.
Not one person.
Multiple.
Kael stopped — hand raised.
Shadows snapped back — confirming.
"Six.
Maybe seven.
Silver threads."
Miko felt the seal flare — excited.
Fight.
She clenched her fists.
Kael looked at her.
"We can't outrun them.
We fight here."
Miko nodded.
They backed into a wider chamber — ceiling high, walls rough.
Natural choke point.
Kael positioned himself at the entrance — shadows rising like a wall.
Miko stood beside him — crimson shadows coiling around her arms.
The footsteps grew louder — echoes bouncing off stone.
Then — silver light flared at the tunnel mouth.
Seven figures emerged — masked, cloaked, blades drawn.
One stepped forward — voice muffled.
"Give us the girl.
The seal belongs to us."
Kael's voice was ice.
"Come take it."
The leader raised a hand.
Silver threads snapped out — seven at once.
Kael's shadows met them — black wall rising, threads clashing with sparks that lit the cavern like lightning.
Miko stepped up.
Crimson shadows joined his — weaving through the black, strengthening the barrier.
The threads pushed — hard.
The wall cracked — threads breaking through.
One struck Kael's shoulder — slicing deep.
Blood sprayed.
Kael grunted — shadows faltering for a second.
Miko felt the seal roar — furious.
She pushed forward — crimson tendrils lashing out.
One attacker tried to dodge — too slow.
A tendril wrapped his throat — lifted him off the ground.
He clawed at it — face turning purple.
Miko tightened.
Snap.
Body dropped — limp.
The others attacked — blades flashing, threads whipping.
Kael met two — shadows coiling around their legs, yanking them off balance.
One blade slashed — caught his side.
More blood.
Miko spun — crimson spear punching through another attacker's chest.
He gasped — fell.
The leader shouted — silver threads forming a net above them.
It dropped — fast.
Kael pushed Miko aside.
The net hit him — threads cutting into his arms, shoulders.
He roared — shadows exploding outward, shattering the net.
But the damage was done — blood dripping from multiple cuts.
Miko felt panic — then rage.
The seal fed on it — power surging.
She stepped in front of Kael.
Crimson shadows erupted — a storm.
Tendrils lashed — wrapping, crushing, piercing.
Two attackers screamed — pinned to walls.
The leader backed off — eyes wide behind the mask.
Miko advanced.
Shadows coiled around him — lifted him.
He struggled — silver threads cutting through dark.
Miko tightened.
He gasped.
Then — quiet.
Body dropped.
The last attacker ran — disappearing into the tunnel.
Silence — broken by Kael's ragged breathing.
Miko turned to him.
He was on one knee — blood pooling under him.
She rushed over — dropped beside him.
"Kael—"
He looked up — face pale.
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
She tore a strip from her hoodie — pressed it to the deepest cut.
He winced.
The seal pulsed — once, almost gentle.
Miko ignored it.
"We need to move."
Kael nodded — weak.
They stood — Miko supporting him.
They kept going.
Deeper.
Darker.
To be continued...