The cavern stretched vast and black, its ceiling lost in shadow so deep that even the floating blue orbs cast by Ptahhotep's staff could not reach it. The black river ran slower here, almost still, its surface reflecting nothing—no stars, no torchlight, only the red-black flames that burned along Nekht's altar without consuming fuel. The air tasted of ash, natron, and something older—raw chaos, the scent of Nun before the first dawn.
Nekht stood at the altar's center, arms raised, the black-iron was-scepter fragment clutched in both hands. The Apophis proxy had grown monstrous—coils thick as cedar trunks, scales shifting from obsidian to molten red, eyes like twin pits of burning coal. Its head reared thirty cubits above the stone floor, hood flared wide, fangs dripping venom that hissed and smoked on contact with rock.
The cultist survivors—fewer than ten now—formed a ragged circle around the altar, chanting in low, guttural tones: "Apep em kheper, swꜣḥ em Nun" — Apophis become, swallow the primordial waters.
Kael-Ankh stepped forward, Spear of Montu leveled.
"End this rite. Now."
Nekht laughed—harsh, triumphant.
"You are too late, Awakened Ka. The serpent already stirs. When it swallows Ra's barque tonight, the sun will not rise tomorrow. Order ends. Chaos reigns."
The proxy lunged.
Kael met it head-on.
Skydragon's Roar (32 Heka) → 208/240
A gale exploded from his outstretched palm—roaring wind laced with storm-dragon fury. It slammed into the serpent's hood, forcing the head back, coils thrashing. The proxy hissed, venom spraying in arcs that sizzled against the cavern floor.
Senet loosed from the flank—Bow of Neith arrow streaking true. It struck the serpent's left eye; the beast recoiled with a deafening screech, black ichor spraying.
Meret charged low—Khopesh of Bastet's Wrath carving deep gashes along the nearest coil. Feline spirit added unnatural speed; each slash left bleeding wounds that smoked and refused to close.
Nefertari shook her sistrum—Sistrum's Call (14 Heka) → 194/240. Sonic waves rolled outward, disorienting the cultists and making the proxy's movements sluggish.
Ptahhotep raised the purified Was-scepter.
Purified Was Command
White-gold light flared, disrupting the red-black aura around Nekht's altar. The chanting faltered; two cultists dropped, clutching their throats as chaos heka backlashed.
But Nekht pressed on—staff thrust skyward.
The proxy's coils tightened around the altar, then struck again—faster, more vicious.
Kael leaped—Horus's Vengeful Gaze active (24 Heka) → 170/240.
Eye of Horus – Striking
A beam of solar vengeance lanced from his palm, golden-white and searing. It pierced the proxy's throat, burning through scales, flesh, bone. The serpent shrieked—sound that shook dust from the ceiling—and recoiled.
Kael followed—Spear of Montu thrusting deep into the wound. Montu's echo roared through the weapon; the blade flared red-gold, cauterizing chaos itself.
The proxy thrashed wildly—coils smashing stone, tail whipping toward Senet.
She rolled aside; Meret intercepted—khopesh slashing the tail, severing a chunk of shadow-flesh that dissolved into smoke.
Nekht snarled, raising the was-scepter higher.
"Apep! Devour them!"
The proxy's head snapped forward—jaws wide enough to swallow a man whole.
Kael planted his feet.
Isis's Binding Knot (20 Heka) → 150/240
Blue-green light wove from his hands—Isis's magical cords—snaring the serpent's jaws mid-strike. The proxy strained, venom dripping, but the knot held, tightening.
Anubis's Preserving Touch (18 Heka) → 132/240
Shadow wrapped Kael's arms—Anubis's embalming bandages—reinforcing his grip on the spear. He drove deeper—twisting—seeking the core.
The proxy convulsed.
Nekht staggered, clutching his chest.
"You… cannot…"
Kael wrenched the spear free.
The proxy collapsed—coils dissolving into black mist that Nekht desperately tried to inhale.
But the mist turned against him—wrapping his limbs, burning where it touched.
Nekht screamed—raw, furious.
The black-iron was-scepter fragment cracked.
A final pulse of red-black energy erupted—knocking everyone back.
When the dust settled, Nekht lay crumpled beside the shattered altar—alive, but broken. The proxy was gone—dissipated, repelled, not destroyed. Apophis never truly died.
Kael approached, spear leveled at Nekht's throat.
"Why?" he asked quietly.
Nekht coughed blood, dilated eye fixed on Kael.
"Because order… is a cage. Set showed me freedom. Chaos… is truth."
Kael shook his head.
"Chaos without order is not freedom. It's oblivion."
He lowered the spear.
"Live. Tell your Brotherhood the gate is closed."
Nekht laughed—weak, bitter.
"They will come again. Apophis waits."
Ptahhotep stepped forward.
"We will be ready."
They bound Nekht with shadow cords (Anubis's touch) and left him for the Duat's own judgment.
The cavern grew quiet.
The black river flowed on.
Kael looked downstream—toward deeper levels.
The first gate was passed.
But the true trials waited.
Osiris's hall.
The weighing.
The promise of resurrection—or annihilation.
Senet touched his arm.
"We go deeper."
Meret grinned.
"Together."
Nefertari pressed against his side.
"Always."
Kael gripped the Spear.
The boat waited—reed hull glowing faintly.
They boarded.
The current carried them onward—into darkness lit only by their own fragments.
Apophis had been repelled once more.
But the night was long.
And the serpent never slept.
System Note – Battle Aftermath
Heka Capacity: 132/240 → 180/240 (combat recovery + victory overflow)
Horus's Vengeful Gaze Resonance: 31% → 48% (direct vengeance use)
Anubis's Silent Vigil Resonance: 58% → 72% (guardian role in binding)
New Passive Unlocked: Chaos Repelled – +10% resistance to primordial/serpent-based heka for 72 hours
The Duat deepened.
They followed the river.