The undercurrent and turbulence of the dark river grew stronger and stronger. We could barely control our direction and could only let the current carry us forward, while the massive shadow remained beneath the water, following without haste, like a predator patiently draining the strength of its prey. Most of its body was concealed within the murky flow, but every movement generated heavy surges. The pressure of water striking the rock walls produced a deep echo. From the scale of that vibration alone, it was clear its length was no less than seven or eight meters.
The final stretch of the river narrowed abruptly. The current accelerated sharply between the rock walls. The four of us instinctively clung tightly together to avoid being separated, and were immediately swept by the torrent into a deeper drop.
Below was a main underground channel far larger than before. The water temperature rose noticeably. Dozens of tributaries blasted out from fractures in the mountain walls like ruptured high-pressure lines merging into the central current. Both sides of the cavern were riddled with steam vents constantly expelling white, high-temperature gas, and in deeper fissures, dark red magma flowed slowly. Its glow filtered through the vapor and illuminated the ceiling, giving the entire space a distinctly geothermal character.
We struggled in the current for some time before finally climbing onto a protruding rock platform. Even the stone beneath our boots radiated steady heat. Using the faint light from the magma, I switched off my flashlight to conserve what battery remained.
"Did anyone get a clear look at that thing?" I asked.
Reed shook his head. Eleanor hadn't seen it clearly either. Walker coughed up river water, wiped his face, and said evenly, "Large. That's my full professional assessment." The words had barely left his mouth when the river surface exploded. A blood-red tongue lashed out, more than two meters long, wrapping precisely around Walker's legs and flipping him to the ground as it dragged him toward the water. Reed reacted instantly, driving his blade hard into the tightening tongue. The creature recoiled in pain and released him, and two crimson eyes slowly rose above the surface.
It climbed out of the river. Its shape closely resembled the subterranean salamander we had encountered before—a broad amphibian skull, a low elongated body, slick skin clinging tightly to shifting muscle—but its size was suffocating, far beyond ten meters in length. Under the magma's glow its skin reflected iridescent colors like oil on water. A single sweep of its thick tail hurled loose stone into the air, sending tremors through the entire rock platform.
"Tell me this isn't the docile variety," I muttered.
Eleanor's face had gone pale. Her voice was low. "Prehistoric giant salamander lineage. Highly territorial. Geothermal heat accelerates metabolism and amplifies aggression."
Walker steadied himself and looked at the creature, his tone still calm. "Fantastic. We've wandered into an angry museum exhibit."
The creature lunged. Its tail swept across and knocked Reed to the ground, then coiled around him. Its massive jaws opened. Three rows of serrated teeth caught the magma light in dark red reflection. The bite angle was wide enough to take a man's head.
There was no time to discuss.
Walker and I charged at the same instant, one high, one low, forcing our arms between its upper and lower jaws, straining with everything we had to prevent the bite from closing. Heat radiated through our tactical gear, as if magma circulated within its body. Reed, still conscious despite the constricting tail, seized an opening and repeatedly drove his M9 bayonet deep into the creature's mouth. The salamander emitted a low, furious bellow and jerked its head violently, unleashing tremendous force that flung all three of us away. I slammed hard against rock and lost my breath. Walker slid toward the river's edge, nearly falling in, barely regaining his footing as steam rose from his soaked combat uniform.
Three bayonets against that mass was nearly futile.
"Move!" I shouted.
We climbed upward immediately. Volcanic ash and loose basalt covered the slope, soft and unstable. We had to scramble with both hands and feet just to gain ground. Halfway up, I looked down. The salamander was climbing along the rock face, its enormous body moving like a massive lizard across nearly vertical stone. Its claws embedded precisely into cracks. It was far faster than expected. Within seconds it had closed to less than three meters. The crimson tongue flicked through the air, nearly brushing my boot. Jumping was no option. The drop was too steep. A single mistake would mean shattering against volcanic rock. Reed and Eleanor were climbing below, but there was no chance they could reach us in time.
Walker, breathing hard, muttered from below, "This is officially above my pay grade."
The creature opened its jaws again. Three rows of teeth spread slowly. Magma light flickered deep inside its mouth. The air carried heat and the metallic scent of blood. There was no retreat left. No space to climb. I locked one hand into a rock fissure and drew my M9 with the other, twisting my body halfway, preparing to drive the blade into its eye the instant it launched.
Just as its hind legs compressed to spring, the rock face—already trembling—began to give way. Volcanic stone broke loose piece by piece and tumbled down the slope, striking the salamander's back and tail, destroying the balance it maintained through claw grip alone. The creature released a long, guttural hiss. Its massive body lost center of gravity amid falling stone and steam and tore free from the rock face entirely, crashing back into the main river below, sending up a towering column of water and vapor that churned the dark red reflection into chaos.
The surge continued for several moments before gradually subsiding. The river closed again, leaving only disturbed currents spreading slowly beneath the magma glow. We remained pressed against the rock face, no one speaking for a long time, listening only to each other's labored breathing and the steady low rumble of geothermal activity.
After a long silence, Walker finally said quietly, "If that thing comes back up, I surrender."
No one objected.