"The Silent Ascension"

The footsteps were faint at first, almost like a distant echo that could have been imagined. But the longer I stood there, staring at the Gate, the more certain I became: someone—or something—was coming.

The soft thuds grew louder with each passing second, reverberating through the corridor behind me. My pulse quickened, and I gripped my knife tightly, its dull blade suddenly feeling pitiful in my hand. My thoughts raced as I backed away from the Gate, positioning myself against the wall where the shadows were deepest.

I didn't dare move. The golden crystal at my waist pulsed faintly, like it was reacting to the presence of whatever was approaching. I pressed a hand to it, silently willing it to dim its glow. The last thing I needed was to draw attention to myself.

The footsteps slowed as they drew closer, each one measured and deliberate. Then they stopped entirely, just before the entrance to the chamber.

For a moment, there was silence.

And then it stepped into the light.

---

At first, I thought it was human. Its shape was humanoid, with broad shoulders and a towering frame that seemed to fill the entrance. But as it moved further into the room, the light of the blue crystals revealed its true nature.

It wasn't human at all.

The creature's body was covered in dark, chitinous plates that gleamed faintly in the dim light. Its arms were unnaturally long, ending in sharp, claw-like fingers that flexed and twitched as it moved. Its face—or what I assumed was its face—was a featureless, smooth surface, save for two glowing red slits where eyes might have been.

A low, rumbling sound emanated from the creature, almost like a growl, but deeper and more guttural. It wasn't loud, but it was enough to send a shiver down my spine.

I pressed myself further into the shadows, my heart pounding in my chest. The Scavenger Beast had been terrifying enough, but this… this was something else entirely.

The creature paused in the center of the room, its head tilting slightly as if it were listening. It didn't move toward the Gate, nor did it seem to notice me, but the tension in the air was palpable.

I stayed perfectly still, barely daring to breathe.

---

Minutes passed—or maybe it was only seconds. Time seemed to stretch in the oppressive silence of the chamber. The creature remained in the center of the room, unmoving, its glowing eyes fixed on the Gate.

I couldn't stay here forever. Sooner or later, it would sense me, and I had no doubt that it would tear me apart the moment it did. My mind raced as I tried to think of a way out.

The corridor I'd come from was too narrow, and there was no way I could slip past the creature without drawing its attention. But as my eyes darted around the room, I noticed a second passageway, partially hidden by a cluster of blue crystals along the far wall.

It wasn't far—only a short sprint across the chamber. But getting there without alerting the creature was another matter entirely.

I tightened my grip on my knife, even though I knew it wouldn't help if I had to fight. My hand brushed against the golden crystal at my waist, and for a moment, I thought I felt it grow warmer, as if urging me to act.

The creature shifted slightly, its head tilting again, and I realized with a sinking feeling that it was turning toward me.

---

I didn't have time to think.

Pushing off the wall, I bolted toward the hidden passage, my footsteps light but swift. The creature let out a sharp, guttural roar as it whipped around, its glowing eyes locking onto me.

I didn't look back. I could hear its claws scraping against the stone as it charged after me, the sound sending a surge of panic through my body. The passage loomed closer, and I threw myself toward it, narrowly dodging a swipe from the creature's claws that came dangerously close to my back.

The moment I was inside the passageway, I scrambled to my feet and ran as fast as I could. The corridor was narrow and winding, the blue light of the crystals casting uneven shadows that made it hard to see where I was going.

Behind me, the creature's footsteps thundered through the corridor, growing louder with every second.

---

The passage suddenly opened into another chamber, larger than the one I'd just left. My eyes darted around the room, searching for anything that could help me. To my relief, I spotted a cluster of stalagmites near the far end of the chamber—large enough to provide cover if I could reach them.

I dashed toward them, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The creature burst into the chamber behind me, letting out another roar that echoed off the walls.

I dove behind the stalagmites, pressing myself against the cold stone as the creature entered the room. It moved slowly now, its glowing eyes scanning the chamber. Its movements were deliberate, calculated, and I realized with a sinking feeling that it was hunting me.

I clutched the golden crystal tightly, its warmth steady in my hand. The hum it emitted was faint but constant, almost like it was trying to reassure me. But I couldn't see how it was going to help.

The creature let out a low growl, its claws scraping against the stone floor as it stalked through the chamber. My mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. Fighting was out of the question, and running wasn't an option—not unless I could find a way to slow it down.

---

My eyes darted to the cluster of blue crystals lining the walls. They pulsed faintly, their glow flickering in the dim light. I remembered how the Scavenger Beast had dissolved into sparks when it died, leaving behind the golden crystal. Could these crystals hold some kind of power too?

It was a long shot, but it was the only idea I had.

I grabbed a small stone from the ground and hurled it toward the nearest cluster of blue crystals. The stone struck one of the crystals with a sharp crack, shattering it into pieces.

The reaction was immediate. The other crystals in the cluster began to vibrate, their light intensifying. A moment later, a burst of energy erupted from them, sending a shockwave rippling through the chamber.

The creature let out a deafening roar as the shockwave hit it, staggering backward and clutching at its head. I didn't wait to see what happened next.

---

I bolted toward the opposite end of the chamber, the golden crystal's light guiding me toward another passageway. The creature's roars echoed behind me, but its footsteps were unsteady now, slower. The burst of energy had disoriented it, buying me just enough time to escape.

As I entered the new corridor, I glanced back one last time. The creature was still in the chamber, its movements erratic as it struggled to recover.

I didn't stop running until I was sure it wasn't following me.