Daran crouched behind the wide stone, his breath caught in his chest, hands trembling above the spiral bomb bag. Silence enveloped the space; only the sound of his heartbeat echoed in his ears. He glanced at Lira, observing his tense companion. In the darkness, he could see the fear trapped in Lira's eyes. “Lira,” his voice quivered, “something is moving at the end of the corridor.”

  Lira pressed his back tightly against the stone wall, his index finger pointing ahead. “Daran,” he whispered almost inaudibly, “I see it. Don't turn on the flashlight. There’s… a scraping sound—maybe a salamander, or something more horrific.” He struggled to calm himself, though his heart pounded violently. “We need to be careful not to get detected.”

  Veyron moved slowly forward, his body bent like a wild beast ready to pounce. He signaled for them to remain still. “We must be patient,” he said, his voice cold and calm, as if he had faced a similar situation countless times before. “Don't use magic just yet. Be ready to throw the mines, wait for my command.” He felt the tension thicken in the air, understanding that every second was incredibly precious.

  A faint green flash glimmered from the darkened corner of the corridor. A massive basilisk crawled between the stones, its scales slick with poison, dripping onto the ground and forming a small, dangerous puddle. Its forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air, sensing the foreign scent that sent shivers down Daran's spine. Behind the fearsome creature, two magma salamanders released waves of scorching steam, their trails glowing as if painting a threat upon the cold ground. Daran held his breath, entranced yet terrified as he faced the terrifying figure before him. "We can't retreat," he murmured, trying to reassure himself and Lira at his side.

  The basilisk hissed softly, its head swaying from side to side as if searching for hidden prey. Its hoarse voice shattered the silence, echoing through the narrow passage: "Humans. I smell fresh blood. You… cowards. Why hide?" The voice reverberated in his chest, bringing a chilling dew of fear that was impossible to ignore. Daran bit his lip, feeling cold sweat trickle down the back of his neck. "Insane," he thought, "it seems to know we're here."

  Daran met Lira's gaze, their eyes connecting in a fleeting blend of hope and fear. “If he comes closer, we need to run to the left,” he whispered, his voice trembling, as if each word was a challenge to himself. “Spiral bomb's active, I’ll count to three…” His heart raced violently, tension coursing through his body, while a thread of despair began to creep into his thoughts. “We can’t fail here.”

  Lira looked at him with wide eyes, as if channeling courage from the depths of her soul. “Daran, if we must face him, we need to be truly prepared.” She felt the warmth emanating from the pocket where her magical tools rested. “We have endured far worse trials. Remember the teachings of the mages regarding the basilisk. They fear light and our magic, but we must never act recklessly.”

  Veyron nodded slowly, his expression flat and devoid of emotion, though Daran could sense the tautness radiating from his clenched jaw. “We all know the risks,” he stated, his voice remaining cold and calm, his eyes fixed sharply on the threatening basilisk. “Don’t let fear bind us. We must act swiftly. If we delay, all our efforts will be in vain.”

  The basilisk writhed, its head raised as if relishing the fear radiating from the two souls now ensnared in darkness. In an instant, it advanced closer, its scales glimmering in the dim light, tempting them to surrender to panic. Sweat poured down Daran’s face, his breath quickening with each passing moment. “We need to move, Daran,” he said, his voice laced with tension. “Come on, before that basilisk turns its attention to us.”

  Lira took a deep breath, her voice trembling, awakening a surge of alarm within her. Yet, she fought with all her might to maintain her composure. "Veyron," she called, "if I get caught, you know what you have to do. Don’t let me become ensnared in that basilisk's grip." She glanced at Daran for a fleeting moment, worry evident in her gaze as she shrank into the ominous shadows.

  Veyron nodded slowly, his expression flat and devoid of any smile. Even in this critical moment, he exuded an air of tranquility. "We are all aware of the risks," he said, his tone calm yet firm. An unspoken tension hung in the air between them, but there was no room for doubt at this moment.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  The basilisk, that fearsome creature, swung its massive head, intimidating them with its piercing gaze. The pupils of its eyes twisted into spirals, emanating an unsettling dread. The acrid scent of poison assaulted Lira's nostrils, making her wrinkle her nose. Beside her, Daran seemed to shrink away, as if trying to vanish into the shadows. The tip of the basilisk's long tongue explored the stone where Daran was hiding, the rock vibrating gently as if sensing the threat posed by the daunting beast.

  From behind the basilisk, a salamander slithered closer to the wall, its scales glowing as though roasted by fire, blocking the only escape route they could use. With a sneer curling on its lips, the creature advanced, its rasping voice flowing with a mocking tone, “Hot blood… I do enjoy humans of Spiralum. You all seem fond of exploding, don’t you?” The timbre of its voice revealed a twisted satisfaction as it reveled in the fear etched upon their faces.

  Lira held her breath, her heart racing, battling the creeping fear that slithered through her soul. Her right hand searched her belt, grasping her spiral bomb with a steady motion. “Do you crave fire?” she said, her voice trembling despite her effort to appear resolute. "Enjoy what we have." She tried to be brave, pushing back the dread that lurked in the corners of her mind, threatening to consume her entirely.

  Daran cast a glance at Veyron, his face etched with deep tension. “I will start counting,” he said, his voice barely a whisper, as if he were trying to summon the remaining courage within him. “One… two…” He bit his lip, restless as he awaited the perfect moment to act.

  Veyron gave a quick signal, his eyes sharp and focused on the movements before him. Without hesitation, he surged to the right, pursuing his plan with unwavering resolve. With steady hands, he flung a small object toward the salamander's feet before the creature could react, hoping to turn the tide of battle.

  A small explosion shook the corridor, the tumult of sound resonating as the salamander shrieked. The creature's tail violently swept the walls, unleashing panic within the group. Flames suddenly roared to life, casting a blazing crimson light that pierced the darkness. The basilisk lunged at Daran, but in a flash, it only sank its fangs into the stone where Daran had been a moment before.

  Lira ran with all her strength, striving to lead Daran toward the left path. "Now! Don’t look back—" Her voice rang with authority, though her breath came in ragged gasps from the tension that coiled around her. Each step felt incredibly heavy, yet she was resolute in her determination to save Daran and herself.

  The basilisk hissed menacingly behind them, its tail slamming into the ground with a force that seemed to awaken the spirits of darkness. "Cowards! I will bring your flesh to Tyros!" shouted the basilisk's master, his voice filled with a threat and a power that shook the soul.

  The second salamander attempted to block Veyron's path, but he drove his spiral knife straight into the creature's eye. Magma blood splattered, sending a wave of heat into the air. "Just one more," Veyron whispered, his breath heavy and trembling. "We have to keep moving." Without regard for the danger, he stepped forward, ignoring the searing pain burning his hand.

  Daran was thrown back against a rock, the sound of an explosion reverberating through the air. "Be careful!" he shouted, as if his voice could awaken Lira standing in front of him. In that fleeting moment, as the explosion drew nearer, Daran felt fear tightening around his heart. "We... almost!" The hoarse, nearly hysterical cry slipped from his lips.

  Veyron turned to Ranger, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "What do you see?" he asked sharply, though a bitter sadness crept into his voice, slipping through the cracks of his tough facade. "Don't stop. The next point is only two corridors ahead. We must swim against the current, even though every breath feels like a knife in our chests." Veyron, cold yet resolute, continued, "If we can hold on until the main explosion, that basilisk will be buried along with Gamma's dark secrets. We cannot let that happen."

  Lira nodded, though her face remained pale. "I... I understand," she said softly, closing her eyes for a moment to banish the fear that clutched at her heart. "I don't want to die, but tonight, the world needs a bit of magic. We must believe, Veyron." She squeezed Daran's hand, strengthening the bond between them.

  They ran beneath the shadows of impending doom, their hands gripping the trembling spiral bombs, ready to be hurled at any moment. The screams of basilisk and the hisses of salamanders echoed behind them, filling the Basalt Veins corridor with cries of terror, the sound of poison whistling through the air, and bursts of magma flowing. "Look!" Lira shouted, pointing towards the dark, narrow passage ahead.

  "We can go through there!" The rumbling noise from behind grew ever closer, engulfing them in a sense of urgency as if time turned against them. Stepping forward with determination, Daran led their journey. "Follow my lead; we must share the burden in these dire circumstances! Do not hesitate!"

  In the midst of the tension enveloping them, their mission was far from over. Yet for a moment, both human and monster seemed to reach a silent agreement: tonight, every second they borrowed was a miracle not to be disregarded. "We will not let the Spiral fall!" Veyron shouted, summoning every ounce of courage within him. Inside, he prayed, hoping that the strength of the Spiral and their combined skills could save the world from the abyss of destruction.