Eccar finally lunged forward. His body moved almost on instinct as the first creature charged toward him with its jaws wide open.
He moved aside at the last moment and drove his fist into its side, sending its body crashing against the tunnel wall.
The impact shook the surrounding stone, and Eccar immediately followed with another strike before the creature could recover.
More monsters rushed toward him from the darkness.
Eccar turned and struck one after another, gradually releasing more of his strength as the creatures pressed closer.
His fists shattered their hardened limbs while his kicks sent several monsters tumbling across the ground in an instant.
He moved quickly between them and tried to keep the battle away from the pilgrims, but the narrow tunnel gave him little room to work.
Then the ceiling cracked.
A sharp sound echoed above them before several pieces of rock broke loose and came crashing down.
