The stairs ended abruptly, opening into a chamber that spoke of death accumulated across centuries. Bones littered the floor in layers, remains of countless creatures that had fallen to this apex predator over unknown spans of time. The walls showed deep gouges where Bephemoth had sharpened its claws, stone carved away by strength that could reshape its environment. The ceiling rose into darkness overhead, height impossible to determine through the gloom that even bioluminescent fungi couldn't fully penetrate.
Raze stumbled into the center of the chamber, his breathing ragged as blood continued seeping from the wounds Bephemoth's claws had opened across his left side. His mana reserves were nearly depleted, maybe five percent remaining after burning through everything to create distance during the descent. Azure Edge felt heavy in his hand, the blade's minor damage making it less responsive to his commands.
