[Chapter 333. Descent]

After their short investigation, a tense silence fell as they left the side room and returned to the chamber with the minecarts. The air vibrated with unspoken questions about the unexpected discovery. Iris moved ahead while the other four looked around, their eyes adjusting to the dim light as they inspected the carts. Constructed from dark, heavy metal, their surfaces showed remarkable preservation despite the age of their surroundings—a pristine condition matching the gleaming tracks beneath them.

Carmen placed her hands against one of the carts and pushed, testing its resistance. The cart moved without protest, gliding on the rails with the lightest application of force. A disturbing silence accompanied its motion, speaking of expert engineering. Her fingers lingered on the cold metal before she pulled away; the mechanism's unnerving perfection unsettled her.

While the four examined the minecarts, Iris stood at the edge of the chamber, peering into the tunnel ahead. Outside the larger space, the tracks descended—not at a steep angle, but with a steady, deliberate slope disappearing far below. The hooded lanterns cast a weak orange glow, barely illuminating the first few meters of the downward path, another in the distance down the tunnel.

`It looks as if we are meant to use them to go further...`

Iris thought, running her armored boot over the rail. The metal scraped against the polished steel. The track felt solid beneath her foot, showing no signs of rust or wear despite the ravages of time and damp environment.

`This could be dangerous, though. If the tracks are damaged or end in a sudden wall, we would have no way to stop its movement.`

"It works. Look how smooth it moves," Sarah said. Her voice rose in pitch as excitement overrode her exhaustion—a hint of her former self breaking through their grim situation. She pushed the cart harder, sending it gliding several meters down the track into the tunnel they had entered from.

Iris turned, watching them take turns moving the mining cars back and forth. Their movements grew confident with each successful test. Her silver eyes bounced from their foolish games to the tunnel leading downward, calculating risks and probabilities in rapid succession.

"How much room is inside each of them?" Iris asked.

"They're mostly empty," Lana answered, peering inside. Her warrior's assessment remained practical and to the point. "One has a few rocks, but the rest are clean."

On her way back to the group, Iris moved with slow steps. Her armored boots brushed the rails every now and then testing their stability.

"Would one fit all four of you?" Iris asked.

Lana shook her head after a moment of consideration, her gaze sweeping over the cart's dimensions. "No. If we squeeze, it would fit three of us, but it would be uncomfortable and dangerous if we hit anything."

"I'll take that," Iris said, stepping forward. She laid her pawed hand on the minecart, the dark metal of her gauntlet clicking against the rim. "You, Vanessa, and Carmen will take the one in the back. Sarah will share one with me."

The command hung in the air. Iris had already made her decision, mapping out their continued descent into the mine's depths. Sarah's eyes widened at being paired with Iris. A mixture of fear and relief crossed her features before settling into determined acceptance.

The four women looked toward her, their faces painting a mosaic of disbelief and reluctant acceptance in the dim glow of the mine's orange lanterns.

"You want us to ride in them?" Vanessa asked, shock lacing her tight voice. She hugged her leather-bound tome closer to her chest, wielding it like a fragile shield against Iris's unwavering resolve. Her fingers traced the spine, seeking reassurance from the familiar weight. The Astral Arcanist's eyes darted between Iris's unreadable silver gaze and the cold metal carts promising speed and uncertainty in equal measure.

"We will ride in them?" Sarah's voice climbed higher. A mixture of disbelief and a flicker of her usual thrill-seeking nature reasserted itself despite their grim circumstances. She reached out with hesitant fingers, touching the smooth metal rim as if to confirm its reality. The cool surface sent a shiver through her hand. A faint smile played on her lips before a determined expression replaced it. She met Iris's gaze with newfound resolve. The platinum blonde shifted her weight, the movement betraying her nervous energy even as she tried to appear unfazed.

"Isn't that dangerous?" Carmen asked, looking from Iris to her potential vehicle. Her hands smoothed the front of her stained armor, preparing for an impact she couldn't yet visualize. The healer's dark eyes reflected the lantern light in pools of uncertainty, her thoughts racing through worst-case scenarios. She glanced down at her hands, wondering if she possessed the strength to protect the group if something went wrong.

Lana remained silent, her brow furrowed in thought. Her mind calculated variables: speed, weight distribution, potential ambushes, and escape routes. Her fingers tightened around Wavebreaker's handle, drawing strength from the familiar weapon as her gaze swept across the tracks and the dark tunnel beyond.

"The tunnel goes down in a slight slope. It will be faster than walking, and the metal around us offers protection from the Obarros," Iris answered. Her voice cut through their doubts like a sharpened blade. She gestured toward the descending tracks with her Zweihänder, the black metal gleaming dully in the lantern light to emphasize her point. She had already processed the risks versus benefits.

No long discussion followed; they all knew arguing with Iris proved pointless. Necessity had established the unspoken hierarchy of their group. Her word served not merely as advice but as a directive—one they had learned to follow without question if they wished to survive. Vanessa's shoulders slumped in resignation. Sarah's brief spark of excitement dimmed to acceptance. Carmen nodded in silent acknowledgment, and Lana's thoughtful expression hardened into determined compliance.

The minecarts screeched under their combined weight, the metallic protest echoing through the chamber as each woman found her place in the cold steel containers. The carts shifted with an unnerving smoothness, their suspensions barely groaning as the occupants settled into position. Iris slipped into the lead cart with practiced efficiency, her movements economical as she adjusted to accommodate Sarah. The younger woman lowered herself with careful, deliberate motions. Her hands trembled as she gripped the rim.

In the second cart, the squeeze felt immediate and uncomfortable. Vanessa, Carmen, and Lana arranged themselves in a tight configuration of limbs and armor plates. Their bodies pressed together in an intimate proximity none would have chosen under normal circumstances.

"Sarah..."

With no reaction from the blond woman Iris rolled her eyes. The sharp impact of Iris's pawed hand against the back of Sarah's head produced a dull thud rather than a painful sting. Her command cut through the tunnel's silence. "Hold on to their cart as I push us forward."

Sarah flinched at the contact. Her shoulders tensed before she realized she felt no actual pain—just the shocking intimacy of Iris's touch and the unexpectedness of the gesture. Her platinum blonde hair caught the faint lantern light as she turned to comply. She stretched her arms across the small gap between carts, wrapping her fingers around the metal railing of the second container. The metal bit into her palms as she tightened her grip, tensing her arm muscles to secure the connection between the carts.

Iris adjusted her position, holding her Zweihänder vertically like a paddle in water at the front of their cart. The massive black blade looked incongruous in this role—a weapon of death repurposed for transportation. With calculated force, she drove the tip of the sword into the hard ground. The impact produced a resonant clang that vibrated through the entire assembly. The carts lurched forward, their wheels finding purchase on the rails as they accelerated into the descending tunnel.

The initial push carried them to the end of the open tunnel; the carts lost little momentum over the tens of meters. The metallic screech of wheels against rails reverberated off the stone walls, creating a symphony of industrial sound that felt alien in the ancient mine. As the first row of wheels dipped, their speed surged. The descent began with an almost imperceptible shift in balance.

The first cart pulled the second along down the subtle slope. The women leaned forward, unconsciously adjusting to the change in elevation. The distant lantern light served as the only indicator of the downward slope, the orange globes appearing to float in mid-air as they receded into the deepening darkness. The carts glided with unnatural smoothness. Their suspension systems absorbed every track imperfection, creating a motion that felt both thrilling and deeply unsettling.