Chapter 332 Chapter 334. Lost in the Descent

[Chapter 334. Lost in the Descent]

The two carts plunged down the tunnel, picking up speed as their wheels ground against the rails with a metallic screech that echoed off the stone walls. Darkness enveloped them during their descent, the hooded lanterns overhead transforming into streaks of orange light as they zipped past. Within moments, they traveled at such velocity that the support beams flew by as indistinct blurs in their peripheral vision.

The cold rush of air whistled past their ears, carrying the metallic tang of ore as they hurtled deeper into the mine. Sarah's knuckles turned white as she gripped the rim of the trailing cart, the bone stark against her pale skin. In the second cart, Lana shielded Vanessa and Carmen as best she could, her muscles tensed against the increasingly rough ride. Iris remained impassive, her silver eyes fixed on the path ahead, her grip on her Zweihänder steady.

Minutes in, a dull impact rattled the lead cart as it struck a scuttling Obarro sitting on the tracks. The creature's carapace shattered with a sickening crunch almost lost in the roar of their descent. Blood sprayed through the tunnel in a crimson mist, coating the walls and the rear cart in a warm shower that made Carmen flinch and Vanessa let out a choked gasp. The metallic scent of blood joined the already thick air.

Sarah gagged at the sudden spray of gore, turning her face away as droplets trickled down her cheek and neck. Iris didn't react, her focus unwavering as the cart continued its rapid descent, crushing the creature beneath its wheels without losing momentum.

The cart shot down the tunnel toward a dark expanse. Iris leaned forward to see ahead. She could spot the rails in the distance, but no ground—for there was none. The tunnel opened into a vast emptiness, a void swallowing even the dim light from her lantern. The rails seemed to float in mid-air, stretching across the darkness like two silver threads suspended over nothingness. Vertigo washed over the others as they realized the nature of the terrain, their bodies tense as they braced for what lay ahead.

Moments later, they entered the cavernous space. The rails, previously fixed to solid ground, were now suspended above a pitch-black chasm. Beneath them lay only the tracks and their suspension pillars disappearing into the depths. In the distance another set of tracks could be seen for a fraction of a moment. Every now and then the tracks split off into multiple tracks, some turning to the side while the main track continued straight ahead, while others curved down into the darkness below.

The sudden exposure to open space made the air feel colder, the silence beneath them absolute and unnerving. The cart wheels continued their rhythmic clatter against the rails, the sound falling away into the emptiness to create an acoustical illusion of moving forward and downward simultaneously. Sarah's breath caught in her throat as she risked a glance over the side, her eyes wide with terror at the bottomless drop.

The carts began to slow considerably. The initial rush of their descent diminished as the tracks leveled out, their momentum carrying them forward at a reduced speed. The change in pace proved subtle at first, but grew more noticeable as seconds passed. The screech of wheels against rails softened to a rhythmic clatter, allowing their heart rates to settle.

Iris released her grip on the Zweihänder, letting the weapon rest across the rim while assessing their situation with analytical calm. The others remained tense, their bodies coiled with adrenaline as they navigated the precarious tracks spanning the chasm.

Iris's ears swiveled as they picked up sounds in the dark—high-pitched screeches echoing from all around. The metallic clatter of wheels suddenly competed with a cacophony of chittering and wingbeats emerging from the surrounding shadows. Sharp and piercing, the sound cut through the wind and the rhythm of their descent. Iris's silver eyes narrowed, her heightened senses straining to pinpoint the disturbance.

The first beast flew past them. Visible for only a moment in the floating lantern's light, it measured half a meter in size. Its dark chitinous exoskeleton blended almost perfectly with the shadows. It possessed bat-like leathery wings and a long, segmented tail ending in a barbed stinger. Before Iris could evaluate it or allow the System to bring up information, the creature disappeared into the darkness.

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A second beast followed, and then a swarm materialized. The vanguard scout was merely the first of hundreds emerging from the shadows, their high-pitched squeals creating a disorienting chorus that bounced off the stone walls and the empty space below. The lantern light flickered, casting distorted shadows as the bat-like creatures darted through its light in erratic, unpredictable patterns.

Within seconds, the swarm engulfed them. Some beasts caught the front of the cart and fell into the void below. The lead cart acted as a plow, its momentum carrying it forward despite the resistance of their bodies. Metal wheels crushed one beast against the rails with a sickening crunch, ending its life with a final screech. Others, diving at the occupants, misjudged their trajectory and collided with the cart, their bodies breaking apart on impact before tumbling into the darkness. Vanessa let out a strangled cry as a creature's leathery wing brushed her face.

Beasts dove violently against them, each impact sounding like a sledgehammer striking a wall. They attacked with relentless ferocity, showing no fear of the moving metal. One particularly determined creature slammed into the side of Iris's cart, the force rattling the entire assembly and making the metal groan. Sarah, trying to maintain a brave front, gasped in pain as her head struck the side of the cart, her brief moment of composure shattered.

The creatures possessed sharp claws and stingers, which they used to attack both the carts and the occupants. Iris observed one beast illuminated by lantern light as it targeted the second cart. Its split jaw opened vertically to reveal needle-like teeth, while its segmented tail whipped forward, driving its barbed stinger toward Lana's neck. The shield-bearer reacted instinctively, raising Wavebreaker just in time to deflect the attack. The stinger scraped against the shield with a sound like metal grinding against stone.

Every contact with armor jostled the women inside their carts. Though the metal plates resisted penetration, the claws and stingers left deep dents and grooves. The protective gear could not fully absorb the kinetic force. Vanessa cried out as a beast clawed at her shoulder, the blow spinning her around in the confined space.

Her once-pristine armor now bore deep gouges. Carmen gritted her teeth, pressing her hands against the sides of the cart to steady herself as the onslaught continued, knowing it was only a matter of time before a creature exploited a weakness in their defenses.

Iris was forced to focus on the incoming beasts, her silver eyes tracking their erratic flight patterns as they swooped through the darkness. The blade sang through the air, her body swaying with the cart's momentum as she deflected and sliced at the creatures that flew in on them. One creature lost a wing mid-swoop, its screech cut short as it tumbled into the void below.

Another met a cleaner end as the Zweihänder split its body in two, spraying ichor across the tracks. The attacks came from all angles, forcing Iris into a defensive stance that quickly turned offensive—her survival and theirs depending on her ability to create a lethal barrier between the swarm and their precarious transport.

"Vanessa, shoot them down!" Iris shouted over the clash of beasts, raising her blade to cleave one in two. The Zweihänder sliced through the creature's exoskeleton with a wet crack, spraying ichor across the front of the cart. The acrid smell of blood mingled with the thick air. The screeching intensified as the swarm registered her presence, their cries echoing through the cavern. Iris maintained her focus, calculating the optimal angle for each swing.

No answer came from Vanessa.

Iris turned around to find no cart behind them. Only Sarah remained, pulling her daggers from a winged corpse. The sudden absence of the second cart sent a jolt of alarm through Iris, her senses straining for any sound beyond the swarm's assault. Sarah's face was a mask of concentration, her hands stained dark with blood as she freed her weapons from the carapace, her movements clumsy in her haste.

"Where are they? You were supposed to hold on to them," Iris said in a stern tone. Her cold voice cut through the noise, sharpened by rising unease. Her grip on the Zweihänder tightened, the black metal feeling unnaturally heavy as she processed the implications. Explaining the loss of three valuable assets to Searanox sent a chill through her.

Sarah pushed the dead beast from the cart and ducked beneath the rim as another flew directly overhead. The creature's shadow briefly enveloped them, its leathery wings catching the dim lantern light before it passed. Sarah's breath came in ragged gasps, her eyes wide with fear and adrenaline as she struggled to speak through her exhaustion.

"Their cart went down another line..." Sarah's voice trembled, the words catching in her throat as she searched the darkness for any sign of the missing vehicle.

"THEY FELL?"