A split second of darkness and then my boots landed firmly on solid ground.
I opened my eyes, scanning the cavern around us. Cold, damp stone walls glistened beneath the faint torchlight left behind by Alpha Team. The air hung thick, stale with rot and moisture. Ahead, a wide tunnel twisted deeper into darkness, illuminated only by dying embers. Shadows flickered ominously, dancing like living things along the jagged walls.
Something wet landed on my cheek, jolting me from my thoughts. I glanced upward. Jagged stones loomed overhead, poised like stone teeth ready to close around us.
"Alright, you know the drill," John's voice rumbled, echoing sharply through the cavern. "Darren, Till—take point. Don't let a single one of these undead bastards through."
Two large men stepped forward, heavily armored and carrying shields nearly as tall as themselves. Clearly, they were the muscle. Clearly, they belonged here. I clenched my jaw, shaking off the familiar surge of inadequacy.
Then, my eyes caught a familiar figure standing by the supply packs stacked against the cavern wall.
Alex.
A knot of tension loosened in my chest. I approached him with a relieved grin.
"Didn't realize you were on this one," I said, extending my hand.
Alex turned, blinking once before a broad smile split his face. "G'day, Ethan! Been a long while, hasn't it? How you holding up?"
We shook hands firmly, his grip still painfully strong. I hid a wince, forcing a casual shrug. "Been alright," I lied. "You just up and vanished, ya bastard."
He chuckled, releasing my hand. "Life happens, man. Got a kid now. Not exactly eager to spend every day dodging claws and skills anymore, if you get me."
A kid. I froze, a cold dread stabbing into my chest.
His wife, the mother of that kid, was my ex.
I forced a neutral expression, swallowing back the sudden dryness in my throat. "Congrats," I managed, my voice carefully even.
He studied my face, seeing right through the act. "Come on, Ethan. It's been years." He punched my shoulder lightly, smiling faintly.
I rolled my eyes, exhaling sharply. "Yeah, yeah. What dragged you back to the hunter grind, then?"
His smile faded slightly, eyes darkening. "Money. What else?"
I nodded slowly, my gaze dropping to the packs at our feet. "This what we're hauling?"
Alex hefted one onto his shoulder with a grunt, straps creaking under the weight. "Yup. Another porter's here, too. Shouldn't be too rough."
Footsteps sounded behind us as someone approached right on queue. "Hey guys," a gruff voice broke in. "Here to help carry shit."
Alex and I exchanged a quick glance, amusement tugging at the corners of our lips.
"Good stuff," I replied, tightening my own pack. "I'm Ethan." I jerked my chin toward Alex. "And this funny-looking guy's Alex."
The newcomer snorted a laugh, securing a heavy pack on his back. He rolled his shoulders once, stretching out muscles that looked far stronger than mine. "Bert."
Before any of us could continue, John's commanding voice cut across the cavern once more.
"Enough chatter. We're moving out. Stay alert."
I adjusted the heavy pack on my back, nerves settling coldly in my gut as we stepped forward.
The darkness ahead felt hungry, oppressive. And I had the sinking feeling it wasn't just ores we'd be finding down there.
Hours passed, blending together into a monotonous blur. The tunnel twisted endlessly ahead, winding deeper into the earth like the guts of some massive beast. The further we descended, the worse things got, shattered weapons lay discarded, bones scattered across the cold stone floor, and remnants of armor and flesh left rotting. The heavy stench of blood and decay was overwhelming, sticking to my throat and clinging to my clothes.
The undead here… they were different.
Normal rift undead still resembled monsters—goblins, shadow wolves, steel-jaw monkeys—but not these. These looked human, disturbingly so. Empty eyes stared from rotting, gaunt faces. Torn flesh clung loosely to bones, limbs twisted at unnatural angles. It felt wrong, like looking at something you weren't meant to see.
I swallowed the bile rising in my throat, forcing myself forward. Alex, Bert, and I stayed at the rear of the group, silently keeping pace.
Finally, we stepped into a wider cavern, and John raised one armored hand sharply.
"Stop," he called, voice echoing softly through the chamber. "This looks like the sub-boss room."
Relief surged through me instantly. I dropped the heavy pack onto the cold stone floor, nearly collapsing beside it as the weight left my shoulders. Sweat streamed down my face, stinging my eyes. My legs shook uncontrollably, muscles burning with exhaustion.
Alex flopped down next to me, grinning despite his own fatigue. "You really need to put some muscle on that lanky frame, Ethan."
I glared at him weakly. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever, meathead."
Bert watched us, a quiet grin spreading across his face. "You two known each other long?"
"A few years now," I managed, breathing heavily. "We did the Hunter's Course together."
Bert chuckled softly, eyes distant. "Ah, I remember mine. Good times."
I snorted bitterly. "It wasn't good times."
The Hunter's Course sucked—especially when your Awakening gave you a skill that only worked when you were halfway to dead already.
Alex smirked at Bert, curiosity in his gaze. "Say, Bert. How old are you? Can't quite place it—thirty?"
Bert laughed, shaking his head slightly. "Sure. Let's just say I'm thirty."
I scoffed, studying his grizzled features. "Don't be stupid, Alex. He's at least fifty."
Silence.
Bert's laughter stopped abruptly, and he turned slowly, his sharp gaze locking onto me with sudden intensity.
"You realize I'm B-rank, right?" His tone was far too casual.
A nervous laugh slipped from my throat. I glanced at Alex for support, but the bastard was smirking, enjoying every second.
"I—uh…"
Bert burst into laughter again, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Relax, kid. You should've seen your face."
Alex stood up, slapping my shoulder as he went. "Don't get too spooked, Ethan. You do realize we're in an B-rank rift, right?"
I muttered under my breath, "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Bert offered me a calloused hand, easily hauling me upright. "You're a tall one, though, aren't ya."
"Mom always said I had to eat my veggies," I replied dryly.
He snorted. "Looks like you skipped the meat, though. Nothing but skin and bones."
"Ouch," I winced, searching for a comeback. My mind blanked. Bert might've been shorter, but he looked like he could snap me in half without even trying.
So I fell back on my favorite defense. "Whatever. You're ugly."
He chuckled again, shaking his head.
Alex snorted. "Sorry, Ethan. You're clearly the only ugly one here."
I shot him a betrayed glare. "Whose side are you on?"
"Come on," Alex grinned, unfazed. "Let's get these packs sorted."
I sighed, reaching reluctantly toward my bag.
Then—
Click.
I froze.
The sound was sharp, unnatural, echoing clearly down the tunnel.
"What was that?" I whispered sharply.
Bert frowned, glancing toward the dark passage. "What?"
I closed my eyes, focusing intently. The noise came again, louder now.
Click. Click. Click.
"That," I said urgently. "Tell me you hear it."
Before either of them could answer, a scream cut through the cavern.
My head snapped around in time to see one of the lookouts collapse to the ground, blood spilling beneath him. The clicking intensified, almost deafening, as something emerged from the shadows.
A twisted, human-like figure crawled into the torchlight, moving too fast, limbs bent grotesquely. Empty eye sockets locked onto me, mouth stretched wide in a silent, hungry scream.
And then it lunged straight toward me.