Chaos Legion 2

Chapter 6: Into the Depths

The journey was about to take them deeper into the unknown. Arcia and Sieg stood at the edge of a dense forest, the path ahead uncertain and filled with potential dangers.

Arcia turned to Sieg with a raised eyebrow. "So, which one do we do first?"

Sieg glanced at the map, his fingers tracing the four main seals—fire, water, earth, and air. "Where’s the nearest?" he asked, his voice focused and calm, despite the growing tension in the air.

Arcia dug through her bag, pulling out the book and the map. She scanned the parchment, her finger moving across the terrain. "Well… hm. The nearest is..."

She paused for a moment before pointing to a spot on the map. "Earth. Just in that mountain over there."

Sieg followed her finger and narrowed his eyes at the distance. "Over there? There's an entire forest from here to there. Not to mention we might need to climb."

Arcia nodded. "Looks like it. But it's the closest, so let's get to it."

Without hesitation, they made their way into the forest. The trees towered over them, and the air grew thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. The sounds of the forest creatures echoed in the distance, and the undergrowth seemed alive with the rustle of leaves and branches. Their footsteps were muffled by the thick carpet of moss beneath their feet, but the sense of danger never fully left.

Along the way, they encountered various monsters—some were twisted forest beasts, others fiends that stalked the shadows. Each battle was a test of their resolve, but they fought through with determination, Sieg calling upon his legions and Arcia firing with precision.

Eventually, after hours of travel and combat, they reached the foot of the mountain.

"It’s not as steep as we thought," Arcia said, surveying the base. Her tone was more optimistic than before.

Sieg squinted at the mountain's slopes. "Not as steep, but still quite a climb."

He was about to say more when he froze, his gaze locked onto something ahead. "Wait, there’s a tunnel," he said quietly. "That must be it."

They moved closer, stepping carefully toward the entrance of the tunnel that cut through the rocky mountain. The opening was wide and dark, a jagged gap in the stone that seemed to beckon them into the unknown.

Arcia frowned, looking into the darkness beyond the tunnel. "Where does it lead?"

Sieg's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, and his voice was steady as he answered. "Down."

Arcia’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "So, we must go down, not up?"

Sieg nodded, his expression serious. "Looks like it. The Earth Seal is buried deep beneath this mountain. We’ll have to descend into the caverns."

They shared a brief look, a silent understanding passing between them. This was no simple trek—they were about to enter the depths of the earth itself, a place filled with ancient power and untold dangers.

"Let’s get ready," Arcia said, pulling her gun from its holster and checking its load. "We’ll need to be prepared for anything."

Sieg adjusted his relic and surveyed their surroundings, his mind already shifting into tactical mode. "Stay sharp. We don’t know what’s waiting down there."

With that, they made their way into the cavernous mountain, the dark tunnel swallowing them whole. Each step took them further into the heart of the earth, where the first seal—and the answers they sought—waited.