The bald man spun his daggers and all three mercenaries attacked at once.
Kára was the first to react.
The thin man threw himself at her with a short sword in one hand. From the other, a jet of water shot out that solidified instantly into a liquid blade, vibrating and sharp.
"You like playing with water," said Kára, blocking with the hammer handle.
"I like watching things bleed."
The mercenary launched a slash with the water blade. Kára dodged, but the edge grazed her arm and left a thin cut. She didn't even feel the impact. Only the burning afterward.
"It's fast," she murmured.
"And it cuts deep."
The man spun and threw the blade like a projectile. Kára ducked just in time. The edge passed over her head and smashed into a column, leaving a wet, deep mark in the stone.
Kára clenched her teeth. She closed her eyes for an instant.
"Kazak'Thur."
The voice came out deep, as if from somewhere older than herself.
The hammer vibrated. A blue-white light ran along the runes on the handle. Sparks flew from the weapon's head.
The mercenary froze.
Kára opened her eyes and struck.
The hammer slammed into the ground before him. An electric shockwave expanded outward. The man took the discharge full in the chest. His muscles contracted. The water blade dissolved into a puddle. He dropped to his knees, smoking.
Kára stepped forward and gave him a sharp blow to the temple with the handle. The mercenary collapsed.
The hammer's glow faded. A fine rain of sparks fell on the stone.
Darian, who had just blocked a slash from the bald man, glanced at her sideways.
"What was that?"
"I'll tell you later."
---
Varkas had no time to look.
The big one was a mountain of muscle and leather. He wielded a two-handed axe with a chipped edge. His arms were covered in a layer of stone that glowed faintly. Earth magic.
"Come on, beast," he growled. "Let's see who's tougher."
Varkas drew his sword fully. He didn't respond. He just advanced.
The big man raised the axe and brought it down in a vertical slash. Varkas barely dodged. The edge slammed into the ground and sent up a cloud of splinters. Before he could recover the weapon, Varkas was already on top of him.
He struck with the pommel in his side. The stone layer absorbed the impact. The big man smiled.
Varkas struck the same spot again. A crack appeared in the stone.
The big man roared and threw a blow with the axe handle. Varkas took it on his forearm. It hurt. But he didn't fall. He used the moment to grab the axe and struggle for it.
They locked together, muscle against muscle. The big man pushed. Varkas resisted. The ground beneath their feet began to crack.
"You're strong," the mercenary growled.
"And you're slow."
Varkas suddenly released the axe. The big man, off-balance, stepped forward. Varkas drove his shoulder into his chest and shoved him against the nearest column. The stone cracked.
The mercenary tried to break free, but Varkas didn't let go. He channeled his magic. A thick layer of rock covered his right hand, forming a gauntlet of solid stone.
The big man's eyes went wide.
"Wait..."
Varkas drove the stone fist into his face.
The impact sounded like rock breaking. The mercenary's stone layer crumbled. His eyes rolled back and he collapsed.
Varkas shook his hand. The gauntlet dissolved to dust.
"Well done, giant," said Kára, approaching.
"One left."
---
The bald man watched his fallen companions. His smile vanished.
A dark mist began to emanate from his body. Shadow magic. Darian felt a chill.
The bald man launched himself at him.
Darian drew his swords. The blades glowed in the dim light.
He activated Flow Perception.
The world slowed.
He saw the bald man approaching. He saw the trajectory of his daggers. One to the throat. The other to the side. The dark mist expanded to blind him.
Darian moved.
He blocked the first dagger with the long sword. The mist swirled around him, but the resonant crystal dispersed it. The bald man growled and threw the second dagger. Darian deflected it with the short sword.
The mercenary gave him no quarter. He threw a low kick that Darian barely dodged. Then another dagger, wrapped in shadows that stretched and lengthened.
Darian activated the Void Dominion for an instant.
Gravity increased around the bald man. His movements became slow, heavy. The dark mist was crushed against the floor.
"What is this?" he growled.
Vael took advantage.
From a high ledge, he spread his small wings and beat the air. A concentrated gust of wind struck the bald man in the back. The mercenary stumbled forward.
Darian didn't miss the opportunity.
He knocked a dagger from his hand with a sharp blow. The weapon clinked against the floor. Then he gave him a flat slash across the chest with the long sword, throwing him against the wall.
The bald man hit the stone with his back. He let out a groan.
Darian grabbed him by the collar of his armor and slammed him against the wall.
"Where is Aria?"
The bald man smiled, blood on his lip.
"You're going to have to hit harder..."
Darian slammed him again. The stone cracked.
"Where is she?!"
"Coast... old dwarven port... a ship..."
The mercenary coughed. Darian slammed him again.
"Who paid you?!"
"Elves... one of them... wasn't normal..."
"What does that mean?!"
The bald man didn't respond anymore. His eyes rolled back. Darian released him and the mercenary collapsed, unconscious.
Darian turned, chest heaving. Varkas put a hand on his shoulder.
"That's enough. He's out."
Darian nodded. Vael jumped from the ledge and settled on his shoulder, making a soft sound.
Kára picked up her hammer.
"We need to keep moving."
They resumed the march. The tunnel continued ahead, dark, narrow. The mana crystal's light barely reached a few meters.
They walked in silence for a good while. The echo of their boots was the only thing accompanying them.
Until Kára stopped.
"Wait."
At the far end, a faint light. Not sunlight. Artificial. And before it, several silhouettes cut against it.
Not three.
More.