Spirit Game

"S-Sacrifice?" Golly's face drained of color as he took in the grotesque sight of the magic circle. The ground was stained with dark splotches of blood, and a foul, acrid stench filled the air.

"N-no way . . ." Santi's voice wavered, her disbelief mingling with horror.

Rain's eyes widened in shock. "All those gnomes . . . they were sacrificed?"

A spear materialized out of thin air, its end slamming into the ground with a resounding thud as Gorm's maniacal laughter filled the chamber. "Everyone will be sacrificed to open the underworld! I'll claim my Interitus from the reaper's chest, one way or another!"

Gorm stood surrounded by a maelstrom of dark energy, his arms raised in a dramatic arc as he chanted in an ancient, guttural language. The air crackled with the intensity of the ritual, each word of the chant sending ripples through the oppressive atmosphere.

The magical circle beneath him began to pulse, its runes glowing ominously. From its center, thick, swirling fog began to coalesce, forming into shadowy, nightmarish creatures. They writhed and twisted, their forms shifting and coiling as they emerged from the depths of the ritual.

Rain's blood ran cold as he realized what was happening. Gorm was summoning a horde of dark creatures through the ritual. If they didn't act quickly, they would be swarmed and overpowered, just as they had been on the surface.

"Golly, get the others here now!" Rain shouted urgently. "We don't have time to be paralyzed right now. We need to act fast or we're done for!"

Golly was still trembling from the horror of what he'd heard, but he forced himself to regain his composure. He wiped away the tears streaking his face and took a deep breath.

With steely resolve, he turned his attention to the task at hand, his hands moved on the ground as he draw a teleportation circle to summon the remaining troops from the surface.

The others formed a protective circle around him, their eyes scanning the darkness for any signs of movement. The chamber was filled with a sense of dread, as if the very walls were alive, watching them with unseen eyes.

The first shadow attack was almost too quick to see. A sudden flash of movement, a glint of steel in the darkness, and then Chi's blade was there, deflecting the strike with a sharp clang that echoed through the chamber.

The attacker was a creature of shadow, its form shifting and twisting as it lunged again, but Chi was faster. Her blade flashed in the dim light, and the creature dissolved into nothingness, leaving only a faint wisp of smoke behind.

"Stay alert," Santi ordered, her voice tense. "There'll be more."

As if on cue, the shadows around them stirred with a life of their own. From the depths of the magic circle, dark figures began to emerge, their forms nebulous and ever-changing.

These were no ordinary beings; they were the twisted remnants of the underground's horrors, summoned by lesser magic to serve as vanguards of a deeper, darker intent.

The battle was chaotic, the chamber filled with the sounds of clashing steel and the hiss of spells. Chick and Chill darted between the creatures, their size making them a difficult target as they struck with quick, precise blows.

The mages at the back unleashed a blast of fire magic, burning the creatures in its tracks.

Santi leaped to the rear, her voice rising in a chant as the white tattoos on her skin ignited with a luminous glow. Sparkling like ethereal dust, the light swirled around her, coalescing into the form of a majestic bird.

The bird appeared almost like a spirit, its presence warm and radiant, casting a soft glow that illuminated the entire battlefield. With a graceful sweep, it tore through the ranks of enemies, as beautiful as it was lethal.

Rain was caught off guard, and momentarily stopped fighting to marvel at Santi's power. It was the first time he'd witnessed her in action.

"What is that?" he asked in awe.

"Santi is a Spirit Caller," Golly replied, his hands busy tracing a magic circle on the ground.

"Spirit Caller?" Rain repeated, letting the words roll off his tongue. "So she can summon spirits?"

Golly nodded, sweat dripping from his brow as he worked faster. "Yes, but only those spirits with whom she's made a pact."

"That's . . . that's so cool!" Rain exclaimed, squirming with excitement.

Just then, an enemy's blade whizzed past, narrowly missing Golly by inches. The near miss snapped Golly out of his focus, and he growled at Rain, his voice thick with irritation. "Hoi! Stop gawking and protect me!"

Rain scratched his head, a nervous laugh escaping him. "R-right. Sorry!" he said, quickly snapping back into action, his moment of awe quickly forgotten in the heat of the battle.

Gorm hadn't lifted a finger since they got there. He simply stood in the center of the magic circle, his spear grounded like a menacing anchor.

Everyone knew he was chanting, as the Elven elders groaned in agony, their life force being siphoned to amplify the circle's dark power to open the underworld.

"Father!" Santi screamed, her voice filled with desperation as she commanded the spirit bird to free her father from his chains.

The bird instantly changed course, soaring toward the Elven King with speed. But before it could reach him, a spear whistled through the air, striking the bird and shattering it into a flurry of glowing fragments.

"What the—?!" Rain exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock.

Santi and Rain turned their gaze toward Gorm, who had finally moved, revealing his intent only when they attempted to rescue the Elven elders. The cold, calculating look in his eyes sent a shiver down their spines.

"I guess we won't be rescuing them until we take Gorm down first," Rain muttered, eyes narrowing.

"But how do we even reach him?" Santi panted, her voice strained. "He's surrounded by those none-ending creatures."

For every creature they destroyed, more seemed to take its place, rising from the darkness like a tide that could not be turned.

Rain, Chi, Chill, and Chick fought at the center of the group, their blade flashing as they cut down one foe after another.