Hope stopped at the edge of a jagged obsidian ridge, her greatsword lowering slightly as she peered into the chasm below. Andrey stepped up beside her, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana, his eyes scanning the terrain ahead.
The path had opened into a wide cavern, its walls glistening with veins of molten rock that pulsed like a slow heartbeat. At the far end, a massive waterfall of lava cascaded from the ceiling, plunging into a glowing lake below. The heat was intense, shimmering the air, making the distant cliffs waver like a mirage.
And gathered at the base of the waterfall, sprawled across the black stone like a living carpet, were the monsters.
