The inside of the castle was consumed by darkness.
Not ordinary darkness—
but the kind that felt alive.
Heavy.
Watching.
Breathing.
The only light came from ancient torches mounted along the stone walls.
Their flames burned with an unnatural orange glow, flickering violently whenever the cold wind moved through the corridors.
Water slowly dripped from cracks in the ceiling.
Every droplet echoed endlessly through the massive halls.
The castle smelled of mold, ash, and death.
Like thousands of forgotten corpses had rotted somewhere beneath the ruins.
Anna stared at one of the torches while walking carefully beside Noah.
Her voice lowered almost to a whisper.
„Anna: How are these torches still burning…?"
Noah glanced at them briefly.
Even he looked unsettled.
„Noah: I… don't know."
Their footsteps echoed through the giant corridor.
Every sound felt too loud.
Too dangerous.
Then—
suddenly—
A scraping noise echoed above them.
Like claws dragging across stone.
Everyone froze instantly.
„Heinrich: Holy shit…"
The sound continued.
Slow.
Heavy.
Crawling.
The group looked around nervously.
„Anna: W-Where did that come from…?"
„Heinrich: What do we do now…?"
Karoschi suddenly raised his hand.
„Karoschi: Shhh."
His eyes slowly moved upward.
The others followed his gaze.
Above them—
there was a massive hole in the ceiling leading to the floor above.
Silence.
Then—
something moved inside the darkness.
A pale hand slowly appeared over the edge.
Then another.
And suddenly—
a Help Screamer crawled out of the hole.
Its body twisted unnaturally as it dragged itself downward like a spider.
Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto the group instantly.
Everyone screamed in shock—
except Karoschi.
The creature lunged immediately.
It grabbed Anna by the throat—
and slammed her violently against the stone wall.
„Anna: AAH!!"
The impact echoed through the hallway.
Heinrich reacted instantly.
He rushed forward—
swinging his sword with all his strength.
The blade sliced through the creature's arm.
The severed limb hit the floor.
„Help Screamer: HEEEEELP!!!"
Its scream echoed through the castle like a dying human voice.
Karoschi's expression darkened immediately.
„Karoschi: Noah! NOW!"
Noah looked toward him.
„Karoschi: Aim for the liver! That's where the core is!"
„Heinrich: And you tell us THIS now?!"
„Karoschi: This isn't the time for arguing! Just do it!"
Noah nodded instantly.
The creature rushed toward Heinrich—
but Noah moved first.
He stepped forward—
driving his sword deep into the creature's side.
Straight into the liver.
The Help Screamer froze.
Its glowing eyes flickered weakly.
„Help Screamer: H…help…"
Then—
its body collapsed lifelessly onto the stone floor.
The yellow glow vanished completely.
Silence.
Noah immediately ran toward Anna.
„Noah: Anna! Are you okay?!"
Anna slowly sat up against the wall.
Breathing heavily.
„Anna: N-Not really…"
Blood suddenly began running from her nose.
She wiped it quickly—
but more followed.
Before anyone could speak—
Multiple screams echoed from deeper inside the castle.
„Help Screamer: HEEELP!!"
„Help Screamer: h-help…"
„Help Screamer: H-hel-lp…"
Karoschi's eyes widened instantly.
„Karoschi: We need to move NOW!"
He pointed toward the dark corridor ahead.
„Karoschi: It screamed for help! More are coming! GO!"
The group immediately started running deeper into the castle.
Their footsteps echoed wildly through the endless halls.
Anna looked behind them nervously while running.
„Anna: What about Barry?!"
Karoschi didn't stop moving.
„Karoschi: Don't worry."
„Karoschi: Those things are too stupid to realize he's with us."
They continued running through broken corridors and collapsed rooms.
Ancient paintings hung torn from the walls.
Old armor stood motionless in corners like silent corpses.
Then—
they passed a giant window.
Noah glanced outside briefly.
The sky was slowly changing.
Dark blue fading into gray.
Sunrise was coming.
„Noah: Look… the sun's rising."
Suddenly—
something massive slammed against the outside wall.
Everyone turned instantly.
A gigantic skeletal creature clung to the castle wall outside the window.
Its enormous claws dug into the stone.
Its hollow skull stared directly at them.
The Skeletpn dragon.
Anna's face turned pale immediately.
„Anna: W-What IS THAT?!"
Karoschi's breathing became heavier.
„Karoschi: We need to get away from the window RIGHT NOW!"
The dragon continued staring silently.
Then—
its jaw slowly opened.
A bright green light began forming deep inside its mouth.
Karoschi's eyes widened.
„Karoschi: MOVE!!"
Everyone immediately jumped away from the window.
A second later—
the dragon unleashed a massive stream of green fire.
The explosion shattered the entire wall behind them.
Stone flew everywhere.
Heat filled the hallway instantly.
The group barely escaped.
The dragon let out a horrifying screech—
before flying back into the dark sky.
But the green fire remained.
And from within the flames—
small creatures slowly emerged.
Tiny creatures made entirely from green fire.
Their hollow faces twisted unnaturally.
„Karoschi: Don't let them touch you!"
The others immediately stepped back.
„Karoschi: Those are Soul Vectors!"
Noah tightened his grip on his sword.
„Noah: What happens if they touch someone?"
Karoschi's expression darkened.
„Karoschi: Extreme fear."
A pause.
„Karoschi: Pain so unbearable…"
His voice lowered slightly.
„Karoschi: …that people kill themselves just to escape it."
One of the Soul Vectors suddenly leapt toward Noah.
Noah reacted instantly—
cutting it apart midair.
The creature dissolved immediately.
But another one jumped toward Heinrich.
„Heinrich: GET AWAY FROM ME—"
He swung—
and missed by inches.
The Soul Vector touched his arm.
Then instantly dissolved.
Silence.
„Anna: Heinrich…?"
Heinrich suddenly collapsed to the floor.
„Heinrich: AAAAAAHHHH!!"
His scream echoed through the hallway.
He grabbed his head violently.
Trembling uncontrollably.
„Heinrich: IT HURTS—!! I CAN'T TAKE THIS—!!"
Karoschi knelt beside him quickly.
„Karoschi: Hold on! It'll pass!"
„Heinrich: NO—NO I CAN'T—!!"
Tears streamed down Heinrich's face as he grabbed his sword.
Then slowly raised it toward his own throat.
„Anna: HEINRICH NO!!"
Noah immediately rushed forward—
grabbing the sword away from him.
„Heinrich: GIVE IT BACK!!"
„Noah: NO!"
Noah held the sword tightly.
„Noah: This is for your own good!"
Karoschi grabbed Heinrich by both arms.
Despite Heinrich struggling violently—
Karoschi lifted him up.
„Karoschi: We keep moving."
He looked toward the others.
„Karoschi: I'll carry him."
The group continued deeper through the ruined castle.
Then—
they suddenly stopped.
A massive hole in the wall stood before them.
Beyond it—
a dark cave stretched deep into the mountain itself.
Cold air poured out from inside.
Then—
a familiar scream echoed through the darkness.
„Johann: HELP!!!"
Noah's eyes widened instantly.
„Noah: JOHANN!!"
„Anna: Hold on! We're coming!!"
Without hesitation—
the group ran into the cave.
Completely unaware…
of what was waiting for them in the darkness ahead.