FALL OF THE ANCIENTs

ir footsteps echoing through the empty halls. They could feel the

them like a physical blow. For a moment, they stood there, catchi

eave, they heard a low, guttural growl from behind them, and they tu

hey had to act fast. They pulled out their weapons, bran

gy, lunged at them, their teeth flashing in the su

hed his flashlight, blinding another. And the third, using his training in martial arts,

h everything they had. They were outnumbered and out

aring through the investigators' clothing and dr

t, they drove the creatures back, for

ching and bleeding, collapsed to

ey needed to find a way to end this once and for al

said, his voice hoarse from the battle. "That's

right. If they were going to defeat the dark

ssing down on them, its presence stronger than ever. But they pu

em in. They hesitated for a moment, but then stepped i

more menacing than before, the air th

red, his voice barely audible ov

d deeper into the mansion. They passed by rooms that seemed to pulse wi

in symbols and sigils. They knew that this was the

ushed open the door, their he

amber, lit by flickering candles and fi

ir grow cold and oppressive. They could feel the darkness

, adorned with skulls and bones. And on the altar, they saw

whispered. "This is what

ltar, they saw something tha

sacrifice. The body was withered and emaciated,

n their chests, knew that they were standi

ispered, his voice trembling. "We ha

, their hands shaking as

ful, malevolent energy course through their bodies, as i

to read the ancient words of the book, chanting them alo

ice begin to move, its eyes flickering o

of them whispered, his

, rose from the altar and began to float in t

with hatred. "The darkness will consume you, just

they were facing their greatest challenge yet. They had to find a wa

by the second, lunged at the investigato

or their weapons. But as they did, they realized t

" one of them whispered. "Somethi

lelight, they saw a glint of sil

of them exclaimed, his eye

ds closing around the hilt. As they did, the blade glowed with a brilli

illed with awe. "It's said that this sword was forged by

ht burning away the darkness a

y the light of the sword, hissed an

hat they couldn't stop there

hem shouted, his voice ec

own on the sacrifice, its blade slicing throu

light, and the darkness was gone, banis

, watched as the light of the sword faded a

red, his voice filled with reli

from the battle. Outside, the air was crisp and c

e of them said, his voice solemn. "The d