Sinclair crouched near the hole, noting how the narrow entrance widened into a larger chamber. He glanced back, watching as Chewy and Leia navigated the opening. Chewy sniffed at the ground while Leia kept her ears perked, alert to the surroundings.

Chewy paused, his nose twitching. He looked up and locked eyes with Sinclair, giving a slight nod to confirm their suspicions. The tracks led directly into the lair. The forest around them remained unnervingly still, the shadows deepening as the sun dipped, casting muted light over the scene.

Sinclair nodded once, taking a steadying breath. He gestured for Chewy and Leia to follow as they approached the entrance. The jagged edges of the hole framed the path ahead, leading into the unknown. Without hesitation, the three stepped inside, their focus sharpening as they moved deeper into the room.

When the cave's first chamber opened, the overpowering stench of decay assaulted their senses. Rotting carcasses—deer, small game, and other wildlife—were piled in the far corner, each bearing gruesome evidence of the creature's appetite. The damp air carried a suffocating heaviness, and the faint sound of water dripping echoed through the cavern.

Sinclair signaled for Chewy and Leia to spread out, their eyes scanning the room's dim recesses for movement or clues. Despite the carnage, the chamber was empty. His gaze landed on a narrow tunnel at the far end, the only way forward. With no signs of the creature in sight, Sinclair gestured toward the passage, and they pressed on.

The tunnel was tight, forcing them to move single-file as the damp walls glistened with moisture. The smell of decay thickened, and the air was dense with the scent of earth and death. Emerging into a smaller chamber, they paused to take stock. The room was sparse, with glistening walls and a dirt-packed floor that bore claw marks. Sinclair studied the gouges, trying to piece together the creature's behavior or habits.

A loud crash echoed from behind them, sharp and final, like stone striking stone. The sound reverberated through the tunnel, rattling loose dust from the ceiling. Sinclair froze, turning back toward the passage. Chewy's low growl broke the silence as Leia bristled, her ears pinned back. Sinclair met their eyes, his stomach sinking. The sound carried a weight of danger, and he knew immediately—they might be sealed in.

They rushed back to the tunnel, feet pounding against the stone floor, and found their worst fear confirmed. A massive boulder now sealed the entrance, cutting off their only escape. Sinclair stood still for a moment, his jaw tightening as his eyes traced the rough edges of the obstruction. They were trapped.

Chewy sniffed the air sharply, his nose twitching as he turned toward Sinclair. "I can smell it again. It was just here," he said, his voice low and tense.

Sinclair's gaze shifted to the pile of animal carcasses. The scattered remains showed signs of recent disturbance—claw marks and fresh gouges in the surrounding dirt. His eyes narrowed as the realization hit. "It must have hidden in the pile, waited for us to pass through, then blocked the tunnel on its way out," he growled. His fist collided with the wall, dislodging a small shower of dust and rock. "That bastard."

Leia's voice broke through the tension. "Can you still message the others?" she asked, her tone urgent.

Sinclair's shoulders dropped slightly as he shook his head. "No. We're outside my domain. I can't reach anyone."

The group stood in heavy silence, their attention fixed on the boulder that now separated them from the outside world. Sinclair's eyes caught a faint glimmer of light near the top of the rock. Bracing himself, he planted his hands against the rough surface and pushed with all his strength. The boulder shifted slightly but stopped after only an inch, refusing to budge further.

Sinclair stepped back, his breathing steady despite the strain. He turned to his companions, his voice calm but urgent. "We need to move deeper into the cave. If there's another way out, we must find it fast. If we don't, we're not just stuck here; that thing is loose, and no one outside knows we're trapped."

The group exchanged brief nods, their faces set with quiet determination. Then, without another word, they turned and pressed on, their steps echoing through the narrow passage. The darkness deepened around them, and the stale air grew heavier with every step. They had no choice but to keep moving, driven by the need to survive and the knowledge that something dangerous was still out there.

Ed, Rose, and Alice stared at Bruce and Amelia, their expressions a mix of disbelief and exasperation. "You want us to gather how many materials?" Ed asked, really hoping that he had misheard how much they needed.

Bruce pulled up his list, reading it aloud:

Logs:

1,955

Stone:

500

Nails:

2,000

Clay:

300

Leather:

150

Glass:

50

Coal:

250

Iron Ore:

180

Fabric:

100

He paused, glancing at the group before continuing. "This will cover three barracks, a blacksmith shop, carpentry and alchemy labs, a sawmill, a tanner/leather workshop, and storage buildings. The list is in order of priority. We can't start without logs and stone. The map shows two nearby areas rich in stone resources, surrounded by trees. That should keep everyone busy for a while. We can buy materials from the shop, but we must limit how much we have to do that."

The scale of the project was daunting, requiring not only labor but also careful coordination and a significant amount of time. But the importance of their work was evident, and they began strategizing, breaking down the list into manageable tasks.

Alice surveyed the room, her expression tightening as she spoke. "We need a fighter here at all times," she said. "Victoria can handle healing, but she has her training this morning, and Bruce and Amelia aren't combatants. Rose, why don't you stay and keep watch? Ed and I will start with the trees. Without Sinclair, this will take longer, but we have to begin."

Amelia stepped forward, her voice steady and clear. "When you bring materials back, take them to the crystal and store them there," she instructed. "We purchased an upgrade that lets us store building supplies directly in the crystal. Since we're using the store's builder function and paying with the extra crystals, we won't have thousands of things lying around."

Rose grumbled good-naturedly as she walked toward the wall, ready to begin her patrol. Though her role wasn't as physically taxing as gathering resources, it was no less vital. Keeping the area secure was critical to ensuring their work continued uninterrupted.

From her vantage point, Rose's gaze wandered to Victoria, who was training with relentless energy. Obstacle after obstacle, task after task, Victoria pushed herself, her movements sharp but increasingly strained. Gasping for breath, she barely paused before throwing herself into the next activity. Watching from her perch, Rose chuckled softly.

"No glass cannons or squishy teammates here," she muttered to herself, shaking her head with a faint smile as she resumed her watch.

Her rounds took her along the perimeter of their settlement, her sharp eyes scanning for any signs of danger. She paused occasionally, her thoughts straying to Sinclair. The weight of leadership he carried and the challenges he faced gnawed at her, but she pushed the worry aside, keeping her focus on her surroundings. As she glanced at the crystal, her gaze lingered on the menu icon displaying Sinclair's status. The pang in her chest deepened when it grayed out, marking his departure from Wolf's Run.

Pausing by the crystal during one of her circuits, Rose began scanning its contents for information on alchemy and runic scribing. The references to Norse mythology intrigued her, and she wondered how much truth might lie in the ancient art of Runes. She'd always enjoyed chemistry back in school, and exploring alchemy seemed like a natural extension of that curiosity. After a few minutes of browsing, she purchased an entry-level guide to Runecraft, making a mental note to return later and delve deeper, returning to her watch with a tiny spark of excitement for what she might learn.

She resumed her meandering patrol along the wall. Her eyes remained locked on the horizon, vigilant and sharp, but her mind was now also occupied with the newly acquired knowledge. Every few minutes, she would steal a moment to read another page, her interest piqued by the blend of magic, science, and tradition.

In her heart, she knew that this exploration was not a distraction. It was a step towards self-reliance and contribution to their shared cause. It was part of their collective growth, a spark of curiosity that could lead to new skills and potential.

Ed gripped the felling axe he had purchased, swinging the heavy tool in powerful arcs. Each strike landed cleanly, the force reverberating through the wood as towering trees fell with fewer than a dozen swings. His muscles flexed with the effort, and his face set in concentration as he moved methodically from one tree to the next.

Armed with a short axe, Alice moved quickly along the fallen trunks. Her motions were swift and practiced, cutting away branches with sharp, efficient strikes. Her footing was sure as she climbed over the logs, each swing clearing limbs with practiced precision. In the first few hours they were working, she had already gained several points in Agility.

In addition to the axes, they had stocked up on tools from the shop, including pickaxes, shovels, and buckets. The tools were carefully chosen for durability. The shop offered an astounding variety of tools. Some would have broken in thirty minutes, and others might never break at their level. The only holdup was gold. Basic tools were a couple of gold. Hardier tools that might hold up for years were almost in the triple digits.

Transporting the logs proved to be a more significant challenge than anticipated. They tried loading a 12-foot section of tree into their inventory, hoping to exploit the system's mechanics. However, each log consumed nearly all available space, leaving room for only one or two logs, depending on their other gear. They paused briefly, realizing they had never asked Sinclair how he managed to transport so many logs during his tasks. The weight of the effort Sinclair must have exerted struck them, and they worked with renewed respect for his capabilities.

Alice pruned each tree after it fell, swiftly removing branches with her axe. Once cleared, Ed cut the trunks into manageable 12-foot sections, dragging each piece to a designated staging area. They quickly found a rhythm, dividing their work into stages that allowed them to progress steadily.

The sound of chopping and the sharp scent of fresh wood filled the air as they worked. The rhythmic motions of their labor brought a sense of order to the demanding task, each swing of their tools driving them closer to their goal.

Ed and Alice sat under the shade of the remaining trees, their backs against the rough bark, as they unwrapped their lunch from the system shop. The scent of freshly cut wood mingled with the faint metallic tang of the tools lying nearby. Ed tore into a chunk of bread; his brow furrowed as he glanced at the towering pile of logs they had managed to amass.

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"So," he began between bites, "we're looking at 300 logs so far? Not bad for a morning's work, right? Not to mention the extra six points in strength."

Alice took a sip from her water flask, wiping her brow with the back of her hand. "Not bad at all. But considering we need almost 2,000… let's just say we've got a long way to go." She looked at her stat gains, opening her screen with a quick mental command. "I only have 4 in strength, but I also have 2 in agility, so that equals out."

Ed chuckled dryly. "Yeah, no kidding. At this rate, we'll need at least two full days just for the logs. And that's assuming we don't drop dead from exhaustion before then."

Alice smirked, glancing at the nearby tools. "Or break another axe handle. Seriously, whoever designed these didn't think about durability."

Ed picked up his axe, inspecting a few nicks along the edge. "Makes you wonder how Sinclair managed to quickly haul so many logs back. Do you think he knows some secret trick, or is it just 'Wolf Lord' magic?"

Alice rolled her eyes. "It's probably just brute strength and sheer stubbornness. You've seen him fight—he's not exactly subtle."

They both laughed, the tension easing slightly as they ate. After a few moments, Ed gestured toward the distant treeline where Sinclair had ventured earlier. "Do you think they've found anything yet? Or are they just chasing shadows at this point?"

Alice shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "Knowing Sinclair, he's probably found trouble already. But he's got Chewy and Leia with him. If anything can sniff out danger, it's those two."

Ed leaned back, resting his head against the tree trunk. "Yeah, true. Those wolves are something else. It makes me wonder if the system's got anything like that for us. A couple of wolves to haul logs wouldn't go amiss right about now."

Alice snorted. "Maybe we should check the Market Crystal. 'Lumberjack Wolves' might be under the tools section."

Their laughter echoed through the clearing, a brief reprieve from the weight of their task. As they finished their meal and stretched, the enormity of the work ahead settled over them again, but the shared camaraderie eased the burden. With a nod to each other, they stood, ready to get back to it.

As they prepared to resume work, Ed's eye caught a flash of movement behind one of the log stacks nearest the wood line. His brow furrowed in concern, and he mentioned it to Alice, his voice tinged with suspicion. "Did you see that?" he asked, pointing toward the movement.

Alice, squinting to see better, shook her head, her heart beginning to pound. "I don't see anything, but be careful," she cautioned.

With his club in hand, Ed began walking toward the log stack to investigate, his every step deliberate and cautious. Alice watched him, her breath caught in her throat, sensing something was not quite right.

As Ed rounded the corner of the stack, he was suddenly jerked forward by something Alice couldn't see. His startled cry was cut short, and Alice's heart leaped into her mouth as she saw him disappear from view. Panic set in, and she raced over to where he had been standing, only to see a shadowy figure racing toward the boundary zone in the distance. Ed was tossed over its shoulder, his arms dangling limply.

Her stomach tightened as the realization hit her, and she scrambled to activate the messaging system. The moment the interface opened, she frantically typed.

"Found the Myrkr!" she sent, her voice trembling as she added, "It's taken, Ed!"

She stared at the message as it was sent, the weight of the situation crashing down on her. The Myrkr was real; it had just taken one of their own. Within moments, replies flooded in from the chat, each laced with urgency.

Bruce broke through first. "What happened?"

Amelia followed quickly. "Where are you?"

Victoria's voice came next. "Can you see where it took him?"

Alice cut through their responses with a rapid stream of details, her words tumbling out in a frenzy. "It grabbed Ed and ran toward the boundary. He wasn't moving."

Rose replied swiftly, her calm and focused tone cutting through the chaos. "We can't contact Sinclair, so we must handle this ourselves. Alice, stay where you are. Victoria, meet me at the front gate. We're going after Ed."

Alice wrung her hands as doubt clouded her mind. "But what if we can't find him? What if it's too late?"

"We won't know unless we try," Rose shot back, her determination evident. "Bruce, Amelia, let Sinclair know what happens when he returns. If we leave Wolf's Run, I'll leave a marker and update the chat with our location."

The group fell into motion, each preparing for the urgent task ahead.

The chat fell silent, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on them. Then, without hesitation, they moved with purpose, each guided by the singular goal of bringing Ed back.

A few minutes later, Rose and Victoria met at the gate. Without a word, they set off at a fast jog, heading in the direction Alice had indicated. The forest blurred past them, and Victoria's eyes caught glimpses of their progress in clearing the trees earlier that day. The thought flickered briefly before fading, her focus locked on the path ahead.

When they arrived, Alice was pacing near the log stacks. Her hands trembled, and her wide eyes darted anxiously toward the tree line. She looked up as they approached, her fear evident in her jerky movements.

Rose came to a stop, her posture steady, her tone sharp. "Which direction did it go?"

Alice pointed toward the woodline, her voice barely audible. "That way. It was fast—so fast. I lost sight of it in seconds."

Victoria stepped closer, her voice soft but steady. "We'll find him. We have to."

Rose scanned the area, her gaze sharp as she took in every detail. Without missing a beat, she turned to Victoria and Alice. "Stay close. Stay alert," she ordered, her tone firm. "We're going after Ed, and we're not stopping until we find him."

With Rose taking the lead, they moved toward the trees, their steps quick and deliberate as they followed the trail into the unknown.

Without a word, they set off, following the trail deeper into the forest. The monster's path was unmistakable, marked by scuffed ground and torn tree bark. Its progress ran in a straight line toward the boundary of Wolf's Run, and the creature made no effort to conceal its movements.

Rose crouched near a broken branch, eyes scanning the ground for further signs. The tracks were deliberate, almost too easy to follow. The realization settled over her as she stood. Either the creature didn't care that they were following it, or it wanted them to. She pressed forward, her focus unwavering despite the unsettling thought.

The forest grew denser as they neared the boundary, and shadows pooled between the trees. The faint rustle of leaves and a distant birdcall broke the stillness, but the silence felt heavy, and the air thickened with the sense of being watched.

Victoria worked quickly, tearing old shirts from her inventory ring and tying strips around branches to mark their path. The faded fabric caught in the dim light, standing against the forest's muted colors. Her hands moved with precision, though they trembled slightly as she worked.

Rose paused briefly to send a message to Bruce and Amelia. She detailed their findings so far and outlined the markers Victoria was leaving—two strips tied to tree trunks, pointing in the direction they were headed. She checked the message before sending it, ensuring every detail was apparent.

The three reached the edge of Wolf's Run, where the familiar territory ended and the unknown began. The thick forest loomed ahead, its dark canopy obscuring the path forward.

Alice turned to Rose, frustration evident in her voice. "We can't just stand here. That thing has Ed, and we have no idea what it's planning to do with him."

Victoria crouched near the tracks, studying the impressions in the dirt and the gouges in the surrounding trees. "It's leading us somewhere," she said, her voice steady. "Almost like it wants us to follow."

The three exchanged a few more words, weighing their options. Sinclair was out of reach, and waiting wasn't an option. With the risks clear, they made their decision. Together, they stepped beyond the boundary of Wolf's Run, the trail guiding them deeper into the forest.

The trees grew closer together as they moved, their thick branches casting long shadows that obscured the path ahead. Though erratic, the creature's tracks remained clear, its clawed feet cutting deep into the soft earth. The air felt heavier, and the silence was broken only by their careful steps and the occasional rustle of leaves.

Two hundred yards ahead, the creature appeared. It crouched low, its body grotesque and distorted. Standing on two legs, its backward-bent knees gave it an unnatural gait, and twin black horns jutted sharply from its forehead. Ed hung limply over its shoulder, his still form swaying slightly as the creature shifted. Its dark, empty eyes locked with theirs for a brief moment, unblinking and cold.

Then it turned and moved further into the forest, its pace deliberate, its path unwavering.

The three women exchanged glances, their expressions tense but resolute. The sight of the creature made it clear that he wasn't just a pursuit. It was leading them, watching their every move, and setting the terms of an encounter they had no choice but to accept.

They pressed on, following the trail with every sense heightened. The forest closed around them as they moved deeper into the unknown.

As Sinclair, Chewy, and Leia moved deeper into the tunnel, the rough, natural cave walls began to change. What had been jagged stone now showed signs of deliberate craftsmanship, the surface smoothed and shaped with care.

Chewy paused, sniffing at a section of the wall. "Look at this," he communicated telepathically. His nose picked up the faint scent of aged stone, and his sharp eyes focused on carvings etched into the surface. The intricate designs depicted an underground forest filled with shadowy figures and glowing flora, delicate and precise lines.

Sinclair ran his hand along the carvings, studying the strange scenes that adorned them. "This doesn't match anything from above ground. No known civilization left work like this."

Leia's mental voice chimed in, her tone thoughtful. Could it belong to a lost culture? Or something intentionally hidden?

Sinclair nodded slightly, his eyes tracing the patterns as they continued down the passage. "If it is, it's been untouched for a long time."

The walls became smoother as they descended, and dark jewels embedded in the stone caught and refracted the torchlight. The crude tunnel gave way to an increasingly refined design. Arches began to span the ceiling, supported by elegant buttresses that seemed almost organic in their curves.

The ground beneath their feet also changed. The rugged path was replaced by dark stone polished to a mirror-like finish. It was no longer a simple cave floor but a carefully constructed road, wide and deliberate in its layout, built for more than secrecy.

Chewy sniffed the air again, his head tilting slightly. "This place feels old, but it's not abandoned. It's like it's… waiting."

Leia glanced toward Sinclair. "Waiting for what?" she asked, her mental voice steady though tinged with curiosity.

"I don't know," Sinclair admitted. They continued their careful advance, and the artwork on the walls became more complex, depicting battles, feasts, and ceremonies of people they could not identify.

They entered a small chamber, the air calm and still. The space was stark and empty, save for a large, ornate gateway standing at its center. Life-sized depictions of figures adorned the walls, their faded beauty highlighting the craftsmanship of a bygone era. Dark skin and white hair marked the figures, their postures poised, their tools and weapons finely detailed. Sinclair's eyes traced the images, the style, and the subject, stirring recognition.

"Dark Elves," he murmured. "The Dökkálfar of Svartalfheim."

Chewy's mental voice broke the silence. You think this could be their realm?

Sinclair's gaze remained fixed on the gateway. "We're about to find out."

He studied the gateway's intricate design. It loomed over them, its carvings deep and precise, as though meant to last for eternity. Sinclair paused, his thoughts racing through the few legends he could remember. Turning slightly to Chewy and Leia, he spoke quietly. "The Dökkálfar, or Dark Elves, are from Norse mythology. They reside in Svartalfheim, one of the Nine Worlds, hidden deep beneath the earth. They aren't like the fair and graceful elves from other stories. They're masters of darkness, skilled craftsmen, and wielders of magic and manipulation."

Sinclair's eyes traced the ornate portal before him. The structure stood tall, framed by two intricately carved stone pillars that seemed to twist upward like ancient roots. Suspended between them was a surface unlike anything he had seen before—a shimmering expanse of silver, rippling gently like a lake caught in perpetual twilight. Its faint glow bathed the chamber in a pale light, reflecting off the dark stone walls and illuminating the faded carvings surrounding them.

He turned his head, scanning the chamber for any other exits. The smooth, polished walls bore no cracks or openings, and the faint breeze that had guided them through the tunnel was gone. There was no way back, no hidden paths to explore. This portal was the only way forward.

Sinclair stepped closer, the silver surface distorting slightly with his approach, creating faint ripples that spread outward before settling. Chewy and Leia moved beside him, their eyes fixed on the shimmering expanse. Sinclair turned to his companions, his voice calm but firm. "It's the only way. We can't go back, and staying here isn't an option. Maybe whoever or whatever is on the other side can help us."

Chewy gave a low rumble of agreement while Leia's ears twitched, her sharp eyes scanning the carvings one last time before settling on the portal. Sinclair took a deep breath, his fingers brushing over the cool stone of the pillar. With a final nod to his companions, he stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the rippling silver surface, ready to step through and discover what lay beyond.

With a nod to Chewy and Leia, he moved closer, preparing to enter the unknown.

A feeling bubbled up to the surface of his conscience. He felt words tumbling through his mind that he had never thought of. Before he could stop himself, he had started speaking to them.

"Guide me, O spirits of the brave,

Through unknown paths and shadowed graves.

With axe in hand and heart aflame,

I face the dark, devoid of shame."

Where the hell did that come from?

With the last word still resonating in the chamber, Sinclair took a determined step forward, Chewy and Leia following closely. The portal embraced them, and in an instant, they were whisked away, leaving behind the familiar and stepping into the unknown.

The world around them shifted and twisted, a kaleidoscope of colors and sensations, and everything went black.

Sinclair's last conscious thought was that they had embarked on a path from which there was no turning back. The adventure had taken a new turn, one that would challenge them in ways they could never have anticipated.

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