Chapter 63: The Pool
The darkness became deeper.
The echoes of the previous battle had already disappeared. In their place, distant sounds traveled through the tunnels like ancient cursed prophecies.
Drops of water fell at irregular intervals and, very occasionally, something creaked in the depths.
The passages stretched out before them like the mouth of a hungry demon.
Gabriel walked first.
Bella followed a few steps behind.
Neither spoke. Both had too many thoughts and very few answers.
Finally, Gabriel broke the silence.
"Which path should we choose?"
Bella observed the three tunnels that stretched out before them.
The shadows hid the end of each one.
"All paths lead to the same result... it will depend on us."
Gabriel remained thoughtful for a few seconds.
There was no way to know which was better. In the end he pointed to the third tunnel.
"Then let chance decide."
Bella nodded.
The two left their doubts behind and advanced slowly into the darkness.
As they continued, the air became heavier and full of dust.
The walls were covered in deep claw marks. Some pierced the rock as if it had been mud.
Between the cracks grew plants that survived the inadequate conditions.
Old wooden beams supported part of the ceiling, completely rotten by the passage of years.
Spiders quickly disappeared into corners when the faint warmth of their bodies brushed against the walls.
Gabriel remained attentive to any movement.
Without turning, he asked:
"How do you feel for the upcoming battles?"
Bella took a few seconds to respond.
"I can hold on... But if we encounter another wave of those mutants... I probably won’t survive." Her voice had a hint of seriousness and firmness.
Gabriel slowed his pace. For the first time since the battle he turned his head slightly.
He observed Bella’s wounds.
The medicinal paste had reduced the bleeding, but her right arm still lost mobility.
Her breathing was still irregular.
He made silent calculations. Based on reaction time, mobility, fighting capability.
Finally he spoke.
"If you can stay on your feet, I’ll do the rest."
Bella smiled tiredly.
"You don’t have to sacrifice yourself for me. If I fail it will be solely my weakness."
Gabriel looked forward again.
"I like that about you. But believe me... no one sacrifices themselves without reasons."
Bella did not respond.
People had different ways of showing they cared.
They had not noticed at first, but the tunnel began to narrow.
Each meter forced them to bend their bodies more. Then they had to advance completely crouched.
The walls constantly brushed their shoulders. The air was insufficient, with the feeling of heaviness increasing.
Until a light appeared.
A faint bluish illumination glowed at the end of the passage.
Both accelerated with caution.
When they crossed the narrow threshold, the space opened up again. It was a limestone room.
The ceiling rose several meters.
In the center rested a small pool of navy blue water.
The surface remained still and dead.
However, from its depths small celestial sparkles were born that illuminated the entire room.
There were no chests, skeletons or monsters.
The room only contained the mysterious pool.
Gabriel and Bella exchanged a small glance.
Neither lowered their guard.
"The tunnels always lead to different results. Be careful," murmured Bella.
Gabriel nodded slowly.
"We will probably discover which one very soon."
As if those words had served as a key... The surface of the water began to ripple.
Bubbles rose to its surface, with something emerging discreetly.
A hand.
The skin was swollen and completely gray.
Then an arm covered in black spots emerged.
A body began to rise slowly. Its chest was open from ancient wounds.
Its facial features had been practically erased.
From its scalp hung small and gnawed strands of wet hair. Its eyes remained closed.
Then another body appeared.
Soon the number multiplied, filling the space of the pool.
They were all motionless figures, not breathing.
The scene was eerily silent.
"Don’t be surprised, but this is not my first time," murmured Gabriel.
Until, at the same time... they all opened their eyes.
A whitish glow illuminated those empty pupils. The corpses slowly turned their heads toward them.
Then they began to come out of the water.
Bella took a step back.
"Magic... and experiments?"
Gabriel unsheathed both daggers. His eyes quickly scanned the room.
Too many enemies that kept appearing.
"Stay behind me."
Bella raised her sword.
"And you?"
"I’ll open the way."
The first corpse roared.
It was not the type of roar he had heard before.
It was a rigid sound, as if the lungs were full of water.
Then they all ran. They were surprisingly fast and agile.
The first claws descended on Gabriel.
His body reacted by instinct. He spun on one foot, with the dirt-filled nails only managing to barely graze his overcoat.
His dagger pierced the corpse’s liver and pushed it to the ground.
It fell immediately without resistance.
Before touching the ground, Gabriel had already changed targets. Another figure tried to bite his neck, forcing him to take half a step back.
The second dagger completely opened its jaw. The body continued advancing a few meters with its mouth open.
But none remained motionless after a few seconds.
The corpses began to rise again.
Bella watched them with surprise.
"They get back up!"
Gabriel felt a slight headache.
He continued moving without responding.
He broke their guards, cutting their figures and managed to get out with mastery.
At all times he avoided being surrounded.
Each movement sought to break the enemy formation. When a corpse lost balance, Bella appeared from behind.
Her sword descended with untamed violence, piercing their skulls.
With precise cuts of her blade, she separated heads from bodies.
She finished off anyone who fell.
The coordination arose almost naturally. Gabriel broke their ranks, Bella finished them off.
But the enemies did not stop increasing. Other bodies slowly emerged from the pool.
Gabriel had to make a lateral jump while three corpses tried to grab him.
His daggers cut arms and wrists, with the limbs falling to the ground.
However... The corpses continued advancing.
As if they felt absolutely nothing.
Bella breathed with difficulty, her wounded arm beginning to tremble.
"They keep coming!"
Gabriel retreated a few steps. For the first time he stopped attacking.
He observed the pool carefully.
Every corpse originated from the pool.. They never appeared anywhere else.
While they destroyed enemies, new corpses continued emerging from the water.
He understood the problem.
"Our fight is not against them... It’s against that."
Bella looked at him confused while blocking a bite.
At that same instant, another corpse slowly emerged from the water.
Its torso still retained a rusted armor. Then a second appeared, with a third.
Bella clenched her teeth in frustration and pain.
"Then... what do we do?"
Her eyes remained fixed on the bright blue surface.
That pool was not simply water, it was the enemy that resurrected the undead from their eternal rest.
And it was probably too late.