Thorne barely had a moment to react before the skeletal warriors lunged forward, their rusted blades gleaming in the dim light of the cavern. The first one swung with surprising speed, its bony fingers gripping a chipped sword as it aimed for his head.
He ducked, rolling to the side just as another blade sliced through the air where he had stood. His Eye of Perception flared, catching the faint glow of weak points on the skeletons' joints. Without hesitation, he twisted mid-roll and slashed at the closest warrior's knee. The impact shattered the brittle bone, sending the creature collapsing to the ground.
Another skeleton lunged from behind, its dagger aiming for his spine. Thorne spun on instinct, raising his sword just in time to deflect the attack. The force of the clash rattled his arms, but he used the momentum to kick the enemy backward.
The bridge groaned beneath him.
His breath hitched. He had been so focused on the fight that he had momentarily forgotten—this wasn't just a battle. It was a trap.
Cracks splintered beneath the weight of their struggle, and his Eye of Perception revealed the worst possible outcome—sections of the bridge were crumbling.
A warning flashed from the system.
[Bridge Stability at 67%. Prolonged combat will lead to collapse.]
Thorne cursed under his breath. If he kept fighting here, he'd fall into the abyss before he even got to the other side. He needed to move.
Ducking under another swipe, he kicked off the ground, dashing forward. The remaining skeletons pursued, their movements eerily swift. He had no choice—he needed to finish them off fast.
Spotting a weak point on one of the skeletal warriors' spines, he drove his blade through it. The creature crumbled instantly, its bones scattering into the abyss. But the remaining three weren't as easily defeated. One raised a bow of darkened wood, its arrow tipped with eerie blue energy.
His instincts screamed at him to dodge.
The arrow released with a whisper of death, streaking toward him. He barely managed to twist his body, feeling the heat of the projectile as it whizzed past his cheek and struck the bridge behind him. A massive explosion followed—
BOOM!
The force sent him sprawling. The bridge shook violently, sections collapsing into the dark depths below. Thorne dug his fingers into the stone, barely catching himself before he slipped off the edge.
His heart pounded. The gap ahead was now wider—too far to simply jump across.
The system chimed again.
[New Sub-Objective: Find an Alternate Route.]
He gritted his teeth. "Not helpful, System."
The remaining skeletons pressed forward, their soulless gazes fixed on him. His mind raced. He had to find a way across without getting himself killed. His Eye of Perception flickered, scanning the environment. Then, he saw it.
A loose chain dangled from the cavern ceiling, leading to a stone outcropping further along the bridge. It was his only chance.
With no time to hesitate, Thorne sprinted toward the edge of the collapsing bridge. The skeletons gave chase, but he didn't slow down. At the last possible moment, he leaped forward, his hands grasping the chain just as the bridge beneath him gave way.
For a heartbeat, he was weightless—suspended over the abyss, nothing but darkness yawning beneath him.
Then, his grip tightened, and he swung forward. His momentum carried him just far enough to land on the crumbling ledge of the stone outcropping. His body hit the surface hard, knocking the breath from his lungs.
Behind him, the last remnants of the bridge collapsed, taking the remaining skeletons with it. Their hollow screams faded as they plunged into the void below.
Thorne lay there for a moment, gasping for breath. That had been too close.
The system chimed again.
[Trial Updated: Find a Path Beyond the Abyss.]
With a groan, he pushed himself to his feet, glancing around. This new ledge was narrow, but a path extended along the cavern wall. His only choice was to follow it.
As he did, the atmosphere shifted. A cold, unnatural wind swept through the cavern, and an eerie glow pulsed from the depths below. He could feel it—something ancient lurked in the abyss.
And it was watching him.