Chapter 178: Dark Tricks
**Avery**
The darkness swallows us whole, a suffocating void that twists and morphs reality. One moment we're standing in the hot spring, the warmth of the water and the love of my mates surrounding me, and the next, we're plummeting into an abyss. The air is thick with the scent of ozone and something else, something metallic and acrid. It burns my nostrils, a stark contrast to the soothing aroma of the spring.
I reach out, my hands grasping for something, anything, to anchor me. My fingers brush against warm skin, the familiar texture of Cassius's leather armor. I cling to him, his solid presence a lifeline in this disorienting darkness.
"Avery!" His voice cuts through the chaos, a beacon in the storm. "Stay close!"
I nod, though I know he can't see me. My other mates are here too, their voices a chorus of concern and determination. James's deep rumble, Clint's sharp bark, Conner's calm assurance, Donn's sarcastic quip, even Vincent's low growl, a sound that both soothes and unnerves me.
The darkness shifts, coalescing into shapes that aren't quite solid. Shadows writhe and twist, forming into monstrous creatures with glowing eyes and jagged teeth. They lunge at us, their claws raking through the air, leaving trails of sparkling dust in their wake.
"Fight!" James roars, his voice a command that brooks no argument.
We spring into action, a well-oiled machine honed by countless battles. Cassius's sword flashes in the dim light, slicing through a creature's neck with a sickening squelch. Clint's fists blaze with fire as he punches through another, his knuckles leaving scorch marks on its shadowy flesh. Conner summons a torrent of water, dousing a group of creatures and sending them screeching back into the darkness.
I focus on my power, drawing upon the dragon within. My skin prickles, scales erupting across my body, a shimmering armor of sapphire and gold. I breathe in deeply, feeling the familiar heat build in my chest, and unleash a stream of fire, incinerating a creature that dares to come too close.
The battle rages on, a chaotic dance of light and shadow. We fight back-to-back, a circle of protection around me. But the creatures are relentless, their numbers seemingly endless.
A searing pain explodes in my side, knocking me off my feet. I cry out, my vision blurring as I hit the ground. A creature looms over me, its maw gaping open, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.
"No!" James's voice is a thunderclap, his massive form blocking the creature's attack. He roars, his dragon form erupting from his skin, a majestic beast of emerald scales and piercing green eyes. He slashes at the creature with his claws, sending it flying back into the darkness.
I scramble to my feet, my hand pressing against my side. Warm blood seeps through my fingers, a stark reminder of the danger we're in.
"Avery, are you alright?" Cassius is by my side in an instant, his eyes scanning my wound with concern.
"I'll be fine," I grit out, though the pain is intense. "We need to keep fighting."
The darkness seems to pulse around us, a living entity, feeding on our fear and exhaustion. The creatures are getting stronger, their attacks more coordinated.
Vincent's voice cuts through the chaos, a low, rumbling growl that sends shivers down my spine. "We need to find the source of this darkness. It's not just mindless creatures, something is controlling them."
He's right. I can feel it too, a malevolent presence lurking at the heart of this void. It's pulling us deeper, drawing us towards its lair.
"We need to stick together," James says, his voice grim. "No matter what happens, we don't let go of each other."
We nod, our determination renewed. We fight on, a united front against the encroaching darkness. The battle becomes a blur of claws and fangs, fire and water, magic and muscle.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, the darkness begins to recede. The creatures screech in fury, their forms dissolving into shimmering dust. We stand, panting, our bodies battered and bruised, but victorious.
The void gives way to a faint light, a glimmer of hope in the distance. We stumble towards it, our steps heavy with exhaustion.
As we emerge from the darkness, we find ourselves back in the hot spring, the warm water lapping at our skin. The moon hangs low in the sky, bathing us in its silvery light.
We collapse onto the rocks, a tangle of limbs and sighs of relief. I look around at my mates, their faces smudged with dirt and sweat, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of exhaustion and triumph.
"We did it," I whisper, my voice hoarse.
"For now," Vincent says, his voice a low rumble. "But the darkness isn't gone. It's just biding its time."
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