Chapter 60 Save The Slaves And The Beast That Should Not Be Free

  Alex and Astrid crept forward in absolute silence, their boots barely disturbing the thin layer of ash and dust coating the stone floor. The faint orange glow from the Dwemer structure ahead pulsed like a slow heartbeat, casting long, distorted shadows across the cavern walls. Alex lowered his body instinctively, one hand pressed against the cold stone as his sharp eyes scanned the area.

  From their hidden vantage point, the enemy formation became clear. Ten Falmer patrolled the upper level, their pale forms moving in slow, predatory patterns along the ledges. Eight of them carried bows, their chitinous armor creaking softly as they shifted position, while two stood apart, staffs faintly glowing with unstable magic.

  Below them, five more Falmer guarded the lower ground four gripping swords and shields, tapping the metal nervously against the stone, and one archer watching the slaves with cruel vigilance.

  Alex raised two fingers, then slowly spread his hands apart, silently counting and dividing targets. He leaned closer to Astrid, his lips barely moving as he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.

  “Alright. I’ll handle the ones above.”

  His eyes hardened as he gestured upward with a subtle tilt of his chin.

  “Astrid you take the ones below. Remember…” His voice dropped even further, almost swallowed by the cavern air. “Silent.”

  Astrid followed his gaze, her jaw tightening as she assessed the enemies. She nodded once, firmly, then turned to Alex, her eyes locking onto his with rare seriousness.

  “Okay,” she whispered back. “Be careful.”

  Alex allowed himself a faint, crooked smile brief, but sincere. He reached out and squeezed her wrist gently, a silent reassurance.

  “You too,” he murmured. “We execute the plan exactly as discussed. If I end up using a spell…” His fingers curled slightly, mimicking an explosion. “…then forget stealth. Just kill every Falmer you see.”

  He paused, his expression softening as his eyes searched hers.

  “And remember my priority is you. Not the Falmer slaves. Got it?”

  Astrid exhaled through her nose and shook her head, a confident smirk tugging at her lips.

  “Relax. I won’t get hurt.” Her gaze flicked briefly toward the chained figures in the distance before returning to Alex. “And I’ll save them all.”

  For a moment, they held each other’s stare an unspoken promise passing between them.

  Then, without another word, they moved.

  Alex melted into the shadows, climbing toward the upper level with practiced ease, his silhouette swallowed by darkness.

  Astrid headed the opposite direction, lowering her center of gravity as she advanced toward the lower ground, every step calculated despite the weight of her armor.

  Two paths.

  One plan.

  And no room for mistakes.

  Alex exhaled slowly through his nose, steadying his breathing. His shoulders relaxed just a fraction as he pressed his back against the cold Dwemer wall, the faint vibration of ancient machinery humming beneath the metal. His lips barely moved as he muttered to himself, voice no louder than a breath.

  “Alright… I should reallocate my Sneak skills.”

  For a brief moment, it felt as if the world around him sharpened his awareness narrowing, every sound and shadow suddenly more defined.

  Status Adjustment

  Perk Points: 3 → 0 (3 after sleep)Sneak: 30

  Activated Perks

  Stealth (1 → 2): Detection while sneaking reduced (20% → 25%)Muffled Movement: Armor noise reduced by 50%Backstab: Sneak attacks with one-handed weapons or daggers deal 6x damage

  Alex slowly drew his dagger, the blade sliding free without a whisper. He held it in a reverse grip, knuckles tightening as he shifted his weight forward. His boots rolled heel to toe with deliberate care, avoiding loose stones as he moved.

  Keeping one shoulder pressed against the wall, he leaned just enough to peer around the corner.

  “One Falmer,” he whispered, eyes narrowing.

  The creature stood with its back turned, unaware its pale form silhouetted against the dim orange glow. Alex waited, counting the Falmer’s breathing, memorizing the rhythm of its movements.

  Then he advanced.

  Each step was precise, controlled, his body low and fluid, like a predator stalking prey. When he closed the final distance, he moved in a single, flawless motion

  The dagger flashed.

  A critical slash across the neck, swift and surgical.

  The Falmer stiffened for a heartbeat, then crumpled soundlessly to the ground, its weapon slipping from lifeless fingers without even a clang.

  Alex caught the body before it could fall awkwardly, lowering it with care. He dragged the corpse into a darker recess of the corridor, tucking it behind broken metal and shadow until it vanished from sight.

  Only then did he straighten slightly, his grip tightening on the dagger as his eyes swept the area again

  already searching for the next target.

  Footsteps.

  The sound reached Alex before the figures did soft, uneven, scraping against stone.

  His body reacted instantly.

  Alex stopped breathing.

  In one smooth motion, he melted backward into the shadows, pressing himself flat against the jagged Dwemer wall. His shoulders tightened, muscles locking in place as if he had become part of the structure itself. Even his heartbeat slowed, each pulse carefully controlled.

  Two shapes emerged through the dim orange haze.

  Two Falmer.

  Alex’s fingers flexed. Slowly, silently, he drew a second dagger, the cool weight of steel settling into his left hand. Now armed with one blade in each grip, he lowered his stance, knees bent, center of gravity steady.

  One of the Falmer suddenly halted.

  Its head tilted downward.

  Dark blood streaked the stone floor fresh, smeared, unmistakable.

  The creature let out a low, confused hiss and began following the trail, its clawed feet stepping closer, closer while the second Falmer remained farther back, posture tense, scanning the corridor with suspicion.

  Alex’s jaw tightened.

  Now.

  As the first Falmer turned its head just enough

  Alex exploded into motion.

  Slash.

  His right-hand dagger swept across the Falmer’s throat in a clean, brutal arc. The creature’s body jerked, its mouth opening in a silent scream as blood sprayed in a fine mist.

  Before it could collapse, Alex caught it, guiding the body down soundlessly.

  The second Falmer froze.

  Its eyes widened.

  It inhaled

  Alex tore the dagger free and snapped his gaze upward.

  His left hand rose, fingers curling inward, palm facing the Falmer as if seizing something invisible.

  Telekinesis. He choke it like a darth vader

  The air between them warped.

  The second Falmer’s feet lifted an inch off the ground as an unseen force clamped around its throat. Its bow slipped from its fingers and clattered softly as it clawed at nothing, mouth opening and closing in silent panic.

  Alex’s expression was cold, focused almost detached.

  He clenched his fist.

  The Falmer’s choking became frantic, its body jerking helplessly, veins bulging as the invisible grip tightened.

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  Then

  Alex flicked his wrist.

  The dagger in his right hand flew.

  A silver blur.

  Impact.

  The blade punched straight through the Falmer’s skull, pinning its head back in a violent snap.

  The telekinetic grip vanished.

  The body dropped lifelessly to the floor, landing with a dull, final thud.

  Alex lowered his hand slowly, exhaling at last.

  The corridor returned to silence

  as if nothing had happened at all.

  The remaining Falmer fell one by one, each death unfolding in near-perfect silence. Alex moved like a shadow slipping between pools of orange light, striking only when a target strayed too far from the others. A hand over a mouth here, a blade guided carefully there each kill was quick, precise, and merciless.

  Their patrol patterns gradually broke apart, spacing widening as confusion crept in. Isolated. Vulnerable.

  For Alex, it became less a battle and more a hunt.

  Soon, the upper level was nearly empty.

  Only two Falmer mages remained, standing close together near a humming Dwemer conduit. Faint arcs of unstable magic pulsed around their staffs, casting twitching shadows across the walls.

  Alex crouched behind a metal pillar, eyes narrowing.

  “Hm…” he murmured under his breath, lips barely moving. His gaze flicked between the two. “How should I deal with them? I need to be careful with their magic.”

  He reached down slowly, fingers brushing the stone floor until they closed around a small, loose rock. He weighed it in his palm, then gently leaned out from cover.

  With a precise flick of his wrist, he tossed the stone behind the mages.

  Clack.

  The sound echoed sharply.

  Both Falmer snapped their heads toward the noise at the same time, bodies stiffening in alarm.

  That was all Alex needed.

  He sprinted.

  His boots struck the floor in a sudden burst of speed one mage flinched, half-turning as if it had just begun to register the danger

  Too late.

  Alex slammed into the first mage, driving his dagger deep into its neck. The creature convulsed, magic sputtering out in a burst of sparks as its staff clattered uselessly to the ground.

  Without stopping, Alex twisted his body and reversed his grip.

  The second mage barely had time to raise its staff before Alex smashed the dagger into its skull, ending the spell mid-chant.

  Silence returned.

  Alex straightened slowly, chest rising and falling as he let out a controlled breath.

  “Phew…” he whispered, wiping the blade against the mage’s robes. “The upper level is clear.”

  His eyes shifted toward the lower platform, tension tightening his jaw.

  “Now Astrid…” he muttered. “I need to check on her.”

  A faint sensation washed over him his movements lighter, his awareness sharper.

  Sneak increased: 30 → 40

  Then

  “Huh?”

  A distant voice echoed through the cavern.

  Alex’s head snapped up instantly, his grip tightening on the dagger.

  Something was wrong.

  Below, at the same time, Astrid fought a losing battle against her own equipment.

  She moved cautiously, shoulders hunched and knees bent, but every step made her wince. The heavy Daedric armor shifted with a low, metallic scrape, the sound echoing far louder than she wanted in the open cavern.

  “Ugh…” she muttered through clenched teeth, pausing to steady herself. One gauntleted hand pressed against her helm as if that alone could quiet the noise.

  “I should’ve changed armor. This thing is way too loud for a stealth mission.”

  For a moment, she considered retreating but her gaze drifted to the Falmer below, then to the chained figures beyond them.

  Her jaw tightened.

  No. She wasn’t backing out.

  Astrid forced herself to breathe slowly and adjusted her approach. If she couldn’t be silent up close, then she simply wouldn’t get close at all.

  She stepped back into deeper shadow, planted her feet firmly, and lifted her Daedric bow. The weapon felt solid and familiar in her hands steady, reliable. Carefully, she reached over her shoulder for the Dwemer arrows strapped across her back.

  Her fingers brushed metal.

  Then stopped.

  Her hand lingered there for a second longer than it should have.

  She slowly pulled the arrows free and glanced down.

  Only two.

  Her eyes widened slightly, and her lips parted in disbelief.

  “…Damn it,” she whispered, frustration seeping into her voice. “Just my luck.”

  She exhaled sharply, then raised her head again, scanning the area. That was when she noticed movement in the distance.

  The Falmer slaves were looking at her.

  Their eyes widened hope, fear, and uncertainty all mixed together.

  Astrid reacted instantly. She raised one hand and pressed a finger firmly to her lips, her expression hard but calm, silently commanding them to stay quiet.

  For a heartbeat, nothing happened.

  Then one by one the slaves nodded, gripping their chains and shrinking back into silence.

  Astrid lowered her hand slowly, her grip tightening around the bow.

  Two arrows.

  No mistakes allowed.

  Astrid remained far back, her body pressed low and still, refusing to risk even a single step closer. The weight of her armor anchored her in place as her sharp eyes tracked the scene below.

  One of the Falmer suddenly erupted in rage, its harsh, screeching voice echoing through the cavern as it grabbed a slave by the collar and shoved them roughly. The slave trembled, unable to resist.

  Astrid’s grip tightened around her bow.

  Her jaw set.

  She drew the string back slowly, muscles in her arms and shoulders locking into perfect alignment. Her breathing steadied one slow inhale, one controlled exhale.

  She released.

  Thwip.

  The arrow flew true.

  It struck the Falmer square in the head.

  The creature dropped instantly, collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut, its body hitting the stone with a dull thud.

  The slave jerked backward in shock and let out a short, broken scream before clapping a hand over their mouth.

  The sound carried.

  Another Falmer nearby snapped its head toward the noise, posture stiffening as it began to move closer, weapon raised.

  Before it could take more than a step, the slave Astrid had signaled earlier reacted. With shaking resolve, they stepped directly into the Falmer’s path, spreading their arms slightly as if to block it, pretending to beg or plead anything to delay it.

  Astrid saw the opening.

  Her hand moved automatically to her back.

  Her fingers closed around the final arrow.

  She drew it, nocked it, and raised the bow again, this time faster urgency tightening her movements.

  The string drew back.

  Thwip.

  Another clean headshot.

  The Falmer staggered forward, momentum carrying it a step closer before its knees buckled. It collapsed face-first, its lifeless body crashing down at the slave’s feet.

  The slave froze, eyes wide, breath caught in their throat.

  The arrow jutted from the Falmer’s skull, still vibrating slightly.

  For a moment, no one moved.

  Then the silent once more

  and Astrid slowly lowered her bow, knowing she had no arrows left.

  Out of arrows.

  Astrid realized it the instant her hand reached back and grasped nothing but empty air. Her fingers curled uselessly, and her breath caught in her throat.

  “…Damn it,” she cursed under her breath, frustration flashing across her face. Her jaw tightened as the thought hit her she had forgotten to ask Alex for more arrows.

  There was no fixing that now.

  She straightened her posture, loosening her grip on the bow as her other hand slid firmly onto the hilt of her sword.

  No more stealth.

  Her eyes hardened.

  She charged.

  Astrid broke into a full sprint, heavy Daedric boots slamming against the stone floor as she closed the distance in seconds. One Falmer barely had time to turn its head before

  Slash.

  Her blade arced cleanly through its neck.

  The head separated in a single, brutal motion, rolling across the floor as the body collapsed in a lifeless heap.

  The sound rang out.

  Metal on stone. Flesh on floor.

  The remaining two Falmer snapped their attention toward her instantly, screeching as they raised their weapons and took combat stances.

  Astrid didn’t slow.

  She inhaled sharply and activated Whirlwind Sprint.

  The world seemed to lurch.

  A thunderous blast of force erupted beneath her feet as she shot forward like a living projectile, the shockwave echoing violently through the chamber and rattling the Dwemer walls.

  She crashed into the nearest Falmer.

  Her sword came down in a crushing blow, smashing the creature into the stone with overwhelming force. Bones cracked. The Falmer went limp.

  Silence broken only by echoes.

  Only one remained.

  An archer.

  It staggered backward, hands shaking as it raised its bow, string drawing taut.

  Astrid skidded to a halt and snapped her shield up, bracing her stance, muscles tensing as she prepared to absorb the impact.

  But

  The arrow wasn’t aimed at her.

  Her eyes widened.

  The Falmer tilted the bow upward.

  Straight toward the Dwemer orb construction, suspended above them and glowing with an intense, unnatural orange light.

  “No DON’T!” the slaves screamed.

  Their voices overlapped in raw terror as chains rattled and bodies strained.

  One after another, they cried out desperately.

  “Warrior woman! Stop that Falmer!”

  “If it fires !”

  “The monster will be released!”

  Astrid lunged forward, sword flashing as she swung with everything she had

  Too late.

  Thrum.

  The arrow struck the orb.

  For half a heartbeat, nothing happened.

  Then the chamber shook.

  A deep, grinding roar erupted from within the Dwemer structure as ancient mechanisms awakened, gears screaming as if protesting centuries of silence. The orange glow intensified, pulsing violently.

  The slaves’ faces drained of all color.

  Some fell to their knees.

  “Oh no…” one whispered, voice trembling.

  “We’re all going to die…”

  Astrid spun toward them sharply, her cloak snapping behind her, eyes blazing with urgency.

  “Die?” she demanded. “What’s inside that orb?!”

  The slaves didn’t answer.

  They only stood there silent, shaking, their expressions filled with pure despair as the machine continued to awaken above them.

  Suddenly, Alex’s voice cut through the cavern from above, sharp and urgent, echoing violently against the Dwemer stone and metal.

  “Astrid! Get your shield and sword ready I SEE IT!”

  Astrid’s head snapped upward instantly. Her grip tightened around her sword as her instincts screamed danger.

  Then

  A massive gust of wind exploded outward.

  The cavern howled.

  Dust, loose stones, and fragments of ancient metal were ripped from the floor and hurled into the air as the pressure shifted violently. Chains rattled, torches flickered wildly, and the orange light of the Dwemer mechanisms pulsed erratically, casting frantic shadows across the walls.

  Astrid staggered, planting her feet and raising her shield just to stay upright.

  Above them, the structure groaned.

  Alex’s voice rang out again, strained now, filled with disbelief and urgency.

  “There’s a DRAGON inside that thing!”

  A deafening crack split the air.

  The Dwemer orb shattered open as something colossal forced its way out.

  The creature burst free

  A dragon, its massive form unfolding in midair.

  Its scales were black as obsidian, veined with streaks of dull gold that caught the orange light like molten metal. Enormous wings spread wide, membranes snapping as they displaced the air, filling the cavern with hurricane-force winds.

  The shockwave slammed into the ground, knocking slaves off their feet and sending debris skidding across the stone.

  The dragon threw back its head and roared.

  The sound was ancient. Primal. It reverberated through bone and soul alike, rattling the Dwemer ruins as if the structure itself feared what it had contained for so long.

  Its fury was unmistakable rage born of captivity, of centuries spent sealed away.

  The dragon inhaled deeply.

  Flames erupted from its jaws, a torrent of fire washing across the cavern ceiling, scorching metal and stone alike. The heat was instant and overwhelming.

  Then, without warning, its breath shifted

  A blast of ice, sharp and brutal, crystallizing the air itself. Frost exploded outward, coating pillars and walls in jagged white armor, steam hissing violently where fire and ice collided.

  The temperature whiplashed from searing heat to numbing cold in a heartbeat.

  The dragon beat its wings again and circled above them, eyes burning with molten hatred as it claimed the cavern as its sky.

  Below, Astrid raised her shield fully, sword angled forward, her silhouette framed by firelight and frost.

  Above, Alex steadied himself, eyes locked on the beast.

  The Dwemer ruin trembled.

  And the dragon ruled the air

  wrath incarnate, unleashed at last.

  STATUS

  Main Level: 32 → 36 (after sleep)

  Perk Points: 0 → 4 (after sleep)

  Sneak: 30 → 40

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