Kyllian was taken aback by what he just heard.

  " What ?! "

  " In his journal he described how he invented a sort of serum. Seems he didn't limit himself to blacksmithing and engineering, he tried alchemy but might have messed up in the process. Next to his bedroom was a sort of laboratory and it might sound strange coming from me but I think we can turn hin back to normal. "

  " Are you crazy? How are we supposed to do that? "

  " We have to find and mix gold and silver and inject it into him somehow. In his journal it said it was part of a ritual of some sort, some parts were scraped but those were the main " ingredients"."

  " Oh yeah he totally is gonna let us do it to him. "

  " We will have to distract him while one of you gets him, we have to get going before he jumps at us. "

  " Do you remember where it is? "

  Cynrik pulled out a folded piece of paper out of his pocket.

  " Logiticus left this in his room. A complete layout of the mine, we can use this to get out once we are done with him. Follow me. "

  Kyllian helped Yordan carry Maggie while Cynrik and Mika were covering them. Following Cynrik, they arrived in a succession of rooms barely lit. Chests and cupboards were stacked in the room. Noticing a stool at a table, Yordan helped Maggie sit while they looked around. Adjacent to the laboratory was a small forge. Mika sat across from Maggie and looked through Logiticus's journal. " Maria? Who was Maria? I see this name often in his last days. " Yordan, Kyllian and Cynrik began looking for the needed materials while staying vigilant. Yordan looked through one of the chests and managed to find some gold ore. Mika walked around the table to talk to Maggie.

  " I think I have an idea, do you think that we could stab him with the materials ? "

  " We could. "

  " If I support you, do you think we could get this forge up and running and forge a golden blade coated in silver ? "

  " It would require precise work, it's better to make a silver blade coated in gold. Also it would take quite a while and once we start I don't think Logiticus would let us use this place without attacking. "

  Kyllian walked behind them at this exact moment.

  " But you can make it right? "

  " Yes I can but .. "

  " Don't think about defense, we will do the defense. "

  They heard Cynrik whistle in admiration after opening a chest and getting out silver cups and plates.

  " You can melt these aight? "

  " Toss them in the forge. "

  " On it. "

  The team quickly got all the ores and materials, they got around the table to listen to Mika's plan.

  " Ok, so here is the plan, Yordan and I will support Maggie while she creates the dagger to free Logiticus, Cynrik you stand guard at the entrance of the workshop. And Kyllian you have the most important job. "

  Kyllian clicked his tongue in annoyance.

  " I feel that I'm going to hate it, what do I do? "

  Mika looked at him and had the most serious expression on her face.

  " You have to lead Logiticus away from here, you are the fastest and have enough reflexes to keep up with him. And if needed, you know what to do right? "

  He nodded, understanding that he would have to use his flames on him. Mika looked at everyone one by one.

  " Everybody is ready ? "

  " YES ! "

  " Ok, let's get to work. "

  Maggie was helped by Yordan to walk up to the forge and begin the melting process. Kyllian stretched a bit before going inside the tunnels. Cynrik walked up to Kyllian and stopped next to him.

  " So blondie, you ready to do your suicide mission? "

  " It's only suicide if you intend to die. "

  " Good spirit, are you sure you are up for it? "

  " Aww you are worried about me, that's so cute. "

  " Don't think too highly of yourself, if he kills you too fast I'm next so you better survive you idiot. "

  Kyllian smiled as he began walking in the tunnel.

  " No worries, we will have our match tonight as always. "

  " You can't be serious aight? "

  " I'm extremely serious. "

  He then disappeared into the darkness, Cynrik drew his sword out and began to stand guard. They were in for a tedious and stressfull hour.

  Kyllian spent the first twenty minutes walking carefully against the walls, trying to make the minimal amount of noise. "I don't think I will get the drop on him but maybe I can try to bait him into thinking I'm hiding and have him follow me.". He kept walking in the tunnel until he felt something behind him. He instantly crouched and felt a brush of air above his head right after. He began running in the other direction as soon as he got up. "He just tried taking my head off holy shit!". Kyllian started sprinting in the tunnels, Logiticus was on his tail and was trying to kill him without taking his time. He saw what Kyllian could do and was trying to get rid of him as fast as he could. Kyllian could hear him grunting and roaring in rage behind him. He could almost feel his breath on his neck. He turned around and lit his left hand on fire while drawing raven out, Logiticus stopped and covered his eye due to the flames. To keep him at bay Kyllian started scraping raven against the ground to create sparks.

  " Hiya! Hiya! Get back! Come on! "

  Logiticus was hiding his face, trying his best to strike at Kyllian by flailing his long arms around but only hitting air. Kyllian managed to keep him at bay until his back hit a wall. "Dammit, I walked into a dead end. " Realizing this, Logiticus chuckled and backed out into the darness, leaving Kyllian alone with his flaming fist slowly consuming his flesh. " He is trying to take me by speed, I think he noticed that I can't keep my light on indefinitely. ". He extinguished his flames and waited. A few seconds later he heard a slight groan coming from his right and ducked reflexively. Logiticus claws scraped the rocks above Kyllian's head, missing him only by a hair. He moved to the side and dodged another attack. He tried retaliating and attacked forward but there was nothing in front. He then quickly realized the attacks were coming from above. Logiticus was hanging from the ceiling and attacking from there. He deflected the claws and moved out of the way to run to another tunne. He could hear the clicking and scrapping of the claws on the ceiling. " He is following me, I hope the others are almost done. "

  Kyllian was gone for almost an hour when Maggie got the blade out. She began hammering at the melted silver to shape it, each hit was done with precision. Yordan was watching her work with attention. Meanwhile, Yordan and Mika were acting like extra pairs of arms for her and providing any help in this dire situation. Cynrik was pacing in front of the workshop and could hear Kyllian battle with the creature echoing throught the tunnels. Maggie carefully grabbed the hot metal with a pair of metal pliers and dumped it in water. The water started evaporating as the metal cooled down. A few seconds passed and she raised the blade and looked at it.

  " Alright, next step, Mika did you find a brush or a pumice? "

  " What's a pumice? "

  " It's a stone you use to rub the residues off newly formed blades, we need to get all of the dirty parts off it and then I can add the gold lining onto it. "

  " Well I got this brush. "

  " Good enough, Yordan, help me get to the table. "

  Yordan supported her and got her to the table where she started scrapping the blade as hard as she could. She was not even bothering to wipe the drops of sweats getting into her eyes. Her messy hair was going everywhere as she was furiously brushing the silver dagger. Mika got behind her and tied her hair so she could focus.

  " Thank you. "

  Mika nodded and looked at Cynrik.

  " You see anything? "

  " No. But I can hear them battle it out, should we go and help him? "

  " He got it, I trust him, we are almost done. "

  " How long? "

  " Let me ask. "

  She turned to Maggie who was done scrapping and now blowing on the blade to get the residues off. The flames of the forge were reflecting on the shiny silver. It was amateur work, the blade was sorta crooked, not balanced but they needed something done fast and it was the best they could get. Mika stepped closer to Maggie and rested a hand upon her shoulder.

  " How long is the gold coating going to take? "

  " I sent Yor to melt the gold, it should be done in about ten to twenty minutes. "

  They suddenly heard a roar and saw Cynrik fly into a table, breaking it on impact. Mika drew her sword out.

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  " Make it fast! "

  " Yes maam! "

  Maggie got up and limped to the forge and began to work on it. Mika helped Cynrik up and they stood side to side to face Logiticus. Mika started wondering where Kyllian had gone "Did Logiticus realise our plan and forgot Kyllian to come and get us ". Logiticus screamed so loud that the walls began shaking; rocks were falling from the walls and hitting the various tools causing even more chaos. Both Mika and Cynrik covered their ears and the monster slashed forward. Cynrik got in front of Mika and began deflecting his claw attacks while Mika moved to the side to attack. The two of them kept attacking and defending each other. Logiticus slammed the ground which sent a shockwave to make them fall. He then leaped forward and tried to tear Cynrik in pieces. Cynrik used the length of his sword to block the claws from tearing his face off but the weight of the monster was too much for him to push it off. Mika stood up and tried stabbing it but she received a powerful backhand which sent her a few meters away. Logiticus leaned in and tried biting Cynrik's face, he kept moving away just in time to evade the sharp teeth. The creature grabbed the sword with one hand, getting a deep cut into hit and leaving its thick blood fall onto Cynrik. It then threw it away, leaving Cynrik defenseless on the ground. As he was about to lend the finishing blow, a loud explosion could be heard from within the workshop. Right after, Logiticus was hit in the stomach by a fast moving projectile. Cynrik looked towards the forge and saw that Yordan had just fired Maggie's weapon.

  " Cynrik get up!! "

  Without a second thought, he stood up and jumped over one of the tables to gain some distance from the monster. Logiticus roared and the hole created by the metal ball closed in front of their very own eyes. Cynrik stood there dumbfounded.

  " Oh shit... "

  Logiticus chuckled and leaped forward to catch Cynrik. He dodged to the side and grabbed any tool he could use as a weapon to keep Logiticus focused on him. Meanwhile, Mika was still on the ground trying to catch her breath. Her head was spinning from the hit and her jaw was extremely painful. She could see Yordan struggling to reload his weapon while Cynrik was dodging the creature's claws as best as he could. Inside of the forge, Maggie was coating the blade in gold. "Come on come on come on!". Cynrik ducked under another attack and struck Logiticus in the ribs with a hammer as he passed him. The creature grabbed his vest and threw him upward. He began to smash him multiple times against the ceiling, Cynrik was seconds away from passing out. Logiticus held him right in front of him and open his mouth to bite his face off. At this moment, Mika jumped onto the nearest table and jumped on Logiticus back, stabbing him multiple times in the process. Logiticus threw Cynrik away and tried reaching Mika on his back. He then slammed his back against a wall, squishing her in the process. The shock made her fall to the ground. She stood there on her knees in front of the monster who was ready to slit her throat.

  " Logiticus stop! We are trying to help you! "

  The creature stopped in its motion, still growling. "

  " We want to help you become human again, so you can see Maria again. "

  At the sound of this name Logiticus placed both of his clawed hands on his head and started shaking it as if he was fighting within himself. The name resonated within him like an earthquake. Leaving enough time to Cynrik to stand back up and tackle him down.

  " Mika, help me hold him down! "

  Mika came to his aid and held down one of Logiticus's arms. He was still struggling on the ground while Yordan came to help hold him, he got on top of him and placed Maggie's weapon across his throat. While they were holding him down, Maggie was done coating the blade in gold and was now fitting the blade in a small handle, from the corner of her eye she started seeing her friends being flinged left and right by a now enraged Logiticus. She finished fitting the blade and saw Logiticus enter the forge. Being unable to run, she started hopping away from him, she took a pair of metal scissors that were still in the forge and used it as a weapon to keep him away. With no hesitation he grabbed the burning red scissors with his bare hands and threw it away. Maggie fell backward and began crawling using her elbow. Logiticus grabbed her already hurt leg which made her scream at the top of her lungs. All of a sudden she felt the pressure on her ankle go away. She looked back and saw Logiticus with a sword through his torso, the monster turned around to hit whoever hit him in the back but barely missed Kyllian. He then drop kicked Logiticus back into the workshop where the others could fight him too. He turned to Maggie and helped her up.

  " Have you finished the weapon yet? "

  " Yes it's right there! "

  Kyllian looked at the assembling table and grabbed the freshly forged weapon. He then ran into the room where the others were struggling to fight Logiticus. He turned towards Kyllian and saw the weapon, instantly he began running for the tunnels. Kyllian tossed the weapon to Cynrik.

  " Stop him! "

  " I got you blondie! "

  Cynrik aimed at the creature's back, took a deep breath and performed the most precise dagger throw he had ever done. The dagger landed right in between Logiticus shoulder blades. With a roar of rage he began bumping into the nearest walls and pillars, finally he managed to grab the dagger off his back, looking at it for a few seconds. He then looked at the group of adventures and had a devilicious smile while chuckling, Kyllian looked at Mika with a surprised face.

  " I thought it was supposed to change him back?! "

  " I don't know why it didn't work! Just let me try to find some more, give me some time! "

  Cynrik was slowly backing away from Logiticus.

  " I don't think he is going to let us do that. "

  Logiticus began punching the wood pillars holding the structure. Kyllian realized what the creature's plan was started running forward.

  " He is trying to bring the mine down on us, the bastard! "

  Kyllian jumped over a table and ran up to Logiticus.

  " Cynrik, with me! "

  " Coming! "

  The two men started fighting Logiticus. Kyllian was aiming low while Cynrik was trying to cut one of its arms off. Mika began furiously looking through the journal in hope of finding anything useful " Gold silver and something else here was erase! Logiticus was trying to get ahold of this last ingredient but he turned before finding it, it has to be something in here thay we haven't found yet! ". She then started looking through the cupboards in search of something rare or special, Yordan yelled in her direction .

  " Mika duck ! "

  She crouched and Cynrik flew right above her head, crashing into all the valuables in front of her. He groaned in pain while trying to stand up. She realized Kyllian was now fighting alone and turned around to discover that Logiticus was holding him by the throat, using the dagger they had just made, he stabbed Kyllian in the shoulder as Mika screamed in fear.

  " Noooo! "

  Distracted by her scream, Logiticus could not dodge Kyllian's kick to his jaw. While the creature was stumbling bacj and was reeling from the kick, he dropped heavily to the ground and removed the dagger from his shoulder. The dagger was glistening with his own blood.

  " Forget saving him, I'm killing this thing! "

  He ran up to Logiticus and after dodging its claws he jumped forward and stabbed him directly in the heart with the dagger. Suddenly, a blinding light came out of the wound inflicted on the beast and Kyllian covered his eyes. Logiticus began screaming and bumping harder than ever on the walls. He ran into the tunnels and they could hear him smash the walls. Kyllian turned towards the group and sheathed his sword.

  " We need to get out of here, the mine is about to come down on us! Cynrik, you still got that map? "

  " Of course I still have it, follow me aight ! "

  The walls around them were shaking, rocks were falling everywhere, they followed Cynrik through the tunnels. They could hear tunnels collapsing one after the other behind them. Suddenly they heard stomping coming from behind and saw Logiticus screaming at them. He was looking rather different, he had started shrinking and his hands were looking more human like. Kyllian turned around and drew raven out.

  " Go, I'll catch up! "

  Logiticus charged forward and Kyllian jumped above him to dodge. "He is slower and smaller now, he is becoming human, I just need to gain time or knock him out." He began slashing at Logiticus to tire him out. He was still able to regenerate throughout the attacks. Kyllian kept him at bay while keeping in sight the rest of the group. At the same time, the walls were crumbling all around them. Logiticus started slamming his head against the walls as if he was trying to numb himself to his own internal screams. Kyllian stood there looking at him. The fur was falling off his body, the claws were retracting and going back to being human fingernails. He let out a final roar which transformed into a scream as he returned back to a human form, he then fell on the ground naked and unconscious. "Dammit I have to carry him now?! ". Kyllian took him on his back and began running back to his friends. He could hear their footsteps. Right in front of him the tunnel started coming down and he could hear their screams. The entire tunnel filled with dust, Kyllian was trying to move through it but rocks were blocking his way. He could hear the muffled voices voices of his friend on the other side. He tried to call out to them out of fear that one of them might have been caught under the rubble.

  " Heyyy! Hey! Can you hear me!? Mika?! "

  " Kyllian, can you move the rocks !? "

  " I can try! "

  " Please get over here quickly, Yordan needs help!! "

  Kyllian began digging away at the rocks blocking his way. Meanwhile, on the other side he could hear Cynrik grunting and Mika working on doing the same thing as him. Finally, he could see her hands through the rocks and when he saw her face full of dirt he smiled.

  " Hello there. "

  Despite it being out of place, him smiling at her made her feel at peace. They dug enough so he could fit Logiticus body inside of the cramped space and then himself. Mika looked at Logiticus face for a few seconds. He was a muscular man, bald with a long gray beard, around forty years of age, the fur had been covering his tattoos on his arms, the tattoos looked like snakes spiraling around his arms and joining around his neck.

  " So this is Logiticus. "

  " Yeah, I don't know why the hit of the dagger didn't work at first but he seems back to normal. "

  For a second Mika had forgotten the gravity of the situation they were in until she heard Cynrik struggling behind her. He was holding one of transversal pillars in place to prevent the whole tunnel from coming down on them. The wood was cracking loudly, one side of the tunnel had already come down. Behind him was the light of the outside world and Kyllian wondered why they had not gone away already. Looking to the side, Kyllian noticed why Mika and Maggie were so panicked.

  " Oh by the creator Yordan!! "

  Yordan's left arm was completely stuck under a huge rock that Maggie was trying to dislodge by using her weapon as a lever but to no effect. Yordan was coughing heavily due to the dust in the tunnel.

  " Ack ack, please just go Mag', it's ok.. "

  " No it's not ok! Kyllian, help me! "

  He crouched and tried moving the rock but it was way too heavy. Instead, all he could hear was the crunching noise of Yordans bones already broken under the weight of the rocks.

  " We can't move this, oh shit oh shit! "

  " We can't leave him there ! "

  Tears started appearing in her eyes as Yordan touched her face.

  " It's alright friend, I could not have asked for a better end. "

  " No! Not like this, remember when I was poisoned and feverish, you stayed by my side the whole time! I could hear your voice, we went away from home to prove that we have a worth, YOU still have things to accomplish ok?! This is not your end. "

  Yordan smiled and closed his eyes.

  " Sadly it is, but you need to keep going. "

  " Noo! There has to be a way! "

  Kyllian had an idea but he needed everyone to leave, he touched Mika's shoulder to get her attention.

  " Mika! Take Logiticus, Cynrik carry Maggie out, I will do what I need here."

  He pulled out his sword and looked at Maggie. She started shaking her head in disbelief. Before she could protest, Cynrik grabbed her weapon and used it to hold the pillar, he then grabbed her despite her protest and ran toward the exit, Mika took Logiticus on her back and gave one last look at Kyllian before she followed Cynrik. Kyllian looked at Yordan which eyes were now open.

  " Just go Kyllian, leave me. "

  " No, I wont leave you. "

  " My arm is completelly crushed, I can't feel anything. "

  " It's perfect then, if there is no bone it's going to be easier to cut. "

  " You can't be serious .. "

  " Grit your teeth, it's going to be painfull but you will live. "

  " But what if I bleed to de- ARRRGGHHHH !!! "

  Without notice, Kyllian began to cut away at his arm, his bones were basically dust and he managed to cut the muscles and nerves with ease despite Yordan's screams of pain, once he had freed him, he lit his hand on fire and used it to cauterize the wound. Yordan looked at him with a smile.

  " I knew it, I saw smoke before and the burns on your arms were a given .."

  " You can be happy with your detective work once we are out, come on, wrap your other arm around my neck ! "

  Yordan was a few seconds away from passing out as he saw the light and felt the air outside. They ran out of the mine just as the tunnels collapsed behind them. They fell on the ground heavily, out of breath. Almost instantly, Mika ran to check on them. She slid on the ground and hugged Kyllian. Tears were flowing out of her eyes as she was hugging him like he was about to disappear.

  " Mika, I didn't survive all of this to die being choked out by you at the exit. Please let me go! "

  " You idiot! I thought you were dead! "

  He hugged her back and the scent of her hair filled his nostrils.

  " I'm not going anywhere. And I could not leave our map guy inside. "

  Yordan chuckled, Cynrik approached them with Maggie and she instantly hugged Yordan.

  " Fuck I thought I almost had lost my best friend. "

  " I am in for tasting some of your tea again ahah. "

  " As much as you want! "

  Cynrik sat on the ground next to the group, Kyllian looked at him and held out his hand.

  " Cynrik, before all this I had no trust in you, I still don't have much but thank you for helping us. "

  Cynrik smiled and shook his hand.

  " Don't thank me yet, we haven't arrived at our destination."

  They heard a grunt, Logiticus had just woken up and looked around. He examined his own body and touched it to check if he was human. Then, out of nowhere, he flexed his hand and claws came out of his fingernails. He whistled in admiration and retracted them. He then looked at the group with a smile. His eyes were kind, his voice was ressuring.

  " You folks wouldn't happen to have a pair of spare pants would ya ? "