The descent through the service tunnels with Borgrum was a frantic, jarring contrast to the cautious stealth Fendril had employed. Borgrum moved with the determined urgency of a master artificer rushing to prevent his own creation – Grimfang Deep itself – from suffering critical failure. He knew these back ways intimately, taking shortcuts through echoing maintenance shafts, across narrow catwalks spanning dark chasms filled with the roar of unseen machinery or rushing water, bypassing sealed bulkheads with keyed overrides Lunrik didn't understand. The sounds of the emergency alarms were fainter here, muffled by layers of rock and metal, but the deep, rhythmic tremors shaking the mountain were more pronounced, more alarming. Dust sifted constantly from the ceilings, and the occasional sharp crack of stressed rock echoed ominously.
Lunrik struggled to keep up, hampered by the darkness, the unfamiliar weapon systems (axe, crossbow, and the volatile Resonance Key emitter humming at his belt), and the sheer speed of Borgrum's descent. Alaric's training helped him maintain balance on narrow ledges and gauge distances in the gloom pierced only by Borgrum's helmet lamp, but this environment – cramped, unstable, deep underground – felt alien and deeply hostile.
"Keep up, werewolf!" Borgrum grunted back, not unkindly, as Lunrik stumbled over a loose pipe. "No time for sightseeing! If those tremors worsen, these old conduits could collapse entirely!"
"Where exactly are we heading?" Lunrik asked, panting slightly as they squeezed through a narrow passage slick with mineral slime.
"Trying to intersect the main access tunnel to Sector eighty-nine below the primary security checkpoints Thrain likely has locked down," Borgrum explained, his voice echoing. "From there, we can approach the Geode Caverns area where Korgul's team sent their last transmission. Need to assess the breach, identify the hostiles, and locate any survivors – specifically Fendril, if possible. His knowledge is crucial now."
He didn't mention Kaelith by name, perhaps adhering to dwarven protocol of focusing on their own personnel first, or perhaps trying to keep Lunrik focused on the immediate tactical situation rather than personal desperation. But Lunrik knew finding Kaelith was his own primary objective, overriding all dwarven priorities.
As they descended further, the tremors became more frequent, more violent. Once, a section of the tunnel ceiling ahead of them cracked audibly, showering them with rock fragments. Borgrum cursed, pulling Lunrik back just before a larger chunk of stone crashed down where they had been about to step.
"Unstable," Borgrum growled, examining the fresh fissure in the rock. "The resonance disturbance down there… it's worse than the seismic readings indicated. What did your companion stir up?"
"She was following your orders, escorting your asset," Lunrik retorted sharply, fear for Kaelith making him bold. "Maybe something else caused this? The hunters? The Lurkers reacting to them?"
Borgrum shot him a glare but didn't argue the point. "Speculation is useless. We need firsthand observation." He checked his steam projector sidearm. "Stay alert. These lower access ways sometimes intersect natural caverns. Not all inhabitants are friendly."
The air grew thicker, damper, carrying the foul stench Lunrik remembered from the Geode Cavern battlefield – the smell of Lurker ichor and decay. The sounds changed too; the rhythmic tremors were now overlaid with distant, unsettling noises – skittering sounds, guttural clicks, and occasional echoing roars that were definitely not dwarven or werewolf.
They reached a junction where their narrow service tunnel opened into a much larger, older, partially collapsed dwarven transport tunnel. This main tunnel showed clear signs of the chaos radiating upwards – cracked floor plates, dangling power conduits sparking intermittently, emergency lights flickering weakly. And littering the floor were the first signs of direct conflict reaching this level: several dead Deep Lurkers, their chitinous carapaces shattered by what looked like dwarven particle projector fire, lying near the bodies of two unfortunate Iron Guard dwarves who must have been caught in the initial breach.
"Blast it," Borgrum swore, examining the scene grimly. "They got past the lower checkpoints." He scanned the tunnel in both directions. "This way leads towards Sector eighty-nine." He pointed down the main tunnel, towards the source of the Lurker stench and the loudest echoes of conflict.
They proceeded cautiously down the main tunnel, stepping over Lurker ichor and debris. The sounds of fighting grew louder now – the distinct zzzap of hunter energy rifles, the heavier thump-hiss of dwarven steam projectors, punctuated by the terrifying shrieks and clicks of the Deep Lurkers. It sounded like a multi-factional battle was raging just ahead.
They rounded a bend choked with fallen rock and peered into the chaos. The tunnel opened into a large junction cavern, dimly lit by sparking emergency lights and the lurid blue glow of hunter energy discharges. A desperate battle was underway.
A handful of surviving Iron Guard dwarves, perhaps four or five, held a barricaded position behind overturned mining carts, firing steam projectors and particle rifles into a swarm of skittering Deep Lurkers pouring from branching side tunnels. The Lurkers were hideous, varying in size from dog-sized scuttlers to larger, multi-limbed horrors with snapping mandibles and whip-like tails. They moved with unnerving speed, swarming over obstacles, their chitinous hides deflecting some of the dwarven fire.
But the dwarves weren't just fighting Lurkers. Positioned on gantries and ledges higher up in the cavern, raining down deadly accurate blue energy fire on both the dwarves and the Lurkers, were the hunters. At least three of them were visible, moving with cold efficiency, seemingly indifferent to the chaos, their objective unclear beyond simply eliminating all opposition. Were they trying to secure the area? Retrieve something? Or just cause maximum disruption?
And amidst it all, Lunrik frantically scanned the swirling melee for any sign of Kaelith or Fendril. He saw nothing but dwarves, Lurkers, and the terrifyingly efficient hunters pinning everyone down from above.
"Trapped," Borgrum growled beside him, assessing the tactical nightmare. "Iron Guard pinned between Lurkers and hunters. Hunters hold the high ground, controlling the engagement." He hefted his warhammer. "We need to break that stalemate."
"The Resonance Key?" Lunrik asked, gripping the emitter. "Can it reach the hunters on the gantries?"
Borgrum squinted, judging the distance and the chaotic energy fields already present. "Range is uncertain. And firing it into that mess… unpredictable. Might disrupt the hunters, yes, but could also trigger a Lurker swarm response or destabilize the cavern structure further." He shook his head. "Too risky for a primary engagement."
He pointed towards a heavy-duty ore conveyor belt system running along one side of the cavern, currently inactive but leading up towards the gantries where the hunters were positioned. "That conveyor access ladder. Old, likely unshielded against energy fire, but it offers a path to flank their position. If we can get up there, engage them at close quarters…"
"They have energy rifles," Lunrik reminded him grimly. "Close quarters against those?"
"Better than being shot like fish in a barrel down here!" Borgrum retorted. "And maybe," he glanced at the Resonance Key on Lunrik's belt, "your little harmonic trick will be more effective point-blank." He made his decision. "We go for the conveyor ladder. Move fast, use cover. I'll draw fire if needed. You focus on reaching the ladder!"
Without waiting for agreement, Borgrum let out a deafening dwarven war cry and charged out from behind the rockfall, firing his steam projector sidearm wildly towards the Lurkers engaging the pinned Iron Guard. The sudden appearance of another dwarf, firing aggressively, immediately drew the attention of several Lurkers and, more importantly, one of the hunters on the gantry above, who swiveled to fire down at Borgrum.
"Go, werewolf! Now!" Borgrum roared, ducking behind a mining cart as blue energy bolts sizzled past him.
Lunrik didn't hesitate. While Borgrum provided the crucial, suicidal-seeming distraction, Lunrik sprinted from cover, weaving through the chaos, heading directly for the base of the ore conveyor ladder on the far side of the cavern. Lurkers skittered nearby, distracted by the main fight. Energy bolts from the hunters focused on Borgrum and the Iron Guard barricade. He had a clear, terrifying path.
He reached the ladder – rusty, missing rungs in places, but structurally sound – and began scrambling upwards, axe tucked away, focusing only on handholds and foot placements. Below, the battle raged. He heard Borgrum roar again, the heavy thump of his warhammer connecting with chitin, the hiss of steam projectors, the shriek of dying Lurkers, the crackle of hunter energy fire.
He climbed frantically, expecting an energy bolt in his back at any second. He glanced down – Borgrum was holding his own, using a mining cart for cover, forcing the Lurkers and at least one hunter to focus on him. The Iron Guard seemed to be rallying slightly, encouraged by Borgrum's intervention.
Lunrik reached the gantry level. He peered cautiously over the edge. Two hunters stood not twenty yards away, firing down into the cavern, their backs partially turned to him. The third hunter was further down the gantry, seemingly focused on something else – perhaps trying to access a control panel or secure an objective.
This was his chance. Close range. Surprise. He gripped the Resonance Key emitter, its surface humming faintly with contained power, keyed to his blood. He took a deep breath, preparing to unleash the unstable, chaotic power of his own cursed lineage against the technologically advanced nightmares threatening to consume them all. The descent into chaos was complete; now came the desperate counter-attack.