Kazaf: The upside down

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Chapter 21: The Second Tomb's Peril

Kazaf and his companions—Rahim, Samir, and Harun—burst out of the collapsing first tomb, barely escaping before the entrance sealed behind them with a deafening crash. The dust settled around them as they caught their breath, their hearts still pounding from their near brush with death.

"That was too close," Harun muttered, leaning against a stone pillar to steady himself.

Rahim exhaled sharply, brushing dirt from his robe. "We should've known the tomb wouldn't let us take its treasures without a fight."

Samir stretched his arms, grinning despite the exhaustion. "And yet, we made it. Still breathing, still standing, and now, we keep going."

Before them stood another entrance—taller, more imposing, with strange carvings glowing faintly across its surface. The aura radiating from within sent shivers down their spines.

Kazaf studied the inscriptions. "This place… it feels different. Stronger."

Rahim nodded. "The energy is thicker here. This tomb holds something powerful."

Harun frowned. "That also means it's more dangerous than the first."

Samir chuckled. "Since when have we backed down from danger?"

Kazaf smirked. "Let's move."

Entering the Second Tomb

The moment they stepped inside, the air turned ice-cold. A heavy, ancient scent filled their lungs, and a faint humming sound resonated through the stone corridors.

Torches lined the walls, flickering to life as they passed, casting eerie shadows on the cracked stone floor. The deeper they walked, the more the air felt alive—charged with energy.

Harun glanced around warily. "Feels like something's watching us."

Rahim examined the walls. "There are old enchantments here. Protective runes. Whoever built this place didn't want intruders."

Kazaf paused. His sharp senses picked up something ahead—voices. He signaled for the group to stop.

They crept forward, peering around a corner.

In a large chamber, a group of Jalwa's men stood around a raised stone platform, examining a pile of spirit stones. Inferior ones glowed faintly, medial-grade stones pulsed with steady energy, and a handful of superior-grade stones shone with brilliant light.

At the center of the group stood a tall, scarred man in black robes, his posture commanding. His aura was dark, oppressive—clearly a seasoned cultivator.

"Jalwa's people," Harun whispered.

Samir's grip tightened around his sword. "Figures we weren't the only ones after treasure."

Rahim frowned. "This complicates things."

Kazaf's eyes locked onto the spirit stones. Their glow called to him. The energy within them could enhance cultivation, strengthen their abilities.

But they weren't going to be handed over easily.

Kazaf took a step forward deliberately, letting a loose stone clatter loudly against the floor.

The Jalwa men turned sharply, weapons drawn.

Their leader sneered. "Well, what do we have here? More rats crawling into places they don't belong?"

Kazaf met his gaze without flinching. "You talk big for someone about to lose everything."

The man chuckled darkly. "A half-breed with a sharp tongue? That's amusing. You should know your place, boy. This tomb and its riches belong to the strong. And you?" His eyes scanned Kazaf with disdain. "You're filth. A disgrace to cultivators."

Harun clenched his fists. "I'm going to wipe that smirk off his face."

Rahim held up a hand, signaling for patience. "They outnumber us."

Samir smirked. "Not for long."

The scarred leader's smirk widened. "Kill them."

The Battle Begins

In an instant, the room erupted into chaos.

A Jalwa cultivator lunged at Kazaf, blade aimed at his heart. Kazaf dodged with lightning reflexes, spinning behind his attacker and driving his elbow into the man's spine.

The cultivator crashed to the ground with a pained grunt.

Rahim parried an incoming sword strike, his own blade moving in a precise, fluid arc, cutting his opponent's arm. Blood splattered the stone floor as the man howled in pain.

Samir, always the quickest, weaved through two attackers, his dagger flashing as he struck pressure points. His enemies staggered, muscles locking up, leaving them vulnerable.

Harun took on a burly warrior, dodging the man's heavy swings before landing a powerful knee to his gut, followed by an upward strike to his chin. The warrior collapsed in a heap.

Kazaf faced the scarred leader.

"You're stronger than I expected," the man admitted, cracking his knuckles. "But it won't be enough."

Kazaf's eyes gleamed with challenge. "We'll see about that."

The leader struck first, his palm glowing with dark energy as he unleashed a wave of force. Kazaf barely dodged, rolling to the side. He countered with a burst of his own energy, sending a shockwave through the room.

The leader skidded back, eyes widening. "Impossible… your essence…"

Kazaf didn't let him recover. He closed the distance in a flash, driving his fist into the man's gut before spinning and delivering a powerful kick to his chest. The impact sent the leader crashing into a pillar, which cracked from the force.

The man slumped, unconscious.

Silence filled the chamber.

Samir exhaled, flicking blood off his dagger. "That… was satisfying."

Harun grinned. "And totally worth it."

Claiming the Spirit Stones

With their enemies defeated, they turned their attention to the spirit stones.

Rahim picked up an inferior-grade stone, feeling the energy pulse through his fingers. "Even the weakest of these will help us cultivate faster."

Samir knelt, examining the superior-grade stones. "These are the real prize. Not easy to find, even in powerful sects."

Kazaf pocketed a medial-grade stone, its energy resonating with him. "Let's take what we can and move. If Jalwa's men are here, more could be coming."

Harun smirked. "Let them come. We'll just take their treasures too."

They gathered as many stones as they could carry without slowing themselves down. The air in the tomb felt heavier, as if it was warning them of what lay ahead.

Kazaf glanced at the path leading deeper into the tomb.

"This isn't over," he said.

Samir stretched. "Guess that means we're going forward."

Rahim sighed. "Into the unknown again."

Harun clapped his hands together. "Let's see what else this tomb has to offer."

With treasure in their possession and danger lurking ahead, the group stepped into the darkness, ready for whatever lay beyond.

The true test had only just begun.

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