The First Men Chronicles

Chapter Title 40: The Depths of Power

Draven and Huey emerged from the roots, phasing into a dense, overgrown forest. Towering trees loomed above, their gnarled branches intertwining like skeletal fingers against the dark sky. Before them stood an eerie stone formation—an ancient cave entrance carved into the shape of a serpent's open mouth, its jagged stone teeth bared menacingly. The air was thick with a foul, damp scent, a mixture of moss, decay, and something far more sinister.

Draven narrowed his eyes, scanning his surroundings with instinctive caution. The aura of this place was different—unnerving. He could feel the weight of past horrors embedded into the very earth beneath him. Huey, as usual, remained unfazed, stepping forward with an amused grin.

"Let's move," Huey said, gesturing toward the gaping maw of the cave. Without hesitation, he strolled inside, and Draven followed.

Inside, a long, dimly lit corridor stretched out before them, the stone walls lined with remnants of old, rusted chains and cryptic inscriptions. Shadows flickered across the surfaces, cast by the eerie blue lanterns placed sporadically along the path. Draven's sharp gaze roamed over the walls before he asked, "What's this place used for?"

Huey's voice echoed off the stone, laced with amusement. "An experimental lab. Back in the day, this was where the failed were discarded and the strong were remade."

The deeper they went, the louder the sounds became—agonized whispers, faint screams, and the rattling of chains. A vast, open space awaited them ahead, its structure circular with towering stone walls enclosing a pit of complete darkness. A damp wind howled through, carrying the stench of sweat and despair.

As they stepped forward, Huey veered left, and Draven followed, his nose wrinkling in irritation. "This place reeks," he muttered.

Huey laughed. "You'll get used to it."

Then the ground beneath them trembled. Cracks splintered along the walls as an overwhelming aura seeped into the air. From below, a cacophony of voices screamed out, desperate and wild.

"Save us! Give us another chance! We'll prove our strength!"

Draven remained unfazed, merely flicking his eyes downward to observe the unseen prisoners. The energy flooding the space sent chills through his spine—not out of fear, but recognition. These were failures, remnants of those who had not been strong enough to endure the trials of power.

He barely had time to dwell on it when Huey suddenly spoke. "Papa Tunde," he called out, a grin playing at his lips.

From the shadows, a tall man in a pristine white suit stepped forward. His aura was imposing yet controlled. Around his neck hung a talisman necklace, its ancient symbols pulsing with a faint glow. His sharp gaze flicked between Huey and Draven before he nodded in greeting.

"Ah, Huey," Papa Tunde said, his voice smooth and deep. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Huey gestured toward Draven. "Meet our newest rising star."

Papa Tunde studied Draven for a moment, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I've heard plenty about you," he admitted. "To have survived the snake ritual is no small feat. Many have failed." He cast a glance toward the pit. "Only two others have partially absorbed its power—Gansu and Kenzy."

Draven's expression remained unreadable. "Then let me see them."

Papa Tunde raised an eyebrow at his demanding tone but nodded. "Very well."

They walked deeper into the compound, entering a sterile, dimly lit chamber filled with eerie silence. The cold, metallic scent of Shen-infused medicine lingered in the air.

Papa Tunde pushed open a reinforced door, revealing two figures sitting in separate chairs—Gansu, a lean man with a hardened stare, and Kenzy, a figure wrapped in a dark cloak with an air of silent menace.

The moment Draven stepped inside, his instincts flared. Without hesitation, he inhaled sharply—and BOOOOOOM!

A massive, flaming snake erupted from his mouth, its serpentine form twisting through the air as it roared toward Gansu and Kenzy. The walls trembled from the sheer force, sending vibrations through the facility.

Kenzy reacted first. His fingers flew into a rapid sequence of hand movements , and a massive serpent coiled around his form, shielding him from the flames. Gansu, on the other hand, flicked a single metal shard into the air. It scattered into hundreds of razor-thin fragments, reshaping itself into a massive metallic wall reinforced with his Shen.

The flames crashed against their defenses, but neither flinched.

Papa Tunde chuckled. "Ah, I see. Testing them, are we?"

Draven let out a slow breath, his eyes dark and calculating. "Not enough,if they're going on the hunt with me " he muttered. "I need to fight them. I don't want weaklings slowing me down."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode toward the exit. "Follow me."

Papa Tunde watched him go, a knowing smirk forming on his lips. "So the rumors are true," he mused. "He's as arrogant as Lord Arcade himself."

Huey merely laughed. "That's what makes him fun."

Papa Tunde turned to Gansu and Kenzy. "Go. Let's see if you two can keep up."

The two warriors exchanged a glance before silently rising to their feet. Without a word, they followed Draven.

As they stepped into the open, Draven leapt off the edge of the circular walls, plummeting into the black abyss below without hesitation. His form vanished into the darkness.

Kenzy and Gansu stared for a moment before nodding to each other. Then, with practiced ease, they jumped after him, their bodies slicing through the air.

Papa Tunde watched from above, arms crossed. A slow grin spread across his face.

"This will be fantastic."