The Reborn Luna: Claimed by the Billionaire Alpha

Chapter 9 – The Descent into the Unknown

The chamber trembled as a deep, unseen force stirred within its ancient walls. The markings beneath Selene's feet pulsed with a fiery glow, resonating with the power now coursing through her veins. The air was thick with the scent of burning embers, and a suffocating heat pressed against her skin. The voice that had spoken earlier still echoed in her mind—"You have taken the flame, child. Now… will you face the truth of what you have become?"

Selene swallowed hard, her heart pounding. She wasn't sure what the voice meant, but she knew it wasn't just a warning. It was a challenge.

Killian stood beside her, his golden eyes sharp with wariness. "I don't like this," he muttered. "Something isn't right." His stance was tense, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, ready to strike at any moment.

Elira, ever the scholar, was already moving toward the altar, her fingers skimming the ancient carvings along its surface. "This place wasn't just a tomb or a prison," she murmured, her voice tinged with fascination. "It's something more. These runes—they don't just seal something away. They act as a conduit, a link to another realm."

Selene took a slow, deliberate step forward, her body reacting to the energy in the room. A strange sensation gripped her—heat rising through her limbs, her pulse syncing with the rhythmic thrum of the chamber's magic. She felt the power, the raw fire surging beneath the surface, calling to her.

Then, without warning, the altar cracked open.

The ground beneath them shuddered violently, sending a ripple of force through the air. The massive stone slab that had once sealed the altar split apart, revealing a dark, spiraling staircase descending into the unknown. From within its depths, a thick, blistering heat radiated upward, bringing with it hushed whispers that slithered through the chamber like smoke.

Selene's breath caught in her throat. The darkness below wasn't empty. It was alive.

Killian stepped in front of her, his stance protective. "Absolutely not," he said firmly. "We are not just marching into that pit without knowing what's waiting for us."

Selene met his gaze, determination flickering in her eyes. "We don't have a choice."

Killian's jaw tightened. "There's always a choice, Selene."

Elira was already kneeling beside the entrance, tracing the edge of the glowing runes. Her silver eyes gleamed as she analyzed the symbols. "This wasn't just a simple seal—it was a gateway, a barrier keeping something locked away for centuries." She looked up at Selene. "The flame inside you… it's the key. The moment you embraced its power, the gateway began to open."

Selene swallowed, uncertainty creeping in. "Then that means… whatever's down there is waiting for me."

Elira hesitated. "Or it's been summoned by you."

A cold chill prickled down Selene's spine, despite the stifling heat.

Killian let out a sharp breath, shaking his head. "This is insane. We should leave this place and find another way."

Selene took a step closer to the entrance, feeling the pull of the unknown force below. The flame within her was reacting, urging her forward. She clenched her fists, her mind racing. If this was the path that had been laid out for her, then she had to see it through.

"I have to do this," she said, her voice steady.

Killian tensed. "You're seriously considering going down there alone?"

Selene turned to him, her eyes filled with quiet resolve. "I don't think I was ever meant to do this alone."

A long silence stretched between them before Killian let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Damn it, Selene," he muttered before stepping beside her. "Then we go together."

Elira stood as well, adjusting her cloak. "Let's just hope whatever's down there doesn't regret being disturbed."

With that, the three of them took their first steps into the abyss.

The spiraling staircase plunged deep into darkness, the walls narrowing as Selene, Killian, and Elira made their cautious descent. The further they went, the hotter it became, as if they were walking straight into the heart of a smoldering inferno. The oppressive heat pressed against their skin, and the scent of burning stone filled the air.

Selene's heart pounded as she gripped the rough stone wall for balance. The flame inside her pulsed in rhythm with something unseen, something waiting in the depths below. She wasn't sure if it was guiding her or if she was walking straight into a trap.

Killian's grip on his sword tightened. His sharp eyes darted around, scanning the walls for any sign of an ambush. "This place isn't natural," he muttered under his breath. "It feels… wrong."

Elira, ever the scholar, ran her fingers along the walls as they moved. Strange symbols were etched into the stone, glowing faintly in the dim red light that flickered from below. "These inscriptions are ancient," she murmured. "Older than any recorded history we know. They speak of a force buried beneath the earth, one that was never meant to awaken."

Killian shot her a sharp look. "And yet, here we are."

A sudden gust of hot air rushed upward from the abyss, carrying with it a low, guttural whisper. The sound slithered into Selene's ears, sending a shiver down her spine.

"You have come… at last."

Selene froze. The voice wasn't just in her mind this time. It was real.

Killian and Elira reacted instantly, their stances turning defensive. Killian unsheathed his sword, its silver edge gleaming in the faint light. "Who's there?" he demanded, his voice echoing off the stone walls.

There was no response—only the sound of something moving below.

Selene forced herself to keep going, each step heavier than the last. The staircase finally opened into a vast underground cavern, its ceiling lost in shadows. The ground beneath them was made of obsidian-like stone, smooth and unnaturally warm. In the center of the cavern, a massive blackened throne sat upon a raised platform, its surface cracked with glowing veins of molten fire.

And there, standing beside it, was a figure.

A tall, armored being, its presence suffocating, exuding an aura of ancient power. Its body was wrapped in shimmering dark metal, adorned with intricate engravings that pulsed with a faint, red light. Though its face was obscured by a demonic mask, its eyes burned like dying embers.

"The flame has returned," the figure said, its voice reverberating through the chamber. "And so the cycle begins anew."

Selene felt the heat in her veins surge wildly. She didn't know why, but she knew this figure. She had seen it before.

Memories that weren't hers flashed in her mind—visions of fire, war, and a kingdom long lost to time.

Killian stepped in front of her, his sword raised. "Who are you?" he demanded.

The figure didn't move. "A question that no longer matters. What does matter… is the choice that stands before you." Its fiery eyes locked onto Selene. "You have awakened the First Flame. Now you must decide—will you claim your destiny, or be consumed by it?"

Selene clenched her fists. "I don't even know what my destiny is."

The figure let out a deep, echoing laugh. "You will. Soon enough."

The cavern shook violently, the cracks in the throne widening. From the molten fissures, spectral shadows began to rise, their hollow eyes locked onto Selene.

Killian tensed. "Selene—"

But before he could finish, the shadows attacked.

The cavern trembled as the spectral shadows lunged forward, their hollow, glowing eyes fixated on Selene. A wave of cold darkness crashed over the trio, sending shivers down their spines despite the heat radiating from the molten cracks in the obsidian floor.

Killian moved first, his sword flashing as he slashed through the nearest shadow. His blade cut cleanly, but the creature reformed instantly, its smoky tendrils reaching for him. "Damn it! They're not solid!" he cursed, dodging back.

Elira raised her hands, summoning a blast of golden energy. The arcane light burned through one of the shadows, making it shriek in agony before dissolving into the air. "They're vulnerable to magic!" she shouted.

Selene barely had time to process Elira's words before a shadow surged toward her. Instinctively, she raised her hands, and the fire within her answered. Flames erupted from her palms, gold and crimson, engulfing the creature in a roaring inferno. The shadow let out a terrible wail before vanishing into wisps of smoke.

The armored figure standing beside the cracked throne watched in silence, its fiery eyes observing Selene's power. It made no move to attack, but Selene could feel its presence pressing against her soul, like an unseen force testing her, waiting.

Killian and Elira fought with everything they had, but the shadows kept reforming, their numbers endless.

Selene's pulse pounded in her ears. The fire in her veins wasn't enough. She needed more.

And then, a whisper.

"Unleash it."

The voice came from inside her, deep and ancient, like the flickering embers of a long-forgotten flame.

Selene clenched her fists. The fire inside her roared, demanding to be set free.

But was she ready?

Killian was struggling against two shadows, his sword passing harmlessly through their shifting forms. Elira's magic was holding them at bay, but her energy was running low.

Selene had no choice.

She let go.

The fire exploded outward, an unstoppable force of golden-red flames. It surged across the cavern like a tidal wave, engulfing the shadows. They shrieked as the divine fire consumed them, their smoky bodies disintegrating into nothing.

The heat was suffocating, the flames swirling around Selene in a vortex of power. Her skin burned, but she didn't feel pain—only a strange rightness, as if this power had always belonged to her.

When the fire finally died down, the cavern was silent.

The shadows were gone.

Killian and Elira stood frozen, staring at Selene with awe and fear.

The armored figure took a step forward, the molten cracks in the floor flaring with energy.

"It is done," it said. "You have awakened the First Flame. Now, the true trial begins."

Selene staggered, her body drained but her soul burning brighter than ever. She didn't know what this "First Flame" was, but one thing was certain.

She could never go back to being who she was before.

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