The mountain air was crisp as Ardent and Balenor made their descent from the peaks. The path winding down toward the coastline was steep, and the twins had been walking since dawn. The sounds of the mountain gradually faded behind them, replaced by the distant roar of the sea and the call of seagulls. The fishing village of Stormcrest lay ahead, tucked against the rocky cliffs, but something was wrong.

"Is it always this quiet?" Balenor asked, his voice echoing off the rocky walls.

Ardent frowned, gripping the hilt of his greatsword. "No. Stormcrest should be alive with fishermen and merchants this time of day. It's never this... still."

The two brothers shared a glance. They knew what silence like this meant—it was the same feeling they had just before the Abyss creatures attacked their own village.

As they reached the base of the mountain, the scent of salt and brine filled their lungs, and the village came into view. The docks, usually teeming with life, were empty. Boats bobbed gently in the harbor, abandoned, and the only sound came from the waves crashing against the shore.

"They've already taken the village," Ardent muttered under his breath.

Balenor scanned the deserted streets. "Do you think the villagers got out in time?"

Ardent nodded. "The Elders would have warned them. They're safe... but we need to make sure."

The twins quickened their pace, their eyes scanning for any sign of movement as they approached the outskirts of Stormcrest. As the twins crept forward, they spotted two familiar figures crouched behind the big rocks. It was a perfect vantage point to observe without being seen.

"About time you showed up," a sharp voice hissed. It was Renar, the older of the two Stormcrest brothers. His arms were crossed, and his eyes narrowed in frustration.

Ardent gave him a flat look but held back his retort. He knew Renar well enough by now—there was always competition between them. Instead, he turned to the younger brother, Caelum, who greeted them with a more relaxed grin.

"Glad you made it, Ardent, Balenor," Caelum said, offering a quick handshake. "We've got trouble."

"What happened?" Balenor asked, his eyes scanning the village behind them.

"The Abyss happened," Renar cut in, his voice bitter. "They hit us before we could do anything. We managed to evacuate the villagers, but Elder El... he's still in there."

"They took the Elder?" Ardent's voice sharpened. "How?"

"The Elder stayed behind so we can safely leave," Caelum admitted, his face grim. "They were too strong. There was nothing we could do. We had to do what the Elder instructed."

Ardent clenched his fists, his mind racing. "Where are they holding him?"

"In the Elder Hall," Renar said, his tone heavy with frustration. "We scouted it out. There's strong figure in charge—he's got Elder El bound by these chains made of  some dark energy."

"They're trying to extract information," Balenor guessed.

Renar nodded. "We overheard something. They failed at your village, so they're trying again here. But they haven't figured it out yet."

"We can't let them succeed," Ardent said firmly. "We need to free Elder El before they get what they want."

Outside the village, the group gathered in a small cove hidden by jagged rocks, the sound of crashing waves muffling their conversation. The scent of salt and seaweed hung heavy in the air as they crouched around a crude map drawn in the sand. Renar knelt at the center, tracing lines with a stick.

"The Abyss creatures are patrolling the main streets," Renar began, gesturing to his sandy drawing. "They've fortified the Elder Hall and locked El inside. The villagers managed to flee to the cliffs."

Ardent frowned as he studied the map. "Why not attack tonight?"

Renar shook his head, eyes narrowing. "They get stronger at night. Trust me, I've seen it. We stand a better chance in broad daylight."

Caelum, who had been sitting cross-legged a little further back, casually petting a scruffy stray dog, chimed in with a grin. "Luckily, we've got a secret weapon." He gestured toward the dog, who was now happily wagging its tail.

Balenor raised an eyebrow, amused. "So, the plan is to trust the dog to lead us through a village crawling with Abyss creatures?"

Caelum nodded enthusiastically, scratching the dog behind the ears. "Exactly! He's been everywhere. Knows all the secret paths, and the Abyss creatures seem to ignore him."

Ardent rolled his eyes but couldn't help the faint smirk tugging at his lips. "So, we're putting our lives in the paws of a stray?"

Renar sighed, but there was a glint of humor in his eyes. "Hey, if it gets us past the patrols, I'm all for it."

The dog, as if sensing the attention, barked once and wagged its tail even more vigorously. It darted off toward a narrow alley hidden between two large rocks, pausing briefly as if waiting for them to follow.

Caelum stood up, looking smug. "See? He's already got the route planned."

Balenor tapped his shield lightly, still grinning. "Alright, then. We follow the dog."

Ardent, shaking his head, glanced over at Renar. "You better hope your mutt's a genius."

Renar flashed a grin as he lifted his trident. "And you better try not to slow us down, Ardent."

Balenor and Caelum exchanged a knowing glance, their older brothers' rivalry always a source of amusement.

Ardent gave one last look at the hastily drawn map in the sand before rising to his feet. "Fine. Midday, then. We follow the dog into the village, avoid the patrols, and head straight for the Elder Hall. Let's get this done."

Inside the dimly lit Elder Hall, chains of shadowy energy coiled tightly around Elder El's wrists and ankles, keeping him bound to the cold stone floor. But despite the confinement, his expression remained calm, his sharp eyes observing every detail around him. 

Standing over him was the Abyss General, an imposing figure clad in blackened armor, his molten eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. His presence was overwhelming, a towering force of raw power and cold precision. He was not a creature of arrogance, but of obedience.

The General's gauntlet-clad hand rested on the hilt of his massive, jagged sword. His grip tightened slightly as the familiar voice of his master, the Abyss Lord, echoed in his mind.

Abyss Lord: [In a menacing, low tone] "The twins are coming. Let them. I want to see what they are capable of. But do not destroy them... yet. You are there to test them."

The General's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile beneath his dark helm. His orders were clear, and he would carry them out to the letter. He turned his gaze toward Elder El, who sat upright despite the binding chains, his demeanor still serene, unshaken by the General's presence.

Abyss General: [Coldly, his voice low] "Your silence won't last forever, Elder. Eventually, they all talk."

Elder El looked up, meeting the General's fiery gaze with unwavering calm. His voice, when he spoke, was steady and deliberate.

Elder El: [Firmly, yet almost serene] "You'll learn nothing from me that you haven't already failed to take. You think chains actually suppress me?"

The General chuckled, his laugh devoid of humor. He wasn't concerned with Elder El's defiance. His focus was on the approaching champions of light. He could feel their energy.

Elder El's gaze remained steady, but his lips curved ever so slightly into a knowing smile. "You think you're here to break them. But maybe it is they who will break you."

The General's smirk vanished, his face returning to a mask of discipline and cold focus. He had no intention of being drawn into a verbal sparring match. His orders were to test the twins and gather information. He would not be provoked into revealing anything more.

With a curt motion, the General turned away from Elder El, his armor clanking slightly as he moved toward the door. The dark chains binding the Elder pulsed with sinister energy, but Elder El didn't flinch. His silence, and his presence here, were strategic—he was gathering information, just as the Abyss sought to do with him.

As the General stepped into the shadows of the hall, he muttered under his breath, "We shall see, Elder. We shall see..." before disappearing into the darkness, readying himself for the encounter with the twins.