Enter the cave.

With the bow on his back, Tom keeps a careful hand on the pummel of his sword. Though in his other hand, he holds a torch he just ignited. The flames illuminate the area round you. Nobody in the party has exceptional night vision, though Eva can see much better than you. It seems that both beastkin have incredible vision, just not as much as an elf, while you, Tom, and Delphi are stuck with regular old eyeballs.

This system is both wider and more straight forward than the last. It declines slightly, though with it nestled between the mountains, it can remain large despite it remaining roughly the same depth as the entrance. It doesn't take long for the tunnel to reach an expanse. Rock formations hang from the ceiling as well as spike up from the ground. Natural columns keep the cave from collapsing. It almost reminds you of the great hall back in Castle Phoenix. Though clearly, the whole thing is a natural cavern, and somewhere around here you'll hopefully see another mysterious door.

"So where first?" Eva asks. But as she steps past you, suddenly she trips.

You lunge forward and snatch her up at the stomach, holding her tight as you keep her from falling. "Careful!"

She smiles nervously. "Uhm. Thank you."

Then Delphi flutters down and lands on the bunnyfolk's chest--a comfy seat, more than big enough for the little fairy. "No, no. Kyle, you're supposed to grab her chest when you catch her." As she explains, she pushes her hands against the tender skin of Eva's bust.

"Wh-Why?" Eva asks.

"Gah!" Thomas cries.

You and the others turn quickly to see that Tom isn't alone. Not only that, but he's taken a blade right across the side of his torso. He's gripping the wound, but next to him is the culprit ready to continue its attack. Thankfully you caught the confrontation just in time.

Tom swings his torch. "Hit him, quick!"

But it's too late. You get one quick glance of the man--skin as black as coal, short hair of the same colour, and clothing just as dark. A swirling mist picks up around him, and it spreads so quickly that your party is blind before they can make a move. Thankfully, it doesn't take long to clear away, but the man has already disappeared. The cave is quiet. Meanwhile, Tom tears off part of his shirt and wraps it around his midsection to help close the wound.

Delphi peeks around. "Who was tha--"

"Don't move!" shouts Tom. "Everybody stay exactly where you are."

"But we're over here, and you're on your own over there. What if that guy is still around?"

"He is."

Eva glances left and right, and then she tilts her head curiously. "I don't see him."

"Nobody can. I think that's who you heard before, Eva. Sorry I didn't think much of it. But that guy was a shadri. Even now, he's listening to us... waiting to attack. Shadri are people who are one with shadows. When they stand perfectly still, they're actually impossible to detect, even with the greatest vision. It isn't until they move again when you can see them. But that means they're masters of ambush. They can stand still for hours. Breathing? It's so steady their chest doesn't even move."

"So they're walking booby traps. If we take a wrong step, it could mean a stab straight through the heart," you say.

Tom nods.

Delphi growls. "Get out here, you coward! What kind of man are you?"

"I wonder why he's here," Eva says.

"Probably saw adventurers heading to the middle of nowhere," you reply. "And thought surely that means treasure. He ambushes us at the location, takes the treasure for himself, and Bob's your uncle. The problem is... there is no treasure you idiot! What we're seeking here isn't something you can take."

No response still. I doubt he believes me. Well if we plan out loud, he'll hear. If we start shooting wildly, we'll run out of mana and ammo before we hit him, especially since he could still just dodge and then hide somewhere else I assume. We can either walk and hope we can react fast enough to block or dodge the trap, we can find some way to detect him, or I suppose we can make him move somehow too.

"As long as we stand still, we're fine, right?" Delphi asks.

Tom nods again. "But a shadri can outlast us no problem. They don't have to eat or drink as much either."

"Tell us what you know," you request.

"Not too much more. They're a race, and not demons. Albeit they're extremely rare to see, they're still humanoids, just like elves or whatever. They're still mortal beings that live as we do. Reproduce? Play games? Enjoy a drink with their friends? It might be hard to believe if the first one you've met is trying to stab you, but yeah." He squeezes the sword in his hand. "But every race has thieves among the rest, right?"

"Well then, let's talk about it," you call out. "If you're just a man trying to survive, come on out. We won't kill you. There really isn't treasure here, at least that we know about, but if you truly aren't a demon then say something."

Still nothing. He's skilled and determined. Or stubborn.

Delphi raises her hand. "I have an idea. He has to keep his eyes on us so we don't pull something off, right?" Then she throws both hands forward. Purple bands lash out, but the shadri isn't her target. Instead, they wrap around Eva's wrists and pull her arms up over her head, tying the poor unsuspecting girl in bondage.

"Uh... What are you doing?" you ask.

Eva whimpers. "S-Stop! Let me go, Delphi!"

"Good, good. The more you struggle, the more they jiggle around." Delphi turns her eyes to you. "Tom said this guy is still a mortal man, right? And if he moves at all, he becomes visible? So all we have to do is **** him to move without getting near him. And to do that, I'm going to need your help, Kyle. Tease Eva a bit. Take off some of her clothes. Feel her up. Just give this bandit of ours a real show."

"What?!" Eva shouts. She tugs harder on her bindings. "Why? This is not the time for making fun of me!"

"It's simple really." She curls up her finger, and then slowly extends up upwards. "If he's **** to watch Kyle play with your massive melons, he'll rise up. When his dick gets hard, he'll become visible again, and then we just take him out."