Shadow slave:The Forgotten Spawn

Volume 2: Shards of Unity

Chapter 40: The Road Forward

The next morning, the air was thick with an uneasy stillness, as though the land itself was holding its breath. Eryth stood at the edge of their camp, staring at the horizon where the stranger had disappeared. The words from the night before echoed in his mind, a warning of what they had unleashed and what still lay ahead.

Behind him, the armored woman methodically packed her supplies, her movements sharp and focused. Nyx prowled the perimeter, its glowing eyes scanning the barren landscape for any signs of danger.

"We should move soon," the woman said without looking up.

Eryth nodded. "The shard is still faint, but I can feel it pulling in a direction. It's not far… I think."

She stopped, fixing him with a hard stare. "You think, or you know?"

He exhaled, his grip tightening on the shard. "I know. We have to trust it."

The First Step

The journey was grueling. The terrain grew harsher the further they traveled, the cracked earth giving way to jagged rocks and deep crevices. Strange shadows flickered at the edges of their vision, and more than once, Nyx growled at something unseen.

"Feels like we're being watched," the woman muttered, her hand never straying far from her sword.

Eryth glanced at Nyx, who had stopped and was staring intently at the path ahead. Its fur bristled, and a low growl escaped its throat.

"What is it?" Eryth asked, stepping closer.

Before Nyx could respond, the ground beneath them rumbled. A sharp crack split the air, and a section of the path collapsed, revealing a gaping chasm below.

Eryth stumbled back, his heart racing. From the chasm rose a massive creature, its body covered in jagged, stone-like armor. Its eyes glowed a sickly green, and a guttural roar shook the air.

"A guardian," the woman said grimly, drawing her sword.

Eryth's chest tightened. "I thought we destroyed them with the rift."

"Apparently, not all of them," she snapped, charging forward.

The Battle

The creature lunged, its massive claws tearing through the ground as it barreled toward them. The woman met it head-on, her sword clashing against its armored hide with a burst of sparks.

Eryth hesitated, his mind racing. The shard pulsed faintly in his hand, but its power was weaker than before.

"Eryth!" the woman shouted. "We could use some help here!"

Snapping out of his thoughts, Eryth raised the shard, focusing on the faint energy within. A beam of light shot out, striking the creature in the shoulder. It roared in pain, staggering back, but it wasn't enough to stop it.

Nyx darted in, its claws slashing at the creature's legs. It moved with feral precision, avoiding the creature's swipes and landing blow after blow. But even Nyx's strength couldn't penetrate the creature's thick armor.

"We need to find a weak spot!" Eryth shouted, dodging a swing from the creature's massive arm.

The woman narrowed her eyes, studying the creature as she circled it. "The joints!" she called out. "Aim for the joints!"

A Desperate Plan

Eryth nodded, gripping the shard tightly. He focused on the creature's movements, watching for an opening. Nyx leapt onto the creature's back, clawing at the base of its neck. The creature thrashed wildly, trying to shake it off.

"Keep it distracted!" the woman yelled, rushing toward the creature's legs. She struck at the joint of its knee, her blade sinking into the vulnerable spot. The creature roared, collapsing onto one knee.

Eryth seized the moment, channeling all his remaining energy into the shard. A beam of light pierced through the creature's other knee, bringing it crashing to the ground.

With a final, deafening roar, the creature collapsed, its body crumbling into dust.

A Grim Reminder

Eryth fell to his knees, breathing heavily. The shard in his hand was dim, almost lifeless. Nyx padded over to him, nuzzling his arm in a rare gesture of comfort.

"That was too close," the woman said, wiping sweat from her brow. "If there are more of those things out here…"

"There will be," Eryth said quietly, staring at the shard. "The stranger was right. Destroying the rift didn't end anything. It just woke them up."

The woman sheathed her sword, her expression hardening. "Then we'll have to be ready."

Eryth nodded, though a knot of fear tightened in his chest. The journey ahead was growing more dangerous with every step, and the weight of their choices pressed heavier on him.

But there was no turning back now.

To Be Continued…