Shadow slave:The Forgotten Spawn

Volume 2: Shards of Unity

Chapter 43: A Darker Tide

The tension in the air was suffocating as the group emerged from the ancient structure. The second shard hummed faintly in Eryth's grasp, its glow subdued yet potent, as though it was lying in wait for something—or someone.

Nyx's ears flattened against its head, its fur bristling as it sniffed the air. The creature let out a low growl, its glowing eyes fixed on the horizon.

"What is it now?" the armored woman asked, her sword already in hand.

"I don't know," Eryth murmured, scanning the rocky landscape. A faint breeze tugged at his cloak, carrying with it a strange, metallic scent. "But it's not good."

The earth beneath their feet rumbled, faint at first, then stronger. Eryth stumbled as the ground cracked and split, a deep fissure forming ahead. From within, a dark mist began to seep out, swirling like living shadows.

"That's not normal," the woman muttered, taking a defensive stance.

Nyx snarled, stepping protectively in front of Eryth. The mist coalesced, rising into a towering shape—a humanoid figure, its body composed entirely of swirling darkness. Two glowing red eyes pierced through the gloom, locking onto the group.

The Herald of the Rift

"You carry what does not belong to you," the figure intoned, its voice a deep, echoing growl that seemed to shake the very air around them. "Return it, or suffer."

Eryth swallowed hard, clutching the shard tighter. "We can't do that," he said, his voice steady despite the fear clawing at him.

The figure's eyes narrowed. "Then you have chosen death."

It raised an arm, and the mist around it surged forward, forming jagged spikes that shot toward them.

"Scatter!" the woman shouted, diving out of the way.

Eryth rolled to the side as one of the spikes slammed into the ground where he'd been standing, shattering the stone. He scrambled to his feet, raising the shard. A beam of light erupted from it, striking the figure, but the attack barely fazed it.

The shadowy being stepped forward, its form growing larger and more defined. "You cannot harm me," it said, its tone almost mocking.

The Fight

Nyx darted forward, its claws glowing with a silvery light. It leapt at the figure, slashing at its chest. The creature staggered back, but its wounds closed almost instantly, the mist reforming around it.

The woman charged in next, her sword striking with precision. She aimed for its legs, hoping to slow it down, but the blade passed through as though cutting smoke.

"This thing isn't solid!" she shouted, dodging a counterattack.

Eryth focused on the shard, trying to channel its power. He could feel it resisting, as though the second shard's energy was unstable, harder to control.

"Come on," he muttered, pushing harder. The shard flared, and another beam of light shot out, this time catching the figure's arm. The light burned through the mist, and the arm disintegrated—but only for a moment. The figure reformed, its eyes blazing with fury.

"You think your light can banish me?" it snarled. "I am the Herald of the Rift, the harbinger of what is to come."

Desperation

The group was being pushed back. Every attack they landed seemed useless, and the Herald's strikes were relentless. The ground around them was littered with craters and debris, the air thick with dust and mist.

"We can't keep this up!" the woman shouted, her movements slowing. "We need a plan!"

Eryth's mind raced. The Herald was connected to the rift somehow—its power felt similar to the shards but twisted, corrupted. If he could disrupt that connection…

He glanced at the shards, an idea forming. "Keep it distracted!" he yelled.

The woman hesitated, then nodded. She charged at the Herald again, her strikes wild but effective in drawing its attention. Nyx joined her, its glowing claws slashing at the creature's legs.

Eryth knelt, pressing both shards together. The energy within them clashed, sparks of light erupting as he forced them to resonate. His hands trembled from the effort, but he pushed through the pain, focusing everything on the shards.

The light grew brighter, almost blinding. The shards emitted a high-pitched hum that echoed through the battlefield.

"What are you doing?" the woman shouted, glancing back.

"Ending this!" Eryth shouted back.

The Turning Point

The Herald turned toward Eryth, its eyes narrowing. "You dare—"

Before it could finish, the shards released a surge of energy that engulfed the chamber in light. The mist around the Herald recoiled, its form wavering as the light tore through it.

The creature let out a roar of rage and pain, its body disintegrating into tendrils of darkness that evaporated into the air.

When the light faded, the Herald was gone, and the fissure had sealed itself. The shards in Eryth's hands were dim once more, their energy spent.

Aftermath

Eryth collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. The woman rushed to his side, pulling him to his feet.

"Are you insane?" she demanded. "That could've killed us all!"

"But it didn't," he replied, his voice weak.

Nyx nuzzled his shoulder, its eyes glowing softly. Eryth reached out, resting a hand on its head.

The woman sighed, shaking her head. "We can't keep doing this, Eryth. These fights are only getting harder."

"I know," he said, staring at the shards in his hands. "But we don't have a choice. Whatever's coming… it's bigger than any of us."

She nodded grimly, glancing at the horizon. "Then we need to be ready. And we'll need more than just the three of us to face it."

As they began their journey again, the weight of their mission settled heavily on their shoulders. The rift's influence was spreading, and the Herald's warning echoed in Eryth's mind.

This was only the beginning.

To Be Continued…