Shadow slave:The Forgotten Spawn

Volume 3: Fractured Worlds

Chapter 1: The New Horizon

The wind howled across the wasteland, carrying with it the faint scent of decay and something far more insidious. The ground beneath their feet was cracked, the earth scorched by the rift's relentless corruption. The group moved in silence, their numbers thinner and their resolve shaken after the last battle.

Eryth lagged slightly behind, his hands still trembling from the backlash of using the shards. The fragments sat in a pouch on his belt, their glow almost entirely gone. Each step felt heavier than the last, but he pushed forward, knowing the rift wasn't going to wait for them to recover.

Nyx padded beside him, its piercing eyes scanning the horizon. The once-feral creature seemed more aware now, as if the battles had shaped it in ways beyond the physical. Every so often, it would glance at Eryth, as though gauging his strength.

Ahead of them, the armored woman and the leader of the strangers walked side by side, their conversation hushed but intense.

"We can't afford to wait any longer," the leader said, their voice sharp. "The rift is expanding faster than we predicted. If we don't reach the core soon, it'll swallow everything."

"And if we walk in unprepared, it'll swallow us just as easily," the woman shot back. "We've already lost too many."

Their argument was cut short by a distant sound—a low, rhythmic thrum that seemed to pulse through the air. Everyone froze, weapons drawn.

"What now?" one of the strangers muttered.

The sound grew louder, accompanied by faint, flickering lights in the distance. Eryth squinted, his heart sinking as he recognized the unmistakable glow of a rift anomaly.

"We need to move," the leader said, their tone urgent. "Now."

The Arrival

The group broke into a run, heading for a nearby ridge that offered some semblance of cover. But the anomaly was faster. The flickering lights coalesced into a massive, spiraling vortex, and from its depths emerged a swarm of Riftborn. These were smaller than the ones they'd faced before but far more numerous, their insect-like forms chittering as they swarmed toward the group.

Nyx leapt forward, its claws glowing as it tore through the first wave of creatures. Eryth summoned what little strength he had left, conjuring a weak burst of energy to keep the swarm at bay.

"Fall back!" the woman shouted, swinging her sword in wide arcs to cut through the horde.

They fought their way up the ridge, the Riftborn relentless in their pursuit. Just as the group reached the top, the ground beneath them trembled violently, and the ridge began to collapse.

"Jump!" the leader yelled.

Without hesitation, they leapt into the canyon below, the others following suit. Eryth landed hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him. Nyx landed gracefully beside him, already growling at the next wave of creatures pouring over the edge.

A New Ally

The battle seemed hopeless, the group outnumbered and outmatched. But then, a deafening roar split the air, and the Riftborn froze.

From the shadows emerged a figure draped in dark, tattered robes, their presence radiating an aura of raw power. Their face was obscured, but their voice rang out, cold and commanding.

"Enough."

The Riftborn hesitated, their forms flickering uncertainly. With a wave of the figure's hand, the creatures dissolved into nothingness, leaving the group in stunned silence.

"Who are you?" Eryth demanded, struggling to his feet.

The figure stepped closer, the air around them crackling with energy. "A survivor, like you," they said. "And if you wish to survive what's coming, you'll listen carefully."

The group exchanged wary glances.

"What's coming?" the armored woman asked, her hand still on her sword.

The figure's voice turned grim. "The rift's true master. You've only seen fragments of its power. What lies at its heart will destroy not just this world, but all worlds connected to it."

The Path Ahead

The figure extended a hand, and with a flick of their wrist, a shimmering map appeared in the air. It showed the rift's expansion, its tendrils reaching farther than anyone had imagined. At its center was a glowing point, pulsating ominously.

"If you wish to stop it, you'll need to reach the heart," the figure continued. "But the path won't be easy. The rift has claimed many, and it will test you at every turn."

Eryth stared at the map, his chest tightening. The path was long and fraught with danger, but there was no other choice.

"What do you gain from helping us?" the leader asked suspiciously.

The figure tilted their head. "Let's just say I have my own scores to settle with the rift."

Before anyone could respond, the figure began to fade, their form dissolving like mist. "I'll find you when the time is right. Until then, stay alive."

With that, they were gone, leaving the group alone in the canyon.

A Fractured Team

"We can't trust them," the woman said, breaking the silence.

"We don't have to," Eryth replied, his voice steady. "But we don't have a choice either. If the rift really is spreading that far…"

He didn't need to finish. The weight of their task hung heavily in the air.

The group set off again, their steps slower but more determined. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear—this was only the beginning.