Shadow slave:The Forgotten Spawn

Chapter: The Final Trial

The air grew thicker as the group approached the heart of the nexus. The crystalline walls shimmered with an otherworldly light, casting faint reflections of their faces—hollow, ghostly versions of themselves. Each step felt heavier, as though an unseen force were trying to drag them down.

Eryth led the way, his jaw set and his mind racing. The energy from the nexus pulsed in time with his heartbeat, resonating with the shadows that stirred within him. He could feel it calling to him, daring him to move closer.

"We're almost there," Tessa muttered, though her voice was devoid of relief. Her blade rested loosely in her hand, her knuckles white from the tension. "Stay sharp. Whatever's waiting for us isn't going to let us walk in without a fight."

The others nodded, their expressions grim. They'd barely survived the last encounter, and the toll it had taken on them was evident in the sluggish movements of their limbs and the faint tremors in their voices.

Nyx prowled silently beside Eryth, its glowing eyes fixed on the glowing doorway ahead. The creature seemed unaffected by the oppressive atmosphere, its steps steady and deliberate. Its presence was a strange comfort to Eryth, a reminder that he wasn't facing this alone.

As they passed through the doorway, the chamber opened into a vast, circular arena. The floor was polished to a mirror-like finish, reflecting the group's tired faces back at them. Above, the ceiling stretched into darkness, broken only by the faint glow of the crystals embedded in the walls.

In the center of the room stood a pedestal, and on it, a glowing orb pulsed with an intense, golden light. The energy radiating from it was almost overwhelming, filling the room with a sense of raw, untamed power.

"That has to be it," Tessa said, her voice low. "The core of the nexus."

Eryth stepped forward, his gaze locked on the orb. The shadows within him churned restlessly, drawn to the energy like moths to a flame. He could feel its pull, the promise of power beyond anything he could imagine—but also the danger that came with it.

Before he could take another step, the floor beneath the pedestal shifted. The polished surface rippled like water, and from its depths emerged a figure.

It was unlike anything they had seen before—a towering humanoid form composed entirely of black crystal, its surface jagged and uneven. Its eyes burned with golden light, and in its hand, it held a massive, blade-like appendage that glowed faintly at the edges.

The group froze, their weapons raised instinctively.

"What… is that?" someone whispered, their voice trembling.

Eryth didn't answer. His heart pounded in his chest as the creature turned its gaze on him, its eyes boring into his very soul. He could feel its presence pressing down on him, an overwhelming weight that made it hard to breathe.

The creature raised its blade, pointing it directly at Eryth. Then, in a voice that resonated through the chamber like a thunderclap, it spoke:

"Prove your worth."

The battle erupted in an instant. The creature moved with impossible speed, its blade cutting through the air with a high-pitched hum. The group scattered, their attacks barely scratching the crystalline surface of their foe.

Eryth darted to the side as the blade came crashing down where he'd stood moments before. The impact sent a shockwave through the arena, cracking the polished floor and throwing him off balance.

"Focus on the cracks!" Tessa shouted, launching herself at the creature's back. Her blade found a weak point, chipping away at the crystal, but the creature spun around and swatted her aside with a backhanded blow.

Nyx leapt into the fray, its claws raking across the creature's legs. The black crystal groaned under the assault, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface. The creature retaliated with a sweeping strike, but Nyx dodged gracefully, its movements precise and calculated.

Eryth forced himself to his feet, the shadows within him surging to life. He focused on the cracks that Tessa and Nyx had created, sending tendrils of shadow to exploit the weaknesses. The shadows wrapped around the creature's legs, holding it in place long enough for the others to regroup.

"Now!" Tessa yelled, charging forward with the rest of the group. Their combined assault drove the creature to its knees, its form flickering as more cracks spread across its body.

But the creature wasn't finished. With a roar that shook the chamber, it unleashed a burst of golden light that sent everyone flying. The force of the explosion shattered the shadows holding it in place and sealed the cracks in its body.

Eryth struggled to his feet, his vision swimming. The creature was already advancing on him, its blade raised for the killing blow.

In that moment, something shifted inside him. The rift's energy surged to the forefront, filling him with a clarity he'd never experienced before. The shadows responded instantly, forming a protective barrier around him as the blade came down.

The barrier held, and Eryth seized the opportunity to counter. He reached out with the shadows, forcing them deep into the cracks that had begun to reappear. The creature howled as the energy coursed through it, its form fracturing under the strain.

With one final push, Eryth directed all of his power into the attack. The creature's body shattered like glass, its fragments disintegrating into golden light.

The chamber fell silent once more, the oppressive weight lifting as the orb's light dimmed. Eryth staggered forward, his legs barely holding him up.

Tessa approached him, her face pale but determined. "It's over," she said, her voice filled with relief. "You did it."

Eryth didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the orb, its golden glow now soft and inviting. He reached out, his fingers brushing against its surface.

As the light enveloped him, he felt a surge of warmth and understanding. The rift's energy within him resonated with the orb, and for the first time, he felt a sense of peace.

But deep within that peace, a warning echoed—a faint whisper that promised greater challenges ahead.