Shadow slave:The Forgotten Spawn

Chapter: The Storm Approaches

The ruins had always been quiet, but tonight, they were deathly still. Even the wind seemed to hesitate, whispering through the broken stone as if afraid to disturb what lurked beyond the darkness.

Eryth sat with his back against a fractured wall, his eyes fixed on the horizon. He could feel it now—that creeping sensation of something closing in. A storm on the edge of his senses.

Nyx lay beside him, its shadowy form blending into the night. The creature's glowing eyes flickered toward the distance, its ears twitching as if it, too, could hear something beyond the veil of silence.

Sunny stood a few steps away, sharpening his blade with slow, deliberate strokes. The metallic sound echoed softly, an unspoken promise of battle.

"They're close," he muttered.

Tessa, leaning against a nearby pillar, let out a slow breath. "How many?"

Nephis answered instead. "Enough."

That single word carried a weight that sent a chill through Eryth's spine.

He clenched his fists. "Then we don't wait. We fight."

Sunny chuckled, shaking his head. "I like your attitude. But charging in blind will get you killed. We need to be smart about this."

Nephis nodded. "They're hunting you, Eryth. That means they'll come to us. We don't need to seek them out—we need to make sure they walk into our hands, not the other way around."

Tessa sheathed her blade. "So, what's the plan?"

Eryth stood, his mind already racing through possibilities. "We set the field. We control the battle before it even begins."

Nyx rumbled in agreement, standing beside him, its massive form casting an eerie shadow over the ruined ground.

Sunny smirked. "Now you're thinking like a survivor."

The First Signs

Hours passed, but no one rested. The ruins had become a battlefield before the first strike was even thrown.

Traps were set—hidden pitfalls among the shattered stone, weak walls positioned to collapse at the right moment. Every alleyway, every open stretch of ground was mapped and accounted for.

Eryth's hands were steady as he worked, his instincts sharper than ever. He could feel the pulse of energy within him, growing stronger, more refined.

Then, just as dawn threatened to break the horizon, Nyx stiffened.

A low growl rumbled from its throat.

Tessa, who had been keeping watch from an elevated perch, tensed. "They're here."

Eryth turned toward the darkness, his heartbeat steady.

Then he saw them.

Shadows moved along the far edge of the ruins—dozens of them. Some crawled along the ground like beasts, others walked upright, their movements unnatural, their hollow eyes gleaming with an eerie light.

And at the center of them all, a figure towered above the rest.

It was the creature from before—the one that had whispered of his awakening.

The thing that had come for him.

The First Strike

The silence shattered as the first creature lunged.

Eryth reacted instantly, his weapon cutting through the air as he met the strike head-on. Steel clashed against bone, and the force of the impact sent sparks flying.

Nyx roared, launching itself into the fray, its massive form tearing through the nearest enemies with savage precision.

Sunny moved like a ghost, his blade a blur as he weaved through the chaos, cutting down the attackers with frightening ease.

Nephis was fire incarnate—every motion sharp and deliberate, her strikes burning through the creatures like they were made of paper.

Tessa fought beside Eryth, her movements precise, every strike meant to kill.

But for every creature that fell, more emerged from the shadows.

Eryth gritted his teeth. This wasn't just a battle.

It was a test.

And he refused to fail.

End of Chapter