The ground beneath Kael’s feet shook violently as the tunnel behind them collapsed, filling the air with the deafening roar of grinding stone and falling debris. The acrid scent of dust choked the air, making it hard to breathe.
“Move!” Torran shouted, his shield raised above his head to deflect falling rocks.
Kael stumbled forward, his shadow lashing wildly around him in response to the residual corruption that lingered from the Node. Every step felt heavier, as if the dungeon itself were pressing against him.
Elira darted ahead, her keen eyes scanning the dimly lit passage. “There’s a way through here!” she called, waving them toward a narrow break in the crumbling wall.
A sharp crack echoed behind them, and Kael turned just in time to see a massive chunk of stone falling toward Torran. Without thinking, he thrust his hand forward, activating Shadow Stitch. Black tendrils shot out, wrapping around the falling rock and jerking it to the side. The strain hit him like a hammer, sending him reeling, but it was enough to save Torran.
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[Skill Activated: Shadow Stitch – Environmental Interaction]
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Torran didn’t hesitate, grabbing Kael’s arm and hauling him forward. “I didn’t ask for help, but thanks,” he said gruffly, his eyes scanning the tunnel ahead.
The trio scrambled through the break in the wall, their breaths ragged as the ceiling behind them gave way completely. A wave of dust and rubble surged toward them, but Elira’s quick thinking saved them as she found a narrow alcove to duck into.
The collapse thundered past, the tremors gradually subsiding into an eerie silence.
Kael coughed, his chest heaving. “Everyone... okay?”
“Define ‘okay,’” Elira muttered, brushing dust from her hair.
Torran lowered his shield, inspecting the dents and scratches it had endured. “We’re alive. That’s enough for now.”
Kael glanced back at the sealed passage, his shadow still flickering weakly at his feet. “The Herald... it let us go,” he said, his voice low.
“Or it knew this place would finish us off,” Torran said, his tone sharp. “Let’s not stick around to find out.”
Elira nodded, already scanning the path ahead. “There’s a cavern up ahead. Let’s regroup and figure out our next move.”
Kael followed silently, the weight of the Node’s collapse—and the Herald’s chilling presence—still pressing heavily on his mind.
The cavern beyond the collapse was a stark contrast to the chaotic tunnel they had escaped. Its walls were smooth and lined with faintly glowing crystals, casting a pale light over the jagged floor. A small underground stream trickled through the center, the only sound in the otherwise eerie silence.
Torran dropped his shield with a heavy thud, leaning on his sword as he caught his breath. Elira sat on a boulder near the stream, her hands trembling slightly as she inspected her bow. Kael stood apart, his shadow twitching faintly as if it, too, hadn’t fully recovered.
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The silence lingered until Torran broke it, his voice sharp and accusatory. “This is getting out of control, Kael.”
Kael turned, his brow furrowing. “What are you talking about?”
Torran gestured toward him, his expression hard. “You. That shadow of yours, the Node, the Herald—everything seems to circle back to you. And it’s only getting worse.”
Kael clenched his fists, his voice low but steady. “You think I don’t know that? You think I haven’t noticed how the corruption reacts to me?”
“That’s exactly the problem!” Torran snapped, stepping closer. “We’re fighting to survive, and you’re dragging us into battles we can’t win. That Herald knew you, Kael. It called you a pawn. What aren’t you telling us?”
“I don’t know!” Kael shouted, his shadow flaring briefly before settling back. “You think I want this? I didn’t ask to be an Edgeweaver. I didn’t ask to be part of whatever this Reset is!”
“Enough!” Elira’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. She stood, her sharp gaze darting between the two men. “Both of you, stop it. This isn’t helping.”
Torran turned to her, his jaw tight. “You’re defending him? After everything we’ve been through?”
“I’m not defending anyone,” Elira said, her voice calmer but firm. “But right now, fighting each other is a waste of energy we can’t afford. Torran, I get it—you’re angry, and you’re scared. But Kael’s not the enemy here.”
Torran exhaled sharply, his frustration evident. “Then what is he, Elira? Because every time we get close to answers, it feels like we’re just walking into another trap.”
Kael looked away, the weight of Torran’s words settling heavily on his shoulders.
Elira stepped between them, her expression softening. “We’re all in this together. Let’s focus on surviving and figuring out what the hell is going on. If we can’t trust each other, we’re finished.”
Torran didn’t reply immediately, his gaze lingering on Kael. Finally, he nodded curtly. “Fine. But if this keeps getting worse...”
“It won’t,” Kael said, his voice steady but tired. “I’ll figure this out. I promise.”
The group lapsed into silence again, the faint sound of the stream the only thing breaking the tension. Elira knelt by her pack, sorting through their supplies. “We need rest,” she said. “And then we need a plan.”
Kael nodded, though his mind churned with doubts. Torran’s mistrust was justified, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.
After a brief rest, the trio pressed forward through the winding tunnels, the faint glow of the crystals providing just enough light to navigate. The air grew colder, and the walls became rougher and more jagged, as if this part of the dungeon had been forgotten even by the corruption.
“We’re close to something,” Elira said softly, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the path ahead.
Kael’s shadow flickered faintly, responding to the eerie stillness. “I feel it too,” he said, his voice tense.
The tunnel opened into a cavern, its center dominated by what appeared to be an old player camp. Tents were scattered haphazardly, many collapsed and covered in dust. Broken crates and abandoned supplies littered the area, and the faint scent of decay hung in the air.
“This wasn’t recent,” Torran said, kneeling beside a shattered lantern. “Whoever was here left a long time ago.”
Kael wandered toward a table at the center of the camp, its surface covered in papers and maps. Most were torn or faded, but one caught his attention—a map marked with glowing red Xs.
“These,” Kael said, tracing the marks on the map. “These are Nodes. And here...” He pointed to a large X surrounded by a circle. “This must be the Monolith.”
Elira joined him, her expression grave. “They were tracking the corruption’s spread. It all leads to the Monolith.”
Nearby, Torran rummaged through a crate and pulled out a small, blinking device. He pressed a button, and a distorted voice crackled to life.
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“The Monolith must not fall into the wrong hands. If it does, we’re all... doomed.”
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The recording cut out abruptly, leaving the cavern in silence.
“What does that mean?” Kael asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Elira shook her head, but before she could respond, the faint sound of movement echoed from deeper in the cavern.
Torran raised his shield, his voice low and urgent. “We’re not alone.”
The flickering light from a nearby lantern dimmed as the shadows seemed to grow longer, crawling across the walls like living things.
“Get ready,” Elira said, nocking an arrow as the sound of scraping metal grew louder.
Kael’s heart pounded, his shadow flickering erratically at his feet. Whatever was coming, he knew it wouldn’t wait.