The landscape beyond Eldralis was starkly different—a vast expanse of barren plains stretched as far as the eye could see, broken only by jagged outcroppings of black stone. The air carried a faint hum, an unnatural vibration that set Aethren’s nerves on edge.
“Where are we now?” he asked, his voice echoing in the stillness.
Kaelor scanned the horizon, his expression unreadable. “This is the Shatterfield, a place fractured by the Abyss’s touch. The Veil is weaker here, and so are its protections.”
Aethren tightened his grip on the shard. Its light had dimmed since their battle in Eldralis, but its warmth remained, a steady reassurance against the encroaching cold.
“What happens if the Veil breaks entirely?” he asked.
Kaelor’s golden eyes flicked toward him. “The Abyss spills over, and all worlds fall into chaos. That’s why we must reach the Nexus before it’s too late.”
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The further they traveled, the more oppressive the air became. The hum grew louder, a constant drone that seemed to burrow into Aethren’s skull. He found himself glancing over his shoulder, certain that they were being watched.
Kaelor seemed unaffected, his stride steady and purposeful. “Don’t let it get to you,” he said without turning around. “The Shatterfield plays tricks on the mind. It feeds on doubt and fear.”
“Great,” Aethren muttered. “Another lovely feature of this cursed journey.”
Despite Kaelor’s reassurance, Aethren couldn’t shake the feeling of unseen eyes following their every move. Shadows flickered at the edge of his vision, too fast to be natural.
“Kaelor,” he whispered, his voice trembling, “I think something’s out there.”
Kaelor halted, his hand moving to his sword. “Where?”
Aethren pointed toward a cluster of jagged rocks. “There. I saw something move.”
Kaelor’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the area. “Stay close.”
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They approached the rocks cautiously, the shard’s light casting long shadows across the broken ground. Aethren’s heart pounded as they rounded the largest stone, only to find... nothing.
“Was it just my imagination?” Aethren asked, his voice barely audible.
Kaelor didn’t answer. His gaze remained fixed on the rocks, his hand still on his sword. “The Shatterfield is rarely empty. Stay alert.”
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As they turned to leave, a low, guttural growl froze them in place. From the shadows emerged a pack of creatures, their forms twisted and emaciated. Their skin was ashen, their limbs unnaturally long, and their eyes glowed with the same eerie light as the Wraithbound.
“Voidstalkers,” Kaelor said grimly. “They hunt in packs. Fast, relentless, and cunning.”
“Any advice?” Aethren asked, his voice cracking.
“Don’t let them surround you.”
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The Voidstalkers attacked as one, their movements a blur of speed and ferocity. Kaelor met the charge head-on, his sword a whirlwind of silver light.
Aethren barely had time to react before one of the creatures lunged at him. He raised the shard instinctively, and a pulse of light erupted from it, throwing the Voidstalker back.
The shard’s power surged through him, clearer and stronger than before. He felt its energy coursing through his veins, guiding his movements.
One Voidstalker darted to his left, its claws aiming for his side. Aethren spun, the shard emitting a beam of light that struck the creature mid-leap. It let out a shriek before dissolving into smoke.
“Good!” Kaelor shouted, slicing through two more Voidstalkers with a single strike. “But keep moving!”
The battle was a chaotic dance of light and shadow. Aethren found himself matching the Voidstalkers’ speed, his actions driven by instinct and the shard’s guidance.
One by one, the creatures fell, their remains dissipating into the air.
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When the last Voidstalker dissolved, Aethren collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. The shard dimmed, its warmth receding.
Kaelor approached, his sword still glowing faintly. “You’re improving,” he said, his tone almost approving.
Aethren looked up at him, sweat dripping down his face. “That was... terrifying.”
Kaelor nodded. “It won’t be the last time.”
They resumed their journey, the oppressive hum of the Shatterfield seeming louder than before. Aethren’s body ached, but he couldn’t afford to rest.
“What were those things?” he asked after a long silence.
“Manifestations of the Abyss,” Kaelor replied. “The Voidstalkers are drawn to places where the Veil is weakest. They feed on the life force of anything they can catch.”
Aethren shuddered. “And there are more of them out here?”
Kaelor’s expression darkened. “Always.”
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As the day wore on, the Shatterfield’s monotony began to wear on Aethren. The endless expanse of gray and black felt suffocating, and the hum in the air seemed to grow louder with every step.
“How much further to the Nexus?” he asked, his voice tinged with desperation.
Kaelor glanced at him. “Days, if we’re lucky. The closer we get, the harder the journey will become.”
Aethren groaned. “That’s... encouraging.”
Kaelor’s lips twitched in what might have been a smile. “You’re still alive, aren’t you?”
Before Aethren could respond, the shard flared brightly, its light cutting through the gloom.
“What’s happening?” Aethren asked, clutching it tightly.
Kaelor stopped, his hand on his sword. “Something’s coming.”
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The ground trembled, and a fissure split the earth ahead of them. From the depths emerged a towering figure, its body made of black stone veined with glowing red cracks. It let out a deafening roar, the sound shaking the very air.
“A Riftbeast,” Kaelor muttered, his expression grim. “This will be difficult.”
Aethren stared at the creature, his fear threatening to overwhelm him. “And the Voidstalkers weren’t?”
Kaelor didn’t answer. He drew his sword, its light intensifying. “Stay behind me and use the shard when you see an opening. Together, we might stand a chance.”
The Riftbeast’s glowing eyes locked onto them, and it let out another roar.
The battle for the Shatterfield had begun.