CHAPTER 33

The air grew thick with tension as the night deepened. The silence of the village was suffocating, and I could feel the faint pulse of the Aetheric Flow brushing against my skin like a warning. I stood in the center of the small clearing, my hand on the hilt of my sword, waiting. Watching. Every instinct screamed that the Shade-Walker was close. It was out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

The Analyze skill buzzed at the back of my mind, feeding me subtle information—the flickers of movement in the darkness, the way the wind shifted unnaturally between the trees. It wasn’t just the natural flow of air or the faint rustle of leaves. Something more sinister was moving, hiding within the darkness itself.

I closed my eyes, focusing on the Aetheric Flow, trying to sense the ripples of disturbance caused by the Shade-Walker. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was there. A ripple that shouldn’t exist, a tremor in the air that signaled something out of place.

It was hunting me. But it didn’t know that I was hunting it in return.

I took a slow, steady breath, forcing my heartbeat to calm. The Aetheric Flow flickered, almost taunting me with its subtle shifts. The demon was intelligent. It knew how to use the shadows to its advantage, how to blend into the environment, striking without warning.

But it had one flaw—it wasn’t invincible. Analyze allowed me to sense where it was hiding, even if just barely. The moment I understood its movements, I’d have the upper hand.

A soft rustle came from behind me.

I reacted instantly, my body moving without thought, my Slip skill activating as I dodged to the side. The demon’s claws slashed through the air where I had been standing a moment before, its form barely visible as it retreated into the shadows again.

“Too slow,” I muttered under my breath.

I couldn’t see it clearly, but I knew it was still there, circling me. My Analyze skill kept feeding me information—fragmented movements, subtle tremors in the air. The Shade-Walker wasn’t like the other demons I had fought. It didn’t charge recklessly or fight with brute force. It was a predator, a creature of patience, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Another flicker in the shadows. I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword, my muscles tensing. This time, I wouldn’t wait for it to come to me. I’d take the fight to it.

I shifted my stance, focusing all my attention on the Aetheric Flow, letting the subtle movements guide me. The demon was fast, but I was faster. I had trained for this. I had prepared for this.

With a sudden burst of speed, I lunged toward the disturbance, my sword slicing through the air. The demon materialized from the shadows just as I struck, its eyes glowing with malevolent light as it moved to counter. But it was too slow. My blade bit into its flesh, cutting deep into its side.

The Shade-Walker screeched, recoiling into the shadows once more, its form flickering in and out of existence as it retreated.

I didn’t let up. I pressed forward, my eyes scanning the shadows, following the subtle shifts in the Aetheric Flow. The demon was wounded, but not defeated. It was trying to regroup, to hide within the darkness again.

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I wouldn’t give it the chance.

I focused on the wound I had inflicted, using Analyze to track the faint trail of blood that it left behind. The demon was bleeding into the Aetheric Flow, its energy disturbed and weakened.

It wouldn’t last much longer.

For what felt like an eternity, the village remained still, the shadows thick and oppressive. But I knew the Shade-Walker was out there, waiting. Watching.

I took another slow breath, centering myself. I had the advantage now. The demon was wounded, and I could track its movements. But I couldn’t let my guard down. One mistake, one moment of hesitation, and it would strike.

The wind shifted again, and I felt it—a sudden, violent ripple in the Aetheric Flow. The demon was coming.

I turned just in time to see the Shade-Walker materialize from the shadows, its claws raised to strike. I didn’t hesitate. My body moved on instinct, my Slip skill activating as I dodged its attack, bringing my sword down in a swift arc. The blade connected with the demon’s arm, severing it cleanly.

The demon let out a deafening screech, its form flickering violently as it stumbled backward, its shadowy body destabilizing. But it wasn’t finished yet. I could feel its rage, its desperation, as it gathered its remaining strength for one final attack.

I steadied myself, watching its movements carefully. It was slower now, weaker. The Aetheric Flow around it was erratic, chaotic. I could see the cracks in its form, the way its body struggled to maintain its shadowy shape.

This was my moment.

The demon lunged at me, its claws outstretched, but I was ready. I sidestepped its attack, my sword flashing in the moonlight as I brought it down one last time, cutting through the demon’s chest.

For a moment, the Shade-Walker froze, its glowing eyes wide with shock. Then, with a final, anguished wail, its form collapsed into the ground, dissolving into the shadows from which it came.

The fight was over.

I stood there for a moment, catching my breath, my sword still raised. The Aetheric Flow began to settle around me, the disturbance fading as the demon’s presence vanished. The village was silent once more, the night returning to its natural state.

I sheathed my sword, glancing around the clearing. There were no more threats. The Shade-Walker was dead.

Alric appeared a moment later, his expression unreadable as he approached. He had been watching from a distance, letting me handle the fight on my own. As he stopped beside me, he gave a single nod of approval.

“You did well,” he said, his voice calm. “But don’t let your guard down just yet. There’s always a lesson to be learned from every fight.”

I nodded, still catching my breath. “I didn’t expect it to move so fast,” I admitted. “It was almost impossible to track at first.”

“That’s the nature of shadow demons,” Alric replied. “They thrive in the dark, using the environment to their advantage. You handled it well, but there are stronger demons out there. Faster ones. Smarter ones.”

I frowned, but I knew he was right. This was just the beginning. The Shade-Walker had been a test—a challenge to see if I was ready for the journey ahead. And while I had won, there was still so much more to learn.

“I’ll be ready for the next one,” I said, my voice steady.

Alric glanced at me, his expression thoughtful. “You’ve made progress, Niv. But don’t get too comfortable. The next demon won’t be as easy to track.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“There’s a demon in the Frozen Wastes,” Alric explained. “A Frost Wraith. It’s been terrorizing a small settlement in the far north, and they’ve requested help. This will be your next mission.”

I nodded, absorbing the information. The Frozen Wastes were a harsh, unforgiving place, and a Frost Wraith would be even more dangerous than the Shade-Walker. But I was ready. I had to be.

“When do we leave?” I asked.

Alric smiled faintly. “Tomorrow. Get some rest tonight. You’ll need it.”

I spent the rest of the night in the village, the cold air biting at my skin as I sat by the dying fire. The villagers had gone to bed, their fear temporarily lifted with the death of the Shade-Walker, but I couldn’t shake the sense of unease that still lingered in the back of my mind.

The Aetheric Flow was quiet now, but I knew that it wouldn’t stay that way for long. There were more demons out there. Stronger ones. Smarter ones.

And I was going to hunt them.