The fog enveloped the streets with a heavy, almost sticky layer, creating thick curtains through which only the occasional light from the street lamps fought to break through. Nyx and Arahnos walked slowly, their steps muffled by the silence that had settled around them. The fight ahead would require precision and preparation – they were about to face something that knew the art of hiding in the shadows like no other creature.

Nyx, keeping her gaze fixed on the dark alleys, spun her sword in her hand, ensuring it was well-balanced and ready for use. She could feel the opponent hiding nearby, watching them, waiting for the right moment. She was ready for any, even the slightest, tremor in the darkness. She knew the nature of this beast – how it acted, how it hunted. This wouldn’t be an easy confrontation.

– Are you ready? – she asked quietly, turning the sword in her hand to feel its balance. Her voice was calm, as if the very silence could betray their presence.

Arahnos nodded, but his eyes flashed with a cold gleam. Inside, there was an odd tension, as if two forces were pulling him in opposite directions – the Darkness and his own desire to remain himself, unyielding. He could feel something cold seeping into his thoughts, and the voice of Darkness whispered, still quiet, yet expectant, as if it were playing with his unease.

– Patience, Arahnos… The time is coming to show this shadow what true power means… – the voice in his mind echoed, full of mocking satisfaction, almost amused by the upcoming confrontation.

Arahnos took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, though he knew that his control over Darkness was only temporary. He glanced at Nyx, who was watching him intently, a shadow of understanding in her eyes, as if she sensed what was going on inside him but chose not to comment.

– Remember, it strikes suddenly, from the shadows. It won’t reveal itself until it feels sure – her voice was calm, her words full of experience. – We need to make it show its true form.

Nyx knew their opponent wouldn’t attack without a plan. It was a master of hiding in the dark and observing. That’s why she was devising a way to stir up its anxiety and force it to reveal itself.

Nyx slowly approached the edge of the alley, carefully scanning each shadow with her gaze. She knew that every step could be a step onto a tightrope, balancing between life and the shadow that followed them. In the air, she sensed something more than the usual chill – an almost tangible presence, something that didn’t quite belong to the world of the living, yet could still influence reality.

Arahnos, following a few steps behind, felt the growing intensity of Darkness seeping into his consciousness, subtly yet ever more decisively. It was like a whisper in his mind he couldn’t shake off. Darkness seemed to be waiting for the right moment to take advantage of what lay ahead. Instead of uncertainty, a surprising clarity appeared in his mind – he knew that in this fight, he wouldn’t be merely himself.

– Do not fear, Arahnos... – the voice of Darkness echoed, full of cold satisfaction. – It’s only a shadow. Show it the depths of our darkness...

Nyx cast him a brief glance, sensing a subtle shift in his stance. His eyes appeared darker than usual, and a familiar expression crossed his face – one she knew all too well, one she had learned to fear. It was like Arahnos’s own shadow, as though something else was looking through his eyes.

– Keep your focus – she whispered, shifting her gaze from him to the empty street before them. – Don’t forget who you are.

Arahnos nodded, though he could feel that Darkness was already beginning to take hold. Its presence grew more tangible, almost urging him to abandon hesitation and let it act without restraint. Deep inside, he felt a pulsing cold that permeated his entire body, as though Darkness awaited a signal to take complete control over his will.

– It’s close – he said, barely recognizing his own voice. It was colder, more resolute. Darkness within him almost pulsed, as if it had a life of its own.

At that moment, a shadow at the end of the alley shifted, as if part of it had started to move independently. Nyx raised her sword, her eyes narrowing as she saw the shadowy figure begin to take a more defined shape. The opponent they had become all too familiar with had finally revealed itself.

– So, here you are… – Nyx murmured, raising her weapon in readiness. – You’ve waited long enough.

The shadow moved abruptly, its form stretching and narrowing as though woven from pure darkness. Deep-set, dark eyes stared at them with a predatory gleam, and thin, elongated limbs extended forward, ready to strike. The figure emitted a sound, reminiscent of a soft, almost rustling hiss that echoed down the alley.

– You have come for death… – whispered the beast, its voice guttural, a low rasp. – You shall remain here with me, in the shadows…

Nyx and Arahnos exchanged glances, and Arahnos felt the Darkness within him laughing quietly, full of malicious satisfaction. He knew that the moment was coming when it would take control, that in this fight, he wouldn’t be merely an observer. The shadow launched an attack, its slender, needle-sharp claws shooting towards Nyx, who deftly dodged, countering with precision.

Arahnos watched her fight, each of her moves calculated, every strike deliberate. But the Darkness within him pulsed more intensely, yearning to surface, waiting for Nyx and their opponent to be locked in combat, ready to seize control.

Finally, unable to suppress the inner voice any longer, Arahnos felt his consciousness beginning to blur, yielding to the icy darkness that filled every corner of his mind. His eyes gleamed with a dark light, and his body straightened. It was no longer him.

– Time to die, worm... – a voice full of cold certainty escaped Arahnos’s lips.

Nyx, realizing what had happened, paused her fight for a split second, glancing at her companion. She knew exactly what it meant.

Nyx froze, seeing the change that had taken place in her companion. She sensed that Darkness had taken control of Arahnos – his eyes now gleamed with impenetrable shadows, and his body seemed to emanate a coldness she had never witnessed before. She was aware that, from this moment on, he was no longer at the helm, but rather an ancient, malevolent force that permeated every corner of his being. She felt its presence like an icy touch on her skin.

The opponent, so confident moments ago, stepped back, as if sensing a threat it had not noticed before. The expression of its shadow took on a quiet terror, as if it understood that it was no longer fighting two mortals, but something far more powerful, something that transcended its understanding.

– What is this...? – whispered the shadow, its voice trembling, filled with fear.

Arahnos, or rather Darkness, smirked mockingly, as if with unabashed satisfaction at the sight of the creature's fear. A glint of triumph appeared in its eyes, as if its very presence was the ultimate blow against its foe.

– Have you realized who you're truly dealing with, shadow? – a voice full of cold, icy venom growled, escaping Arahnos's lips, though the tone, more a whisper, cut through the space like a blade. - You should have hidden deeper, where my power does not reach. Now it’s too late.

The opponent let out a low whimper, attempting to retreat further into the shadows, but felt its every movement was restricted, as if something was binding its body, something beyond the physical realm. Nyx watched with a mixture of fascination and apprehension – she could see Darkness, using Arahnos's body, circling around the creature, enclosing it in an invisible ring, as if forming a trap with no escape.

The beast moved nervously, its body wavering, as if trying to break free from invisible bonds, but every attempt was like water crashing against rock – powerless and futile.

– Leave me... – it whimpered, its voice trembling, almost pleading, laced with desperation. - Please...

Darkness laughed coldly, a sound full of malicious triumph, as if nothing pleased it more than the sight of a frightened opponent.

– Now you beg for mercy? Oh, worm, it's far too late for pleading. – its words dripped with ruthless contempt. - It’s time to die.

Though Nyx felt the urge to join the fight, she knew she shouldn’t interfere. She was witnessing something she had never before experienced, something beyond ordinary power. She saw that this battle was no longer hers but belonged to Darkness, which had completely overtaken Arahnos. She stood by, observing as he – or perhaps it – slowly approached the opponent, whose shadows were already beginning to disintegrate, consumed by fear.

Finally, Arahnos, now a merciless instrument of Darkness, extended his hand toward the trembling figure of the beast. His eyes shone with a cold, inhuman light, and his body seemed to pulse with shadow.

In one swift, brutal movement, Darkness, through Arahnos, tore the shadow into shreds, dispersing it like smoke blown away by the wind. The beast, making no sound, dissolved into nothingness, and the echo of its presence faded, as if it had never existed.

Silence fell once more, and Darkness, with undisguised satisfaction, withdrew from Arahnos's mind, leaving him alone in the empty, deserted alley. Arahnos blinked, as if suddenly returning to reality, and exhaled heavily, feeling the cold within him fade as he regained full control over himself.

Nyx, standing nearby, watched him carefully, her face revealing understanding but also caution.

– What was that? – she asked quietly, her voice filled with a mixture of shock and fascination. – That wasn’t you.

Arahnos did not respond immediately; he looked at the place where the beast had been just moments before. He felt the weight of Darkness’s words in his mind, an echo that still resonated within him, reminding him that this power was always waiting for a moment to reveal itself.

– No… – he whispered, his voice calm yet cold, as if he himself was trying to understand what had just happened. – But sometimes… she leaves me no choice.

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Nyx couldn’t erase that moment from her memory – the moment when Arahnos knelt before the Darkness, forced to make a decision that would forever change their fate. Although the memory seemed blurred and misty, it was etched deeply into her heart. She had witnessed him accept the Darkness to save them both from inevitable doom. That moment was filled with desperation and resignation, and Arahnos sacrificed more than just his life – he surrendered a part of himself so that they could survive.

Since that moment, Nyx sensed a change in him, one she couldn’t fully accept. She knew Arahnos was becoming someone else, as if an endless battle raged within him between his true self and the Darkness he had embraced. Although, at times, she saw a monster in him – when he would take lives, even of the innocent, without remorse – she couldn’t allow herself to believe that he could become a threat to her as well. He was her companion, yet the realization that she now fought alongside someone who occasionally lost all moral boundaries cast a shadow over their relationship.

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But there was one reason she continued to journey with him. In that crucial moment, when he could have chosen only himself, he had also chosen her. By embracing the Darkness, he hadn’t done so solely for himself but also to save her. This left Nyx with an immense debt of gratitude, something she couldn’t ignore. She felt that since he had given a part of himself so she could live, she must now stand by his side – even if it meant watching him sink further into darkness.

This commitment was both a burden and a relief. At times, she wondered if she had made the right choice by intertwining her fate with someone who was gradually becoming one of the worst nightmares. Yet, the sense of loyalty, rooted in gratitude and understanding, outweighed her fear. Arahnos was someone she couldn’t refuse to support, and the knowledge that she might be his only remaining link to his former self gave her purpose.

She knew she could no longer restore him to who he once was – that part of Arahnos was buried too deeply under the weight of Darkness. But she chose to remain, to be a shadow at his side, remembering who he had been before he embraced it fully. She vowed to accompany him to the very end, even if that end would be darker than anyone could imagine.

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Nyx and Arahnos returned to the city under the cover of dawn. The fog was beginning to lift, and the cold light illuminated the cobblestone streets. Their steps were quiet, and both faces wore a serious, nearly stone-like expression. They didn’t speak, each lost in thoughts after a confrontation that had left more marks on their souls than on their bodies.

When they reached the square, the merchant was already waiting by the stone bench where they had arranged to meet. Upon seeing them, he looked at them with a mixture of hope and fear. His hands trembled, and tiny beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, despite the chilly morning. When they stood before him, his eyes narrowed with anticipation.

– It’s done, – Arahnos said in a cold tone, which revealed fatigue yet left no doubt about the task’s completion.

The merchant, however, didn’t seem satisfied. He looked at them with clear skepticism, as if unable to believe what they had come to tell him was true. His gaze shifted from Arahnos to Nyx and back again, as if searching for signs of confirmation.

– And… proof? – he stammered, trying to mask his fear. – How am I to know that truly… that the beast won’t return? That it’s not hiding somewhere, waiting for another move?

Nyx rolled her eyes, though her face remained composed. She knew this reaction all too well – people who hired them rarely believed without proof, needing something tangible to ease their fears.

– We don’t have trophies for you, – she replied coolly, crossing her arms. – Killing it is one thing. Bringing back something of what remains… is another matter entirely. Take our word for it or find someone else willing to risk their life for your sense of security.

The merchant swallowed, not taking his eyes off Nyx. He felt there was more to her words – as if a warning not to ask for too much. His eyes shifted to Arahnos, searching for some form of reassurance, anything to quell his doubts.

Arahnos looked at him with a calm, cold gaze that left no room for further questions.

– If you doubt us, you can go yourself to where the fight took place, – he said quietly, with a hint of sarcasm. – But don’t expect to find anything there… anything you’d want to see.

For a moment, the merchant seemed to consider this possibility, but he quickly dismissed it. He knew he wouldn’t dare venture into places where shadows still carried memories of monsters. He sighed heavily, trying to find solace in the mercenaries’ words. Reluctantly, he pulled out a coin pouch and handed it to Nyx, keeping a wary eye on them.

– Fine, – he said slowly, his voice trembling slightly. – But if it’s a lie, if… if something returns…

Nyx interrupted him with a cold glance.

– Nothing will return, – she assured him in a tone that left no room for argument. – We did what needed to be done. You’ll get no further proof.

The merchant nodded, pressing his lips together as if trying to stifle words he wanted to add. Clearly, he was struggling with himself, but he ultimately decided to stay silent. He took a step back, as if fearing that each moment spent with them could summon dark forces still lingering around the story.

Nyx and Arahnos turned and walked away in silence, leaving him alone with his fears. They didn’t care whether he believed them – all that mattered was that they’d completed another task and could finally rest, if only for a moment.

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Two days had passed since Nyx and Arahnos returned to the inn, where they had rented a room. Though they hoped the matter with the beast was closed, the sense of peace was fleeting. The silence that settled over the town did not bring relief – on the contrary, it concealed something dark that would soon come to light.

News of another victim spread like the whisper of the wind. They spoke of a young boy found at the edge of town, in a dark alley, in a position that revealed his last moments of fear and pain. The townspeople began to whisper, casting suspicious glances at strangers. From their accounts, it seemed the boy didn’t stand a chance – his body was discovered with a face twisted in terror, frozen, as if all life had been drained from him.

The merchant, who had hired Nyx and Arahnos just two days earlier, wasted no time using this tragic event to spread his doubts. Soon, rumors reached their ears of his words: “Frauds... mercenaries who didn’t do the job… The beast still lives, and they return with empty hands and pockets full of my money!”

Nyx and Arahnos couldn’t allow these accusations to go unanswered. The next morning, they decided to visit the merchant and resolve the situation once and for all.

When they reached his townhouse, the door was opened by a servant, who glanced at them nervously from beneath disheveled hair. He led them inside, and they found themselves before the merchant – a man whose face now brimmed with anger and fear.

– Well, well! My “heroic” wolves for hire! – he sneered, with clear sarcasm in his voice, though panic was visible in his eyes. – And the beast keeps killing. How can you look me in the face?

Nyx gritted her teeth but refused to be provoked. Her voice was icy calm.

– We did what was required of us. We caught and eliminated the creature you indicated as the source of the threat. What’s happening now… – she hesitated, as if weighing every word. – It could be part of something larger.

But the merchant didn’t want to listen.

– Larger? What nonsense! – he exploded, his face red with anger. – You didn’t bring proof. You’re not even trying to show that what you killed was what’s been haunting us. And I… – he lowered his voice, as if to see if they would listen – didn’t pay for guesses, but for results!

Arahnos, who had remained in the background until now, looked at the merchant with a cold gaze.

– Proof? You wanted proof? – his voice, low and calm, seemed to pierce the air. – The place where we fought is full of signs of our presence and that beast’s. You can go there yourself to see… if you have the courage.

The merchant narrowed his eyes at him, his face a mix of fury and helplessness.

– Oh, courage, you say? – he hissed. – You were paid, not me. And now people are dying, and their blood is also on your hands.

Nyx glanced at Arahnos, her look saying more than words. They had been through much together, but she could see that no explanation would convince a man whose mind was already filled with fear and anger.

– If you don’t want our explanations – she said calmly – you can hire someone else to do what we’ve already done. But know this… if there are more of them, be prepared for a longer fight.

The merchant grimaced as if he wanted to say something, but only waved them away, signaling them to leave. In silence and anger, they left his house, returning to the inn, where they could finally ask themselves the questions they had been putting aside for the past few days.

In the room, Nyx sat on the bed, her face thoughtful.

– Do you think there could actually be more of them? – she finally asked, looking at Arahnos, who was leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

– We have to consider that possibility – he replied, looking through the dusty window at the town’s streets. – Sometimes what we see is only a part. And if there were more from the start… our work isn’t finished.

Nyx watched him, sensing the tension in his voice. She knew this was something much bigger than a simple fight.

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Nyx and Arahnos returned to their rented room at the inn, where a heavy silence lingered, interrupted only by the sounds of the street seeping in through the closed window. They looked tired, but more than that, thoughtful. The events of the past few days and the merchant’s accusations stirred doubts within them that they could no longer ignore.

Nyx finally sat down on the bed, brushing her hair from her face and looking at Arahnos.

– Do you think it’s possible… that the beast we defeated wasn’t the only one? – she began, her voice quiet but tense.

Arahnos sighed, walking over to the window, through which he observed the gray, foggy streets. He stared into the emptiness, as if he could find answers there to the questions swirling in his mind.

– It’s possible – he admitted finally, with a hint of reluctance. – It wasn’t an ordinary creature, and if it was part of a larger group… we might have only killed one of many. Or…

– Or what? – Nyx looked at him, trying to catch more in his words.

– Or the beast we defeated survived. We can’t be sure that what we saw was its final form. Creatures like that have ways to survive even deadly wounds. Maybe… it came back and now seeks revenge on the townsfolk who tried to kill it.

Nyx shuddered at the thought of something like that still roaming the town, looking for more victims.

– And what if it wasn’t even the beast they spoke of? – she asked, seeking answers to her own doubts. – What if the creature we encountered was only part of something bigger? Or… something entirely different?

Arahnos was silent for a moment, considering her words, then turned toward her, his face focused.

– We don’t really know what was there, Nyx. Maybe we didn’t manage to kill the beast… or maybe we were completely wrong. Only one thing is certain – if there are other creatures here, we need to find them. We can’t leave this unanswered.

Nyx nodded, though there was still a hint of worry in her eyes.

– So… we have to assume that either the beast survived or there are more of them. In any case, it’s not over – she began, trying to control the growing fear. – Maybe it’s something bigger, something we don’t understand yet, something that…

Arahnos raised a hand, interrupting her with a firm gesture. His gaze, though cold, expressed patience, as if he already recognized this pattern and knew where her thoughts were leading.

– Nyx, listen – he began calmly, though his tone carried a clear firmness. – Let’s not make this into “something bigger” until we have proof. It’s just a beast, maybe a few. Nothing more, nothing less. Before we start looking for hidden forces or curses, let’s focus on what we actually know.

Nyx fell silent, studying him closely. She often had a tendency to interpret events with excessive depth, trying to see hidden layers where sometimes only facts were needed. She recalled how many times in the past her imagination had run too far, creating threats that weren’t actually there.

– I know you’re right – she replied, taking a deep breath. – It’s just… something tells me it’s not that simple. That the beast we defeated might only be a fragment of something larger.

Arahnos watched her for a moment, his face softening as if he understood the source of her caution and fear.

– Nyx, I know this all may seem unclear, but remember that sometimes the answer is simpler than it appears. It’s just a creature – maybe it wasn’t alone, maybe someone or something drew it here, but let’s not complicate things until we have reason. If we start treating every shadow as a harbinger of a greater plague, we’ll lose clarity.

Nyx lowered her gaze, contemplating his words. On one hand, she knew Arahnos was right – they shouldn’t let their thoughts stray too far. But on the other hand, she couldn’t shake the feeling that what they faced had deeper, more complex roots.

– Alright – she sighed after a moment, breaking the silence. – Let’s stick to the facts. We’ll check if there have been similar attacks and look for clues. But… – she looked him straight in the eye, her gaze firm – if we come across something more than a beast, I want you to trust me and be open to other possibilities.

Arahnos nodded, though a faint smile appeared on his lips, as if he accepted her words with understanding.

– If we come across something that truly points to “something bigger,” we’ll deal with it – he replied, his tone softer this time. – But as long as it’s just suspicion… we’ll follow the lead we have.

Nyx took this to heart, though she couldn’t entirely quiet the worry gnawing at her thoughts. Yet Arahnos’s words brought her a bit of peace, reminding her that sometimes it was best to take things one step at a time, without overanalyzing what might be.

Nyx was silent for a moment, staring at the floor as if trying to find answers to the questions haunting her. Arahnos’s words brought her some relief, but they didn’t fully dispel her doubts. She needed something concrete, something that could give meaning to their efforts.

– There’s one place we can start – she finally said, lifting her gaze to Arahnos. – We should go back to where we thought we’d finished it. Maybe we missed something, a detail that slipped away in the heat of battle.

Arahnos nodded, as if he had been waiting for this suggestion all along. He was a warrior accustomed to action, not wandering in speculation. He needed evidence, facts, not guesswork.

– You’re right – he replied, his voice deep and resolute. – We’re going back to the battleground. We’ll check every inch. If we missed anything… we’ll find it now.

Nyx felt the tension give way to a sharpened focus. She still wasn’t sure if they’d find something that would ease her fears, but she knew they couldn’t wait. They had to act, and quickly.

– We’ll leave in an hour, maybe two – she said, her voice quiet but filled with determination. – We need to start somewhere before the townspeople’s fear turns into open hostility. It’s better to uncover the truth before these rumors become their reality.

Arahnos nodded, his expression hard and focused. He knew returning to the battle site might not give them clear answers, but it was the only option they had.

Despite the fear lingering deep within, Nyx felt a glimmer of hope. If they could find a trace, some evidence, they might at least be able to push away the specter of uncertainty and accusations. And though neither of them said it aloud, she knew this return would be the beginning of something more than just an investigation.

Their gazes met in the dim light of the room. Nyx took a deep breath, trying to steady the slight trembling in her hands.

– We have to be ready for anything – she said softly, a note of uncertainty in her voice but also determination.

Arahnos looked at her firmly, as if his gaze alone could lend her strength.

– We don’t have a choice – he answered coolly. – If it’s there, we’ll find it and put an end to this.

Without further words, they began their preparations, focused and composed, as if everything that was to come had already been decided.