The Alliance members stepped into the Shadow Zone, the cold air and blowing debris relentless on their skin. The dark realm surely earned its namesake as the sky above offered a negligible source of light for the Alliance. No moon, no stars, just a black, cloudy sky. Sounds of crumbling rubble under the feet of the heroes were heard with every step, the faint yet noticeable odors of rotting and decay hitting their noses.

Svenja led the way, her eyes darting back and forth, ever vigilant for any signs of trouble. Reagan stuck close to her, his nerves frayed, his hands trembling. Draley and Evelynn followed closely behind, seemingly undisturbed by the bleak atmosphere, their gazes steely and focused. Kurovika, on the other hand, looked right at home, her body completely unbothered by the oppressive energy of the Shadow Zone. Her eyes were dark, almost completely black as she surveyed the landscape.

"This place is...bleak, to put it lightly," Reagan remarked with a shudder, casting a wary glance around.

Svenja sniffed the air, her nose wrinkling. "Ugh, tell me ‘bout it. Let's just get this over wit’ quickly ‘fore we all lose our breakfasts.”

The further they went into the Shadow Zone, the more ominous the surroundings became. The air grew thicker, the smells of decay more potent.

A faint howling echoed through the air, a chilling sound that sent a shiver down Reagan's spine. "Wh-what was that?" he asked, his voice cracking a little.

Svenja gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the eerie sound. "Probably just some lost soul," she muttered, her voice betraying nothing.

Draley, however, was more focused on the task at hand. "Keep moving, and watch your step. We don't have time for distractions."

Evelynn, silently, continued walking. But she transformed her fingernails into claws, her knuckles turning white.

But the howling sound amplified and more howls were heard, echoing through the desolate land.

Reagan's eyes grew wider, his hands shaking more visibly. "Uh, Svenja, I don't think that's just a lost soul..." he said meekly.

Svenja grew more concerned now, her eyes scanning the landscape more vigilantly. "Ye, sounds like a whole pack of ‘em," she muttered.

A rustling sound behind them made them all turn around. A gang of shadowy creatures, vaguely resembling humans, emerged from behind a broken down building. They were tall and slender, their limbs eerily long and thin.

Their eyes, glowing an ominous crimson red, watched the group with hunger and malice.

Draley stood in front of the group, her staff at the ready. "Those are Shadow Crawlers," she said, her tone calm. "Dark and corrupted creatures from the depths of the Shadow Zone."

Kurovika chuckled, "They look like pushovers to me.”

"Don't underestimate them," Draley warned. "They might look fragile, but their claws and fangs are extremely sharp and their speed and agility are impressive. Plus, they're not alone."

As if on cue, a loud roar shook the air, and a larger, more terrifying creature appeared from behind a nearby pile of rubble. It was an enormous, wolf-like creature, its fur pitch black and its eyes burning a deep scarlet.

"That's a Shadow Wolf," Draley said, her eyes narrowing. "One of the deadliest predators in the Shadow Zone."

The Shadow Wolf growled, its teeth bared, its massive paws digging into the ground. The Shadow Crawlers stood at its side, hissing and snarling. The entire pack had its sights set on the Alliance members, its intentions clear.

Svenja clenched her fist as she observed the situation. "I guess stealth isn't an option anymore."

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Reagan looked terrified, his voice barely more than a whisper, "We're outnumbered…”

"Outnumbered and outmatched," Evelynn muttered, her eyes on the Shadow Wolf.

Kurovika, still grinning, flexed her fingers, Necrotic energy gathering around them. "Don't you worry, team. I can handle these weaklings.”

"We'll see..." Draley muttered, keeping her guard up.

The Shadow Wolf lunged forward with a powerful leap, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. The other Shadow Crawlers followed suit, their limbs moving at blinding speeds as they attempted to flank the heroes.

Kurovika stood her ground, her form completely unafraid. As the Shadow Wolf was about to pounce on her, a dark tendril coiled around its legs, yanking it off-course. Confused, the Shadow Wolf stumbled, the tendril holding it in place.

Kurovika smirked, "You're not such a big deal, are you…”

The Shadow Wolf roared in anger and frustration as it struggled against the tendril. Meanwhile, Reagan and Svenja were too busy fighting off the Shadow Crawlers that were attacking them. The creatures were fast and nimble, their claws scraping against the heroes' armor and skin.

Evelynn, using her claws, spun and swung, her movements swift and precise, slicing through multiple Crawlers at once.

Draley, while managing to hold her own against a few Crawlers, was also keeping a keen eye on Kurovika and the Shadow Wolf. "Kurovika," she called out, "don't play with your food!!”

Kurovika chuckled darkly, "What's wrong? Scared I'll have all the fun?"

As she spoke, she tightened the tendril, the Shadow Wolf howling in pain.

"This isn't a game!" Draley shouted back as she fought. "Just end it already!"

But Kurovika wasn't listening. Instead, she was staring at the Shadow Wolf with intrigue.

"Fascinating..." she whispered, the tendril around the Shadow Wolf's body slowly shifting, almost like it was...inspecting it.

Svenja, noticing Kurovika's behavior, felt a pang of concern. "What is she doing...?"

The Shadow Wolf was squirming under the shifting tendril, its growls turning into whimpers. It was in immense pain, its body becoming more and more injured by the minute.

"I'm not sure..." Draley said, her eyes flickering between the struggling Shadow Wolf and Kurovika.

Reagan, overwhelmed by the onslaught, stumbled, a Crawler nicking his arm. He cried out, clutching the wound as it bled slightly.

"Reagan! Damnit!" Svenja yelled, trying to fight her way over to him. But the Crawlers continued to attack, blocking her path.

Kurovika, meanwhile, was still staring at the Shadow Wolf, a chilling smile on her face. The tendril was now wrapped tightly around its midsection, causing even more pain and distress. The Shadow Wolf's growls turned into wails, its struggling becoming more intense.

Draley took note of this, growing increasingly disturbed. "Kurovika, that's enough. You're just torturing that thing now.”

Kurovika's smile only widened at Draley's comment. "Oh, but it's such a good sport," she replied, her voice almost a purr. "This one's a fighter, you know. I can feel its spirit in my tendril, trying to resist. It's fascinating.”

Draley shot her a disapproving glare, her voice firm. "Kurovika, stop this. I mean it."

But Kurovika just tightened the tendril further. The Shadow Wolf's cries were becoming higher pitched, its struggles weakening as it started losing consciousness.

Svenja, realizing the gravity of the situation, yelled out, "Kurovika, you need to stop right now!"

Evelynn, finished with her last Crawler, finally focused her attention on Kurovika and the suffering Shadow Wolf. "What the hell are you doing? Finish it!”

Kurovika, not once looking away from the Shadow Wolf, finally spoke.

"Oh, I'm not going to kill it..." she said with a sinister smirk.

Draley, Svenja, and Evelynn all froze in surprise and shock. Even Regan's eyes widened at her words.

"W-what...?" Svenja asked, a mixture of anger and confusion in her eyes. "What do you mean, you're not going to kill it?"

Kurovika snickered, her eyes flashing darkly. "I'm not going to kill it just like that," she repeated. "I'm going to take it slow.”

"You're going to make it suffer on purpose?" Draley said, her voice laced with disbelief and anger.

Kurovika simply chuckled in response.

The poor Shadow Wolf let out another agonized howl, its body on the brink of collapse.

The other Shadow Crawlers, witnessing their leader's agony, seemed to grow more restless, their attacks becoming more frantic and unhinged.

Reagan, his wound now a minor cut, watched the scene in horror as he slowly stood back up. "This is insane...why would she do something so cruel?”

Svenja clenched her fists, anger boiling inside her. "Kurovika...stop this right now! We don't torture creatures like this!"

But Kurovika, far from listening, was still fixated on the Shadow Wolf, her expression cold and calculating. She tightened the tendril even more, the Shadow Wolf's howls now turning into pained gasps.

"Stop already!" Draley yelled. "This is an urgent mission, remember? We are here to get to Necromoon and stop him, not watch you indulge in your sadistic impulses!”

Kurovika finally looked up, her eyes meeting Draley's. "Oh, but this isn't just indulgence, darling," she said coolly. "I'm studying it, learning its limits, its capabilities. This is science."

Draley's expression darkened upon hearing those words. "This isn't science. This is needless torture. Just finish it so we can continue on this journey.”

Kurovika chuckled, the sound sending shivers down their spines. "You're all so soft," she said with a sneer.

Just as her words echoed through the air, the Shadow Wolf let out a final, heartbreaking howl before going still, its body finally succumbing to the pain and trauma it had endured.

The members of the Alliance watched in horror as the life faded from the Shadow Wolf. They had all witnessed cruelty before but never something so prolonged and deliberate. Draley looked sickened, her stomach twisting in knots. Svenja shook with rage, gripping her sword so tautly that her knuckles turned white. Even Evelynn, who was often stoic, appeared disgusted by Kurovika's actions.

"You...you monster..." Reagan whispered, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Kurovika just rolled her eyes, unbothered by their reactions. "Oh, get off your high horse," she retorted, waving her hand dismissively. "It was just a pathetic dark critter, not some innocent child. Now, chop-chop, don't we have somewhere to be?”

No one moved for a moment, all of them stunned at how easily Kurovika could brush off the death of a living creature.

It was Draley who finally spoke, her voice cold. "You're a psychopath, you know that? How can you show so little regard for life?"

Kurovika smirked and turned her back to them, going forward with a slow stride. "I'll leave you all behind if you don't come along…”

The members of the Alliance glanced at each other, the anger and disgust evident on their faces. But ultimately, they knew they couldn't dawdle. They had a mission to complete.

Draley, her teeth clenched, took a deep breath and started walking after Kurovika, her footsteps heavy and her eyes fixed on the ground. Evelynn and Svenja followed shortly thereafter, both of them silent but seething. Reagan, still clearly shaken by what he had seen, was the last to follow, his steps timid and unsure.