Chapter 83: Facing New Threats

The void stretched out in all directions, an endless expanse of shadows and despair. Every step I took seemed to echo in the silent emptiness, the oppressive weight of this world pressing down on my mind and body. The blue orb in the sky shone dimly above, its light casting faint, eerie shadows across the grotesque terrain. My void body had grown stronger since I had consumed the first Rotten Bone, but every movement still felt heavy, as if the air itself resisted my presence.

As I trudged forward, I felt the familiar, unsettling sensation of being watched. The whispers returned, faint at first, but growing louder, more insistent. *"You don't belong here… You are nothing… Turn back…"*

"Not a chance," I muttered under my breath, gripping my fists tightly.

That's when I saw them—shades, their formless bodies writhing like smoke, emerging from the shadows. Their red eyes glowed menacingly, and their movements were jerky and unnatural. There were at least ten of them, but what made my stomach tighten were the two Wraithlings standing behind them.

The Wraithlings were larger and more defined, their humanoid forms cloaked in swirling darkness. Blazing blue eyes stared at me, and long claws extended from their shadowy hands.

I clenched my fists, my void body pulsing with energy. "Alright then, let's dance."

The shades charged first, their bodies rippling as they swarmed toward me. I darted to the side, dodging the first wave, and drove my fist into one of their forms. It dissipated with a shriek, its essence scattering into the void.

Another lunged at me, its claws slashing through the air. I ducked and countered with an upward strike, my hand piercing through its smoky body. The essence it left behind flowed into me, strengthening my void body slightly.

But there were too many.

The shades surrounded me, their attacks relentless. I spun, dodging and striking, but every time I took one down, another replaced it. Their claws raked against my void body, leaving trails of searing pain.

A sudden force slammed into my side, sending me skidding across the fleshy ground. One of the Wraithlings had joined the fight, its claws glowing with a dark, menacing light.

"You want a piece of me?" I growled, pushing myself to my feet.

The Wraithling charged, its speed almost too fast for me to track. I barely managed to sidestep its strike, the air rippling with the force of its blow.

I retaliated, landing a solid punch to its chest, but it barely flinched. Its other hand lashed out, catching me across the shoulder and sending me reeling.

"Damn it," I hissed, clutching my arm.

The second Wraithling joined the fray, its claws crackling with void energy. The two of them moved in unison, their attacks precise and coordinated.

I was outnumbered, outmatched, and running out of energy.

Desperation fueled me. I darted between the shades and Wraithlings, using the terrain to my advantage. I led one of the Wraithlings into a cluster of jagged bones protruding from the ground, forcing it to slow its movements.

Seizing the opportunity, I lunged at it, driving my fist into its chest. Void essence burst from its body, flowing into me as it collapsed into a pile of ash.

The remaining Wraithling roared, its body surging with energy. It slashed at me with both claws, the force of its attacks shaking the ground.

I dodged one strike but couldn't avoid the second. Its claws raked across my back, and I bit back a scream as pain shot through me.

Falling to my knees, I struggled to catch my breath. The Wraithling loomed over me, its claws raised for the finishing blow.

*"Move, Ash!"* the Void Demon's voice roared in my head.

Summoning the last of my strength, I rolled to the side as the Wraithling's claws slammed into the ground. Before it could recover, I lashed out with both hands, grabbing its head and slamming it into the ground.

Black energy surged through me, my void body glowing faintly as I absorbed the Wraithling's essence.

The battlefield fell silent, the shades and Wraithlings reduced to ash. I staggered to my feet, every muscle in my body screaming in protest. My vision blurred, but I forced myself to focus.

The second Rotten Bone was nearby, its sickly glow faint but unmistakable. It rested atop a pedestal made of fused, pulsating flesh, veins of void energy running through it.

I approached it cautiously, my legs trembling with exhaustion. Placing my hand on the bone, I felt its power flow into me—a dark, ancient energy that made my void body tremble.

As I tucked the bone into my cloak, the whispers returned, louder and angrier than before. *"You are nothing… you cannot win… turn back…"*

I smiled weakly, wiping the blood from my face. "You keep saying that, but I'm still here."

Collapsing to the ground, I let out a shaky breath. My void body was stronger now, but the fight had taken everything out of me. I closed my eyes, allowing myself a moment to rest.

The path ahead would only get harder, but I wasn't about to give up. Not now. Not ever.

The blue orb above shone faintly, its light casting eerie shadows across the grotesque landscape. I knew I couldn't stay here long. The void was relentless, and more creatures would come for me if I didn't keep moving.

Pushing myself to my feet, I took one last look at the pedestal before turning to face the darkness ahead.

Two Rotten Bones down. Two more to go.

And nothing in this cursed place was going to stop me.