The Light of Despair

The air in the ruins grew heavier with each passing moment, the oppressive hum of magic pressing against Cynus's chest like an invisible weight. The shadows moved faster now, their glowing blue eyes like beacons in the dark chamber.

"We're running out of time!" Lyric shouted, her voice sharp as she vaulted off a broken pillar, using a burst of wind to propel herself toward another glowing rune. She slashed it with her blade, the rune shattering into a burst of light.

The shadow creatures faltered momentarily, their forms flickering like dying embers.

Ren grinned, his movements quick and agile as he darted between the advancing shadows. "That's one more down! How many left, fire-boy?"

Cynus glanced around the room, his flames illuminating the ancient walls. Five runes remained, each glowing brighter as the magic pulsed through them.

"Five!" Cynus yelled, hurling a fireball at one of the runes. The flames struck true, engulfing the glowing symbol until it cracked and shattered. Another wave of shadows dissolved into smoke, their wails echoing in the chamber.

But for every shadow that fell, two more seemed to take its place.

Lyric landed beside Cynus, her breaths coming in short, sharp bursts. "We're not moving fast enough! These things are endless!"

Ren tumbled across the floor, narrowly avoiding a shadowy claw that slashed through the air where he'd just been. "Well, if you've got a faster plan, now's the time!"

Cynus clenched his fists, his flames flaring brighter. "We stick to the plan! Destroy the runes, and this ends!"

He sprinted toward the nearest wall, hurling another fireball at a rune. The explosion of light blinded him momentarily, and he stumbled back as a shadow lunged at him.

Lyric reacted instantly, sending a gust of wind to knock the creature away. "Watch yourself, Candle-boy!"

Cynus nodded, his heart pounding. He couldn't afford any more mistakes.

Ren's movements were a blur as he climbed another section of the wall, his dagger glinting in the faint light. He reached a rune and slashed it with a quick, precise strike, the glowing symbol shattering into fragments.

"That's three!" he called, a grin spreading across his face. But his triumph was short-lived. A shadow creature surged toward him from above, its clawed hand reaching for his back.

Cynus saw it before Ren did. "Ren! Behind you!"

Ren twisted just in time, but the creature's claws raked across his arm, tearing through fabric and leaving a bloody gash. He cried out, dropping his dagger as he fell to the ground.

Lyric rushed to his side, her wind magic scattering the shadows that closed in around him. "Stay down, thief!" she snapped, her voice laced with concern.

Ren grimaced, clutching his injured arm. "I'm fine. Just a scratch."

Cynus knelt beside him, his flames glowing faintly. "Can you still fight?"

Ren's smirk returned, though it was weaker this time. "You kidding? I'm just getting started."

With three runes destroyed, the shadows grew more frantic, their movements erratic but no less dangerous. Lyric's wind magic kept them at bay, but even she was beginning to tire.

"We need to hit the last runes at the same time!" Cynus shouted, his mind racing. "If we split up, we can finish this!"

Lyric hesitated, glancing at Ren, whose injured arm was still bleeding. "You sure about that?"

Ren grinned, picking up his dagger with his uninjured hand. "What's the worst that could happen?"

Cynus gave a sharp nod, his flames flaring brighter. "Alright. Lyric, you take the left wall. Ren, the right. I'll handle the center!"

Without waiting for a response, he sprinted toward the largest rune, its glow pulsing like a heartbeat.

The shadows converged on Cynus as he approached the central rune. Their claws raked the ground behind him, and their chilling wails filled the air. He hurled fireball after fireball, forcing them back, but they kept coming.

Ahead, Lyric soared through the air, her wind magic propelling her toward her target. She slashed at a rune with her blade, shattering it with a burst of light.

Ren climbed the right wall, gritting his teeth against the pain in his arm. He reached the rune and struck it with his dagger, his movements slower but no less precise.

"Two left!" Lyric called, landing hard on the ground as more shadows surged toward her.

Cynus reached the central rune, his flames blazing around him. He focused all his energy into one massive fireball, hurling it at the glowing symbol. The explosion shook the chamber, the light engulfing everything in its path.

When the light faded, the central rune was gone—but the shadows remained.

"What the—" Cynus started, but his words were cut off as the shadows reformed, their glowing eyes brighter than ever.

Lyric staggered to her feet, her expression panicked. "We hit them all! Why aren't they gone?!"

Ren, still clutching his injured arm, glanced around the room. His sharp eyes darted to the far end of the chamber, where a faint glow caught his attention.

"There's one more!" he shouted, pointing.

Cynus followed his gaze and saw it—a hidden rune, partially obscured by rubble, its light faint but steady.

"That's it!" Cynus yelled. "Cover me!"

He sprinted toward the hidden rune, flames blazing as he fought his way through the shadows. Lyric and Ren moved to intercept the creatures, their combined efforts buying him precious seconds.

Cynus reached the rune, his hands trembling as he summoned every ounce of power he had left. The flames in his palms grew hotter and brighter, their golden light illuminating the dark chamber.

With a roar, he slammed his fire into the rune, shattering it into a thousand pieces.

The moment the rune broke, the shadows froze. Their glowing eyes flickered, then dimmed, and their forms dissolved into wisps of smoke.

The room fell silent, the oppressive hum of magic fading into nothingness.

Cynus collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving. Lyric and Ren joined him moments later, both of them battered and exhausted.

"Well," Ren said, his voice weak but teasing. "That was fun."

Lyric shot him a glare, but there was no real anger in her eyes. "You're lucky you didn't get yourself killed, thief."

Cynus managed a tired smile. "We did it. Together."

The three of them sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their victory sinking in.