Chapter 26: Threads of Fate and Shadows

Maki sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor of the 34th floor's resting area. Her muscles ached from the intense battle earlier, but her mind was even more restless. Scathach sat across from her, calm and composed, polishing her spear. The flickering light of the campfire cast long shadows around them, adding to the eerie silence of the Dungeon's depths.

Maki clenched her fists, the earlier moment of power still fresh in her mind. "What happened back there, Scathach? That wasn't just my strength... it felt like something else entirely."

Scathach looked up, her violet eyes meeting Maki's. "You are beginning to awaken to the fragments of your soul. The energy you wield is tied to your essence—something forged across lifetimes, transcending death and rebirth."

Maki frowned. "Lifetimes? Are you saying this power isn't mine?"

The Queen of Shadows tilted her head. "It is yours, but it is also more. You are not merely Maki Zenin anymore. The Dungeon, Orario, and even the powers that linger beyond this world—all of them are threads weaving you into something greater."

Maki fell silent, her mind trying to grasp the enormity of Scathach's words. The fire crackled, filling the air with the smell of burning wood. Archer approached, breaking the heavy atmosphere.

"We've scouted ahead," he said, gesturing toward the other Adventurers returning to camp. "The path to the 35th floor is crawling with enhanced monsters. Whatever this floor is hiding, it's not something we've faced before."

Scathach stood, her presence commanding. "Good. Let the Dungeon show us its worst. We will answer in kind."

The group descended further, the oppressive energy of the Dungeon thickening with every step. The air grew colder, and the walls of the cavern gleamed with an unnatural frost. Whispers echoed around them, but the source remained elusive.

Maki gripped her spear tightly, her senses heightened. "Something's wrong here. This isn't like the other floors."

Scathach nodded, her expression unreadable. "You're perceptive. This isn't the Dungeon's doing—this is a fragment of something else."

Before Maki could ask for clarification, the ground beneath them shook violently. From the shadows ahead, a grotesque creature emerged. It was a fusion of beast and man, its body twisted with dark energy and its eyes glowing with malevolent light. Behind it, a shimmering tear in space flickered, releasing waves of unstable mana.

"A Singularity," Scathach murmured, her voice laced with intrigue. "So, it has begun to manifest here as well."

"Singularity?" Maki asked, readying her spear.

Scathach stepped forward, her own weapon glowing faintly. "A distortion in time and space. Something has broken through the barriers between worlds, and it seeks to consume everything in its path."

The creature roared, charging toward them with terrifying speed. Maki reacted instinctively, leaping to the side as its clawed hand slammed into the ground, leaving a deep crater. Archer fired a volley of arrows, each one infused with magical energy, but the creature shrugged them off, its thick hide barely scratched.

Scathach darted forward, her spear striking with pinpoint precision. The creature howled as her weapon tore through its defenses, but it retaliated with a burst of dark energy, forcing her to retreat.

Maki's pulse quickened. She couldn't rely solely on brute strength. Taking a deep breath, she focused on the lingering energy within her, the same force she had felt during the previous battle. Her spear began to glow with a faint green light, and she charged.

The creature lunged at her, but she sidestepped, her spear slicing through its leg. It stumbled, giving Scathach an opening to strike. Together, they unleashed a relentless assault, their movements perfectly synchronized. Archer provided covering fire, his arrows targeting the creature's weak points.

As the battle reached its climax, the tear in space behind the creature began to widen. Maki felt a pull, as if the Singularity itself was calling to her.

"We need to close it!" Scathach shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Maki nodded, determination blazing in her eyes. She pushed past the creature, her spear glowing brighter as she approached the rift. The energy radiating from it was overwhelming, but she refused to back down. Drawing upon the shadowy power within her, she thrust her spear into the heart of the Singularity.

Echoes of the Past

The world around her shifted. For a brief moment, Maki found herself standing in a desolate field. The sky was dark, and the air was heavy with the scent of blood and ash. In the distance, a figure stood—a woman clad in violet armor, her presence commanding yet mournful.

"Who are you?" Maki asked, her voice echoing in the emptiness.

The woman turned, her eyes piercing through the void. "You already know who I am, Maki Zenin. You've felt the shadows call to you. You've wielded their power. But this is only the beginning."

Maki took a step forward, her chest tightening. "What does this mean? Why am I seeing this?"

The woman smiled faintly. "Because your journey is intertwined with mine. The shadows remember, even when we do not. Embrace them, and you will find the strength to face the gods themselves."

Before Maki could respond, the vision faded, and she was back in the Dungeon. The tear in space was gone, and the creature lay lifeless on the ground. Scathach stood nearby, her expression unreadable.

"What did you see?" Scathach asked as they regrouped.

Maki hesitated, her mind racing. "I... I saw someone. She said my journey is connected to hers."

Scathach's eyes narrowed, a flicker of recognition crossing her face. "The shadows are guiding you, Maki. Do not fear what lies ahead. Embrace it, and you will uncover the truth."

The group pressed on, the weight of the encounter lingering over them. Maki's resolve burned brighter than ever. Whatever the Singularity had shown her, it was only the beginning. She would grow stronger, not just for herself but for the battles to come.

And as they ventured deeper into the Dungeon, the faint echo of the shadows whispered promises of power—and destiny.