Chapter 28: Shadows of the Unknown

Maki adjusted her grip on her spear, her fingers brushing the faintly glowing fragment embedded near its blade. The newfound energy pulsing through it was potent, unfamiliar, and undeniably hers. Scathach had been watching her closely since the trial on the 36th floor, an amused yet calculating glint in her violet eyes.

The group pressed onward through the labyrinthine Dungeon, their surroundings becoming increasingly surreal. The walls glistened with a faint luminescence, shifting with an almost organic fluidity, while the air carried an oppressive weight that hinted at a deeper distortion in the Dungeon's core.

"This section shouldn't exist," Archer said, his tone sharp as his eyes scanned the shifting surroundings. "The Dungeon doesn't behave like this. Not even in the deeper floors."

Scathach nodded, her gaze narrowing. "It's the Singularity's influence. Something foreign has latched onto this world, and it's feeding off the Dungeon's power."

Maki frowned. "Then let's cut it off before it grows."

The party ventured deeper, encountering fewer monsters than they expected. Instead, the Dungeon itself seemed to resist their progress. Pathways opened only to twist into dead ends. Stone surfaces liquefied into pools of shadow before solidifying again. Each step forward felt like treading through a maze designed to confuse and delay them.

Maki's patience wore thin. She slammed her spear into the ground, the resulting shockwave momentarily stabilizing their surroundings.

"Enough with the games!" she snapped. "If there's something out there watching us, let's drag it into the light."

Her voice echoed, carrying a challenge that the Dungeon answered. A low, guttural growl reverberated through the cavern, and the shadows around them coalesced into a towering beast. Its form was lupine, but its eyes burned with an unnatural crimson light, and its body shifted constantly between solid and ethereal states.

The creature lunged without warning, its speed surprising even Scathach. Maki barely sidestepped its claws, retaliating with a precise thrust aimed at its glowing chest. Her spear struck true, but the weapon passed through the beast's body like smoke.

"It's not corporeal," Maki hissed, leaping back. "How do we hit it?"

Scathach twirled her twin spears, the air around her crackling with energy. "You focus on its core. I'll bind its form."

The Queen of Shadows channeled her magic, her movements a blend of elegance and lethal intent. Her spears struck the ground, creating a rune circle that glowed with an ominous red light. Tendrils of energy lashed out, ensnaring the beast and forcing it into a semi-solid state.

"Now, Maki!" Scathach shouted.

Maki didn't hesitate. Drawing on the shadowy energy that now flowed through her, she charged. Her spear's tip shimmered as she poured everything into a single, decisive strike.

Before Maki could connect, the beast howled, unleashing a wave of shadowy energy that sent her flying. She hit the ground hard, her spear skittering out of reach. The creature turned its attention to her, its crimson eyes glowing brighter as it prepared to lunge.

Archer intervened, a barrage of glowing arrows raining down and forcing the beast to retreat momentarily. "Get up, Maki!" he called, notching another arrow.

Maki groaned, her body aching, but Scathach was already beside her. The older woman extended a hand, her expression calm despite the chaos.

"You're hesitating," Scathach said. "That power within you—use it fully, or it will consume you instead."

Maki clenched her fists, frustration bubbling within her. "What if I lose control?"

Scathach's lips curled into a small smile. "Then I'll bring you back. Now rise, warrior. This is your battle."

Maki inhaled deeply, centering herself. The shadowy energy within her responded, swirling around her like a living entity. This time, she didn't hold back. She grasped her spear, the dark aura merging with its blade, and her body felt lighter, faster, stronger.

The beast roared, sensing the shift in power, and charged at her. Maki met its assault head-on, her spear slashing through its claws. Where before her strikes had no effect, now each attack landed with devastating force.

Scathach's runes pulsed, further binding the creature and amplifying Maki's attacks. With one final leap, Maki drove her spear into the beast's chest, the energy radiating from her weapon shattering its core.

The creature dissolved into a shower of shadows, its howl fading into silence. The cavern stilled, the oppressive weight in the air lifting.

As the beast faded, something remained: a small, crystalline shard, similar to the one Maki had acquired earlier. Scathach studied it closely, her expression unreadable.

"Another fragment of the distortion," she murmured. "It's reacting to you, Maki."

Maki took the shard, its energy resonating with her. "What do these fragments mean? Why do I feel like they're... calling to me?"

Scathach placed a hand on her shoulder, her touch grounding. "They're part of the Singularity's power. And for better or worse, it seems you're tied to its fate."

Archer approached, his gaze serious. "If this Singularity is connected to Fuyuki, then we're not just dealing with a local threat. It could destabilize more than just Orario."

Maki tightened her grip on the shard. "Then we destroy it, piece by piece if we have to."

Scathach's smile returned, this time tinged with approval. "Spoken like a true warrior. But tread carefully, Maki. Power like this always comes with a cost."

With the shard secured and the path ahead stabilizing, the group prepared to move deeper into the Dungeon. The trials were becoming more intense, the stakes higher with each step.

Maki glanced at Scathach, her mentor and now something more. The bond they were forming felt unshakable, a steady force amid the chaos.

"I won't stop," Maki said softly, her resolve firm. "Not until I've claimed the strength to face anything—even gods."

Scathach's gaze softened, a rare vulnerability showing. "And I will walk this path with you, no matter where it leads."

The Dungeon trembled once more, a distant roar echoing through its depths. Their journey was far from over, but together, they were ready to face whatever lay ahead.