chapter 75

The stars dissolved into a spinning vortex of light and shadow, pulling at Rose and Sylus with an almost magnetic force. Rose felt her feet lift from the unseen surface beneath her as the world around them warped and twisted. She reached out instinctively, her fingers brushing against Sylus's hand. His grip was immediate and firm, grounding her even as the universe itself seemed to come undone.

"Stay close," he commanded, his crimson eyes meeting hers. They glowed brighter against the swirling darkness, an anchor in the chaos.

Rose nodded, clutching his hand tightly. She didn't trust herself to speak, the hum of energy around them drowning out any coherent thoughts. The pull of the vortex grew stronger, and suddenly, they were propelled forward, their bodies weightless as they hurtled through the void.

When they stopped, the sudden stillness was almost disorienting. Rose stumbled, Sylus catching her with ease. They stood now in a dimly lit corridor, the air thick with an oppressive energy that made it hard to breathe. The walls were metallic and sleek, reflecting a distorted version of their surroundings.

"What is this place?" Rose whispered, her voice barely audible over the low hum that filled the corridor.

Sylus released her hand, his gaze scanning their surroundings with sharp precision. "The Veil has brought us to a memory," he said, his tone clipped. "But not mine. This belongs to the entity that bound me—the one who corrupted Onychinus."

Rose's stomach twisted. The oppressive atmosphere of the corridor pressed down on her, and she could feel the malevolence lingering in the air. This place wasn't just a memory; it was alive, pulsing with an energy that felt both ancient and dangerous.

As they moved forward, the corridor opened into a massive chamber. At its center stood a towering figure cloaked in shadows, its form shifting constantly like smoke caught in a draft. It was the same entity Rose had seen in Sylus's memory—the one that had turned his eyes crimson and bound him to the Black Zone.

Sylus stiffened beside her, his posture defensive. "The Devourer," he muttered, his voice laced with venom.

Rose swallowed hard, her gaze fixed on the entity. It exuded power, its presence filling the chamber and making it hard to stand upright. She could feel its gaze on her, even though it had no discernible eyes.

"Why have you come here, broken one?" The Devourer's voice was a deep rumble, vibrating through the very air. It addressed Sylus, but its focus shifted briefly to Rose, its tone laced with curiosity. "And you... the anomaly. What a curious little thing you are."

Rose felt a chill run down her spine, but Sylus stepped in front of her, his body a protective barrier. "We didn't choose to come here," he said coldly. "The Veil brought us."

The Devourer chuckled, the sound echoing through the chamber like distant thunder. "The Veil has a peculiar sense of humor, then. Or perhaps it seeks to remind you of your place."

Sylus's hands clenched into fists, but he didn't respond. Rose could feel the tension radiating off him, his anger barely contained.

The Devourer leaned closer, its form shifting as it moved. "Do you seek answers, Sylus? Or are you here to beg for freedom once more?"

"I'm not the one bound anymore," Sylus shot back, his voice sharp and unwavering. "Your chains broke the moment she entered the game."

The entity's attention shifted fully to Rose now, its presence suffocating as it loomed over her. "Ah, so this is the one," it mused. "The player who defied the rules. Your existence was never part of the design, yet here you are, unraveling everything."

Rose's throat tightened, but she forced herself to speak. "Why me?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her chest. "Why did I affect him? Why did I break your control?"

The Devourer chuckled again, a low, sinister sound. "Because you are not merely a player. You are a thread that was never meant to exist in this tapestry. An accident. A mistake."

Rose's heart pounded, the words hitting her like a physical blow. She opened her mouth to argue, but Sylus spoke first, his tone dangerous. "She's not a mistake," he said, his crimson eyes blazing. "She's the reason I'm free. And she'll be the reason you fall."

The chamber shook slightly, the Devourer's form flickering as if Sylus's words had struck a nerve. "Bold words for a broken leader," it hissed. "But freedom is an illusion, Sylus. You may have escaped the Black Zone, but you will never escape me. Nor will she."

Rose stepped forward before Sylus could respond, her fear replaced by a surge of determination. "You're wrong," she said firmly. "I don't know why I'm here or what role I'm supposed to play, but I know one thing—you don't scare me. Not anymore."

The Devourer laughed, the sound filled with mockery. "We shall see, little anomaly. The Veil has brought you here for a reason, but it has also given me an opportunity."

The shadows around the chamber thickened, tendrils of darkness snaking toward them. Sylus grabbed Rose's arm, pulling her back as the tendrils lashed out, striking the ground where they had just been standing.

"Run," Sylus said, his voice low and urgent.

Rose hesitated, her eyes darting between him and the encroaching darkness. "What about you?"

"I'll hold it off," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You need to get out of here and find the Veil's core. That's the only way we'll escape."

Rose's chest tightened, but she nodded, trusting him. "Be careful," she said, her voice trembling.

Sylus's crimson eyes softened for a brief moment. "I always am."

With that, Rose turned and ran, her heart pounding as she navigated the twisting corridors of the memory. The sound of Sylus's battle echoed behind her, a constant reminder of the danger she had left him in.

As she ran, a single thought burned in her mind: she had to find the core, not just to escape but to end the Devourer's grip on Sylus once and for all.