Chapter 10: Shadows Beneath the Sand

The wind carried a biting chill as Kain pressed forward, the Codex Tower looming larger with each passing hour. Its jagged spires clawed at the sky, silhouetted against the faint glow of distant Etherial storms. Each step brought him closer, but it also brought the Wastes' dangers into sharper focus.

The shard in his chest pulsed rhythmically, its energy simmering beneath the surface. Kain felt stronger, faster than before, but there was an edge to it—a whisper at the back of his mind, a promise of power if he would only surrender to it completely.

He shook the thought away, focusing instead on the terrain ahead. The ground had shifted again, the jagged rocks giving way to smooth dunes of dark sand. The stillness here was unnerving, as if even the wind had decided this place was better left undisturbed.

The system's voice broke the silence.

[Warning: Etherial Disturbance Detected. Subterranean Anomalies Present.]

Kain sighed, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. "Of course there are anomalies. Why would this place be normal?"

The sand shifted beneath his feet, the faintest tremor running through the ground. He froze, his eyes scanning the horizon. For a moment, there was nothing—just the oppressive silence and the cold, dark sand.

Then the ground erupted.

A massive creature burst from the dunes, its body a writhing mass of chitin and shadow. Its many legs clawed at the ground, and its eyeless head swiveled toward Kain, its mouth opening to reveal rows of jagged, dripping teeth.

[Entity Identified: Voidcrawler. Threat Level: High.]

"Threat level 'high' is getting real old," Kain muttered, drawing his blade.

The Voidcrawler lunged, its massive body moving with terrifying speed. Kain dove to the side, rolling to his feet as the creature's claws tore through the sand where he'd been standing. He swung his blade, the steel biting into the creature's side, but it barely flinched.

The shard burned hot in his chest, and Kain felt the familiar surge of power as he called upon Shadow Rend. Dark energy coiled around his arm, and with a growl, he unleashed it. The shadowy tendrils lashed out, striking the Voidcrawler and carving deep gashes into its chitin.

The creature screeched, a high-pitched, bone-rattling sound that made Kain's teeth ache. It reared back, its legs churning the sand as it prepared for another attack.

But it wasn't alone.

The sand shifted again, and two more Voidcrawlers emerged, their massive forms circling Kain like predators stalking their prey.

"Fantastic," Kain said, his grip tightening on his blade. "Just what I needed—backup."

The first Voidcrawler lunged again, its claws swiping at Kain with deadly precision. He dodged, countering with a slash of his own, but the second creature was already moving. Its claws raked across his side, the force of the blow sending him sprawling.

Pain lanced through his body, and Kain gritted his teeth, forcing himself to his feet. The shard pulsed, its energy flaring in response to his desperation.

[Suggestion: Utilize Surrounding Environment to Gain Tactical Advantage.]

"Surrounding environment? It's sand!" Kain snarled. "What the hell am I supposed to do with sand?"

The Voidcrawlers closed in, their movements coordinated, almost intelligent. Kain's mind raced as he scanned the area. The dunes shifted slightly with each step the creatures took, and an idea began to form.

He waited until the first Voidcrawler lunged again, its massive body casting a long shadow in the moonlight. At the last moment, Kain dove to the side, letting the creature crash into the sand. The impact caused the dune to collapse, the unstable ground swallowing the Voidcrawler halfway.

The creature thrashed, its legs clawing at the air as it tried to free itself. Kain didn't hesitate. He unleashed Shadow Rend, the dark energy lashing out and tearing through the creature's exposed underbelly.

The Voidcrawler let out one final screech before collapsing, its body dissolving into black mist.

Kain turned to face the remaining two, his chest heaving. "One down. Who's next?"

The creatures hesitated, their movements less aggressive now. Kain could feel the shard's power coursing through him, and he let it flow freely. Dark tendrils coiled around his arms, his blade glowing with Etherial energy.

He charged, the sand shifting beneath his feet as he closed the distance. The Voidcrawlers attacked in unison, but Kain was faster. He dodged their claws, his blade striking with precision. Shadow Rend tore through one of the creatures, severing its legs and leaving it vulnerable.

The final Voidcrawler backed away, its body twitching as if unsure whether to fight or flee. Kain didn't give it the chance to decide. He raised his blade, the shard's energy surging, and brought it down in a single, devastating strike.

The creature collapsed, its body dissolving into mist like the others.

Kain stood in the silence that followed, his chest heaving. The shard's power receded, leaving him feeling drained but victorious.

[Hostile Entities Neutralized. Etherial Signature Diminished. Proceed with Caution.]

"Yeah, I'll get right on that," Kain muttered, wiping blood and sand from his face.

He turned his gaze back to the horizon. The Codex Tower was closer now, its jagged silhouette more defined against the night sky.

But the Wastes weren't done with him yet.

As Kain took his first step forward, the sand beneath him shifted again—not with the emergence of another creature, but with something else.

Buried beneath the dunes, half-covered by sand and shadow, was the faint glow of another Etherial artifact.

Kain stared at it, his jaw tightening. "What now?"

The shard pulsed in response, its energy resonating with the artifact's glow. Kain sighed, the weight of the Wastes pressing heavily on his shoulders once more.

"Fine," he muttered. "Let's see what fresh nightmare this thing brings."

He reached for the artifact, his fingers brushing against its surface as the shard flared to life.