Shard of Burdens

Zami stood before the throne, the faintly glowing shard fragments scattered around its base. Despite their broken state, they hummed with energy, as if calling out to him. He reached down, his fingers brushing against the largest fragment. A sudden pulse surged through his body, a mix of warmth and searing pain.

"Careful," the creature's voice echoed in his mind.

"These shards don't like being moved. They're stubborn, like you."

"I'm not leaving it here," Zami muttered. He picked up the fragment, tucking it into a pouch on his belt. The glow dimmed slightly, but the hum persisted, as if the shard resented being handled.

As he exited the chamber, he felt the oppressive atmosphere of the fortress weigh on him. The air was colder now, the walls darker, as if the Bone Monarch's death had drained the life from the place.

When Zami stepped outside the fortress, he immediately sensed something was wrong. The ground was littered with footprints, and the faint smell of oil and wood lingered in the air. His evolved senses picked up the faintest rustle in the distance, the sound of taut strings stretching.

Before he could react, an arrow whizzed past his face, slicing through the air with deadly precision. He turned to see the intelligent creatures he had encountered earlier. This time, there were more of them—nearly a dozen. They were armed with crude bows, jagged spears, and primitive swords, their eyes burning with rage.

They had come for the shard.

Zami cursed under his breath and took off running. The creatures gave chase, their guttural cries echoing through the dark expanse.

Arrows rained down around him as he sprinted across the uneven terrain, his body still aching from the fight with the Bone Monarch. His movements were calculated but strained. Every step sent sharp pains through his burned arm and overworked muscles.

One arrow grazed his leg, the sharp sting drawing blood. Zami gritted his teeth and pushed forward.

"They're relentless," the creature remarked, its tone almost amused.

"You took their sacred shard. Did you expect them to simply let you leave?"

"Shut up and help me," Zami growled.

The voice chuckled.

"You don't need my help. Use what you've learned."

Zami's mind raced as he considered his options. The creatures were closing in, their movements coordinated and precise. He couldn't outrun them forever.

He veered toward a narrow ravine, the walls jagged and sharp. As the first creature lunged at him, he executed *Blade Bind*, parrying the spear thrust and slashing upward in one swift motion, cutting the creature's weapon in half and forcing it to retreat.

Another creature attacked from behind, but Zami used *Stone Slash*, kicking off the ravine wall to gain momentum and delivering a powerful strike that cleaved through the creature's bow. The shards of the bow scattered, and the creature stumbled back in shock.

More arrows came, forcing Zami to duck and weave. He used *Hidden Strike* to feign an attack in one direction, then spun around and delivered a deadly blow to another creature.

Despite his skill, the numbers were overwhelming. He could feel his energy waning, his injuries slowing him down.

As he emerged from the ravine, he found himself cornered at the edge of a steep cliff. The creatures surrounded him, their weapons aimed and ready. Zami glanced back at the pouch where the shard fragment rested, its hum growing louder, almost as if it were mocking him.

"You can't fight them all," the creature warned.

"Not like this."

Zami's jaw tightened. "Then I'll outsmart them."

With a swift motion, he pulled the shard from the pouch and hurled it into the distance, the glowing fragment landing in a patch of dense foliage. The creatures immediately shifted their attention, their eyes following the shard's trajectory.

Zami seized the moment, sprinting past the distracted creatures. He didn't look back as he ran, his body screaming in protest with every step.

By the time he stopped, he was far from the fortress, his breath ragged and his vision blurred. He collapsed against a tree, his hands trembling.

"You left the shard," the creature said, its tone unreadable.

"I had no choice," Zami replied, his voice hoarse. "I would've died if I kept it."

"Wise decision," the voice admitted.

"But don't think this is over. Those creatures won't stop. They'll protect that shard with their lives—and they'll remember you."

Zami closed his eyes, exhaustion washing over him. He had escaped, but the cost weighed heavily on his mind. The shard, the creatures, the Bone Monarch—all of it felt connected, threads of a larger web he couldn't yet see.

For now, all he could do was survive.