Chapter 3 (Continued): Shadows in the Alley
Ethan stared at the looming figure at the end of the alley. The Shadow Stalker didn't walk; it flowed, its body shifting like smoke given form. Its ember-like eyes burned brighter with every step, casting eerie shadows against the alley walls.
"What… the hell is that?" Ethan whispered, gripping his side. His mind screamed for him to run, but his feet refused to move. The air felt heavier, colder, like the creature was sucking the life out of the space around them.
---
Warning: Elite Encounter. Shadow Stalker.
Threat Level: High.
Survival Rate: 32%.
---
"Fantastic," Ethan muttered. "Thirty-two percent. Not impossible, just… mostly impossible."
The other man—the one who had warned him—backed away, his face pale and drenched in sweat. "You don't understand," he stammered. "This thing… it's not just a dream monster. It hunts us. Dreamers like us. And it doesn't stop."
"Hunts us?" Ethan asked, his voice rising with panic. "Why would it—"
The Shadow Stalker lunged.
Its movement was impossibly fast, a blur of black smoke and glowing eyes. Ethan barely had time to throw himself to the side before the ground where he'd been standing exploded into shards of asphalt. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the alley, knocking him flat on his back.
The other man wasn't as lucky. The creature's clawed hand shot forward, catching him by the throat. He screamed, his body convulsing as the claws dug in.
Ethan scrambled to his feet. "Hey! Over here, you creepy shadow thing!" he shouted, grabbing a nearby piece of metal pipe. He had no idea what he was doing, but he had to do something.
The Shadow Stalker turned its burning eyes on him, tossing the man aside like a rag doll. The man crumpled to the ground, unmoving.
---
Player Health: Critical. 5% Remaining. Status: Unconscious.
---
"Oh, good," Ethan said, hefting the pipe. "Guess it's just you and me now. No pressure."
The Shadow Stalker surged toward him, its claws slashing through the air. Ethan ducked, the pipe whistling as he swung it in a wide arc. The metal struck the creature's side with a loud clang, but it was like hitting solid stone. The creature didn't even flinch.
"Of course you're invincible. Why wouldn't you be?" Ethan muttered, backing up.
---
Combat Mode Engaged.
Tip: Use skills and environment to exploit weaknesses.
---
"What skills?" Ethan snapped at the glowing interface. "I've got a stick and a death wish!"
The Shadow Stalker lunged again, and this time, Ethan had no choice but to roll forward under its arm. He came up behind it and swung the pipe as hard as he could at its legs. The creature stumbled, its form flickering for a moment, and Ethan's interface lit up.
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Weakness Detected: Shadow Form Disrupted by Physical Momentum.
Tip: Continuous strikes can destabilize its form.
---
"Oh, now you tell me," Ethan said, rushing forward.
He swung again, this time aiming for the creature's midsection. The pipe connected, and the Shadow Stalker let out an unearthly screech. Its smoky body rippled, the edges of its form fraying like burned fabric.
But the victory was short-lived. The creature lashed out with a tendril of shadow, catching Ethan across the chest. Pain flared as he was thrown backward, slamming into the brick wall.
---
Player Health: 40%.
---
Ethan coughed, struggling to get air back into his lungs. "Okay. So hitting it works… if I don't die first."
The Shadow Stalker advanced, slower now, its form flickering but no less terrifying. Ethan's mind raced. He couldn't just keep swinging blindly—he needed a plan.
Then he saw it. A puddle of water near the edge of the alley, reflecting the faint glow of a nearby streetlamp. An idea formed, half-baked and entirely reckless, but it was better than nothing.
"Hey, Smoky!" Ethan shouted, forcing himself to his feet. "You like surprises?"
The creature lunged again, and Ethan darted toward the puddle, skidding to a stop as he turned to face it. He waited until the last possible second, then swung the pipe low, aiming for the water. The impact sent a spray of dirty water into the creature's face.
The Shadow Stalker screeched again, its form twisting violently as the water seemed to disrupt its smoky body. Its ember eyes dimmed for a moment, and Ethan's interface flashed.
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Critical Weakness Exploited. Enemy Temporarily Stunned.
---
"Stunned? Perfect!" Ethan shouted, running forward. He didn't hesitate this time. He swung the pipe with everything he had, landing blow after blow on the flickering creature. With each hit, its form grew more unstable, pieces of shadow tearing away like smoke in the wind.
Finally, with one last desperate swing, Ethan struck the center of its chest. The Shadow Stalker let out a deafening roar as its body imploded, collapsing into a swirling vortex of shadow and embers. The vortex shrank until it was nothing more than a faint wisp of smoke, then disappeared entirely.
---
Elite Enemy Defeated.
XP Gained: 500.
Level Up!
New Stats:
Strength: 4 → 6
Agility: 3 → 5
Perception: 6 → 8
New Skill Unlocked: Shadowstep (Active)
Temporarily phase through physical objects or enemies for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 1 minute.
---
Ethan collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. His whole body ached, his chest burned, and his vision blurred, but he was alive.
"Shadowstep?" he muttered, staring at the notification. "That… actually sounds kind of cool."
He looked over at the unconscious man, who was starting to stir. Ethan crawled over, shaking his shoulder. "Hey. You still with me?"
The man groaned, opening his eyes. "You… killed it?"
"Yeah," Ethan said, leaning back against the wall. "And I only almost died doing it. So, you know, no big deal."
The man stared at him, disbelief written all over his face. "You're stronger than I thought."
"Great. Can we skip the compliments and go straight to the part where you explain what the hell is going on?"
The man hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. But you're not going to like it."