Chapter-4

The creature's attack falters. One second, it's all fury and flailing claws, the next—its hands just kind of… hang there, like it forgot what it was doing. I barely move. Just a flick of my fingers, the lightest tap against its forehead.

The effect is immediate. And honestly? Kind of dramatic.

Its eyes flicker, its body wobbles, and with an almost comically slow sway, it drops. A full, unconscious, face-first collapse. The thud barely disturbs the eerie stillness of the forest. If anything, the whole place seems to let out a long-overdue sigh, like even Wonderland itself was tired of this guy's nonsense.

The malevolence in the air fades, replaced by a weird, expectant silence. Somewhere in the distance, water drips. Leaves rustle. The trees, ever the dramatic types, shift like they're all leaning in, waiting for what happens next.

And then, as the dust settles, I notice it.

A faint glow, right against the creature's chest. An amulet—intricately carved, pulsing with dark energy. Ah. So that's the real problem. It's clearly the source of the corruption, a little chunk of bad vibes condensed into something far too shiny for its own good. Its glow isn't steady; it flickers, almost like it's breathing. Alive, in a way that makes my skin crawl.

I step closer, reaching out—

And, of course, that's when the ominous disembodied voice kicks in.

"So, the shadow is defeated? But what of the source of its power?"

The voice is… a lot. Smooth, melodic, but laced with exhaustion, like some ancient being who's just so tired of everyone's terrible decisions. It doesn't seem to come from any one place—it's just there, woven into the air itself. Even the trees get in on the theatrics, shifting just enough to nudge my attention toward the deeper, darker part of the woods.

My fingers hover over the amulet.

Taking it? Definitely going to have consequences.

Leaving it? Also going to have consequences.

Classic Wonderland. Never a simple option, always a choice between bad idea and pro

bably an even worse idea.