The Shadow That Devours

A suffocating darkness swallowed the battlefield. The very air trembled with an unseen force, and Kai felt an icy grip tighten around his heart. This presence… it wasn't just powerful—it was something far beyond human.

The armored figure stood at the center of the abyss, his crimson eyes burning like twin embers in the night. Shadows coiled around him like living tendrils, twisting and writhing as if eager to consume everything in their path.

Kai gritted his teeth, steadying his stance. "Who are you?" he demanded, forcing his voice to remain strong.

The man let out a low chuckle. "Names are but shackles of the past. But if you must call me something… I am Veyrin, the Shadow Reaper." His gaze locked onto Kai with an unsettling hunger. "And that artifact—my artifact—has finally revealed itself."

Kai's grip tightened on his sword, feeling the artifact's energy pulse against his palm. "It doesn't belong to you."

Veyrin tilted his head, amused. "Oh? And does it belong to you?"

Before Kai could respond, Veyrin raised his hand. The darkness around him surged forward, moving like a tidal wave of black fire.

"Move!" Lyra shouted, summoning a barrier of light around them. The shadowy energy crashed against it, sending shockwaves rippling through the ground. Cracks formed beneath their feet, as though reality itself was straining under the pressure.

Solis leaped forward, his golden aura flaring to life as he thrust his blade toward Veyrin's chest. But before his attack could land, Veyrin simply raised two fingers.

A single snap echoed through the battlefield.

The moment the sound reached Kai's ears, Solis' body was thrown backward as if struck by an invisible force. He crashed into the ground, skidding across the shattered terrain.

"Solis!" Kai called out, but the sun warrior didn't move.

Veyrin exhaled, as if disappointed. "I expected more from the so-called Guardian of Light." His eyes flickered back to Kai. "But you… You are different."

Kai swallowed hard. The energy in his body churned restlessly, reacting to Veyrin's overwhelming presence. He could feel the artifact inside him, urging him forward, as if it recognized the dark entity before him.

Veyrin took a slow step forward, his gaze never leaving Kai. "You feel it too, don't you? The power within you. It calls to me. It calls to the darkness."

Kai's hands trembled. The memories of the Nexus flashed through his mind—Aria's warning, the artifact's strange pull, the fear that something inside him was changing.

But he couldn't afford to hesitate. Not now.

With a deep breath, Kai focused all his energy into his blade. The artifact's glow intensified, its blue radiance cutting through the shadows. He lunged at Veyrin, aiming straight for his heart.

Their blades met.

The clash of steel sent a shockwave that tore through the battlefield, uprooting trees and splitting the earth apart. Sparks danced around them as Kai pushed with all his strength, but Veyrin barely budged.

"You're strong," Veyrin admitted. "But strength alone is not enough."

With a flick of his wrist, Veyrin twisted his sword, breaking Kai's stance. Before Kai could recover, a shadowy tendril lashed out, slamming into his chest.

Pain exploded through his body as he was sent hurtling through the air. He hit the ground hard, the impact stealing the breath from his lungs.

"Kai!" Lyra rushed toward him, her hands glowing as she attempted to heal his injuries.

Kai coughed, struggling to sit up. "He's… too strong."

Veyrin sighed. "You're wasting your potential." He extended a hand toward Kai, his voice calm yet commanding. "Join me, boy. Wield the darkness as it was meant to be wielded. The artifact chose you for a reason. Don't fight it."

Kai stared at him, his heart pounding. For a moment, the artifact pulsed in his hand, almost agreeing with Veyrin's words.

Could it be true? Was he meant to embrace the darkness?

No.

Kai shook his head, gripping his sword tighter. "I don't need your power. I'll forge my own path."

Veyrin's expression darkened. "A shame."

The shadows around him surged once more, forming jagged black spears that hovered in the air like a thousand deadly fangs.

"Then you will die."

With a flick of his hand, the spears shot forward—straight at Kai.