The Eye Of Korrin

Chapter 25: The Eye Of Korrin

The streets of Black Hollow seemed darker tonight. The shadows lingered longer than usual, and I could feel them pulling at me, urging me to embrace their power further. But something had changed. The more I used the shadows, the more I felt detached from the world. Is this what I wanted?

I didn't have time to think about it. The system's cold voice snapped me back to reality.

["New mission]

[Retrieve the artifact known as the Eye of Korrin.]

[It is a key component in unlocking a hidden power within the city.]

[ime limit: 72 hours]

 [Proceed when ready."]

The Eye of Korrin—an artifact tied to some hidden power beneath the city, and the Heart of Shadow, a relic that could store and amplify the shadow energy I used. It was an opportunity to enhance my power in a different way. This wasn't about gaining more raw strength or improving my abilities—it was about control. A way to store energy for later use, giving me a strategic advantage.

I accepted without hesitation. Power was a path I'd chosen, and this was just another step forward.

The Black Serpent Guild had long been a thorn in the side of Black Hollow's underworld, a faction that controlled much of the city's illicit trade. They held the Eye of Korrin in a vault beneath their stronghold, a place known only to those who had proven their loyalty.

I had never dealt directly with the guild, but I knew their reputation well. They were ruthless, and anyone who crossed them was often found dead or worse.

The guild's stronghold was located in the heart of the undercity—a labyrinth of tunnels and decrepit buildings far below the city's surface. I wasn't expecting an easy task. The guild had a reputation for being extremely protective of their artifacts. But I had no choice. This was my mission, and I would complete it.

I moved through the streets of the undercity, the familiar darkness clinging to me. I could feel the shadows whispering, guiding me as I made my way through the alleys and tunnels. My shadow clones scouted ahead, slipping through cracks and doors, gathering intel on the guild's movements.

The stronghold of the Black Serpent Guild was a fortress, hidden deep within the undercity. It was well-guarded, and I knew that trying to just walk in would be impossible. I needed to be strategic.

I used my shadow form to phase through walls, slipping past the exterior guards without a sound. The shadows were my allies, guiding me with precision as I moved through the labyrinthine corridors.

As I neared the vault, I could sense the Eye of Korrin on the other side of a thick iron door. The closer I got, the heavier the air became. The shadow energy around me pulsed in response to the artifact, and I knew I was close.

But I wasn't alone. The guild's elite guards were stationed at the entrance, their dark armor glinting in the low light. I had to be quick. I summoned my shadow chains, lashing them out and binding the guards before they could react. Their weapons were drawn, but they didn't have time to strike.

With the guards dealt with, I approached the vault. I could feel the power radiating from the Eye of Korrin. I knew the risks—taking such a powerful artifact wouldn't come without consequence—but I had no choice.

I stood before the Eye of Korrin, its dark energy pulsing in rhythm with the shadows around me. It was everything I had hoped for—an artifact of untold power, and it was now mine. But as I touched it, I felt something else—the Heart of Shadow.

An ancient relic, hidden away deep in the vault, came to life in my hands. The Heart was a small, obsidian crystal—its surface etched with intricate runes that seemed to glow with dark energy. As I held it, I could feel the shadow energy swirling inside it, waiting to be unleashed. This was no ordinary artifact. The Heart of Shadow had the power to store shadow energy, amplifying it for future use.

With this, I could store energy from my shadows, gathering power for later. It was a tool of immense strategic value—one that could turn the tide in any battle.

But as the Heart's power surged through me, I felt something shift. The shadows around me seemed to tighten, becoming more intense, almost as if they were responding to the Heart's call. I could sense the growing hunger within me. The shadows wanted more.

Before I could make my way out of the vault with the Eye of Korrin in my grasp, a figure emerged from the darkness, stepping into the light of the vault. Tall, broad-shouldered, with the confidence of someone who had been at the top for a long time—he was dressed in the dark robes of a high-ranking guild member. His face was concealed behind a black mask, but the cold, calculating gaze in his eyes was enough to make my blood run cold.

"You think you can just take the Eye and walk away?" His voice was smooth, each word calculated and deliberate. "You've crossed into the wrong territory."

I could sense his power before he even moved—shadow magic as strong as my own, perhaps stronger. He didn't need to say more. I could see it in his stance, in the way the shadows seemed to twist around him, like they were his personal servants, waiting for his command.

I gripped the Eye of Korrin tightly in my hand, ready for whatever came next. There was no turning back now.

"I'll take my chances." I muttered, already preparing to summon my powers.

In an instant, he raised his hand, and the shadows around us exploded to life, writhing and stretching, as though they had a mind of their own. A wave of darkness surged forward, moving like a living entity, trying to engulf me whole.

Without missing a beat, I responded, summoning my shadow chains to block the incoming attack. The chains shot out from the ground, wrapping around the tendrils of shadow, but the guild member wasn't done.

With a swift motion, he slashed through the air with his shadow-infused blade, sending a sharp arc of dark energy toward me. The attack came so fast, I barely had time to react. I ducked and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade's path. The shadows still didn't stop—they shifted, changing course to strike me from every direction.

I teleported to the opposite side of the vault, trying to gain some distance, but the shadows had already anticipated my move. They followed me, weaving around the walls and floor like an extension of his own body.

The guild member grinned, stepping forward, his shadow blade glowing with dark energy. "You're good, Shadowborn. But you'll need more than tricks to get past me."

I summoned three shadow clones, each one appearing in different corners of the vault, surrounding him from all angles. He glanced at them briefly, but there was no hesitation in his eyes. The guild member surged forward, striking at the nearest clone with precision. His shadow blade sliced through it like it was made of paper.

But that was the plan. As he struck, I teleported behind him, moving faster than he could react. My shadow dagger appeared in my hand, and I drove it forward, aiming for his back.

He spun just in time, raising his arm to block. But I wasn't done. I extended my shadows from beneath my feet, lashing out like a serpent to ensnare him. The guild member's blade clashed against my dagger, but he was momentarily stunned, caught in my tendrils.

That's when I made my move. I pressed forward, forcing the blade against his defense, while using my shadows to bind his arms and restrict his movements. The tendrils wrapped tighter, squeezing, pulling him into my grasp. The pressure was overwhelming, and I could feel him struggling against it.

But he wasn't finished yet.

With a sharp twist of his wrist, his shadows burst forward with incredible force. The darkness erupted from his body, breaking free from my chains, and with it, a shockwave of energy that sent me flying backward, slamming into one of the vault walls.

I groaned, trying to get to my feet, but the guild member was already moving toward me, his blade raised, glowing with the dark power he had commanded. His shadow aura surged around him, growing in intensity. The power behind his next strike would crush me if I didn't move fast.

I rose to my feet just in time, phasing through the wall with my shadow form, reappearing behind him. But the moment I emerged, I felt his presence in the shadows. He was ready.

With a burst of speed, he appeared before me, his blade slicing through the air toward my throat. I raised my own dagger to deflect it, but the force of his strike knocked me back. The blade grazed my arm, and a flare of dark magic burned through my skin, leaving a mark that would linger.

I gritted my teeth, refocusing. The shadow-infused dagger in my hand felt heavier now, more attuned to my will than ever before. With one fluid motion, I drew from the depths of my power, summoning a massive surge of shadow tendrils to overwhelm him. The tendrils coiled around his arms, legs, and body, binding him completely, and before he could break free, I drove my dagger straight into his side.

The guild member gasped, his eyes wide with shock. His blade slipped from his hand as he fell to his knees, the shadows around him dissipating.

"You should have stayed out of my way," I whispered as I stood over him. He didn't have the strength to answer.

With the Eye of Korrin in one hand and the Heart of Shadow in the other, I moved toward the exit. But as I walked through the vault, a lingering thought gnawed at me. The shadows had always been my tool, but now, I was starting to feel like they were controlling me.

The system's voice cut through the air:

["Mission completed.]

'Reward granted: The Heart of Shadow.]

[5 units of Nightshade Essence acquired."]

I could feel the weight of the rewards, but they were nothing compared to the growing realization in my mind. The power was mine, but I wasn't sure for how long.

The path forward was clear. I would continue to gain more power, but with each step, I felt the shadows pulling me further away from what I once was.

End of Chapter 25