The Stalker’s Revenge

The Aftermath of Eclipsing Maw

Arlan sat on a cold rock, still catching his breath. His limbs felt sluggish, his mind foggy from the aftereffects of Eclipsing Maw. Bones was chittering softly at his side, his skeletal tail flicking smugly.

Shade hovered nearby, his dark form flickering between visibility and nothingness.

"Weaklings," Shade muttered.

Bones clicked his teeth. "Me Stronger."

Shade hissed. "Me Faster."

Bones rattled his tail. "Me Better."

Arlan groaned, rubbing his face. "Will you two stop? I just got done almost merging with the afterlife."

Tomas, still nursing his bruised ribs, snorted. "I don't know, Arlan. Maybe you should let them fight. Might be the most coordinated thing we've seen today."

Leila smirked. "And to think, I was worried about us getting weaker."

Mira, sitting across from Arlan, was silent. She was watching him. Again.

She hadn't said much since the fight, but her eyes kept flickering toward him—especially when she thought he wasn't looking.

Arlan wasn't used to that kind of attention. He could handle Mira insulting him. That made sense.

But this?

This was terrifying.

Beren stood up with a grunt, tightening the grip on his axe. "Break's over. We move."

Leila sighed. "We're just going deeper, aren't we?"

Beren shrugged. "We're here to get stronger."

Tomas groaned but pushed himself to his feet. "Fine. But if something jumps at us again, I'm hitting Arlan first."

"Why me?"

"Because you keep turning into things, and I don't trust that."

Arlan rolled his eyes but got up to follow.

Bones and Shade continued their muttered rivalry as the group pressed forward.

The deeper they went, the quieter the dungeon became.

It wasn't normal.

Tomas whispered, "I don't like this."

Beren gestured toward the cavern walls. Claw marks. Dozens of them, freshly carved into the stone.

A nest?

Mira's voice was tense. "They didn't retreat."

Leila nocked an arrow. "No."

Tomas tightened his grip on his sword. "They set a trap."

Then— A single, low chittering sound.

It echoed, Then another, And another.

The walls moved.

Dozens of glowing eyes emerged from the darkness.

The Stalkers had returned.

And this time, they weren't running. They were hunting.

The Alpha Stalker Appears

The ground trembled.

Beren's grip on his axe tightened. "Something big is coming."

From the depths of the cavern, a shadow moved.

No. Not a shadow.

A monster.

The Alpha Stalker emerged.

Larger than the others—twice their size, its darkened carapace gleamed with a thick, armored shell. Bladed forearms curled at its sides, razor-sharp and gleaming with a sickly green toxin.

It did not lunge. It studied them. Waiting. Testing.

Leila whispered, "That thing's not normal."

Mira tightened her grip on her staff. "It's bigger."

Arlan swallowed hard.

Something about it felt wrong.

Then—

The Alpha roared.

And the pack attacked.

A Chaotic Battle Ensues

The first Stalker lunged at Tomas—he raised his shield, activating [Iron Wall].

The impact shattered the shield instantly.

Tomas barely had time to swear before the force sent him flying into the cavern wall.

Leila teleported, using [Shadow Step] to flank the Alpha.

But the moment she reappeared—

It was waiting.

One bladed forearm slashed at her, forcing her into a desperate roll to avoid being cut in half.

Beren swung his axe in a wild, brutal arc, catching one of the lesser Stalkers mid-leap. The impact split it in half mid air, but another replaced it instantly.

Mira launched a fireball, but the Stalkers scattered, moving with unnatural speed. Her flames hit empty rock.

Arlan's mind was racing.

They were losing control.

Then—

The Alpha Stalker moved.

It moved fast.

Too fast.

It rushed Mira—closing the gap in an instant.

She tried to raise her staff—too late.

Arlan didn't think.

He activated [Eclipsing Maw]—with Shade.

The world blurred.

His body shifted.

His vision darkened.

He was fast. Faster than ever. His limbs felt weightless, his body flickering between existence and nothingness.

He didn't run.

He phased.

One moment, he was beside Tomas.

The next—he was in front of Mira, standing between her and the Alpha.

The Alpha recoiled, confused.

Arlan did not hesitate.

He lunged, spectral claws slashing at its exposed side. The Alpha screeched, staggering back. A thick, black ichor dripped from the wound.

The Alpha let out a deafening roar.

The remaining Stalkers surged forward—swarming Beren, trying to pin him down.

Tomas, still dazed, pushed himself up and charged into the fray, using his sword to cut down a Stalker before it could rip into Beren's back.

Leila found her moment.

She vanished into the shadows.

She reappeared above the alpha, bow already drawn.

Her arrow glowed black, coated in shadow magic.

She fired.

The arrow pierced directly through the Alpha's skull.

The monster let out a final, sickening screech.

Then—it collapsed.

The surviving Stalkers fled into the darkness.

The fight was over.

The Aftermath

The cavern was silent once more.

The group stood there, panting, covered in sweat, bruises, and scratches.

Arlan stumbled as he deactivated [Eclipsing Maw] collapsing onto one knee. His body felt heavy, his muscles weak.

Mira rushed to his side. "Arlan—are you—?"

"I'm fine," he muttered, though he clearly wasn't.

Tomas dropped onto the ground. "I think I'm dying."

Leila smirked, wiping blood from her lip. "You're fine. Mostly."

Beren stretched, wincing. "That thing was different."

Then Tomas groaned. "Okay. I vote we stop running into things that can kill us."

Leila smirked. "That's adorable. You think we have a choice."

Arlan exhaled.

That thing wasn't normal.

And something deep in his gut told him—

They weren't done yet.