Chapter 94: Shadows of the Eclipse

The sun had dipped beneath the horizon, leaving only twilight in its wake. The sky was painted with hues of crimson and violet, like nature itself sensed an ominous shift.

Ethan sat alone on a moss-covered boulder near the ancient tower they had just conquered. His hands were wrapped in cloth, still bruised from the battle against the golems. He winced as he flexed his fingers.

"I still don't get it…" he muttered. "Why me?"

No mana. No magic. Just a stubborn will and some busted knuckles.

He stared up at the stars, remembering the inscription.

"It is not power that unlocks it… but purity. Will. And a heart unchained."

"…What does that even mean?"

Behind him, soft footsteps approached. Ethan didn't need to turn around to know who it was—Karen Lore, her presence calm and comforting like moonlight.

"You okay?" she asked gently, offering him a steaming cup of tea.

He took it with a tired smile. "Physically? Sorta. Mentally? I think I need a system update."

Karen sat beside him, the hem of her priestess robe brushing against his arm. "You're handling this better than most would."

"I still don't even know why I'm involved in all of this," he said. "All I wanted was to survive."

Karen tilted her head. "You're not just surviving anymore, Ethan. You're changing things."

He looked at her, confused. "Huh?"

"You took in Xiao Yao when the world hated her. You healed Eline even after she tried to kill you. You inspired Seraphina to leave the shadows. And me… well, I was just a lost priestess. But now…"

She smiled, her golden eyes soft. "Now I feel like I'm part of something real."

Ethan blinked. "Karen, are you—"

"Shh." She raised a finger to his lips, giggling. "You're still too dense to get it. Let's leave it at that."

He flushed, looking away. "I'm… not dense."

"Yes, you are."

Before Ethan could reply, a sudden chill swept through the air.

And then—

BOOOOM.

The tower behind them shook violently. Dust rose into the air, and a terrifying pressure descended from the skies.

"Everyone, on alert!" Sylvia shouted, materializing ice spears in an instant.

Selene's eyes glowed as she summoned a barrier of arcane light. "Something is descending… something powerful."

From the clouds above, a massive crack tore through the sky—like reality itself had been ripped apart.

And from that crack fell a woman.

She landed gently, without a sound, hovering inches above the ground.

Clad in flowing dark robes, with glowing red eyes and long, raven hair that floated unnaturally behind her, she looked down at the group like they were insects.

"I am Calantha," she spoke, her voice cold and echoing with unnatural resonance. "First General of the Eclipse."

Ethan frowned. "Great. Another edgy title."

Calantha's gaze fell upon him. "You are the anomaly. The one who threatens the balance of mana."

"…Huh?"

"Because of your existence, the Core stirs. That cannot be allowed."

Without another word, she raised her hand—and the ground cracked open beneath them as tendrils of shadow erupted from the earth.

Battle: The Eclipse General

Sylvia darted forward, launching ice javelins, but Calantha twisted her hand, and the ice disintegrated in midair.

"Magic is meaningless against me," Calantha said coldly.

Selene and Karen chanted together, creating a combined holy-arcane spell, but it bounced off the black aura surrounding Calantha like harmless light.

Vivian and Lilian tried to fight together—fire and rune combined—but their power barely scratched her.

Xiao Yao dashed in, claws glowing. "Take this!"

She managed to land a hit—just barely nicking Calantha's cheek.

The General looked surprised for a moment.

"…A beastkin hybrid dares touch me?"

Ethan saw the dark magic begin to form in Calantha's hand and moved without thinking.

He sprinted forward, grabbing Xiao Yao mid-dash and leaping away.

BOOM!

The blast cratered the earth where Xiao Yao had stood.

"Are you okay?!" Ethan asked, checking her over.

She blinked, blushing deeply. "Y-You grabbed me again…"

He blinked. "I mean, yeah. You were gonna get vaporized!"

She looked away. "Thanks…"

Calantha turned toward him.

"You are unworthy of the Core," she growled. "You are an error."

Ethan stood up slowly, cracking his knuckles. "You keep saying that. And yet, here I am."

[Passive Ability Activated: NEVER GIVE UP]Willpower increased. Fear resistance activated.

[Titan's Might: Active]+300% strength

[New Passive Ability Unlocked!]Name: Unbroken LineEffect: When standing in front of an ally, DEF and RES increase by 500%. Grants immunity to knockback.

"Let's see if I'm still just an error after this," he growled.

Ethan charged.

His punch collided with Calantha's barrier—and shattered it.

She stumbled back, shocked.

"…Impossible."

Ethan grinned. "I don't need mana. I've got fists."

The battle surged again—Calantha vs Ethan, strength vs void magic.

And for the first time…

Ethan held his own.

Aftermath

Calantha retreated into the shadows, wounded.

"This is not over," she hissed. "The other Generals will come."

As she vanished, Ethan dropped to his knees, breathing hard.

"Holy crap… I actually punched a General."

Karen rushed to his side. "You're insane!"

"You like me that way."

She flushed. "…No comment."

Sylvia walked over, expression unreadable. "She called you the 'anomaly.' That means you're tied to the Core more than we thought."

Selene nodded. "We must move quickly. If more Generals come, we won't survive the next time unless we're stronger."

Ethan groaned. "So no break, huh?"

"Nope," Xiao Yao said, resting her head on his shoulder.

Lilian smirked. "You're the chosen one now, dummy."

"…Can't I be the unchosen one instead?"

Everyone laughed.

And so, with another mystery unfolding and another enemy defeated, the group moved forward once more—toward the next seal, and deeper into the unknown.