Chapter 24 — Red Hunger

Arc II: Veins of Mourndusk

> There is a hunger that cannot be fed by flesh, nor stilled by fire. It feeds on memory, on Pulse, on the shape of what a soul used to be.

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The Hollow Shrine trembled.

Not from a quake or collapse—but from something older. Something alive.

Asha stepped forward first, boots pressing into fractured obsidian tiles veined with crimson rot. Her cloak swept behind her like a dying banner, and her eyes narrowed at the impossible aura now flooding the shrine. Shattered red bands curled through the air, orbiting a massive silhouette crawling from the far chamber.

Vrakon, Nemea, and Yarri followed, but none spoke.

What emerged from the dark was no ordinary Pulse-Eater.

Its frame was jagged, like it had been carved from dozens of corpses and stitched together with molten iron. Bones jutted at impossible angles, but pulsed with rhythm—a rhythm matching the corrupted shrine itself. From its chest leaked thick coils of black-orange light, spiraling like a vortex barely contained.

> "That's not a beast," Nemea whispered. "That's a wound."

The Ruin Maw

Level: Realm 5 — Domain-Tier Hybrid

Core Color: Black-Orange

Aura: Shattered crimson bands, swirling with molten decay

Abilities (Confirmed):

1. Pulse Absorption — Devours active and dormant Pulse Cores.

2. Fracta Cloak — Hides presence and form from Pulse senses.

3. Echo Leak — Screams of absorbed Cores disorient enemies.

4. Core Spikes — Fires semi-intelligent core shards.

5. Null Maw — Temporarily silences all abilities in radius.

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"Back!" Asha barked, throwing a hand outward. Her Domain flared—pale silver glyphs spiraling beneath her feet.

The Ruin Maw shrieked.

But it wasn't a sound.

It was a flood of voices. Screams, whispers, sobs—a thousand absorbed Fracta-Wielders echoing through the chamber. Yarri collapsed to her knees, clutching her ears. Nemea stumbled back, gasping. Vrakon stood still, cold fury flashing in his eyes.

Asha stepped forward.

> "Judgement Bloom."

Her first Domain skill unleashed—a pulse-blade of silver erupted from her palm, slicing a wall of force toward the beast. It struck the creature's shoulder, searing through skin and revealing buried cores inside.

But the Ruin Maw laughed.

Or rather, the souls within it laughed.

Its arms stretched, bones rearranging, and it fired Core Spikes — fragments of stolen cores launched like guided missiles.

Asha raised her second power.

> "Memory Braid."

A shield of spiraled Pulse memory encased the group. The spikes hit, cracking the barrier but failing to break through.

> "Nemea! Pull Yarri out! Vrakon, with me!"

Pulse Clash

The beast charged, Null Maw blooming around it. The entire shrine dimmed. Vrakon's Core flared in resistance, but his Spiral Instinct kicked in—he rolled under a swipe, catching a glimpse of the Ruin Maw's stomach: dozens of pulsing faces.

Asha stepped into the Null Maw field.

Her Domain flickered—but didn't die.

> "Sovereign Mark," she hissed.

A ring of glyphs burst from her armor, repelling the suppression aura. Her silver light now burned with discipline and rage. She moved faster—every motion precise, like a war hymn given form.

The Ruin Maw swung a claw—Asha ducked low and cut upward.

More cores spilled.

> "You have no soul of your own," Asha said. "Only what you've stolen."

The Ruin Maw lunged—but was caught mid-leap by a spiral of black-silver from behind.

Vrakon.

He didn't remember moving.

He didn't remember choosing.

Spiral Instinct had activated again.

And it was hunting.

The creature snarled, twisting mid-air. One tendril shot toward Vrakon, who dodged too late. It grazed his shoulder—and part of his Pulse shimmered, drawn outward.

Pain erupted.

> Echo Leak triggered again.

Visions poured in—hundreds of souls, devoured. Screaming. Wailing.

"Let go," one whispered.

"Join the Maw."

Asha slammed a palm to the ground.

> "Truthbrand."

The whispers shattered. Lies exposed. Illusions ruptured.

The Ruin Maw hissed, its Fracta Cloak flickering.

Asha stood tall now, eyes blazing.

> "It's not just a creature. It's a collector of unfinished deaths."

Behind her, Nemea readied a Pulse dagger, trembling.

Yarri stood again, pale but fierce.

And Vrakon...

He looked up at the beast, Spiral Mark glowing.

And he smiled.

> This battle wasn't over.

> It hadn't even started.