The creature moved.
Not like a beast. Not like a human.
It shifted—one moment standing still, the next suddenly inches away from Leon.
Leon barely dodged. He threw himself to the side, rolling across the dirt as the creature's twisted limbs lashed at the space where he had just been.
A moment slower, and he would have been pulled in.
Jarek shouted, drawing his sword. "Alright, I don't care if it's a void monster or a damn ghost—" He swung with all his strength.
His blade cut through nothing.
The creature didn't even react.
Jarek staggered back, swearing. "Oh, come on!"
Kaelen, however, didn't waste time complaining. His golden eyes flickered as he adjusted his stance. "Your blade carries no essence. It is worthless here."
Jarek threw up his hands. "Oh, I'm sorry, next time I'll just—wait, what?"
Leon was already catching on.
Kaelen's blades had worked, even if only a little. His attacks had some essence to them—something more than just steel.
Leon's marked hand burned.
The shrine had left something on him. Maybe that could be used.
"Jarek, fall back," Leon ordered. "I need time to figure this out."
Jarek hesitated but nodded. "Fine. But if you get pulled into a void nightmare, I'm not jumping in after you."
Leon didn't answer.
Because the creature was already attacking again.
---
A Desperate Gamble
Kaelen met its advance, his blades flashing.
This time, he wasn't just slashing wildly. He was moving with precision—targeting the creature's core, forcing it to react.
The Hollow's spawn twisted, trying to counter. But Kaelen was too fast, too sharp. He cut again, and this time—
The creature staggered.
Leon's eyes locked onto the moment.
Kaelen's attacks weren't breaking the creature. But they were forcing it to stabilize.
Leon's instincts screamed at him. This was his chance.
He focused on his mark, clenching his fist.
If his hand could connect to the shrine's power…
Then maybe it could harm the Hollow, too.
Leon lunged.
His palm slammed against the creature's core.
And the moment it did—
His vision went white.
---
A Glimpse Beyond
For a brief second, Leon wasn't in the forest.
He was somewhere else.
A space that didn't exist, yet stretched endlessly.
A voice, hollow and distant, whispered:
"You… do not belong."
Leon couldn't breathe. He wasn't sure if he even had a body in this place.
Something vast loomed ahead. Something watching. Waiting.
And then—
Pain.
Agony ripped through him, pulling him backward.
The world snapped back into place.
Leon gasped, collapsing to one knee.
The Hollow's spawn was reeling, its form flickering wildly. The spot where Leon had touched it burned with faint runes, as if something had been seared into its existence.
Kaelen's eyes widened slightly. "You hurt it."
Leon forced himself up. "I can do more than that."
He focused again, forcing the energy in his palm to respond.
The runes on the creature's body spread.
And then, with a soundless wail—
It shattered.
---
The Aftermath
Silence.
The unnatural stillness in the forest faded. The pressure eased.
Leon exhaled sharply. His entire arm ached, the mark on his hand flickering weakly.
Jarek approached cautiously, sword still drawn. "…So. Is it dead?"
Kaelen studied the spot where the creature had vanished. "No."
Jarek groaned. "Of course it's not."
Leon wiped his brow. "I didn't destroy it. I just—dispersed it. Sent it back before it could fully stabilize."
Kaelen nodded. "Then it will return. Stronger."
Jarek crossed his arms. "Great. So we didn't kill the nightmare monster. We just annoyed it."
Leon took a deep breath. This wasn't over.
But now, at least, he had one answer.
The mark left on him by the shrine…
It wasn't just a burden. It was a weapon.
And if the Hollow wanted him?
Then he'd make sure it regretted that choice.
---