The chamber trembled as the corrupted beastman's roar summoned the twisted shadows from the depths.
Leon's breath steadied. One enemy was bad enough. Now there were more.
The shadowy figures didn't move like living beings. They drifted forward, their bodies shifting between solid and intangible forms. Their eyes—black voids—fixated on the group.
Kaelen's stance remained poised. "They don't have physical forms. Normal attacks might not work."
Leon's mind raced. "Then we hit where it matters."
The source of corruption.
His eyes flicked to the pedestal at the center of the chamber. The first unnatural marking he had seen was there.
If the corruption was feeding the guardian, then breaking the link could weaken it.
But first—
They had to survive.
---
A Battle Against Shadows
The first shadow lunged.
It moved too fast, its formless body twisting unnaturally as it reached for Leon.
He barely sidestepped before swinging his blade in a wide arc. The moment steel met darkness, resistance surged up his arm.
The shadow shrieked.
It wasn't a normal cry—it was a sound that scraped against the mind, unnatural and piercing.
Leon's attack landed, but the cut didn't last. The wound sealed itself just as fast as the beastman's had.
Jarek, behind him, yelped. "Yeah, yeah, this is a nightmare. Just confirming for everyone."
Kaelen wasn't idle. His daggers flickered through the air, slicing through two more of the figures. They recoiled but didn't fall.
Leon's thoughts sharpened. If normal attacks won't work… then we target something they can't regenerate.
He turned to Rhun. "Can you feel the corruption's source?"
Rhun's ears twitched as he closed his eyes for a moment, sensing the air. "It's centered around the pedestal," he confirmed, golden eyes snapping open. "The guardian and these creatures—they're bound to it."
Leon nodded. "Then we sever that connection."
---
A Desperate Plan
The corrupted beastman snarled, its hulking form moving with terrifying speed as it lunged toward them again.
Leon met the charge head-on.
His sword clashed against its claws, sparks flying. The force sent a jarring vibration up his arm, but he held his ground.
Rhun and Jarek flanked the beast, forcing it to divide its attention.
Meanwhile, Kaelen dashed toward the pedestal. His daggers slashed at the dark markings carved into the stone.
The chamber reacted.
A deep, guttural groan echoed through the walls as the markings pulsed. The shadows lurched, their movements faltering.
Leon's eyes narrowed. It's working.
"Kaelen, keep going!"
Kaelen didn't hesitate. His daggers struck again—this time with precision, severing the corrupted lines etched into the stone.
The reaction was instant.
The shadowy figures let out a shriek before collapsing, their forms unraveling into nothingness.
And the corrupted beastman—
It staggered.
For the first time, it didn't regenerate.
Leon's pulse quickened. "Now!"
This was their chance to end it.
---