The city breathed darkness.
There was no wind, no sound.Only the constant feeling that someone—or something—was watching us.
The sky was shrouded in thick, unmoving clouds, as if time itself had refused to flow within Quilpué.
—We're getting close —Romina whispered, eyes on the runic scanner on her wrist—.The dark energy concentrations are heavier in this direction.
Pablo spat on the ground and hoisted his spear over his shoulder.
—Then let's go knock on their door.
We moved through what had once been an industrial district.
Rusting warehouses.Tipped-over containers.Half-collapsed buildings.
After a few minutes, we found what we were looking for:an old depot, surrounded by makeshift barricades and active patrols.
Two armed men on the rooftop.Another at the entrance.And three creatures—yes, creatures—chained with glowing black runes like guard dogs.
—What kind of sick bastard keeps beasts as pets? —murmured one of the captains.
—One who's no longer human —I replied.
The plan was simple.Fast.Precise.
Romina cast an illusion to cover our advance.I flanked with the captains.Patricio acted as the decoy.Pablo... the sledgehammer.
It was going well—Until we realized they were waiting for us.
As soon as Patricio stepped into view, the snipers didn't fire.
They activated hidden runes.
Explosions sealed off our side paths.And from the depot entrance came more creatures, twisted and scarred with glowing black sigils.
—It's a trap! —I yelled.
But we didn't back down.
The battle was vicious.
The creatures were fast, coordinated—as if someone was controlling them remotely.The enemy soldiers were well-armed.Some were even awakened, casting crude but dangerous spells.
Pablo took a hit protecting one of the captains.Romina deflected a shadow bolt that would've torn Patricio in half.And I…I activated one of our unused artifacts: a containment sphere that released a shockwave of purification, briefly dispersing the corruption in the area.
That was all we needed.
With surgical precision, we regrouped—and took them down.One by one.
When silence returned…blood still dripped from the ceiling.
We'd won.But victory tasted like iron and ashes.
At the back of the depot, we found prisoners.More survivors.Women, children, a few young men.Starved.Wounded.Alive.
We freed them.
And just when I thought it was over—I felt it.
A presence.
A voice.
In my mind.
"So… you're the one who came to ruin my garden, Diego."
I spun around.No one was speaking.No one looked confused.Only I heard it.
"Keep walking. Keep playing hero.The end is near…And I'll be there to greet you."
My blood went cold.
For the first time—The Hollow One spoke to me.
I wiped the sweat from my brow and returned to the group.
I said nothing.
But they all noticed.
Because in my eyes, the flame didn't flicker...
It was burning.