"Here it comes, Julius," whispered Ash, "a Shadow is coming."
The wall on the other side of the small flight of stairs darkened. A black mist spread outward, opening a hole within the stone structure. Ash and Julius were unable to hold back their disgust as a Shadow emerged from the hole with a sickening glop. It felt like this creature had just been born as if a higher being was watching them and creating soldiers to intercept them.
The Shadow stepped forward, his black silhouette one of a knight with cyan mist escaping the holes of his visor. It dragged a greatsword on the ground menacingly, eyeing its prey with murderous intent.
"Intruders must be destroyed," it hissed in a metallic voice, the sound grinding Ash's eardrums.
"Did it just say something?" asked Julius in horror.
"Y-Yeah-" began Ash, but his answer was instantly cut off.
"What language is that?"
Ash's head swerved back as he stared at his ally in disbelief. Was Julius unable to understand it? If that was the case, then it meant Ash had gained the ability to understand the language of the Shadows.
Hadn't Draegan been able to communicate with Zane, though? Was the ability to speak different languages restricted to the higher ranks of the Shadows?
Ash chose to conceal his ability to comprehend the Shadows for now. This wasn't time for revelations.
[Special Quest]
[Enter the Center of Paths and reclaim the Voidanium fragment.]
[Reward: 200 Experience + Artifact Function]
[Time Limit: 2h23]
"Julius, can you fight?" asked Ash, the reminder of his remaining time pushing him forward.
"I-I think so. Can we beat this thing?" muttered Julius. The red-haired boy sounded defeated before the battle had even started, and while Ash could understand the terror he was feeling, he didn't believe in giving up before trying.
"There's only one way to find out. Unleash hell, Julius, because that's the only way we make it out of this alive."
With those words, Ash began his attack. He felt the essence in his body and spread it across his body, casting the new spell that he instinctively learned how to cast.
[Shadow Step]
Ash was consumed in a veil of shadow, momentarily disappearing as he traversed the battlefield in darkness. He reappeared behind his enemy, swinging his sword outward with one hand.
The Shadow met his strike with its greatsword, the sheer weight of the giant blade sending a shockwave throughout Ash's body.
Julius didn't notice Ash's new ability. He was too preoccupied with taking control of his thoughts to worry about others. He closed his eyes, silencing the voice that begged him to run away, and released his first spell.
"Ember!"
The small orb of fire blasted towards the back of the Shadow. The soldier suddenly turned its head and glared at Julius, freezing him in place, before stretching out its other arm and absorbing the attack.
Ash immediately took advantage of the newly-created blind spot, bringing his fist back as he condensed the essence in his body into one singular point.
[Shadow Punch]
Ash didn't know if the attack would work on a monster that shared the same element, but it was the most powerful attack he could muster for the time being. He struck the Shadow right in its side, feeling his fist clashing with a physical body.
Ash's fist shot through the Shadow, creating a hole in the misty darkness. It didn't make a sound from the wound as it turned to face Ash.
"Disgusting human," it sneered.
Before Ash could react, the creature's hand wrapped around his neck, lifting him off the ground. Ash struggled violently, lashing out hopelessly with his legs to break himself free. His eyes met Julius's as he began to lose consciousness.
The only thing present in those scarlet eyes was dread.
"Fight!" he croaked with his last breath, "the only way to live is to fight!"
"I-I can't…" muttered Julius, "I'm too weak. I'm a disgrace to my family…"
"Now's not... the time for that," continued Ash in a final effort to convince his companion to help him, "fight, Julius! Fight for yourself and not for anyone else…"
Ash's mind drifted off, but his companion had heard his final words. To fight for oneself and not for the recognition of others. Why did Julius want to become strong? Why did he seek power?
He knew the answer to this. He wanted to be worthy of being called her sibling. He wanted to stand by her side. Ash's final words reminded him of this fact, and while he would recall that sentence forever, he chose to follow the path he had created for himself.
"I'll aim for the stars, Sis…" he whispered as he took in a deep breath, feeling the burning power within him. It was more than a simple flame. It was a beast that originated from the depths of the Underworld. "Just this once, let me use this power without shame!"
Julius readied his sword, bent his legs slightly, and shot towards the monstrosity. He could fear the glacial fear growing stronger, but he concentrated on the inferno roaring within him.
"Beast of the Underworld: Dragoner!"
The Shadow dropped the limp body at the sight of what approached him. A giant serpent-dragon made entirely of dark flames erupted into existence, swirling around the dancing blade of the once frozen kid.
He felt like a different individual. The limits of fear and shame that had kept him constrained had shattered momentarily, and in his moment of enlightenment, he had managed to cast a spell worthy of a B-rank.
At that moment, a mere soldier of the Shadows understood what his people were fighting. What lay in front of him was the child of a God, one that had the power to surpass the Guardians.
Julius spun amidst the flames, guiding the behemoth into his blade. He slashed right through the Shadow, obliterating him with the fire of the Underworld. The soldier released a gasp as it disintegrated, causing the mist to disperse and vanish instantly.
There was no time for reaction. There was no time to defend. The attack was nothing short of a miracle, and it was a miracle that the two adventurers had needed to escape.
Julius landed on the other side of the stairs, beside the wall he had watched the Shadow crawl out from. He looked down at his scorched palms in disbelief, sensing his entire body trembling in a mixture of fear and excitement.
His ally was still unconscious beside him, and he knew it was only a matter of time before he fell into a deep slumber due to his usage of essence. He could already feel his body becoming light. They had to flee.
Just as Julius wrapped Ash's arm around his neck, another hole opened in a wall. The red-haired adventurer only heard where it originated from, and without even a glance, took off to the deeper levels of the Center of Paths.
The Shadows were blocking their exit. The only way out of this was to go down. Maybe, just maybe, they could be saved by reaching the 3rd floor. He didn't know what Ash was searching for, but if he could carry him down there, they could find something with the power to save them.
Julius wiped the sweat off of his face with a determined gaze.
"We're going to the 3rd floor, Ash."