The night was thick with silence as Eryx and Lira made their way back through the dense forest. The echoes of their recent battle still lingered in the air, the oppressive weight of the Gate's energy hanging over them like a storm cloud. Every step felt heavier, as if the very ground beneath them was pulling Eryx closer to the power he had unleashed.
Lira walked beside him, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, always ready for another attack. But despite the calmness of their surroundings, Eryx could sense the unease in her. She hadn't said much since they left the clearing, her eyes occasionally flicking toward him with a mix of worry and something else—something that felt like fear.
Eryx couldn't blame her. After what had just happened, he wasn't sure he could even trust himself.
Finally, Lira broke the silence. "Eryx, what happened back there… that wasn't you. That was the Gate's power. You've always been in control before, but this time…"
Her voice trailed off, but the unspoken question hung between them: How much longer could he resist?
Eryx ran a hand through his hair, frustration and exhaustion mixing inside him. "I know. I felt it taking over, and I—" He stopped, his jaw clenched as the memory of the blue energy coursing through him resurfaced. "I didn't want to stop it. That's what scares me."
Lira's steps slowed, and she turned to face him, her eyes filled with a fierce determination. "Then we'll find a way to make sure you stay in control. You're not going to lose yourself to this power, Eryx. I won't let that happen."
Eryx met her gaze, appreciating her words, but there was a part of him that knew she couldn't protect him from this. The Gate's power was not something that could be fought with a blade or strength of will alone. It was deeper, more insidious, and it was growing stronger with each passing day.
"You don't understand, Lira," he said, his voice quiet. "The Gate isn't just trying to give me power. It's trying to change me. Every time I use it, I can feel myself slipping, becoming something… else. Something I don't recognize."
Lira stepped closer, her hand gripping his arm tightly. "I don't care how powerful the Gate is, Eryx. You're stronger. You've fought it this far, and you'll keep fighting it. You're not alone in this."
Her words were meant to reassure him, but Eryx couldn't shake the cold dread that had settled in his chest. He appreciated her support more than he could say, but the truth was, this battle was one he had to face alone. The power inside him was his to bear, and every time he used it, the line between who he was and what the Gate wanted him to be blurred.
They continued walking in silence, the forest around them dark and foreboding. The night sky above was clouded, hiding the stars and casting the world in an eerie twilight. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and moss, and the sounds of the forest seemed to have faded, leaving only the soft crunch of their footsteps on the undergrowth.
As they neared the edge of the forest, Eryx suddenly stopped. Lira, sensing his hesitation, turned to look at him, concern flashing in her eyes.
"What is it?" she asked.
Eryx didn't answer immediately. He felt something—a presence—on the edge of his consciousness, as though someone or something was watching them from afar. His senses were sharper now, more attuned to the shifts in the energy around him, and whatever it was, it felt ancient and powerful.
"We're not alone," Eryx said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lira's hand tightened around her sword. "More of those cloaked figures?"
Eryx shook his head. "No… this is something else. Something older."
He turned slowly, scanning the treeline, but nothing moved. The presence remained just beyond his reach, watching, waiting. It was as if the forest itself had eyes, and they were all fixed on him.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the trees, carrying with it a low, haunting whisper. The words were indistinct, but they sent a chill down Eryx's spine. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, though he knew that whatever this was, steel wouldn't be enough to stop it.
Lira drew her blade, her eyes darting around the clearing. "Do you hear that?"
Eryx nodded. "It's coming from everywhere."
The whispering grew louder, more insistent, and then, without warning, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble. The trees swayed violently, their branches creaking and groaning as the forest came alive with movement.
Eryx's pulse quickened, and he could feel the power of the Gate stirring within him, responding to the disturbance. He clenched his fists, trying to suppress the energy that was rising inside him, but it was no use. The Gate's power was feeding off whatever was happening, and it was growing harder to keep it contained.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, gaunt figure draped in tattered robes, its face hidden beneath a hood. The air around it crackled with ancient energy, and the whispering ceased as the figure stepped into the clearing, its presence commanding and terrifying.
"Eryx," the figure intoned, its voice echoing like a chorus of voices, ancient and hollow. "The time has come for you to embrace your destiny."
Eryx stared at the figure, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't know who or what this being was, but the power radiating from it was undeniable. It was tied to the Gate—he could feel it in the depths of his soul.
Lira moved to stand beside him, her sword at the ready. "What is that?" she whispered.
"I don't know," Eryx replied, his voice tense. "But it's not here to talk."
The figure raised a skeletal hand, and the ground beneath them erupted in a burst of energy, sending cracks through the earth and releasing a blinding light. Eryx barely had time to react before the force of the explosion knocked him off his feet, sending him crashing into the ground.
He scrambled to his feet, his vision blurry and his ears ringing. The figure loomed over him, its hollow eyes glowing with an eerie blue light—the same light that flowed through the Gate of Souls.
"You cannot resist the will of the Gate," the figure said, its voice cold and final. "It is inevitable."
Eryx clenched his jaw, his hands trembling as he fought to control the surge of power inside him. But this time, it was different. The power wasn't just threatening to consume him—it was demanding to be unleashed.
"I won't become your puppet," Eryx growled through gritted teeth.
The figure's eyes narrowed, and the light around it flared. "We shall see."
The ground trembled again, and Eryx knew the real battle was about to begin.