Eryx's heart pounded as the ominous figure before him radiated with raw, ancient energy. The surge from the Gate within him pulsed, fighting to be released, pushing against the walls of his willpower. Lira stood at his side, her sword raised, though both of them knew that steel alone wouldn't be enough to stop this confrontation.
For a moment, there was only silence—heavy and foreboding, like the pause before a storm.
The figure in the tattered robes remained motionless, watching. Eryx could feel the weight of its gaze, a pressure that felt like it was boring into his very soul. Every instinct screamed at him to draw on the Gate's power, to let it flood through him and destroy this enemy in a single, decisive strike. But he held back. Just barely.
The ground beneath them was still trembling, cracks snaking outward like the limbs of some great, unseen creature. Lira stepped closer to him, her voice steady but low. "Eryx, we have to move. Now. Whatever that thing is, we're not ready."
He didn't answer, his eyes still locked on the figure. "If we run, it'll just follow. No. We face it here."
Lira didn't argue, but he could feel her unease, her anxiety tightening the air around them. She knew—just as he did—that this was no ordinary foe. It was something older, something tied to the Gate, and to Eryx's fate.
The figure raised its skeletal hand once more, its hollow voice breaking the stillness. "Do you truly believe you can fight the inevitable, Eryx? The Gate has chosen you. Your destiny is sealed."
Eryx's jaw tightened. "I decide my own fate."
With a snarl, he felt the power of the Gate flare within him, slipping through the cracks of his control. Blue energy crackled across his body, lighting up the clearing in an ethereal glow. It surged to the surface, wild and untamed, and he knew that holding back any longer was no longer an option.
Lira glanced at him, worry creasing her features as she saw the energy flickering across his form. "Eryx… don't let it control you."
"I don't plan to."
The figure moved then—suddenly and violently. It was faster than anything Eryx had ever faced, a blur of shadows and ancient power. In an instant, it was upon them, skeletal fingers reaching out, aiming to tear through his defenses and claim him for the Gate.
Eryx reacted instinctively, releasing a pulse of energy from the Gate. Blue light exploded outward, meeting the figure's attack in a dazzling clash of power. The force of it knocked Lira back several feet, but Eryx stood his ground, eyes locked on his foe.
The figure's hollow eyes flared as it was momentarily pushed back, but the victory was short-lived. It recovered almost immediately, its dark form reforming like smoke, undeterred. Eryx could feel it now, the overwhelming presence pressing against his mind. It wasn't just attacking him physically—it was trying to worm its way into his thoughts, into his very soul.
The Gate inside him pulsed in response, feeding off the figure's energy. For a moment, Eryx felt his control slipping again, the power rising, demanding to be unleashed fully. But he fought it down, teeth clenched in defiance. He couldn't let the Gate win.
Not yet.
The figure spoke again, its voice cold and filled with the weight of countless centuries. "Your resistance is futile. The Gate will consume you, and when it does, you will become a vessel for its will. All of this—your struggles, your defiance—it will mean nothing."
Eryx gritted his teeth. "I won't let that happen."
Before the figure could respond, Lira charged. Her sword gleamed under the pale blue light of Eryx's power, slicing through the air with a battle cry. She moved with a speed and precision that came from years of training, her blade aimed straight for the figure's heart—if it had one.
The figure shifted, faster than even Lira could react, its form dissolving into shadow before her strike could land. It reappeared behind her in an instant, hand raised to deliver a killing blow.
"Lira!" Eryx shouted, throwing his hand forward. A surge of energy erupted from his palm, a beam of concentrated blue light that streaked through the air and slammed into the figure, knocking it back before it could strike.
Lira spun around, eyes wide, breathing hard. "Thanks."
Eryx nodded, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could feel the power of the Gate growing stronger inside him with every passing second. It was like a living thing, writhing beneath his skin, demanding to be released fully. But he couldn't—he wouldn't—give in.
Not yet.
The figure stood again, untouched by Eryx's attack. Its voice, when it spoke, was calm. Cold. "You cannot stop the inevitable. You are already changing, Eryx. It is only a matter of time before the Gate consumes you."
Eryx clenched his fists, blue energy crackling around him. "Maybe. But if I'm going down, I'm taking you with me."
With a roar, he unleashed the full power of the Gate in a massive wave of energy, blue light pouring out of him in a blinding torrent. The figure was engulfed in the blast, its form dissolving into shadow as the energy consumed it.
For a moment, there was only silence. The figure was gone, and the forest around them was still.
But Eryx knew this wasn't the end.
He collapsed to his knees, the power of the Gate still swirling inside him, stronger than ever. Lira rushed to his side, her hand on his shoulder. "Eryx, are you okay?"
He shook his head, eyes wide with fear. "No… it's getting stronger. I can't hold it back much longer."
Lira's grip tightened. "Then we'll find a way to stop it. Together."
But even as she spoke, Eryx knew that the real battle had only just begun.