The remnants of the shattered orb still flickered faintly in the center of the chamber, casting eerie, fractured light across the debris-strewn floor. The Devourers' bodies lay in heaps around them, motionless and silent. But for Yeon-ah, Juna, and the woman, the battle was far from over.
They stood in the aftermath, their bodies exhausted but their minds still racing with what they had just faced. Yeon-ah's yellow eyes lingered on the spot where the orb had been, her grip tightening on the hilt of her sword. Even with the immediate threat gone, the words of that disembodied voice echoed in her mind.
"This is not the end… You cannot stop what is coming."
The woman was the first to break the silence. "We need to leave. Now." Her voice was sharp and precise, cutting through the heavy air like a blade. She didn't wait for a response, already moving toward the exit, her posture tense as she scanned the surrounding darkness.
Yeon-ah glanced at Juna, who was still trembling, her small hands clutching her knife so tightly her knuckles had turned white. The younger girl had fought bravely, but the weight of the battle—and of what they had done—was clearly settling in. Her eyes were wide with lingering fear and uncertainty.
Yeon-ah placed a gentle hand on Juna's shoulder. "We're not done yet, but we made it through this. You did well."
Juna looked up at her, her expression caught between fear and relief. "What… What was that voice? Who was it?"
Yeon-ah hesitated. The truth was, she didn't know. Whatever force had been controlling the Devourers had just given them a chilling warning. She could feel it deep in her bones—there was something much larger at play here. Something that went beyond the Devourers.
"We'll find out," Yeon-ah said quietly. "But not here. Let's move."
The group made their way through the winding corridors of the ruined building, their footsteps muffled by the thick layer of dust and debris. The further they got from the chamber, the colder the air seemed to become, as if the very walls were holding onto the lingering presence of the malevolent force they had encountered.
As they reached the exit, the harsh night wind hit them, the open air bringing a sudden sense of relief, though it did little to ease the tension that still gripped their hearts. The city sprawled out before them, a landscape of broken towers and desolation. Fires flickered in the distance, faint pinpricks of light in the otherwise pitch-black sky.
Calen was already outside, standing watch near the entrance. His scarred face was set in a grim expression, his eyes scanning the dark streets ahead.
"Did you do it?" he asked as they approached, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer.
Yeon-ah gave a curt nod. "The orb is destroyed. But… there's something else. A voice. It said this isn't over."
Calen's expression darkened. He had feared as much. "I've heard rumors… whispers of something even the Devourers fear, but I thought it was just talk. Something deeper in the city. A darkness none of us have dared to confront."
Yeon-ah's heart sank at his words. The battle they had just fought had been hard enough. If something even worse was waiting for them in the depths of the city, how could they hope to survive it?
The woman's eyes flicked to Calen, her jaw clenched. "We don't have time for rumors. What's coming for us? We need solid answers."
Calen shook his head. "I don't know. But I do know one thing—whatever it is, it's not something we can fight head-on. It's something… ancient."
The word hung in the air between them like a death sentence. Ancient. Yeon-ah felt a chill run down her spine. She had been fighting since the world had fallen apart, but nothing about this felt familiar. It felt like they were up against forces that had been waiting long before the Devourers ever appeared.
Juna, who had been quiet up until now, spoke, her voice small but determined. "So what do we do? We can't just run forever."
Yeon-ah looked at the younger girl, admiring her courage despite the fear in her voice. Juna had come a long way from the scared survivor they had first met. She was right—running wasn't an option.
"We need a plan," Yeon-ah said, her mind already racing with possibilities. "We need to find out what this thing is. Maybe the survivors we met earlier can help us."
Calen frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. "They don't have answers. They're just trying to survive like the rest of us. But there is one place… one person who might know more."
Yeon-ah's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
"There's an old scholar. They say she's been studying the Devourers and everything related to the collapse since it started. If anyone knows about this 'ancient force,' it's her." Calen's voice was low, almost reluctant, as if he wasn't sure this was the path they should take.
"Where is she?" the woman asked, her tone all business. She didn't waste time with hesitation.
Calen hesitated before answering. "She's deep in the city. Almost at its core."
Yeon-ah's heart sank further. The core of the city—where the danger was greatest, where the Devourers swarmed in numbers they hadn't even imagined yet. But if this scholar had answers… it was their only lead.
"We go," Yeon-ah said, her voice resolute. "We need answers, and if she has them, we'll get them."
The woman nodded in agreement, though her eyes betrayed the tension she felt about the decision. "It won't be easy," she said, her gaze shifting toward the darkened horizon. "We'll be moving through the heart of the Devourers' territory. It'll be dangerous every step of the way."
Yeon-ah sheathed her sword, feeling the weight of it against her hip. "When has it ever been easy?"
A faint smile tugged at the corners of the woman's mouth, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Fair point."
They turned back to Juna, who looked between them, her expression a mix of fear and determination. "I'm with you," she said softly, though her voice carried a strength that surprised even Yeon-ah.
"Good," Yeon-ah said, nodding at her. "Then let's move."
With Calen leading the way, they descended into the city once more, the oppressive weight of the unknown hanging over them. The wind howled through the empty streets, carrying with it the distant echoes of something far more sinister than they had ever faced.