The growl reverberated through the stone walls, filling the chamber with a suffocating tension. Kai shot to his feet, ignoring the burning pain in his muscles. His eyes darted to Lysandra, who stood frozen in place, her face pale. She, too, had heard the unmistakable sound the Shadowborn.
"No," Kai whispered under his breath. He hadn't had time to fully recover, and now it was back, lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike.
The ground beneath them seemed to vibrate with every step the beast took. A thick, dark fog began to seep into the chamber, the temperature dropping as the oppressive energy of the creature grew closer. Lysandra slowly backed away, her hand instinctively reaching for the dagger strapped to her side.
"Kai," she said, her voice tight with fear. "We need to move. Now."
Kai didn't need to be told twice. His mind raced as he scanned the room for an exit. They couldn't take the main path they'd be out in the open, easy prey for the creature. The only other option was the narrow passageway at the far end of the chamber, but it led deeper into the Labyrinth. It would be a gamble, but staying here was suicide.
"Over there!" Kai pointed to the passageway, already moving toward it.
Lysandra hesitated for only a second before following, her footsteps echoing behind him as they sprinted toward the dark corridor. Just as they reached the entrance, a deafening roar filled the chamber, the walls shaking from the force of it. Kai turned just in time to see the massive form of the Shadowborn emerging from the shadows, its eyes glowing with a cold, malevolent light.
It was larger than before its body a mass of swirling black tendrils and muscle, its claws dripping with dark energy. Its monstrous face twisted into a snarl, revealing rows of jagged, obsidian-like teeth.
Kai's heart pounded in his chest. They weren't ready to face it, not yet. "Run!" he shouted, grabbing Lysandra's arm and pulling her into the passageway.
They plunged into the darkness of the narrow corridor, the air thick with the stench of damp stone and decay. The walls seemed to close in around them as they raced deeper into the Labyrinth, the growls of the Shadowborn echoing behind them.
"We can't keep running forever," Lysandra panted, her voice shaky. "What's the plan?"
Kai gritted his teeth, his mind working frantically. They needed time time to regroup, time to figure out a strategy. But the Shadowborn was relentless, and the Labyrinth offered no easy way out. "We need to find a place to hide," he said between labored breaths. "Somewhere it can't follow us."
They rounded a corner, only to come face-to-face with a dead end. Lysandra cursed under her breath, and Kai's heart sank. There was nowhere left to go.
The growling grew louder, closer. The Shadowborn was almost upon them.
"Kai…" Lysandra's voice wavered, fear creeping into her usually calm demeanor. "We can't fight it like this."
"I know," Kai muttered, scanning their surroundings desperately. The walls were lined with ancient carvings, worn and faded from centuries of neglect. But something about them caught his eye one of the carvings seemed out of place, a small indentation in the stone that didn't match the others.
Without thinking, Kai pressed his hand against it. There was a loud, grinding noise as part of the wall slid open, revealing a hidden chamber. It was small, barely enough room for the two of them, but it might be enough to conceal them from the creature.
"Hurry!" Kai pulled Lysandra inside, and the wall closed behind them just as the Shadowborn's growl echoed down the corridor.
Inside the hidden chamber, they were plunged into total darkness. Kai pressed his ear against the stone wall, listening intently. The growling outside grew softer, more distant, as if the Shadowborn was searching elsewhere. For now, they were safe.
Lysandra let out a shaky breath, sinking to the floor. "That was too close."
Kai leaned back against the wall, his own body trembling with exhaustion. "Yeah… but we're not out of the woods yet."
His mind raced with questions. The Labyrinth was dangerous enough, but the Shadowborn's sudden appearance, stronger and more ferocious than before, wasn't a coincidence. Something had changed. Something in the shadows was stirring.
"How did it find us so quickly?" Lysandra asked, her voice hushed. "We barely escaped it the first time, and now…"
"I don't know," Kai admitted. "But it's not just the Shadowborn. The shadows… they feel different." He hesitated, the memory of the Abyss still fresh in his mind. "I think… I think something in the Labyrinth has awakened."
Lysandra's eyes widened, and she leaned in closer. "What do you mean?"
Kai's voice dropped to a whisper. "When I was unconscious, I had a vision or maybe it was real. I was in the Abyss, and there was… something there. A figure. It said the shadows are alive, that they have a will of their own."
Lysandra frowned, her brow furrowing in concern. "The Abyss? But that's just a myth. No one's ever been there."
"I know," Kai said. "But it felt real. And now the shadows… they're acting on their own, like they're trying to tell me something."
Lysandra was silent for a moment, processing his words. Then she looked up, her eyes filled with determination. "If the shadows are alive, then maybe they can help us. You've always had a connection with them, Kai. Maybe there's a way to use that connection to turn the tide."
Kai shook his head. "It's not that simple. The shadows aren't just power they're dangerous. If I lose control…"
Before he could finish, a sharp crack echoed through the chamber, followed by a low rumble. The floor beneath them began to shake, and dust fell from the ceiling.
"What's happening?" Lysandra gasped, scrambling to her feet.
Kai's blood ran cold. The Shadowborn hadn't given up. It was trying to break through the walls. "It's found us," he muttered, his voice tense. "We have to move—now."
Another crack, louder this time. The stone wall behind them splintered, and a jagged claw burst through, tearing a hole in the chamber's wall. The Shadowborn's glowing eyes appeared, its growl echoing through the small space as it forced its way in.
"Kai!" Lysandra shouted, drawing her dagger as the creature lunged.
Kai's heart pounded in his chest. They were out of time, and the shadows were stirring again. But this time, he had no choice. He reached out, summoning the chaotic energy of the shadows, feeling their power surge through him.
He would have to take the risk.
With a shout, Kai unleashed the full force of the shadows, sending a wave of darkness crashing into the creature. The Shadowborn recoiled, but it wasn't enough to stop it.
"Kai!" Lysandra screamed, her voice filled with terror.
The creature lunged again, and this time, there was no escape.