The weight of the orb in Dante's hands was not only physical but also metaphysical, pressing against his mind like an unrelenting tide. His breath came in sharp, controlled bursts as he fought to remain grounded. The tendrils of shadow still coiled around the defeated creature, holding it firmly in place, but there was a subtle tremor in his grip—an indication of how tenuous his control over the shadows really was.
Selene, though visibly impressed, kept her distance. Her blade was still drawn, her body tense as if she expected something to go wrong at any moment.
"Dante," she began cautiously, her eyes never leaving his. "You did it... but for how long? We don't know the true extent of the orb's power. What if this is just the beginning?"
Her words echoed in the chamber, resonating with the unsaid fear that lay heavy between them. Dante knew she was right, but the power surging through him was intoxicating. It wasn't just strength—it was clarity. The shadows sharpened his perception, allowed him to see and feel everything more acutely. He felt invincible, yet dangerously close to losing himself.
"I have control," Dante replied, though even he wasn't entirely sure of his own conviction. He could feel the darkness lurking, like a serpent coiled around his mind, waiting for a moment of weakness to strike.
The creature on the ground stirred, its glowing eyes flickering as though it sensed an opportunity. Dante tightened his grip on the shadows, forcing them to squeeze tighter around the beast's form, suppressing any chance of rebellion.
The shadows obeyed his will—for now.
"I have to take the orb," he continued, his voice firmer this time. "If we leave it here, it'll continue to spawn more of these things. I can't let that happen."
Selene's brow furrowed as she lowered her blade slightly. "And what happens when the orb begins to take over you, Dante? You've already seen how it affects everything around it. You're not immune."
Dante's jaw clenched. He didn't have time to debate. Every second they stood in this cursed chamber felt like a gamble with fate. The longer he held onto the orb, the more its power seeped into him, whispering promises of endless strength—if only he let go of the control he fought so desperately to maintain.
He could feel the pull, the seduction of the shadows urging him to embrace them fully. It would be so easy, so effortless, to let the darkness guide him. To wield it without restraint.
But he wasn't ready to become a puppet to forces he didn't understand.
"I won't let it control me," Dante said quietly, more to himself than to Selene. He took a deep breath, steadying his racing heart. "I won't."
With a final glance at the creature lying immobilized at his feet, Dante turned toward the exit of the chamber. The oppressive air that had hung over them since their arrival seemed to lift slightly, as if the darkness was giving them permission to leave—at least for now.
Selene followed closely behind, her eyes flicking between Dante and the orb in his hands. She didn't trust it, didn't trust what it was doing to him. But she knew better than to argue. Dante was stubborn, and once he made up his mind, there was little anyone could do to change it.
As they walked through the ancient temple's labyrinthine halls, the eerie silence was broken only by the soft shuffle of their footsteps. The walls were adorned with faded murals, depicting scenes of a long-forgotten civilization—one that had clearly tampered with powers far beyond their control.
"Do you think this place was built to house the orb?" Selene asked, her voice echoing faintly in the vast corridor.
Dante glanced at the murals, his brow furrowing. The scenes were difficult to interpret, but there was one recurring motif: figures cloaked in shadow, wielding dark energy much like the power that now coursed through him.
"It must have been," he replied. "They understood the power of the shadows, maybe even tried to master it. But something went wrong."
Selene nodded, though her expression remained guarded. "It always does with things like this."
They reached the temple's grand entrance—a set of towering stone doors that loomed ahead like the jaws of a beast. Outside, the sky was a muted gray, the sun barely visible behind thick, swirling clouds. The world beyond the temple seemed just as oppressive as the one they were leaving behind.
Dante stepped into the open air, breathing in deeply. The cold wind bit at his skin, but it was a welcome change from the suffocating atmosphere inside. He had expected to feel some sense of relief upon leaving the temple, but the weight of the orb in his hands reminded him that their troubles were far from over.
Selene joined him, her gaze scanning the horizon. "Where do we go from here?"
Dante didn't answer immediately. His mind raced with possibilities, but every path seemed fraught with danger. They couldn't return to the city—not with the orb in their possession. Its presence would attract too much attention, too many questions. And if anyone found out about the power it contained...
"We need to go somewhere secluded," Dante said after a moment. "Somewhere we can figure out what to do with this thing without drawing unwanted eyes."
Selene raised an eyebrow. "You mean without drawing more monsters to us."
Dante didn't respond, but the truth of her words hung heavy between them. The orb's power was like a beacon—anything connected to the shadows would be drawn to it, just as the creature in the temple had been. Keeping it hidden would be no easy task.
They started walking, their footsteps crunching against the cold earth. The path ahead was unclear, but Dante's grip on the orb never faltered. He could feel its power pulsating in his hands, a steady rhythm that matched the beat of his heart. The shadows whispered to him, promising more strength, more control—if only he let them in.
"Dante," Selene said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her tone was different now—quieter, more urgent. "I need you to listen to me."
He glanced at her, noticing the seriousness in her expression.
"What is it?"
"I don't think you realize what you're dealing with," she continued, her voice steady but filled with concern. "The orb... it's not just a tool. It's something ancient, something far beyond us. I've seen things like this before. Artifacts of power that have minds of their own. If you let it in, even a little, it'll start to change you."
Dante's grip on the orb tightened. He wanted to dismiss her concerns, to reassure her that he had everything under control. But deep down, he knew she was right. The shadows were already clawing at the edges of his consciousness, eager to take hold.
"I know the risks," he said finally. "But I don't have a choice. This power... it's the only thing keeping us alive."
Selene stopped walking, her gaze hardening. "There's always a choice, Dante. You can't let yourself believe that the shadows are the only way. If you do, you're already lost."
Her words struck him harder than he expected. For a moment, doubt crept into his mind. Was he truly in control? Or was the orb simply letting him believe he was?
He shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside. He couldn't afford to dwell on it now. Not when they were still in danger.
"We'll figure it out," Dante said, though the uncertainty in his voice was unmistakable. "But for now, we need to keep moving."
Selene didn't argue, but the tension between them lingered. As they walked, the wind howled around them, carrying with it the faintest whispers—echoes of the shadows that now followed Dante wherever he went.
The path ahead was long, and the darkness that clung to him was growing stronger. But Dante knew one thing for certain: he couldn't turn back now.
The shadows were his to command.
Or so he hoped.