Thick and heavy, the jungle air had the feeling of a brewing storm in silent build-up. Leading them through this was Micheal, his Veralune Staff lighting with every step in a soft, pulsating glow. Birds no longer chirped their songs, leaves no longer rustled,only dead silence gnawed at the nerves.
Selene walked to his left, her daggers spinning lightly between her fingers. Her sharp gaze flicked from one shadow to another, constantly scanning. "This doesn't feel right. The jungle's too quiet."
Kai followed behind, sword resting on his shoulder. "Yeah, it's giving me the creeps. I'd rather hear something. even, if it's a monster growling."
Micheal said nothing. His mind was elsewhere, caught in that strange, tingling feeling growing since they had left the Grove. It wasn't just silence; it was more than that. The jungle felt. anxious.
"They're close," Micheal finally said, his voice low.
Selene's muscles tightened. "The Shadow Lords?"
Micheal nodded. "They know we are present, and they know we have the Heart."
Kai let out a slow breath. "Well, they're not gonna like what we've got planned for them."
The atmosphere shifted. The shadows around them started to move, crawling like ink spilled on the forest floor. The trees groaned as if weighed down by something unseen.
"Did anyone else see that?" Kai whispered, tightening his grip on his sword.
Micheal stopped and raised the Veralune Staff. Its light pushed the darkness back a little, but the shadows did not go far. They clung to the edges, swirling and whispering.
Selene's voice was tight. "They're watching us. Waiting for the right moment."
A cold breeze cut through, carrying with it a whisper that seemed to come from everywhere at once. The words were faint and distorted, but Micheal could make out one clear message:
"The Heart is not yours."
A form came out of nowhere, from the dark.
It was big, towering with a body just of shadows; its glowing eyes of red glinted malignly and hungrily at Micheal. Dark energies rippled around the air of where it stood.
Selene moved her feet again, her daggers forward in readiness. "We have met worse."
Kai grinned proudly. "This one does not even have any weapons."
But Micheal wasn't fooled. "Don't underestimate it. The Shadow Lords aren't like the beasts we've fought before. They're born from pure darkness."
The creature cocked its head, seemingly enjoying their conversation. Its voice was a hoarse echo of many voices superimposed on each other. "The jungle is ours. You cannot stop what has already begun."
And then it attacked.
Kai reacted first, swinging his sword with precision. The blade cut through the creature's form, but instead of falling, the shadow merely reformed.
"Well, that's annoying," Kai muttered, stepping back.
Selene darted in, her daggers slicing through the tendrils of darkness creeping toward them. Each strike sent bits of shadow dissipating into the air, but the creature remained whole.
"Micheal, any ideas?" Selene called out, dodging another attack.
Micheal gripped the Veralune Staff more firmly. He could feel the jungle's magic coursing through him, guiding him. The creature wasn't invincible. It had a weak point buried under its incessantly shifting form.
"There!" Micheal pointed. "Inside its chest! That's the location of its core!"
Kai smiled. "Finally, some good news."
With a battle cry, Kai charged. His sword pierced through the creature's chest and into the glowing core. The creature let out a distorted scream before shattering into wisps of shadow.
With the last of the shadow gone, the jungle seemed to breathe once more. The oppressive darkness loosened somewhat, and the natural sounds of the forest began to seep back in.
Kai wiped sweat from his brow. "One down. How many more to go?"
Selene sheathed her daggers. "It won't be the last. They'll keep coming."
Micheal nodded, his gaze lingering in the shadows, still hanging so far away. "We have disturbed their hold on the jungle. They will not stop until they have taken the Heart back."
Kai groaned. "Great. Just what I wanted...more shadow monsters."
Selene gave a smirk. "You would be bored otherwise."
"True," Kai allowed. "But still, I would prefer a bit of peace and quiet."
Micheal didn't laugh. His mind was already turning to what lay ahead. The jungle wasn't done testing them, and the Shadow Lords wouldn't rest until the Heart was theirs.
"We need to keep moving," Micheal said. "There's a temple ahead. I saw it in a vision."
Selene raised an eyebrow. "A temple?"
Micheal nodded. "It holds something we need. Something that can help us fight back."
Kai grinned again. "An ancient temple? Now things get interesting."
The further they trekked into the jungle, the more the winds picked up, carrying on their breath that eerie whisper they had heard earlier.
Selene frowned. "It's back."
Micheal froze, listening intently. It was not just a whisper. There was a meaning hidden beneath it.
"The jungle is trying to tell us something," Micheal whispered.
Kai gave him a sideways glance. "I don't know about that, but if it starts telling us bedtime stories, I'm out."
Selene chuckled. "Let's just hope it's on our side."
Micheal met her gaze. "It is. The jungle chose us. But we need to prove ourselves worthy."
With those words, they pressed onward, the glowing Veralune Staff lighting the way through darkness. The fight was far from over. It had just gotten started.