The shriek of the creature cut through the eerie silence, its twisted form writhing in pain as the shadows Ethan had summoned tore through its sinewy flesh. But he barely had time to relish the small victory before two more monsters emerged from the mist, eyes glowing red with a raw, hungry malice.
Beside him, Sarah dispatched one creature with a swift slash of her blade, moving with the ease of someone who had done this a hundred times before. Her movements were calculated, precise, her blade finding vulnerable spots on the monster with surgical accuracy. Ethan took a shaky breath, steadying himself as he faced the approaching beasts. He could feel the dark energy swirling within him, responding to his will.
"Stay calm!" Sarah's voice cut through the haze of his focus. "Control the shadows. Don't let them control you."
He focused on her words, remembering the hours of training he'd gone through the day before. With a deep breath, he lifted his hand, summoning a spear of darkness in his palm. This time, instead of allowing it to flicker, he held it steady, pouring his concentration into its form. The spear solidified, humming with energy as he hurled it toward the nearest creature.
The dark spear pierced the monster's chest, pinning it to the ground with a sickening crunch. The creature let out one last, guttural snarl before dissolving into an oily black mist.
Ethan exhaled in relief, a shaky smile forming on his lips. But the smile faded as he caught sight of another beast, charging at him from his left. He turned, raising his arms defensively, but he was too slow. The creature's claws tore through his sleeve, raking across his arm in a blaze of pain.
He stumbled back, clutching his bleeding arm.
"Focus, Ethan!" Sarah called, already engaging another beast. "You're tougher than this!"
He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to push past the pain. A memory surfaced from his training—Kane had told him that part of wielding a dark class meant accepting the pain, using it to fuel his strength. With his free hand, he summoned a thin, whip-like tendril of shadow, lashing it out at the monster. It wrapped around the creature's neck, and with a jerk, Ethan pulled it close, slamming his elbow into its face with a satisfying crack.
The creature recoiled, giving him just enough time to summon another weapon—this time a dagger of shadow—and plunge it into the beast's heart. The creature disintegrated, collapsing into dark mist that quickly faded.
Sarah looked over at him, nodding in approval. "Not bad, Ethan. You're getting the hang of it."
He gave a short nod, breathing hard as the adrenaline started to fade, replaced by a dull ache throughout his body. His arm throbbed, but the blood was already slowing; he'd wrapped it hastily with a strip of cloth.
"So… is this what it's like every time?" he asked, still panting.
She sheathed her sword, studying him with a half-smile. "That was an easy encounter. Low-level gate creatures are nothing compared to what's out there. But it's a good start."
"'Good start'?" he echoed, incredulous. "I almost got killed."
She chuckled, leading him toward a clearing where the air seemed less oppressive. "Almost, but you didn't. And you know why? You kept your head. You used your power, even with all the pressure and fear."
They walked in silence for a moment, the fog swirling around them as they made their way back toward the gate's entrance. Ethan felt a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration, his body sore but his mind racing. The thrill of battle, the rush of victory—it stirred something in him he hadn't felt in years.
As they approached the gate, Sarah suddenly stopped, her expression growing serious. She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing.
"Wait," she whispered. "We're not alone."
Ethan tensed, the shadows around his fingers sparking to life instinctively. He scanned the mist, his senses heightened as he strained to hear any movement. But the silence was absolute.
Then, a deep, menacing growl echoed through the clearing. Ethan's eyes widened as he spotted it—a creature, twice the size of the ones they'd fought before, with scales like iron and claws that gleamed with a faint, sickly green light. It prowled toward them, its gaze fixed and predatory.
Sarah's hand shot to her sword. "Stay behind me, Ethan. This is an Abyssal Stalker. It must've slipped through the gate before we entered."
"An Abyssal… what?" Ethan's voice was barely a whisper, his heart pounding as he took in the creature's terrifying size and sharp, serrated fangs.
"It's a mid-level monster," she replied, her tone grim. "We weren't supposed to face one of these yet, but here we are. Stay focused, and don't let your guard down. Follow my lead."
Before he could respond, Sarah lunged forward, her blade flashing as she slashed at the creature's legs. The Stalker roared, swiping at her with claws that could tear through steel, but she dodged with fluid precision, moving like water around its strikes.
Ethan gritted his teeth, forcing his fear down as he summoned another spear of darkness. He aimed carefully, waiting for an opening. As the creature lunged toward Sarah, he threw the spear, watching as it struck the creature's shoulder, piercing through its thick scales.
The Stalker roared in pain, its gaze snapping to Ethan with a murderous fury.
"Nice shot!" Sarah called, taking advantage of the distraction to drive her sword into the creature's side.
The creature snarled, twisting to knock her away, but she held firm, using her blade as leverage to keep herself close. With a grunt, she ripped the sword free, leaving a gaping wound in the creature's side.
"Ethan!" she shouted. "Aim for the wound—now!"
He didn't hesitate. Summoning all his focus, he crafted another spear, this one sharper and more solid than the last. He hurled it with all his strength, watching as it embedded itself in the creature's exposed flesh.
The Stalker gave a final, agonized roar before collapsing, its massive form dissolving into mist that faded into the shadows.
For a moment, neither of them moved, catching their breath as the silence of the gate realm returned.
Sarah finally turned to him, a wide grin on her face. "Not bad for your first real fight."
Ethan chuckled, though it came out more as a breathless laugh. "That… was insane."
She clapped him on the shoulder, her eyes filled with approval. "You held your own, Ethan. You might just have a knack for this after all."
As they returned to the portal, Ethan felt a sense of accomplishment settle over him, mingling with the exhaustion. The battle had tested him, pushed him to his limits—and somehow, he'd survived.
---
Back at HQ, Kane was waiting for them, his face unreadable as they stepped through the gate. He took one look at their battered forms and raised an eyebrow.
"Looks like you ran into more than expected," he said, crossing his arms.
"Abyssal Stalker," Sarah replied with a shrug. "Nothing we couldn't handle."
Kane's gaze flicked to Ethan. "And you? How did it feel?"
Ethan hesitated, the memories of the fight flashing through his mind. "It was… intense. But I didn't freeze. I was able to use my powers. It felt… right, in a strange way."
Kane nodded, a faint glimmer of approval in his eyes. "Good. You've passed the test, Ethan. From here on, you're officially part of the team."
Sarah grinned, clapping him on the back. "Welcome to the Awakened, Ethan. This is just the beginning."
Ethan felt a sense of pride swell in his chest, mingling with a deeper, quieter feeling. For the first time, he felt like he belonged, like he'd found a purpose worth fighting for. He didn't know what the future held, but for now, he was ready to face it.