The Echo beast's growl rumbled through the ruins, low and guttural, its twisted form shifting as it stalked toward the group. Its jagged, sinewy body glowed faintly in the dim light, its red eyes fixed on Caden and the fragment he now held.
The shard in his pocket pulsed violently, resonating with the fragment's energy. The rhythm was disorienting, a clash of power that sent a spike of pain through his temples.
"Caden, focus!" Garrick barked, raising his staff. The tip glowed with an arcane light, crackling with restrained energy.
Before Caden could respond, movement caught his eye. From the far side of the ruins, two Reclaimers stepped into view, their weapons drawn and their faces shadowed by their hoods.
"It's a two-front fight now," Kael muttered, her voice tense. She spun her dagger deftly, glancing between the Echo beast and the Reclaimers. "You were saying this wasn't going to be easy?"
"It never is," Garrick said, stepping forward.
One of the Reclaimers raised a hand, casting a volley of magical bolts toward the group. Garrick countered with a barrier of light, the arcane projectiles fizzling harmlessly against it.
"They're not letting us leave with the fragment," Garrick said. "Caden, keep the beast off me. I'll deal with the Reclaimers."
Kael snorted. "Oh, sure, because that's the easy part."
Caden turned his attention back to the Echo beast as it lunged at him, its claws swiping through the air with deadly speed. He raised his sword just in time to parry the blow, the force sending him skidding across the rocky ground.
The shard's energy surged through him, heightening his reflexes. He sidestepped another attack, slashing at the beast's flank. The blade struck true, cutting deep into its twisted flesh, but the creature barely flinched.
Kael darted toward the nearest Reclaimer, her movements swift and precise. Her dagger flashed as she engaged him, driving him back with a series of rapid strikes. "Don't get too cozy, old man. I can't babysit the kid and hold these guys off."
Garrick didn't respond. His focus was on the second Reclaimer, whose spellcasting filled the air with crackling energy. Garrick's staff glowed brighter as he released a burst of magic, forcing his opponent to retreat.
The Echo beast roared, its glowing eyes narrowing as it charged at Caden again. He raised his free hand instinctively.
[Ability Activated: Shard Barrier.]
A shimmering shield of energy erupted around him, deflecting the beast's attack with a deafening crack. The effort left Caden winded, his vision swimming as the shard's energy drained him further.
"Keep at it!" Garrick shouted, releasing another arcane blast that struck his Reclaimer opponent. The man staggered, clutching his side, before retreating behind a crumbling pillar.
Kael finished her duel with a quick, decisive slash. The first Reclaimer collapsed to the ground, unmoving. She turned her attention to the Echo beast, her dagger glinting as she darted toward its exposed flank. "I'm getting real tired of these things!"
The fight reached a fever pitch. The remaining Reclaimer shouted something in a foreign tongue, his voice filled with urgency. A faint, dark shimmer surrounded him, and he vanished into the shadows.
Caden staggered, his focus briefly faltering. "What... where did he go?"
Garrick's expression darkened. "It's an escape spell—likely an artifact. He's running back to report. This isn't over."
Caden's grip tightened on his sword as frustration bubbled inside him. The Reclaimers had escaped, leaving them to deal with the beast.
The Echo beast lunged again, its movements more frenzied. Caden gritted his teeth, raising his sword once more.
"Caden!" Garrick shouted. "Use the fragment's energy. Now!"
The shard pulsed wildly in Caden's pocket, resonating with the fragment in his hand. He closed his eyes, focusing on the chaotic energy coursing through him.
[Ability Unlocked: Fragment Pulse.]
The fragment in his hand flared brilliantly, releasing a wave of raw energy that swept across the ruins. The blast struck the Echo beast directly, engulfing it in light. The creature howled, its form writhing before dissolving into black smoke.
When the light faded, the ruins fell silent.
Caden collapsed to one knee, his breaths ragged. The fragment's glow had dimmed, its energy stable but faint. Garrick approached him, his face lined with relief and exhaustion.
"You did it," Garrick said, resting a hand on Caden's shoulder.
Kael wiped black ichor off her dagger, scowling. "Barely. And now one of those Reclaimers is probably halfway back to their bosses with a glowing report about our friend here."
Garrick's expression hardened. "We need to move. Quickly."
"What about the fragment?" Caden asked, his voice weak.
"It's stable—for now," Garrick said. "But we can't stay here. The Reclaimers won't stop, and neither will whatever else is drawn to this place."
Kael sheathed her dagger, her smirk faint. "I hope you're ready, kid, because this was just the warm-up."
Caden nodded, his resolve hardening despite the exhaustion pulling at him. The Reclaimers had escaped with vital information, but the fragment was theirs.
For now, they had won.
But the war was far from over.