The chasm was quiet now, the eerie whispers that had once plagued Chen's mind utterly silenced. The air, no longer oppressive, carried a strange stillness that felt unnatural. Chen stood amidst the ruins of the crystalline heart, his body aching but his resolve unshaken.
Fenrir sat beside him, its tail swishing lazily against the ground. Despite its apparent relaxation, the wolf's golden eyes remained fixed on Chen, unblinking and intense.
"You're a strange one, you know that?" Chen muttered, rubbing his shoulder. The wound from the Thrall's claw had already begun to scab over, thanks to the Growth Sword's latent regenerative abilities.
Fenrir huffed in response, tilting its head as if to mock his observation.
Chen chuckled dryly. "You're welcome, by the way. I just saved both of our hides."
The wolf snorted, then did something unexpected—it reached out with its paw and tapped the ground twice.
Chen blinked. "What are you—"
Before he could finish, Fenrir's eyes began to glow faintly. A low hum resonated in the air, and the ground beneath the wolf shimmered with a soft golden light.
"What the…?" Chen stepped back, gripping his sword.
The light grew brighter, forming intricate runes that circled Fenrir. The wolf's fur bristled, and its body seemed to grow larger, more imposing. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the light vanished, leaving Fenrir unchanged—at least physically.
Chen hesitated. "What just happened?"
To his shock, Fenrir's voice echoed in his mind, deep and steady.
"You're slow to catch on, aren't you?"
Chen nearly dropped the Growth Sword. "You—you can talk?!"
"I've always been able to," Fenrir replied, its tone carrying a hint of amusement. "You were just too distracted to notice."
Chen stared at the wolf, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Why now? Why not… I don't know, say something earlier? Like, when I was about to die?"
Fenrir stood, shaking its fur. "Would you have listened? Besides, I wasn't sure you were worth the effort until now."
"Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence," Chen said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
The wolf smirked—or at least, it seemed to, its expression oddly smug. "You've proven yourself capable, but don't get cocky. The challenges ahead will make this fight look like child's play."
Chen's gaze hardened. "You sound like the System."
Fenrir's demeanor shifted, its playful air replaced by a rare seriousness. "The System was a tool, a guide to help you survive. I'm not here to hold your hand. My purpose is different."
"And what purpose is that?"
The wolf's eyes gleamed. "To ensure you don't lose yourself."
Chen frowned. "Lose myself?"
Fenrir stepped closer, its voice lowering. "The path you've chosen isn't one of light, Chen. The power you wield—Soul Eater, necromancy—it will change you if you're not careful. You've already felt it, haven't you? The hunger, the cold fire in your veins. That's just the beginning."
Chen clenched his fists. He didn't want to admit it, but Fenrir was right. The Soul Eater ability was both a blessing and a curse, its pull growing stronger with every life he took.
"I can handle it," he said firmly.
Fenrir's gaze didn't waver. "Perhaps. But if you falter, if you give in to the darkness, you won't just lose yourself. You'll become a monster, no different from the ones you've been fighting."
The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.
Chen exhaled slowly, his grip on the Growth Sword tightening. "Then I'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen."
The wolf studied him for a moment before nodding. "Good. Because if you do lose yourself…" Fenrir's voice grew cold. "I'll be the one to end you."
Chen froze, the weight of the statement hitting him like a blow. But instead of fear, he felt a strange sense of reassurance. Fenrir's loyalty wasn't blind; it was earned.
"Fair enough," he said quietly. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
Fenrir's usual smugness returned, and it sat back down, yawning. "Glad we understand each other. Now, are we moving on, or are you planning to brood here all day?"
Chen smirked despite himself. "Let's go. I have a feeling the next step isn't going to wait for us."
The two continued their journey, leaving the shattered remnants of the crystalline heart behind. The path ahead was still shrouded in darkness, but Chen no longer felt alone.
Fenrir trotted beside him, its presence a comforting weight amidst the uncertainty. For the first time in what felt like forever, Chen allowed himself a sliver of hope.
Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.