The fight against the monstrous shadow raged on, its form towering and pulsing with crimson energy. The air in the casino grew heavier with each swing of its massive limbs, the oppressive darkness threatening to suffocate the group. Chandeliers above flickered violently, casting erratic beams of light across the grotesque scene.
Rowan's spear gleamed faintly as she launched herself into the fray. "We need to bring this thing down before it flattens us!" she shouted, slashing at the creature's legs.
The spear struck true, carving a glowing line across the monster's shifting form, but it barely flinched. It roared, the sound shaking the casino as chips and cards scattered from tables.
Kieran raised his shield, deflecting a heavy swipe from the beast. "We need to focus! Aiden, try to bind it again!"
Aiden hesitated, his chest heaving. The whispers clawed at his mind, their insidious words cutting deeper with every second. You're not ready. They'll fall because of you. You'll lose everything.
He clenched his fist, summoning chains of light to wrap around the creature. The glowing links coiled tightly, slowing its movements as Kieran and Rowan pressed their attack.
But then, a mocking laugh cut through the chaos.
"Well, well," Al Capone drawled, stepping out from behind the bar. "Looks like my pet isn't quite enough for you. Guess I'll have to join the party."
He flicked his cigar aside and rolled his shoulders, the crimson rose on his lapel gleaming unnaturally. With a snap of his fingers, shadows coalesced around him, forming a jagged Tommy gun in his hands. He grinned, his piercing red eyes locking onto Aiden.
"Let's make this fun."
Before anyone could react, Capone fired, crimson bullets spraying across the room. Kieran threw up his shield, absorbing the brunt of the attack, but the force drove him back. Rowan darted behind a pillar for cover, her breathing sharp and fast.
"Two fronts? Great," she muttered, gripping her spear. "This just keeps getting better."
Sylva floated beside Aiden, her voice urgent. "We can't let him pin us down. Aiden, focus on the monster. Kieran and Rowan will handle Capone."
"Easier said than done!" kieran snapped, dodging another barrage of bullets.
Capone smirked, tapping his cigar against the edge of the bar. "Gotta hand it to you, pal," he said to Kieran. "You've got guts. Most people fold under pressure, but you keep standing. Hell, I can respect that. You'd make a damn good enforcer."
"Not interested," Kieran shot back, his voice calm but firm. "I fight for the people you've enslaved, not for scum like you."
"Scum?" Capone let out a low chuckle. "Careful with the insults, Captain. But I'll admit, I like your style. You've got leadership written all over you. Pity you've hitched your wagon to a group of amateurs."
Kieran didn't rise to the bait, instead focusing on the fight. His unshakable demeanor seemed to throw Capone off, earning a glimmer of respect from the shadowy kingpin.
Aiden, meanwhile, was losing control. The whispers grew louder, feeding on his self-doubt and Capone's taunts. The beast roared, snapping its chains and lunging toward Aiden. He raised his hand, summoning spikes of light to pierce its limbs, but the whispers intensified, twisting his focus.
"You're out of time, kid!" Capone taunted, firing another volley. "Better make your last moves count!"
The pressure mounted, and Aiden felt something snap inside him. A surge of power, cold and suffocating, erupted from his chest. His ring glowed with a sinister black light, and without thinking, he unleashed it.
Dark tendrils erupted from the ground, wrapping around the monster and dragging it down. Shadows oozed from the cracks, melding with the light in a sickening fusion that held the creature in place. The whispers receded, replaced by a deafening silence.
Sylva darted closer, her light flickering in agitation. "Aiden, no! Stop this—it's not the way!"
He didn't respond, his eyes locked on the monster. The tendrils grew sharper, their edges jagged and cruel, digging into the creature's limbs. The air around him felt heavier, oppressive, as though the Core itself had seeped into the room.
"Aiden!" Sylva's voice rose, sharper now, tinged with desperation. "Listen to me! This isn't you. Don't let the Core win."
But Aiden couldn't hear her over the weight of his own thoughts, the pull of the power coursing through him. The creature's pained roars only fed his need to end it, to silence the doubts clawing at his chest.
Rowan froze, her eyes wide. "Aiden, what the hell are you doing?"
Kieran stared, his shield lowered. "Aiden… stop."
Aiden didn't hear them. He clenched his fist, the tendrils twisting tighter around the monster until it let out a final, guttural scream. With a burst of dark energy, the creature dissolved into nothingness, leaving only a faint echo of its roar.
When the monster dissolved into nothingness, the dark energy dissipating with it, Sylva hovered close to Aiden, her glow trembling.
She didn't speak at first, letting the quiet settle like ash after a fire. The room fell silent, save for Capone's slow clap.
"Well, well," he said, smirking. "Didn't know you had it in you, kid. That's the kind of power that could get you places."
Aiden stumbled back, staring at his hands. The glow of his ring had returned to its usual faint light, but the memory of what he'd done lingered like a stain.
Sylva floated closer, her light dim but steady. "Aiden, listen to me. The darkness will consume you if you let it. You must not use it again."
Her voice cracked slightly, surprising Aiden. He looked at her, startled by the emotion in her eyes—an emotion he hadn't expected from her.
"I'm trying!" Aiden shot back, his voice raw with frustration. "But it's not enough. I'm not enough."
Capone chuckled, stepping out from behind the bar. "Now, that's what I like to see—a little honesty. You're a mess, kid, but at least you've got some fire in you. Keep that up, and maybe you'll survive a little longer."
"Enough!" Kieran barked, stepping between Aiden and Capone. His shield still glowed faintly, a barrier of light between them. "You've lost, Capone. Your beast is gone, and your enforcers are scattered. Surrender."
Capone raised his hands in mock surrender, the cigar still glowing in his fingers. "Easy there, Captain. You've made your point. I'll admit, you've got guts. And maybe, just maybe, you're not as boring as the others who come through here."
Rowan raised her spear, narrowing her eyes. "We're not here to impress you, Capone."
"No, but you've earned a little respect," Capone said, his tone surprisingly genuine. He turned to Kieran. "You, especially, Captain. A man like you could run an empire. Hell, if I weren't already in charge, I'd offer you a job."
"Save your flattery," Kieran replied, his voice cold. "We're leaving."
Capone smirked, his crimson eyes gleaming. "Fair enough. But let me give you a parting gift: your little safe zone? Consider it off-limits. I've got no interest in messing with your turf. Bad for business."
Sylva floated closer, her light flaring. "We won't leave until the Core's influence is gone from this place."
Capone's grin widened. "Oh, I don't think so, doll. My house, my rules."
With another snap of his fingers, a wave of shadows surged forward, forcing the group to retreat. Kieran raised his shield, protecting them as they backed toward the exit.
"You're letting them go?" one of Capone's enforcers asked, his voice tinged with confusion. "Why not finish them?"
Capone's smirk faded into something softer, almost contemplative. "Because I ain't stupid. They're good business—stirring things up, keeping the game interesting." He lit another cigar, the crimson glow casting sharp shadows across his face. "Besides, Even I've got rules."
The enforcer hesitated but nodded. "Understood, boss."