The silence of the Dungeon after their encounter with the shadowy Artoria was unnerving. As Maki, Scathach, and Bete ascended back to safer floors, the weight of what they had faced lingered. The fragment of energy that Maki carried pulsated faintly, a reminder of the trial they had overcome. Yet, it also held secrets they couldn't yet unravel.
Scathach's gaze lingered on the shard in Maki's hand as they walked. Her usually calm demeanor had turned contemplative.
"That fragment," Scathach said softly, breaking the silence. "It's not just a key—it's a beacon."
Maki raised an eyebrow. "Beacon for what?"
"For something far more dangerous than what we've encountered so far," Scathach replied, her tone grim. "It may lead us closer to the source of the singularity."
"Great," Bete muttered. "More suicidal missions."
When they finally emerged from the Dungeon, the sun was dipping below the horizon. Orario's bustling streets welcomed them, though the usual liveliness seemed subdued. The whispers of adventurers about singularities and shadowy threats were spreading fast.
Inside the Twilight Manor, Loki greeted them with a sharp grin, but her eyes betrayed her concern. "So? Did you find anything interesting down there, or was it just a regular day of near-death experiences?"
Maki tossed the fragment onto the table, its energy casting an eerie glow in the dimly lit room. "This. And a whole lot of questions."
Finn leaned forward, his expression serious. "What happened?"
Scathach recounted the encounter with Artoria and the trial they faced. When she described the knight's warning and the fragment's ominous energy, Finn's frown deepened.
"This isn't just a threat to the Dungeon," Finn said after a moment. "It's connected to something larger—something outside our world."
Maki clenched her fists. "Then we need to find out what."
"Easier said than done," Bete said, leaning against the wall. "You think the gods know what's going on?"
Loki, who had been uncharacteristically silent, finally spoke. "If they do, they're not talking. But I might have someone who can help."
The next morning, Loki led the group to the workshop district, where the flames of Hephaestus Familia forges burned bright. The goddess of smithing greeted them with a nod, her fiery red hair and eyepatch giving her a commanding presence.
"So, Loki tells me you've got a shard of something interesting," Hephaestus said, gesturing for them to sit. "Let me see it."
Maki handed over the fragment. Hephaestus examined it closely, her single eye narrowing as she ran her fingers over its surface.
"This isn't from Orario," Hephaestus said, her voice tinged with curiosity. "It's infused with divine energy, but not from any god I know. It's… alien."
"Alien?" Maki repeated, leaning forward. "You mean like from another world?"
Hephaestus nodded. "If I had to guess, this shard is tied to a force beyond the control of our pantheon. It's no wonder the Dungeon is reacting to it—it's a foreign invader."
Scathach crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "Do you have the means to trace its origin?"
Hephaestus smirked. "Of course. But it'll take time—and resources."
"Take whatever you need," Loki said, waving a hand. "Just figure out where this thing came from."
While Hephaestus worked on the shard, Maki and Scathach decided to patrol the city. The fragment's energy had stirred something in the Dungeon, and they couldn't risk being caught off guard.
As they passed through the Guild's main plaza, a commotion drew their attention. A group of adventurers had gathered around a man clad in tattered robes. His eyes were wild, and he clutched a glowing amulet that pulsed with an unnatural light.
"You don't understand!" the man shouted. "The singularity isn't just a threat—it's a reckoning! The gods won't save us!"
Maki pushed her way through the crowd, Scathach close behind. "What's going on here?"
The man's gaze snapped to her, and he pointed a trembling finger. "You! You've seen it, haven't you? The shadow that devours worlds!"
Before Maki could respond, the amulet in the man's hand flared, and shadowy tendrils erupted from it. The crowd screamed and scattered as the tendrils coalesced into a monstrous figure—an amalgamation of dark energy and twisted humanoid features.
"Another one of these things," Maki muttered, twirling her spear. "Let's take it down."
The creature lunged, its shadowy limbs striking with terrifying speed. Maki dodged to the side, her spear flashing as she retaliated. Scathach moved with deadly precision, her crimson spear carving through the creature's form.
Despite their efforts, the creature seemed to regenerate with every strike. Its shadowy body shifted and reformed, as if drawing power from the amulet.
"It's feeding off that thing!" Maki shouted. "We need to destroy it!"
Scathach nodded, her eyes narrowing. "Cover me."
Maki launched herself at the creature, her spear glowing with energy as she delivered a barrage of strikes. The creature roared, its focus shifting entirely to her.
Meanwhile, Scathach darted toward the man holding the amulet. He screamed and tried to flee, but Scathach's spear pinned him in place, the tip hovering inches from his chest.
"The amulet," Scathach commanded. "Now."
The man hesitated, but the look in Scathach's eyes left no room for argument. He dropped the amulet, and Scathach crushed it beneath her foot. The creature let out a deafening roar before dissolving into smoke.
As the dust settled, Maki and Scathach regrouped. The man had collapsed, muttering incoherently about shadows and reckoning. Maki crouched beside him, her tone firm. "What do you know about the singularity?"
The man's eyes darted wildly before focusing on her. "It's not just here," he whispered. "It's everywhere. It's... spreading."
Scathach's expression darkened. "What do you mean?"
"The singularity touches all worlds," the man said, his voice growing weaker. "It's a wound in the fabric of existence. And it will consume everything."
Before they could ask more, the man fell unconscious. Maki stood, her jaw tightening. "Looks like we've got more than the Dungeon to worry about."
Scathach placed a hand on her shoulder, her voice steady. "Whatever comes, we'll face it together."
Maki nodded, her resolve hardening. The singularity was no longer just a distant threat—it was here, and it was growing. But she wouldn't back down. Not now. Not eve