**Chapter 9: The Shifting Labyrinth Beckons**
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The darkness ahead was suffocating, its oppressive presence wrapping around Erythion and his companions like an unseen predator. The faint glow from Rynna's Ethereal Seraph cast flickering shadows along the rune-etched walls, creating the illusion of movement.
The labyrinth was alive.
"Stay close," Rynna commanded, her voice firm but laced with tension. Her gaze swept over Erythion, Kaelen, and the rest of the team. "This realm reacts to us. Any mistake could cost lives."
Kaelen scoffed, his Fenrir growling low at his side. "Mistakes are for those who hesitate," he said, flashing a cocky grin. "Let's keep moving before the labyrinth decides to swallow us."
Erythion ignored Kaelen's bravado, focusing instead on the Sovereign System's glowing prompts in his vision. The system pulsed faintly, directing him deeper into the labyrinth.
**[New Objective Unlocked: Retrieve the Core Fragment.]**
- Location: Central Chamber.
- Warning: Hostile activity detected.
Erythion shared the update with the group. "The system says there's another core fragment ahead. It's in the central chamber, but it's not unguarded."
Rynna's eyes narrowed. "Then we move carefully. Kaelen, suppress your instincts to charge headfirst. We can't afford recklessness."
Kaelen rolled his eyes but didn't argue.
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The group advanced cautiously, their beasts on high alert. The path twisted and narrowed, the runes along the walls growing dimmer with every step. Soon, the group entered a vast, echoing chamber.
Faint wails echoed through the air, sending chills down their spines. Ethereal figures flickered in and out of view, their forms stretched and distorted as though trapped between realms.
Saria Astrelle, her Celestial Lynx at her side, shivered. "This… this is the Wailing Hall," she whispered. "The labyrinth traps the souls of those who fail within it. They're warning us."
The wailing grew louder, the air thickening with despair. The specters began to take shape, their hollow eyes locking onto the intruders.
Kaelen growled. "They're no more than shadows. Let's—"
Before he could finish, one of the specters lunged at him, its form solidifying mid-flight. Fenrir intercepted it with a bolt of lightning, the energy dispersing the spirit. But more began to swarm, their numbers overwhelming.
**[Warning: High-Intensity Threat Detected. Recommend Immediate Defensive Formation.]**
Erythion took charge. "Rynna, light barriers! Saria, keep the specters distracted!"
Rynna's Ethereal Seraph emitted a burst of radiant energy, creating shimmering walls of light that slowed the advancing specters. Saria's Lynx leaped through the air, its celestial claws slashing through the spirits and disrupting their forms.
Meanwhile, Obsidian prowled the edge of the barriers, its new **Shadow Meld** ability allowing it to phase in and out of visibility. The direwolf struck the specters with precision, weakening their numbers.
Despite their efforts, the specters' onslaught didn't wane. Kaelen cursed under his breath, his Fenrir snarling as it fought off three at once.
"Erythion," Rynna called, her voice strained, "we can't hold them off forever!"
Erythion's system activated again.
**[Special Skill Available: Abyssal Ward.]**
- Effect: Creates a temporary zone of protection, dispelling shadow-based entities.
- Duration: 30 seconds.
"Obsidian, Abyssal Ward!"
The direwolf howled, and a dome of shadowy energy erupted around the group. The specters recoiled, their forms dissolving into the air. The wailing ceased, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.
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As the group caught their breath, the runes along the chamber walls began to glow faintly. A deep, guttural voice resonated through the hall.
*"You who dare trespass… prove your worth, or be consumed by the abyss."*
The walls shifted again, revealing a staircase spiraling downward.
"This labyrinth really doesn't give us a break," Kaelen muttered.
Erythion glanced at the others. "We're being tested. The system mentioned the central chamber—it's through there. Be ready for anything."
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The team descended the staircase, the air growing colder with every step. At the bottom, they entered a massive, circular chamber. The floor was inscribed with intricate runes that pulsed with golden light. In the center stood a pedestal, atop which rested a glowing orb—the second **Labyrinth Core Fragment**.
But the room was far from empty. A towering beast, its body composed of writhing shadows and flickering flames, stood guard. Its eyes burned like molten gold, and its guttural growl reverberated through the chamber.
**[Guardian of the Fragment: Abyssal Flame Warden.]**
- Rank: High B-Rank Beast.
- Strengths: Fire and Shadow Manipulation.
- Weakness: Disruption through Light and Water Elements.
"It's stronger than anything we've faced so far," Rynna said, her Seraph floating protectively above her.
"We'll take it down together," Erythion said, his voice steady.
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The Abyssal Flame Warden roared, its shadowy tendrils lashing out. Kaelen's Fenrir charged first, its lightning-infused claws striking the tendrils and forcing the beast back.
"Focus on its core!" Rynna commanded, pointing at the glowing orb embedded in the Warden's chest. "That's its weak point!"
Rynna's Seraph unleashed a beam of radiant light, striking the Warden and momentarily disrupting its shadowy form. Saria's Lynx darted around the battlefield, using its agility to keep the Warden off-balance.
Erythion activated the Sovereign System again.
**[New Ability Unlocked: Shadow Bind.]**
- Effect: Immobilizes the target using abyssal energy.
- Duration: 10 seconds.
"Obsidian, Shadow Bind!"
The direwolf howled, and dark tendrils erupted from the ground, wrapping around the Warden and pinning it in place.
"Now!" Erythion shouted.
Kaelen's Fenrir leaped forward, its claws tearing into the Warden's core. The beast roared in agony, its body unraveling as the core shattered.
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As the Warden dissolved into ash, the glowing orb on the pedestal pulsed brightly. Erythion stepped forward, his hand hovering over it.
**[Fragment of the Labyrinth Core Acquired.]**
- Effect: Unlocks a passive boost to team coordination and enhances beast abilities within the labyrinth.
The fragment dissolved into light, its power spreading among the group. Each of their beasts let out triumphant cries, their energy renewed.
But before they could celebrate, the labyrinth began to shake violently. The walls groaned, and cracks appeared along the floor.
"This place is collapsing!" Saria cried.
Erythion clenched his fists. "We need to move. Now."
With the second fragment secured, the group sprinted back up the staircase, the labyrinth shifting and crumbling around them. But as they fled, a shadowy figure appeared in the distance, its glowing red eyes fixed on Erythion.
The Sovereign System pulsed ominously:
**[Warning: Entity Detected. Origin: Unknown.]**
Erythion's chest tightened. The labyrinth's tests were only the beginning.
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*End of Chapter 9.*