The narrow passage behind me seemed to vanish as I stepped into the labyrinth, its oppressive shadows swallowing the way back. I stopped at the edge of the chamber, staring out at the maze that stretched endlessly before me.
Towering black stone walls loomed on either side, their surfaces jagged and uneven. Faintly glowing vines crept along the cracks, their tendrils twitching as though alive. The air was thick and humid, clinging to my skin and making it harder to breathe.
The orb in my hand pulsed faintly, casting flickering shadows across the labyrinth walls. The shadows within it were restless, swirling with an intensity that sent sharp, tingling sensations through my arm. My chest tightened as I realized they weren't just reacting to me—they were reacting to the maze itself.
Something was waiting for me here.
I took a cautious step forward, testing the ground beneath my feet. The floor was rough and uneven, littered with debris that cracked and crumbled under my boots. Every sound seemed amplified in the oppressive silence, echoing endlessly through the narrow pathways.
I moved slowly, the faint hum of the dungeon growing louder with each step. The twisting corridors all looked the same, and it wasn't long before I realized how easily I could get lost.
The orb pulsed again, stronger this time, its shadows shifting erratically. A sharp jolt shot through my chest, forcing me to stop and clutch my ribs.
"What the hell is wrong with you now?" I muttered, glaring at the orb.
The shadows didn't answer, but their movements grew wilder, more chaotic. It felt like they were trying to warn me.
And then I heard it.
A low growl echoed through the labyrinth, faint at first but growing louder. I froze, my body going rigid as the sound surrounded me, bouncing off the walls in every direction.
My grip tightened on the orb as I turned slowly, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. The growls multiplied, overlapping into a guttural chorus that sent chills down my spine.
I wasn't alone.
The first creature appeared at the end of the corridor, emerging from the darkness like a predator stalking its prey.
It was long and lean, its body covered in glistening black scales that shimmered faintly in the dim light of the orb. Its head was angular, vaguely canine, with glowing red eyes and jagged fangs that dripped with a thick, viscous liquid.
The creature's movements were unnaturally smooth as it stalked closer, its claws clicking softly against the stone floor.
I took a step back, my heart hammering in my chest.
Another growl came from behind me, and I turned to see a second creature emerge from the shadows. Then a third.
My breath caught as I realized they were surrounding me.
The orb in my hand pulsed violently, the shadows within it writhing as though trying to break free. A sharp, searing heat shot through my arm, and I bit back a cry of pain as the black veins beneath my skin began to glow faintly.
The creatures stopped, their glowing eyes fixed on me. They weren't just watching me—they were waiting.
They could sense the power inside me.
And they wanted it.
The first creature lunged, its claws outstretched.
I barely had time to react, swinging the orb forward as black tendrils erupted from its surface. The tendrils slammed into the creature midair, wrapping around its body and throwing it into the wall with a deafening crack.
The second and third creatures snarled, their movements becoming more cautious. They circled me slowly, their eyes locked onto the orb as the tendrils recoiled back into its swirling surface.
My chest heaved as I tried to steady myself. The heat coursing through my veins was stronger now, almost unbearable. The shadows weren't just a weapon—they were alive, reacting to my fear and my rage.
The second creature darted forward, faster than the first. I raised the orb instinctively, and the shadows lashed out again, coiling around the creature's throat and slamming it into the ground. It thrashed violently, its claws scraping against the stone, but the shadows held firm.
The third creature hesitated, its growl turning into a low whine as it backed away.
For a moment, the room was silent.
Then, the orb pulsed again, colder this time.
A sharp pain shot through my chest, and I stumbled, clutching the orb as the shadows inside it began to shift erratically. My vision blurred, and a faint whisper echoed in the back of my mind, too faint to understand.
The creatures sensed the shift immediately. Their fear dissolved, replaced by a primal hunger that burned in their glowing eyes.
They attacked all at once.
The shadows exploded from the orb in a violent wave, slamming into the creatures with enough force to send them flying. The walls of the labyrinth trembled, loose debris falling from the ceiling as the tendrils lashed out in every direction.
When the light faded, the creatures were gone.
I fell to my knees, gasping for air as the shadows recoiled back into the orb. My body trembled, the black veins on my arms pulsing faintly before fading into my skin.
The whisper in my mind grew louder, forming words that sent a chill down my spine.
"You are awakening."
I staggered to my feet, my legs unsteady but stronger than before. The heat coursing through my veins had subsided, replaced by a strange, unfamiliar strength. The orb in my hand felt heavier now, its glow steadier, almost satisfied.
The labyrinth around me was still. The glowing plants along the walls had withered and died, their twisted remains crumbling into ash beneath my boots as I moved forward.
The path ahead twisted and turned, leading deeper into the darkness. The hum of the dungeon was louder now, resonating through the stone and into my chest.
I stopped at a fork in the path, staring down two identical corridors. The orb pulsed faintly, its shadows shifting toward the left.
"Guiding me now?" I muttered bitterly, following its pull.
The corridor opened into a larger chamber, its walls lined with jagged spikes and faintly glowing carvings. In the center stood a massive stone door, its surface etched with symbols that pulsed in time with the orb.
The whisper returned, louder this time.
"Beyond lies the next Trial. Will you proceed?"
I gritted my teeth, my fists clenching around the orb.
"I don't have a choice, do I?"
The symbols on the door flared brightly, and the ground beneath me trembled as the massive stone began to shift.
The shadows inside the orb stirred violently, and I felt their hunger deep in my chest. Whatever lay ahead, it was waiting for me—and it was going to test me like nothing before.
I tightened my grip on the orb and stepped through the door.
There was no turning back now.