Descending from the Temple of Starlight with the Celestial Core in hand, Kael and his companions felt the weight of their journey settling heavier than ever. The artifact pulsed faintly with light, tucked safely within Kael's robes, yet its presence seemed to attract an unsettling aura.
The winding path down the mountain was eerily quiet, and the once-clear skies darkened as ominous clouds gathered above. The stillness was suffocating.
Alyssa broke the silence, her tone light but tinged with tension. "So, we're carrying the most powerful artifact from an ancient temple. Anyone else feel like a target right now?"
Rynn gave a dry laugh, flipping one of his daggers in his hand. "You always feel like a target. But yeah, something's off."
Kael, walking slightly ahead, didn't respond. His focus was elsewhere—on the growing presence in the air. It wasn't Zarathus himself, but there was something connected to him, something sentient.
Lyra glanced at Kael, her sharp instincts catching his unease. "What is it? You've been quiet since we left the temple."
Kael's golden eyes flickered as he looked back at the group. "We're being followed. Something is testing us."
"Testing us?" Rynn asked, his grip tightening on his daggers. "I don't like the sound of that."
"You won't," Kael said simply, stopping in his tracks.
The air grew colder, and from the shadows cast by the towering cliffs, figures began to emerge. They were humanoid but twisted—made of smoke and shadow, their forms flickering like dying flames. Their hollow eyes glowed faintly red, and their presence seemed to suck the light from the world around them.
"Great," Alyssa muttered, summoning dark energy into her hands. "More shadow freaks. I was starting to miss them."
Rynn smirked despite the danger. "I was getting bored anyway."
Kael raised his staff, its golden glow cutting through the gloom. The shadow figures hissed in response, their forms writhing as if in pain.
"These aren't ordinary enemies," Kael said, his voice calm but firm. "They're phantoms, fragments of Zarathus's will. They'll test our strength, but their goal is to wear us down."
Lyra notched an arrow, her aim steady. "Then we don't give them the chance."
The phantoms surged forward, their movements erratic and unnatural.
Lyra loosed an arrow, the projectile piercing through one phantom and dispersing it into smoke. She quickly followed up with another, her sharp eyes finding every weakness.
Rynn darted into the fray, his daggers flashing as he sliced through the shadowy forms. Though the phantoms lacked physical bodies, his strikes disrupted their energy, causing them to dissipate with shrill cries.
Alyssa unleashed a wave of dark energy, her voice commanding. "Obsidian Vortex!" The spell created a swirling mass of shadows that pulled several phantoms in, crushing them into nothingness.
Kael stood at the center, his staff radiating a golden light. "Sanctum Barrier." A dome of shimmering light enveloped the group, repelling the phantoms that tried to get too close.
"They're endless!" Lyra shouted, her arrows thinning the ranks but not stopping the tide.
"They're meant to be," Kael replied. "They're distractions, sent to delay us and exhaust our strength."
Rynn dodged a clawed swipe, his voice laced with frustration. "Well, it's working! Got any bright ideas, genius?"
Kael's eyes narrowed. "I do."
The light from Kael's staff intensified as he chanted under his breath. The runes etched into the staff glowed brighter, forming a series of golden sigils in the air.
"Keep them off me for a moment!" Kael called out.
"Easier said than done," Rynn muttered, slicing through another phantom.
Lyra and Alyssa moved to Kael's sides, their attacks relentless as they fought to hold back the tide.
"Don't screw this up," Alyssa said, her voice strained as she unleashed another wave of magic.
Kael's chanting reached its peak, his voice resonating with power. "Judgement Flare!"
A massive burst of light erupted from his staff, sweeping across the battlefield. The phantoms shrieked as the light engulfed them, their forms dissolving into nothingness.
When the light faded, the group was left standing alone, the oppressive darkness lifted.
Rynn sheathed his daggers, exhaling sharply. "Well, that was fun. Let's not do it again anytime soon."
Alyssa smirked, though her usual bravado was tempered by exhaustion. "Speak for yourself. I'm just getting warmed up."
Lyra lowered her bow, her gaze wary. "We should keep moving. If Zarathus sent those things, he'll know we survived. He won't stop here."
Kael nodded, his expression grim. "You're right. This was just the beginning. We need to stay ahead of him."
As they continued down the mountain, Kael's thoughts lingered on the phantoms. Their presence was a warning—a sign that Zarathus was watching, and that the battle ahead would only grow more difficult.
But Kael wasn't deterred. If Zarathus wanted a fight, he would give him one.
End of Chapter 13