Chapter 3: The First Encounter
The door exploded inward, shards of wood flying into the workshop. The room's faint lighting flickered erratically, casting jagged shadows across the walls. Standing in the doorway was a creature that shouldn't exist in any rational world.
It was humanoid in shape, but its limbs were grotesquely elongated, its skin a sickly gray that seemed to absorb light. Its eyes glowed a pale blue, and its mouth was filled with jagged teeth that gnashed audibly. As it stepped inside, its claws scraped against the floor, leaving deep gouges in the wood.
Ethan stumbled backward, tripping over a stack of books. "What the hell is that thing?!"
Adam didn't answer. His mind raced as he tightened his grip on the Dagger of the Wraith and steadied his breathing. The shimmering barrier from the Aegis Band enveloped him and Ethan, pulsing faintly as if responding to the creature's presence.
The creature let out a guttural growl and lunged, its claws slashing at the barrier. Sparks flew as the shield held firm, but the impact sent Adam staggering. The barrier rippled, and Adam realized it wouldn't last long under such relentless assault.
"I don't know what you are," Adam muttered, his voice low and steady, "but you're not getting what you want."
The creature's head tilted unnaturally, as if studying him. Then, with a guttural snarl, it lunged again.
"Umbra transit!" Adam shouted, activating the dagger.
The blade glowed with an eerie black light, and Adam's body tingled as the artifact's power surged through him. Without thinking, he stepped to the side—and into the wall.
The sensation was strange, like stepping into cold water, but he moved through the solid wood as if it were air. Emerging on the other side, Adam spun around, the dagger still glowing in his hand.
The creature hesitated, clearly confused by his sudden disappearance. Taking advantage of the opening, Adam darted forward and slashed at its back. The dagger cut deep, and the creature let out a deafening screech, stumbling forward.
"Adam! Behind you!" Ethan's voice was shrill with panic.
Adam barely had time to react before the creature spun, its claws swinging wildly. He threw himself backward, narrowly avoiding the blow, but the force of the swipe sent him crashing into a stack of crates.
The Aegis Band shimmered again, the barrier absorbing the brunt of the impact. Adam groaned, pushing himself to his feet. "This thing doesn't go down easy," he muttered.
The creature snarled, its movements more erratic now, as if the injury had enraged it. Its glowing eyes locked onto Adam, and it charged, faster than before.
Adam raised the dagger instinctively, but the creature was too quick. Its claws slammed into the barrier, shattering it like glass. The force knocked Adam backward, his head hitting the floor hard enough to make his vision blur.
"Adam!" Ethan shouted, scrambling toward him.
The creature loomed over Adam, its claws raised for a final strike. Time seemed to slow as Adam's mind raced. His artifacts were spent—both the dagger's power and the bracelet's shield had reached their limits.
"Think, damn it!" he hissed to himself. His gaze darted around the workshop, landing on the small silver coin from earlier—the Silver Coin of Prosperity—lying on the floor near the overturned workbench.
"Fortuna favet audacibus!" Adam shouted, his voice cracking.
The coin glowed briefly, and the workshop seemed to shift. The creature's claws came down, but instead of striking Adam, they veered off course, slamming into the floor beside him. The creature howled in frustration, its movements suddenly clumsy and uncoordinated.
Taking the chance, Adam rolled away and grabbed a heavy iron bar from the scattered tools. With all his strength, he swung it at the creature's head. The impact sent the creature reeling, and Adam didn't let up, striking again and again until it crumpled to the ground.
The workshop fell silent, save for Adam's ragged breathing. He staggered backward, dropping the iron bar, and collapsed onto a stool. Ethan rushed to his side, his face pale and sweat-soaked.
"You... you killed it," Ethan stammered, his eyes darting between Adam and the creature's lifeless body.
"Not sure if it's dead or just out cold," Adam muttered, rubbing the back of his head where he'd hit the floor. "Either way, we're alive. For now."
Ethan opened his mouth to respond, but the system's interface appeared before Adam, its cool blue glow cutting through the room's dim light.
[Mission Update: Defend against an intruder.]
[Reward: Mission Complete. Crafting Experience Increased.]
Adam sighed, leaning his head back against the wall. "Crafting experience, huh? Maybe next time it could give me something that doesn't involve almost dying."
Ethan shook his head, still trembling. "Adam, what the hell is going on? What is this... this thing, and why was it after me?"
Adam glanced at the dagger, its blade still faintly glowing in his hand. "It's the artifact," he said. "Or maybe... it's you. Something about this dagger—it's dangerous, Ethan. And it's attracting attention."
Ethan paled even further. "I didn't know! I just thought it was... cool. A collectible."
"Well, now you know better," Adam said, standing unsteadily. "Artifacts aren't toys. And if these things are coming for them, it means this is just the beginning."
Ethan swallowed hard, his gaze flickering to the creature on the floor. "What do we do now?"
Adam didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked around his workshop, at the scattered tools and artifacts, the remnants of the battle. The world he thought he knew was crumbling, and he was standing at the epicenter of something far bigger than himself.
"We prepare," he said finally, his voice firm. "Because whatever's out there, it's not going to stop."
The creature's body began to dissolve, turning into ash and disappearing into the air. The eerie sight sent a shiver down Adam's spine.
"And next time," he added, gripping the dagger tightly, "we'll be ready."
End of Chapter 3.