Chapter 43: A Fractured Alliance
The corridors stretched endlessly, their walls pulsing with faint crimson veins that seemed alive. Each throb echoed faintly, like a heartbeat, the sound unsettling in the oppressive silence. Kael moved cautiously, his scythe resting lightly in his grip, shadows flickering around him. They felt subdued, as though the fortress itself suppressed them—a silent warning not to overstep.
Behind him, Ciaran's footsteps were softer than usual. His golden eyes darted around, scanning the walls and shadows. "This place," he muttered, his voice low but strained, "is worse than the last one. Why does it feel like the walls are watching us?"
"They probably are," Kael replied evenly, not looking back. The shard embedded in his scythe pulsed faintly, resonating with the fortress around them. He could feel it—the connection between the shard and the veins crawling across the walls. The fortress wasn't just a structure; it was alive, aware, and angry.
Ciaran quickened his pace to walk beside him. "Back there, with the altar—what was that?" His voice carried both curiosity and a trace of accusation.
Kael's storm-gray eyes flicked toward him briefly before returning to the path ahead. "A test."
"A test for what?"
"My resolve," Kael said curtly. His grip on the scythe tightened, the shard's hum growing louder, as though reminding him of its presence. "And it's not over."
Before Ciaran could press further, a deep, rhythmic pounding reverberated through the corridor, cutting him off. Both men stopped, their weapons raised. The sound grew louder, closer, the vibrations shaking the ground beneath their feet.
"What now?" Ciaran muttered, his blade glinting faintly in the crimson glow.
Kael's shadows bristled instinctively. "Something bigger."
The Beast of the Fortress
The pounding intensified until it was deafening. From the darkness ahead, a massive form emerged. The creature was grotesque, its body a twisted amalgamation of shadow and crimson veins. Its jagged limbs ended in claws that scraped against the stone, leaving gouges in its wake. Its head was featureless save for two glowing red eyes, burning with unrelenting malice.
The beast let out a guttural roar, the sound reverberating through the corridor like a physical force. The walls pulsed brighter in response, as if the fortress itself welcomed the monstrosity.
"Void's teeth," Ciaran swore, gripping his blade tighter. "How do we kill that?"
Kael didn't answer. His shadows surged forward, tendrils wrapping around the beast's limbs to slow its charge. The creature roared in defiance, tearing through the restraints with brute force. Kael darted to the side, his scythe slicing in a wide arc. The blade struck true, sending a spray of crimson sparks into the air, but the beast hardly flinched.
It retaliated, slamming its claws into the ground where Kael had been moments before. The impact shattered the stone, sending jagged fragments flying in every direction. Ciaran leapt in from the side, his blade slashing across the beast's flank. The strike left a deep gash, but the crimson veins flared, and the wound began to close almost instantly.
"This thing's regeneration is insane!" Ciaran shouted, retreating as the beast swiped at him.
Kael's storm-gray eyes narrowed, his mind racing. The shard in his scythe pulsed rhythmically, resonating with the creature. He could feel the connection—the beast wasn't just a guardian; it was a manifestation of the fortress itself. As long as the shard remained intact, the fortress would keep feeding the creature.
"We destroy the shard," Kael said, his voice cold and certain.
Ciaran turned sharply, disbelief etched on his face. "Are you out of your mind? That thing's the only reason we've made it this far! Without it, we're dead."
Kael's gaze didn't waver. "Without it, this thing will kill us first."
A Fractured Decision
Ciaran hesitated, his grip tightening on his blade. "There has to be another way."
"There isn't," Kael said, his voice hard. He raised the scythe, the shard glowing brighter as if responding to his resolve. "I'll handle it. Just keep that thing off me."
Ciaran cursed under his breath but didn't argue further. He charged at the beast, his blade flashing as he met its claws head-on. The impact sent shockwaves through the corridor, each clash of steel against shadow reverberating like a drumbeat. Ciaran fought with desperation, his strikes precise but frantic, buying Kael the time he needed.
Kael closed his eyes, focusing inward. The shard's energy surged through him, its resonance a deafening hum in his mind. Shadows coiled around him, forming a protective barrier as he drew the shard's power into a concentrated point. The fortress seemed to react violently, the crimson veins along the walls flaring as if in protest.
The beast roared, its movements growing more erratic. It swiped at Ciaran with renewed fury, sending him sprawling across the floor. Kael's shadows surged forward, shielding Ciaran from a fatal blow, but the beast tore through them with terrifying ease.
"Kael!" Ciaran shouted, blood streaking down his face. "Hurry the hell up!"
Kael didn't respond. The shard's energy reached its peak, the crimson light now blinding. With a sharp cry, he swung the scythe down, releasing a massive wave of shadowy energy that engulfed the beast and the surrounding corridor.
The Aftermath
The light faded, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Kael stood in the center of the ruined corridor, his scythe dissipating into flickering shadows. The beast was gone, its massive form reduced to ash and embers. The crimson veins along the walls dimmed, their pulse weakening as though the fortress itself had been wounded.
Ciaran staggered to his feet, leaning heavily on his blade. "Tell me that's the last one."
Kael didn't answer immediately. The shard in his scythe was dull now, its energy spent, but its weight remained—a constant reminder of its power and the cost of wielding it. He turned toward the next corridor, his shadows trailing behind him like a loyal, restless pack.
"For now," he said quietly. His storm-gray eyes were fixed ahead, where the darkness seemed even deeper. "But this isn't over."
Ciaran wiped the blood from his face, his frustration evident. "It never is with you, is it?"
Kael didn't respond. Somewhere in the shadows, he thought he heard faint laughter—a sound that sent a chill down his spine. He kept walking, his grip tightening on the scythe. Whatever waited deeper in the fortress, he knew it would demand even more from him.
End of Chapter 43