Eren's head throbbed as he struggled to his feet, his surroundings dimly lit by the faint glow of the fragment in his hand. The air was damp and heavy, thick with the scent of earth and something far older. The walls of the chasm were jagged and uneven, rising impossibly high above him. He could barely hear Kael and Liora's voices calling down from the surface.
"Eren! Are you alive?" Kael's shout echoed faintly.
"I'm fine!" Eren called back, his voice hoarse. "Just... give me a moment!"
The truth was, he wasn't fine. His body ached from the fall, and his thoughts were a storm of doubt and exhaustion. He had nearly given in to the fragment again. It had been so close. Too close.
"Stay where you are," Liora's voice cut through his spiraling thoughts. "We're finding a way down!"
"No," Eren replied quickly. "There's something here. I'll find a way back to you. Just... keep the Revenants off me."
The silence that followed was heavy with hesitation, but eventually, Kael's voice broke through. "Don't do anything stupid. That's my job."
A faint smile tugged at Eren's lips despite the situation. He turned his attention to the cavern ahead, where the dim light of the fragment revealed a tunnel carved into the stone. The air grew colder as he stepped forward, each footfall echoing ominously. The fragment's glow pulsed faintly, as though guiding him deeper into the unknown.
---
The Labyrinth
The tunnel twisted and turned, its walls etched with runes that glowed faintly as Eren passed. They pulsed in rhythm with the fragment, and he couldn't help but wonder if they were connected somehow. The whispers in his mind returned, softer this time, almost coaxing.
You're close. Keep going.
The runes told a story, though Eren could barely make sense of it—scenes of a great war, a crown shattered into fragments, and a figure wreathed in darkness. He traced his fingers over the carvings, his breath catching as a sudden vision overtook him.
---
A Vision of the Past
The cavern fell away, replaced by a battlefield. The air was thick with ash and the cries of the dying. At the center of the chaos stood a towering figure clad in obsidian armor, wielding a blade that seemed to devour light itself. Behind him, a crown of shimmering fragments floated, radiating an unnatural power.
Eren could feel the figure's rage, his desperation. He wasn't fighting to conquer—he was fighting to protect something. But the fragments... they were too much. The power consumed him, twisting his intentions into something monstrous.
The vision shifted, and Eren saw the crown shatter, its pieces scattering across the land. The armored figure fell to his knees, his form breaking apart into shadow. His voice rang out, a haunting echo that seemed to speak directly to Eren.
"You cannot hold what was never yours. Beware the price."
---
Eren stumbled as the vision ended, his chest heaving. He pressed his hand to the fragment at his side, its warmth grounding him. The voice had sounded so real, so full of warning. But was it meant for him, or was it just a memory?
Shaking his head, he pushed forward. The tunnel widened into a vast chamber, and at its center stood an altar carved from black stone. On it rested another fragment, its light a deep, pulsing crimson. The air around it shimmered, heavy with power.
Eren hesitated, his hand trembling as he reached out. The whispers grew louder, almost deafening now. They promised strength, clarity, the power to end Malrik once and for all.
But Liora's words echoed in his mind. You'll become just like him.
He clenched his fist, pulling back. No. Not this way. He wouldn't let the fragments control him.
"I see you've found another piece of the puzzle."
The voice sent a chill down Eren's spine. He spun around, sword in hand, to find Malrik's emissary standing at the edge of the chamber. The figure's dark robes billowed as though caught in an unseen wind, and his glowing eyes locked onto Eren.
"You've come far," the emissary said, his tone almost admiring. "But you hesitate. That is your weakness."
Eren raised his sword. "Stay back."
The emissary chuckled, a low, grating sound. "You think you can resist? The fragments are not tools for mortals. They are the remnants of a god's will. They demand a price, one you cannot afford to pay."
Eren tightened his grip, his heart pounding. "Then why does Malrik want them?"
"Malrik understands their nature. He accepts the cost, as you must." The emissary stepped closer, the crimson fragment glowing brighter in his presence. "Or perhaps you'd prefer to leave it to me. I'll ensure its power isn't wasted."
Eren's mind raced. He couldn't let the emissary take the fragment—it would only strengthen Malrik's hold on the land. But could he truly trust himself to wield it?
---
The Fight
The emissary lunged without warning, his dark energy crackling through the air. Eren barely dodged, his sword meeting the emissary's staff with a resounding clang. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the chamber, rattling the fragile peace of the underground.
Eren moved instinctively, parrying the emissary's strikes while looking for an opening. The man fought with precision, each movement calculated to push Eren back toward the altar.
"You can't win," the emissary hissed. "The fragments will consume you, just as they did the rest."
Eren gritted his teeth, driving forward with a surge of desperation. His blade caught the emissary's arm, slicing through fabric and drawing a hiss of pain. But the man retaliated with a wave of dark energy that sent Eren sprawling.
The fragment at his side pulsed frantically, urging him to use it. To claim its power. Eren hesitated for only a moment before gripping it tightly. The energy surged through him, searing and overwhelming, but he didn't let it take control.
With renewed strength, he rose, his sword glowing faintly with the fragment's light. The emissary's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise breaking through his calm facade.
"This is for everyone you've hurt," Eren said, his voice steady.
He struck with all his might, his blade meeting the emissary's staff in a clash of light and shadow. The force of the blow shattered the staff, sending shards of dark energy scattering. The emissary stumbled, his form flickering like a dying flame.
"You've made your choice," the emissary rasped, his voice filled with venom. "But you cannot escape the fragments' will."
With that, he dissolved into shadow, leaving Eren alone in the chamber.
---
Aftermath
Eren collapsed to his knees, his breath ragged. The fragment at the altar glowed softly, its light almost inviting. He stared at it for a long moment before wrapping it in cloth and tucking it into his pouch.
He didn't know if he had made the right choice, but he wasn't going to let the fragments dictate his path. Not yet.
"Eren!" Kael's voice echoed down the tunnel. "You alive?"
A faint smile touched Eren's lips as he stood, his legs unsteady but determined. "I'm here."
As he made his way back toward the surface, the weight of the fragments pressed heavier on his mind. The whispers hadn't stopped. They never would.
But for now, he was still himself.