The quiet that followed the battle was almost more unnerving than the fight itself. Kairo stood with his hands on his knees, catching his breath, the golden energy within him flickering weakly. Elara leaned against a jagged outcrop of shadowy terrain, her silvery light casting faint reflections on the undulating darkness around them.
"We don't have much time before they come back," she said, her tone clipped. "We need to keep moving."
Kairo straightened, his body still aching from the fight. "Hold on," he said, raising a hand. "Before we go anywhere, I need answers. Who are you? How do you know about this place? And what are you doing here?"
Elara's eyes narrowed, her silvery aura dimming slightly as she regarded him. "You've got a lot of questions for someone who barely survived that fight."
"Yeah, and I'd like to survive the next one," Kairo shot back. "So, how about you start talking?"
Elara's lips pressed into a thin line. She glanced around the shadowy expanse, as if weighing her options, before letting out a soft sigh. "Fine. But keep walking. This place isn't safe."
As they moved through the Abyssal Boundary, the ground shifting beneath their feet with every step, Elara began to speak.
"I'm not from your world," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "I'm from a place like this. A place where the light barely reaches."
Kairo frowned. "The Abyss? You're saying you're from the Abyss?"
"Not exactly," Elara replied. "There are pockets—fragments of reality that exist between the Abyss and your world. That's where I was born. That's where I've lived my entire life."
"That doesn't explain what you're doing here," Kairo said, his tone cautious.
Elara hesitated, her eyes distant. "I'm looking for someone."
"Who?"
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stopped walking, her gaze fixed on the swirling shadows ahead. When she finally spoke, her voice was laced with a bitterness that made Kairo's chest tighten.
"Someone I trusted. Someone who betrayed me."
Kairo's mind raced as he tried to process her words. He thought of the Abyssal creatures they'd just fought, the overwhelming sense of malevolence that seemed to emanate from this place.
"Let me guess," he said, his voice wary. "They're working with the shadows?"
Elara's lips curled into a humorless smile. "You could say that. They're the reason the shadows are growing stronger. The reason the Abyss is spreading."
Kairo's stomach twisted. He thought of Zephyr's warnings, the growing power of the shadows, and the strain he felt every time he summoned his Aeterna. "Why would anyone do that?"
"Power," Elara said simply. "Control. Some people will do anything to bend the world to their will. Even if it means destroying everything in the process."
Kairo fell silent, the weight of her words pressing down on him. He thought of Lina, of her unwavering faith in him, and the responsibility he felt to protect her. Could he really face a threat like this?
Before he could voice his doubts, the shadows ahead of them shifted, forming a massive, twisting wall of darkness. The air grew heavier, and a low, guttural growl echoed through the void.
Elara's hand shot out, a silvery blade materializing in her grip. "Get ready," she said, her tone sharp.
Kairo summoned his golden energy, though it felt weaker than before. The strain of the previous battles was catching up to him, and he knew he was running out of time.
The wall of shadows split open, and a figure stepped through—a tall, imposing man with glowing red eyes and an aura of darkness that made Kairo's skin crawl. His features were sharp and angular, his expression cold and calculating.
"Drayke," Elara hissed, her grip tightening on her blade.
Kairo's eyes darted to her. "You know this guy?"
"He's the one I'm looking for," she said, her voice low. "The one who betrayed me."
Drayke's gaze swept over them, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Elara," he said, his voice smooth and mocking. "Still chasing ghosts, I see."
"I'm not here to talk," Elara snapped, stepping forward.
"Pity," Drayke said, his smirk widening. "And here I thought we might reconcile."
Kairo stepped up beside Elara, his golden energy flaring weakly. "So, this is the guy? He doesn't look so tough."
Drayke's eyes flicked to Kairo, and the smirk disappeared. "And who's this?"
"None of your business," Kairo shot back.
Drayke's expression darkened, the shadows around him writhing in response. "You should choose your words carefully, boy. You have no idea what you've stepped into."
"Yeah, well, I'm not big on taking advice from shadowy weirdos," Kairo said, though his heart was pounding.
Elara's blade glowed brighter, and she crouched into a fighting stance. "Kairo, stay close. He's more dangerous than he looks."
Drayke chuckled, his voice dripping with condescension. "You give me too much credit, Elara. I'm merely a messenger."
Before either of them could respond, Drayke raised his hand, and the shadows surged forward, forming a massive, twisting creature that loomed over them. Its red eyes glowed like embers, and its guttural growl shook the air.
"Prove your worth," Drayke said, stepping back into the shadows. "If you can."
The creature lunged, its massive claws slashing through the air. Kairo and Elara moved as one, their energies blending into a dazzling display of gold and silver.
Kairo's Aegis flared to life, blocking one of the creature's attacks while Elara darted in, her blade slicing through the darkness. The creature howled, its form flickering but holding strong.
"This thing's tougher than the others!" Kairo shouted, his shield cracking under the force of another attack.
"Stay focused!" Elara yelled back, her blade cutting another deep gash into the creature's side.
The battle raged on, the void around them filled with the sounds of clashing energy and the creature's deafening roars. Kairo's strength was waning, his golden light dimming with each passing moment.
"Don't falter," Elara said, her voice firm. "We can do this."
Kairo gritted his teeth, summoning the last of his strength. He let the golden energy surge through him, forming a massive wave that crashed into the creature. The light engulfed it, and with a final, agonized howl, it dissolved into smoke.
As the silence returned, Kairo dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. Elara stood over him, her expression unreadable.
"You did well," she said after a moment.
Kairo managed a weak smile. "Thanks. I think."
Elara extended a hand, helping him to his feet. "But this isn't over. Drayke is still out there. And if we're going to stop him, we'll need to work together."
Kairo nodded, the weight of her words settling over him. He didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was clear: the battle was far from over.