The Shard of Shadows pulsed faintly in Eryon's hand as the group moved away from the chasm, the oppressive energy of the Forbidden Wastes pressing down on them like an invisible weight. Every step felt heavier than the last, the air thick with a sinister presence.
"Keep moving," Lysara urged, her voice low but firm. She led the way, her daggers at the ready, her sharp eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger. "The Voidspawn won't wait long to follow us."
Eryon nodded, though his focus was elsewhere. The Shard in his grip seemed alive, its energy swirling through him in waves. It wasn't just power—it was a voice, a presence that whispered at the edges of his mind, urging him to embrace it fully.
Tia, walking beside him, glanced nervously at the Shard. "Is it supposed to… feel like that?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I don't know," Eryon admitted, his tone as uncertain as her question. "But it's… overwhelming."
"You have to learn to control it," Lysara called over her shoulder. "The Shard's power is immense, but if you let it consume you, you'll be no better than the Voidspawn."
"That's comforting," Gareth muttered, keeping his usual bravado in check as he scanned their surroundings. Even he seemed unsettled, his casual smirk replaced by a tight frown.
The group trudged onward, the barren wasteland around them seeming to stretch endlessly. The silence was broken only by the crunch of their boots on the cracked ground and the occasional distant howl that sent shivers down their spines. The shadows seemed to move of their own accord, creeping closer with every step.
"We need to rest," Tia said finally, her voice tired but insistent. "We've been walking for hours, and we're all exhausted."
"We can't afford to stop," Lysara replied without slowing down. "The Voidspawn are already on our trail."
"She's right," Gareth interjected, surprising everyone. "We're not going to make it out of here if we collapse from exhaustion. A short break won't kill us."
Lysara hesitated, her jaw tight. Finally, she relented with a nod. "Five minutes. No more."
The group found a cluster of jagged rocks that provided some cover and sat down, their bodies sagging with relief. Tia pulled out a small waterskin and handed it to Eryon, who drank gratefully.
"Thanks," he said, his voice hoarse.
She smiled faintly. "I still don't understand why it had to be you. Why the Shard reacted to you."
"Neither do I," Eryon admitted, his gaze fixed on the faintly glowing artifact in his hand. "But if this is what it takes to stop the Void, I'll do it."
Before Tia could respond, a low growl echoed through the air. The group tensed, their hands moving to their weapons. The growl grew louder, joined by others, until it became a cacophony of inhuman sounds that seemed to come from all directions.
"They've found us," Lysara said, rising to her feet. Her daggers gleamed in the dim light as she positioned herself between the group and the approaching sounds.
From the shadows emerged the Voidspawn—twisted, monstrous creatures with jagged limbs and glowing violet eyes. Their forms shifted unnaturally, as though they were made of liquid shadow. They moved with a predatory grace, circling the group like wolves stalking prey.
"Stay behind me," Eryon said, stepping in front of Tia. The Shard's energy surged within him, responding to the threat. He didn't fully understand its power, but he knew he had to use it.
One of the Voidspawn lunged, its claws aimed for Eryon's throat. He raised his hand instinctively, and a burst of dark energy erupted from the Shard, striking the creature mid-air and disintegrating it in an explosion of shadow. The force of the attack left him breathless, but the other Voidspawn hesitated, their glowing eyes fixed on him.
"Impressive," Gareth said, drawing his sword. "But we can't rely on you to do all the work."
The Voidspawn attacked in unison, their movements fluid and coordinated. Gareth met them head-on, his blade slicing through shadowy limbs. Lysara moved like a phantom, her daggers finding weak points with deadly precision. Tia stayed close to Eryon, her Shard of Earth creating barriers to block the creatures' attacks.
Eryon fought to control the Shard's power, unleashing bursts of energy to repel the Voidspawn. Each attack left him more drained, the strain of wielding the Shard taking its toll. The whispers in his mind grew louder, urging him to surrender, to let the Shard take over completely.
"Eryon!" Tia's voice broke through the chaos. He turned to see a Voidspawn charging at her, its claws inches from her chest. Without thinking, he released a wave of energy that obliterated the creature—but the force knocked him to his knees.
"Get up!" Lysara shouted, fending off two Voidspawn at once. "We're not done yet!"
Eryon forced himself to his feet, the Shard's glow pulsing in time with his racing heart. The remaining Voidspawn hesitated, as if sensing his growing power. Then, with a deafening roar, they retreated into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared.
The group stood in silence, their breaths ragged. The battlefield was littered with the remains of the Voidspawn, their forms dissolving into nothingness.
"Is it over?" Tia asked, her voice trembling.
"For now," Lysara said, though her expression was grim. "But they'll be back. They always come back."
Eryon leaned against a rock, his body trembling from exhaustion. The Shard's energy still coursed through him, but it felt unstable, as though it could spiral out of control at any moment.
"You need to rest," Tia said, placing a hand on his arm. "You can't keep pushing yourself like this."
"I don't have a choice," Eryon said, his voice low. "If I don't learn to control this power, I'll get us all killed."
"You're not alone," Tia said firmly. "We're in this together."
Eryon met her gaze and nodded, though doubt lingered in his mind. The Shard's power was both a gift and a curse, and he wasn't sure he was strong enough to bear it.
As the group prepared to move on, Lysara placed a hand on his shoulder. "You did well," she said, her tone softer than usual. "But the road ahead is only going to get harder. You need to be ready."
"I will be," Eryon said, though the weight of her words settled heavily on him. The Shard pulsed faintly in his hand, a constant reminder of the battle he had yet to fight.
In the distance, the horizon glowed faintly with the light of dawn. But for Eryon and his companions, the darkness was far from over.