Chapter 16: The Shadow's Grasp
The figure's tendrils of shadow shot toward Xia Yu with unrelenting speed, twisting through the air like snakes. She stepped back instinctively, her sword slicing through the darkness, but it was like cutting water—each strike disrupted the shadows momentarily, only for them to reform and come at her again.
"Stay calm, Host!" Epoch's voice rang in her mind. "The shadows feed on fear. Don't let them gain the upper hand."
Xia Yu grit her teeth, her body tense but her mind refusing to give in. She dodged left, narrowly avoiding a strike aimed for her chest, and retaliated with a powerful slash aimed at the figure. The blade glimmered faintly, catching the dim light of the lanterns, and for a moment, it seemed to burn with a faint inner glow.
The strike connected.
The figure recoiled, a hiss escaping its lips as the shadows around it rippled violently. The tendrils withdrew, curling inward like wounded animals, and the figure took a step back. For the first time, Xia Yu saw hesitation in its movements.
Epoch's voice filled her with renewed determination. "Host, your Qi—it's reacting to the darkness! Focus it into your sword. It's the key to overpowering this thing!"
Her Qi? Xia Yu's heart raced. She had been struggling to gather even the smallest amount of Qi since entering the village, as if the oppressive atmosphere had been sapping it from her. But now, she could feel something stirring within her—a faint flicker, like the first spark of a fire.
Closing her eyes for a brief moment, she drew a deep breath, pulling her focus inward. She felt the mark on her arm pulse again, but this time, she didn't fight it. Instead, she channeled the energy flowing through her body into the blade, letting the faint glow intensify.
When she opened her eyes, the shadows around her seemed to waver, as though they could sense the shift in her resolve. The figure let out a guttural growl, its form growing more distorted as the darkness around it writhed.
"You think you can fight me?" it sneered, its voice no longer smooth but jagged and sharp. "You are nothing but a child playing with forces beyond your comprehension!"
Xia Yu didn't respond. Her grip on the sword tightened as she stepped forward, her Qi-infused blade cutting through the air with precision. The figure met her head-on, the clash of its shadowy tendrils against her glowing sword sending sparks of light and darkness scattering across the clearing.
For a moment, it felt like the entire village held its breath. The lanterns flickered wildly, their dim glow barely holding back the encroaching darkness.
The battle wasn't just physical—it was a test of wills. Every strike Xia Yu made felt like it was draining her, as if the shadows were sapping her strength with every blow. But she refused to falter. Each time the darkness surged forward, she pushed back with everything she had.
Epoch's voice became a steady presence in her mind, guiding her movements. "Focus on its core! The figure is just a vessel—the real threat is the heart of the darkness. Find it, and strike it down!"
Xia Yu scanned her surroundings, her eyes darting between the figure and the shadows that seemed to ripple like a living tide. The core. Where was it?
Her gaze fell on the figure's chest, where a faint, pulsating light flickered beneath the surface of its translucent form. It was small, almost imperceptible, but it was there—a weak point hidden amidst the chaos.
She didn't hesitate. With a surge of determination, Xia Yu feinted to the left, drawing the figure's attention, before pivoting sharply and driving her sword toward the glowing spot.
The blade pierced through the figure's chest, and for a moment, everything went still.
The shadows let out a deafening wail, a sound that seemed to shake the very ground beneath her feet. The figure's form twisted and contorted, its features melting away as the darkness around it began to dissolve. The tendrils recoiled violently, pulling away from Xia Yu as if burned by her light.
The glow of her sword intensified, pushing back the remaining darkness until the figure was no more than a fading silhouette. With one final, ear-splitting cry, it collapsed into a pool of shadow that seeped into the ground, leaving the clearing eerily silent.
Xia Yu stood motionless, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. The mark on her arm pulsed faintly, but the burning sensation was gone. For the first time since entering the village, she felt a sense of clarity.
"Host, you did it," Epoch said, his voice filled with relief. "The core has been destroyed. The darkness won't be able to manifest in this form again—at least, not for a while."
She nodded slowly, her grip on the sword loosening as she sheathed it at her side. "But it's not over, is it? This… thing… it's still inside me."
Epoch was silent for a moment before responding. "No, it's not over. But you've taken a crucial step forward. The fact that you were able to channel your Qi and resist the shadows means you're stronger than you realize. We'll find a way to deal with the mark—together."
Xia Yu looked around the clearing, her gaze lingering on the fading remnants of shadow that still clung to the edges of the village. The lanterns burned steadily now, their light no longer flickering but casting a warm, steady glow.
The villagers began to emerge from their homes, their faces weary but relieved. They looked at Xia Yu with a mixture of awe and gratitude, their hollow eyes now filled with a faint spark of hope.
"You've saved us," an elderly man said, stepping forward. His voice trembled, but his gratitude was clear. "The darkness… it's been tormenting us for so long. Thank you."
Xia Yu shook her head. "I haven't saved anyone yet. The darkness is still out there—and it's still inside me."
The man's expression faltered, but he nodded solemnly. "Even so, you've given us a chance to fight back. That's more than anyone else has done."
She didn't respond, her thoughts already turning to the path ahead. The battle had taken a toll on her, both physically and mentally, but it had also shown her that she wasn't powerless. The mark might have been a curse, but it was also a source of strength—a double-edged sword that she needed to learn how to wield.
As the villagers began to rebuild, Xia Yu turned to Epoch, her voice steady. "What's next?"
Epoch's response was calm but resolute. "We keep moving forward. The shadows may be patient, but so are we. And we're far from done."
With that, she stepped out of the clearing, her resolve stronger than ever. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: she would not let the darkness define her.
End of Chapter 16