The first shadow lunged with an unnatural speed, its flickering form distorted as if caught in a constant state of unraveling. Ryn barely had time to react, raising his knife just in time to parry the creature's clawed strike. The impact sent a jarring vibration up his arm, nearly knocking the blade from his grip.
"Damn it!" Ryn hissed, stumbling back as the shadow hissed and slashed again.
The Spirit Fox darted in front of him, its glowing body a stark contrast to the darkness enveloping the chamber. With a sharp chirp, it leapt toward the shadow, its small frame moving like liquid light.
The bond between them pulsed, and Ryn felt a surge of adrenaline as the fox's energy flowed through him.
The shadow reeled as the fox's claws raked through its semi-corporeal form, leaving faint trails of glowing blue light in their wake. The creature shrieked, its distorted cry echoing through the chamber, but it didn't fall. Instead, its form seemed to stretch and twist, splitting into two smaller shapes that circled the pair like predators.
Ryn tightened his grip on his knife, his breathing ragged. "They split when you hit them?" he muttered under his breath. "That's just great."
The Spirit Fox growled low in its throat, its glowing eyes locked on the swirling shadows.
Another shadow surged forward from the walls, followed by two more, their red eyes glowing like embers in the mist.
Ryn's stomach sank. There were too many of them.
"Stay close!" he shouted, shifting into a defensive stance as the shadows closed in.
The fox chirped in response, darting between the encroaching creatures with uncanny agility. Its fur flared brightly as it used Radiant Step, blinking out of sight and reappearing behind one of the shadows to claw at its back.
The creature shrieked again, its form warping and flickering as it dissolved into wisps of darkness.
"One down!" Ryn called, ducking under a clawed swipe as another shadow lunged at him. He retaliated with a wild slash of his knife, the blade cutting through the creature's flickering form but meeting little resistance.
The shadow staggered but didn't fall. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Ryn, and it lashed out again with unnatural speed.
Ryn cursed, throwing himself to the side. The creature's claws raked the air where he had been a moment before, the force of the attack sending loose debris skittering across the chamber floor.
"Physical attacks barely work," Ryn muttered, his mind racing. "They're too unstable."
The Spirit Fox leapt back to his side, growling as it deflected another shadow with a swipe of its glowing tail. The bond pulsed again, stronger this time, and Ryn felt a flicker of something—an idea, a possibility.
"Light," he murmured, his eyes narrowing. "They're made of shadows, so maybe—"
The fox chirped sharply, its glow intensifying as if it had understood his unspoken thought.
"Alright," Ryn said, gritting his teeth. "Let's try it. Go for the brightest attack you've got!"
The Spirit Fox darted forward, weaving through the shadows with blinding speed. Its fur flared brighter and brighter, the faint hum of energy growing louder as it prepared its next move.
The shadows converged on the fox, their distorted forms closing in from all sides. But just as they struck, the fox's glow erupted into a blinding flash of light.
The chamber was bathed in brilliant blue radiance, the mist swirling violently as the shadows recoiled with unearthly shrieks. Several of them dissolved completely, their forms disintegrating into harmless wisps of darkness.
Ryn shielded his eyes from the light, the bond between him and the fox pulsing so strongly that it made his chest ache. When the glow finally dimmed, the remaining shadows were smaller and weaker, their movements sluggish and erratic.
"Good work!" Ryn called, his voice echoing in the chamber. "Let's finish this!"
The fox chirped in response, leaping back into the fray. Its movements were a blur of light and precision as it struck down one shadow after another, its claws tearing through their flickering forms with ease.
Ryn joined in, his knife flashing as he slashed at the weakened creatures. The bond guided his movements, filling him with a sense of clarity and purpose that he had never felt before.
Within moments, the last of the shadows dissolved into nothingness, leaving the chamber eerily silent.
Ryn lowered his knife, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. The Spirit Fox padded over to him, its glow dim but steady.
"Not bad," Ryn said, sinking to one knee as he ruffled the fox's fur. "Not bad at all."
The bond pulsed faintly, and Ryn felt a wave of satisfaction that wasn't entirely his own.
As the adrenaline faded, Ryn turned his attention back to the pedestal at the center of the chamber. The glowing runes on its surface had grown dimmer, their patterns now still and inert.
"What was that all about?" Ryn muttered, stepping closer.
The Spirit Fox followed him, its glowing eyes fixed on the pedestal.
Ryn reached out cautiously, his fingers brushing against the carved stone. The bond between him and the fox flared again, and for a brief moment, he saw something—an image burned into his mind like an afterimage from a bright light.
It was the Spirit Fox, standing at the edge of a dark chasm. Beyond it loomed a massive, twisted figure wreathed in shadows, its red eyes burning like fire.
The image faded as quickly as it had come, leaving Ryn breathless and disoriented.
"What… was that?" he whispered, his hand trembling as he pulled it away from the pedestal.
The Spirit Fox chirped softly, pressing against his leg.
Ryn shook his head, forcing himself to focus. Whatever the vision had been, it was connected to the ruin—and to the bond he shared with the fox.
"We'll figure it out," Ryn said quietly, crouching to meet the fox's gaze. "But first, let's get out of here. I've had enough of this place."
The fox chirped again, its tail swishing as it turned toward the exit.
Ryn followed, his thoughts racing as they left the chamber behind. The shadows might have been defeated, but the questions they raised lingered like a heavy weight on his mind.
What was this ruin hiding?
And more importantly, what was the bond leading him toward?