The shadow lunged with a speed that took Ryn off guard, its jagged, flickering form barreling toward him like a wave of black fire. Its claws gleamed with the same crimson energy as its glowing eyes, and the air around it warped as though reality itself was bending under its influence.
"Move!" Ryn shouted, diving to the side just as the Spirit Fox darted forward.
The fox met the shadow head-on, its glowing fur flaring with defiance as it dodged a swipe from the creature's claws. The bond pulsed sharply in Ryn's chest, a surge of adrenaline and focus that seemed to synchronize his senses with the fox's movements.
"Keep it distracted!" Ryn called, pulling his knife free as he circled the shadow, looking for an opening.
The Spirit Fox moved with blinding speed, using Radiant Step to flicker in and out of sight as it danced around the shadow's strikes. Each step left a faint ripple of light in the air, disorienting the creature and forcing it to turn wildly in an attempt to keep up.
Ryn gritted his teeth, his eyes darting across the shadow's form. Unlike the weaker creatures they had faced earlier, this one didn't seem to waver or flicker. Its edges were sharp, its movements deliberate, and the energy radiating from it was suffocating.
"This thing's tougher," Ryn muttered under his breath.
The shadow lashed out with both claws, the force of its strike shattering a nearby section of wall and sending fragments of stone flying. The Spirit Fox dodged narrowly, its glowing tail brushing against the debris as it leapt away.
"Alright," Ryn said, his grip tightening on the knife. "No more playing around."
The bond flared again, and Ryn felt a sudden surge of clarity. He could see it—the way the shadow moved, the gaps in its defenses, the faint pulse of energy at its core. It was like a map unfolding in his mind, guided by the fox's instincts.
"Now!" Ryn shouted, lunging forward.
The Spirit Fox reacted instantly, darting toward the shadow with a burst of speed. It struck at the creature's legs, forcing it to stumble as Ryn closed the distance.
With a fierce cry, Ryn drove his knife into the shadow's side, aiming for the pulsing core of energy he had glimpsed. The blade met resistance, as if cutting through thick smoke, but he pushed harder, gritting his teeth as the shadow let out an ear-splitting shriek.
The creature twisted violently, its form warping and writhing as it tried to shake Ryn off. The Spirit Fox leapt onto its back, its glowing claws digging into the shadow's surface as its light flared brighter.
The bond between them burned like fire, and Ryn felt the energy flow through him, filling him with strength that wasn't entirely his own.
"End it!" he shouted, pulling the knife free.
The Spirit Fox let out a sharp, resonating cry, its body erupting into a blinding wave of blue light. The energy surged outward, engulfing the shadow and illuminating the corridor like a flash of lightning.
Ryn staggered back, shielding his eyes from the brilliance. The shadow's shriek grew louder, more distorted, before it finally dissolved into wisps of black smoke.
When the light faded, the corridor fell silent.
Ryn dropped to his knees, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. His knife clattered to the floor beside him, the blade dull and warped from the strain of the fight.
The Spirit Fox padded over to him, its glow dim but steady. It nuzzled his arm, letting out a soft chirp that seemed to ask, Are you okay?
Ryn let out a shaky laugh, ruffling the fox's fur. "I should be asking you that."
The bond pulsed faintly, and Ryn felt a wave of reassurance that wasn't entirely his own.
"You're something else, you know that?" Ryn said, shaking his head. "I don't know how we pulled that off, but... thanks."
The fox chirped again, its tail swishing as it sat down beside him.
Ryn leaned back against the wall, his mind racing as he replayed the battle in his head. The shadow had been unlike anything they'd faced before—stronger, more focused, and more connected to the ruin's oppressive energy.
And yet, it hadn't been invincible.
"What was that light you used?" Ryn asked, glancing at the fox. "That wasn't just Radiant Step, was it?"
The fox tilted its head, its glowing eyes unreadable.
The bond pulsed again, and Ryn felt a flicker of something—a memory that wasn't his own. Images of the Spirit Fox, standing in the void he had seen in his dreams, surrounded by shadows and flames. The same light had burned within it, growing brighter with every step.
"Is it part of the bond?" Ryn murmured. "Or something else?"
The Spirit Fox chirped softly, nuzzling his hand as if to say, We'll figure it out.
Ryn sighed, pulling his pack off his shoulders. "Yeah. One step at a time."
As they prepared to leave the ruin, Ryn couldn't shake the feeling that the battle had been more than just a random encounter. The shadow had been drawn to them—or to something they carried.
He glanced at his pack, where the crystal shard rested beneath layers of cloth. Its faint glow pulsed in time with the bond, a constant reminder of the vision he had seen.
"This thing," Ryn muttered, pulling the shard free. "It's connected to all of this. The ruin, the Codex, the shadows... everything."
The Spirit Fox chirped in agreement, its tail flicking as it studied the shard.
Ryn slipped it back into his pack, standing with a wince as his muscles protested the movement. "Alright," he said, adjusting the straps. "Let's get out of here before something else decides to show up."
The two made their way back through the ruin, the oppressive mist seeming lighter now that the shadow was gone. The carvings on the walls seemed less menacing, their patterns almost serene in the dim light.
As they stepped out into the open air, Ryn took a deep breath, savoring the freshness of the breeze. The Spirit Fox darted ahead, its glowing fur catching the sunlight as it explored the edge of the ruins.
Ryn followed, his mind still heavy with questions. The fight had tested them, but it had also shown him just how far they could go if they worked together.
Whatever the Wildlands had in store, he and the Spirit Fox would face it head-on.
And together, they would uncover the truth.