The ruins of Arkenfall were eerily quiet, the faint glow of Shiro's katana casting long shadows against the crumbled stone walls. Rin moved silently beside him, her sharp eyes scanning for signs of movement. The air was heavy with tension, as if the world itself held its breath.
"You sure you're okay?" Rin asked, breaking the silence. She glanced at Shiro's side, where blood had soaked through his armor.
"I'll live," Shiro replied, though his voice lacked conviction. The wound from the beast's tendril burned like fire, and he could feel the strange energy of the Relic coursing through his veins. It was as if the artifact had awakened something inside him—something dangerous.
"We should rest," Rin said firmly. "Pushing forward like this is suicide."
Shiro shook his head. "We don't have time. The longer the Gate stays open, the more Shadowborn will pour through. We can't let them gain more ground."
Rin sighed, clearly frustrated. "You're so stubborn. Fine, but if you collapse, don't expect me to carry you."
Shiro smirked faintly. "Noted."
As they pressed on, the ruins gave way to a vast forest of dead trees, their twisted branches clawing at the sky. The air grew colder, and an unnatural fog began to roll in.
"This place feels wrong," Rin muttered, gripping her blades tighter.
"It's the Shadowborn," Shiro said. "They're close."
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the fog, followed by the sound of rustling leaves. Rin and Shiro froze, their weapons at the ready.
From the mist emerged a group of Shadowborn—a pack of wolf-like creatures with glowing red eyes and bodies that seemed to flicker between solid and shadow. Their movements were unnaturally fluid, as if they were slipping between dimensions.
"There's too many," Rin whispered, her voice tense.
Shiro tightened his grip on his katana. "We'll make it work."
The pack lunged as one, their growls merging into a haunting cacophony. Rin moved first, her twin blades slicing through the air with precision. The wolves were fast, but she was faster, her strikes leaving trails of green energy that disintegrated the creatures on contact.
Shiro followed suit, his katana glowing brighter as he unleashed a flurry of attacks. Each strike sent a wave of energy through the pack, but for every wolf they killed, another seemed to take its place.
"This isn't working!" Rin shouted, narrowly dodging a swipe from one of the wolves.
Shiro gritted his teeth. He could feel the power of the Relic calling to him, urging him to use it. But every time he did, the strange energy inside him grew stronger, and he wasn't sure how much more he could handle.
"Shiro, do something!" Rin's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
With a deep breath, Shiro closed his eyes and focused. He could feel the Relic's energy pulsing through him, wild and untamed. He channeled it into his katana, the blade erupting in a blinding light.
"Get back!" he shouted to Rin.
She didn't hesitate, leaping out of the way as Shiro swung his katana in a wide arc. A wave of energy exploded from the blade, engulfing the pack of wolves in a radiant light. When the glow faded, the Shadowborn were gone, their forms reduced to ash.
Shiro collapsed to one knee, his vision blurring. The wound in his side throbbed painfully, and he could feel the Relic's energy sapping his strength.
"Shiro!" Rin was at his side in an instant, her voice filled with worry.
"I'm fine," he muttered, though he could barely keep his eyes open.
"You're not fine," she snapped. "You're pushing yourself too hard."
Shiro didn't respond. He could feel himself slipping into unconsciousness, the world around him fading to black.
The last thing he heard was Rin's voice, soft and desperate.
"Don't you dare die on me, Shiro."