The air in the vault turned frigid as Lord Rhovan stepped fully into view, his dark armor reflecting the faint glow of the runes on the door. His presence filled the room, exuding a weight that made it hard for Ethan to breathe.
"Did you really think you could steal from me?" Rhovan growled, his voice reverberating through the chamber.
Ethan's hands tightened around his staff, the vines coiling as if sensing his fear. Beside him, Lyra had drawn a pair of daggers, her stance low and ready.
"We don't want trouble," Lyra said, her voice calm despite the tension in the air. "We'll just take the Core and leave."
Rhovan chuckled, a sound devoid of humor. "The Core? That's what you're after?" His gaze shifted to the pedestal, then back to Ethan, his glowing eyes narrowing. "No, you're not common thieves. You've got a system, don't you?"
Ethan froze. His emerald eyes locked onto Rhovan's, his mind racing. "What makes you think that?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
"The glow," Rhovan said, pointing at him. "It's faint, but it's there. A powerful one, too, if I'm not mistaken. No wonder Marek sent you—he always did have a taste for high-stakes gambits."
Ethan's pulse quickened. The gloves were supposed to hide his system, but they weren't working as well as he'd hoped. He clenched his jaw, trying to think of a way out of this.
"Enough talk," Rhovan said, raising a hand. Shadows pooled around him, rising like smoke and forming a massive spear in his grip. "If you want the Core, you'll have to go through me."
Ethan barely had time to react before Rhovan lunged, his shadow spear slicing through the air. He sidestepped, the weapon missing him by inches and embedding itself in the stone wall. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, shaking the shelves and scattering gold and jewels.
Lyra darted forward, her daggers flashing as she aimed for Rhovan's exposed flank. He twisted, his armor absorbing the blows with ease.
"Pathetic," Rhovan sneered, swinging the spear in a wide arc. Lyra leaped back, narrowly avoiding the strike.
Ethan raised his staff, the vines tightening instinctively as green light began to glow along its length. He swung it toward Rhovan, and the vines lashed out, extending like living whips. They struck Rhovan's armor, leaving faint scorch marks where they connected.
Rhovan staggered slightly, his eyes narrowing. "Interesting," he said. "But you'll need more than that to defeat me."
He thrust his spear toward Ethan, who barely managed to block with his staff. The force of the impact sent him stumbling back, his medium-length brown hair falling into his eyes. He shook it away, the deep green of his irises glowing faintly as his system stirred to life.
"You've got this," Ethan muttered to himself, gripping the staff tighter. He could feel the Overgrowth System reacting to the danger, feeding him energy and sharpening his instincts.
Lyra circled around Rhovan, her daggers moving in a blur as she tested his defenses. "Ethan, keep him distracted!" she called.
"Working on it!" Ethan shot back, slamming the base of his staff into the ground. Vines erupted from the stone, coiling toward Rhovan like snakes.
Rhovan snarled, the shadows around him flaring to life and slicing through the vines. "You think a few plants will stop me?" he taunted.
Ethan gritted his teeth, pushing harder. The vines regrew almost instantly, thicker and stronger than before. He could feel the system's power surging through him, urging him to press the attack.
Rhovan raised his spear, preparing to strike again, but Lyra was faster. She darted in and slashed at the straps holding his chest plate, slicing through the leather with surgical precision. The armor loosened, and she landed a kick to his side, forcing him to stumble.
"Now, Ethan!" Lyra shouted.
Ethan didn't hesitate. He swung his staff with all his strength, the vines lashing out in unison. They wrapped around Rhovan's spear, wrenching it from his grip, and coiled around his arms, pinning them to his sides.
Rhovan roared, struggling against the bindings, but Ethan held firm. Sweat dripped down his face as he poured every ounce of his energy into the system, the glow from his eyes and staff illuminating the room.
"Lyra, the Core!" Ethan yelled.
Lyra sprinted to the pedestal, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for the Umbral Core. The moment her fingers touched it, the shadows in the room surged toward her, as if drawn to the gemstone.
"Hurry!" Ethan shouted, his voice strained.
Lyra pulled the Core free, and the room erupted in chaos. The shadows screamed, lashing out in all directions. Ethan's vines disintegrated, and Rhovan broke free with a roar of fury.
"Run!" Lyra yelled, clutching the Core to her chest.
Ethan didn't need to be told twice. He bolted for the door, Lyra right behind him. Rhovan's voice echoed through the chamber, promising vengeance as the shadows closed in.
They burst out of the manor and into the night, the cold air biting at their skin. Behind them, the estate was alive with shouts and torchlight as guards scrambled to respond.
"Keep moving!" Lyra shouted, leading the way into the forest.
Ethan followed, his heart pounding in his chest. The glow of his system began to fade as the adrenaline wore off, but the weight of their victory—and the danger they'd barely escaped—remained heavy on his mind.
As they disappeared into the trees, Ethan cast a wary glance at the Core in Lyra's hands. Its swirling shadows seemed alive, pulsating with an ominous energy that made his skin crawl. He didn't need his system to tell him—whatever power they had just stolen, it was dangerous. And it was far from finished with them.