Ethan stood in silence, feeling the strange energy coursing through him. The Void Panther's essence coiled within his veins, different from anything he had absorbed before. Unlike the raw physicality of the Stonehide Boar or the burning intensity of the Ember Cloak, this power was subtle—cold, elusive, and waiting just beneath the surface.
He focused, testing it. Shadows at the edge of their camp quivered in response, bending toward him like an unseen force was pulling them closer.
Lyra watched warily. "That's… unsettling."
Ethan smirked. "It's useful."
He exhaled, pushing the energy further. Darkness bled over his form, swallowing the firelight as he faded from view. Lyra's eyes widened as he seemed to vanish, only a faint ripple in the air hinting at where he had stood.
"Ethan?" she called, stepping forward.
"I'm here." His voice came from the shadows, but his form remained hidden. He moved, feeling lighter, almost weightless. His steps made no sound.
Then, the energy wavered. The darkness peeled away, and Ethan reappeared, slightly breathless.
"That's incredible," Lyra admitted. "You just disappeared."
Ethan nodded, his mind racing. "The Void Panther used this to attack from the shadows. I can do the same now." He clenched his fist, testing the lingering sensation. "It's not just invisibility. It's like I'm… slipping between places. The world feels thinner when I use it."
Lyra crossed her arms. "Think you can hold it longer?"
"Only one way to find out."
Ethan focused again, drawing the shadows to him. This time, he eased into the sensation, letting the darkness fold over him rather than forcing it. The effort felt smoother, less draining.
He took a step. Then another.
To Lyra, he was gone.
Ethan wove through the campsite, stepping just beyond the flickering firelight. His senses sharpened, his awareness stretching beyond normal limits. He could hear everything—the distant rustling of leaves, the gentle flow of the stream, even Lyra's heartbeat as she stood, scanning the empty space where he had been.
This is dangerous, he realized. If I can do this, I can get close to anyone. Unnoticed. Unheard.
A sudden thought struck him—what if others had this kind of power? If the woman from the caravan knew about his system, could someone be watching him right now?
A shiver ran down his spine.
Enough testing for tonight. He let go of the ability, stepping back into the firelight. Lyra tensed, her dagger halfway drawn before she realized it was him.
"Damn it," she exhaled, relaxing. "Don't do that."
Ethan chuckled. "Good to know it works."
Lyra shot him a glare before smirking. "Fine. It's impressive. But you need to be careful. Something like that is bound to attract the wrong kind of attention."
Ethan's expression grew serious. "I know."
Silence stretched between them. The embers of their campfire crackled softly, casting long shadows against the trees.
After a moment, Lyra sat down, tossing another log into the flames. "Get some rest. We leave at dawn."
Ethan nodded, but as he lay down, he couldn't shake the unease creeping into his thoughts. This new ability was powerful—maybe too powerful. If people were already taking notice of him, it was only a matter of time before someone decided he was a threat.
And threats had a way of being eliminated.
As sleep pulled him under, one thing was clear—he needed to master this ability fast. Because the next time someone came looking for him, he wasn't going to let them slip away as easily as the woman in the caravan had.