Cale limped forward, his muscles screaming with each step. The fight had left him drained, and the shallow cuts on his leg throbbed. The lantern's steady blue glow was the only comfort in the endless expanse.
The helmets had ignited a spark of hope—or perhaps fear. The idea that people once existed in this wasteland was both reassuring and unnerving. What kind of people could survive in such a place? And what happened to them?
As he pressed on, the terrain shifted. The glowing veins began to thin, replaced by patches of rough, uneven ground. Sharp rocks jutted out like jagged teeth, forcing him to tread carefully.
He paused when he noticed something half-buried in the dirt. Cale crouched down, brushing the loose earth away to reveal a broken sword blade. Its metal was blackened and pitted with age, the edges jagged where it had snapped.
He ran his fingers along the blade's surface. It was crude, but functional—designed for combat, not decoration. Nearby, a second fragment of the blade lay scattered, and faint scratches marred the ground.
Cale frowned. "Another fight?" he muttered to himself. The pieces told a story, but not a complete one. A weapon lost in battle, its owner likely meeting the same fate.
The scratches in the dirt, though faint, pointed westward. He squinted into the distance, but there was nothing but darkness and glowing veins ahead.
Still, he felt a pull in that direction, as if the broken blade were silently urging him forward.
The silence grew heavier as he continued west, the air thick and still. It wasn't long before he felt it again—that faint hum, the same one that had preceded the creatures before.
Cale stopped, gripping the lantern tightly. The hum grew louder, vibrating through the air and into his chest.
"Not again," he whispered, spinning around.
At first, there was nothing but shadows and jagged rock. Then, in the distance, he saw movement. A pair of glowing yellow eyes pierced the darkness, followed by another, and another.
Three creatures emerged from the gloom, their smoky forms shifting and twisting as they moved. These were different from the last ones—larger, more solid, and their claws gleamed like polished obsidian.
Cale's heartbeat thundered in his ears as the creatures spread out, circling him. They moved with a purpose, their glowing eyes locked onto the lantern.
The largest one lunged first, a blur of speed and shadow. Cale reacted instinctively, raising the lantern and swinging it in a wide arc. The blue flame flared, sending out a burst of light that struck the creature head-on.
It howled, the light searing through its form, but it didn't stop. Instead, it swiped at him with its claws, forcing him to jump back.
The second creature took the opportunity to attack, darting in from the side. Its claws raked across his arm, tearing through his sleeve and leaving shallow cuts.
Cale staggered, pain flaring through his body. He gritted his teeth and swung the lantern again, the flame lashing out in another burst of light. The second creature reeled back, its form flickering, but it didn't fall.
The third one was faster than the others, darting in from behind. Its claws scraped across his back, tearing into his shirt and drawing blood.
Cale dropped to one knee, his breathing ragged. "I can't… keep this up," he muttered.
The voice returned, cold and detached: "Essence insufficient. Sustain damage to gain adaptive response."
"Thanks for the advice," Cale growled, sarcasm laced in his tone.
The largest creature lunged again, its claws aimed at his chest. This time, Cale didn't retreat. He stepped into the attack, raising the lantern high. The flame erupted in a blinding wave of light, slamming into the creature with enough force to knock it off its feet.
The second and third creatures hesitated, their forms flickering as though uncertain. Cale took the opportunity to push himself to his feet, his body screaming in protest.
He turned to the second creature, his movements slower now. The lantern flared again as he swung it downward, the flame cutting through the creature's chest. It howled as it dissolved into smoke, its essence absorbed by the lantern.
"Essence absorbed. Capacity: 6%."
The third creature snarled, its glowing eyes narrowing. It darted forward, its claws aiming for his throat. Cale twisted at the last second, the claws grazing his shoulder. He brought the lantern down in a brutal arc, the flame bursting out in a concentrated beam.
The light pierced the creature's core, and it let out a final, guttural scream before collapsing into smoke.
"Essence absorbed. Capacity: 7%."
The largest creature was still recovering, its smoky form struggling to reform. Cale didn't wait for it to attack again. He staggered forward, raising the lantern with both hands, and brought it crashing down onto the creature's head.
The flame flared one last time, engulfing the creature completely. It dissolved into wisps of smoke, its essence absorbed by the lantern.
"Essence absorbed. Capacity: 8%."
Cale fell to his knees, his chest heaving. His entire body felt like it was on fire, every muscle screaming in agony.
"I can't keep doing this," he muttered, his voice hoarse.
The lantern's flame flickered softly, as if acknowledging his struggle.
Cale's gaze drifted to the broken blade in his hand. The scratches in the ground stretched out before him, leading further west.
"Whatever's out there," he said, forcing himself to his feet, "it better be worth it."
He wiped the blood from his arm and pressed on, the faint glimmer of hope keeping him moving.