As darkness began to take over the horizon, Darius felt something strange in the air, and there was a shadow moving quickly between the trees. It seemed like an invitation to curiosity, so Darius decided to follow it until they reached an old, ruined camp.
They entered the place cautiously, aware that any moment could be a trap. The camp was filled with bodies: scattered soldiers' corpses on the ground, some with sword wounds, others torn apart by violent shadow attacks. As they examined the area, they noticed some shadow corpses, but in an unnatural way. Some bodies were destroyed in an inexplicable manner, as if killed by the soldiers, while others were shadow corpses with no apparent reason for their death.
Darius (surprised): "Did the shadows kill the soldiers? How could this happen?"
Adam (cautiously): "It seems the soldiers encountered the shadows in a big battle. The shadows killed some soldiers, while some soldiers killed shadows. But why were they here in the first place?"
As they continued searching the area, they found torn papers scattered around in different corners, most of which were destroyed or damaged, but some were still readable. They contained instructions and directions, sent by "The Protectors of the Flame." Although the messages were unclear, they indicated a large mission being carried out here. It seemed the soldiers were assigned a cleansing task, but the mission's outcome was disastrous.
Darius (reading the papers): "The papers say this was a cleansing mission... but what were they supposed to cleanse?"
Adam (thoughtfully): "We don't have all the answers here. But this was a dangerous mission, and everyone was at risk."
As they searched, they found some scattered tools, including rare materials like medicinal plants and old equipment from past professions. Then they came across a strange magical sword: a small blade with magical energy, but it seemed unclear, as if its power was trapped within it.
Darius: "This sword... it seems odd. Do you think we can use it?"
Adam (inspecting the sword): "We won't know until we test it. But I feel the magic in the sword isn't complete. Maybe it needs something to restore its full power."
As they continued to sift through the wreckage, something else began to stir in the surrounding shadows. Without warning, a massive creature appeared, moving rapidly.
Suddenly, and without any prior sign, a large creature of mid-tier iron level emerged. The beast was covered in a dark aura, its shape twisted, with sharp fangs and massive arms. Beside it, two powerful copper shadows appeared.
Adam (staring at the beast): "Looks like this is the moment we've been avoiding... Get ready, Darius."
Darius (prepared): "We're not backing down! This is our chance to fight!"
The beast took its first steps toward them, its dark eyes gleaming in the darkness. Before either of them could react, the beast launched powerful strikes from a distance, while the copper shadows quickly surrounded them.
At first, Darius felt powerless against these massive creatures, and every blow he took caused him pain, but a fleeting thought flashed through his mind: "Where's the enchanted sword?" The sword they had found seemed mysterious, and he realized it couldn't just be an ordinary blade. He had to try using it.
In a stroke of luck, Darius managed to swing the sword at one of the copper shadows, and suddenly, his hand felt something strange. The sword became like fire in his grip, and magical energy surged through him. He didn't know how it happened, but his strength increased unexpectedly, and he managed to strike down the copper shadow with one blow.
But the massive beast didn't stop. It continued to attack relentlessly. As the pressure mounted on Darius, he felt his strength beginning to wane.
In the critical moment, as the beast closed in for a fatal strike, Darius saw something strange on the ground: a shadow corpse, but what made it stand out were its glowing white eyes, unnaturally reflecting the light.
In a moment of instinct, Darius rushed towards the corpse. The instant he approached it, the shadow's heart merged with him. A strange power coursed through his body, and he could feel something deep within him stirring.
Darius (agitated): "What's happening to me? Why do I feel..."
An unfamiliar sensation surged within him, and power accelerated with every heartbeat. The voice that whispered in his depths became clearer:
Voice (whispering): "You've begun... but the path will not be easy, Darius. You've taken the first step into the darkness."
By luck, in that moment, Darius was able to deliver the final blow. His strike was decisive, and the enchanted sword ignited with a deeper, more intense light than ever before, cleaving the beast in two.
Then the creature vanished as if it were smoke, along with the remaining copper shadows.
Adam (running toward him): "You did it, Darius, but..."
It was a strange moment, where Darius felt his heart beating stronger than ever before, and the voice that whispered in his heart still echoed in his mind:
Voice (whispering): "The path is now darker, Darius. You don't yet know the power you've gained."
But despite his fear, Darius felt like he had entered a new realm, a realm enveloped in shadows.