The creature lunged, its too-long limbs twisting unnaturally as it blurred through the air. Ethan barely had time to react. [Shadow Step – Activated.] He blinked backward, his body slipping into the darkness just as claws slashed through empty space where his chest had been. But the creature was too fast. It twisted mid-air, landing on all fours, its head snapping toward him with an unnatural crack. “You are marked.” Its voice wasn't human. It wasn’t even fully real. The words rippled through Ethan’s mind, crawling beneath his skin like venom. “He is waiting for you.” The Master. Ethan’s breath hitched. The creature knew. And that meant— This wasn’t just some random Shadow-Touched. It was something else entirely. Something that had been sealed here for a reason.

  Gareth moved first, his spear striking out with lethal precision. [Piercing Strike – Activated.] The tip of the weapon flashed forward— Only for the creature to vanish. One moment, it was right in front of them. The next— It was on the ceiling, clinging to the stone like an insect. Kara cursed. “That’s just cheating.” The creature’s head snapped downward, grinning. Then it dropped again— Straight toward Leah. [Barrier Ward – Activated.] A shimmering golden shield formed around her just as the creature slammed against it. The entire chamber shook. Leah staggered, her arms trembling from the sheer impact. “We can’t keep up with it!” she gasped. Ethan gritted his teeth. If they couldn’t match its speed— They had to trap it instead. [Dark Grasp – Activated.] Ethan threw a hand forward. Shadows burst from the ground, writhing like living tendrils as they lashed toward the creature. The corrupted being hissed, twisting away— But Ethan had expected that. And that’s when he struck. [Umbral Echo – Activated.] A shadow clone flickered into existence, mirroring Ethan’s exact movement. Both Ethans lunged at once— The creature dodged the clone’s attack— But that left it wide open. Ethan’s dagger sank deep into its side. The creature shrieked. Black, thick blood splattered onto the stone. But the moment Ethan pulled his blade back— The wound was already closing. His stomach dropped. It’s regenerating.

  Leah clenched her teeth. “Something’s keeping it alive!” Kara dodged a swipe, rolling to the side. “Then we need to find what’s fueling it.” Ethan scanned the chamber, his Perception pushing outward. That’s when he felt it. A pulse. A wrongness in the air. His gaze snapped toward the far wall. There—hidden behind crumbling stone and dust— Was a blackened crystal. It pulsed with faint, dark energy. Ethan’s heart slammed against his ribs. “That’s it.” Gareth followed his gaze. “The anchor?” Ethan nodded. “That thing isn’t just a Shadow-Touched,” he muttered. “It’s something that’s been mutated by whatever’s inside that crystal.” Leah’s eyes widened. “It’s not just regenerating—it’s being rebuilt in real time.” Kara scowled. “So we break it.” Ethan exhaled. They didn’t have much time. Because the creature was recovering—fast. And the longer they waited— The stronger it would become.

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  Ethan moved first, sprinting toward the blackened crystal. The creature’s head snapped toward him. It knew. “No.” It vanished— And reappeared in front of him. Ethan had no time to dodge. The claw came down— Straight toward his chest. [Void Lance – Activated.] Ethan thrust his hand forward. A bolt of shadow energy erupted from his palm, slamming into the creature’s face at point-blank range. It shrieked, its momentum halting just enough— For Gareth to intercept. [Titan’s Rush – Activated.] Gareth slammed into the creature like a battering ram, his spear driving straight through its shoulder. It roared, trying to twist free— But Kara was already there. [Wind Cutter – Activated.] A flash of silver— And the creature’s left arm hit the ground. It shrieked—a horrible, soul-wrenching sound. But Ethan didn’t stop. He reached the crystal— And drove his dagger straight into it. The effect was instant. The moment the blade pierced the core— The chamber trembled. The creature screamed, its body convulsing as cracks ripped through its skin. And then— It collapsed. The dark energy faded. And the chamber fell silent. Ethan exhaled, his entire body shaking. It was over. But as he looked down at the shattered crystal…

  Leah leaned against the wall, her hands trembling. “That… was too close.” Gareth wiped his spear clean. “It was more than that,” he muttered. Ethan stared at the blackened remains of the crystal, his fingers still gripping his daggers. This was a prison. Not for the creature they fought— But for the corruption itself. And if these things were starting to break free… Then that meant the Master’s influence was spreading. Kara exhaled sharply, kicking a loose stone across the chamber. “So let’s recap.” She counted on her fingers. “One: That wasn’t a normal Shadow-Touched.” “Two: It was being controlled by some corrupted magic.” “And three?” She narrowed her eyes. “We have no idea how many more of these ‘anchors’ exist.” Ethan’s grip tightened. That was the worst part. Because if this place was connected to the library ruins… Then how many other sealed sites were out there? How many prisons had already been broken? And the most important question— Who was breaking them? The Master’s Reach As they turned to leave, Ethan felt a final whisper crawl through his mind. “You cannot stop it.” “The chains will break.” “And you, little predator…” “Will be the one to finish what they started.” Ethan staggered. Leah caught his arm. “Ethan?” He forced himself to breathe. “…I’m fine.” But he wasn’t. Because this wasn’t just about surviving anymore. The Master was planning something. And Ethan was part of it. Whether he wanted to be or not.