Hakari yawned, stretching lazily, dagger spinning between his fingers.
HAKARI
(smirk)
Relax, Dylie. You're alive, aren't you? That's all that matters.
Dylan glared at him, exasperation clear in every line of his body.
DYLAN
Alive isn't enough. Axel's out there. We can't fail him.
Hakari finally rose, brushing ash from his coat. He glanced at the misty forest ahead, lips curling into that careless grin of his.
HAKARI
(half teasing, half serious)
You worry too much. That's your thing. Mine… is style. Watch and learn.
Dylan rolled his eyes, securing his kunais. His vines twisted around the roots, steadying him as he advanced. Hakari sauntered behind, hands in pockets, boots barely touching the wet earth.
A faint crunch echoed ahead. Dylan froze, scanning the mist.
DYLAN
(low, urgent)
Someone—or something—came this way. Axel.
Hakari tilted his head, unbothered, spinning his dagger idly.
HAKARI
(amused)
Finally. Some signs of life. Let's see if he left us a welcoming party.
The trail led them to a narrow gorge, slick with rain. Jagged rocks jutted out like broken teeth. Dylan planted his vines for grip, climbing cautiously. Hakari followed, hopping lazily between stones, hands in his coat pockets.
DYLAN
(gritting teeth)
Stop… moving like this. One misstep and—
Hakari caught his words with a lazy laugh.
HAKARI
Relax, little brother. I've got instincts. You… you've got muscles. Teamwork.
They crested a ridge and froze. Below, the forest floor was stained dark, torn earth scattered with remnants of a violent struggle—Axel's handiwork.
DYLAN
(voice tight)
We are not brothers wait…He's been here.
Hakari crouched lazily, spinning a dagger in one hand.
HAKARI
(grinning)
That's our boy. Messy, but effective. Guess we're following a bloody trail now.
Dylan's jaw clenched as he led them further into the gorge. Mist curled around the jagged rocks, and the smell of iron hung thick. Every step brought new signs: broken branches, scuffed stones, faint blood streaks.
DYLAN
(quiet, to himself)
I hope you're okay, Axel…
Hakari yawned behind him, leaning against a sharp rock for balance.
HAKARI
(casual)
Hope? That's cute. He's fine. Probably having fun tearing someone apart as we speak.
Dylan snapped his head back.
DYLAN
(annoyed)
Fun isn't the word I'd use.
Hakari shrugged, flipping his dagger.
HAKARI
(smirk)
Perspective.
They continued, Dylan scanning, vines ready, muscles coiled. Hakari followed, calm as ever, style unshaken. The mist thickened, the trail darker. The air was heavy with danger—and Axel's presence.
DYLAN
(under breath)
I'll find you, Axel… no matter what it takes.
Hakari yawned again, walking past Dylan with the ease of someone who had already won the battle in his mind.
HAKARI
(playful, teasing)
And I'll make sure you don't die trying. Can't have all the fun, right?
The gorge narrowed further. Ahead, faint signs of movement flickered through the mist—something, or someone, was waiting. Dylan's grip tightened. Hakari's smirk widened.
HAKARI
(lazily)
Looks like the party's about to start.
The mist swirled thicker, cloaking the gorge in an oppressive haze. Dylan's vines twitched, sensing a shift in the air—a faint hum of energy, unnatural and sharp. Hakari paused, his dagger still spinning, but his eyes narrowed, catching the same disturbance. The faint movement ahead solidified into a figure emerging from the fog, tall and wiry, draped in a tattered cloak that seemed to ripple like liquid shadow. The foe's face was half-hidden by a bone-white mask, one side carved with jagged runes that pulsed faintly with crimson light.FOE: Kaelith, the ShadebinderKaelith's voice slithered through the mist, low and venomous, like a blade dragged across stone.
KAELITH
(soft, mocking)
"You chase a ghost through my gorge. Axel's blood stains my hands… and soon, yours will too."Dylan's jaw tightened, his vines snapping taut, ready to strike. Hakari tilted his head, smirking, but his free hand hovered closer to a second dagger hidden in his coat.KAELITH'S ABILITY: Shadow Weave
Kaelith could manipulate shadows into tangible forms—blades, tendrils, or walls—each one as sharp and unyielding as steel. The shadows moved with his will, striking from any angle, blending into the mist to become nearly invisible. Worse, they drained the strength of anyone they touched, sapping stamina and dulling reflexes with every graze.
Dylan lunged first, vines whipping forward like spears. They sliced through the mist, aiming for Kaelith's chest, but the foe's cloak flared, and shadows coiled upward like smoke, deflecting the vines with a metallic clang. Dylan staggered, feeling a chill seep into his arms, his movements slowing slightly. DYLAN
(gritting teeth)
"What the hell is that?"Hakari darted forward, dagger flashing in a wide arc. The blade caught a shadow tendril mid-strike, but the impact jarred his arm, and he felt a tug of exhaustion. He clicked his tongue, spinning back to Dylan's side. HAKARI
(annoyed, but grinning)
"Tricky bastard. Those shadows hit like a hangover."Kaelith raised a hand, and the mist churned. Shadows surged from the gorge walls, forming a lattice of razor-sharp spikes that blocked their path forward. More tendrils lashed out, forcing Dylan to dive, his vines barely shielding him as they shredded against the onslaught. One grazed his shoulder, and he hissed, feeling his strength wane, his knees buckling slightly. DYLAN
(breathing hard)
"We can't keep taking hits. He's draining us."Hakari laughed, though it was tighter than usual, his usual swagger strained. He flicked his dagger, cutting through a shadow tendril, but two more snaked from the mist, forcing him to leap back. One caught his coat, tearing a gash, and he cursed under his breath. HAKARI
(still smirking)
"Alright, Shadeboy. You're starting to ruin my vibe."Kaelith stepped closer, his mask glowing brighter. The shadows thickened, forming a dome around the trio, cutting off any retreat. The air grew heavier, the smell of iron now mixed with something acrid, like burnt ozone. KAELITH
(coldly)
"Axel fought well. But he fell. You'll join him… slowly."Dylan's eyes flashed with fury at Axel's name. He surged forward, vines erupting from the ground to smash the shadow dome. They shattered a section, but the effort cost him—his arms trembled, and sweat beaded on his brow. Kaelith's shadows reformed instantly, faster than before, and a tendril whipped out, slicing a shallow cut across Dylan's thigh. He stumbled, catching himself with a vine, but the drain was relentless, his movements growing sluggish. DYLAN
(through clenched teeth)
"Hakari, we need a plan. Now."Hakari spun his dagger, eyes scanning the dome. He was breathing harder, the shadow's touch sapping even his boundless confidence. But his smirk held, defiant. HAKARI
(plan forming, half-teasing)
"Plan? Sure. Step one: don't die. Step two: I make this guy regret messing with my coat."Kaelith's laugh echoed, hollow and sharp. The shadows pulsed, and a barrage of blades shot toward them. Dylan threw up a wall of vines, but they frayed under the assault, forcing him to his knees. Hakari dodged, weaving between strikes with his usual grace, but even he was slowing, a shadow grazing his arm, leaving a faint numbness. DYLAN
(gasping)
"He's too fast. We can't keep up."Hakari crouched beside him, eyes glinting with a mix of defiance and calculation. He glanced at the jagged rocks above, then at Kaelith's glowing mask. HAKARI
(low, serious for once)
"He's feeding off the mist and shadows. We break his focus, we break his weave. You with me, Dylie?"Dylan nodded, forcing himself to stand, vines coiling tighter. The shadows pressed closer, Kaelith's form barely visible now, a specter in the mist. The gorge felt like a tomb, and Axel's trail was fading with every second they struggled. KAELITH
(taunting)
"Bleed for him. Die for him. It changes nothing."
The shadow dome pulsed, its crimson runes casting jagged light through the mist. Dylan's vines frayed, his body sagging from Kaelith's draining shadows. Blood dripped from a cut on his thigh, and his breaths came in ragged gasps. Hakari, usually all smirks and swagger, stood beside him, his left arm numb from a shadow graze, his coat torn. His dagger spun slower now, but his eyes burned, tracking Kaelith's every move. The Shadebinder stood at the dome's center, his bone-white mask glowing brighter, shadows coiling like vipers.KAELITH
(sneering)
"Axel broke before me. You'll be no different."Dylan's vines twitched, but he stumbled, the shadow's drain sapping his strength. He gritted his teeth, ready to lunge, but Hakari's hand shot out, stopping him.HAKARI
(low, sharp)
"Stay back, Dylie. This one's mine."Dylan blinked, caught off guard by the steel in Hakari's voice. The usual playful lilt was gone, replaced by something cold and focused. Hakari's smirk vanished, his jaw set, eyes narrowing on Kaelith's mask. He stepped forward, rolling his shoulders, both daggers now drawn—one in each hand.HAKARI
(voice low, deadly)
"You talk too much, Shadeboy. Let's end this."Kaelith laughed, a hollow sound, and raised a hand. Shadows surged, forming a barrage of blades that screamed through the mist. Hakari moved—faster than Dylan had ever seen. He wove between the blades, his body a blur, each step precise, daggers flashing as they deflected shadow tendrils with metallic clinks. A graze caught his cheek, drawing blood, but he didn't flinch. The drain hit him, his movements slowing for a split second, but he pushed through, eyes locked on the mask's runes.DYLAN
(hoarse)
"Hakari, you can't—"HAKARI
(snapping)
"I said stay back."Kaelith's shadows thickened, forming a spiked wall to block Hakari's path. The Shadebinder's voice dripped with venom. KAELITH
"You're a fool to face me alone."Hakari didn't answer. He leaped, using a jagged rock as a springboard, and hurled a dagger at Kaelith's mask. The blade struck a rune, cracking it, and the shadow wall flickered. Kaelith snarled, redirecting his shadows into a massive tendril that lashed at Hakari. It grazed his side, tearing cloth and skin, but Hakari twisted mid-air, landing in a crouch. His eyes glinted with something dangerous, a fire Dylan hadn't seen before.HAKARI
(under breath)
"Big mistake."He surged forward, faster now, pain fueling his focus. Kaelith unleashed a storm of shadow blades, but Hakari was relentless, dodging and weaving, his daggers a whirlwind. He closed the distance, each step calculated, each strike aimed at the mask. A shadow blade sliced his arm, blood spraying, but he didn't stop. He threw his second dagger, shattering another rune. The dome shuddered, shadows thinning.Kaelith staggered, clutching his mask as the crimson light dimmed. KAELITH
(voice cracking)
"Impossible…"Hakari didn't pause. He grabbed a fallen dagger, spun it, and charged. Shadows lashed out, but he ducked under them, sliding across the slick ground. In one fluid motion, he drove the dagger into the mask's center, splitting the largest rune. A deafening crack echoed as the mask shattered, shadows dissolving into wisps. Kaelith screamed, falling to his knees, his cloak collapsing around him like ash.KAELITH
(gasping)
"The Veil… will… take you…"He collapsed, motionless, the runes dark. The dome vanished, mist clearing to reveal the gorge's jagged walls. Hakari stood over Kaelith, breathing hard, blood dripping from his wounds. His usual grin returned, but it was sharper, edged with exhaustion.HAKARI
(panting, glancing at Dylan)
"Told you… I've got this. You okay, Dylie?"Dylan, still catching his breath, stared at Hakari, stunned by the shift in him. DYLAN
(quietly)
"Since when do you get serious?"Hakari shrugged, wincing as he wiped blood from his arm. HAKARI
(softly, almost to himself)
"When it's for Axel… I don't mess around."The trail ahead reappeared, Axel's faint marks clearer now in the fading mist. Dylan steadied himself, vines coiling, ready to move. Hakari retrieved his daggers, his swagger returning but tempered by a new weight in his eyes. The gorge still hummed with danger, but Kaelith was down, and Axel's path called. They exchanged a nod and pressed foreword
The mist in the gorge thinned, but the air remained heavy, charged with the fading pulse of Kaelith's shattered shadows. Dylan and Hakari stood over the fallen Shadebinder, his broken mask exposing half his face—pale, gaunt, eyes flickering with defiance despite his defeat. Kaelith's cloak lay in tatters, his body slumped against a jagged rock, but he still clutched a faint shimmer of shadow, barely holding himself upright.Hakari's usual smirk was gone, his face hard, blood dripping from a gash on his arm. He flexed his fingers, daggers sheathed for once, his eyes locked on Kaelith. Dylan, breathing heavily, vines retracted, stepped closer, his fists clenched, knuckles white. The drain from the shadows lingered, but adrenaline kept them sharp.HAKARI
(cold, no trace of humor)
"Get up, Shadeboy. We're not done."Kaelith sneered, struggling to rise, one hand bracing against the rock. His shadows flickered weakly, no longer a threat. KAELITH
(spitting blood)
"You think… you've won?"Dylan grabbed Kaelith's collar, yanking him upright with a force that made the Shadebinder wince. DYLAN
(voice low, furious)
"Where's Axel? Talk, or I break what's left of you."Kaelith laughed, a rasping, broken sound, but before he could speak, Hakari's fist connected with his jaw. The crack echoed in the gorge, and Kaelith's head snapped to the side. He stumbled, barely catching himself, blood trickling from his lip.HAKARI
(icy)
"Wrong answer. Try again."Kaelith lunged, desperation fueling a clumsy swing. Dylan dodged, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back, forcing him to his knees. Kaelith growled, trying to summon a shadow, but it fizzled. Hakari didn't hesitate—he drove a knee into Kaelith's stomach, knocking the air from him. The Shadebinder doubled over, gasping.DYLAN
(gripping tighter)
"Who sent you after Axel? Why?"Kaelith coughed, defiance flickering in his eyes. He swung wildly with his free hand, catching Dylan's shoulder. Dylan grunted but held firm, slamming Kaelith face-first into the dirt. Hakari followed up, grabbing Kaelith's hair and yanking his head back, fist raised.HAKARI
(voice like steel)
"You're out of tricks. Talk, or I carve that answer out of you."Kaelith's breaths were ragged, his body trembling from the beating. Dylan pinned his arms, twisting harder, while Hakari pressed a boot against his chest, leaning in close. The gorge was silent save for Kaelith's labored breathing and the distant drip of water.KAELITH
(choking out)
"The Masked Man… he sent me. He wants… the rifts opened. Axel… was in the way."Hakari's eyes narrowed, exchanging a glance with Dylan. The name meant nothing, but the weight of it hung heavy. Dylan tightened his grip, his voice a growl.DYLAN
"Where is he? The Masked Man?"Kaelith's lips curled into a weak, bloody smirk. KAELITH
(whispering)
"Beyond… your reach."Hakari's fist came down again, a final, brutal strike to Kaelith's temple. The Shadebinder's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed, unconscious, his body limp against the cold stone. Dylan released him, stepping back, fists still clenched. Hakari wiped blood from his knuckles, his face grim, the fire in his eyes not yet faded.HAKARI
(quietly)
"Masked Man, huh? Looks like we've got a bigger problem than we thought."