The Labyrinth Horra's air had turned stale, every step stirring up a haze of ancient dust. My palm glowed faintly, arcs of red lightning dancing between my fingers like restless serpents, casting jagged shadows on the walls. The deeper we went, the more it felt like the Labyrinth was watching us.
"Hold up," Astrid said, slowing to a stop.
I followed her gaze to the wall ahead—lines and curves etched deep into the black stone. Symbols. Faint, almost erased by time, but unmistakably deliberate. They pulsed faintly with a colorless light, like they were breathing.
Astrid brushed her fingertips over the carvings. "These are… older than anything I've seen. Even the runes in my father's library didn't look like this."
I narrowed my eyes, tracing the lines with my gaze. "They're not just decoration. This is a seal… or was. Something's broken it."
Before she could answer, the air shifted—hot and sudden, like the inside of a forge. Then came the sound.
WHUP—WHUP—WHUP.
Wings.
We turned as three shadows dropped from the darkness above. Their bodies were long and sinewy, black scales broken by streaks of ash-grey fur. Wings like shredded banners unfurled, beating the air with bone-snapping force. Their faces were a blend of vulture and demon, eyes glowing with a sickly green light.
My stomach dropped. "Phantom-rank… all three."
Astrid's jaw tightened. "We're in trouble."
The first one struck like a thrown spear. I barely threw myself aside as talons gouged the stone where I'd been standing. My lightning flared, burning the air with the smell of ozone. I shot a bolt at its wing—fast, precise—only for it to twist midair, dodging like it had read my move before I even made it.
Astrid lunged at the second one, her blades flashing in a crossing slash. The yokai's wing snapped down, the force alone knocking her attack wide and sending her skidding back.
The third came from behind, silent as a shadow. My instincts screamed, and I spun, releasing a surge of red lightning in every direction. Sparks exploded through the hall, but when the smoke cleared, all three beasts were untouched—circling, watching.
"They're… too fast," Astrid hissed, pushing to her feet.
I clenched my fists, lightning crawling up my arms. "They're not just fast. They're predicting us."
We attacked again, Astrid cutting high while I feinted low, but every strike met empty air or the jarring crash of their claws batting us aside. My muscles burned, my mana churned, but no matter how much we pressed, they never let us close the gap.
One clipped Astrid's shoulder with its talon, sending her spinning to the ground. Another raked its claws across my chestplate, the blow knocking the breath from my lungs and leaving the metal scorched.
We regrouped back-to-back, panting, the sound of their wings circling above like the slow countdown to something worse.
"They're playing with us," Astrid said through gritted teeth.
"Yeah," I muttered, eyes locked on their glowing green gaze. "And I think we're running out of time."
The three beasts let out a low, bone-vibrating screech that made the runes around us pulse faintly again—like they were waking up.
The fight wasn't going our way. And I had the sinking feeling it was about to get worse.