The fog had thickened as Revyn stumbled deeper into the Wailing Expanse. Every breath was heavy, thick with decay and despair. The red glow of his altered eye cut through the gloom, illuminating shapes that lurked just beyond the veil of mist.
Behind him, the relentless pounding of heavy footsteps echoed.
The Pursuer.
It was close. Too close.
Chains dragged, scraping against shattered bone and stone.
{Ding!}{Ding!}{Ding!}{Ding!}
[SYSTEM ALERT: ENTITY 'PURSUER OF THE FORGOTTEN' – TRACKING SIGNAL INTENSIFIED]
[Distance: <20 meters]
[Movement: Rapid, relentless]
[Hostility: Extreme]
'
Revyn's heart pounded in time with the system's warnings. He could feel the creature's gaze burning into his back—cold, unyielding, merciless.
He ran.
The Wailing Expanse was a labyrinth of broken bridges, shifting shadows, and crumbling ruins. Each step was a gamble — one misstep, and the fall would mean death.
But the Pursuer was faster.
Ahead, a group of tall, slender figures emerged from the mist. Their skin was pale, almost translucent, and their eyes... their eyes were nothing but empty sockets.
They were The Watchers.
{Ding!}{Ding!}{Ding!}{Ding!}{Ding!}
[SYSTEM ALERT: HOSTILE ENTITY TYPE 'WATCHERS' DETECTED]
[Class: Eyeless Monks of the Unnamed Choir]
[Threat Level: Moderate]
[Note: Do NOT Devour Watchers.]
[Consumption causes severe System backlash.]
The Watchers moved silently, their robes trailing like shadows themselves. They raised their arms, chanting in a low, dissonant hum that vibrated through the air.
Revyn froze for a heartbeat, then darted to the side. The chanting broke as The Watchers turned, their eyeless faces tilting toward him. The Pursuer's footsteps drew closer.
He had to choose — fight The Watchers or continue running from the Pursuer.
His muscles screamed with exhaustion, but the Godcleaver in his hand. He charged.
The Watchers' robes parted like smoke, revealing elongated fingers tipped with sharp, bone-like claws.
'Boy, talk about creepy.'
Revyn swung the Godcleaver in a wide arc, slicing through one Watcher's arm. Black blood seeped from the wound, but the creature didn't flinch. But Instead, it lunged.
Revyn dodged, then slammed the blade into its chest. The blade cut deep, but the Watcher's body dissolved into a swarm of black moth-like shadows before he could finish the job.
No Devour.
"Fuck"
Revyn cursed under his breath.
The Watchers closed in, chanting louder. Their voices hammered into his mind, trying to unravel his thoughts.
[SYSTEM WARNING: PSYCHIC ATTACK DETECTED]
[Sanity Drain: High]
[Countermeasures: None]
His vision blurred, red tint deepening. The world tilted, voices multiplying.
"You belong on the other side of the Veil..."
A sudden surge of desperation flared inside him. He focused on his Grave Pulse, activating it.
A wave of decaying energy radiated outward every few seconds, revealing hidden enemies.
The Watchers had faltered, recoiling from the invisible force. But it wasn't enough.
The Pursuer crashed through the fog behind them, chains rattling like thunder.
Revyn spun to his left, slashing at the massive shadow with Godcleaver's blade.
The Pursuer snarled—a sound like grinding stone. They clashed. Steel rang against shadow, light against darkness.
Revyn dodged crushing blows just by mere centimeters, countering with precise strikes which were empowered by the relic blade. His red eye burned fiercely, seeing openings where others saw only darkness. With a final strike, the Godcleaver bit into the Pursuer's chest, releasing a burst of energy that staggered the creature. It roared loudly, retreating into the fog—but not before locking eyes with him.
"You cannot outrun the forgotten."
Revyn's breath was ragged. His body screamed in protest. Sanity nibbling away, but he stood.
The Watchers had vanished into the mist. For now he was safe, well slightly.
[SYSTEM STATUS]:
Health: 780/850
Stamina: 320/400
Sanity: 78/150
Essence: 15/100
[TRAITS ACTIVE]:
Hollow Tendons (Passive)
Grave Pulse (Active)
The tower's pulse echoed faintly in the distance. The Wailing Expanse stretched endlessly, a realm of torment and shadows.
Revyn knew the Pursuer wasn't finished.
Neither was the hunger.
He wiped blood from his lips and pressed on.
{Ding!}{Ding!}
[SYSTEM OBJECTIVE]: Continue descent to Black Lake.
[NEW THREAT DETECTED]: The Unnamed Choir's reach extends further than anticipated.
The gauntlet had only just begun.
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Sorry everyone if it's a bit short on the word count