The Storm of Shadows shattered the silence and became the throbbing heart of that place.
Its pulse washed through every living stream of blood within the veins, beating in relentless rhythm.
The building trembled, struggling to stand.
Billy barely reached the underground level and encountered the rest of the group near the entrance.
His breath was ragged and heavy—no time to catch fresh air. "We... we have to... go. Huff... danger…"
Billy's voice was broken and incoherent, his throat scorched from inhaling too much air, and he coughed violently. "Cough... cough."
Aileen sensed the severity of the situation. She thought the tremors came from an earthquake.
But things weren't as simple as she imagined.
She signaled to the group and moved toward the main entrance, where Zach stood guard.
Crack... crack. Whoosh.
The sound of collapsing walls and the wind rushing through echoed sharply. Darkness slithered through the breaches.
Chains scraped across the floor—metal grinding against stone.
Fear crept silently into every heart. It whispered in their ears, sowing seeds of despair.
"Haha... you're all going to die... die."
Zach stood at the entrance, waiting for the group, when he saw several shadowy figures approaching.
"They finally made it," he said.
Relieved to see the group unharmed, he exhaled, but something shattered his sense of calm.
A storm-born shadow was pursuing them.
Zach had never felt such terrifying presence before—overwhelming, choking, and corrupt. "What... that's impossible."
He felt a grim familiarity. It was the same entity whose icy blades once controlled him.
"Haha... maybe today is the last day I stay alive. I just hope I can buy the others a little time."
Zach had no room for hesitation. Even a moment's distraction could cost lives.
He sprinted toward the group.
Aylin saw Zach approaching and hesitated, sensing something was wrong.
She turned and looked behind her.
Darkness was gathering in a single spot, just ten meters away—ready to swallow them whole like a black hole devouring all.
She understood why Zach was running. Aylin urged the others forward and stood at the rear.
She asked Joshua to carry Karina and flee faster.
The oppressive energy emanating from that dark point and the thundering sound was draining them.
They had become the positive pole of a magnet—being pulled toward the negative force.
The distance was shrinking.
Aylin had no choice. She used part of her energy to create a protective barrier so the group could move more easily.
Thanks to that shield, the magnetic pull weakened, and Zach almost reached the others.
Now, the whole group was together.
Zach stepped forward and said, "I'll stay behind. You must go to the Roots as fast as you can."
The group hesitated. They were a family—how could they leave one of their own behind?
They felt a deep sense of helplessness. Some even hated themselves for not being strong enough to help.
Joshua stepped forward, standing firm.
"Zach... I can't accept this. I'll stay—you go. You're smarter than me. The group needs someone like you more…"
Zach placed a hand on Joshua's shoulder.
"Joshua... you don't always have to be smart. You solve problems your own way. I trust you and I entrust the group to you.
So you're going. Understand? That's an order."
Joshua reluctantly accepted.
Time was running out. The barrier was at its limit. Darkness crept closer.
Zach was supposed to stay alone, but Aylin insisted on staying as well.
Though Zach objected, he couldn't overcome Aylin's stubborn will.
He knew very well—facing that monster alone would be too difficult.
So he agreed, and the decision was made: the rest of the group would flee, and only Zach and Aylin would remain.
As the group escaped, the darkness engulfed Zach and Aylin.
Joshua led at the front, Billy held the rear, with Tahin and Karina in the middle.
Without looking back, they ran.
...
Zach and Aylin were trapped in the dark, battling the unknown entity.
But the darkness didn't feel entirely cold—Aylin felt warmth.
Zach held her hands tightly and said, "We need to hold on to each other. It's too dark here… we could be separated."
Amid the disturbing, piercing sounds, Zach's voice was like romantic music—soft and comforting to her.
"Okay… I just hope the others make it out safely. If that monster is darkness and misery, then I'm pain—the pain that will pierce it.
Not one needle, but millions."
Zach laughed loudly at her words—so hard that even the darkness trembled.
"Haha… Aylin, even in moments like this, you can make me laugh. You know, if I'm going to die, I want to give you that monster's heart as a gift."
Aylin smirked, "Just make sure we still have our own hearts first…"
The darkness felt like a child's game to them—until the air grew heavy, and a crushing pressure began to suffocate them.
They had to endure and think of a way to fight back.
The stench of rot filled the air, burning their lungs and throats. Blood spilled from their mouths.
Things got worse by the second.
Crimson strands slithered through the dark like notes of horror on a sheet of white paper.
And in the eye of the storm, a heap of bones lay piled high—screaming skull
s chanting the curse of death.
A twisted, faceless entity emerged from the curtain of horror, revealing itself.