Chapter 13: Echoes in the Dark
The city slept under a pale moon, but for Le Wai, sleep was a distant memory. Every step he took echoed against the empty streets, reminding him that danger lingered in every shadow.
He retraced his steps to the abandoned bridge, the same place that had confronted him with his past. Tonight, however, the air was different—thicker, almost alive.
A whisper of movement made him turn sharply. The figure from before emerged, silently as a shadow. "The creatures you fought… they were just scouts," the figure warned. "Something bigger is coming."
Le Wai's eyes narrowed. "Then we prepare," he said, voice calm but sharp. "I won't let them take the city. Not again."
They moved together through the alleys, alert to every sound. The darkness seemed to twist around them, shifting as if aware of their presence. Le Wai's instincts screamed—this wasn't ordinary.
Suddenly, a low growl resonated from above. Shadows descended from the rooftops, faster and more coordinated than before. Le Wai's weapon flashed in the moonlight as he intercepted the first wave.
Beside him, the figure moved with uncanny precision, covering his blind spots. Each strike cut through shadows, but the sheer number of them was overwhelming.
Le Wai gritted his teeth. "We need a plan, not just brute force!" he shouted over the chaos.
The figure nodded, eyes scanning the scene. "Follow my lead," they said.
Working together, they funneled the creatures into a narrow alley. With precise movements, Le Wai struck from above while the figure blocked their escape. One by one, the shadows dissolved, leaving only silence in their wake.
Breathing heavily, Le Wai looked around. "Is it over?"
The figure shook their head. "This was only a warning. The real darkness… is still out there."
Le Wai clenched his fists. "Then we'll face it. No matter what."
The wind whispered through the empty streets, carrying a promise—and a threat—that the battles ahead would be far more dangerous than anything they had faced so far.