A red crack split the ground right in front of Ryn's feet.
She instinctively leaped back, her dagger drawn, and shouted, "Damn! This world is going to swallow us alive!"
The tremors intensified, spreading from the ground to her bones, knocking everyone off balance. Lyra would have fallen if not for Orion grabbing her arm. Ares, meanwhile, stabbed his sword into the ground, steadying her body amidst the shaking.
The crack widened, forming a luminous line that spread rapidly like a fiery serpent. From the crack gushed a blinding red light, and then… the desert world they stood in was shattered.
In an instant, the scene changed.
It was no longer a desert, but a gigantic city. Its buildings towered brittle, its walls riddled with cracks, many of them crumbling into rubble. Long streets stretched out before them, shattered like old glass. Majestic statues that might have once stood majestically now lay faceless, leaving only torsos or stiffly raised arms.
The sky above them swirled, black and red, like a great wound that would never heal. The cold wind pierced his bones, carrying the scent of burning ash and rusted metal.
Ryn whistled softly, trying to mask his unease with humor. "If this is part of the tour, it's definitely not my favorite tourist destination."
Lyra swallowed, her eyes wildly scanning the surroundings. "This place… seems to be staring back at us."
Ares felt something different. He closed his eyes for a moment, and the sounds flooded in: cries, screams, the panicked footsteps of thousands of people. They all mingled, pressing against his chest until it tightened. He opened his eyes again, his jaw clenched. "This isn't an empty city. This place… holds the memories of those who failed."
Orion took a step forward, his bow at the ready, his silver eyes piercing the black fog. "Then this must be the third trial. It's no longer a personal shadow. What we face now… is the shadow of the world."
The black fog on the main street began to thicken, thicken, and then change shape. From within the fog emerged human figures, their bodies cracked as if made of brittle glass. Their faces were blurry, their eyes blank, their hands clutching broken weapons. Each step echoed heavily, as if their bones were cracking with each movement.
Lyra held her breath, her body stiff. "They… are like players."
Ares shook his head, sharpening his gaze. "No. Just copies. Shadows of those who tried… and failed."
One of the figures spoke, hoarse and resonant. "We are the failures left behind. We are the whispers of the world… that want to drag you down, never to return."
Hundreds of heads turned simultaneously, their blank eyes now staring straight at the four of them.
Ryn cleared her throat, her dagger spinning quickly in her fingers. "Good. I'd rather face a walking corpse than an emotional version of myself."
Ares raised his sword, his tone heavy but firm. "We stay in formation. Don't scatter."
Lyra nodded, her palms glowing blue, protective runes beginning to form. "I'll be behind. Cover me, don't let them break through."
Orion sighed, drawing his bow to full. "If this is the shadow of the world… then my arrow will be the light that tears through this darkness."
The first shadow leaped forward, the broken sword in its hand swung straight at Ares.
CLANG!
The clash of sword and broken weapon sent sparks of light flying. The boom echoed loudly, signaling the simultaneous movement of the entire shadow army. From the cracked streets and ruins, they charged like an endless wave of darkness.
Ares pushed his opponent back, then parried two attacks simultaneously from the other shadows that had joined the ambush. His movements were swift, but he could feel a different weight in this fight. It was as if each enemy's slash brought a dark memory pressing down on his chest.
"Don't let them surround us!" he shouted.
Ryn was already in action, her dagger gleaming agilely, cutting through the shadows that got too close. She moved like a dance, dodging and stabbing with a sinister smile etched on her face. But her eyes couldn't hide one thing: the fear she was fighting with humor.
"If I die here, at least I die with grace!" he shouted, slashing two shadows at once.
Orion stood firmly behind, firing relentlessly. Glowing arrows flew, each one ripping the shadows' bodies apart like glass, then shattering into black dust. "Don't get too far, Ryn! They're no ordinary enemy. Each blow could eat away at your mind."
Lyra was in the middle, her body trembling violently as her protective spells trembled under the waves of attacks. The blue light she had created shattered repeatedly, but she gripped her cloak tighter, refusing to give up. "I... I can hold on longer! Just focus forward, I won't let them get through me!"
But as time went on, the shadows grew in number. From every narrow street, from every ruined building, they poured out relentlessly. There were hundreds, maybe even thousands.
Ares slashed hard, killing three shadows at once, then glanced around. "This isn't a normal battle. They want to exhaust us."
The shattered shadows turned into black smoke, then reabsorbed into the city. And seconds later, the mist gave birth to new shadows with fresh bodies.
Ryn snorted. "Amazing. So they can't be exhausted? That's cheating, even for this game."
Orion looked down for a moment, his face serious. "They aren't enemies that can be defeated by strength alone. There's something in this city that's their source."
Ares nodded briefly, then swung his sword, sending sparks of red light glinting in the air. "Then we have to hold out long enough until we find a way to cut off that source."
Amidst the chaos, Lyra let out a small cry. She closed her eyes, her body suddenly stiff. Ryn almost turned to help, but before she could move, Lyra opened her eyes again, a blank stare.
"Ares…" her voice trembled, as if someone else were speaking through her. "They… they're not just copies. They carry memories. If we fall, we'll become part of them."
Ares stiffened. "You mean…"
Lyra shook her head, tears welling up without her realizing it. "Don't die here. Or you'll be… locked in this city forever."
Ryn swallowed, her face suddenly serious. "Okay, that just adds to the list of reasons why I can't lose."
Orion straightened, his bow held high. "Then there's no choice but to hold on and find a way out."
The shadows continued to charge, relentless. The sound of clashing weapons, shouts, and spells filled the city air. But beneath it all, there was something even more terrifying: a faint whisper in everyone's head.
"…join… you can't escape… everyone ends here…"
Ares felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. But he tightened his grip on his sword, staring at his comrades with unwavering determination. "This city may be forgotten. But we will not be part of its shadow."
He leaped forward, slashing hard, clearing a path through the waves of enemies.
The first wave of shadows was enough to take their breath away. But the second wave came even harder, like a never-ending flood of darkness. The cracked street echoed with the sound of footsteps, their numbers growing with each passing second.
Ares parried a slash, then turned, knocking back two shadows at once. Blood dripped from his temple, though he knew it wasn't real blood, but rather his in-game body's reaction to a serious injury. The sting still stung, and it was enough to make him realize—every second here was a gamble.
"It's never ending!" Ryn screamed, rapidly slicing through the shadows that were trying to reach Lyra. Her movements became increasingly frantic, sweat dripping down her face. "At this rate, our stamina will run out before they do!"
Lyra gritted her teeth, her protective spell trembling. The blue light around her nearly extinguished every time the shadows hit the energy wall. "I can't... last long... if this pressure keeps up!"
Orion let loose a barrage of arrows, each time a shadow fell, two more appeared in its place. His eyes were sharp, but his tone hardened. "There's a center. They didn't just appear out of nowhere. Something in this city spawned them."
Ares turned quickly. "Find the source! We can't survive by fighting endlessly!"
The third wave came, this time more organized. The shadows, which had been moving wildly, now attacked in formation. Their footsteps were in sync, their broken weapons raised in unison.
"Amazing," Ryn snorted, "even failed spirits can work as a team."
Three shadows leaped at him at once. Ryn spun, her dagger dancing in the air, but one of them struck through a gap in her defense. The shadow nearly touched Ryn's chest, when suddenly ZRRRT!—a glowing arrow pierced its head before it could strike.
"Focus!" Orion shouted from behind. "Don't talk too much when your life is at stake."
"Yeah, yeah! You're a boring captain!" Ryn retorted, but the sweat on his forehead showed he had truly come close to losing his life.
Ares looked toward the center of the city. There stood a massive structure—resembling an ancient cathedral. Its roof had collapsed, shattered stained glass windows scattered, but from within emanated a red light that matched the cracks in the ground. And with each pulse of light, a new wave of shadows emerged.
"That's it…" he murmured. "That's the heart of this city."
But before he could give any instructions, the ground shook again. From the direction of the cathedral, a black mist poured forth, gathering into a single mass. The shadows that had been attacking them stopped, then retreated in unison.
Ryn squinted. "Wait… why are they retreating? Don't tell me—"
The mist thickened, growing larger and thicker. From within came the sound of screams mixed with hundreds of cries. Slowly, the mist formed a giant body.
Nearly ten meters tall, its body was a mass of hundreds of shadows stuck together, blurry faces moving in and out of its surface, all screaming silently. Broken weapons protruded from its arms like thorns.
Lyra gasped, her voice trembling. "That… is no ordinary shadow. That… is the embodiment of all their failures."
Orion took a deep breath, his eyes unblinking. "Guardian of this city."
The shadow giant raised its spiked arm and slammed it into the ground. A wave of black energy spread out, destroying the ruins around them. Ares held his sword in front of him, while Lyra braced the barrier to prevent it from shattering.
"This is insane!" Ryn screamed, nearly thrown into the air. "How are we supposed to fight a monster that big?!"
Ares stared at the giant with a clenched jaw. "It's not his size we should fear. His power lies within."
Orion had already drawn his bow, a blue energy arrow gathering at the tip. "Then we have to force him to open an opening."
The fight began.
Ares shot forward, slashing at the giant's leg. His sword pierced the shadow's skin, leaving a crack of light. The giant roared, his body shaking. But before Ares could retreat, the giant's hand swept sideways.
WHAM!
Ares was thrown hard, crashing into the ruins of a building. Dust billowed, his body nearly crushed.
Lyra screamed. "Ares!"
But Ares got back up, staggering, his face covered in blood. "I can still do it… don't worry."
Ryn seized the moment, leaping onto the giant's back and stabbing him repeatedly with her dagger. "If you can fall one more time, I'll be the hero!"
But the giant's body suddenly shot out shadowy spikes from every direction. Ryn nearly got stabbed, but managed to jump down just in time.
"Uh… okay, that was a bad idea!" she said, gasping.
Meanwhile, Orion fired arrow after arrow into the giant's chest. Each arrow created a small crack of light, but it wasn't enough to bring the creature down.
Meanwhile, Orion fired arrow after arrow into the giant's chest. Each arrow created a small crack of light, but it wasn't enough to bring the creature down.
"We have to attack together!" Orion shouted. "Otherwise, it'll keep healing from the mist!"
Ares nodded, then looked at Lyra. "Can you withstand one big attack?"
Lyra bit her lip, her face pale. "If it's just one... I can."
"Okay," Ares raised his sword high. "Then we'll create a big gap, and Orion will pierce its heart."
Ryn grinned, though her breathing was already labored. "Finally, a plausible plan!"
The giant roared again, then raised both arms high. The black mist surrounding the city was absorbed into his body, increasing his size. His steps made the ground tremble, and the walls of the buildings collapsed instantly.
Lyra closed her eyes, and blue light from her body exploded, forming a protective dome around them. "Hurry! I can't hold it for long!"
Ares shouted, leaping forward with all his might. His sword blazed brightly, striking the giant's leg. A crack of light spread rapidly upward, reaching its chest.
Ryn leaped from the other side, stabbing two daggers into the crack at once, making it grow even larger. The giant's body staggered, the screams of the faces on its body growing louder.
"Now, Orion!" Ares shouted.
Orion took a deep breath, drawing his bow to full strength. A blue arrow lit up like a shooting star. He released it straight into the crack in the giant's chest.
ZRRRRT!
The arrow pierced through, blue light radiating throughout the giant's body. The creature roared loudly, its body beginning to shatter like glass.
But before its body was completely destroyed, it unleashed one final attack—a wave of black energy that engulfed the entire city.
The explosion sent everyone flying.
Ares felt himself rolling, his vision blurring. The voices in his head grew louder: screams, cries, whispers begging him to surrender.
But he gripped his sword tightly, trying to stay conscious.
"No…" he muttered. "I will not… be a part of this city."
As the dust settled, the giant's body crumbled into shadowy fragments. From the center of the rubble, a white light slowly emerged—a small, glowing crystal-like shape.
Orion stood there, gasping for breath, his bow still trembling. "That's… their core."
Lyra stared at the crystal with a tense expression. "If we take it… maybe we can stop the other shadows from appearing."
Ares stepped forward, though his body was unsteady. He stared at the crystal, then extended his hand. "Then… we'll take it. This city must not devour us."
As soon as his finger touched the crystal, white light exploded, engulfing them all.