Night pressed heavy on Tark Island. The lagoon wind carried whispers, and the serpent murals inside the cavern flickered faintly, as if warning of war. The Resistance warriors moved restlessly, dipping blades into ash, whispering serpent prayers that rose like thunder.
Imade gripped her iron rod tighter. "Something dey wrong. Lagoon dey restless."
Zoba's pendant pulsed with light. Her eyes narrowed. "He don find us."
The elder raised his staff, voice trembling but resolute. "Prepare. Shadow dey come."
Silence fell. Then shrieks tore through the night as black tendrils slithered across the lagoon, twisting into monstrous forms. Cloaked figures marched from the mist, eyes glowing red. The ground itself recoiled beneath their steps.
Imade charged first, iron rod slicing through a beast. Sparks flew as the creature dissolved into smoke. "Una no go touch them!" she roared, her defiance echoing across the cavern.
Kafé's wrist burned, water spiraling around him. He thrust his hand forward, and the lagoon surged, crashing against the advancing shadows.
Taye's chest glowed, fire bursting from his palms. Flames lit the night, scattering beasts into ash. But the fire was wild, threatening to consume everything around him.
A shadow spear flew toward Taye. Imade leapt, rod clashing against it, sparks raining down. "I talk say una no go touch am!"
Zoba darted between fighters, guiding Resistance warriors through hidden paths. Her pendant flared, and nearby beasts shrieked, recoiling as if burned by unseen fire. She struck with her dagger, swift and precise, her movements carrying the desperation of someone who had lost too much to Red Shadow already.
"Follow me!" she cried, leading a flank against the shadows.
Then the lagoon parted. A figure walked calmly across the water, cloak dragging like smoke. His eyes glowed faintly, and the air chilled.
The elder whispered, "Red Shadow."
Where his feet touched, fish floated lifeless, vines withered, and the lagoon's glow dimmed into ash.
He raised his hand, shadows twisting into a spear. "Twins of dawn," he hissed. "Tonight, I break una balance."
Kafé and Taye stood side by side, marks blazing. Water spiraled around one, fire blazed from the other. For a heartbeat, the two forces clashed, shaking the island itself.
The serpent mural trembled violently, its twin heads glowing, snapping toward each other as if prophecy itself was fighting to break free.
The Resistance roared, charging against the tide of shadows. Fire against darkness, water against ash, iron against shadow—the clash shook Tark Island to its core.
And above it all, Red Shadow smiled.