Chapter 4: Shadow Bind
Kael didn't move for a while.
The body of the creature lay in front of him, motionless. Dark fluid had pooled beneath it, slowly spreading across the uneven ground.
The air was still.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Kael steadied his breathing.
His body hurt everywhere. Every small movement reminded him of the fall, the fight, and how close he had been to dying.
"…but I'm still here," he said quietly.
That alone felt strange.
For a moment, he just stood there, looking at the corpse.
Then his attention shifted.
The words were still there.
Faint, but clear.
[Shadow Points: 10]
[Skill: Shadow Bind (Lv.1)]
Kael stared at them.
"Show details," he said.
There was a brief pause.
Then—
[Shadow Bind – Lv.1]
Allows the user to bind targets using shadows.
Effectiveness depends on user strength and target resistance.
Cost: Minimal
Cooldown: None
Kael read it twice.
"…simple enough."
He looked down at his hand.
Then at the shadows around him.
They were calmer now.
Not moving on their own like before.
Waiting.
That was the difference.
Before, they reacted instinctively.
Now—
They were responding.
"To me," he muttered.
Kael took a slow step forward.
His legs were still unsteady, but he forced himself to stay upright.
He needed to understand this.
Slowly, he raised his hand.
The shadows near his feet shifted slightly.
"Bind," he said.
Nothing happened.
Kael frowned.
"…again."
He focused this time.
Not on the word.
But on the feeling from earlier.
That connection.
That pull.
"Bind."
The shadows moved.
Thin strands stretched across the ground and wrapped around the corpse's arm.
Weak.
Loose.
But visible.
Kael watched closely.
"…so it works."
He tightened his focus.
The shadows pulled slightly harder.
The corpse's arm twitched as it was dragged a few inches.
Kael exhaled.
Not strong.
But not useless either.
He released the control.
The shadows fell back into place.
"…I need more strength," he said.
That much was obvious.
Still—
This was enough to survive.
For now.
---
A sound echoed.
Faint.
Distant.
Kael froze.
It came from deeper within the Abyss.
A low scraping noise.
Followed by something heavier.
Moving.
Kael's expression shifted slightly.
"…not alone."
Of course he wasn't.
This place wasn't meant to be empty.
He glanced at the corpse beside him.
Then back into the darkness ahead.
He couldn't see anything.
But that didn't mean nothing was there.
The sound came again.
Closer this time.
Kael's body tensed.
He raised his hand slowly.
"Bind," he whispered.
The shadows responded immediately this time.
Faster than before.
That was good.
He needed that.
The sound stopped.
Silence returned.
Kael didn't relax.
If anything—
That made it worse.
"…where are you?" he muttered.
A faint shift in the darkness.
To his left.
Kael turned—
Too late.
Something rushed out from the shadows.
Faster than the first creature.
Smaller.
But quicker.
Kael reacted instantly.
"Bind!"
The shadows shot forward.
They wrapped around the creature mid-lunge, catching its front limbs.
But this time—
The resistance was stronger.
The creature twisted violently, trying to break free.
Kael felt it.
The strain.
The shadows trembled.
"…hold," he said, focusing harder.
The creature let out a sharp, clicking sound.
Its body was lean, low to the ground.
Its eyes glowed faintly in the dark.
Different from the first one.
Faster.
More aggressive.
The shadows tightened.
But only for a second.
Then—
They snapped.
The creature broke free.
Kael stepped back immediately.
Too fast.
It lunged again.
He barely raised his arm in time.
"Bind!"
The shadows surged again.
This time catching its side.
Slowing it.
Not stopping it.
Kael understood instantly.
"…not enough."
He moved.
Sideways.
The creature passed where he had been a moment earlier.
Faster than before.
It turned sharply.
No hesitation.
No fear.
This one wasn't cautious.
That made it more dangerous.
Kael's breathing steadied.
His body still hurt.
But he ignored it.
"Again," he said quietly.
The creature charged.
Kael waited.
Closer.
Closer—
"Bind!"
The shadows shot forward at the last second.
They wrapped around its legs.
Just enough.
The creature stumbled.
That was the opening.
Kael moved forward.
Picked up a sharp fragment from the ground—
And struck.
The attack wasn't clean.
But it landed.
The creature recoiled, hissing.
Kael stepped back immediately.
Didn't chase.
Didn't rush.
"…learn first," he muttered.
The creature circled him now.
Slower.
More careful.
It had realized something.
So had Kael.
This wasn't like the first fight.
This one wouldn't end quickly.
"Good," Kael said quietly.
Because that meant—
He could improve.
The creature lunged again.
Faster than before.
Kael reacted.
"Bind!"
The shadows caught it mid-motion.
Stronger this time.
Not enough to stop it completely—
But enough to control the moment.
Kael stepped in.
And struck again.
This time cleaner.
The creature shrieked and thrashed harder.
The shadows trembled again—
But didn't break immediately.
Kael pushed forward.
Again.
Again.
Each movement was rough.
Imperfect.
But improving.
The creature's movements slowed.
Its attacks became less precise.
Weaker.
Kael didn't stop.
Until—
It collapsed.
Still.
Silent.
---
Kael stood there, breathing heavily.
"…second one," he said.
His grip loosened.
The tension left his body all at once.
He almost lost his balance, but steadied himself.
Then—
[Target Eliminated]
The voice returned.
[Shadow Points +15]
Kael looked at the words.
"…more than before."
So stronger enemies gave more.
That made sense.
But it also meant—
Stronger enemies existed.
A faint sound echoed again.
Far deeper in the Abyss.
Not like before.
Heavier.
Slower.
But carrying weight.
Kael's expression changed slightly.
"…something bigger."
The shadows around him shifted.
Not calmly this time.
Uneasy.
Like they were reacting to something he couldn't fully sense yet.
Kael looked into the darkness.
Long.
Silent.
Then he said—
"…I'm not ready."
Not yet.
But he would be.
He had to be.
Because whatever was deeper down—
Was already moving.
---
End of Chapter 4
"Add to library if you like it 🔥"