STILL AT THE CHAMBER. Xander. Xander clutched his sword more firmly, sensing the gravity of his responsibility upon his shoulders. Next to him, Eva stood determined, her staff shining brightly with intense light. The real cause of the shadows, the being responsible for their pain, was now visible in front of them. Its shape changed and transformed, becoming a fearsome combination of darkness and malevolent force."This is the moment," Xander declared, maintaining a calm tone despite the fear eating away at him. "We must put an end to this definitively."Eva nodded, her eyes full of strong determination. "We have made too much progress to give up now, Xander."The eyes of the figure emitted a sinister glow as it moved forward, surrounded by a crackling aura of ominous energy. "You are simply tiny creatures in my magnificent plan," it whispered, its voice bouncing off the walls of the chamber. "You will face the burden of my authority and be overwhelmed."Xander lifted up his sword, t
THE STRONG WILL.Eva. Eva prepared herself as this new entity advanced, its sinister aura throbbing throughout the room. Xander stood next to her, his sword shining with intense resolve. They believed the war was finished, but this fresh danger showed they had only touched the tip of the iceberg of the darkness."Eva, don't you think we require a strategy?," Xander asked, speaking quietly and with a sense of urgency.Eva gave a nod while her thoughts were running wild. We have to give it our all, but this time we need to be more strategic. It's like this enemy surpasses all previous challenges in terms of strength.The entity's eyes shone with a cold gleam as it moved forward, its shape changing and flowing like a true shadow. "It hissed, calling them mere mortals." "You are unable to understand the strength that you are up against."Eva inhaled deeply, concentrating on the glyphs that were still dimly glowing on the walls. They had utilized the symbols in the past, however, their str
WILL THEY GET OUT ALIVE? Eva. Eva felt her heart drop as the soft humming sound spread through the air, a vibration that appeared to reverberate in her very heart. The room, previously a place of brightness, started to shake. She quickly looked at Xander, who had already tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes searching the room for the origin of the fresh danger.Xander muttered in disbelief and frustration, "This isn't possible." We emerged victorious over it. "We witnessed it fall apart."Eva's head shook, wearing a grim expression. Darkness can persist in life, even in seemingly hopeless situations. She looked towards the leader of the Shadowborn. We must stay ready for any situation. "It's possible that this isn't finished."Feeling the immediacy in her voice, the leader of the Shadowborn rallied his fighters. They created a defensive circle around Eva and Xander, with their weapons prepared. The noise increased in volume and intensity, causing the ground to fracture and brea
PRECURSOR OF SOMETHING BIGGER.Eva. Eva opened her eyes to a softly lit room, feeling the heaviness of tiredness still lingering on her. Looking around, she identified the weathered stone walls of a Shadowborn refuge. Xander was laying on a nearby cot, his chest moving up and down consistently. Relieved, she felt a wave of calm wash over her as they emerged victorious from the battle. However, a lingering unease still lingered on the edges of her mind.She slowly sat up, feeling every muscle protesting against the movement. The symbols that used to shine brightly are now inactive on the walls, their energy depleted. The room was silent, except for the occasional whisper of far-off discussions. Eva's eyes landed on her staff, leaning against the wall next to her. The crystal's tip was now dark, lacking the energy it used to have.Her attention was caught by the rustling noise at the entrance. The tall Shadowborn leader, with a commanding presence, entered the room. His gaze locked wit
THE LIGHTBEARER AND THE GUARDIAN.Xander.Xander walked through the sanctuary, the sound of his footsteps reverberating in the peaceful corridors. The Shadowborn were occupied with reconstruction, their morale boosted by the recent win. However, the sense of unease that persisted in his mind couldn't be shaken by him. The defeat of darkness lingered in his mind, haunting him with its echoes.He discovered Eva in the main room, engaged in a discussion with the leader of the Shadowborn. They were talking about ways to strengthen their defenses, making sure they would be ready for any potential dangers that might arise. Once their conversation lapsed, Xander moved forward.He asked Eva if they could have a conversation, speaking in a quiet voice.She nodded, politely leaving the leader and went to join Xander on the edge of the chamber. What are you thinking about?"He said, frowning, that it is the darkness." "I can't shake the feeling that we overlooked something. "There is more to thi
THE GENUINE DARKNESS.Xander.Xander felt his breath hitch in his throat as the fresh vortex of darkness started to take shape. The earth beneath them trembled, cracks extending from the center like the arms of a malicious entity. He held his sword firmly, his knuckles pale. The triumph they thought they could achieve now appeared to be a deceptive mirage.Eva's expression reflected his concern, her weapon still illuminated with lingering light from their prior fight. "Xander, what should our course of action be?" Her voice shook, a sharp difference from the strong determination she had displayed a few moments earlier.Xander inhaled deeply, pushing himself to concentrate. We must not allow it to overpower us. We must put a stop to it immediately, before it can recover its full power.The expanding whirlpool increased in size, surrounded by dark energy crackling resembling a furious storm. Emerging from the ominous vortex, a new figure appeared, even more imposing and frightening than
THE KEEPER'S DISCOVERY.Xander. Xander walked heavily beside Selene, the Keeper of Secrets. The scenery had transformed to a thick woodland, with the trees murmuring tales of the past. Eva walked closely, her staff emitting a soft glow to illuminate their way. Even after defeating the darkness, a feeling of unease remained.Selene glided with a delicate elegance that appeared nearly otherworldly. She described how the relics of light are concealed in areas where the thin fabric of reality is, where darkness used to dominate but was pushed back by ancient forces, with her voice barely louder than the rustling wind.Xander cast a brief look in her direction. "How did you come to know all of this?" What is the reason for assisting us?Selene looked into his eyes, which were brimming with age-old knowledge. "The duty of safeguarding the equilibrium between light and darkness is mine as the Guardian of Secrets." When the dark started to increase once more, I realized it was time for me to
THE ABYSS OF SHADOWS.Eva. Eva guided the path as they ventured deeper into the dense forest, holding the precious relic tightly in her grip. She felt the warmth of it, a glimmer of hope in the approaching darkness. Xander and Selene stayed close behind, appearing tense yet resolute. Meeting the mysterious silhouette had made them all anxious, yet there was no going back at this point."We must locate the next artifact soon," Eva stated calmly. "The darkness is aware of our approach and will not allow us to relax."Selene gave a nod, her gaze moving over the trees. The next artifact is concealed within a site known as the Abyss of Shadows. It is a place where the separation between our reality and the shadows is most fragile. We need to be ready for any situation.Xander increased the strength of his hold on his sword. "What is the distance?""A short distance away," Selene responded. "We must act swiftly and steer clear of any avoidable confrontations."They continued forward, the w