Shadow slave:The Forgotten Spawn

Chapter 19: The Path of Echoes

The newly formed path stretched out before them, shrouded in shadows that writhed like living things. The trees on either side loomed tall and unnatural, their bark warped and glistening as though slick with tar. The air was heavy, suffused with an otherworldly hum that buzzed faintly in the human's ears.

Nyx growled softly, a deep sound that reverberated through the golden thread between them. Its golden eyes remained fixed on the path ahead, unblinking and sharp.

The human adjusted their grip on the blade, its faint glow casting flickers of light onto the oppressive darkness. "We're really doing this, huh?" They glanced at Nyx, the weight of uncertainty settling on their chest. "Following the creepy disembodied voice? That's the plan now?"

Nyx gave no response, only stepping forward with deliberate purpose. The human sighed and followed, their footsteps crunching against the forest floor.

As they walked, the hum in the air grew louder, becoming a distorted blend of whispers and distant wails. The human's stomach churned at the sound, and they clenched their jaw, forcing themselves to press on.

"What do you think it meant?" they asked, their voice low. "That voice. 'Come home.' Does it have something to do with you?"

Nyx didn't look back, but its shadowy form seemed to ripple slightly, as if the question had struck a nerve.

The human frowned. "Of course it does. You've been leading me into trouble since day one, and now it's calling your name. So why don't you—"

The forest shifted.

In the span of a heartbeat, the trees warped, their gnarled branches reaching down toward the ground like claws. The path beneath their feet melted away, replaced by smooth black stone that glimmered faintly underfoot.

The human stopped in their tracks, their blade snapping up in a defensive stance. "Oh, come on. What now?"

Nyx crouched low, its claws flexing as its golden eyes scanned the area.

The hum turned into a deep, guttural roar that came from everywhere at once. The black stone beneath their feet began to crack, green light spilling out from the fissures like liquid fire.

Then they saw it.

Rising from the ground was a monstrous figure, its body a mass of writhing black tendrils and jagged stone. Its many eyes glowed with the same sickly green light, and its gaping maw split open, revealing rows of jagged teeth.

The human's blood ran cold. "I really hate this forest."

The creature roared again, its tendrils lashing out toward them with terrifying speed.

Nyx moved first, darting forward to intercept the attack. Its shadowy form stretched and expanded, jagged tendrils of its own lashing out to meet the creature's. The two forces collided with an ear-splitting crack, shadow against shadow, black stone shattering and reforming in the blink of an eye.

The human didn't wait for an invitation. They surged forward, blade in hand, aiming for the creature's core. "Nyx, keep it busy!"

Nyx roared in response, its golden eyes blazing as it tore into the creature's tendrils.

The human weaved through the chaos, their blade flashing as they struck at the creature's legs. The black stone cracked under their assault, but the creature showed no sign of faltering.

Instead, it turned its many eyes on them, its maw splitting open with an unnatural hiss.

"Oh, no, you don't!" the human yelled, leaping back just as a tendril smashed into the ground where they had been standing. The impact sent shards of black stone flying in all directions, forcing them to shield their face.

Nyx lunged at the creature, its claws raking across its body. The golden thread between them flared brightly, and for a brief moment, the creature recoiled as if in pain.

The human seized the opening, dashing forward and driving their blade into one of the creature's glowing eyes.

The roar that followed was deafening.

The creature thrashed wildly, its tendrils flailing in all directions. One of them struck the human, sending them flying into the air.

They hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of them. Gasping for breath, they struggled to their feet, only to find the creature looming over them.

Nyx roared, its form a blur as it threw itself at the creature once more.

But this time, the creature was ready. Its tendrils wrapped around Nyx, squeezing tightly as it pulled the shadowy figure closer to its gaping maw.

"Nyx!" the human shouted, their heart pounding.

The golden thread between them pulsed frantically, its light growing brighter and brighter.

The human didn't think—they just acted. With a roar of their own, they charged forward, blade raised high. The golden thread surged with power, and the blade's glow intensified, its light cutting through the oppressive darkness.

They brought the blade down with all their strength, slicing through the tendrils holding Nyx captive.

The creature screamed, its body convulsing as the golden light burned through it.

Nyx broke free, landing beside the human. Its golden eyes blazed, and the shadows around it surged like a storm.

Together, they attacked, their movements perfectly synchronized. The human's blade struck with precision, while Nyx's tendrils tore through the creature's defenses.

The golden thread pulsed one final time, and the light that followed was blinding.

When the light faded, the creature was gone, its body reduced to ash that scattered on the wind.

The human collapsed to one knee, their chest heaving as they caught their breath. "That… was way too close."

Nyx stood beside them, its golden eyes dim but steady.

The path ahead had changed again. The black stone had vanished, replaced by soft, mossy ground. The trees were still twisted and dark, but the air felt lighter somehow.

The human pushed themselves to their feet, leaning on their blade for support. "I guess we're still following, huh?"

Nyx growled softly, a sound that almost sounded like agreement.

The golden thread pulsed gently, guiding them forward.

And though the path was still uncertain, the bond between them felt stronger than ever.