Shadow slave:The Forgotten Spawn

Volume 2: Shards of Unity

Chapter 27: Into the Depths

The battle raged for hours, the darkness around the camp alive with the Sovereign's shadows. Nyx moved like a force of nature, its glowing claws and feral roars a rallying point for the defenders. Alaric's warriors, inspired by the creature's ferocity, fought with renewed determination.

Yet the shadows kept coming, as if drawn to the camp by an unrelenting hunger.

"They're testing us," Solas said, slicing through a shadowy figure that dissolved into mist. "This isn't a full assault—it's a distraction."

Eryth, standing at the camp's center with the relic glowing in their hands, frowned. "A distraction for what?"

Before Solas could answer, a deep, resonant sound rolled through the battlefield, silencing the clash of blades and the cries of battle. It was a low hum, like the echo of a great bell, and it seemed to reverberate through the ground itself.

"What was that?" Kaelen asked, his vines faltering as the sound grew louder.

Alaric, standing nearby, gripped his blade tightly. "It's here."

Eryth's blood ran cold. "What's here?"

The answer came moments later. From the far edge of the battlefield, the shadows parted, revealing a figure cloaked in darkness. The air around it shimmered with an unnatural heat, and its eyes glowed a deep, crimson red.

"A Herald," Alaric spat, his voice filled with venom. "The Sovereign sent one of its enforcers to finish us off."

The Herald's Wrath

The Herald strode forward, its movements slow and deliberate. Each step it took seemed to sap the strength from the defenders, its mere presence an oppressive weight.

"Who dares defy the Sovereign?" the Herald's voice boomed, echoing across the battlefield. Its tone was cold and mocking, laced with a dark power that sent shivers down Eryth's spine.

Eryth stepped forward, the relic's glow intensifying. "We do."

The Herald's crimson gaze locked onto them, and a twisted smile spread across its face. "Ah, the bearer of the relic. How quaint. Do you think that trinket will save you?"

Nyx growled, stepping in front of Eryth. The nightmare creature's body radiated golden light, its presence a stark contrast to the Herald's dark aura.

The Herald tilted its head, its smile widening. "And what is this? A pet? Or perhaps a mistake left over from the Sovereign's experiments?"

Nyx lunged without warning, its claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. The Herald raised a hand, a shield of shadow materializing to block the attack. The impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield, scattering defenders and shadows alike.

"Fascinating," the Herald murmured, brushing dust from its cloak. "But futile."

The fight between Nyx and the Herald was nothing short of cataclysmic. The ground shook beneath their blows, and the air was filled with bursts of light and darkness as their powers clashed.

A Desperate Plan

"We can't win this," Alaric said, his voice grim. "Not like this."

Eryth looked around, their mind racing. The relic pulsed in their hands, its power straining against their control. "We don't need to win. We just need to hold out long enough to escape."

"Escape to where?" Kael demanded, flames flickering around his hands. "The Herald will hunt us down no matter where we go."

"There's a ruin," Alaric said suddenly, his eyes narrowing in thought. "An old stronghold deep in the mountains. It's said to be protected by wards that even the Sovereign can't break."

Solas raised an eyebrow. "Convenient. Why haven't you gone there before?"

Alaric glared at them. "Because it's a death trap. The wards might keep the Sovereign out, but the things inside… they're worse."

Eryth gritted their teeth. "Do we have a choice?"

"No," Solas said flatly.

The Tide Turns

As the group fell back toward the camp's edge, Nyx continued to hold the Herald at bay. The nightmare creature's movements were faster now, its strikes more precise. Eryth could feel the bond between them strengthening, the relic amplifying Nyx's power with each passing moment.

But the Herald was relentless. It fought with a cold, calculated fury, its shadowy form shifting and reforming with every blow Nyx landed.

"You're strong," the Herald said, its voice tinged with amusement. "But you're still just a tool. A relic of the Sovereign's will."

Nyx roared in defiance, its claws glowing brighter as it launched itself at the Herald once more.

A Narrow Escape

"Now!" Eryth shouted as the group reached the camp's edge.

Kaelen raised his hands, vines erupting from the ground to form a barrier between the defenders and the advancing shadows. Kael unleashed a torrent of fire, driving back the attackers long enough for the group to regroup.

"Alaric, lead the way!" Eryth said, the relic's light cutting through the darkness.

The former soldier hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Stay close. If we lose the path, we're dead."

As they fled into the night, the sound of Nyx's battle with the Herald faded behind them. Eryth glanced back, their heart clenching.

"Nyx," they whispered, the relic's glow dimming as the distance grew.

But deep down, they knew the creature would find them again. It always did.