The new corridor was darker than the last, as if the shadows themselves pressed in from every side. Liana gripped the Blade of the Veil tighter, her knuckles white against the hilt. Beside her, the Shadow King walked in silence, his silver eyes faintly glowing beneath the dim torchlight.
Ahead, the tunnel opened into a vast cavern lit by an eerie blue flame. The walls were jagged stone, and a great pit yawned in the center, swirling with black mist. Across the pit, a narrow bridge led to an ancient gate carved with runes that pulsed ominously.
"This is your third trial," the Shadow King said quietly. "And the most dangerous so far."
Liana swallowed. "What's waiting for me this time?"
Instead of answering, he lifted a hand. The runes on the gate flared, and the ground trembled. From the depths of the pit, something stirred—massive, heavy, and breathing. Slowly, two golden eyes gleamed out of the mist, followed by the rising silhouette of a giant serpent, its scales glistening black and red, its fangs dripping venom that sizzled against the stone.
"A shadow wyrm," the king murmured. "Born from the nightmares of the first fallen gods."
Liana's heart pounded so loud she could barely hear herself think. "And I'm supposed to fight that?"
The Shadow King's gaze was unreadable. "You must."
The serpent let out a hiss that shook the cavern. It coiled, muscles rippling beneath its armored scales, then lunged toward the bridge. Liana barely threw herself aside as the massive head slammed down, shattering part of the stone path.
The Shadow King stepped back into the shadows, vanishing from sight. "You must face it alone."
Alone.
Liana took a shaky breath and faced the beast. The Blade of the Veil glowed faintly in her hand, but the wyrm was colossal—too big, too strong. Each movement cracked stone and sent tremors through the floor.
The serpent lunged again. Liana rolled beneath its strike, slashing at its underside. Sparks flew, but the blade barely left a mark. The scales were like iron.
She sprinted across the bridge as the beast's tail lashed toward her. Stone crumbled underfoot; she leaped to the next platform, panting hard.
How am I supposed to kill something this powerful?
Suddenly, the serpent's body arched over her, casting a shadow that blotted out the blue flames. It dropped down, fangs bared, and Liana braced herself—
A flash of dark energy streaked through the air, slamming into the wyrm's eye. The beast reared back with a shriek, blinded momentarily.
In the distance, hidden in the shadows, the faint silhouette of the Shadow King flickered—his scepter raised, his posture strained.
He had intervened.
But no sooner had the attack struck than the runes on the cavern walls flared violently. A pulse of backlash energy surged from the gate, slamming into the Shadow King's chest. He staggered, gasping softly, his figure dimming for a heartbeat.
Liana didn't see. She was too busy scrambling for higher ground, dodging the serpent's furious thrashing.
She turned just in time to see the wyrm charging again. She threw her sword forward, its blade catching the faint light, and the serpent recoiled—but not enough. Its tail whipped around, striking her square in the side.
Pain exploded through her ribs. She flew backward, skidding across the stone until she slammed against a jagged pillar.
Her vision blurred. Blood trickled from her lip.
Get up, she told herself. You can't give up.
But her limbs felt heavy, her breaths shallow. The wyrm loomed closer, venom dripping from its fangs.
And still, the Shadow King stood in the shadows, watching silently, a flicker of anguish in his eyes.
He lifted his hand again, gathering power—
But the runes blazed brighter, warning him. Another strike, and the backlash would be greater.
Yet he hesitated. His hand trembled. His gaze never left her.
Liana pushed herself upright, swaying. She glared at the serpent, her chest heaving. "I won't die here," she growled.
The mark on her wrist pulsed.
The Blade of the Veil glimmered faintly on the ground where she'd dropped it.
She lunged, grabbing it just as the wyrm struck.
And as the fangs descended, she drove the sword upward with all her strength.
Light exploded.
The serpent howled as the blade pierced its eye, sending cracks spiraling through its skull. It reared back, thrashing wildly, then collapsed into the pit, its body dissolving into black mist.
Silence fell.
Liana collapsed to her knees, gasping, trembling.
Behind her, the Shadow King emerged from the shadows, his face pale, shadows flickering weakly around him.
She turned, anger flashing in her eyes. "You stood there… you watched me almost die!"
He said nothing, only stared at her with an unreadable expression.
"You could've helped me!" she snapped. "Why didn't you?!"
He lowered his gaze. "Because if I did… the Forge would claim me instead."
She frowned. "What does that mean?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he turned away, his figure fading back into shadow.
Liana clenched her fists, chest still burning.
Why won't he tell me the truth?
Ahead, the gate creaked open, revealing another path into deeper darkness.
And despite her anger, despite her pain—she stood.
"I'll finish this," she vowed quietly.
And stepped forward, alone once more.
Liana walked down the dark corridor, each step echoing softly against the damp stone. Her body ached from the battle, bruises blossoming beneath her skin, yet she forced herself forward. The faint glow of the mark on her wrist guided her way, flickering like a distant star in endless night.
Behind her, the sounds of the gate closing faded into silence.
The next chamber was smaller, circular, with walls lined by stone statues—warriors frozen mid-battle, their faces twisted in agony, their weapons half-raised. A cold draft swept through the room, carrying whispers that slithered along her skin.
At the center stood a stone pedestal, atop it a glass orb swirling with dark mist.
As she stepped closer, the statues' eyes flickered with pale light.
Suddenly, they moved.
One by one, the stone warriors stepped down from their pedestals, weapons raised, silent but deadly.
Liana gritted her teeth. "Great," she muttered. "More."
She raised her sword just as the nearest statue lunged, its blade descending in a heavy arc. Sparks flew as steel met stone. She twisted, sliding beneath its swing, countering with a slash to its side. The blade scraped, leaving a faint crack.
Not enough.
Another statue attacked from behind. She spun, parrying desperately, but the force rattled her arms. Three more closed in, surrounding her.
"I'm not done yet," she hissed.
She ducked under a spear thrust, kicked a statue's knee, dodged a hammer swing—but they kept coming, relentless, their stone bodies immune to pain, to fatigue.
Every strike she landed chipped them, but every miss cost her stamina. Sweat streamed down her face; her lungs burned.
The mark on her wrist glowed brighter.
Suddenly, a whisper echoed in her mind: The orb…
Her gaze darted to the pedestal.
Destroy it…
But the statues blocked her path.
A sword nicked her arm; she winced, stumbling back. Another swing grazed her thigh, tearing fabric, drawing blood.
The statues pressed closer.
Liana's vision blurred. "No… I won't fall…"
From the shadows, unseen, the Shadow King watched. His hands clenched at his sides, his gaze shadowed with turmoil. Each cut she took, each cry she stifled, echoed in his chest.
He lifted a hand, power gathering. He could strike—just once, to clear her path.
But the runes overhead pulsed again, brighter this time, warning. Another interference, and the Forge's retribution would be swift, brutal.
He hesitated. His magic crackled, trembling at his fingertips.
And in that moment, Liana looked up, saw a flicker of movement in the shadows.
Her heart twisted. "He's watching…"
A statue swung down at her head. She barely dodged, tumbling to the ground. Pain flared in her side.
He's not helping…
The thought burned. Anger surged beneath the fear, beneath the exhaustion.
"I don't need you!" she shouted hoarsely, gripping her sword tighter. "I'll finish this myself!"
With a sudden burst of adrenaline, she rolled forward, slashing at the nearest statue's knee. The crack deepened; the statue toppled sideways, colliding with two others, creating a brief gap.
She sprinted for the pedestal.
Behind her, the remaining statues gave chase, footsteps thundering.
She leapt, driving her sword into the orb.
Light exploded outward.
The statues froze mid-stride, cracks racing across their bodies before they shattered into dust.
Silence descended.
Liana dropped to her knees, chest heaving. The shattered orb's fragments glowed faintly before fading into ash.
The Shadow King stepped from the shadows, his expression unreadable. Shadows flickered weakly around him, his breathing faintly labored.
She turned toward him, hurt flashing in her eyes. "You let me fight them alone. You watched me bleed."
He didn't answer. His gaze softened briefly, but the weight of his silence pressed heavy between them.
"You could've helped," she whispered bitterly. "But you didn't."
He looked away. "Because if I had… the price would be mine."
She frowned. "What price?"
He stepped back, fading into darkness. "The Forge spares no one."
A new path opened before them, descending deeper into shadow.
Liana stood slowly, her hand trembling as she wiped blood from her lip.
"I don't need anyone," she muttered. "I'll survive this on my own."
And without another glance, she walked forward—leaving the Shadow King alone in the fading light.