The tunnel trembled as a colossal hand made of flame and shadow erupted from the crack, its fingers curling toward Zarik like a predator reaching for prey. The red glow from the First Flame illuminated the crumbling walls, casting an eerie light on the shadowy beasts that charged forward, their roars blending with the groaning of collapsing stone.
Zarik's heart raced, the chill of the Shadow Mark on his chest burning like fire, threatening to tear him apart. The Astrid System's voice echoed coldly: First Flame Source Detected. Connection Mandatory. His flames flickered weakly in his hands, his Elemental Essence Points (EEP) at just 10, while the fragment he clutched pulsed in the heat, tempting him with its power.
Lira's grip on his arm was unyielding; her eyes were wide yet fierce. "Zarik, move!" she shouted, yanking him back just as the hand's fingers brushed against his cloak, leaving behind scorched marks. Her tool belt was empty, and her scanner sparked uselessly, but her voice cut through the fog of panic. "Don't let that thing touch you!"
"Trying!" Zarik gasped, stumbling as the tunnel floor buckled beneath him. The Shadow Mark's chill spread to his neck, his left arm going limp. Yet, Lira's defiance sparked a flicker of stubborn, reckless hope within him. He lifted his hand, summoning a feeble Flame Burst—EEP: 0—but it did nothing against the encroaching beasts, their red eyes locked hungrily on the fragment.
Kael unleashed a gust of wind, slicing through one beast's side and slowing its advance. His scarred face showed determination, and his blade dripped with ichor. "We're out of time!" he shouted, glancing back at the flaming hand. "That's no ordinary relic. It's alive!"
Mira summoned water, creating a barrier that absorbed another beast's claws. Her braid flew wildly as she spoke calmly yet strained. "Zarik, that fragment is resonating with that thing. You have to break the connection or it'll drag you in!"
"Break it?" Zarik chuckled bitterly, breathless. "I don't even know what it's doing!" The Shadow Mark pulsed in response, a memory not his own surfacing—Astrid's, of a Shadow Mage engulfed by fire, their screams echoing as they were consumed. He shook off the thought, focusing on the hand's fingers inching closer, each wreathed in shadows that whispered his name.
The system warned: Shadow Mark Stability: 45%. Critical Overload Imminent. Zarik's vision swayed, the fragment's heat seducing him to yield, to let the Flame take control. But Lira's grip tightened, her voice fierce. "You're not a puppet, Zarik. Fight back!"
Her words struck like a spark. He wasn't a vessel or a tool—not for the Flame, not for Astrid. He tightened his grip on the fragment, its brilliant light blinding, focusing every part of himself to compel the system to respond. Break the connection, he urged, desperation surging within him. The system stirred: Countermeasure: Isolate Fragment. Channel EEP.
"I've run out of EEP!" Zarik snapped, dodging a beast's claw. The hand loomed just inches away, its heat singeing his skin. Kael's wind and Mira's water held the beasts at bay, but the tunnel crumbled around them, stones tumbling down. Lira's eyes locked onto his, her nod steady despite the fear.
"You can do this," she said, her voice soft yet resolute. "You always manage."
Zarik's throat tightened. He didn't deserve her faith, yet he would rather die than let her down. The system flashed: Emergency EEP Restoration: 20. A weak spark ignited within him, enough to give him the strength to press the fragment to his chest, near the Shadow Mark, pouring everything he had into it—his fear, his anger, his hope. EEP: 10. The fragment's light dimmed, slowing the hand's advance, but the Shadow Mark flared hotter, its runes creeping closer to his heart.
The beasts roared, one breaking through Mira's barrier. Kael's blade flashed, severing its claw, but another beast lunged and pinned him against the wall. "Zarik, now!" he shouted, his wind faltering.
Zarik gritted his teeth, the fragment's light flickering. Isolate. He focused, guided by the system's hum, and the hand froze, its fingers trembling. The pain from the Shadow Mark was unbearable, his vision darkening, but he held on, anchored by Lira's hand. EEP: 0. The fragment's glow vanished, and the hand recoiled, retreating into the fissure, letting out a furious roar.
The beasts hesitated, their shadows flickering, then fled, their roars receding into the tunnel. The fissure's glow dulled, the runes stabilizing, but the tunnel continued to collapse, the dust choking the air. Zarik slumped to the ground, the fragment cold in his hand, the ache from the Shadow Mark a dull throb. Shadow Mark Stability: 40%.
Lira caught him, her arms trembling yet strong. "You fool," she murmured, relief flooding her voice. "You scared me."
"Had to… keep it interesting," Zarik rasped, managing a faint grin. His body felt utterly wrecked, but Lira's smile made it all worthwhile.
Kael staggered over, his sword sheathed, a mixture of exhaustion and reluctant respect on his face. "You're still alive," he remarked dryly. "That's… unexpected."
Mira's water ebbed, her gaze evaluating Zarik. "You broke the connection," she said softly, though curiosity lingered in her tone. "Not many can resist the Flame's pull. But that mark…" She frowned, studying his chest.
"Yeah, it's quite the charm," Zarik mumbled, pulling his shredded cloak over the glowing runes. The fragment was inert now, its light extinguished, but its weight grew heavier—like a promise or a threat. The system remained silent, yet its presence resonated in his mind, a quiet hum.
Lira's scanner beeped, the display cracked but working. "The fissure's sealed, but we're not out of trouble yet," she pointed out, indicating the tunnel's end where faint neon lights flickered—signs of the Freehold's edge. "More signatures are on the way. Shadow Mages, maybe Concord. We need to get moving."
Zarik nodded, forcing himself to stand despite the pain. "Lead on, tinker."
She smirked, but concern shadowed her eyes. "Just don't pass out on me, scav."
Kael's wind stirred, clearing the dust. "If we're moving, keep your guard up," he warned, voice low. "The Flame is awake. Every faction will be hunting you now."
"Perfect," Zarik said, sarcasm tinged with an undercurrent of dread. The Shadow Mark's memories flickered again: this was a war not just between humans and Shadow Mages, but for control of the Flame itself—a power capable of remaking or destroying the world. He shoved those thoughts aside, focusing on Lira's unwavering presence, Kael's wary stance, and Mira's silent strength.
The tunnel sloped upward, its runes dim but stable. The air turned cooler; the neon glow of the Freehold brightened, but then they heard a new sound—a low, rhythmic thud, heavy and deliberate. Zarik's flames sparked weakly, the Shadow Mark pulsing a warning.
Lira's scanner flashed red. "That's no beast," she whispered, tension thrumming in her voice. "It's… mechanical."
"Mechanical?" Kael unsheathed his blade, his wind humming menacingly. "Concord doesn't use constructs. Shadow Mages?"
Mira's water swirled anxiously, her expression grave. "Not their style. This is something else entirely."
The thudding grew louder, revealing a massive shape emerging from the shadows—not a beast, but a towering figure forged from metal and darkness, adorned with glowing violet runes. Its face was a blank mask, and its arms ended in whirring blades. The system's voice was sharp and urgent: Threat Level: Lethal. Shadow Construct: Sentinel. Neutralize Immediately.
Zarik's heart sank. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, lifting his flames. The fragment felt cold in his hands, his EEP drained, but the Shadow Mark blazed defiantly, its runes flickering to life. Lira clasped his hand tightly, her grip steady. Kael and Mira stood ready, deciding for battle.
The Sentinel's mask glowed, its voice a low, metallic rumble. "Vessel detected. Surrender the fragment, or be eradicated."
"Surrender?" Zarik's grin was wild, voice steady despite the fear bubbling within. "Not really my style." He glanced at Lira, her eyes burning with determination, then at Kael and Mira, who stood firmly by his side. The Sentinel's blades hummed as shadows surged, and the tunnel shook under its charge.