The night sky burned crimson. Smoke coiled into the heavens as if the world itself were exhaling its last breath. Russ stood in the middle of the crumbling courtyard, blade in hand, the steel trembling—not from fear, but from the power surging through him. Across from him, Mira's eyes blazed, golden irises reflecting the fires that licked at the shattered walls.
"You're hurt," Russ said, noticing the crimson soaking the sleeve of her leather armor.
Mira smirked, the kind of smirk that said don't waste your breath. "It's just a scratch. Focus on the monster in front of us."
The "monster" roared—a hulking abomination, all muscle, jagged bone, and molten eyes. Its claws raked the stone floor, each scrape sending sparks into the air. The ground cracked under its steps as it lunged.
Russ darted left, shadows wrapping around his legs like living serpents. Mira leapt in the opposite direction, flipping in midair, her twin daggers glinting. The beast's claws slammed into the spot where they'd been standing, exploding the stone into shards.
"Mira! High!" Russ called.
She understood instantly. Russ surged forward, blade low, shadows flaring like wings. He slashed at the beast's knee, the blade humming with qi. The cut didn't sever, but it staggered the creature. Mira used the moment—springing off a crumbling column, flipping over the monster's head, and slamming both daggers into the base of its skull.
The beast howled, spinning violently. Mira was thrown, rolling across the ground, but she landed crouched, panting.
"You call that a high strike?" she teased, even as sweat streaked down her temple.
Russ grinned. "Just warming up."
The monster bellowed again, molten saliva hissing as it hit the ground. This time, it charged—not a mindless rush, but calculated, eyes locked on Russ. The shadows at his feet thickened. He raised his sword, muttering an incantation.
The shadows erupted, forming a coiling spear of black flame that shot forward. It slammed into the creature's chest, knocking it back several paces. Mira didn't hesitate. She sprinted toward it, spinning mid-run, her daggers igniting with a faint blue fire.
Russ followed, weaving between falling debris. The beast swung wildly, claws slicing the air. One clipped Russ's shoulder, sending him spinning. Pain flared, but he gritted his teeth, using the momentum to roll back to his feet.
Mira was already on its back, daggers carving rapid arcs, each strike glowing brighter. The beast roared, twisting, trying to throw her off.
Russ knew they needed something decisive—now.
He slammed his palm to the ground, channeling every shred of his qi into the shadows. Black tendrils burst from the cracks, wrapping around the creature's limbs, holding it in place.
"Mira! Finish it!" he shouted.
Mira's eyes narrowed. She leapt, spinning into the air, both daggers pointed downward. "Burn!" she roared, plunging them into the monster's skull. A shockwave of blue fire exploded outward, the heat searing Russ's face even from a distance.
The creature let out a final, gurgling scream before collapsing, its molten eyes dimming to lifeless black.
Silence fell—except for the crackle of distant flames.
Russ walked to Mira, extending a hand to pull her up. She took it, breathing hard. "Not bad," she said with a smirk.
"Not bad?" Russ laughed. "That was—"
The ground trembled. Both froze. From the far end of the courtyard, a shadow even darker than Russ's power began to rise, eyes gleaming red.
Mira's smirk faded. "We're not done."
Russ tightened his grip on his sword. "Then let's make sure the next one doesn't get up at all."