The creature hit the wall where Kaelen had stood, stone shattering like brittle bone.
Kaelen rolled across the floor, sword in hand, the runes along its blade igniting in silver flame the moment he gripped it with both hands.
The thing's eyeless face tilted toward the light, and for the first time, it hesitated.
It fears this.
The thought wasn't his. It came like the whisper before, deep, ancient, familiar.
But hesitation didn't mean mercy.
It lunged, its limbs bending impossibly as it swept an arm low, trying to take Kaelen's legs. He leapt, twisting midair, blade flashing. Silver met shadow and the shadow screamed.
Not a sound of pain.A sound of recognition.
The wound didn't bleed. Instead, threads of black vapor hissed into the air, curling toward Kaelen like smoke drawn to a flame. They sank into his skin, cold and electric.
He staggered.His vision warped, the walls rippling, the torches dimming until all that remained was the glow in the creature's chest.
Liora's voice cut through. "Kael! Don't let it touch you again!"
But the thing was already moving, faster now, anger sharpening its movements. It struck at Liora, forcing her to dive for cover.
Kaelen followed the motion without thinking. His blade caught the creature's claw mid-swing, and this time, the silver fire exploded outward, searing into the shadow's form.
The gash revealed more of what was inside not just the shard of the First Crown, but veins of molten gold radiating from it, pulsing in sync with Kaelen's heartbeat.
It wasn't just a shard.It was bound to him.
The realization made him falter for half a breath and that was all it needed.
The creature slammed into him, driving him through the far wall. The world became dust, rubble, and pain.
Pinned beneath its weight, Kaelen felt the shard's pulse grow faster, hotter. His vision tunneled until the only thing he could see was that red glow.
"The Bloodbound cannot run," the voice whispered inside his skull. "You are mine, as I am yours."
Kaelen's grip tightened on the sword."If that's true," he growled, "then you'll burn with me."
And with a roar that wasn't entirely his own, he drove the silver blade straight into the shard's light.