The world wasn't just dim; it was obliterated.
One instant, Kaito was racing towards the distant hope of Lumenreach. In the next, he found himself enveloped in a sensory void. The overwhelming darkness felt like a physical blow, causing him to stumble and reach out desperately to steady himself against the crumbling pavement.
For a horrifying moment, there was nothing—no light, no sound. The silence was so deep it felt like a weight pressing against his ears. The only realities were the ragged breaths he took and the thunderous beat of his heart in his chest.
Then, he heard it.
It wasn't the usual sound of the Gravemole. This was something different—a wet, dragging noise, reminiscent of a heavy sack being dragged over gravel. It was behind him and closing in. Accompanying it was a low, guttural clicking that resonated deep in his bones, not a voice but a vibration.
A cold, sharp rush of adrenaline coursed through him. He scrambled to his feet and ran, aimlessly, with his arms outstretched, his feet pounding on the uneven terrain. Every shadow felt like an outstretched claw, and every gust of wind seemed like a hungry breath.
The dragging sound maintained its steady pace behind him, unhurried and taunting.
He glanced back, but saw nothing—just a deeper blackness that seemed to shift and move.
Then he spotted it—a brilliant beam of white light shot up into the sky from Lumenreach's center. It wasn't the soft, warm glow of sunlight; it was harsh, brilliant, and absolute. It struck the ground, forming a vast dome of blinding brightness that encompassed the city and its surroundings.
Kaito was momentarily blinded, stumbling as his eyes adjusted. The dragging noise ceased, replaced by a frustrated hissing from the darkness beyond the light's edge.
As his vision cleared, reality came back into view. He stood safely within a bright circle, surrounded by darkness. And then he saw what had been pursuing him.
A raw, terrified scream escaped him.
It was a living nightmare—a grotesque amalgamation of flesh and shadow, consisting of impossible angles and an abundance of limbs, all jointed in ways that made his eyes hurt. It lacked a proper head, containing instead a swirling mass of teeth and eyes that all looked in different directions. Patches of matted fur, glistening pale skin, and exposed, throbbing organs were grotesquely stitched together with a sickening black thread. It was a horrifying mockery of life.
The creature emitted a chaotic mix of wet clicks, dry hisses, and a high-pitched, electronic whine. It stumbled forward, attempting to breach the light, but recoiled as if burned, unable to cross the barrier of artificial daylight.
Kaito's scream faltered, replaced by a chilling clarity. Although fear tangled in his stomach, his mind began to work. He was a prodigy, and this was a puzzle to solve.
'The light is a protective barrier,' he realized, scanning his surroundings. 'This is its limit. The creature can't come through.'
He was still a hundred meters from the main gate. The monster prowled at the edge of the darkness, its numerous eyes locked on him, frustration emanating from it. It was waiting for the light to weaken.
Kaito refused to give it that chance. Taking a deep breath, he launched into a final, desperate sprint, dashing across the illuminated area with his eyes set on the massive gate, where guards now stood visible in light-grey armor.
The creature shrieked and lunged, its shadowy tendrils reaching for him, but they evaporated with a hiss, like smoke. It could not reach him.
He hit the gate, slamming his hands against the cool metal. He was safe. He leaned against the door, his body shaking from sheer exhaustion and adrenaline.
The gate began to open with a low hum. Two guards stepped out, their faces stern. They weren't ordinary men; they were Binders. Beside them stood their Lumenkins—a powerful, rock-skinned Gravemole that cracked its knuckles, and a sleek Veilark with shimmering, mirror-like wings shimmering with pent-up energy.
One guard, a serious-looking man with a captain's insignia, regarded Kaito, then his weary Auri on his shoulder, and finally the monstrous entity still lurking in the darkness outside the light.
"What in the seven hells," the guard murmured, disbelief lacing his voice, "have you brought to our doorstep?"