The forest deepened into something older—not darker, not colder…just watchful.
Like the trees were aware of them.
Like they were judging.
Arin felt it immediately. A pressure.Not the Wraith's pressure — nothing could compare to that frozen, effortless dominance —but something ancient, sleeping, irritated at being disturbed.
Kaien rubbed his arms. "Is… anyone else feeling like the forest hates us personally?"
Lynx smirked. "Relax. The forest only hates you. We're fine."
Razan snorted. "Forest has taste then."
Even Eira smiled faintly before tightening her grip on her blade. "Stay alert. Something's moving beneath us."
Beneath them?
Arin slowed his steps.
"…I hear it too."
A deep rumble vibrated through the soil. Like massive chains dragging under the ground. Like something alive was shifting far below their feet.
Draiven stepped forward. "The Temple of Umbran Dawn was built above an underground maze. Legends say the roots of the world itself run beneath it."
Kaien blinked. "Why do legends never say something useful, like 'free treasure inside'?"
Lynx shot back, "Because treasure wouldn't run away screaming when it sees you."
"HEY—!"
Razan hushed them. "Quiet."
The rumble grew louder.
Arin's heart pounded harder — not from fear, but from something he didn't understand.
A calling.
A pull.
Like invisible hands tugging at his ribs.
He stumbled.
Eira caught him instantly. "Arin! What do you feel?"
"…Something… familiar."
The group exchanged looks, tense.
But before anyone could say more—
BOOM
The ground split open behind them.
A shockwave hurled Kaien into a bush.Lynx barely caught him by the collar.
Razan drew his weapon. "What now?! Another Titan?"
No.
This was something worse.
Black steam hissed from the crack in the earth.Whispers leaked out with it — dozens of overlapping voices speaking backwards.
Arin's blood went cold.
Draiven stepped protectively in front of him. "This is not the Titan. This is… something else."
A tendril of shadow slowly crawled upward…
Eira raised her blade, frost forming around her boots. "Everyone get ready—"
But suddenly—
SILVER LIGHT CUT THE SHADOW IN HALF.
Silent.Effortless.Instant.
They didn't even see him arrive.
The Silver Wraith stood atop a tree branch, arms folded, expression annoyingly calm — like he had come to swat away a bug.
Kaien squeaked, "WHY does he always show up like a jumpscare?!"
Lynx whispered, "Fan-service entrance, bro. Let him cook."
The Wraith didn't look at any of them.
His eyes were on the splitting earth.
"…It is earlier than I expected."
Arin's voice shook. "Wraith— what is that thing?"
The Wraith glanced at him, expression unreadable.
"Not your problem.Yet."
The ground shook violently. More shadows rose.
Eira stepped forward. "Are you helping us or just showing off?"
The Wraith smirked.
"Both."
He snapped his fingers.
A silver shockwave blasted the fissure shut.The forest fell silent once more.
Not even the wind dared move.
Razan exhaled. "I'll never get used to that."
The Wraith turned to Arin, voice softer than before.
"You walk toward the temple like you understand what waits for you. You don't."
Arin's jaw tightened. "Then tell me."
"No."The answer was immediate.
"But I will give you one truth. A small one."
He stepped closer — just enough that Arin felt the weight of someone who stood above everything.
"A seal older than your world is cracking.When it breaks… something wakes that should never wake."
Arin swallowed. "Something… connected to me."
The Wraith didn't confirm.He didn't deny either.
Instead, he dissolved into silver particles.
But as he vanished, his voice echoed behind them:
"Run if you want. Fight if you want.But the temple will not wait."
Then he was gone.
Silence again.
Kaien trembled. "Guys… something is REALLY wrong. Even he looked— scared."
Lynx laughed nervously. "No, no, no. If THAT guy gets scared, we're dead."
Eira looked at the path ahead… where a faint purple glow pulsed in the distance.
"The temple is awakening."
Arin stared at it.
The same pull tightened around his heartbeat.
Something there knew his name.Something there was waiting.
He stepped forward.
"We keep moving."
Behind them, the cracks in the ground pulsed once.
Twice.
Like something beneath was knocking.