The pulse beneath the soil didn't stop.
It grew.
Once…
Twice…
Then the ground sank under their feet.
Kaien jumped back. "NOPE— nope nope nope— I am NOT doing round two with that abyss crack—"
Too late.
The forest floor collapsed like wet paper.
Arin grabbed Eira's wrist. Razan swung his spear into a root knot to keep balance. Lynx kicked Kaien in the back to shove him onto stable ground.
Kaien screamed, "WHY DID YOU KICK ME?!"
"Because you're slow!!"
But the argument died instantly.
Because the creature finally surfaced.
Not a titan.
Not a beast.
Not even something with a name their world should know.
It emerged in fragments—black smoke first, then bone-like plates, then a mass of writhing tendrils dripping with shadow. The forest dimmed as if the sun itself tried to look away.
Draiven whispered, horror creeping into his tone,"This… should not exist above the Third Veil."
Razan clenched his jaw. "Too late for should-nots."
The creature shrieked—a layered, backwards, cracking echo that stabbed into their skulls.
Arin felt it again:that pull.That cold summons.Like it recognized him.
He staggered back.
Eira grabbed his arm. "Arin, stay with us."
"I'm— trying…"
The beast lunged.
Razan was first to move. He dashed forward, spear glowing faint red, and struck the creature's plated limb. The hit connected—then ricocheted like he'd struck iron.
Razan flew backward.
Kaien caught him mid-air with a burst of wind. "Bro, what is this thing made of?!"
Lynx fired two arrows that split into six mid-flight. They pierced the creature's face—then disintegrated.
"Okay," Lynx exhaled, stepping back, "I am officially terrified."
Draiven slammed his staff on the ground. Roots exploded upward, coiling around the monster's limbs, trying to bind it.
For a moment—it worked.
The creature screamed and thrashed, cracking the bark and stone around them.
Draiven shouted, "Now! Hit it while it's restrained!"
Eira didn't hesitate. Ice burst from her boots as she charged. Frost crawled up her blade, swirling like a storm. She leapt and slashed downward—
CRRRRAAACK
The creature's mask-like shell split slightly.
Arin felt the pull again—stronger.Stronger.
His vision trembled.Voices whispered in his skull.Some calling him.Some warning him.Some begging.
"Arin— don't." Eira's voice cut through the haze. "Stay focused!"
He clenched his fists. "I'm fine."
He wasn't.
But he stepped forward anyway.
The monster ripped free of the roots and launched a tendril at Razan.
Arin moved without thinking.
His hand flared with faint blue light—just a flicker, not enough for anyone to understand, but enough to blast the tendril aside.
Everyone froze.
Even Arin.
Kaien blinked. "Bro… what— WHAT did you just do?!"
Arin shook his head. "I don't… know."
The beast shrieked—angrier.
It charged.
They all sprang at it together this time.
Lynx shot arrow after arrow, using Kaien's wind to guide each strike.
Razan slammed his spear into the creature's legs, giving it no room to balance.
Eira slid under its body, slicing open the softer shadow-flesh beneath.
Draiven formed chains from living roots, wrapping them around the creature's neck.
And Arin—
Arin saw an opening.
He leapt with the others, driving his fist glowing faint blue straight into the crack Eira had created.
BOOOOOOM
The creature convulsed.
Cracks spread across its body like lightning.
And with a final screech—like a world collapsing—
It exploded into ash and shadow dust.
The forest fell silent.
All of them stood there panting, bleeding, shaken.
Kaien bent over, hands on knees. "Bro— I think I died three times just now."
Lynx put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't be dramatic. Maybe twice."
Razan scowled. "That wasn't a normal veil-creature."
Draiven nodded. "No. And something forced it above ground."
Their eyes slowly drifted toward the purple glow ahead—the Temple of Umbran Dawn.
Arin felt that pull again.
Stronger than before.
He swallowed hard.
And then—wind shifted.
Silver dust swirled in the air.
Kaien jumped. "OH COME ON— not again—"
The Wraith materialized beside a tree, arms crossed, watching Arin with an expression far sharper and colder than before.
"…You survived."
Lynx muttered, "Gee, thanks for the help."
Razan elbowed him. "Don't. He'll erase you."
The Wraith stepped closer to Arin—just enough to feel that crushing pressure of someone who stood above magic, time, and reason.
"You were supposed to retreat from that creature," the Wraith said quietly. "Not fight it."
Arin swallowed. "We didn't have a choice."
"You always have a choice."His eyes glimmered silver."And you chose… poorly."
Eira stepped beside Arin, blade raised. "He protected us."
The Wraith's gaze slid to her, uninterested."I'm not scolding him for bravery. I'm reminding him of consequences."
"Consequences of what?" Arin asked.
"Of refusing me."
Silence.
The Wraith raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
The ground where the creature had exploded began to smolder.Black cracks formed—slowly spreading.
Draiven's eyes widened. "Impossible… that thing left corruption—"
"Yes." The Wraith's voice was cold. "And more will rise. Stronger. Angrier. Hungrier."
He looked directly at Arin.
"This is only the beginning."
Arin clenched his fists. "…Why do you keep approaching me?"
"Because you're walking into a disaster you don't understand."
"Then explain it!"
"No."
The answer was swift, sharp.
"But I will warn you."
He stepped closer until Arin felt his chest tighten.
"You cannot defeat what waits in that temple. Not like this. Not with them. Not alone."His voice lowered."Join me, Arin. Or watch your world collapse."
Silence.
The wind died.
Everyone looked at Arin.
Arin stared back at the Wraith, heart pounding.
"…I'm not going with you."
The Wraith blinked once—slowly.
Disappointment?
Annoyance?
Maybe both.
"…Then hurry."His voice turned dangerously soft."If you don't reach the temple in time, the seal will break completely. And once it does…"
He lifted his hand toward the purple glow.
"The Veil will tear."
A chill ran through all of them.
Eira whispered, "Arin… what does he mean?"
Arin shook his head. "I don't know."
The Wraith's expression softened—barely.
"Run if you want. Pretend to be brave. Pretend to be ready."The wind around him coiled like silver ribbons."But every second you hesitate… something old claws its way free."
Arin stepped forward. "Then get out of our way."
A small smirk tugged at the Wraith's lips.
"Good."
He vanished, dissolving into silver dust.
But his last words echoed like thunder:
"Hurry, Arin. The world doesn't have time to wait for you."
Silence.
Eira touched Arin's arm. "Are you okay?"
Arin didn't answer.
Because the temple—that massive stone structure wrapped in glowing purple veins—had begun to shake.
Kaien pointed, voice cracking,"Uhhh— guys?! Why is the temple doing the earthquake dance—?!"
Cracks crawled up its walls.
Razan raised his spear. "The seal—"
Draiven confirmed it, voice shaking.
"The seal is breaking."
The ground beneath their feet trembled.Shadows leaked from between the stones.A roar—distant, ancient, furious—rumbled through the air.
Arin felt it like a heartbeat inside his spine.
Eira whispered, "Arin… something inside is calling you."
He took a breath.
A deep one.
The world seemed to hold still.
"…Then we go in."
No hesitation.
No turning back.
The group followed him toward the temple.
Behind them the forest began to dim—as if the sky itself sensed the approaching tear.
Kaien muttered, "Bro… if we die, I'm haunting you."
Lynx slapped the back of his head. "Shut up and run."
They sprinted.
The temple doors split open with a deafening CRACK.
Purple light poured out like liquid.
Shadows screamed.
The Veil trembled—
and something inside the templetore it apart.