The chained beast struck like a landslide.
Kael was the first to meet it, his wind-charged blade slamming into its skull with a burst of raw force. Sparks flew — but the creature barely flinched. Its body was a twisting mass of iron bone and cursed energy, and worse — it was immune to magic.
"This thing's a walking fortress!" Kael shouted, barely dodging a spiked limb.
Nyra screamed as Mog was knocked from her shoulder. She skidded across the rocky ground, her summoning sigils blinking out one by one.
"I—I can't summon anything! It's like my whole magic circle's gone silent!"
Aeris darted in, her blade glowing faintly. Though drained, her skill was unmatched. She sliced along the beast's flank, leaving a burning mark that sizzled briefly.
"Hit it where the bones are cracked!" she yelled. "It's old magic — if we break the binding points, we can shatter it!"
Liam, meanwhile, stood frozen.
His blade pulsed wildly again. His heartbeat roared in his ears.
"You are not ready."
"You are a danger to them all."
The whispers were louder now — not just fear, but doubt. His vision blurred.
He saw images — a woman screaming in the distance, holding a baby — then flames, a great dark portal opening, and a massive horned figure dragging her into shadows.
"Mom…?"
"Liam!" Nyra yelled.
The beast raised a limb — a strike meant for him.
Aeris dove forward, tackling Liam out of the way just in time, the blow gouging a crater where he'd stood.
"Snap out of it!" she hissed, eyes wild. "You think you're the only one haunted by voices?!"
He looked at her, dazed.
"I— I'm seeing things. I don't know what's real anymore."
Aeris grabbed his collar, nose inches from his. "We're real. This fight is real. If you don't pull yourself together, we're all dead."
He blinked. Something clicked.
He gritted his teeth. "Right."
Kael had climbed the beast's back, stabbing between spine-like ridges.
"I could use a little help up here!"
The creature thrashed, trying to throw him off.
Liam inhaled. His blade steadied. The chaotic surges slowed… slightly.
"I'm going in," he muttered, running toward the beast.
Aeris flanked right. Nyra, though still weakened, held out her hand and forced a single sigil into the air — a flickering summon: a small flaming hawk.
"That's all I got!" she shouted.
The hawk screeched and dive-bombed the creature's exposed crack, causing it to recoil.
"Now!" Aeris screamed.
Kael drove his sword deep into the base of its neck.
Liam leapt and struck from below, slicing upward in a blinding arc of light.
The creature bellowed — and for a moment, time froze.
Then it exploded into shards of bone and chain.
They all collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.
"That…" Nyra panted, "was awful."
Kael rolled onto his back. "I'd rate that monster a solid 12 on the 'ruin-our-day' scale."
Liam sat quietly, staring at the fragments of bone left behind.
Something shimmered among them — a pendant, marked with the chained eye.
Aeris picked it up, grimacing. "Sareth's influence is getting closer. He's not just sending agents… he's testing us."
Nyra sat up. "Then we need to get stronger. Fast."
Kael nodded. "No more near-deaths. One of these days, we won't get lucky."
Liam stood, his hand trembling slightly. "I'm… sorry. I froze."
Aeris glanced at him. "Then make sure it doesn't happen again."
Her words were harsh — but her eyes held something else. A flicker of concern she didn't want to admit.
Later that evening, as they made camp, Nyra sat cross-legged and tried to summon again.
"I think I've improved," she whispered.
She traced a new sigil — larger than usual — and summoned a spectral wolf, translucent but strong.
Mog chirped in approval and hopped onto its back.
Kael whistled. "Well damn, Nyra. Looks like you're getting serious."
Nyra beamed. "Just wait till I can summon two at once."
Liam smiled, watching the group. Despite everything… they were starting to feel like a team.
Far away, in the depths of the Sunken Spire…
A tall woman in violet robes stood in front of a massive sealed door. Her hair floated unnaturally, and her eyes glowed with reversed time — scenes of battles yet to happen spiraling in her pupils.
Lady Vexa.
A voice echoed from a dark corner.
"The boy survived the bone warden."
She smirked. "Barely. But that's the point. We let him think he's winning."
Another figure stepped from the shadows — Ivar, the whisperer.
"Shall we greet them at the Spire?"
Vexa nodded slowly. "Yes. Let the next test begin. And let them bleed for it."
Back with Liam, as he lay by the fire, he pulled the bone pendant from his bag.
It was cold… but somehow pulsing.
He looked up at the stars.
The whispers returned.
"You are bound to more than you know."
"The past is not dead."
"She still watches you."
His hand trembled.
Behind him, Aeris opened her eyes from across the fire, quietly watching him.