A Rift in the Shadows
Eren and Lyssandra pressed forward into the uncharted depths of the shadow realm. The flickering light of the Palace of Shadows receded behind them, replaced by a suffocating darkness. Even the shadows seemed to retreat, as if afraid of what lay ahead.
"This power you've taken," Lyssandra said, her voice low but sharp, "it's changing you. Every step you take binds you closer to this place. Are you sure you know what you're doing?"
Eren glanced at her with a faint smile. "This world thinks it can control me. I'll reshape it before it reshapes me."
As they advanced, a rift appeared in the ground. Pale, ghostly light seeped from the crack, briefly illuminating horrific visions—screams, fragmented memories, and the pleading faces of strangers.
Lyssandra halted. "It's a trap. These visions are meant to lure us in."
But Eren, drawn by the energy, stepped closer. His eyes darkened, and he reached into the rift without hesitation.
A Lost Fragment
An intense shockwave erupted, throwing Eren backward. When the dust settled, he was clutching a crystalline black shard, pulsating like a living heart.
[Fragment Unlocked: Shard of the Black Stars. New Skill: Astral Veil.]
Lyssandra's brow furrowed. "These fragments… This world hides them for a reason. In the wrong hands…"
Eren ignored her caution, his focus locked on the shard. "Every fragment brings me closer to the truth. This world isn't a prison; it's a battlefield. And I am its ultimate weapon."
The Meeting with the Ancient One
Their path led them to a strange clearing bathed in pale light. At its center stood a figure—a wizened old man whose skin seemed carved from shadow.
"Bearer of fragments," the Ancient One said, his voice a rumble like distant thunder. "You seek answers, yet all you find are chains."
Eren stepped forward. "Speak. If you have answers, I will claim them."
The Ancient One gestured to the shard in Eren's hand. "These fragments are not mere tools. They are pieces of a forgotten past, a sealed power. To reunite them is to gamble with your very existence."
"Then I'll take that gamble," Eren replied without hesitation.
A New Foe Emerges
The ground trembled, and from the darkness emerged a knight clad in black armor. His glowing red eyes pierced through the gloom, radiating menace.
"Bearer," the knight growled, his voice filled with contempt. "You are but a pawn in a game far greater than yourself. Relinquish the fragments, or perish."
Eren's aura flared, his white hair glowing like a beacon in the void. "I've survived betrayal, monsters, and death itself. Do you really think you can stop me?"
The battle erupted, a ferocious clash of wills and power. Shadows writhed, shifting as if alive, taking sides in the struggle.
A Hard-Fought Victory
Eren activated Astral Veil, enveloping himself in a radiant shroud of cosmic energy. He outmaneuvered the knight, but not without cost. Blood dripped from his wounds as he staggered.
Lyssandra caught him, her face pale with concern. "How much more will you sacrifice for this power?"
Eren smiled weakly. "As much as it takes."
The knight dissolved into shadows, leaving behind a fragment that merged with the one Eren already held. A voice echoed in his mind, cold and enigmatic.
[New Quest: Gather the Remaining Fragments. Reward: Ultimate Truth.]
To Be Continued…