Chapter 36: The Gathering Storm
The chamber still pulsed with residual energy from the battle, the brazier's flames flickering weakly, as though recovering from the strain of severing the Forsaken's connection. Jack stood at its center, his breath heavy, his fingers still tingling from the surge of power he had unleashed.
Shadow let out a low growl, sniffing the air, his golden eyes scanning the darkness beyond the fading embers. The stranger, still gripping their blade, stepped forward, kicking at the remnants of the cracked runic masks left behind by the Forsaken. The sight of them sent a shiver through Jack. **These weren't just warriors—they had once been Keepers, just like him.**
Jack turned to the stranger. "You said they were only scouts. If that's true, then the rest of them…"
The stranger nodded grimly. "They know we're here now. And they will come."
Jack exhaled, tightening his grip on his sword. "Then we don't have time to waste."
The brazier flared briefly before settling into a steady glow. Jack stared at it, his mind racing. He had seen the chains—**the connection between the Forsaken and something deeper within the ruins.** If they were going to stop this, they needed to understand what bound them to the fire in the first place.
The stranger must have sensed his thoughts because they turned to him. "The Forsaken were once like us. They carried Eldrin's fire, wielded its power. But their hunger for control changed them." Their voice was quiet, haunted. "We need to go deeper."
Jack frowned. "Deeper? Into the ruins?"
The stranger nodded. "The heart of this place holds the answers. And if we're lucky, a way to stop them."
Jack took one last look at the fading embers before nodding. "Then let's move."
With Shadow leading the way, they descended into the depths of the ruins, the echoes of the battle fading behind them. The path ahead was dark, but Jack knew one thing for certain—**this was only the beginning.**
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The further they ventured, the colder the air became. The flickering flames that lined the walls grew dimmer, as if the deeper parts of the ruins rejected the fire's presence. Jack tightened his cloak around him, glancing at Shadow, who sniffed at the damp air with cautious curiosity.
The tunnels grew narrower, the walls covered in ancient runes that pulsed faintly with a dark energy. Jack ran his fingers across them, feeling the vibrations hum beneath his fingertips. "These symbols... they're different from the ones in Eldrin."
The stranger stopped, their gaze fixed on a massive stone doorway ahead. "That's because these were carved by the Forsaken themselves."
Jack's stomach twisted. "They built this place?"
The stranger shook their head. "No. They **claimed** it."
Jack studied the carvings more closely. The symbols looked warped, corrupted versions of the ones he had seen in the Keeper's Hall. Whatever this place had once been, it had been tainted by those who sought to control the fire.
A gust of wind rushed through the tunnel, carrying with it an eerie whisper. Jack's grip tightened on his sword. "Did you hear that?"
The stranger nodded. "We're not alone down here."
Shadow let out a low growl, his fur bristling. Jack scanned the darkness, his heartbeat quickening. Shapes flickered at the edge of his vision—shadows moving unnaturally, clinging to the walls like living smoke.
Then, a voice echoed through the tunnel, cold and mocking. **"You walk into our domain, Keeper."**
Jack turned toward the sound, his eyes narrowing. A figure stepped forward from the darkness, their form obscured by a swirling mass of shadows. Their face was hidden beneath a hood, but the runes on their arms glowed with an unnatural light.
The stranger beside Jack tensed. "A Forsaken Lord."
Jack steadied his stance, feeling the fire inside him burn hotter. **This was the true enemy.**
The Forsaken Lord lifted a hand, and the shadows in the tunnel began to swirl, forming tendrils that slithered toward them. **The battle was about to begin.**
Jack exhaled slowly, raising his sword. "Let's finish this."
The Forsaken Lord's chuckle echoed through the chamber. "You are bold, young Keeper. But you do not understand what you face."
The shadows around them thickened, rising from the floor like smoke given life. More figures emerged—silent, hooded forms whose glowing runes pulsed in eerie synchronization. **Reinforcements.**
Jack shifted his stance, his mind racing. **They had planned for this.**
The stranger moved closer to him. "If we don't break their formation now, they'll overwhelm us."
Jack nodded, his grip on his sword tightening. "Then let's hit them hard."
Without hesitation, Jack surged forward, his blade igniting with golden fire. He struck at the nearest figure, but just as his sword connected, the Forsaken dissolved into mist, reforming behind him.
A blast of shadow energy hit Jack square in the chest, sending him tumbling backward. Shadow leaped at the attacker, his fangs sinking into their arm, but even as he tore through the fabric, the Forsaken barely reacted.
The Forsaken Lord raised a hand, and a jagged black spear formed from the darkness. "You do not belong here."
Jack rolled to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "That's funny. I was just about to say the same to you."
The Forsaken Lord sneered and hurled the spear. Jack barely dodged in time, the weapon shattering the stone behind him.
The stranger leaped into action, their blade slicing through another Forsaken. "Jack, the runes on their bodies! They're the key!"
Jack gritted his teeth. **The runes.** They weren't just for show—they were anchoring the Forsaken to this place.
With renewed determination, Jack focused his fire into a concentrated blast, aiming directly at the glowing symbols on his opponent's chest. The flames struck true, and the Forsaken let out a shriek as their body flickered, the runes cracking and fading.
Jack turned to the stranger. "We take out the runes, we take them down."
Shadow lunged at another, clawing at the sigils on their robes. The Forsaken recoiled, their form unraveling as the power holding them together fractured.
Jack locked eyes with the Forsaken Lord. "Your turn."
The Forsaken Lord snarled and raised his hands. The entire chamber shook as dark energy coalesced around him, forming a massive vortex. **This was far from over.**
Jack raised his sword, the fire in his veins burning hotter than ever.
**To be continued…**