The Awakening of the Shadows
The shadow realm pulsed with a new energy, a palpable tension that hung in the air like a suffocating weight. Eren and Lyssandra moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the oppressive silence. Around them, spectral forms rose and fell, like waves in a sea of darkness.
"We're approaching a point of no return," Lyssandra murmured. "The fragments you've gathered are drawing forces beyond our understanding."
Eren didn't reply, his eyes fixed on a distant light dancing in the abyss. The light, cold and vibrant, seemed to beckon them.
Suddenly, a voice resonated in their minds, deep and melodic, like an ancient chant."Bearer, come. The shadows claim you."
Lyssandra shivered. "It's a summons. This world is trying to consume you, Eren."
"Then I'll consume it in return," he replied, moving forward without hesitation.
The Cathedral of the Void
They arrived at a colossal structure—a black cathedral built in a style both gothic and chaotic, its walls adorned with shifting runes. The massive doors creaked open on their own, emitting a sinister groan.
Inside, the darkness was absolute, but whispers filled the air, growing louder with each step. At the center of the main hall was an empty throne, carved from luminescent stone.
"This is where the power you seek resides," said a voice, deep and commanding.
A figure materialized: a towering man clad in black armor adorned with ancient symbols. His white hair, much like Eren's, floated as if defying gravity, and his golden eyes glowed with intensity.
"I am Azrael, the first bearer."
Eren crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "And what do you want from me, Azrael?"
Azrael smirked, cold and calculating. "I want to guide you. But to earn that guidance, you must prove yourself worthy of this power."
The Dance of Shadow and Light
Azrael raised a hand, and the atmosphere shifted instantly. The hall transformed into a battlefield, the ground shattering into floating fragments. Shadows surged from the void, taking the form of fearsome warriors.
"Show me your strength," Azrael commanded.
Without a word, Eren activated Astral Veil, his aura shimmering like stars in the blackness. The shadow warriors attacked in droves, but Eren cut through them with precision. Lyssandra, meanwhile, cast a gravitational field that slowed their movements, trapping them in her magic.
Azrael watched impassively. "You fight well. But will it be enough against a true opponent?"
He leapt forward, wielding a blade of dark energy. Eren parried, but Azrael's sheer power forced him back.
The battle intensified, a breathtaking dance of light and shadow. Each clash of blades sent shockwaves through the cathedral, cracking its walls.
A Shattering Truth
Just as Eren seemed to gain the upper hand, Azrael disarmed him with a swift move and held his blade to Eren's throat.
"Stop!" Lyssandra cried, readying a rune.
Azrael raised a hand to silence her. "He must hear the truth."
Looking into Eren's eyes, he said, "You think you're different, but you're just a fragment of me. Every bearer before you was an extension of my being, an attempt to break the cycle. But you… you are special. You can succeed where I failed."
Eren clenched his fists. "If I'm just a part of you, then I'll destroy you. And this world will witness my true strength."
Azrael smiled faintly, a touch of sadness in his expression. "Then prove it."
An Unexpected Pact
Instead of striking, Azrael lowered his blade. "I am not your enemy, Eren. I am your ultimate trial. Destroy me, and the fragments' power will be yours. Fail, and this world will consume you."
Eren stepped back slightly, his gaze burning with fierce determination. "Then prepare yourself. Because failure isn't in my vocabulary."
The light and shadow in the cathedral began to swirl, the entire realm holding its breath.
To Be Continued…