Eryx Arcanis moved like a shadow come to life, his dark figure weaving between the towering forms of the Changrilas—ape-like monsters with claws sharp enough to cleanly slice through a human's limb in one swing. The shadows trailed from his fingertips and danced with deadly precision, cutting through enemies with a whisper.

Hansel wiped the sweat from his brow, watching as Eryx ducked and spun, his shadow tendrils snapping like whips to sever a Changrila’s head clean off. "He’s faster," Hansel muttered, eyes narrowing. "Way faster than before."

"Hasn't he always been like that?" Freya watched with wide eyes.

"He’s moving as if—"

A sudden, blood-curdling scream silenced him. Two Changrilas had grabbed a Raider from behind. Their claws dug deep, shredding his body and flesh in a spray of crimson.

Freya sprinted forward, her hands glowing with a silver healing light. Eryx was there in an instant. A tendril of shadow coiled around his arm like a living weapon, and with a flick of his wrist, it lashed out, decapitating both monsters in one brutal strike.

Freya dropped to their knees beside the fallen Raider. Blood pooled beneath his body, soaking into the dirt. She pressed her glowing hands to his chest, her mana glowed against his torn flesh. Her lips trembled. But his eyes remained lifeless.

"It’s too late," she whispered, voice hollow.

"Damn it," Hansel cursed, slamming his fist into the ground.

Suddenly, a hush fell over the clearing. The remaining Changrilas froze, their heads snapping up toward the sky. A low, reverberating hum filled the air. Without warning, the beasts turned and vanished into the trees, their massive forms disappearing into the shadows.

"Why are they—" Freya began.

The ground trembled beneath them. Ripples spread across the air, distorting the sky like a warped mirror. The domain was destabilizing.

"Gio," Eryx growled, activating his comm.

Gio’s voice crackled to life. "Reinforcements are close to your position. You need to move. Now."

"What about Team Y?" Eryx’s tone was sharp.

"I lost contact with them. Their last known location was at the core."

"Make sure there’s a vehicle ready for extraction at that site," Eryx ordered. "Jaxon, Freya, you’re with me. Hansel, take Pip and the injured. Get to the first vehicle and get out."

Hansel hesitated, then nodded.

As the extraction vehicle roared into view, Hansel helped load the wounded. Before Eryx could leave, Hansel tossed him a dagger. "Don’t bleed yourself dry."

Eryx caught it with a raised brow, the weight of it familiar in his grip. He sheathed the blade. "You're becoming too sentimental."

Hansel muttered something about him being a sadist as he watched as Eryx, Jaxon, and Freya disappeared toward the core.

Miles away, Elara Max crouched behind a gnarled tree, her breath steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. In her hand, the core pulsed—a swirling orb of cobalt blue streaked with vivid red veins. It felt alive, each thrum matching her heartbeat.

"Elara—" Z’s voice barked in her ear.

"Quiet," she whispered, her golden Healer Eye illuminating as she studied the core’s energy. "I’m inspecting it."

"Inspect faster," Z hissed. "The domain is collapsing."

She ignored him, turning the orb carefully. The cobalt light at its center flickered weakly, while the red veins pulsed with a sinister glow. Her brow furrowed. "This pattern… It’s like monster poisoning in a Raider’s body."

"Don’t even think about it," Z warned.

"Too late." The mana flowed from her fingertips, a soft golden glow seeping into the core. She worked carefully, her energy pushing against the corruption. The red veins resisted, writhing as if alive. But her touch was steady, relentless. The crimson strands began to retreat, inch by inch, fading into the edges of the orb.

"Stats are stabilizing," Z breathed.

A smile tugged at her lips. "Told you I could fix it."

"Great," he muttered. "Now how about fixing yourself out of there? In case this thing decides to explode again."

The core now glowed bright, pure cobalt. She exhaled in satisfaction.

She hesitated, the core warm in her palm like a living heartbeat. If anyone examined it, they might sense the trace of her magic, the very ability she had kept hidden for years. But by leaving it here, there'd be no way to ensure someone would find it.

"Elara," Z’s tone softened knowingly, "you know leaving the core here keeps the entrance open."

"I’ll figure something out," she muttered.

The words barely left her mouth when a cold shiver raced down her spine. She snapped her head around, her eyes narrowing as a dark presence surged toward her, fast and deadly.

"Someone's coming," she whispered, muscles tensing. And whoever, or whatever, it is... is strong.