The warehouse felt different that night.
Heavier.
Like something unseen was watching.
Adrian stood in the center of the cracked concrete floor, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady his breathing. The faint glow of the city outside barely reached the inside, leaving most of the space drowned in shadow.
Kai stood a few steps away, silent and focused.
"Again," Kai said calmly.
Adrian nodded.
He raised his hand.
At first, the shadows responded like before—soft, controlled, curling around his fingers like smoke. He concentrated, trying to shape them again.
A blade.
Just like earlier.
The darkness obeyed.
It stretched outward, forming a sharp, thin edge in his palm.
Adrian let out a small breath of relief.
"I'm doing it…"
Kai watched carefully.
"Yes. But don't relax yet."
Adrian frowned slightly. "Why not?"
Before Kai could answer—
A sudden chill cut through the air.
Stronger than before.
Adrian's body stiffened.
"…Kai."
"I feel it," Kai said quietly.
The shadows in the warehouse began to shift violently.
Not like before.
This time, they weren't responding to Adrian.
They were reacting to something else.
Something stronger.
Something dangerous.
A low, distorted sound echoed from the far end of the warehouse.
Like a whisper.
Like something breathing.
Adrian's grip tightened.
"What… is that?"
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"…Not a Wraith."
The darkness at the far wall began to gather.
Thicker.
Denser.
Until it formed a shape.
A tall figure stepped forward slowly.
Unlike the Wraiths, this one didn't crawl or twitch.
It walked.
Its body was more defined, almost human-like, but its edges flickered like smoke. Its eyes glowed a deep crimson instead of the usual pale light.
Adrian felt his heart drop.
"It's… different…"
Kai stepped in front of him immediately.
"Stay behind me."
But this time, his voice wasn't calm.
It was tense.
"Don't engage it," Kai added quickly. "No matter what happens."
The creature tilted its head slightly.
As if studying them.
Then it spoke.
Its voice was distorted, layered, unnatural.
"…So this is the one."
Adrian froze.
"It… talks?"
Kai's jaw tightened.
"Don't respond."
The creature's glowing eyes shifted to Adrian.
A strange pressure filled the air.
"He carries it… the core of shadow…"
Adrian felt something inside his chest react.
A sharp pulse of energy.
Pain shot through him.
"Ah—!"
He clutched his chest and staggered back.
"Adrian!" Kai turned quickly.
The creature stepped closer.
Slow.
Confident.
"…We have searched… for so long…"
The shadows around Adrian began to move uncontrollably.
They rose from the ground, wrapping around his legs.
"Kai… I can't—control it!"
Kai rushed toward him.
"Focus! Don't let it take over!"
But Adrian couldn't think.
The pain in his chest grew stronger.
The shadows surged violently around him, lashing out like wild creatures.
They weren't listening anymore.
They weren't obeying.
They were reacting.
To the presence of the creature.
To something inside him.
The creature smiled faintly.
"…Awaken."
That single word echoed through the warehouse.
And something inside Adrian snapped.
The shadows exploded outward.
A massive wave of dark energy surged from his body, cracking the ground beneath him.
Kai's eyes widened.
"…Adrian, stop!"
But it was too late.
Adrian's eyes flickered.
For a brief moment—
They glowed.
Dark.
Not like Kai's blue light.
Something deeper.
Something older.
The shadows formed around him like armor, swirling violently.
"I… can't… stop…" Adrian whispered, his voice shaking.
The creature watched with clear interest.
"Yes… this is it…"
Kai stepped forward, his own shadows rising sharply.
"Enough."
In an instant, Kai released his power.
Dark energy surged from him, colliding with Adrian's out-of-control shadows.
The warehouse trembled from the force.
"Adrian!" Kai shouted. "Look at me!"
Adrian's vision blurred.
Everything felt distant.
The shadows kept growing stronger.
Pulling him deeper.
"Kai… I…"
His voice broke.
Kai moved closer despite the violent energy.
The shadows lashed at him, trying to keep him away.
But he pushed through.
Step by step.
Until he reached Adrian.
Without hesitation—
Kai grabbed him.
Pulled him forward.
Adrian's eyes widened.
"Kai…?"
"Focus," Kai said firmly.
His voice was close.
Clear.
Real.
"You're not alone. Don't let it take you."
Adrian's breathing shook.
The shadows around him flickered.
Kai's hand tightened on his shoulder.
"Stay with me."
For a moment—
Everything went silent.
Then slowly…
The shadows began to calm.
The violent energy faded.
The pressure in Adrian's chest weakened.
Until finally—
The darkness dissolved.
Adrian collapsed forward.
Kai caught him immediately.
"…You're okay," Kai murmured quietly.
Adrian's eyes were half-closed.
His body felt weak.
"What… happened…?"
Kai didn't answer right away.
His gaze shifted toward the far end of the warehouse.
The creature was gone.
But its presence still lingered.
Kai's expression hardened.
"…We've been found."
Adrian's heart sank.
"Found… by what?"
Kai looked down at him.
His voice was quiet.
But serious.
"Something far worse than Wraiths."
Adrian's grip tightened weakly on Kai's shirt.
"And it wants… me?"
Kai didn't look away.
"Yes."
A heavy silence filled the space.
Then Kai added one final sentence.
"And now… there's no going back."
Adrian closed his eyes slowly.
Exhausted.
Confused.
Afraid.
But deep down—
He knew.
This was only the beginning.