Edrin had officially decided that silence was the worst possible sign.
"I don't hear anything," he whispered.
"That's the problem," Ronan replied.
Lyra's eyes scanned the clearing, sharp and alert. "Stay close."
Edrin did exactly that.
Very close.
Uncomfortably close.
"You're stepping on my foot," Lyra said without looking at him.
"I feel safer here."
"You're making it harder to move."
"I feel safer anyway."
Ronan smirked faintly. "If something attacks, you'll both go down together."
Edrin blinked. "…That's not reassuring."
The clearing remained still.
Too still.
The scorched ground stretched before them, cracked like something had forced its way through from below.
Edrin swallowed. "…Maybe it left?"
"No," Lyra said.
"Maybe it decided not to attack us?"
"No."
"Maybe it's just… shy?"
Ronan chuckled quietly. "If it is, it's doing a terrible job."
The wind shifted again.
Colder this time.
Edrin felt it crawl up his spine.
"…I don't like this," he said.
Then—
The ground moved.
Not dramatically.
Just a slight tremor beneath their feet.
Edrin froze. "…That's new."
The cracked earth at the center of the clearing split further—
And something began to rise.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Darkness seeped upward like smoke, forming a shape larger than any Invader they had seen before.
Edrin took a step back.
"…That's bigger."
"That's a problem," Ronan said, drawing his sword.
Lyra's hands glowed brighter. "Stay focused."
"I am focused," Edrin said. "I am extremely focused on how bad this is."
The creature fully emerged.
Its form was massive, layered with jagged shadows that pulsed like a living armor. Multiple glowing points flickered across its body—too many to track at once.
Edrin pointed. "Why does it have more than one core?"
Lyra's expression tightened. "It's evolved."
"I don't like that word."
Ronan stepped forward, excitement flickering beneath his seriousness. "This one's different."
"That's not a good thing!" Edrin said.
The creature moved.
The ground shook with each step.
Edrin backed up again. "It's very confident."
"Spread out!" Lyra ordered.
"I prefer staying together!" Edrin replied.
"Move!"
Edrin moved.
Reluctantly.
The creature struck.
A massive arm of shifting darkness slammed into the ground where they had stood moments before, sending debris flying.
Edrin yelped and stumbled, barely avoiding the impact.
"I almost became part of the ground!"
"Focus!" Lyra shouted.
Ronan rushed in, his blade cutting through the creature's outer form—but stopping short of any core.
"It's protected!" he called.
"I noticed!" Edrin said.
The creature retaliated, forcing Ronan back with a powerful swing.
Lyra unleashed a blast of magic, striking one of the glowing cores—but it flickered and remained intact.
"…That's new," she muttered.
Edrin stared. "We're not winning, are we?"
"Not yet," Lyra said.
"I was afraid you'd say that."
The creature turned.
Toward him.
Edrin froze. "Of course it's me."
It lunged.
Fast.
Too fast for something that size.
Edrin's body reacted.
He stepped sideways—
Barely dodging the strike.
The ground cracked where he had been.
"I'm getting better at not dying!" he shouted.
"Good!" Ronan called. "Keep doing that!"
"I plan to!"
The creature attacked again.
Edrin moved again.
Clumsy.
Unsteady.
But faster.
Closer.
Each time, just barely avoiding the blows.
"…Okay," he breathed. "I can do this. I can—"
His foot caught.
"…No."
He fell.
"Still happening!" he added.
But as he dropped, his instincts kicked in.
His eyes caught something—
A brief flicker.
One of the cores.
Exposed.
Just for a moment.
Edrin twisted mid-fall.
"I see it!"
His sword struck.
A burst of light—
One core shattered.
The creature roared, its form destabilizing slightly.
Edrin hit the ground hard.
"…Progress!" he wheezed.
Lyra's eyes widened. "You broke one!"
"By falling!"
"Do it again!" Ronan shouted.
Edrin pushed himself up. "I'm not sure I can recreate that intentionally!"
"Then don't be intentional!" Ronan replied.
Edrin blinked. "…That's actually helpful."
The creature turned again, angrier now.
More unstable.
More dangerous.
Edrin tightened his grip on the sword.
"…Alright," he said nervously. "New plan."
"What plan?" Lyra asked.
Edrin took a deep breath.
"…I trip strategically."
Ronan grinned.
Lyra sighed.
And the creature attacked again.