Shadow of the Fallen

Chapter 6: Into the Darkness

The next few days were filled with tension. Jin Soo found himself constantly looking over his shoulder, feeling as if every shadow held a hidden threat. He avoided using his light whenever possible, fearing the darkness would sense him. But one evening, while walking back home with Min Jae, they felt an unsettling shift in the air.

The streetlights flickered, and the familiar feeling of icy dread washed over them. From the shadows emerged a dark, ethereal creature, its eyes glowing red and its form barely solid. Min Jae gasped, gripping a thick tree branch he'd picked up on their way.

"Jin Soo, what is that?" he whispered, panic edging his voice.

Jin Soo summoned the light within him, but the creature didn't hesitate. It lunged, forcing Jin Soo to throw up a barrier of light just in time. The creature hissed, recoiling but not retreating. Min Jae swung his makeshift weapon, but it passed through the creature as though it were smoke.

Realizing they couldn't hold out much longer, Jin Soo focused his energy and directed the light into a blast. It collided with the creature, which screeched before dissolving into a cloud of shadows.

They both stood frozen, catching their breaths, and Jin Soo felt his knees weaken. The energy drain was intense, more than he expected.

"Are you okay?" Min Jae asked, gripping Jin Soo's shoulder.

Jin Soo nodded, though he felt anything but okay. "This is only going to get worse. If they know I can fight back, they'll come in greater numbers."

That night, Jin Soo resolved to train harder, and Min Jae vowed to stick by him. The dangers had become real, and they both knew they'd have to rely on each other more than ever.

TO BE CONTINUED....