Jin's world was a blur of motion and shadow. The surge of energy he had unleashed twisted the air, warping the prison corridor with an eerie hum. The darkness was alive, coiling around him like a living entity, whispering in tongues he barely understood.
Darius staggered back, his blade raised, eyes wide with something Jin could only describe as recognition. Not fear. Not surprise. Recognition.
Jin didn't hesitate. He pulled against the last remnants of the chains that bound him, the dark mist slithering through the links like liquid smoke. The prison walls trembled under the weight of the unleashed force, cracks splintering across the stone like veins.
Then, the moment snapped. A sudden wave of force erupted from Darius, countering the darkness and sending Jin skidding backward. He slammed against the cold stone, his breath leaving him in a sharp gasp. The shadows recoiled as if wounded, slithering back into the cracks from which they had emerged.
Jin's vision blurred. His head throbbed. He had pushed too hard—too fast. The power was still raw, untamed. His body hadn't yet adjusted to wielding it freely. He cursed under his breath, gripping the edge of a broken chain link to steady himself.
Darius exhaled sharply, straightening. The smirk he had worn earlier was gone, replaced by something far more dangerous—curiosity.
"You're not just some nameless wanderer, are you?" Darius mused, brushing dust from his shoulder. "You've touched the Withering Moon's essence. You've wielded it."
Jin didn't answer. He needed to move. Needed to escape before his body gave out completely.
But Darius wasn't done. "I wasn't certain before," he continued, stepping forward. "Now I am. The Hollow Vale marked you." His eyes flickered with something unreadable. "But do you even know what you are?"
Jin forced himself to his feet, ignoring the shaking in his limbs. "I know enough to recognize a trap when I see one," he said, keeping his stance defensive. "You're stalling."
Darius chuckled. "Perhaps."
A flick of his wrist, and a heavy metallic sound echoed through the corridor. From the shadows, more chains slithered toward Jin, twisting unnaturally in the air. Not ordinary chains. These were infused with the same energy that had bound him before, an ancient magic designed to suppress.
Jin barely had time to react. He dove to the side, rolling across the cold stone as the chains struck the spot where he had stood. The impact cracked the ground, leaving a faint, pulsing glow in its wake.
Darius was done playing.
The commander raised his hand again, and this time, the chains moved with terrifying precision. They lashed toward Jin in coordinated strikes, aiming for his limbs, his throat, anywhere they could ensnare him.
Jin's mind worked at lightning speed. He had no weapon, no time to gather his strength for another surge of power. He needed to think—fast.
His eyes darted around the corridor, taking in every detail. The cracks in the walls. The rusted hinges on the heavy iron door at the end. The dim torchlight casting long, flickering shadows.
Shadows.
He exhaled. The Hollow Vale had taught him many things. How to fight in the dark. How to become part of it.
Jin twisted his body, letting the first chain strike pass over his shoulder. As the next one came, he shifted—stepping into the darkness at just the right angle. His body blurred, melting into the shadows just as the chains struck.
For a split second, Jin felt weightless, his form slipping through the void between light and dark. Then he re-emerged—directly behind Darius.
The commander barely had time to turn before Jin drove his elbow into his ribs. The impact sent Darius stumbling forward, but he recovered fast, twisting to slash at Jin with his sword.
Jin ducked, the blade grazing past his cheek. Blood welled, but he didn't flinch. He was already moving.
He lunged for the iron door, slamming his shoulder into it. The rusted hinges groaned in protest. He hit it again. Harder. The weakened metal buckled under the force, the door bursting open with a deafening screech.
Cold air rushed in. Freedom.
Jin didn't hesitate. He sprinted forward, his muscles screaming in protest. Behind him, he heard Darius curse, the sound of booted footsteps following fast.
Jin pushed harder, forcing himself through the winding stone passageways of the fortress. The prison was built deep underground, but he could feel the night air calling from above.
Torches flickered as he passed, casting erratic shadows on the walls. He weaved through the labyrinthine halls, relying on instinct more than memory. Every twist and turn brought him closer to the surface—but also closer to his pursuers.
A sharp whistle cut through the air. An alarm. The fortress was waking up.
Jin grit his teeth. He needed to find an exit. Fast.
He burst through another archway, finding himself in a vast underground chamber lined with towering stone pillars. At the far end—an iron gate, leading to an ascending tunnel.
Hope surged through him—until he heard the footsteps behind him. Multiple. Fast.
He turned just in time to see them: more soldiers, pouring into the chamber from multiple directions, their weapons gleaming in the dim light. They had been waiting.
A trap.
Darius strode into view, rolling his shoulders. "You made it farther than I expected," he admitted. "But this ends here."
Jin's eyes darted between his enemies. Too many. His body was already near its limit.
But he refused to be taken again.
His grip tightened. The shadows flickered around him, restless.
Darius studied him for a moment before speaking again. "I know you think running is your only option." His voice was almost conversational. "But let me offer you another."
Jin said nothing.
Darius took a step forward. "You're wasting your strength. You've already tasted what the Withering Moon has to offer. Don't you want to understand it?"
Jin clenched his jaw. "I don't need your answers."
"Then what do you need?" Darius countered. "Revenge? Redemption? Or do you even know?"
The words struck something deep. Jin's fingers twitched involuntarily.
Darius sighed. "We don't have to be enemies, wanderer. Whatever you are, whatever you seek—you won't find it alone."
Jin hesitated for a fraction of a second.
Then he turned and ran.
The soldiers moved instantly, but Jin was faster. He surged toward the iron gate, every muscle in his body screaming in protest. He reached the heavy bars, bracing himself—
A sudden impact. Something struck his back. Hard.
His vision blurred. His legs buckled.
The last thing he saw before darkness took him was the iron gate, just out of reach.
Then—nothing.