Chapter 187: The Siege of Shadows
The golden light from the Citadel was a beacon, but for the Shadow-Walkers, it was an invitation. From the jagged edges of the valley, they moved like ink spilled on a golden canvas—silent, fluid, and terrifyingly fast. They weren't soldiers; they were the physical manifestation of the world's lingering trauma.
"They're not stopping at the perimeter," the Alpha shouted, his voice echoing through the forge as he monitored the external sensors. "The shield is keeping the radiation out, but it's not stopping these... things. They are bypassing the frequency!"
The Omega, still physically linked to the core, felt a sharp chill. "Because they aren't external, Alpha. They are born from the fear and anger of the survivors below. As long as the people are afraid, the shadows will have power."
A loud metallic screech rang out as the first of the Shadow-Walkers clawed at the Citadel's main gates. The Alpha grabbed his pulse-blade, the weapon humming with a desperate golden light. He couldn't leave the Omega alone, but if he didn't hold the gate, they would be overrun.
"I have to go down there," he said, looking back at her. Her face was pale, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead as she struggled to maintain the world's balance.
"Go," she whispered, her voice strained. "But be careful. You can't fight them with just strength. You have to fight the darkness they represent."
As the Alpha stepped onto the battlefield, he was met with a sea of glowing red eyes. The first Shadow-Walker lunged, its form flickering like a glitch in reality. The real war for the world's soul had officially begun.