The portal trembled violently as dark shadows twisted inside it like living smoke. Aarav felt the same cold fear from his dreams crawling up his spine. Something was coming. Something dangerous. Zippu floated backward nervously and shouted, "I told you this was a bad idea!" Rayan looked at him and protested, "Hey, don't blame me! You're the one who jumped out of the portal!" Zippu quickly pointed at the swirling rift behind him. "Because that thing was chasing me!"
Before anyone could ask what he meant, the portal suddenly exploded with dark energy. A massive claw slowly emerged from the shadows. Aarav's eyes widened. "That… doesn't look friendly." The creature stepped out of the portal. It was tall and twisted, its body made of dark smoke, and two glowing red eyes stared directly at Aarav. The air became heavy, almost impossible to breathe.
Meera looked at the creature carefully and whispered, "Shadow Beast." Rayan immediately gulped and took a step back. "That sounds like something we should definitely run away from." The Shadow Beast let out a deep growl that echoed across the rooftop. The lights around them flickered violently. Aarav felt something strange rising inside him again. The same mysterious energy he had felt during the battle with the Night Hunter.
Zippu suddenly pointed at Aarav and shouted, "You! Dream Walker! Do something!" Aarav blinked in confusion. "Why me?" Zippu looked offended. "Because you are literally the only one here with powers!" Rayan quickly moved behind Aarav and said, "Yes, Aarav. We fully support you… from a safe distance."
Suddenly the Shadow Beast lunged forward with terrifying speed. It smashed into a large metal water tank on the rooftop and the tank exploded, sending water spilling everywhere. Aarav quickly grabbed a metal rod lying on the ground. "This is a terrible plan," he muttered. Rayan shouted nervously, "You don't have a better one!"
The Shadow Beast charged again. For a brief moment, time seemed to slow down. A strange blue glow appeared around Aarav's hands. The world around him faded slightly and he could suddenly see something else. Lines of glowing energy connected the monster to the portal behind it. Almost as if the creature was being controlled from the other side.
Aarav whispered quietly, "It's not alone." Meera immediately looked at him. "What do you mean?" Before Aarav could explain, a deep voice suddenly echoed from inside the portal. The voice was dark, cold, and powerful.
"Interesting…"
The shadows inside the rift moved again, slowly forming a massive silhouette. Someone — or something — far more powerful was watching them. Rayan whispered nervously, "Please tell me that's just an echo." Zippu's glowing eyes widened in fear. "No… that voice belongs to someone far worse."
The portal suddenly expanded as dark energy flooded the rooftop. The enormous shadow inside the rift grew clearer. Aarav felt his heart stop for a moment. Because for the first time he realized something terrifying.
The Shadow Beast wasn't the real enemy.
It was just the messenger.
To Be Continued…
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