Screams from the Abyss

Crucible of Flesh and Spirit

Jaden's eyes snapped open, his heart pounding as if trying to escape his chest. The acrid taste of ash lingered on his tongue, a reminder of the chaos they'd barely survived. He blinked, adjusting to the dim light filtering through a canopy of leaves overhead. This wasn't the abandoned building they'd fought in. Where were they?

"Easy there, shadow boy," Zoe's voice came from nearby, laced with equal parts concern and wariness. "You've been out for hours."

Jaden pushed himself up, wincing as every muscle in his body protested the movement. He found himself in a small clearing, surrounded by dense foliage. The others were scattered around, tending to wounds or keeping watch. Eli sat with his back against a tree, his face pale as Nix wrapped a makeshift bandage around his torso.

[Status: Recovered]

[Shadow Merge Cooldown: 0 hours remaining]

[Warning: Prolonged use may lead to corruption]

"What happened?" Jaden croaked, his throat dry as sandpaper. "How did we get here?"

Lyra approache