The temple loomed like a forgotten grave, its silence broken only by the sound of Zane's footsteps echoing against cracked marble. Moss clawed its way up broken pillars. Darkness pooled in the corners like it was alive.
In the center of the ruined chamber, floating above a stone pedestal, was a ring. It shimmered faintly, pulsing with dark Void energy, and cast no shadow of its own.
Zane took one step closer—
A deep, hellish screech tore through the silence.
A towering Void Wraith emerged, stitched from bone, corrupted mist, and writhing shadow tendrils. Its chest burned with a dim purple core, and it swung massive, scythe-like arms toward Zane.
Zane instantly leapt back. "Well, that's definitely not the welcoming committee."
> [System Alert: Guardian-Class Entity Detected — Voidbound Wraith]
Classification: Hostile
Weakness: Core exposure during charge
Threat Level: High
Suggested Action: Don't die. Please.
Nyx zipped beside him, a blur of shadow-light. "I'll distract it! I can't hurt it in this form, but I can play fairy tag!"
Zane ducked under a claw, panting. "Helpful!"
"You're welcome!" she sang, dodging through the air as the Wraith screeched and swatted at her.
Zane barely managed to roll out of the way as the monster cratered the ground beside him.
Then came the voice. Calm. Unbothered.
"I could take care of this, you know."
"Link," Zane muttered. "Fine. Just—don't wreck my body this time."
> [System Notification: Host Control Transferred – Link Engaged]
Left Eye Status: Activated
Zane's body straightened unnaturally. His left eye flared a deep, menacing red. The air grew still, heavier. The Wraith stopped mid-charge, sensing something wrong.
From thin air, a massive chained greatsword slammed into Zane's hand — howling with Void energy, runes glowing violently along its jagged edge.
Link grinned, his voice now spoken aloud through Zane's lips. "Let's make this quick. I've got boredom and murder withdrawal."
One step. One vertical slash.
The blade carved through the Wraith with brutal elegance. The creature froze — split clean down the middle — then collapsed into blackened mist and faded ash.
The sword vanished.
Zane blinked, stumbling as he took control back. "You're way too comfortable in my body."
"Yeah, I'm awesome like that," Link said from within.
Nyx zipped over. "Okay, that was impressive. Overkill, but impressive."
Zane groaned. "I feel like I blacked out during a boss fight and missed the loot drop."
He climbed the steps to the altar, muttering, "Freakin' shadow bone demon, trying to take my head off like I'm not emotionally fragile right now..."
At the top, the ring floated still. Jet black. Elegant. Its surface etched with spiraling void-runes that glowed faintly red.
Zane reached out.
> [System Notification: Void Relic Obtained — Shadow Ring]
Grade: Relic
Description: A ring once used by the Lords of the Forgotten Eclipse.
Ability Unlocked: Shadow Dominion – Gain temporary control over a target's body by manipulating their shadow.
Limitation: Only works on targets of same or lower rank. Consumes significant mana.
Warning: Extended use may fatigue the host or fracture nearby light.
Linked Memory Fragments: 1/5 Recovered
Void Storage Expanded: Infinite Tier Confirmed
The ring slid onto Zane's finger and pulsed once before vanishing from sight.
Zane whistled. "Shadow control? Creepy. I like it."
"Finally," Link said smugly, "a piece of gear that matches your inner drama."
"Thanks," Zane muttered. "Remind me to throttle you if I ever figure out how."
Nyx smirked. "So what now, O Shadowy One?"
Zane stepped down the altar, glancing at the path ahead — cracked stone, fallen pillars, and open skies waiting just beyond the ruined doorway.
"One down," he said. "Now we hunt the next. And eventually…"
His voice dropped cold.
"…the anomaly organization pays for everything."
Nyx hummed. "That was edgy. You practicing that line in your sleep?"
"Maybe," Zane mumbled.
Link chuckled. "Let's just hope the next artifact doesn't come with a demonic lava fish or something."
Zane rolled his eyes and walked into the light — shadows trailing behind him, and a new power burning at his fingertips.