Chapter 2: Surviving the First Wave
Owusar's lungs burned, each breath tasting of ash and jagged stone. The first demon—the one he had barely restrained—screamed, thrashing against the shadow chains like a storm against a cliffside. Yet even as it writhed, he barely had time to acknowledge its presence before another figure emerged from the fractured obsidian floor.
This one was larger, hunched with sinew and jagged bone jutting from its back. Its claws dragged molten lines across the black plain, the ground quaking beneath each step. Its eyes glowed crimson, twin fires of malice, cutting through the dim silver light above.
A panel slid into his vision, flickering with the obsidian glow of the Umbra System:
[ Alert: Additional Entities Detected ]
Difficulty Scaling: Adjusted
Recommended Action: Shadow Bind or Escape
Owusar's fingers trembled. He could barely maintain the first chains; now another demon lunged at him with horrifying speed. His heart pounded as he realized the system wasn't just a guide—it was forcing him to react faster than he thought possible.
[ Status ]
Health: ██████▒▒▒▒ 62%
Mana (Umbra Flow): 85 / 120
Soul Stability: 88%
He had no choice. If he hesitated, the Abyss would consume him. Drawing a shaky breath, he extended both hands. The runes of Umbryel pulsed on his palms, glowing like coals in midnight fire.
Shadow Bind.
The chains erupted, tendrils of living shadow whipping across the obsidian floor. The second demon collided mid-leap, its roar twisting into a strangled howl. But Owusar felt mana drain swiftly, numbers ticking down in his vision:
Mana: 70 / 120
The first demon seized the moment, jerking free of his partial binding and lunging again. Owusar staggered back, stumbling over shards of glass-like obsidian. Pain lanced through his arm as he slammed the chains around it a second time, forcing it toward the abyssal rift.
The Umbra System flared another panel into view:
[ Sigil Progress: Shadow Dominion – Tier 1 → 2 ]
Experience Gained: 12%
Warning: Soul Strain Increasing
Owusar's arms shook. Whispers echoed through the panels: "More… feed… bind…" The Abyss called to him, tempting him to push further, to let the shadows consume both his enemies and his hesitation.
He forced himself to breathe. Survival. That was all that mattered.
The larger demon crouched low, claws scraping molten lines across the obsidian shards. With a roar, it leaped. Owusar barely rolled sideways, the shadow veil of his spell flickering. Dust, ash, and shards sprayed into the air. His knees scraped, and a streak of blood ran down his forearm.
[ Spell Available: Obsidian Veil – Rank F ]
Recommendation: Defensive Maneuver
He hesitated. The spell required focus, and the demon's claws were nearly upon him. But he had no choice. Closing his eyes for a heartbeat, he whispered the incantation. Shadows surged around him, cloaking him in a wavering veil. The demon's strike hit nothing but mist.
He staggered to his feet, muscles screaming in protest. The first demon thrashed again, the chains flickering like dying fire. Owusar had to act fast. Reaching into his mind, he visualized the runes, rotating, merging, binding into a single construct.
Shadow Bind – Phase Two.
Chains surged, now sharper, denser, their edges cutting into the demon's limbs. The beast howled in pain, staggering back. Owusar could see its eyes widen in shock as the chains pulsed, reacting to his will. Sweat poured down his face; every muscle burned.
Mana: 50 / 120
Soul Stability: 79%
The larger demon, now enraged, roared and stomped the ground, creating a fissure. The air shimmered, pressure building as if the plain itself were trying to swallow him. Owusar's vision blurred; sweat, blood, and shadows flickered together. He whispered the next glyph, combining Shadow Bind and Obsidian Veil—a move he barely understood, instinct guiding him more than thought.
The demons screamed, flailing, caught in a web of shadow and mist. Owusar stumbled, exhausted, barely able to remain upright. His mana and Soul Stability were drained, yet the Umbra System blinked another notification:
[ Warning: Additional Entities Approaching ]
[ Hint: This is only the first wave