The next five hours passed in a steady rhythm of movement, battle, and discovery.
The ruin did not remain silent.
Shadows continued to emerge again and again.
The first humanoid form had only been the beginning.
Not all of them shared the same shape.
The only constant was their color, black, and faces with no features.
Just smooth, empty surfaces where expressions should have been.
The group adapted quickly.
Michael moved less often, but when he did, the tide shifted immediately.
Stronger shadows appeared as they ventured deeper. Larger. Denser. Their energy more compact and oppressive.
In those moments, Michael stepped in.
Sometimes he intercepted a strike that would have forced one of the others into a dangerous exchange. Sometimes he dismantled a creature with a single precise action, leaving the rest of the body to collapse harmlessly. Other times he allowed the others to push to their limit before assisting, ensuring none were overwhelmed.
