Chapter 19 – The Wrath of Ershem
The air in the basement grew heavy, almost solid, as if the very darkness began to breathe. The candles they had lit flickered violently, casting shadows that danced with a life of their own. Rei felt a chill run down his spine as an invisible presence began to envelop them.
A cold whisper traveled along the walls, fragmented words that could only be understood as an ancient lament, filled with rage and despair.
"No... You should not have disturbed my rest..."
Suddenly, a heavy thud echoed through the floor, followed by a penetrating cold that froze even the air. The lights went out, plunging the three into absolute darkness where only their quickened breaths were audible.
Noah, trying to stay calm, turned on a flashlight, but the light seemed to be swallowed by the blackness, barely illuminating a few inches ahead.
Out of nowhere, a piercing scream tore through the silence, a sound both human and monstrous, an echo seeming to come from the very heart of the house. The walls vibrated with a dark energy that made bones tremble.
Yuki, trembling, clung to Rei, who responded with a firm gesture, trying to be the anchor that kept them safe.
The shadow then materialized, a shapeless, shifting figure, with eyes burning like embers, and a presence that radiated a cold that seemed to consume everything in its path. It was Ershem, the entity dwelling in the basement, awakened by the revelations of memories and old records.
"Who dares disturb my domain?" the voice thundered softly, filling every corner of the basement.
Rei, with a steady but trembling voice, answered:
"We are those who seek the truth, and want to free what was forgotten."
The entity advanced, and the floor seemed to crack open, releasing dark vapor while the temperature dropped even more, freezing the tears running down their faces.
The invisible battle between light and darkness had begun, and the three knew that only together could they withstand Ershem's weight.