The night was unnervingly quiet—too quiet.
Quinn paced the edge of the ruined temple, shadows swirling like restless wolves around his feet. His new "followers," the Shadow Beasts, lounged nearby, their violet eyes glinting in the darkness.
Velux's voice was low, a warning beneath the silence. Not all shadows hunger for the same master.
Quinn's instincts sharpened. Someone's watching.
---
Before he could react, a flash of movement—a figure darting from the shadows, faster than the eye could follow.
A dagger plunged into Quinn's side, blood spilling hot and sharp.
He growled, claws erupting as he spun—grabbing the attacker by the throat.
It was Nyra, one of the closest among the beasts, her eyes burning with a secret fire.
"You're weak," she hissed, voice twisted with betrayal. "The Crimson Eclipse isn't meant for one. It belongs to all of us."
Quinn's grip tightened, but Nyra vanished in a swirl of smoke, reappearing on the temple roof.
---
The others moved—dozens of shadow figures materializing, their forms shifting between beast and human.
"Surrounded," Quinn growled.
Velux's voice cracked. You've been betrayed. Fight, or be consumed.
Quinn's shadow erupted into a swirling vortex, tendrils whipping outward like whips of black flame.
He dashed forward, striking two attackers with Bloodfang Claws, their shadows tearing and screaming.
A third lunged with a spear of pure darkness. Quinn dodged, countering with Shadow Spike, impaling the traitor through the chest.
---
Nyra descended from above, her form merging with shadows like liquid night.
"Give us the ring, Quinn! Or die!"
Quinn snarled, summoning his Shadow Whip blazing with bloodfire. It cracked through the air, wrapping around Nyra's leg and yanking her down.
She flipped backward, landing silently, and unleashed a barrage of Shadow Blades.
Quinn raised a Dark Barrier, the blades shattering against it, sparks flying.
---
The battle raged, each strike a dance of deadly shadows and blood magic.
Quinn's qi flared, empowering his attacks with bursts of crimson light. He sliced through enemies, the ring glowing fiercely as Velux whispered strategies in his mind.
But more kept coming—hidden enemies striking from the darkness, claws tearing, magic burning.
Quinn's breath came hard. This was no simple mutiny. It was a war within.
---
In a desperate move, Quinn slammed the ring against his chest, releasing a Crimson Eclipse Shockwave—a massive burst of shadow and blood energy that threw attackers flying.
Only Nyra remained, crawling from the debris, eyes blazing with rage and pain.
"This ends now."
Quinn charged, shadow and blood swirling together in a deadly storm.
Nyra met him with a Shadow Fang Strike, teeth dripping with venomous qi.
Their weapons clashed—shadow against shadow, blood against blood.
---
Quinn felt the ring pulse wildly, merging with his will.
He unleashed his secret weapon—the Crimson Eclipse Fang, a pair of jagged blades forged from both shadow and blood magic.
With a roar, he slashed through Nyra's defenses, the blades cutting deep.
Nyra screamed, dissolving into a pool of dark mist.
---
Silence fell.
Quinn stood alone amidst the ruined temple, shadows curling protectively around him once more.
Velux's voice was steady now. You survived the greatest betrayal. But remember—power attracts hunger. Trust is your deadliest weakness.
Quinn wiped blood from his mouth, eyes blazing with newfound resolve.
"Then I'll become the predator no shadow dares cross."