THE BLACKTHORN CODEX
Episode 37 — Shadow Assault
November 16, 2023 — 10:05 PM
And as they walked further into the streets, the Guardian's shadow melted into the city lights, ready to spring forth at the slightest mistake.
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Night had thickened over the city. The streetlights cast trembling halos on the wet cobblestones. Clarisse and Léandre advanced cautiously, the Codex open, its pages vibrating with a faint but persistent green glow.
Suddenly, a shadow detached itself from the walls of the buildings. The Guardian was there, tangible this time, his red eyes shining in the darkness. His presence transformed the air: an icy chill ran through the street, and each step echoed like a warning.
"He's before us..." Clarisse murmured, gripping the Codex tightly. "Prepare yourself," Leander replied. "This is no longer an observation; it's a direct test."
The Guardian advanced silently, its claws skimming the ground. Each movement sent out an invisible wave that made the Codex vibrate in Leander's hands. The pages turned of their own accord, inscribing new symbols, more complex and more dangerous.
Clarisse felt the entity within her stir, ready to burst forth. But this time, she wouldn't let it take control: she had to merge with it, guide its power.
"Together," Leander murmured. "We must face it as one."
The Guardian suddenly leaped forward, its claws slicing through the air with inhuman speed. Leander brandished the Codex, projecting a halo of green light. Clarisse focused her will, directing the entity into a barrier of energy that met the Guardian's attack. The impact shook the entire street, sending debris falling from the surrounding facades.
"He's adapting!" Leander shouted. "Each attack becomes stronger!" "So we must be faster!" Clarisse replied.
Leander and Clarisse combined forces, using the Codex and the entity's energy in perfect sync. The green light expanded around them like a protective dome. The Guardian struck again, but this time his blows met the resistance of an energy he could not pierce.
"We can hold him back," Clarisse murmured. "But not eliminate him. He is bound to the altar... and to us."
The Guardian stepped back, his red eyes flashing with intimidation. An ancient voice echoed through the street, like an echo of the Codex itself:
"He who touches the shadow must understand its nature. Balance is maintained through vigilance, not destruction."
Clarisse and Léandre took a deep breath. They knew this was only the beginning. The Guardian, bound to the outside world by their time in the third altar, wasn't going to disappear. He would continue to test their mastery, their courage, and the fragile fusion between Clarisse and the entity.
"He'll come back... even stronger," said Léandre.
"So we must be ready. Together," replied Clarisse.
And as the Guardian disappeared into the shadows, their route through the city became a path of alert and strategy, where every corner could hide an attack and every silence a warning.