Pikos (his voice trembling):
"Do you hear that? That's not the rain… it's scratching! Like something is sharpening its claws on the walls!"
Ortinus (raising his glowing sword):
"Hold steady, everyone. Nirar, Blater—can either of you see anything? My vision stops at the edge of the sword's light."
Nirar (whispering as he adjusts his mask lenses):
"The shadows are moving, Ortinus. Not our shadows—the tower's own. Look at the corners… they're contracting and expanding, like they're breathing."
Blater (aiming the beam of his staff toward the spiral stairs):
"There! Above the giant gear! I saw a black feather fall."
Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from above—a scream that was neither bird nor human, but a horrifying blend of both. The Black Bird dove through the gaps, streaking past Darius's head at monstrous speed.
Darius (dropping to the ground):
"By the gods! It almost tore my ear off! It's faster than lightning!"
Blater:
"Back to the walls! This airspace is mine! I'll show it who the master sniper of Siwar is!"
The Black Bird circled again, spreading its wings, which oozed black smoke. It began firing hardened feathers like blades at the group.
Blater (shouting as he rolled behind a pillar):
"Ortinus, protect the master! I'll keep it busy! You shadowed abomination—do you think your wings can save you from a Tracking Shot?"
Blater fired a charge from his sniper staff—a glowing blue orb that pursued the bird wherever it flew.
The Bird (in a distorted voice rasping from its throat):
"Sniper… pathetic… you fire light… in a city… drowned in shadow!"
Blater (in shock):
"It speaks! Nirar, did you hear that?"
Nirar:
"I told you—it's a sentient Echo! Blater, don't lose focus—it's circling behind you!"
Ortinus:
"Blater! Get down!"
The bird swept directly over Blater, trying to drive its talons into his shoulder. Blater raised his staff as a shield; the collision sent electric sparks exploding throughout the tower.
Blater (struggling to push it back):
"You're far too heavy for something made of smoke! Where is your real body?"
The Bird (whispering into Blater's ear at close range):
"My body… is in the world Leus stole… I am the hunger he left behind!"
Romilius (shouting from below):
"Blater! Use the Reverse Flare crystal! It can't withstand concentrated light!"
Blater:
"Got it! Pikos, Darius—throw regular smoke bombs to blind it! I'm charging a full blast!"
Pikos:
"Bombs? I've got nothing but an apple and a half!—Ah! Found them—take these metal spheres!"
Pikos hurled small balls Vinarr had given him. They exploded with a deafening bang. The bird faltered for a split second—the moment Blater was waiting for.
Blater (planting his feet and bracing the staff on his shoulder):
"Now… taste Siwar's justice! Shadow-Annihilating Shot!"
A massive beam erupted from the sniper staff, so powerful it lit the entire tower like broad daylight. It struck the bird's left wing; smoke poured from the wound as it screamed in agony.
Ortinus:
"You hit it! Blater, don't stop!"
Blater (panting, his staff smoking from overheating):
"The staff needs to recharge… damn it! It's falling straight at me!"
Despite the injury, the bird didn't stop. It plunged downward with all its weight, trying to crush Blater beneath its burning wings.
Nikos (charging forward with metal chains):
"Not on my watch, you crow! Darius—pull Blater out!"
Nikos managed to loop the chain around the bird's neck and yank hard, while Darius dragged Blater from beneath the creature's talons at the last possible moment.
Blater (wiping sweat from his brow):
"Thanks, everyone… I thought I was about to become that monster's dinner."
Ortinus (stepping forward, his sword shining even brighter):
"Blater, you've weakened it enough. Now it's the feather's turn to end this Echo."
Nirar:
"Be careful, Ortinus—wounded shadows are the most treacherous. Look at it—it's gathering energy in its chest!"
The Bird (laughing in a broken, stuttering voice):
"Come… bearer of the feather… come drown in the shadow that… your king created!"