The mist covering the square began to grow thicker, until the air itself felt heavy, as if it carried something within it that did not want to be seen. The faint lights of the lampposts surrounding the plaza flickered from time to time, as though they were trying to resist the darkness slowly swallowing the place.
Adel and Leila stood side by side, their breaths rising quickly, their eyes fixed on the massive creature standing before them.
The great shadow was not like the shadows they had faced before.
It was bigger… slightly slower… but it carried a terrifying sense of power.
As if its mere presence was enough to make the ground tremble.
Leila spoke in a low voice as she watched the creature.
"This thing… it's different from the others."
Adel didn't take his eyes off the creature as he replied.
"Yes… I feel it too. It's not just a shadow… it feels like something older."
The creature took a single step.
The ground shook beneath their feet.
The air suddenly lifted, like an invisible wave sweeping across the square.
Leila tightened her grip slightly on Adel's hand.
"Get ready."
Adel didn't answer with words.
Instead, he slowly raised his hand, and blue light began gathering in his palm.
At the same moment, red sparks started circling around Leila's hands.
The great shadow let out a strange sound.
It wasn't a scream… nor a roar.
It was more like a low vibration… a deep sound that made the chest tremble.
And suddenly…
It vanished.
Leila's eyes widened.
"Watch out!"
The creature appeared suddenly behind them.
But before it could strike, Adel had already turned around.
He fired a powerful blue beam straight toward the creature's chest.
The light slammed into the shadow and exploded in the air like a wave of energy.
The creature stepped back slightly.
But it didn't fall.
Adel gave a small smile.
"Just testing."
But the creature gave them no time.
It raised its long arm made of darkness and slammed it into the ground.
A black wave of energy burst across the square.
Leila shouted:
"To the side!"
They leaped in opposite directions as the wave passed between them, shattering the stone tiles of the plaza.
Adel landed quickly on his feet.
He extended his hand toward a nearby lamppost.
The pole trembled.
Then it tore free from the ground and shot through the air like a metal spear.
Adel shouted:
"Now!"
At that exact moment, Leila launched a ball of red fire.
The fireball collided with the metal pole flying toward the shadow.
The strike turned into a massive explosion of light and flame.
The creature vanished momentarily inside the smoke.
The two of them stood there, breathing heavily.
But after two seconds…
The smoke began to move.
The shadow stepped out from within it.
It wasn't badly damaged.
But part of its body seemed to fade slightly.
Leila whispered:
"It affected it…"
Adel smiled.
"Then we can kill it."
But before they could move…
Something strange happened.
The symbol carved into the ground of the plaza began to glow.
The great shadow suddenly stopped.
Then it stepped back.
Adel looked down at the ground.
The symbol was glowing both blue and red at the same time.
As if their energies had awakened it.
Leila said in astonishment:
"Do you see that?"
Adel knelt down slightly and touched the ground.
The moment his hand touched the symbol…
A wave of light exploded across the entire square.
The great shadow suddenly disappeared.
Leila's eyes widened.
"Where did it go?!"
But Adel didn't answer.
He was staring at the ground.
The symbol had begun to move.
The stone lines of the plaza slowly shifted into a larger shape.
A massive circle covering half the square.
Adel said slowly:
"This… isn't just a symbol."
Leila stepped closer.
"Then what is it?"
He replied:
"I think it's… a gate."
Before Leila could respond…
They heard the sound of slow clapping behind them.
Both of them turned quickly.
Three people were standing at the entrance of the square.
They wore long black coats.
Their faces were almost hidden in shadow.
But their eyes were visible.
Cold… and watchful.
The man in the middle spoke calmly:
"Interesting."
Adel clenched his fist.
"Who are you?"
The man smiled faintly.
"You could say… we've been watching."
He stepped forward.
"For a long time."
Sparks ignited around Leila's hands.
"If you're the ones behind these shadows…"
The man gently raised his hand.
"No."
He paused.
Then said:
"We simply… control them."
Silence filled the square.
Adel looked at Leila.
Then back at the three men.
He spoke slowly:
"Then you're the real problem."
The man smiled again.
But this time…
There was no warmth in that smile.
He said:
"No."
Then he pointed to the glowing symbol behind them.
"You are the problem."
And suddenly, the eyes of the three men turned red.