在推断出前方疾奔那几只邪兽是在携带矿晶石跑向某个区域，甲貅王当即就和古荒吼?、疯毒蚁后迅速跟了过去。
一边追，疯毒蚁后一边说道：“现在怎么也不能这样漫无目的追赶对方吧，那样太耽误时间了。”
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Asthedarknessclosedinaroundus,Aethera‘sgriponmyarmtightened.Hereyeswerefixedonthefigure,herexpressionamixoffearanddetermination.
“Whatisit?“Iwhispered,myvoicebarelyaudibleoverthepoundingofmyheart.
Aetheradidn‘tanswer,insteadpullingmetowardstheedgeoftheforest.Westumbledthroughtheunderbrush,ourfootstepsechoingoffthetreesaswedesperatelytriedtoescapewhateverhorrorwasbehindus.
Butthedarknessseemedtobegainingonus,itspresencewrappingarounduslikeashroud.Icouldfeelitspowercoursingthroughmyveins,makingmyskincrawlwithfear.
Andthen,withoutwarning,everythingwentblackonceagain.
WhenIcameto,Iwaslyingontheforestfloor,Aethera‘sfaceetchedinmymindlikeagrimreminderoferefacing.Thedarknessseemedtobeclosinginaroundus,itspresencesuffocatingme.
Istruggledtositup,myheadspinningwithdizziness.ButasIlookedaround,Isawthatweweren‘talone.
Afigurestoodbeforeus,itspresencetoweringovertheforestlikeamonolithofshadowanddarkness.Itseyesseemedtobeburningwithaninnerfire,theirgazepiercingthroughmelikeacold,hardknife.
Itriedtospeak,butmyvoicewasfrozeninmythroat.Aethera‘shandreachedoutandgraspedmine,herfingersintertwiningwithmineasshepulledmetowardsthefigure.
Andthen,withoutwarning,itspoke.
“Youaretheones,“itsvoiceboomedthroughtheforest,echoingoffthetreeslikeathunderclap.“YouhavebeenchosentofacetheShadow.“
IfeltAethera‘sgriptightenaroundmyhand,hereyesfixedonthefigureasifsheweretryingtowillitselfbackintothedepthsofhell.
“Whatdoyoumean?“Iwhispered,myvoicebarelyaudibleoverthepoundingofmyheart.
Thefiguredidn‘tanswer,insteadreachingoutadark,shadowylimbandbeckoningustowardsit.Aethera‘sgriponmyhandseemedtobeallthatheldmetogether,herpresencealifelineinthedarkness.
Aswesteppedforward,theforestaroundusseemedtowritheandtwistlikealivingthing,itsbranchesgraspingatourclotheslikeskeletalfingers.Theairwasthickwithanunnaturalsilence,asiftheverylifehadbeendrainedfromthetreesthemselves.
Andthen,withoutwarning,thefigurespokeagain.
“TheShadowisancient,“itboomedthroughtheforest,echoingoffthetreeslikeadrumbeatinmymind.“Ithaswalkedtheearthformillennia,feedingonfearandterror.“
Aethera‘sgriponmyhandseemedtobeallthatheldmetogetherasIlistenedtoitswords.Thedarknessarounduswasgrowingthicker,moreoppressive,untilitfeltlikeIcouldhardlybreathe.
“Whatdoyouwantfromus?“Iwhispered,tryingtokeepmyvoicesteadydespitethefearthatthreatenedtoconsumeme.
Thefigure‘sgazeseemedtoboreintomysoul,itspresencemakingmyskincrawlwithdread.Andthen,withoutwarning,itspokeagain.
“Youwillbetested,“itboomedthroughtheforest,echoingoffthetreeslikeachallenge.“Youwillbeforcedtoconfrontthedeepestfearsofyourownhearts.“
IfeltAethera‘sgriptightenaroundmyhandasIlistenedtoitswords.Wewereinthistogether,nomatterwhathorrorsorterrorslayahead.
Andthen,withoutwarning,thefigurevanishedintothinair,leavingusstandingaloneinthedarkness.
Theforestseemedtobesilentonceagain,itsbranchesstillandmotionlesslikeskeletalfingers.ButIknewthattheShadowwasnotgone-itwaswaitingforus,watchinguswithcold,calculatingeyes.
Wewereinthistogether,AetheraandI.Andnomatterwhatlayahead,wewouldfaceittogether,astwohalvesofawhole.