It was as if the world itself held its breath, waiting for something unimaginable to unfold.

Thirty minutes earlier, Ethan, Mia, and Nefera had managed to close the rift that had unleashed chaos on campus. Now, the trio moved swiftly through the eerily silent halls of the university, checking classrooms for any lingering threats.

“Clear,” Mia announced, spinning her dagger deftly before tucking it back into her belt. “Please tell me this is the last monster hunt for today.”

Nefera scanned the dimly lit corridor, her golden eyes sharp. “Let’s hope so.”

Ethan’s shadows flickered around him, restless despite the calm. “I wouldn’t count on it.”

As they made their way toward the exit, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall. Principal Hawthorne appeared, his face pale and drawn.

“You three!” he called out, breathless. “What are you still doing here? The campus has been evacuated.”

“We were just—” Ethan started, but Hawthorne cut him off.

“It’s dangerous. Some unknown event is affecting the city, and no one knows what’s causing it. You need to go home immediately.”

Before Ethan could respond, his instincts flared—danger approaching fast.

In an instant, a sharp, wooden branch hurtled toward the principal’s back from afar, slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Ethan’s shadows snapped forward, catching the branch inches before it impaled Hawthorne.

The principal gasped, oblivious to the near miss.

“Sir,” Ethan said firmly, “you should go home. We’re leaving too.”

Hawthorne nodded shakily. “Stay away from anything strange. And be careful.”

As the principal hurried away, Ethan turned toward the direction the branch had come from, his voice low and commanding.

“Come out. I know you’re there.”

Mia gripped her dagger tightly, eyes scanning the darkness. “Of course there’s more. Why wouldn’t there be?”

A sudden blur of movement caught their attention. In a blink, a woman appeared beside Mia, her voice smooth and mocking.

“Come out, woman. They know you’re here.”

Mia spun to attack, but the woman vanished into thin air, reappearing in front of Ethan.

Ethan’s body froze for a split second—his instincts screaming at the sheer power emanating from the figure before him.

The woman was striking, her presence magnetic and dangerous. She had long, flowing hair the color of midnight, cascading down her back like liquid silk. Her piercing violet eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, and her lithe form was clad in a sleek, obsidian bodysuit adorned with intricate golden patterns. Her aura pulsed with raw, destructive energy.

Ethan’s voice was steady despite the tension. “Who are you?”

The woman’s lips curved into a faint smile. “So, you’re the shadow boy who defeated Alexander.”

Ethan scowled. “Why does everyone keep calling me shadow boy? My name is Ethan Cross.”

He took a step forward, shadows coiling protectively around him. “And for people like you, I’m The Masked Virtuoso.”

With a sharp surge of energy, his combat suit materialized around him, shadows weaving into sleek armor etched with glowing purple lines.

Nefera’s expression turned grim. “Ethan, be careful,” she warned. “She’s not just anyone. That’s Isolde.”

Mia frowned. “Who?”

Nefera’s voice was tight. “She’s my friend... or at least, she was. The Council got to her. She’s under brain control now.”

Isolde’s eyes gleamed dangerously. “Friend? That’s sweet, Nefera.” Her voice dripped with mockery.

Nefera’s golden aura flared. “You need to fight this, Isolde.”

Isolde tilted her head. “Why would I fight it? I am the fight.”

Nefera’s voice hardened. “She’s the Venus of Willendorf artifact user. Her power surpasses even Alexander’s.”

Mia’s jaw clenched. “Great. Just what we needed—someone even worse than that spear-wielding psycho.”

Ethan’s fists clenched. “We’ve handled worse.”

Isolde’s smile widened. “Oh, have you now?”

---

Isolde moved first, faster than Ethan’s eyes could track. One moment she stood before them, the next she was a blur of motion, striking with enough force to send Ethan skidding across the ground.

Mia lunged, her dagger aimed for Isolde’s side, but Isolde caught the blade effortlessly between two fingers.

“Cute,” Isolde said, twisting the dagger from Mia’s grasp and hurling it aside.

Nefera unleashed a blast of golden energy, chains of light snaking toward Isolde.

Isolde’s body shimmered with violet energy as she shattered the chains with a single swipe.

“You’ll have to do better than that,” Isolde taunted.

Ethan’s shadows surged around him as he regained his footing. He pushed his power to 30%, the shard within him pulsing with raw energy. The ground trembled beneath them as tendrils of darkness coiled and snapped like living creatures.

“You wanted a fight?” Ethan growled. “You’ve got one.”

He launched himself at Isolde, shadows forming into jagged blades around his fists. Their attacks collided in a blinding explosion of light and darkness, shaking the very air.

Isolde’s laughter echoed through the chaos. “Now this is fun!”

---

Nefera and Mia fought fiercely alongside Ethan, their movements synchronized despite the overwhelming odds.

Isolde’s power was relentless, each attack pushing them closer to the brink.

Ethan’s body screamed in protest as he maintained control of the shard’s energy.

“We can’t keep this up,” Nefera warned, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Ethan gritted his teeth. “We don’t have a choice.”

Isolde’s eyes gleamed with wild amusement. “Let’s see how long you last.”

With a surge of energy, she unleashed a wave of violet force, sending all three of them crashing into the rubble.

Ethan’s vision blurred, but he forced himself to stand. His shadows flickered weakly around him.

“We’re not done yet,” he said defiantly.

Isolde’s smile was cold. “Good. I was just getting started.”

---

To Be Continued...