The Awakening Of The Shadows
Chapter 52: Alone In A Tortuous World

Chapter 52: Alone In A Tortuous World

The cold was the first thing Lian felt upon waking.

Unlike the previous environment, where the oppressive heat of darkness surrounded him like a suffocating cloak, now the air was sharp and dry. His body felt heavier, as if invisible forces were trying to pin him to the ground.

He opened his eyes slowly, feeling the strange pressure of that world against his skin. Everything around him seemed displaced, as if reality itself was fragmented.

The ground beneath him was rough and uneven. Jagged black rocks stretched across the landscape, creating a hostile terrain. The sky above was an ocean of living darkness, writhing like an endless storm. There were no stars, no light, only shadows that moved as if they had a will of their own.

Lian forced himself to rise, feeling his muscles ache. He didn’t know how long he had been unconscious, but something told him that this place did not obey the normal flow of time.

And then, he saw it.

On the horizon, beyond the twisted mountains, stood a colossal structure.

A castle.

The construction seemed to be made of darkness itself. Its spiraling towers pierced the void, and its massive gates were shrouded in dark mist. The walls had a dull glow, almost as if they absorbed any trace of light that came near.

A chill ran down Lian’s spine.

He didn’t know why, but that place was calling him.

It was a strange feeling, like something inside him was being drawn to that fortress. It wasn’t just curiosity or instinct, it was something deeper, like an echo coming from within his own soul.

"What is this place?" Lian asked himself.

At that moment, Lian felt something strange, something he had never felt before. An emptiness inside him.

Oblivion was no longer with him.

Lian took a deep breath and started walking.

Each step echoed through the empty terrain. The absolute silence made his presence feel even more pronounced, as if the very world was paying attention to his every movement.

He walked for minutes, maybe hours, time here made no sense. The path through the mountains was treacherous, full of cracks and uneven ground, as if this land had been shattered by some colossal force.

And then, he noticed something.

His instincts warned him first.

A chill ran over his skin.

He turned suddenly and, by reflex, tried to summon Oblivion.

Nothing happened.

Lian froze.

He tried again, forcing his energy to take shape, but his hand grasped only emptiness.

"What...?"

The familiar weight of the blade was gone.

His heart pounded.

He had always felt Oblivion’s presence, even when he wasn’t holding it. But now... it was as if he was completely alone.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to channel his shadows, and succeeded, but the energy was unstable. Weak. As if something in this world was suppressing his power.

Before he could reflect on it, a dry sound echoed between the rocks.

Something was there.

He spun around, his gaze scanning the mountainous landscape.

The silence became suffocating.

Then, he saw them.

From the twisted shadows among the stones, four humanoid figures began to emerge.

They were tall, thin, and covered in dark cloaks that flickered like a windless flame. Their faces had no features, only two glowing purple slits, pulsing like hungry eyes.

They watched him.

Waiting.

And then, they advanced.

Lian instinctively jumped back and raised his hands, summoning his shadows. He fired black lances at the enemies.

The first creature was pierced and instantly dissolved. But the others moved too fast, dodging and attacking at the same time.

One of them appeared at his side and tried to grab him. Lian twisted his body and used his leg to kick it back. The monster staggered but did not fall.

The second slid through the shadows and appeared behind him.

Lian threw himself to the ground at the last second, dodging a strike that would have gone through his chest. He rolled to the side and created a shield of shadows around himself.

The creatures struck the barrier, tearing it apart piece by piece.

"My powers are too weak here."

"Damn it," Lian muttered, feeling the pressure of the enemy’s attack.

The shield began to crack.

Lian dispelled the barrier before it was destroyed and propelled himself toward them, unleashing a wave of shadows.

The beings hesitated for an instant.

He took the opening and attacked.

Even without his sword, he was still fast. His fist, coated in shadows, struck one of the monsters in the torso. The impact made the creature dissolve into black smoke.

But the other two were still there.

The first came from the right, and Lian barely dodged it. The second tried to grab him again, and this time, it succeeded.

A searing pain shot through his arm. The creature was draining his energy.

Lian screamed and, in a desperate move, concentrated all the strength he had left and fired a blast of shadows at the monster.

It exploded into dark mist.

Only one remained.

Lian took a deep breath, his body heavy.

The shadowy being lunged at him.

This time, Lian did not retreat.

He waited until the last second and punched directly into the creature’s chest, channeling all his remaining energy into the blow.

The monster dissolved on impact.

Silence returned.

Lian stood there, panting.

His body was exhausted. Using the shadows drained him much more than usual.

"If this keeps up, I won’t last long," Lian murmured, gasping for air.

He ran a hand over his sweaty face and looked at the castle ahead.

He knew he had to get there.

If there was any place where he could find answers, it was there.

With the last remnants of energy he had, he resumed his walk.

Each step was a battle against exhaustion.

Each shadow around him seemed to be watching.

But he would not stop.

He would never stop.

And so, he followed the treacherous path, knowing that when he reached that castle, he might uncover the truth behind this world, and a way out of it.