Luna Aurora novel (Alpha Fenrir)

Chapter 324

The air in the Vision Chamber had thickened, the oppressive silence settling around them like a weight. Elyra stood frozen, her mind racing, trying to process the last whisper that echoed through the chamber: "Only one can ascend." Her heart pounded in her chest, a sense of dread creeping in as she glanced at Dain. He stood motionless, staring at the crystal, his eyes still distant, as if the vision had already taken its toll on him.

"Dain..." Elyra whispered, but he didn't seem to hear her. The tension between them had never been so palpable. It was as though the very room was pushing them apart, the shadows thickening around them.

Suddenly, a low rumble vibrated through the ground, pulling them both from their thoughts. A door, hidden in the far corner of the chamber, creaked open slowly, revealing a darkened hallway. The path was narrow, lined with ancient stone pillars that seemed to whisper as they passed, the air growing colder with each step. The shard pulsed once in Elyra's hand, as if urging her forward.

"This is it," Elyra said, her voice steady despite the nervousness bubbling inside her. "The first trial."

Dain's eyes flickered toward her, his gaze hardening. "We don't need to do this," he muttered, his tone cold. "This is just another trap."

Elyra shook her head, her jaw set. "We don't have a choice. We can't turn back now."

They stepped into the hallway together, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. As they moved deeper, the temperature dropped even further, the shadows growing longer and more distorted. It was as though the very darkness was alive, wrapping itself around them. The hallway stretched on, endless and winding, until they reached the end. Another door loomed ahead, this one more imposing than the last. It was made of dark wood, etched with ancient symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light. As they approached, the door creaked open on its own, revealing a vast chamber beyond.

Inside, a single pedestal stood in the center, bathed in a strange, flickering light. Upon it was a large, crystalline orb, pulsating with an eerie glow. A sense of dread washed over Elyra as she stepped closer, her instincts screaming at her to turn back. But before she could, the room seemed to shift, the walls stretching and warping, twisting into something darker, more menacing.

And then, they appeared.

A figure materialized in front of Elyra. It was her-yet not. The version of herself that stood before her was corrupted, her eyes glowing with a fiery red light, her hands clenched into fists that crackled with dark energy. She was a tyrant, ruling over a world of destruction and fear. Her face twisted in a malicious smile.

"Is this what you want, Elyra?" the corrupted version of herself sneered. "Power beyond your wildest dreams. You could have it all. But you will have to crush everyone in your path to take it."

Elyra's heart pounded in her chest as she took a step back, shaking her head. "No... that's not me. I would never become that."

The corrupted Elyra laughed, the sound echoing through the chamber. "But you will. The darkness is already inside you. You've always known it."

Elyra's breath hitched as she took another step back. "I will never be like you," she said, her voice firm. "I am not a tyrant."

But the corrupted version of herself stepped forward, her eyes locking onto Elyra's. "Then prove it," she hissed, raising her hand. Dark tendrils of energy shot out from her fingers, wrapping around Elyra's limbs, pulling her toward her. Elyra struggled, trying to break free, but the grip was unyielding.

In the distance, she could hear Dain's voice, faint but growing louder. "Elyra!"

Elyra fought against the tendrils, using every ounce of her strength to push against them. She focused on the shard in her hand, calling upon its energy. The shard pulsed brightly, a beacon of light in the oppressive darkness. She closed her eyes and concentrated, letting the power flow through her.

With a burst of energy, Elyra shattered the tendrils, sending them spiraling into the shadows. The corrupted version of herself let out a roar of frustration, her image flickering and fading.

"Your power cannot save you from yourself, Elyra," the figure's voice echoed as it vanished.

Elyra breathed heavily, her hands shaking. She looked around, but the room was empty. The pedestal still stood, but the orb had vanished.

Suddenly, a chilling laugh echoed through the chamber, and Elyra spun around to find Dain struggling against his own trial.

Before her stood Fenrir-his form shifting between man and wolf, his eyes glowing with an unsettling intensity. But this wasn't the Fenrir she knew. This version of him was harsh, cruel, his voice biting with accusation.

"You're weak, Dain," Fenrir sneered, his voice a deep growl. "You've always been weak. You've never had the strength to stand on your own. The darkness is all that remains of you. It's the only thing that can make you stronger."

Dain stumbled back, his eyes flickering with hesitation. "I... I'm not weak," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper. "I don't need this... this power."

Fenrir lunged, his claws swiping at Dain's chest, leaving a deep gash. "You need it," he snarled, his voice becoming more guttural. "Embrace it, or be consumed."

Dain's eyes narrowed as he fought to regain his footing, but the shadowy figure of Fenrir was relentless, pressing in on him from all sides. He could feel the darkness pulling at him, threatening to swallow him whole. "No... I'm not like you," Dain growled, but his voice faltered, and for a brief moment, doubt flickered in his eyes. That moment of hesitation was all Fenrir needed.

The shadowy figure leapt forward, its claws digging into Dain's chest, and the darkness surged around him, threatening to consume him entirely.

Elyra's breath caught in her throat as she watched Dain struggle. She stepped forward, but before she could reach him, the shadows tightened their grip on him. - Dain falters, and the shadow nearly consumes him.