Chapter 10: Dance of Shadows
> [ The Wormhole will be destroyed in 5 minutes ]
"...."
Evan blinked. A jolt of energy surged through him—then another. A moment later, the system notification clicked in: he had just leveled up. Twice.
He blinked again.
"Oh-ho! Now that's what I'm talking about," he muttered, flexing his fingers as a grin spread across his face. "Wormholes are no less than a treasure trove."
Still riding the surprise of the double level-up, Evan watched as the Razorlop's corpse disintegrated into white light, vanishing like dust in the wind. In its place, a small stash materialized.
He rushed forward, eyes gleaming. Please let there be another skill book...
Nope.
Instead, he found the usual coin pouch, some meat, and a sleek, black sword lying on the grass.
Not bad.
He scooped up the coins and meat, slipping them into his inventory. His gaze lingered on the new weapon. His current sword was clinging to life by a thread, so this drop felt like divine intervention. He gave the new blade a few test swings—it had a nice weight, solid balance.
Then he opened the item description.
> [ Item Description ]
Name – Duskforged Blade
Grade – Common
Durability – 50/50
Effect – Sword Sharpness +15
Description – Forged under the twilight sky in a secluded mountain village. This blade carries the essence of fading sunlight within its steel.
"Nice. Sturdy and shiny. Works for me."
Tucking his battered blade into his inventory, he turned toward a black wormhole hovering quietly nearby. He didn't hesitate.
Crossing into it, he felt the same stomach-flipping sensation as before. In a blink, he was back where the red wormhole had first appeared—only now, the red one was gone.
"That was a solid haul."
With a satisfied nod, Evan resumed his journey. All the while, he toyed with his newly-learned energy ball, tossing it from hand to hand like a kid who just discovered fire.
---
~ One Hour Later ~
The jungle around him thickened, growing darker and more alien by the minute. The canopy above twisted unnaturally, choking out daylight until only slivers filtered through. A heavy stillness blanketed the air.
Something felt… wrong.
As he pushed through a curtain of vines, a flicker of movement caught his eye. Amid the tangled growth, a shape materialized—sleek, black, and unnervingly quiet.
A panther?
No, not quite.
Its form shifted like smoke, drawing shadows into itself. Glowing eyes—cold and distant as stars—met his.
Evan instinctively unsheathed his new sword.
The panther-like creature mirrored him, pacing slowly. Its silhouette rippled in and out of visibility, a thing of shadows, born from the dark.
The jungle's air turned icy. Evan's breath slowed.
The Shadow Drifter moved like a whisper, circling him. It was graceful, predatory. With each step, it seemed to become less real—melting into the darkness around it.
Then it struck.
Clchhh!
Evan's sword swiped through empty air as the Drifter vanished again. A chill grazed his side where the creature passed.
It wasn't just a fight—it was a dance. One between light and shadow. Blade and blur.
The Shadow Drifter retreated into the foliage, leaving Evan to catch his breath.
---
What followed was a tense back-and-forth through the jungle. Evan hunted, the Drifter haunted. His blade sang through leaves and air, each strike missing by a whisper. The Drifter grew more elusive, more ghost than beast.
Evan scowled, wiping blood from a shallow cut.
"Tch! Sneaky bastard."
He narrowed his eyes, channeling cosmic energy into a glowing ball above his head.
"Let's see how you like your own medicine."
The energy ball burned like a miniature sun, casting a glow that broke the jungle's grip. Shadows receded. The Drifter—no longer invisible—flickered into view.
Evan wasted no time.
BOOM!
The energy blast struck true, and the panther-wraith screamed—a sound like wind through broken glass.
But it wasn't over.
Wounded, the Drifter retaliated with a snarl, its strikes now wild and frenzied. Evan ducked and spun, countering with blade and ball alike.
Again and again, he lit the darkness. Again and again, he carved at the flickering shape.
Finally, he struck deep. The Drifter howled as its form unraveled.
> [ You have killed Shadow Drifter (Level 10): +235 EXP ]
Evan panted, leaning on his sword, the energy ball still pulsing above him like a guardian spirit.
"That… was one wild fight."
He wiped sweat from his brow, half-laughing.
"Note to self: shadows are jerks."
He bandaged the cut on his shoulder, tugging the wrap from his belly, then trudged forward—energy ball still glowing overhead.
This time, he was ready for more sneak attacks.
---
Surprisingly, keeping the energy ball afloat didn't drain his energy. But he noticed the size diminished slowly unless he fed it power.
For the next hour, the jungle glowed softly with the ball's light. The path ahead grew weirder—twisting vines, glowing mushrooms, plants that almost seemed to watch him.
The air whispered. Something was coming.
Suddenly, two more Drifters emerged from the dark. Evan tensed.
Their eyes glowed, and the shadows stirred like snakes. Evan didn't wait—he hurled the energy ball at one, using the explosion as a flashbang.
He dashed at the second.
His blade slashed through the air, a precise flurry of strikes honed from experience. The first Drifter reeled from the energy burst, disoriented.
Evan pivoted, sword flashing.
The Drifter tried to phase away—but too late.
> "Take a break, would you?"
He plunged his blade through its head.
> [ You have killed Shadow Drifter (Level 10): +235 EXP ]
The second one snarled, shadowy form tightening.
> "You're next. Let's see if you're as slippery as your friend."
It hissed in response.
Clang! Clachh!
They clashed—steel against smoke.
> "You're tough... but I've fought worse. Really? Anyway—"
The Drifter tried to circle, but Evan was ready. The energy ball hovered beside him, casting chaotic light. Strike. Parry. Dodge. Repeat.
> "This tango's getting old."
In one swift move, Evan drove the creature into a corner. Shadows clung desperately to it.
> "Say goodbye."
Fsshhhhh...
> [ You have killed Shadow Drifter (Level 10): +235 EXP ]
[ You have leveled up! ]
[ All attributes +1 ]
[ Unallocated Points +2 ]
The final wail faded into whispers. Evan stood in silence, panting, sword dripping, the energy ball flickering gently overhead.
He grinned.
"What a ride."