Darkness exploded outward from beneath Noah's feet like an ocean unleashed.

It surged up the walls, swallowing all light surrounding it.

The nearest golem froze, its glowing eyes flickering wildly as if it recognized, somehow, what was coming.

It tried to retreat, its heavy steps shaking the tunnel, but it was too late.

The darkness struck like a living beast.

A titanic maw of shadow opened before Noah, looking jagged, endless, and filled with teeth.

It roared silently, sucking in air and mana. The golem raised its arms in defense, but the tendrils of blackness surged up, wrapping around its limbs.

The air hissed as the two forces met, the stone grinding against it.

Then, the darkness pulled.

The golem dug its claws into the ground, gouging deep trenches through the rock, trying to resist.

The crystal veins along its body flared, glowing bright blue in protest. But for every ounce of strength it summoned, the darkness pulled harder.

"Struggle all you want," Noah whispered through gritted teeth. "You're still food."

The shadow tendrils yanked.

The golem's roar was drowned out as it was dragged into the abyssal maw, its body twisting unnaturally as it broke apart midair.

Stone shattered, mana flickered, and then it was gone, consumed completely.

The darkness rumbled.

A rush of energy surged through Noah's body, so intense it stole his breath.

His ribs cracked, then knit themselves back together.

The pain in his chest faded, replaced by an electric heat that flooded through his veins.

His endurance had been boosted.

Noah's head snapped up, his orange eyes burning brighter.

The remaining golems hesitated.

Then Noah roared.

"COME ON!"

The sound reverberated through the tunnels.

The nearest golem took the challenge, charging at him.

Noah raised his hand, mana surging into his palm, black flames bursting to life around it.

"Pillar of Judgement!"

A beam of searing black fire erupted from his hand, screaming through the tunnel like the wrath of a god.

It struck the charging golem dead-center.

The creature convulsed as the black flame tore through its body, burning the mana inside it rather than the stone.

Its eyes dimmed as it fell apart piece by piece, collapsing in a rain of stone fragments.

Two more charged from the left.

Noah swung his hammer. The blow connected with the first golem's side, sending it crashing into the wall in a burst of shattered debris.

The second tried to capitalize, swinging a heavy arm at Noah's head.

He vanished in a blink, reappearing behind it with Null Stride.

"Feast!"

Once again, darkness roared to life beneath his feet, the shadows snaring the golem's leg.

It tried to twist free, clawing at the ground. The air filled with the grinding sound of stone on stone, but the darkness only tightened, dragging the creature down.

Noah could feel it, the energy of the abyss responding to his call.

The more he used it, the easier it came, the stronger it felt. He could feel his body adapting to it, the darkness recognizing him as its rightful master.

[Strength increased temporarily]

[F+ → D+]

The surge of power hit him like lightning, and he leapt forward, faster than he'd been before, closing the distance between them.

He slammed his fist into the creature's chest.

The impact cracked its stone armor, fissures spreading out like spiderwebs. The golem staggered back.

Noah twisted his wrist and cast Frigid Hunger. The frost crawled across its body, freezing the cracks until the golem was a glimmering statue of ice and stone.

He didn't stop there.

He raised both hands. "Pillar of Judgement!"

Twin beams of black fire erupted, striking the frozen creature square in the chest.

The explosion lit up the cavern like day. When the smoke cleared, there was nothing left but shards of charred stone.

He barely had a second to breathe before two more came rushing at him. They attacked in unison.

Noah ducked under the first, blocking the second with his shadow hammer.

He twisted, driving his knee into the first golem's chest, then brought his hammer down, smashing the other's arm clean off.

As the severed limb hit the ground, Noah thrust his free hand out. "Feast!"

The shadow maw tore through the ground like a predator breaching the surface of the sea.

It snapped the golem's body in half, dragging it down into its endless black throat.

Another surge of energy hit Noah's body. His agility had just been boosted.

And so he kept fighting, Cecilia wrecking damage to the side.

And eventually, the last golem fell, its body collapsing into rubble.

Noah stood in the center of the destruction, his breath steady.

Cecilia approached slowly, lowering her sword. There was a small, satisfied smile on her face. "You finally stopped holding back."

Noah blinked, studying her.

She tilted her head. "You didn't think I wouldn't notice, did you?"

"I've seen the way you fight. The way you suppress your mana, your spells, even your killing intent."

She crossed her arms, her eyes soft. "You've been hiding your true strength from me."

Noah met her gaze, searching for suspicion or fear. But there was none.

Only understanding.

And something else. Trust.

Cecilia took a step closer, lowering her voice. "Whatever you are, Noah, you don't have to hide it from me anymore."

He stared at her for a long moment. Her golden eyes glowed faintly, reflecting the light of the bioluminescent moss.

There was no deceit there. No judgment. Only conviction.

Noah exhaled slowly, his shoulders easing. "You already knew, didn't you?"

She smiled. "I had my guesses."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Finally, Cecilia gestured toward the passage ahead. "Come on. We're not done yet."

Noah nodded. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to follow without question.

They walked together through the wreckage, their footsteps echoing softly.

The path wound deeper, the walls widening until they stepped out into an open chamber.

The air here was colder and there was not a single hint of light. There was no bioluminescent moss.

A faint mist hung low to the ground, curling around their ankles like ghostly fog.

Cecilia raised her hand, forming a sphere of fire above her palm.

The light illuminated the edges of the cavern, revealing twisted stone pillars and dark, glistening pools scattered across the floor.

Noah stepped forward cautiously, his eyes sweeping the room.

Then, from somewhere in the darkness ahead, a low sound rumbled.

A growl.

The entire cavern trembled as it echoed through the air.

Noah and Cecilia exchanged a glance, their hands rising instinctively.

Whatever it was, it was big.

And it was awake.

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