Chapter 90: The Dark Pulse

Evryn’s heart pounded louder in her chest, its rhythmic thudding mingling with the strange hum that filled the air. She glanced over her shoulder, but the figure that had appeared earlier—tall, armored, and mysterious—was still at the front, leading her deeper into the unknown.

Every step she took seemed to echo in the emptiness, the ground beneath her feet still resonating with that eerie energy. She felt as though the very landscape was watching, waiting, judging her.

She had to admit: the sense of unease had become a constant companion since her arrival. But it wasn’t just the alien surroundings or the ominous figure leading her—it was something else. Something darker.

The figure had barely spoken, and every word he had said felt heavy, as if he were conveying information meant to silence any questions she might have. But the weight of his presence only made her more determined to understand what was happening.

She quickened her pace, closing the distance between them.

“Why did you say I was expected?” Evryn finally asked, her voice cutting through the thick air. She tried to keep her tone calm, but the edge of suspicion was unmistakable.

The figure didn’t turn to face her as he continued walking, but his voice was as steady and cold as ever. “You were brought here for a reason, Evryn. Your presence was foreseen.”

Her brow furrowed. “Foreseen by who?”

But before the figure could answer, there was a sharp crack, like the sound of lightning, shattering the silence of the strange landscape. Evryn flinched, instinctively ducking her head as if bracing for an impact.

The figure didn’t even flinch, his hand continuing to gesture for her to follow. But the sound hadn’t come from above—it had come from below.

Evryn’s mind raced. She felt an unsettling shift in the ground beneath her feet, a tremor that rippled through the very air. She glanced around quickly, her instincts on high alert.

“What was that?” she asked, but the figure didn't answer. He simply kept moving forward.

The ground vibrated again, this time more intensely. Evryn instinctively crouched low, her eyes scanning the landscape for any signs of movement. The sound had been strange—almost like a crack in the fabric of reality itself.

And then she saw it.

Emerging from the cracks in the earth was a dark shape—a massive silhouette moving swiftly toward them. It was large, hulking in size, and it seemed to glide across the terrain, a shadow among shadows.

Evryn’s heart skipped a beat.

The figure she had been following turned slightly, and for the first time, she caught a glimpse of its face—barely visible beneath the helmet, but enough to recognize a deep, calculating intensity. “Keep moving,” the figure ordered, his voice low and filled with an unmistakable urgency.

Evryn didn’t hesitate. She knew that whatever this thing was, it wasn’t something she wanted to face head-on. Not when she had no idea what it was, and not without any weapons at her disposal.

But as she turned to follow him, she realized with a sinking feeling that the path ahead had begun to warp, as if the very air was shifting. The landscape was no longer as static as it had been moments ago; the ground seemed to pulse with energy, like a heartbeat that didn’t belong.

She glanced back one last time, her mind racing with questions. Who was the armored figure? What had he meant when he said her presence had been "foreseen"? And what was that thing that had just emerged from the earth?

She didn't have the answers, but one thing was certain: whatever was waiting for her, it wasn’t going to be easy to face. And there was no turning back.

The figure in front of her stopped abruptly. Evryn skidded to a halt, her hand instinctively reaching for the strange, cold object that had been hanging at her side since her journey began.

The air grew still. The dark shape ahead paused, as if it, too, was aware of the change.

And then, from the depths of the broken earth, a voice emerged. It was low, guttural, like the growl of a beast.

“Evryn... you’re here,” it rasped.

Her blood ran cold.

Cliffhanger:

The ground trembled beneath her, and with a single, deafening roar, the massive creature launched forward, charging straight for them. In that instant, Evryn knew that her path was about to change forever.

But the figure beside her didn’t move. He didn’t even flinch.

His voice was calm, almost detached as he said, “Do not fear. We are prepared.”

But Evryn couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far more dangerous.

And then—just as the creature lunged toward them—the ground beneath them cracked open.