Takeshi's sword flashed through the air as he faced off against a towering scorpion, its thick, armored hide deflecting every strike like steel. Massive claws clicked in warning, each swing forcing him to retreat and rethink.
No matter how deep he cut, the creature barely flinched.
A sudden swipe from its tail sent him crashing into the cold stone wall, pain slicing through his side as blood trailed down his ribs. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself back onto his feet.
Then he saw it — a faint glow beneath the scorpion's bulk. A weakness.
Without hesitation, he charged forward, diving beneath the creature's legs. He drove his blade into the glowing crystal lodged beneath its armored belly. The crystal shattered with a sharp crack, and the scorpion let out a final, piercing screech before its body collapsed, crumbling into pieces.
Breathing heavily, Takeshi wiped the blood from his chin and steadied his footing. As the dust settled, a stone door slowly rumbled open — the real prize behind the battle.
He stepped through, the air thick with old magic and decay. In the dim light, chained to the center of the room, was a girl.
Her clothes were torn and ragged, her body bound by ethereal chains of pale blue light. At the heart of her bindings glowed a mana-draining crystal, pulsing like a dying heartbeat.
Takeshi didn't hesitate.
Raising his gun, he fired, shattering the chains one by one. A final shot broke the crystal, and the girl collapsed, her body finally free after what must have been centuries.
Slowly, she lifted her head, her crimson eyes faintly glowing in the dark. For a moment, she simply stared, disoriented and silent. Then, her voice, soft and brittle, broke the silence.
"Who are you?"
Takeshi remained still, meeting her gaze. There was something unearthly about her presence — not hostile, but ancient. She sat upright, brushing a hand over her throat, and spoke again.
"Thank you... for unsealing me."
His voice came out quieter than he expected. "Why were you sealed in this dungeon?"
She hesitated, as if the words themselves carried weight. Then she answered.
"I am Nyxia. I was once the princess of the vampires." Her tone was steady, though the pain behind it was unmistakable. "My family, King Noah and Queen Zyria Xardgoat, ruled over the vampires. But the others grew jealous. They betrayed us. My parents were killed, and I was... sealed here. For three hundred years, I've been trapped in this place."
Her words hung heavy in the air.
Before Takeshi could respond, a chill crept down his spine — a presence lurking just beyond sight.
He turned his head slowly. Hidden along the stone wall, motionless and blending into the surroundings, stood an enormous earth golem. The creature's eyes flickered to life.
It moved.
Takeshi acted on instinct, grabbing Nyx and pulling her away as the golem's stone fist slammed into the floor where she had sat moments earlier. The shockwave knocked him back, pain flaring from his wounded side — but he didn't waver.
Planting his feet, he raised his sword and gun, standing protectively between Nyx and the golem.
"Stay behind me," he muttered under his breath, tightening his grip.
The fight wasn't over.