The calm after the destruction of the second node was brief. Sadi, Avil, and Nikita stood among shattered remnants of black crystal and twisted roots, their breaths heavy, hearts pounding. The forest seemed quieter now, yet the shadows lingered unnaturally long, as if the darkness itself was watching, calculating, waiting.Sadi lowered Surtr, flames still flickering along its blade, shadows curling around his arm like protective armor. “We can’t stay here,” he said. His eyes scanned the horizon, noting the unnatural stillness of the trees. “Something’s wrong. The runes… they’re not gone. They’re moving. Shifting.”Avil’s grip on her blades tightened. “It’s like the forest itself is alive. We destroyed the node, but its energy isn’t gone—it’s reorganizing. Feeding from somewhere else.” She shivered, sensing a presence that didn’t belong to this plane.Nikita’s eyes glowed as she channeled water magic, forming protective spheres around them. “I can feel it too,” she said. “It’s adapting

The forest around the third node seemed to pulse with a heartbeat of its own, shadows writhing like living snakes. Every step Sadi took echoed in the silence between the bursts of energy, and Surtr’s flames coiled along his arm as if sensing the growing danger. The Leviathan crouched beside him, its massive eyes scanning the shifting darkness, muscles tensed like coiled springs.Sadi’s heart pounded. This isn’t just a node, he thought. It’s a trap, and Damon’s fingerprints are all over it. The energy radiating from the node wasn’t natural—it carried intent, malice, and intelligence. Every movement of the shadow beasts seemed calculated, like they could predict the trio’s next steps.“Keep your focus,” Sadi instructed, voice calm but firm. “They’re testing our limits. If we falter even for a second, the node will overwhelm us.”Avil nodded, tightening her grip on her dual blades. “I can feel it, Sadi. The shadows… they’re alive. Almost as if they’re watching us.”Nikita raised her wate

Twilight bled across the horizon, painting the Draconis Realm in hues of gold and crimson. Sadi, Surtr resting lightly against his shoulder, advanced with Avil and Nikita. The forest surrounding the third node had returned to calm, but an uneasy tension lingered in the air. The whispers of the previous node echoed faintly in Sadi’s mind, a subtle reminder that the seal was cracking, and Damon’s influence was spreading faster than anticipated.“The fourth node,” Sadi said, his voice low but resolute. “It’s in the Eastern Veil, hidden beneath the Shadow Peaks. If the legends are true, it’s the node most sensitive to corruption. One touch from Damon, and it will turn entirely.”Avil’s grip tightened around her blades. “Then we better not waste any time. How far is it?”“Three days’ travel if we avoid patrols,” Sadi replied, scanning the horizon. The shadows seemed restless, curling unnaturally along the ground as if sensing their intent. “But Damon already knows we’re coming. He won’t ma