NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Shadows Strike
Chapter 8: The Shadows Strike
Kael's POV
The moment the crystal began to pulse, the air in the cavern changed. It felt colder, heavier, like something was squeezing the life out of the room. Shadows peeled away from the walls, taking shape as grotesque, twisted creatures with glowing red eyes.
"This is bad," Lucy said, gripping her celestial keys. "Really bad."
"Bad? This is awesome!" Natsu shouted, flames igniting around his fists. He charged at the nearest creature without hesitation.
"Of course he would," I muttered, flipping open my tome. The system's notifications were coming in fast now.
---
[New Quest: Neutralize the Corrupted Shadows]
Objective: Defeat all shadow creatures and disrupt the crystal's power.]
Reward: +300 System Points, Unlock: Shadow Seal Spell.]
[Insight Updated: Shadow Beasts]
- These creatures are fragments of corrupted magic, tied directly to Zeref's experiments.]
---
"Great," I muttered. "Zeref's experiments again. What could possibly go wrong?"
Erza drew her sword, stepping forward with her usual commanding presence. "Focus, Kael. We don't know how strong these things are."
"Right," I said, channeling energy into my hands. My tome's runes glowed as I prepared my first spell.
---
The Battle
The shadow creatures attacked without warning, their movements unnaturally fast and erratic. Natsu met them head-on, flames erupting with every punch. Lucy summoned Taurus, who charged into the fray with his massive axe, keeping several beasts at bay.
Gray joined in, freezing a group of shadows in their tracks before shattering them with a blast of ice. "These things are endless!" he shouted, glancing at Erza.
"They're tied to the crystal," she said, slashing through a creature with ease. "We have to destroy it."
"Easier said than done," I muttered, dodging an attack from one of the creatures. I cast Arcane Snare, the glowing tendrils wrapping around its limbs and holding it in place. "Gotcha!"
Before I could celebrate, another beast lunged at me from the side. Erza intercepted it, her blade flashing in the dim light. "Stay focused, Kael."
"Working on it," I said, flipping to another spell. I cast Arcane Pulse, the shockwave knocking back several creatures at once. "How many of these things are there?"
"Too many!" Lucy shouted, summoning Aquarius to unleash a torrent of water. "Kael, can't your magic do something about the crystal?"
The system chimed in, answering for me.
---
[Hint: Use Shadow Seal to disrupt the crystal's energy flow.]
---
"Shadow Seal?" I muttered, scanning my tome. The runes shifted, revealing the new spell. "Guess it's worth a shot."
---
Sealing the Crystal
"Cover me!" I shouted, moving toward the crystal.
Erza nodded. "Everyone, focus on the creatures. Protect Kael!"
The others sprang into action, forming a defensive line around me. Natsu's flames roared, Gray's ice froze anything that came too close, and Lucy's spirits kept the beasts at bay. Even Happy darted in and out, distracting the smaller shadows.
I reached the crystal, its dark energy pulsing like a heartbeat. My hands trembled as I activated Shadow Seal, the runes glowing with an intense light. The spell surged through me, and I could feel the corrupted magic pushing back, resisting the seal.
"Come on," I muttered, gritting my teeth. "Work!"
The energy intensified, the crystal shaking violently as the spell took hold. The shadow creatures shrieked, their forms dissolving into wisps of smoke. The others fought off the last of them, their attacks relentless.
Finally, with one final surge of energy, the crystal cracked. Its glow faded, and the oppressive magic in the cavern dissipated.
---
Aftermath
The silence that followed was deafening. I dropped to my knees, exhausted but relieved. The others gathered around, their expressions a mix of relief and curiosity.
"You did it," Lucy said, smiling. "I didn't think it would work, but you actually did it."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I said, managing a weak laugh.
Natsu grinned, clapping me on the back hard enough to make me wince. "That was awesome! You're like a magic nuke!"
"Let's not test that theory," I said, rubbing my shoulder.
Erza studied the remnants of the crystal, her expression thoughtful. "This wasn't just random corruption. Someone is behind this. We need to find out who."
The system chimed again, bringing up a new notification.
---
[Quest Complete: Neutralize the Corrupted Shadows]
Rewards: +300 System Points, Unlock: Shadow Seal Spell.]
[New Quest: Investigate the Origin of the Shadow Crystals]
Objective: Uncover the mastermind behind the shadow experiments.]
Reward: +1,000 System Points, Unlock: Advanced Arcane Spells.]
---
"Looks like we've got a new mystery to solve," I said, standing up.
Erza nodded. "We'll report this to Makarov. But be ready, Kael. This is only the beginning."
---
Back at the Guild
By the time we returned to the guild, I was ready to collapse. Mirajane greeted us with her usual warm smile, setting out drinks and food for the group.
"Rough mission?" she asked.
"Understatement of the year," I said, sinking into a chair.
Natsu, of course, was already bragging about the fight. "And then Kael did this crazy spell and blew the whole thing up! It was awesome!"
Lucy rolled her eyes. "It wasn't exactly a smooth process."
"I saved the day, though," I said, grinning.
"You also almost got eaten," Lucy shot back.
"Details."
Erza cleared her throat, silencing the banter. "This is serious. The corruption is spreading, and we don't know who or what is causing it. We need to be ready for whatever comes next."
The room grew quiet, the weight of her words sinking in. Even Natsu looked unusually serious.
"Then we'll fight," I said, surprising even myself. "Whatever's behind this, we'll stop it."
Erza nodded, a faint smile on her lips. "Welcome to Fairy Tail, Kael."
---
End of Chapter 8