The sudden appearance of the unknown figure left the air thick with tension. His words echoed in Ethan's mind, a dark promise hanging in the air: "The stars are aligning... and soon, you will all understand who has really been pulling the strings."
Aelira kept her blade drawn, eyes flickering from the figure to the advancing Scorchfang Guild members, her posture defensive. Ethan's mind raced, trying to make sense of everything happening at once. Who is this? What does he mean by 'the stars aligning'?
But before he could ask, the figure's voice rang out again, sharper this time.
"You are the Inheritor," he said, his voice piercing the chaos. "But that means you've crossed a line. You've awakened something... something that should have stayed buried."
Ethan narrowed his eyes. The man was no longer flickering between dimensions. He was solidifying—an eerie presence, like a ghost clinging to the material world.
"I don't know who you are," Ethan said, his voice firm, though his instincts screamed that this wasn't someone he should be taking lightly. "But I didn't come here to wake anything up."
The figure's eyes glowed a deep, unnatural red. "Fool. You've already awakened the Echo. And now the pieces are in motion."
Behind Ethan, Varian Korr's men tightened their formation, but Korr himself hesitated. His lips curled into a smirk, the kind that said he wasn't afraid, but that didn't mean he was above playing the situation for his advantage.
"You're more trouble than you're worth," Korr muttered, his voice low but edged with menace. "I warned you, didn't I?"
Ethan turned just slightly, making sure Aelira was still behind him, focused on the threat. "We're not here to play games, Korr. You're in the way."
Korr's grin only widened. "In Ravenfall, everyone's in the way."
Aelira took a step forward. "If we're done posturing, maybe we can focus on the real problem here. This guy" she gestured toward the spectral figure, "—is more than just a local problem. Something's wrong, and we need to deal with it before it gets worse."
For a moment, there was an eerie stillness. Then, Korr let out a sharp laugh, the sound echoing across the bay. "Fine. But know this: if you touch anything in Ravenfall that doesn't belong to you, I'll make sure you never leave."
The strange figure, now fully corporeal, raised his hand, silencing the conversation with a wave. "Enough. You think you can fight me? Or do you believe you can survive me? The time for questions is over, Inheritor. The star-born prophecy has already begun."
Just as the air began to crackle with mounting tension, the ground beneath them quivered. The walls of the bay seemed to pulse as if the city itself were alive—and listening. Ethan's instincts kicked in, and he grabbed Aelira's arm, pulling her back as the spectral figure began to fluctuate, his form blurring once more.
"Warning: Dimensional anomaly expanding. Stabilization systems in flux. Immediate evacuation recommended." LYRA's voice cut through the growing chaos. "It's not just him. The entire city is reacting to the disturbance. Get out now!"
But it was already too late.
The ground cracked open, and from the fissures emerged creatures—things—that shouldn't exist in this world. They were shadowy figures with multiple limbs, flickering in and out of existence, their forms shifting between realms. Their eyes burned with an unnatural glow, as if the fabric of reality itself were being torn apart around them.
Ethan's heart pounded as he reached for his weapon. "What the hell are these things?!"
Korr's grin faltered. "Echo Spawn. You're not the only one with friends from... other places."
Aelira's eyes flashed with fury. "Enough talking. We need to move."
The creatures rushed forward, their limbs slashing through the air with terrifying precision. Ethan barely had time to react as one lunged toward him, its jagged claws grazing the side of his arm. His body instinctively responded, his System flooding him with a surge of power.
[Battle Engaged: Echo Spawn - Threat Level: Extreme]
Ethan raised his blade, ready to strike.
The battle raged on, the echo spawn pouring from every crack in the walls. Ethan and Aelira fought side by side, their movements fluid, almost instinctual as they tore through the creatures. But it was clear that the longer they fought, the more the city itself seemed to distort around them.
Ethan dodged a swipe from one of the spawn, landing hard against the metal floor. His head spun for a second, the noise of battle filling his ears. Then, he noticed something. One of the creatures was retreating toward the center of the bay, its eyes locked on him.
"LYRA," Ethan shouted, his voice strained. "What's going on? Why are they focusing on me?"
"This is bad, Ethan. They're attracted to your resonance. You've awakened something something more dangerous than I anticipated."
The creature lunged. But before it could reach Ethan, a surge of energy erupted from the walls. A beam of white-hot light cut through the spawn, obliterating the creature in a flash of blinding brilliance.
And then, a familiar voice echoed from the darkness.
"Enough."
Out of the smoke, a figure emerged. He was tall, wearing dark robes that seemed to shimmer with an ethereal energy. His eyes, glowing a piercing green, fixed on Ethan with a gaze that sent a chill down his spine.
"I told you, Inheritor, you're out of your depth."
Ethan's grip tightened around his weapon, but it was clear now: this wasn't just a random enemy. This was someone who knew exactly who he was and who wanted him gone.