The Shadowbound Prophecy

Chapter 16: The Demigod's Wrath

The sun was sinking low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the uneven ground as Harry and Seraphina pressed forward. Their minds were heavy with the revelation from the shrine, the mysteries of the Fallen God beginning to unravel, though slowly and with great effort. The forest around them had thinned, giving way to a rocky landscape that sloped down toward a vast river. The water moved with quiet power, cutting through the land like a blade. It gleamed in the fading light, serene and timeless.

They were still adjusting to the weight of what they had learned, and yet, there was no time to rest. They had lingered too long already. Each step felt more urgent, driven by an invisible force. The celestial alignment, the weakening of the seal, and the truth about the Fallen God—it all loomed ahead, pressing them forward with greater haste.

"That shrine back there," Harry muttered, eyes scanning the path before them. "It felt alive. As if we weren't just deciphering its symbols, but awakening something."

Seraphina nodded beside him, her expression thoughtful. "It wasn't just the magic. There was something watching us. Something older than the gods themselves."

Her words sent a chill down Harry's spine, but he didn't respond. They had no time to dwell on those ancient forces. Ahead, the riverbank widened, revealing a stone bridge, weathered and cracked but still standing. Beyond it, the path continued into the mountains, where the air seemed colder, sharper, filled with the promise of danger.

Just as they approached the bridge, the atmosphere around them shifted. The air grew thick with a sudden, oppressive heat, and a sharp, crackling energy filled the space. Harry felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. He turned to Seraphina, whose hand instinctively reached for her blade.

"Something's coming," she whispered.

The ground trembled beneath their feet, and before they could react, the sky above them split with a deafening crack. A flash of blinding light shot down, striking the earth ahead of them. The light pulsed, growing brighter and brighter until it dimmed just enough to reveal a figure standing where the bolt had struck.

He was tall, almost impossibly so, with skin the color of molten bronze. His muscular frame was adorned with armor that gleamed like polished obsidian, intricate patterns etched into the surface. His eyes glowed with a golden fire, and his dark hair flowed behind him as if caught in a constant breeze. A thick, jagged spear rested in his hand, pulsing with the same energy that filled the air around them.

Seraphina stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "A demigod."

The figure's gaze swept over them, filled with disdain and quiet fury. When he spoke, his voice was deep, resonant, like the rumble of distant thunder.

"You dare approach the realm of the Fallen God? You, who meddle in affairs beyond your understanding?"

Harry's heart pounded in his chest. This was no ordinary enemy. The demigod's presence alone was overwhelming, radiating power that felt oppressive and suffocating. But he stood his ground.

"We seek the truth," Harry said, his voice steady despite the fear curling in his gut. "And we'll find it, no matter what you throw at us."

The demigod sneered, his grip tightening on the spear. "The gods have sealed the Fallen One for a reason. You are fools to challenge their will. Turn back now, while you still can."

Seraphina's blade flashed in the fading light. "If you think we're afraid of you, you're mistaken."

Without another word, the demigod raised his spear and charged.

Harry barely had time to draw his sword before the demigod was upon them. His speed was astonishing, far greater than any foe they had faced before. The spear slashed through the air toward Harry, but he managed to parry the blow, though the force of it nearly knocked him off his feet. The power behind the strike sent shockwaves through his arms, and he staggered back.