malereader x hells paradise

Chapter 27: Veil of Shadows

The jungle around us thickened as we advanced, and an unnatural quiet settled over everything. The usual sounds—birds calling, leaves rustling—were absent. Only the faint creak of our footsteps and the occasional whisper of the wind filled the silence. It felt as though the jungle was holding its breath, watching us.

"Stay close," I murmured to the others, feeling an instinctive urge to remain vigilant. Every step felt heavier, as though the ground itself was trying to hold us back. My hand tightened around my blade, ready for anything.

Sagiri moved beside me, her eyes scanning the dense undergrowth, her face a mask of concentration. "Something about this place feels… different," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Yuzuriha let out a short laugh, but even she seemed tense. "This whole island is cursed, but yeah… this area gives me the creeps more than usual."

We pressed on, and soon, the jungle opened into a strange clearing. At the center stood a large stone obelisk covered in ancient carvings, almost hidden beneath layers of moss and vines. The air here was thick with an odd energy, like the lingering memory of an ancient ritual.

"Is that… a monument?" Nurugai asked, squinting at the symbols etched into the stone.

"It looks that way," I replied, stepping closer to examine the carvings. The symbols were unlike any I’d seen before, twisting and curling in intricate patterns. They seemed to pulse with a faint glow, as if alive.

Sagiri leaned in beside me, her gaze sharp. "These markings… they look like some kind of warning."

A low hum began to resonate from the stone, vibrating through the ground. Instinctively, I stepped back, motioning for the others to do the same.

"Get ready," I whispered, every nerve on edge. The jungle had a habit of springing surprises on us, and I had no doubt this was one of them.

The hum grew louder, filling the clearing with a strange energy. Then, as if answering some unspoken call, shadows began to gather around the obelisk, swirling and twisting until they took form. From the darkness emerged figures—vague and ghostly, but their intent was clear.

"Are they… spirits?" Nurugai breathed, her voice barely audible.

I shook my head, blade at the ready. "Whatever they are, they’re not friendly."

The shadows lunged toward us, moving with an eerie, unnatural speed. I parried one strike, my blade cutting through it, but instead of dispersing, the shadow reformed, its shape twisting into something even more menacing.

"They don’t stay down!" Yuzuriha shouted, dodging another attack. Her kunai sliced through one of the figures, but it only seemed to anger it.

"Try aiming for the obelisk!" I called out. If these shadows were connected to the monument, breaking its influence might stop them.

Sagiri was the first to act, sprinting towards the stone with determination. She raised her sword, bringing it down with all her strength. The blade struck the obelisk, sending cracks spiderwebbing through its surface. The hum intensified, turning into a high-pitched shriek as the shadows wavered.

"Keep going!" I shouted, rushing forward to join her.

Together, we struck the obelisk, each blow weakening it further. The shadows flailed, their forms destabilizing with every crack that appeared on the stone. Finally, with one last strike, the obelisk shattered, fragments scattering across the ground.

The shadows let out an anguished wail, dissipating into thin air. The silence returned, even more profound than before, as though the jungle itself was in shock.

We stood there, breathing hard, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away. Sagiri wiped her blade, casting a wary glance around. "What was that thing? And why was it here?"

Yuzuriha shrugged, but her face was serious. "It’s like this island has layers… secrets upon secrets. Every time we think we understand it, something like this shows up."

I nodded, feeling the weight of her words. There was more to this island than we’d realized, a dark history hidden beneath the surface. And we were only beginning to scratch at the edges.

"Let’s keep moving," I said, glancing around. "There’s no telling what else might be watching."

As we left the clearing, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we had disturbed something ancient, something that would not be forgotten easily.