NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 7: Chapter 7: The Creeping Shadows
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**Chapter 1: Signs of Darkness**
Kael and Siora stand on a hill overlooking a city slowly being swallowed by darkness. The sunlight dims, and the air feels heavier. An inexplicable sensation creeps over them, as if they are being watched.
**Dialogue:**
Siora: "You feel it too, don't you? Something's wrong. It's like... we're getting closer to something much darker."
Kael: "Yes, and I don't think it's just Heze. There's something far greater moving behind it all."
They scan their surroundings cautiously, but nothing seems out of place. Yet, deep down, they know a greater threat is approaching.
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**Chapter 2: The Forgotten Coin**
In a small, hidden tavern in the dark alleys of the city, a young woman stands before a table, staring at a Coin of Darkness lying in front of her. She feels confused—but something compels her to toss the coin.
She does.
The coin flies into the air, spinning rapidly. Unable to contain her fear, the woman closes her eyes, hoping nothing bad will happen. But when she opens them, Heze is standing before her, his body shrouded in an aura of darkness.
**Dialogue:**
Heze: "What do you desire?"
The woman is silent, staring into Heze's red eyes that radiate infinite darkness. She doesn't know what to ask for.
Woman: "Please... make it all stop. I can't take it anymore."
Heze says nothing. He raises his hand, and the woman is consumed by a void that swallows her whole. In an instant, she collapses to the floor, lifeless.
The coin vanishes, leaving behind a silence that signifies the wish has been granted.
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**Chapter 3: A Lost Search**
Kael and Siora try to trace the trail of the scattered Coins of Darkness. Each coin they find leads them to a dark story, never a happy one. They feel increasingly connected to the darkness threatening them.
**Dialogue:**
Siora: "What are we really searching for, Kael? Can we even stop all of this?"
Kael: "I don't know, Siora... But we have to find the answers before we're completely trapped."
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**Chapter 4: Lost in Time**
Far away, Xalthea monitors the world through the chaos she has spread. With a single glance, the space and time around her tremble.
**Dialogue:**
Xalthea: "They're getting closer... but it won't be enough to escape their fate."
Xalthea knows that Kael and Siora are not just obstacles in her plan. They are part of a larger game, and she feels the right moment to act is drawing near.
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**Chapter 5: The Creeping Darkness**
That night, Kael and Siora feel a distortion in the space around them. The sky begins to turn a deep red, and strange sounds echo from the distance.
**Dialogue:**
Siora: "What's happening...?"
Kael: "Xalthea. She's made her move."
They both feel increasingly suffocated by the thickening air filled with destructive energy. Suddenly, a dark figure appears before them—a terrifying silhouette. Xalthea.
**Dialogue:**
Xalthea: "You're so naive. Run. Before I decide to end your journey."
But Kael and Siora don't retreat. They know they have no choice but to fight. Even though they don't know how they'll survive, they decide to keep struggling.
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**Chapter 6: A Forced Sacrifice**
Kael and Siora engage in a fierce battle against Xalthea's overwhelming power. Every time they try to attack, the space and time around them shift, making each step more difficult.
**Dialogue:**
Kael: "Siora... We can't defeat her now. We have to retreat."
Siora: "But how? We don't have time!"
Amid the increasingly intense battle, Kael decides to sacrifice himself to buy Siora time to escape. With a powerful strike, he creates a rift in space-time, distracting Xalthea while Siora flees in the opposite direction.
**Dialogue:**
Kael: "Siora, hurry! Don't wait for me!"
Siora hesitates for a moment, but with a heavy heart, she finally runs, leaving Kael behind.
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**Chapter 7: The Killing Darkness**
Kael is captured by Xalthea, who destroys him in an instant with her full power. In seconds, Kael is reduced to a hollow shadow, a form that vanishes without a trace.
Xalthea stands over Kael's shattered body, her glowing red eyes shining brighter. She feels no satisfaction—only silence envelops her.
**Dialogue:**
Xalthea: "One by one, you will all fall."
But far away, Siora weeps in the silence of the night. She knows this path will lead them to a darker fate, and Kael has become the first casualty.
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**Chapter 8: A Journey Apart**
After escaping Xalthea, Siora hides in a remote cave, trying to recover and plan her next move. She knows she must learn more about the Coins of Darkness and who truly controls everything.
**Dialogue:**
Siora (to herself): "I can't give up now. Kael gave his life for me. I'll continue this search."
Yet, in her mind, she hears a whisper—a voice reminding her of the greater reality that awaits them.
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**Chapter 9: Unforeseen Retribution**
In a distant dimension, Xalthea feels an incomplete satisfaction. In her mind, she plans her next move.
**Dialogue:**
Xalthea: "This is just the beginning. All who live will fall."
But behind her shadow, another entity quietly observes: Heze. As if understanding that his fate and Xalthea's will collide, Heze knows a greater war is about to begin.
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**Chapter 10: Back to Square One**
Siora returns to the city, where the darkness continues to creep. A Coin of Darkness appears before her—a reminder that no matter how far she runs, she cannot escape her destiny.