---
The group barely had time to catch their breath when a chilling hum of shadow magic filled the air again, sharper and more oppressive than before. The faint tremors in the ground grew into rhythmic pulses, each one louder than the last.
"They're back," Loira whispered, her grip tightening on her staff. Her voice quivered, not with fear, but with the anticipation of a storm about to break.
From the darkness of the ravine's remnants, a larger force of Shadow Agents emerged.
Their numbers were double what they had faced before, their movements more synchronized, their presence more ominous.
Each wore runed masks that glowed an eerie red, and their coordinated advance sent chills down even the most seasoned warriors' spines.
Zen muttered under his breath, drawing his dual blades. "How many of these things are there? It's like they're endless."