"I Reincarnated But Have No System? You Must Be Kidding Me!"

The battle cry ripped through the night air as Elarya led her band of warriors charging out from the protective barrier of Aetherthorn. Every step pounded with brave purpose.

Their goal was simple but deadly, and that was to draw the attention of the two rampaging beasts long enough for the rest of their kin to escape westward toward the distant Thunga Desert.

Elarya's emerald hair streamed behind her like a banner. Her voice was sharp, resolute. "Make them see us! Keep them away from the children!"

The elves roared in unison, their voices echoing through the forest. Giant fireballs hissed past their heads, lighting the air with streaks of yellow. The sound should have been enough to turn any predator's head.

But the monsters ignored them.

Neither the Nighthral nor Vulkris shifted their murderous focus. Their claws remained locked, their fangs snapping inches from each other's throats. Every strike shook the ground like an earthquake. The air itself quivered with the raw malice radiating from the two Primordial Beasts. It was as if nothing- no arrow, no cry, no plea- could tear them from their battle.

Elarya's jaw tightened.

'We don't have time for this...'

"Everyone- spread out! Gain elevation and prepare a united ranged volley!" she barked. She angled toward a jagged hill rising not far ahead. If they could reach that high ground, maybe a concentrated strike would break the beasts' tunnel vision.

"Yes, Queen Mother!" dozens of voices responded as one.

Despite the chaos surrounding them, discipline held. Warriors sprinted uphill. Mixed among the elite fighters were younger, fresh combatants from the three tribes- Leon'do, Micha'el, Anast'cia, even Gondar- all determined to lay their lives on the line.

On the opposite side of the Aetherthorn, another group are just waiting for their chance to leave.

Mathes, still weak and pale, lay on a levitating platform pushed forward by mages. Children clung to each other, wide-eyed, while non-combatants ran alongside, trying to stay quiet despite their terror.

Among them, Jeis carried her daughter Jaira close to her chest. Her mind wasn't on herself- she couldn't stop worrying about Auren. He hadn't returned. Neither had his family.

'Please be safe... please...'

Then the earth split with a roar.

ROOOAAAAR!

The Nighthral struck with unnatural speed, its shadow-coated claws raking across Vulkris' blazing hide and using his speed advantage against the much bigger beast.

The massive Lion-beast staggered backward and slammed to the ground with a thunderous crash. Splintered trees flew in all directions like twigs. A flash of panic darted across Vulkris' molten eyes- then the Nighthral's body began to pulse with an ominous light.

"Let's finish this!"

A heavy, suffocating wave of mana surged outward from its shadow.

[SHADOW DEATH DOMAIN]

ZWOOOM~

The forest bled to black.

From the Nighthral's form, darkness erupted like a living storm, swallowing everything in its path. In seconds, a swirling dome of shadow- miles wide- expanded to engulf nearly a quarter of Runewood. The sudden night grew unnaturally dense, smothering even the glow of the twin moons above.

Inside that darkness, magic faltered. The elves' connection to their mana felt strangled, their power gutted by nearly thirty percent. Every breath tasted cold, damp, and heavy- each inhalation clawing at their sanity.

"Wh-what's happening?! Why is it suddenly dark!?" someone screamed.

From within Aetherthorn's barrier, those who had stayed behind could only watch in horror as the queen's decoy force vanished into the churning shadows.

Meanwhile outside, Panic rippled like wildfire as the effects of the shadow started to take over their minds.

"What the.. where am I? What is that?! What's happening?"

"Mama! H-huhu... I don't want to die!"

"Please- no more! Stop! Get them away from me!"

"Aaaagh! Help! They're everywhere!"

Outside the safety of the barrier, chaos finally broke through discipline.

Warriors who had been trained to stand against death itself now clawed at their faces, thrashing wildly as illusions wormed into their minds, twisting their reality.

They saw things no one else could- faces of the dead, scenes of old nightmares. Some relived childhood traumas. Others screamed as invisible hands dragged them down.

Only those with exceptional mental fortitude- mostly the Goldhair Tribe- kept their footing. The rest were drowning in terror.

"Listen to me!" Elarya's voice cut through the darkness like a whip.

"What you are all seeing is just an illusion! Hold your ground and use your observation skills if you can to dispel it!" She ran from soldier to soldier, shaking shoulders, slapping faces and channel her own mana to snap them out, but most were too far gone.

Their eyes were glassy. They didn't even hear her.

In an instant, their plan was already failing.

She turned sharply. "You- support mage! Can you dispel this?!"

A trembling elf tried to channel magic, her hands glowing faintly. "I'm trying, Queen Mother! But... nothing! The spell fizzles every time I form the circle!"

Elarya cursed under her breath. "The domain is choking our mana..."

Even basic movement techniques felt sluggish. Escape was impossible, and it made her heart sink.

"Queen Mother!" Micha'el's voice snapped her back.

The young warrior had shaken off the illusion faster than most. "What if we keep running forward? Maybe we can get out of its range- then fire from the outside to draw them out!"

Elarya shook her head grimly. "This is a full domain spell. There will be a wall ahead that is unbreakable or might kill us outright. Unfortunately, no one inside can cross it."

Leon'do, pale but conscious, asked, "Then what do we do?"

Before Elarya could answer, another voice- rough, urgent- cut in.

"There is no other way, we must retreat," Kardel said, appearing from the rear lines. His tone left no room for argument. "If we don't, we're finished. I've seen this before. Once the illusions take hold... worse things come next."

"Then why are we wasting time?! Fall back!" Micha'el snapped, panic cracking through his voice.

Elarya clenched her fists, but she knew Kardel was right.

"All units, retreat! Now!"

They turned to run- stumbling, dragging those still frozen by terror. But it was already too late.

A low growl rumbled across the domain, vibrating in their bones.

From the shadows, the Nighthral's massive silhouette loomed, its eyes glowing like dying stars. Its lips curled into something disturbingly close to a grin.

"LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN SURVIVE THIS, DOG!"

Its voice boomed like rolling thunder.

And then the ground split.

[VILETHORN BLOOM]

A massive magic circle ignited beneath its feet. The soil convulsed. A second later, enormous black thorns burst upward, each of them jagged as an obsidian spear.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Each spike was at least six feet tall and three feet wide, tearing through earth, rock, and tree trunks as though they were paper. The air filled with the sickening sound of wood- and flesh- being pierced.

GROOOOAAAAAR!

Even Vulkris, mighty as it was, screamed as hundreds of thorns impaled its scaled body from below. Its molten fire dimmed, blood sizzling as it splattered across the shadow-coated ground.

Elarya's heart lurched. "MOVE! GET OFF THE GROUND NOW!"

But the spikes came too fast. Screams erupted as several elves were skewered before they could even react. Those who avoided the initial strike found themselves trapped between walls of twisting, growing black thorns, the sharp barbs tearing at their skin.

"Stay together!" Micha'el shouted, hacking at a vine with his blade. Sparks flew. The thorn didn't even scratch. "Damn it! It's too strong!"

Leon'do fired an arrow but it snapped in half on impact. Anast'cia threw swung using her spear and it barely made a scratch.

The Nighthral's domain wasn't just shadows.

It was a prison and a deadly one at that.