The Reborn Luna: Claimed by the Billionaire Alpha

Chapter 8: The Shadows That Follow

The moment Selene felt the darkness stir, she knew they were out of time.

The warmth of the First Flame pulsed around her, its ancient power coursing through the chamber. But beyond the sanctuary, a deep and suffocating presence crept closer—shifting through the tunnels like living smoke, seeking them out.

"Something's coming," Killian muttered, drawing his sword. The steel glinted under the flickering blue light of the flame.

Elira pressed her hand against the brazier, murmuring an incantation under her breath. The runes on the cavern walls flared with light, as if sensing the danger that approached.

Selene clenched her fists, feeling the power within her responding to the First Flame. "We can't stay here," she whispered. "If we do, we'll be trapped."

Elira's gaze snapped to her. "Then we move—now."

With one last glance at the sacred flame, they turned and sprinted toward the tunnel's exit.

But they were too late.

The Darkness Awakens

The shadows in the passage shifted, coiling like a living thing. A cold wind howled through the sanctum, carrying with it a guttural whisper.

Selene froze as an unnatural chill settled into her bones. The darkness swirled, coalescing into a massive, formless entity—its presence suffocating. Two glowing red eyes blinked open in the void, locking onto them with eerie intent.

A voice slithered through the air.

"You think you can run from me?"

Selene's pulse pounded in her ears. She had felt this presence before—back in the ruins of Black Hollow, when she had first unleashed her power. But this time, it was stronger. Hungrier.

Killian didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, swinging his sword at the mass of shadows. The blade cut through, but instead of wounding it, the darkness simply rippled and reformed.

Elira raised her hands, summoning a burst of silver light. The moment it touched the creature, it recoiled, letting out a deafening shriek.

"Light," Elira gasped. "It's weak against light!"

Selene didn't think—she acted.

Reaching deep within herself, she called upon the energy that had surged through her at the temple. A warmth built in her chest, spreading to her fingertips, and then—she let go.

A radiant wave of golden light erupted from her hands, crashing into the darkness. The entity shrieked again, its form twisting in agony.

For a moment, it seemed as if they had won.

But then, the shadows surged back with renewed fury.

Selene barely had time to react before a tendril of darkness lashed out, striking her square in the chest. The impact sent her flying, slamming against the cavern wall.

Pain exploded through her ribs as she gasped for air.

"Selene!" Killian shouted, but another tendril lashed toward him, forcing him to dodge.

Elira clenched her teeth, weaving another spell, but the creature struck first—its darkness wrapped around her ankle, yanking her off her feet.

Selene's vision blurred as she forced herself up. The darkness was too strong. Their light had hurt it, but it wasn't enough.

And then—she heard it.

A whisper.

Soft. Ancient.

"The First Flame… Call upon the First Flame…"

Selene turned her gaze toward the brazier at the center of the chamber. The blue flames flickered wildly, as if waiting for her.

Her hands trembled. She didn't understand what the voice meant.

But she had no other choice.

The First Flame's Power

Ignoring the pain in her ribs, Selene reached out toward the brazier. The moment her fingers brushed against the fire, warmth flooded through her veins.

Visions flashed in her mind—of ancient warriors wielding the power of the First Flame, of battles fought against creatures of darkness, of a kingdom that once thrived under its protection.

And then—she saw herself.

Standing where she was now. Holding the flame. Wielding its power.

Selene's eyes snapped open.

The shadows lashed toward her again, but this time, she didn't flinch.

She commanded the flame.

A surge of fire erupted from the brazier, engulfing her in a golden glow. The darkness recoiled violently, its shrieks echoing through the chamber.

Selene didn't stop. She lifted her hands, channeling the power outward.

The fire exploded across the cavern, consuming the entity in a burst of pure light.

For a moment, all was silent.

Then—the darkness was gone.

Aftermath

Selene gasped, the glow around her fading. Her knees buckled, but Killian was there in an instant, catching her before she collapsed.

"You did it," he murmured.

Elira, panting, stared at the brazier. "She wielded the First Flame," she whispered in awe. "No one has done that in centuries."

Selene barely heard them. Her vision was still swimming, her head pounding. But deep inside, she knew—something had changed.

The power of the First Flame wasn't just a weapon. It was a responsibility.

And now, it was hers.

Killian squeezed her shoulder gently. "We need to leave before anything else finds us."

Selene nodded weakly. They had won this battle, but she knew it was only the beginning.

Because whatever that creature had been—it had only been a fragmen

t of the true darkness that awaited them.

And she had a feeling their fight was far from over.

The Burden of the Flame

The lingering warmth of the First Flame still pulsed through Selene's veins, but as the glow faded from the cavern, an unsettling silence settled over them. The shadows had been vanquished, but the eerie aftertaste of their presence clung to the air like smoke after a wildfire.

Killian was still holding her upright, his hands steady but tense against her shoulders. His piercing gaze scanned her face, searching for something—reassurance, maybe? Proof that she hadn't just burned herself alive wielding a power that shouldn't have been hers?

Selene swallowed hard, the weight of what had just happened settling into her bones.

"I'm fine," she managed, though her knees still wobbled.

Killian didn't look convinced, but he helped her straighten, his grip lingering just long enough to make her feel grounded again.

Elira, meanwhile, was staring at the brazier, her expression unreadable. She brushed a hand over the ancient runes etched into the stone, her silver eyes flickering with curiosity and worry.

"No one has wielded the First Flame in centuries," she murmured, almost to herself. "Not since the old war."

Selene exhaled shakily. "I didn't exactly plan on it."

Elira turned to her, folding her arms. "And yet, the flame responded to you."

Something about the way she said it made Selene's stomach twist.

Killian, ever the pragmatic one, was already shifting his focus. "We need to get out of here before something else comes sniffing around." He shot a glance at the empty darkness where the shadow creature had been. "I don't think that thing was acting alone."

Selene's pulse stuttered at the thought.

If that was just a fragment of the true darkness… then what was still waiting for them out there?

The Labyrinth's Warning

The tunnels beyond the chamber stretched long and winding, their walls slick with condensation and lined with the same ancient symbols that had adorned the brazier's altar.

Their footsteps echoed ominously as they moved through the labyrinth, guided only by the dim glow of Elira's spell-light.

Selene's fingers still tingled from the power she had unleashed, but she didn't have time to dwell on it. Every shadow in the passage felt like it was watching, waiting.

Then—she heard it.

A whisper.

Soft. Ancient.

"Beware… the burden of the flame…"

Selene stopped in her tracks, her breath hitching.

Elira and Killian turned to her, sensing the change in her posture.

"Selene?" Elira's voice was cautious. "What is it?"

Selene's gaze darted around the tunnel, but there was nothing—just empty darkness stretching ahead and behind them. And yet, she could feel something.

"The flame is… warning me," she whispered.

Killian's jaw tightened. "About what?"

Selene wasn't sure. But the words burden of the flame settled into her mind like an echo that refused to fade.

And then, without warning, the tunnel shifted.

The walls trembled, the stone beneath their feet groaned, and suddenly, the passage that had once led forward was gone.

Elira swore, whirling around. "A shifting labyrinth. Damn it."

Killian's blade was in his hand in an instant, his stance tense. "What does that mean?"

"It means we're not alone." Elira narrowed her eyes, scanning the shifting walls. "Something is controlling the labyrinth's path."

Selene's heartbeat pounded against her ribs.

The whisper had warned her.

And now—they were trapped.

The Guardians Awaken

A low rumble vibrated through the stone. Then—cracks split through the walls, glowing with an eerie blue light.

From the fractures, figures began to emerge.

At first, they looked like statues—humanoid shapes carved from obsidian and laced with glowing veins of fire. But then, they moved.

Selene barely had time to react before the first of them stepped forward, its eyes blazing like twin embers.

Killian raised his sword. "Any chance they're friendly?"

Elira didn't answer. She was already weaving a spell.

Selene swallowed hard, instinctively stepping back as the statues advanced. There were six of them—each one at least eight feet tall, their molten veins pulsing like a heartbeat.

Then, the lead statue spoke.

"The bearer of the First Flame has been chosen…"

Its voice was deep, rumbling, as if the earth itself had spoken.

"But the flame does not grant without price."

Selene felt a chill crawl down her spine.

"What price?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

The statues raised their hands. Fire erupted from their palms.

"Survival."

Then—they attacked.

Trial by Fire

The first blast of fire shot straight for Selene, but Killian was faster. He lunged, knocking her aside just as the molten flames scorched the stone where she had been standing.

Elira countered with a burst of silver energy, sending two of the statues staggering back. But the remaining four pressed forward, their movements unnaturally smooth for creatures made of stone.

Selene scrambled to her feet, heart hammering.

These weren't mindless constructs. They were testing her.

And if she failed… she wouldn't survive.

She had no choice.

Bracing herself, she reached for the flame again.

A rush of power surged through her veins, and this time, she embraced it. Her hands ignited with golden fire, the same light that had driven back the shadow creature.

The statues hesitated.

And Selene struck.

A wave of flame erupted from her palms, colliding with the nearest statue. The impact sent it reeling, cracks spreading across its surface.

Killian took the opening, slashing his blade through the weakened construct. The statue shattered into fragments, molten energy seeping into the ground.

Elira conjured a wall of silver light, blocking another blast of fire as she yelled, "Keep going!"

Selene didn't need to be told twice.

She turned to the remaining statues, fire still crackling in her hands. If they wanted to test her—then she would show them what the First Flame had chosen.

She raised her arms—and let the fire consume them.

The Aftermath

When the last statue fell, the flames flickering in its molten veins faded to nothing.

Selene stood amidst the wreckage, her breathing ragged, her hands still trembling from the power she had wielded.

Elira and Killian watched her carefully, their expressions unreadable.

Then—the labyrinth shifted again.

The passage ahead opened.

Selene exhaled sharply. The trial was over.

For now.

But as they stepped forward, she couldn't shake the words the statues had s

poken.

"The flame does not grant without price."

What price had she just agreed to pay?

And what would happen… when it finally came due

---

As Selene, Killian, and Elira stepped into the newly revealed passage, the air around them shifted, growing dense with an unnatural heat.

The remnants of the molten statues still smoldered behind them, but Selene knew the true challenge was far from over.

Every step forward sent a pulse of warmth through her veins, the lingering power of the First Flame still coursing within her.

Yet, the words of the guardians echoed in her mind—"The flame does not grant without price." What had she just sacrificed without realizing it?

Killian walked beside her, his sharp eyes scanning every shadow, every movement in the dimly lit corridor.

"We need to figure out what's waiting ahead before we walk into another trap," he muttered, his voice low but firm.

His protective stance hadn't wavered since she first unleashed the fire, and Selene wondered if he saw her differently now—if he feared what she was becoming.

She clenched her fists, pushing away the thought. There was no turning back. Not now.

Elira, meanwhile, studied the ancient carvings on the walls, her fingers tracing the swirling symbols that glowed faintly under her spell-light.

"This place was built to contain something," she murmured, half to herself.

"And if the First Flame was sealed away here, it means someone, long ago, thought it was too dangerous to be left unchecked." She turned to Selene, her silver eyes sharp.

"That means you need to be careful. Power like this always demands something in return."

Before Selene could respond, the tunnel suddenly widened into an enormous chamber, its ceiling lost in darkness.

At the center stood an altar, old and cracked, yet pulsing with an undeniable energy.

The runes surrounding it flared to life as they approached, and the weight in Selene's chest grew heavier.

The moment she stepped forward, the markings beneath her ignited, casting a fiery glow across the chamber.

The heat intensified, and in that instant, she knew—this was no ordinary altar. It was a gateway.

A deep, resonant hum filled the air, vibrating through the stone beneath their feet.

Then, from the heart of the altar, something began to rise. A presence—ancient, powerful, and bound to the flame—stirred awake.

Selene's breath caught in her throat as a voice, far older than the labyrinth itself, whispered through the chamber.

"You have taken the flame, child. Now… will you face the truth of what you have become?"

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