Extra's POV: My Obsessive Villainous Fiancee Is The Game's Final Boss

Ren stood at the mouth of the valley, his cloak whipping in the wind, eyes narrowed as he peered into the shadow below.

The long, uneven descent of jagged rocks curved out of sight, swallowed by an unnatural blackness.

They'd been here for less than a minute and they could also feel the cold coming from the darkness. Just taking a single breath felt like dragging mist into the lungs.

The sound of the howling wind reached them from the darkness before dying down.

Ren looked up at the sky. From where they stood, it felt as if the sky was heavy with clouds that seemed too low and too close.

"So," Thorn said, standing beside him, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, "what's behind the… menacing darkness?"

Ren exhaled slowly, his voice grim. "That's wraith valley. It's dangerous. Not just because it's steep or hard to navigate. It's actually a straight path to Ur. However, what makes it dangerous is what lives inside it."

He turned back to his companions. "That howling you hear? It's not the wind. That's the call of soul wraiths."

Lilith frowned, arms crossed tightly across her chest. "Soul wraiths?"

Ren nodded. "Invisible predators. They hunt by sound and by soul signature. You can't see them. The only way you can know they're around is by the howling. And by then, it's already too late."

Thorn squinted into the dark below. "And if we climb instead?"

Ren turned toward the jagged incline beside them. The slope curled like a spine into the sky.

"That path leads to the Gravegrove. It's a forest of skeletal trees that grow roots full of old bones. Those skeletons reach up and pull people into the ground and once they're submerged, they never get out again, no matter how powerful they were."

"So pick your poison." Ren finished. "One is an enemy you can't see, and the other is an enemy you can't dodge."

Thorn's lip curled. "I'd rather fight what I can see."

"I don't like being hunted in the dark." Lilith gave a slow nod. "But I do like hunting in the dark."

And so, they began to climb.

The slope grew steeper the higher they went. Ren's boots scraped against loose gravel, every step calculated.

Lilith moved with the kind of efficiency of one who was in complete control of her body, her balance impeccable. Thorn took the rear, still low on blood, his breath shallow but steady.

The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows that danced across the rocks. The wind had picked up, and above them, clouds twisted in unnatural spirals.

Then came the screech.

It cut through the sky like a knife. The monstrous cry echoed from above.

A bird, massive, with wings that stretched wide enough to block out the fading light, plunged from the heavens.

Its feathers were jagged, like scales, and its talons glowed faintly, etched with burning lines.

"Incoming!" Ren shouted.

Thorn twisted, extending his sword. It lengthened in an instant, snapping out like a whip as the bird dove.

He slashed across the creature's side, tearing feathers and flesh. A screech of pain rang out, high and ragged, but the beast retaliated, slamming a wing forward.

Thorn's blade flew from his grip, spinning downward into the darkness of the valley.

"Damn it!" He roared.

The bird locked eyes with him, and this time, it didn't hesitate. It dove again, faster.

Thorn hardened his cloak into a dome. The bird struck, the impact throwing him backward. His boots slipped. He lost his grip.

And then, he fell.

"THORN!" Ren screamed.

Thorn wrapped himself in his cloak mid-plunge, curling his body tight. His body passed silently through the darkness cloaking the valley before crashing onto the floor with a painful thud.

Silence.

He rose, wincing, his legs shaky. The world around him was pitch black. The sky above was a sliver. The darkness here wasn't just the absence of light. It felt... sentient.

He moved. Fast.

His boots thudded softly against the ground. The silence was unbearable. Even his own breathing sounded too loud.

Then, the wind howled.

Thorn froze.

Another screech followed. High. Piercing. Right behind him.

He didn't need to be told twice what was coming. And so, he ran.

Every step was harder than the last. He didn't know where he was going. He didn't care.

The scream came again, closer. Too close. His instincts screamed louder.

He turned, cloak hardening, swinging wildly. The cloak connected with something. There was a soft crunch, then a scream. One of the wraiths had taken the hit.

But they were never alone.

More came. Dozens. He felt them, their hunger licking against the surface of his soul.

Then, something caught his foot and he was sent sprawling. He twisted as he fell, wrapping the cloak around himself and turning it into a dome again.

The wraiths struck on the cloak. Again and again. Each hit was like a hammer. His vision blurred.

He could feel his already drained blood being burnt away to fuel the cloak. He could feel death getting closer. The blood loss would kill him before the wraiths did. So, he cut off the power into the cloak.

After a minute, the cloak cracked.

He cried out as one final impact shattered it. The shards scattered in a glittering cloud before disintegrating into dust.

He rolled onto his back, gasping.

And then, he felt them.

The soul wraiths reached for him.

His limbs wouldn't move.

The wind had stopped.

The howling had become a whisper.

A chill hand grazed his cheek.

And Thorn knew the end was near.

He closed his eyes, waiting for his death.

There was a woosh, and then, nothing.

No pain.

No cold touch.

No sound.

He blinked his eyes open.

He was no longer in the valley.

He was on a new cliff. On solid rock, air in his lungs, and light around him.

Ren sat beside him, breathing hard, a drop of sweat sliding down his temple.

"What... happened?" Thorn whispered, stunned.

Lilith stood with her arms crossed, staring flatly at him.

Ren gulped in more air. "Scrambled up to the top. Dropped a coin. Teleported down to you. Grabbed you. Got us back."

Thorn exhaled, a weak laugh escaping. "Thanks."

Ren clapped him on the shoulder. "You're welcome"

Thorn turned to him, expression sobering. "No. Really. I thought I was gone."

Ren looked to the horizon. "Nah. We've still got more horrors to narrowly escape. This isn't over. We still have to go through the Gravegrove."

He looked down at his bone arm. "My sword and cloak are gone."

"Better them than your life." Ren sighed. "Besides, it'll be practice for how to fight without them. You won't be needing them anymore when you get your Divine Gift."

"True."

They sat together, catching their breath before the next trouble.

The wind howled once more. But this time, it was only the wind.