Re:Core —Rise of the Broken Soul

The deeper they moved into the forest, the heavier the silence became.

Moonlight filtered through the dense canopy in broken patches, glinting off the blades and armor of Raiyan's new party. He kept close behind Max, watching how the man moved — loose but alert, like a wolf that knew it ruled its territory.

"I still don't get how we're supposed to fight something we can't see coming," Raiyan muttered, eyes scanning the trees.

Max didn't turn, but grinned. "You mean Shadows?"

"Yeah. If they can look like anyone, how the hell do we tell?"

Max stepped over a root and said, "You don't."

Raiyan blinked. "Wait, what?"

Aminah, walking beside them, exhaled sharply. "He's not wrong. Shadows from the Underworld aren't just shape-changers. They're mimics. Full-spectrum. Voice, gait, warmth, breath — all replicated."

"Sometimes even personality," Felix added from the rear, fiddling with a glowing support charm. "Some integrate so well, they forget they're not real."

"Then how do you know who to trust?"

Max finally turned, the firelight glinting off his grin. "You don't. Welcome to adventuring."

"Great," Raiyan muttered.

They continued, boots crunching soft moss and fallen leaves underfoot.

After a pause, Max explained further, tone a bit more serious now. "Shadows are ranked too. Not all of them are deadly. But the higher the rank, the more convincing — and dangerous — the disguise."

Felix added quietly, "They follow the same five-rank system as us. Ordinary, Unicus, Extraordinary, Royal, and Divine. Each with three classes. So, a Rank III Ordinary Shadow is weak. Rank I Unicus? That's mid-tier."

Aminah said, "The city classified this target as a weak rogue. Probably Rank II or III Ordinary. Maybe low-tier Unicus."

Raiyan nodded slowly. He said nothing else.

No mention of his own status. His system remained silent — as it should. They didn't need to know. He'd survive with or without their help.

He always had.

They reached a clearing where the light of a campfire flickered between tall oaks.

Ten figures sat in a loose circle around it — some armored, some cloaked, all seemingly relaxed. Swords and staves rested nearby. Laughter echoed softly in the crisp night air.

Max raised a hand to halt the party. "Campers."

"Other adventurers?" Raiyan asked.

"Maybe," Felix said. "Or a rogue group. Could be trouble."

Max stepped forward anyway, voice casual. "Evening, strangers."

Heads turned. Several stood, one hand drifting to weapons.

But no hostility.

Then she stepped forward.

A tall, blonde woman in light brown leather armor. Her pale skin caught the firelight like waxed moonlight. Calm blue eyes, a faint scar on her temple. She moved like someone used to walking alone — fluid, cautious, self-aware.

"No need for weapons," she said, voice warm. "We're not looking for a fight."

Max tilted his head. "Just travelers?"

"More or less," she replied. "We're discussing forming a party."

Max nodded slowly. "Silver-ranked group here. Tracking a Shadow. Last seen around this forest."

The blonde woman blinked. Her expression didn't change — just softened. "We heard rumors. Didn't think it was real."

"I wish it wasn't," Max said.

The woman stepped closer, her posture open but not overly familiar. "I'm Maris."

Max introduced the others. Raiyan noticed Maris's gaze linger on him a moment longer than the rest.

"You're new," she said.

"Kind of."

"You don't talk much."

"Not much to say."

She smiled slightly at that and gestured toward the fire. "You're welcome to join us for a while. We have stew, if you're not picky."

"Don't tempt me," Max said, "I've eaten nothing but dry rations for three days."

They sat around the fire, passing bowls of overly salted stew that still somehow tasted like a blessing.

Maris sat near Raiyan, arms wrapped loosely around her knees, her expression thoughtful.

"Truth is," she said, after a long silence, "I came here for something else."

Everyone turned slightly to listen.

"I used to live near the Velsari Plateau. Tiny settlement. Just me, my father, and my mother. Peaceful place. Boring, if I'm being honest."

Her voice was steady, but quiet.

"One day, raiders came. I was out gathering berries in the woods — I saw the smoke first. Heard the screaming. I got close enough to see…"

Her eyes clouded.

"My father tried to fight. They killed him. My mother... she was taken. I couldn't do anything. I just watched from behind a tree, shaking. Useless."

Silence fell over the fire.

"I swore I'd get strong. Not for revenge. Just so I'd never be that helpless again."

No one interrupted. Felix looked down, uncomfortable. Aminah's hand tightened around her staff. Even Max seemed a little quieter than usual.

"You're doing fine," Max said finally. "You're still here. Still fighting."

Maris smiled, though it was fragile. "Trying to be."

The warmth of the fire pressed into the quiet.

Raiyan stared into the flames.

He knew what it meant to be powerless.

Too well.

---

Later, as they prepared to move, Maris patted her armor suddenly. "Damn. I left something."

"Where?" Max asked.

"A charm. I hung it near an old tree a bit off our path for protection. Won't take long. I'll go get it."

"I'll come with you," Max said immediately.

She blinked. "You don't have to."

"Wouldn't be much of an adventurer if I let a pretty girl wander off alone in cursed woods, would I?"

Maris gave a quiet laugh. "Suit yourself."

They vanished into the trees.

---

Fifteen minutes passed.

Then thirty.

"Too long," Aminah said.

Felix stood already, checking his mana foci.

"I don't like this," Raiyan said, eyes narrowed toward the shadows ahead. "He wouldn't be gone this long."

Aminah raised her hand. "There. Smoke. Not far."

They rushed toward it.

The small glade they entered was torn apart.

Charred earth. Branches scorched. Max stood in the center, shirt half-torn, blood leaking from his forehead. His blade was drawn, glowing faintly with wind-infused mana. His breathing was labored.

Something had thrown him.

He was facing a figure — tall, feminine.

Maris.

No… something that had worn Maris's face.

Its body was shifting. Hair too golden. Eyes flickering between blue and black. Joints twitching wrong. One leg slightly longer than the other, adjusting unnaturally as it walked forward.

It smiled.

Max yelled, "She's the Shadow!"

Before Raiyan could move, Aminah was already charging, staff igniting in a blaze of red.

Felix threw a support ward over her as she fired a streak of flame—

But the Shadow vanished mid-step, reappearing behind them.

Raiyan pivoted, sword drawn.

Cold sweat covered his back.

Maris — no, the Shadow — laughed softly.

"You believed me," it whispered. "So easy. So human."