The first shadow-hound launched itself from the jagged, frost-covered rocks with a horrifying, unnatural screech. It was a monstrous amalgamation of corrupted sea water, black ice, and pure necrotic shadow, its glowing red eyes fixated entirely on Elara.
Before the beast could even cross half the distance, a deafening gunshot echoed over the crashing waves.
The shadow-hound’s skull violently snapped back as a silver-forged bullet, fired directly from Silas’s heavy assault rifle, tore through its dark mass. The creature shrieked, exploding into a puddle of foul-smelling, freezing black sludge before it even hit the asphalt.
"Blood Moon, defensive formation!" Silas roared, kicking his armored door open.
Instantly, the twenty elite shadows deployed from the convoy. They didn't shift into
