The wind screamed.
---
Louder than before.
---
It tore across the jagged coastline, dragging cold spray upward in violent bursts.
---
The ocean below surged—
---
Not wild.
---
Controlled chaos.
---
Like something was stirring beneath it.
---
Watching.
---
Waiting.
---
Thalren moved.
---
Forward.
---
Again.
---
No hesitation.
---
His steps aligned with the uneven rock—
---
His balance adjusted before it broke—
---
His blade cut through the air—
---
Sharp.
---
Intent behind it.
---
The creature reacted instantly.
---
Its body twisted—
---
Muscles coiling with unnatural speed—
---
Its tail slammed downward—
---
Not where he was—
---
Where he would be.
---
Thalren saw it.
---
Adjusted.
---
Barely.
---
The tail grazed past him—
---
Close enough to feel the force tear through the air.
---
He stepped in—
---
Closer.
---
Inside its range.
---
His blade moved—
---
Low—
---
Then up—
---
A rising slash—
---
Clean.
---
Controlled.
---
It cut across the creature's lower side.
---
Deeper than before.
---
Dark blood spilled again—
---
Hot against the cold wind.
---
The creature jerked—
---
Its movement breaking for a split second.
---
An opening.
---
Clear.
---
Real.
---
Thalren stepped forward—
---
Ready to finish the sequence—
---
Then—
---
A voice.
---
"HEY—WAIT—!"
---
Sharp.
---
Human.
---
Close.
---
Thalren's focus broke—
---
Just slightly.
---
He turned—
---
Only for a fraction of a second—
---
But enough.
---
A man stood further along the rock ridge.
---
A hunter.
---
Mid-tier gear.
---
Not strong enough for this.
---
Not fast enough either.
---
"…You need to—" the man started—
---
Too slow.
---
The creature reacted instantly.
---
Its head snapped toward the new presence—
---
Eyes narrowing—
---
Target shifting.
---
Thalren saw it.
---
The change.
---
The intent.
---
His body tensed—
---
Ready to move—
---
To intercept—
---
But—
---
A pause.
---
Small.
---
Almost nothing.
---
But it existed.
---
Calculation.
---
Distance.
---
Timing.
---
Choice.
---
The creature lunged.
---
Fast.
---
Too fast.
---
The hunter froze.
---
Fear locked his body.
---
His weapon raised—
---
Too late.
---
"…MOVE!" Thalren's voice cut through the air—
---
Sharp.
---
Real.
---
But the man didn't react.
---
The moment collapsed.
---
Thalren moved.
---
But now—
---
He was late.
---
His step hit the uneven rock—
---
Adjusted—
---
But the delay remained.
---
The creature reached the man—
---
Its jaws closing—
---
Then—
---
Impact.
---
Not a clean bite.
---
But enough.
---
Blood sprayed across the stone.
---
The man was thrown—
---
His body slamming hard against the rock surface.
---
Silence followed.
---
Heavy.
---
Sharp.
---
The creature turned again—
---
Now between them.
---
Watching.
---
Calculating.
---
Thalren stopped.
---
His breathing steady—
---
But his eyes—
---
Changed.
---
Not panic.
---
Not fear.
---
Something colder.
---
Clearer.
---
Behind him—
---
Kaizen's voice.
---
"…You hesitated."
---
No anger.
---
No judgment.
---
Just truth.
---
Thalren didn't respond.
---
His gaze stayed locked on the creature.
---
But something replayed in his mind.
---
The moment.
---
The pause.
---
The choice.
---
Too slow.
---
Not instinct.
---
Not lack of strength.
---
Decision.
---
Wrong.
---
The wind howled louder—
---
As if reacting.
---
The ocean surged again—
---
Harder.
---
More violent.
---
The creature shifted its stance.
---
Lower now.
---
More cautious.
---
It had felt the difference.
---
Before—
---
It was fighting prey.
---
Now—
---
Something else.
---
Thalren stepped forward.
---
Slow.
---
Controlled.
---
His grip tightened slightly.
---
But not from tension.
---
From resolve.
---
No wasted movement.
---
No scattered focus.
---
Only one target.
---
Only one outcome.
---
Behind him—
---
Alric moved quickly toward the injured hunter.
---
Checking.
---
"…He's alive," he muttered.
---
"…Barely."
---
Blood spread across the rock—
---
Dark.
---
Heavy.
---
Real.
---
Thalren didn't turn.
---
Didn't look.
---
Because he already knew.
---
That moment—
---
Wouldn't disappear.
---
Wouldn't fade.
---
It would stay.
---
The creature moved again.
---
Testing.
---
Circling slightly.
---
Waiting.
---
Thalren adjusted his stance.
---
Lower.
---
More stable.
---
His eyes tracked everything now.
---
Not just the creature.
---
The wind.
---
The ground.
---
The rhythm.
---
The space between actions.
---
No hesitation.
---
Not this time.
---
The creature lunged again.
---
Fast.
---
Direct.
---
Thalren stepped in.
---
Perfect timing.
---
Not early.
---
Not late.
---
Exact.
---
His blade moved—
---
Not wide—
---
Not forced—
---
Precise.
---
A single cut.
---
Clean.
---
Intent.
---
The strike landed—
---
Deep.
---
Across the creature's neck.
---
The movement stopped instantly.
---
Its body froze—
---
Then collapsed.
---
Heavy.
---
Still.
---
The wind continued.
---
The ocean roared below.
---
But the fight—
---
Ended.
---
Thalren stood there.
---
Silent.
---
Unmoving.
---
Blood on his blade.
---
Breath steady.
---
Victory—
---
But not clean.
---
Behind him—
---
Kaizen stepped forward slowly.
---
Stopped beside him.
---
A brief glance at the fallen creature.
---
Then—
---
At the blood on the ground behind.
---
"…You corrected it."
---
A pause.
---
"…Too late."
---
Silence.
---
Thalren didn't reply.
---
Because there was nothing to say.
---
The lesson had already carved itself in.
---
Not through words.
---
But through consequence.
---
And this time—
---
He wouldn't forget.