The beast lunged.
Fast.
Silent.
Deadly.
Its massive body exploded from the shadows, claws tearing through the air as it charged straight toward them.
The ground shook beneath its weight.
Leaves scattered violently.
The forest itself seemed to recoil.
Arin froze.
His heart slammed against his chest.
Every instinct screamed at him to run.
But his legs refused to move.
"Stay back!" the knight shouted.
His voice cut sharply through the trees.
Steel flashed as he stepped forward, placing himself directly between the child and the charging beast.
The creature roared.
A deep, thunderous sound that shook the branches overhead.
Its jaws opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth slick with saliva. Hot breath spilled from its mouth, thick with the smell of rot and hunger.
The knight moved instantly.
Years of battle guided his body.
His sword swung in a clean arc.
CLANG.
Steel struck claw.
Sparks burst into the air.
The impact vibrated through his arms, rattling his bones.
The beast staggered backward one step.
Then two.
But it did not retreat.
Its glowing yellow eyes burned brighter.
Angrier.
Hungrier.
Arin stumbled back.
Fear wrapped tightly around his chest.
Cold.
Heavy.
Unrelenting.
He had never seen a creature like this before.
Not in stories.
Not in dreams.
Not in nightmares.
The beast began to circle.
Slow.
Patient.
Its claws scraped against the dirt with a low, grinding sound.
Waiting.
Watching.
Measuring weakness.
The knight adjusted his stance.
Feet planted.
Sword raised.
Breathing steady.
"Do not panic," he said without turning.
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
Unshaken.
But Arin could hear something underneath.
Strain.
The beast suddenly moved again.
Faster this time.
More aggressive.
It lunged forward with terrifying speed.
The knight twisted sharply.
His blade met the creature's strike head-on.
CLANG.
The sound echoed through the forest.
Birds burst from the trees in a frantic rush of wings.
The force of the attack pushed the knight backward.
His boots dug deep grooves into the soil.
Muscles strained.
Arms trembled.
"This is no ordinary beast," he muttered.
The creature attacked again.
Relentless.
Savage.
The knight reacted quickly.
His sword flashed downward.
The blade sliced across the beast's shoulder.
A shallow wound opened.
Dark blood spilled onto the forest floor.
The creature roared.
A furious, echoing cry that rattled the trees.
Pain only made it stronger.
More violent.
More dangerous.
Arin's breathing became uneven.
Fast.
Shallow.
Panicked.
Every strike felt louder.
Every movement felt closer.
Every second felt longer.
Then—
The knight slipped.
His foot caught on a hidden root buried beneath the leaves.
For a single moment—
His balance broke.
That moment was enough.
The beast saw the opening instantly.
Its eyes flashed.
Its muscles tightened.
And it lunged.
Straight toward the knight's exposed side.
Arin's eyes widened.
Terror flooded his chest.
"Watch out!" he shouted.
The knight tried to recover.
Tried to raise his sword.
Tried to move.
But he was too slow.
The beast's claws slashed forward.
Sharp.
Relentless.
Unforgiving.
Time seemed to freeze.
Arin's heart pounded wildly.
Fear exploded inside him.
Hot.
Burning.
Uncontrollable.
Not fear for himself.
Fear of losing the one person who had always protected him.
Something inside him reacted.
Awakened.
Answered.
A strange pressure spread through his chest.
Slow at first.
Then stronger.
Then unbearable.
The air around him shifted.
Subtle.
Unnatural.
Leaves trembled.
Dust lifted from the ground.
Branches creaked softly overhead.
The beast hesitated.
Just for a fraction of a second.
Animals sensed danger.
And this danger felt wrong.
The knight felt it too.
A sudden heaviness in the air.
Cold.
Oppressive.
Unfamiliar.
He glanced back.
And froze.
Arin's eyes were glowing.
Faint.
Silver.
Unsteady.
The boy's breathing became erratic.
His hands trembled.
"Arin…" the knight whispered.
The pressure grew stronger.
The air thickened.
Harder to breathe.
Harder to move.
The beast growled nervously.
Its claws dug into the soil.
Its body trembled slightly.
Magic creatures relied on mana.
They lived by it.
They hunted with it.
They survived because of it.
But now—
The mana around them was fading.
Weakening.
Dying.
The creature sensed it.
And fear replaced its hunger.
Arin gasped.
A sharp pain shot through his chest.
His body stiffened.
His vision blurred.
A thin line of blood trickled slowly from his nose.
The knight's eyes widened.
Realization struck him like lightning.
This power—
Was hurting the boy.
"Stop!" he shouted.
"Arin, stop!"
But it was too late.
The pressure surged violently.
The air cracked.
The ground trembled.
Then—
The power exploded.
BOOM.
An invisible shockwave burst outward from the boy's body.
Wild.
Uncontrolled.
Devastating.
The beast was thrown backward through the air.
Its massive body slammed into a tree with a deafening crash.
Wood splintered.
Leaves rained down.
Silence followed.
The forest stood still.
Frozen.
Shocked.
The creature struggled weakly.
Its body twitching.
Its strength fading.
But it was not dead.
Not yet.
The knight turned quickly.
Fear gripping his chest.
Arin stood behind him.
Breathing hard.
Shaking.
Barely conscious.
The glow in his eyes flickered once.
Then dimmed.
His legs gave out.
The knight moved instantly.
He caught the boy before he hit the ground.
"Arin!" he shouted.
The child's body felt weak.
Too weak.
His breathing shallow.
Unstable.
Behind them—
The wounded beast slowly forced itself back to its feet.
Unsteady.
But alive.
Its glowing eyes burned with fury.
And hunger.
The danger was not over.
Not yet.