The forest went quiet.
Too quiet.
Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Leaves hung motionless in the air, and the distant chirping of birds vanished as if the world itself sensed danger.
The knight knelt on one knee, breathing heavily.
Pain burned across his shoulder where the beast's claws had struck. Blood soaked through his torn clothing, dripping slowly onto the forest floor.
Warm.
Sticky.
Relentless.
But he ignored it.
Because the creature was still alive.
A low growl rolled through the trees.
Deep.
Hungry.
Unforgiving.
The beast pushed itself upright again.
Its muscles trembled, but its glowing yellow eyes burned with fury. Dark blood dripped from its wounded shoulder, staining the dirt beneath its claws.
Pain had not weakened it.
It had made it desperate.
The knight tightened his grip on his sword.
His injured arm shook slightly.
Not from fear.
From exhaustion.
Behind him, Arin lay on the ground.
Small.
Pale.
Barely moving.
His breathing was shallow.
Each breath came slower than the last.
The burst of power from earlier had drained him completely.
"Stay with me," the knight said quietly.
There was urgency in his voice now — something rare.
Something dangerous.
Arin tried to respond.
But his lips barely moved.
His body felt cold.
Heavy.
Distant.
The beast stepped forward.
One slow step.
Then another.
Its claws pressed into the soil with a dull crunch.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
The knight lowered Arin gently behind him and rose to his feet.
Pain shot through his shoulder.
Sharp.
Blinding.
He gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand.
"Do not move," he said.
The beast suddenly lunged.
Faster than before.
More violent.
More desperate.
Its claws slashed downward toward the knight's chest.
CLANG.
Steel met claw.
The impact echoed like thunder through the forest.
The knight staggered backward.
His boots slid across the dirt.
His strength was fading.
Fast.
The creature attacked again.
And again.
And again.
Each strike heavier than the last.
Each movement more savage.
More unstoppable.
The knight's breathing became ragged.
His injured arm trembled violently.
His vision blurred.
He could not hold much longer.
Arin watched helplessly.
Fear spread through his chest like fire.
Hot.
Burning.
Uncontrollable.
Not fear for himself.
Fear of losing the only person who had ever protected him.
The knight blocked another strike.
Barely.
His sword slipped.
His balance broke.
The beast saw the opening.
It roared.
A terrible, thunderous sound.
Then raised its claws high into the air.
Ready to deliver the final blow.
The knight knew.
This was the end.
He braced himself.
Prepared to take the strike.
Prepared to die.
Arin's heart pounded wildly.
His vision blurred.
His chest tightened.
Then—
Something inside him shifted.
A strange warmth spread through his body.
Slow at first.
Then stronger.
Then unbearable.
His breath stopped.
His fingers curled tightly into fists.
The air around him began to tremble.
Not violently.
But unnaturally.
Leaves lifted from the ground.
Dust swirled in slow circles.
Branches creaked softly above.
Deep inside his chest—
Something awakened.
Not magic.
Not strength.
Something different.
Something that rejected magic.
A sharp pain suddenly pierced through his head.
Like a crack of lightning.
Blood trickled slowly from his nose.
Warm.
Thin.
Unmistakable.
The knight felt it immediately.
A sudden pressure pushing outward from behind him.
Heavy.
Cold.
Unnatural.
He turned his head slightly.
And froze.
Arin's eyes were glowing again.
But this time—
The light was unstable.
Flickering.
Dangerous.
The beast hesitated.
Its body stiffened.
Its claws trembling in midair.
Animals sensed power.
And this power felt wrong.
The pressure grew stronger.
The air thickened.
Harder to breathe.
Harder to move.
The beast tried to step forward.
But its legs shook.
Unsteady.
Weak.
Then—
Arin screamed.
A raw, painful cry tore from his throat.
Not anger.
Not fear.
Pain.
And the power exploded.
BOOM.
An invisible shockwave burst outward from his body.
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
Unstoppable.
The beast was thrown backward through the air.
Its massive body slammed into a tree with a deafening crash.
Wood splintered.
Leaves scattered.
Silence followed.
The forest stood still once more.
The creature did not rise again.
Its chest no longer moved.
Its glowing eyes dimmed slowly.
The threat was gone.
But the danger was not over.
Arin collapsed.
His small body fell forward, limp and lifeless.
The knight moved instantly.
He caught the boy before he hit the ground.
His heart pounded violently.
"Arin!" he shouted.
The child's skin felt cold.
Too cold.
His breathing was weak.
Barely there.
Fear gripped the knight's chest.
Not the fear of battle.
Not the fear of death.
The fear of loss.
A thin line of blood continued to drip from the boy's nose.
Slow.
Steady.
Terrifying.
The knight pressed his hand gently against Arin's chest.
Waiting.
Praying.
Listening.
One second passed.
Then another.
Finally—
A faint heartbeat returned.
Weak.
Fragile.
Alive.
Relief flooded through him.
So powerful it nearly broke him.
"You reckless child," he whispered softly.
But his voice trembled.
He understood now.
This power—
Whatever it was—
Was not a gift.
It was a burden.
Far away—
Deep beneath the ruins of the fallen palace—
The ancient stone seal trembled violently.
Another crack spread across its surface.
Chains rattled in the darkness.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
And a voice spoke from the shadows.
Slow.
Awakened.
Certain.
"The Null Core has begun to awaken."