Kael and Luna stared at the creature in shock and disbelief, their hearts pounding in their chests.
"It's a Drakon, I've never heard of one in this part of Anduron," Luna whispered, her eyes wide with fear. "We need to be careful, just a touch of its lethal poison will make you unable to see tomorrow, Kael."
"I… don't know what I can do," Kael admitted, his voice shaking. "I'm not strong like you, Luna."
"Don't worry, I'll protect you at all costs," she assured him, drawing her bow and nocking an arrow. "Try to stay behind me."
The Drakon hissed menacingly, its forked tongue flicking out to taste the air. It was clear that it had been drawn to Kael and Luna's presence, likely sensing the power that resonated within the ancient tome.
Luna fired her arrows with grace, each one finding its mark on the beast's scaly hide. But the Drakon seemed unfazed, continuing its relentless advance.
"Tsk, its scales are too hard!" She stated in annoyance.
Kael can only watch in horror as Luna bravely fights the creature, her agility and skill keeping her just out of reach of its venomous fangs. However, he could see that she was getting tired, her movements slowly becoming less fluid, and the Drakon was gaining the upper hand.
Kael was deeply touched by Luna's willingness to risk her life for a stranger like himself, someone who had always been perceived as weak and cowardly. He felt helpless and useless, feelings that had haunted him throughout his entire life. But this time, the stakes were much higher – his inability to act might cost the life of a heroic and selfless human being.
As Luna continued her fierce battle against the Drakon, Kael's heart ached with the desire to be of some use, to help her in any way he could. He tightly clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the ancient tome in his hand, hoping that there was any hidden power within its pages that could aid them in this desperate situation, but to no avail.
Then with one powerful swipe of its tail, the Drakon knocked Luna off her feet, sending her crashing into a nearby tree. At that moment, Kael acted on pure instinct, throwing himself in front of her to protect her from the incoming blow. He was ready to give up his own life, one that he considered meaningless, in exchange for the selflessness and loyalty Luna had shown towards a nobody like him.
As the Drakon loomed over them, its powerful muscles coiled as it prepared to deliver the final, devastating blow, and the creature's tail struck with brutal force, impaling Kael through his chest. Luna screamed hysterically as she watched Kael's body being pierced, tears streaming down her face. "No, Kael! Please, no!" she cried out, her voice filled with anguish and despair.
The Drakon withdrew its tail with a guttural growl, leaving a gaping hole in Kael's chest. He coughed up blood, his face contorted in agony as he felt his life slipping away. "Luna... I'm so... sorry… run, now…" he gasped, his voice barely a whisper.
For a moment, it seemed as though all hope was lost. But then, something unexpected happened. A dark aura began to appear from within Kael's wound, growing stronger and more intense by the second. It seemed that Drakon's vicious attack had damaged the seal the elders had placed on Kael's soul, causing bits of the dark power within to seep out, unleashing the dormant power that had been lying in wait.
A primal rage born of survival, desperation, and the desire to protect Luna erupted within him, igniting a power he had never known before. The air around Kael crackled with dark energy as he levitated in the air, drowning out Drakon's menacing roars.
An aura of darkness enveloped his body, swirling around him like a malevolent storm. The once frail and helpless Kael was consumed by this dark force, his consciousness seemingly fading away as the evil entity took control. His eyes, once filled with fear and vulnerability, now burned with a sinister black flame devoid of any emotion or humanity, a reflection of the darkness that had taken hold of his very essence.
Terrified, the Drakon tried to bite Kael with its poisonous fangs. However, its attack never reached its target. Instead, it was met with a powerful barrier of dark energy that radiated from Kael's body, a protective force that he instinctively called forth and named "Shadow Armor." The creature recoiled in shock and confusion, taken aback by the sudden display of strength from someone it had deemed weak and insignificant.
Kael, now an instrument of destruction, stood tall and menacing, the darkness surging through his veins, granting him power beyond his wildest dreams. The air around him crackled with energy, and the very ground seemed to tremble beneath his feet. The once timid and fearful young man was now an imposing figure, a force to be reckoned with.
As he faced the Drakon, he exuded an air of confidence and malevolence, as if he knew the creature was no match for him. His eyes gleamed with evil intent and an insatiable desire for bloodshed, ready to spill the life essence of his foe without a shred of mercy.
The Drakon lunged forward once more out of desperation, but Kael, now under the control of the dark energy, effortlessly stopped the creature's attack with one hand.
"Aura of Despair," Kael whispered, his voice distorted and chilling. A suffocating aura emanated from him, enveloping the Drakon and causing it to falter. The once-mighty beast groaned in agony as its resolve weakened, its movements becoming sluggish and uncertain.
With a sinister smile, Kael unleashed his next attack. "Shadowflame," he hissed, and from the darkness around him, sinister flames appeared, their black and purple hues flickering menacingly. The shadowflames struck the Drakon mercilessly, the creature writhing in pain as the sinister fire seared its flesh.
Luna, struggling to regain her footing, looked on in shock and horror at Kael's transformation. She knew that if the darkness within him continued to rage unchecked, it could consume him entirely, leaving nothing but a husk of the man she had grown to care for.
"Ka… Kael, is that you?" She spoke softly.
As the Drakon's strength faded under the relentless assault of Kael's newfound power, Luna knew that something was wrong, she had to find a way to reach him before it was too late. With every ounce of her strength, she pushed herself to stand, her voice hoarse but determined as she called out to him.
"Kael! You have to fight this! Don't let the darkness take control of you!" she pleaded, her eyes filled with concern and desperation.
For a moment, it seemed as if Kael turned a deaf ear to her words. But Kael slowly halted his attacks, turned his head to look at Luna, but his eyes were filled with murderous intent!
Still floating in the air, he slowly lifted up his right hand, and a shadowflame appeared above it. He unleashed it at Luna without any mercy, shocking her as she desperately tried to evade it, but it was way too fast!
Luna's eyes widened in terror, realizing she wouldn't be able to dodge the incoming attack. In a desperate and fearful gasp, she cried out, "Kyaaaa!!!"
But the shadowflame continued its deadly trajectory, aiming straight for Luna as she braced for impact.