The rain had picked up again, making visibility poor and their footing treacherous. Behind them, Arin could hear the sound of something large crashing through the undergrowth, gaining on them with terrifying speed.
"What is it?" Arin gasped between breaths, struggling to keep pace with Kai.
"Thunder Wolf. One of the more dangerous aura beasts. We've gone beyond the barrier's protection. We need to get back, fast!"
The sound of splintering wood and a bone-chilling howl spurred them to run even faster. Suddenly, several figures burst past them, their unexpected appearance nearly causing Arin to stumble. They moved with incredible speed, weaving through the trees with inhuman agility.
"Aura Warriors!" Kai gasped, relief evident in his voice.
The warriors sprang into action immediately, their movements fluid and practiced. Two of them rushed forward to meet the beast that was pursuing Arin and Kai. Arin watched in awe as the warriors engaged the beast – a massive, wolf-like creature with fur that crackled with electricity. Its eyes glowed an eerie blue, and each step it took left scorch marks on the forest floor.
"Watch out for its claws!"
The warning came just in time as the Thunder Wolf's massive paw, crackling with electric energy, swept through the air where a warrior had been standing moments before.
The warriors moved with incredible speed and grace, their heightened senses allowing them to navigate the battlefield with ease. Raindrops seemed to slow in mid-air around them, their reflexes so quick that they could dodge individual droplets. One warrior, a woman with intricate tattoos pulsing with silvery light along her arms, channeled her aura visibly. The air around her shimmered with power as she concentrated, her eyes taking on an otherworldly glow.
With a burst of speed that left a momentary afterimage, she charged at the Thunder Wolf. Her eyes blazed with inner fire as she ducked under a massive clawed swipe, the beast's talons passing so close they sliced off a few strands of her hair. The warrior retaliated instantly, her body moving in a blur. She unleashed a series of lightning-fast punches, each strike leaving trails of light in its wake like miniature comets.
Her fists connected with the Thunder Wolf's flank, and shockwaves rippled through the air, distorting the rainfall around the point of impact. The beast let out a pained roar, electricity arcing wildly from its fur. Trees nearby creaked and swayed from the force of the blows, leaves and small branches raining down around the combatants.
The warrior leapt back, narrowly avoiding a retaliatory bite from the enraged creature. Her fellow Aura Warriors moved in perfect synchronization, ready to press the advantage or defend against the Thunder Wolf's next assault.
"I'll draw its attention! You go for its weak spots!"
Nearby, another warrior danced between attacks, his body seeming to shimmer as he narrowly avoided lethal blows. He countered with precise strikes, each one targeting vital points on the Thunder Wolf. Where his fists connected, bursts of energy rippled outward, momentarily disrupting the beast's own aura.
"It's absorbing our energy attacks! We need to ground it somehow!"
The beast reared back, its mane standing on end. The air grew heavy with the scent of ozone. The Thunder Wolf's eyes blazed with an intense, electric blue, its fury palpable in the charged atmosphere. A low, rumbling growl emanated from its chest, growing in volume and intensity until it shook the very ground beneath their feet.
The creature's massive form seemed to swell, electricity arcing between its raised hackles. Its claws dug deep furrows into the earth, leaving smoldering tracks as its rage built to a fever pitch. The rain sizzled and evaporated as it hit the beast's superheated fur, creating a steaming aura around its massive frame.
With each passing second, the Thunder Wolf's anger intensified, feeding the storm brewing overhead. The dark clouds swirled faster, flashes of lightning illuminating its snarling visage in stark, terrifying clarity. The creature's tail lashed back and forth, each movement sending out waves of static electricity that made the hair on everyone's arms stand on end. It was clear that the Thunder Wolf was preparing for a devastating attack, its rage fueling its already formidable elemental powers to new, terrifying heights.
"Brace yourselves! It's summoning a storm!"
On cue, dark clouds began to swirl overhead, and a deafening howl erupted from the creature's maw. The warriors staggered, momentarily stunned by the sonic assault.
"We can't let it recharge! Keep it moving! Don't let it call lightning!"
The warriors scattered as the Thunder Wolf lunged forward, its claws crackling with electricity. One warrior managed to roll out of the way, but another was caught by the beast's powerful swipe. The warrior cried out in pain as the electrified claws tore at their chest, sending them flying backward.
The Thunder Wolf pressed its advantage, leaping towards the fallen warrior with terrifying speed. Another warrior bravely intercepted the attack, their spear clashing against the creature's claws in a shower of sparks. The warrior gritted their teeth as the electricity coursed through their body, their muscles spasming from the shock.
Despite their valiant efforts, it quickly became apparent that the warriors were outmatched. The beast's raw power and elemental abilities were proving too much for them to handle.
"We can't take it down!"
"Agreed. We need to retreat and regroup. This thing's beyond our current abilities."
The lead warrior nodded grimly, their eyes wide with fear and determination. "Alright, change of plans. We create a diversion and escape. Ready yourselves!"
The short-haired woman quickly approached Arin and Kai. "Are you two alright?"
Kai nodded, still panting. "We... we didn't mean to go so far."
"No time for explanations now. We need to move. Stay close to me."
Suddenly, a blinding flash of lightning struck a nearby tree, splitting it in half. The Thunder Wolf used the distraction to charge directly at the group.
"Now!"
In a coordinated move, two warriors flanked the beast, channeling their aura into powerful strikes that momentarily staggered it. The third warrior created a shimmering barrier of energy between the Thunder Wolf and the escaping group.
"Run!"
They sprinted through the forest, the sound of battle slowly fading behind them. The woman led them through a winding path, her heightened senses allowing her to navigate the treacherous terrain even in the pouring rain.
A crackling roar echoed through the trees, followed by the sound of splintering wood. The Thunder Wolf had broken through the barrier and was once again in pursuit.
Arin's lungs burned, and her legs felt like lead, but the warrior's iron grip and the terror of what lay behind drove her forward. Kai stumbled on a root, nearly falling, but the woman's quick reflexes kept him upright and moving.
They ran, and the warrior began to glow faintly, her aura extending to envelop Arin and Kai. They felt a surge of energy, their fatigue momentarily forgotten as they pushed themselves to match her pace.
"We're almost to the barrier. Once we're through, we'll be safe. Just a little further!"
With a final burst of speed, they broke through the tree line. Ahead, Arin could see a thin field of energy – the village's protective barrier. Behind them, the enraged howl of the Thunder Wolf grew closer.
"Don't stop! It can't follow us through!"
With the last of their strength, they lunged forward, passing through the barrier just before a massive, electrically charged paw swiped at the space they had occupied moments before. The Thunder Wolf's furious roar reverberated through the forest as they collapsed on the other side, safe but utterly exhausted.
They caught their breath, and the short-haired warrior turned to her companions, her face etched with concern. "We need to report this to the Chief immediately."
"An elite aura beast like that, so close to our village... it's extremely unusual. Something's not right."
"Could it be connected to the recent disturbances we've been sensing?"
The lead warrior shook her head, her brow furrowed. "I don't know, but I have a bad feeling about this."
"What... what does it mean?"
"We're not sure yet, young one. But don't worry, we'll figure it out. For now, let's get you two back to the village."
They made their way back towards the village, and Arin couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. The display of power she had just witnessed was unlike anything she had ever seen or imagined. "How do you do that? The lightning-fast movements, the glowing strikes... is that all from the Moonfire Crystal?"
"Not directly. The Moonfire Crystal allows us to harness aura, but the abilities you saw come from years of training and practice. It's the heart of our village, the source of our power, but we must learn to channel that power ourselves."
Kai, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up. "The Moonfire Crystal is what makes us the Silverglade Tribe. It's been here for as long as anyone can remember. Without it, we wouldn't exist."
"So the crystal is what protects us from the aura beasts?"
"It creates a barrier that weakens them, makes it harder for them to approach the village. But as you saw, it's not perfect. The further you go from the village, the weaker the protection gets."
"And it's not just distance that matters. The barrier's effectiveness also depends on the strength of the aura beast. Weaker creatures, like the Lesser Wolfhounds or the Flickering Wisps, are less affected by it due to their inherently weaker aura. They can come closer to the village without feeling the barrier's effects as strongly."
"But powerful beasts, like that Thunder Wolf? They have incredibly strong auras, which means the barrier has a much greater effect on them. They might feel significantly weakened or slowed down when they get close to the village. It takes a truly immense amount of power for a beast to push through the barrier's influence."
Arin's brow furrowed as she processed this information.
"But if the weaker beasts can come closer, doesn't that still put the village at risk? Even a Lesser Wolfhound could cause a lot of damage if it got inside the village boundaries."
"You're right, Kai. The weaker beasts do pose a risk. That's why we have the Aura Warriors patrolling the village boundaries at all times. They deal with any beasts that come too close."
"The Moonfire Crystal's barrier is our first line of defense, but it's not our only protection. The skills and vigilance of our warriors, and the awareness and caution of every member of the tribe, are just as important in keeping us safe."
Arin pondered this information, thinking back to the incredible battle she had just witnessed. She glanced over at Kai, noticing a hint of longing in his expression.
"Have you ever thought about becoming an Aura Warrior?"
"Every day. But it's not that simple. You have to be chosen by the Moonfire Crystal through a special ritual, and we haven't had one in over a decade." He trailed off, his gaze distant as if lost in thought.
Arin sensed there was more to the story, a hidden pain that Kai was reluctant to share. She waited patiently, giving him the space to continue if he wanted to.
After a long moment, Kai spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper. "The last time we had a ritual... something went wrong. Terribly wrong." He swallowed hard.
"Chief Lys was the only one that awakened during that ritual. The others... they didn't make it."