The siren's blaring cry tore through the air, echoing throughout the village. The sharp, alarming sound could only mean one thing—Zone 1 had been breached. I shot up from my seat, my heart pounding as I processed the gravity of the situation. No one dared to enter Zone 1—the innermost sanctum of the Zestia Forest, a place feared by even the most formidable of creatures. My mother, Rosalia, turned her sharp gaze towards me, worry creeping into her otherwise composed demeanor.
"Zone 1… only the reckless or the desperate would go there," she murmured, her tone laced with tension.
I nodded, already standing and preparing to leave. "I'll go check it out."
"Be cautious, Rosé. We don't know who or what could've triggered the siren," she warned, though there was an underlying trust in her words.
With a final nod, I turned and raced through the village, the weight of the siren's warning heavy on my mind. The lush greenery around me blurred as I moved with inhuman speed, crossing the boundaries of our peaceful haven. The deeper I ventured, the more palpable the energy became—an oppressive, volatile force that could only mean one thing: something powerful had disturbed the natural balance of the forest.
As I crossed the threshold into Zone 1, the air around me shifted, growing heavier, more dangerous. The ancient spirits of the forest seemed agitated, their normally calm presence chaotic. Something was terribly wrong.
And then I saw it.
In the distance, a monstrous figure towered above a group of broken bodies—High Elves, their golden armor now stained with blood. Only three of them remained alive, their bodies barely clinging to life as they lay sprawled out on the ground, defenseless.
Standing above them, its eyes burning with rage and flame, was a Behemoth Flametail—a massive fox-like creature with nine blazing tails, each one wreathed in roaring flames that flickered with murderous intensity. Its fur was pitch-black, absorbing the light around it, while its mane and tails glowed with fiery orange. This wasn't just any creature—it was a ruler of Zone 2, a being that had lived for over 100,000 years, building its strength through countless battles. Its eyes, glowing like molten embers, locked onto me as I stepped into the clearing.
The Flametail let out a deafening roar, its flames flaring up, scorching the earth beneath its massive paws. The very ground trembled beneath its fury.
I took a deep breath, my muscles tensing. This wasn't going to be easy.
Before I could act, the Flametail lunged forward, its massive body moving with surprising speed for something so large. Its nine tails whipped through the air, each one leaving a trail of flame as it swung toward me. I narrowly dodged the first few strikes, the intense heat singeing the air around me. The force of each blow cracked the ground beneath my feet, sending tremors through the clearing.
I leaped back, creating some distance between us, but the Flametail wasn't finished. It opened its maw, and with a guttural snarl, unleashed a torrent of fire. The flames roared toward me, consuming everything in their path. I reacted instantly, slamming my hands into the ground. A wall of earth erupted from beneath me, shielding me from the inferno, but even the stone began to melt under the intensity of the heat.
I couldn't just stay defensive. I needed to strike.
With a burst of power, I launched myself forward, my body moving faster than the eye could follow. I aimed for the Flametail's side, intending to bypass its tails and strike at its unguarded flank. But the creature was faster than I anticipated. One of its tails swung around, catching me mid-air and slamming me into the ground with bone-shattering force. The impact sent shockwaves through the earth, creating a crater where I landed.
I gritted my teeth, pushing myself to my feet despite the pain radiating through my body. The Flametail loomed above me, its eyes burning with ancient fury. It raised a massive paw, flames curling around its claws, and brought it down with lethal force.
This time, I was ready.
I caught its paw mid-swing, my muscles straining as I stopped the blow. The force of the impact sent tremors rippling through the ground, but I held firm. With a roar of my own, I twisted its paw, forcing the massive creature to its knees. The Flametail let out a cry of rage, its flames flaring even hotter, but I didn't let go. My grip tightened as I slammed the beast into the ground, creating a shockwave that sent debris flying in all directions.
The Flametail snarled, its tails thrashing wildly, but I was already moving. I surged forward, landing a solid punch against its chest. The beast howled in pain as it staggered back, its flames flickering wildly. I pressed the advantage, dodging its retaliatory strikes and delivering blow after blow, each one cracking the earth beneath us.
Despite its size and power, the Flametail was weakening. Its flames dimmed, its movements slowed. Finally, with one last, powerful strike, I forced the creature to the ground, pinning it beneath me.
"Enough," I growled, my voice low and commanding. "I don't want to kill you."
The Flametail struggled for a moment longer, but then its body stilled. Its glowing eyes met mine, filled with both fury and desperation. And then, to my surprise, it spoke.
"Mercy… please," the Flametail rasped, its voice deep and filled with ancient sorrow. "Do not kill me."
I stared down at the majestic creature beneath me, my grip on its form loosening. I had no intention of killing it—not when I could sense the depth of its pain, its loss.
"I don't want to hurt you," I said softly, standing up and releasing the beast. "But why did you attack these elves? What drove you to this?"
The Flametail's fiery eyes narrowed, and it growled low in its throat. "They killed one of my kin… skinned him for his fur. They took his heart and Lumena core."
My gaze shifted to the battered elves lying on the ground. So this was about vengeance. The death of one of its own had driven the Flametail to this point. But something didn't sit right with me. These elves looked far too battered and weak to have taken down such a powerful creature.
Before I could question the Flametail further, one of the elves stirred. She was different from the others—her aura was regal, her golden armor more ornate. Her long, silver hair was stained with dirt and blood, but her piercing violet eyes still shone with defiance and strength.
The elf struggled to sit up, wincing in pain. "Please… it wasn't us," she gasped, her voice weak but resolute. "We didn't kill the Flametail's kin. We found its body after a group of assassins ambushed us."
I narrowed my eyes, stepping closer to the elf. "Assassins?"
She nodded, her gaze meeting mine with desperation. "We've been venturing through this forest for a year… trying to reach this place. The assassins have been trailing us the entire time, sabotaging our every step. When we arrived at the scene… the Flametail was already dead."
The Flametail growled, flames flaring once again. "Lies…"
"I swear it's the truth!" the elf cried, her voice growing stronger. "I swear upon the name of the Elven God, Aerith, that we did not harm your kin. We only sought to protect ourselves from the assassins."
The sincerity in her voice gave me pause. I studied her carefully, searching for any sign of deception. But all I saw was desperation—and truth.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice still sharp.
The elf straightened, her expression regal despite her injuries. "I am Princess Valendra Moonshade , heir to the throne of Aelyndor."
Aelyndor… one of the most powerful High Elf kingdoms.
"We journeyed here after receiving a prophecy," she continued, her voice soft but firm. "A godly artifact is said to be born in this forest—one of immense power. But we are not the only race that received such news. Others have ventured here as well… and we have been hunted ever since."
My eyes darkened at her words. This was bigger than just a group of elves venturing into dangerous territory. A godly artifact… if such a thing existed in this forest, it would explain why so many had begun venturing into the deeper zones, including dangerous entities.
I turned back to the Flametail, whose flames had dimmed once more. "Do you believe her?" I asked softly.
The Flametail hesitated, its fiery eyes flicking between me and the princess. Finally, with a low growl, it bowed its head. "I sense no lie in her words."
I nodded, satisfied. "Then the assassins are the true culprits. I will find them, and they will pay for what they've done."
The Flametail—no, Selena, as I named her—gazed up at me, her massive form shrinking down to a smaller, more manageable size. "I will aid you, Master. For now… I shall follow your lead."
With Selena by my side, I turned to the wounded elves, my eyes narrowing as I considered their journey. Something far larger was brewing, and it wasn't just about the death of a Flametail. The prophecy of a godly artifact had set events into motion that would ripple throughout Elaris.