As the day pursued, Colin and Milo dove into their training. Eratz kept a watchful eye on them, ensuring they pushed themselves without overdoing it.
Milo, ever eager, bounced between instructions, constantly distracted by every rustle in the forest, but despite his wild energy, he had shown improvement in channeling the power of his light fairies, though he still struggled to stay focused.
Colin remained calm, her movements precise. Her connection with the fire spirit was almost instinctive now, the flames swirling around her effortlessly and now Eratz commanded her to do physical exercises in this state.
In the afternoon, it was time for Eratz and Mercury to go through their fitness regimen.
Although they didn't push themselves as hard as the day before, the competition between them was still present.
The playful taunts, subtle smirks, and stolen glances carried the challenge, but not as intense than the previous day.
Both of them knew the real intensity lay ahead so they made sure to not go overboard.
As evening descended, the air thickened, Mercury stood beside Eratz as he strapped on his gear, checking his equipment with quiet focus.
Colin and Milo, after their training, approached him, their wide eyes full of wonder.
"Good luck, big brother," Colin whispered softly, tugging at his sleeve.
"Yeah... Good luck... all alone in the forest... during night... Don't get eaten by a monster or something..." Milo added with a mischievous grin.
Eratz chuckled, ruffling their hair gently.
"I have your smell over my feet, boy, if I fall, you will fall too."
While Milo's grin disappeared, Eratz turned to Mercury, who stood with arms crossed, her sharp blue eyes locking onto his.
"Bring it home, show that Terrakrus what we're made of. we're waiting for good news."
"I will," Eratz replied with a smile. "I'll bring it back."
Mercury gave him a firm pat on the shoulder, and with their words in his heart and a final nod to the group, Eratz set out, the forest stretching out before him.
His senses sharpened as he began retracing the path he had taken before, relying on the Aetheri's power to guide him.
The dense trees became familiar markers, the energy showed an invisible path.
As he moved deeper, the surroundings shifted. The trees grew sparser, the terrain more jagged. He crossed streams, climbed rocky hills, and descended into narrow paths that seemed to lead into darkness.
The faint hum of the aetheri's energy pulsed at the edge of his consciousness, guiding him like a compass further toward his destination.
Time slipped by as the day faded into twilight. The forest took on an dark glow, and shadows stretched long across the ground.
The path ahead was no longer clear, but Eratz's connection with the aetheri gave him the clarity he needed.
It wasn't just about his physical surroundings anymore, it was about the invisible threads of energy, the pulse of life deep within the earth, and the unmistakable presence of the Terrakrus.
After what felt like hours of tracking, Eratz finally reached the entrance of the cave, the same one he had discovered before.
The stone entrance loomed before him, dark and unwelcoming.
His heart pounded in his chest as he stepped forward, the air around him thick with tension.
The aetheri's power hummed more intensely now, the sense of danger growing stronger with each step.
He used another layer of the aetheri's abilities once more, closing his eyes and focusing on the energy within the cave.
The monster had a soil ability, so if he couldn't see it where the eyes could reach, he should try where the earth could go.
It was difficult, more difficult than he expected. Eratz's brow furrowed as he struggled to connect with the ground, his mind pushing through layers of cold, soil and hard stone.
The deeper he tried to reach, the more resistance he encountered. It was as though the earth was protected by a shield he had to break with his mind to find the creature's location.
His breath came in ragged pulls as he concentrated harder, sweat trickling down the side of his face.
Slowly, carefully, he extended his reach further into the earth, feeling the cold stone, the rough texture of the walls, the emptiness of the cavern beyond.
And then, there it was.
The Terrakrus.
A wave of raw power hit Eratz like a physical blow. His breath caught in his throat as his mind touched the presence of the creature far below.
It was waiting, as it always had been, formidable, still, exuding a strength so overwhelming that Eratz could feel it vibrating through the very ground beneath his feet.
His pulse quickened, a rush of adrenaline surging through him.
"It's really here... after all this time... I wasn't wrong."
A mix of joy and relief washed over him, his heart pounding with intensity.
He had a chance. He had finally found it after all this time. The beast that had haunted him, the creature that had consumed his thought since their first encounter. The Terrakrus was alive, and it was right beneath him.
But his elation quickly turned to frustration. The Terrakrus was too far below for him to reach. The cavern stretched deep into the earth, and there was no clear way down.
How was he supposed to get to it? How could he seize this opportunity if the dragon remained out of reach?
His mind raced, searching for a solution. And then, like a flash of inspiration, it came to him.
Suddenly, the pieces clicked into place. The aetheri. He had been using it to guide him, but it was capable of more than that.
It could manipulate space, it could teleport him, the same way it did when he first fought the Terrakrus.
A thrill shot through him like lightning. This was it, this was how he would reach the Terrakrus.
Eratz drew in a deep breath, steadying his nerves. He closed his eyes once more and focused all his energy into the aetheri.
The power surged through him, wrapping around his body like a second skin.
He visualized the cavern deep below, the place where the Terrakrus waited. He could feel the location as though he were already there, the cold air, the weight of the stone, the oppressive presence of the dragon.
The world around him began to blur, his surroundings growing faint as the energy twisted and shifted. He felt his body lift, his connection with the earth pulling at him like gravity reversing itself.
And then, with a sharp pulse of energy, the teleportation happened.
The world vanished in an instant. For a brief moment, everything was silent.
And then, just as suddenly, the ground returned beneath his feet.
Eratz opened his eyes. He stood in a vast, dark cavern, the air cold and thick with moisture. The sound of dripping water echoed faintly through the space, the only noise breaking the heavy silence.
His vision adjusted to the dim light, it was pitch black, but thanks to his connection with his monsters, he had access to a sample of night vision, and as he scanned the cavern, his gaze locked onto a shadow at the far end of the chamber.
The Terrakrus.
There it was, towering, magnificent, far more imposing than even Eratz had remembered.
Its black scales shimmered faintly in the dim light, their surface like polished stone.
Every muscle in its enormous body was coiled with power, standing on two legs, thick and strong, Its dark, rocky hide has a texture like polished obsidian, marked with veins of earth-colored streaks.
The dragon's eyes burned like molten gold, locked onto him with an intensity that made the cavern feel small and suffocating.
Eratz's heart pounded in his chest. This wasn't just a beast. This was a force of nature, a creature of pure power.
Every inch of it exuded dominance, its mere presence overwhelming, casting a pressure over the cavern that seemed to swallow everything else.
For a moment, Eratz was frozen in place, unable to move as he took in the sight of the Terrakrus.
The beast he had been hunting, the one that had consumed his thoughts, was finally standing before him.
The enormity of the moment hit him like a truck, this was it. His chance, his obsession, his hunt, everything had led him to this.
His red eyes sparkled.
With a quiet breath, Eratz took his first step forward.