As they advanced through the forest, Neral felt the air growing heavier, as if something unseen was watching them. The trees towered around them, as if trying to block out the light and muffle every sound. Every step they took made a muffled noise on the damp ground, adding to the dread that Neral could no longer ignore.
"It seems like the forest grows darker the closer we get to the mountains..." Eldar said quietly, his sharp eyes scanning the path ahead. "We need to stay alert. This might be more than just monsters."
Arianne, walking at the back, was cautiously retying her bowstring. "Yes, whatever is causing the ether to be so unstable here feels stronger than we anticipated. It's as if the forest itself has some sort of consciousness."
Neral could hear their words, but his focus was elsewhere. Ever since their last battle, the ether within him had remained volatile, yet he felt on the verge of breaking through an important barrier. He knew that the closer they got to the mountains, the greater the risk of him losing control due to the intense energy in the area, but he was determined not to let that happen.
After hours of walking, the day began to wane. The sky turned shades of orange and pink above the towering trees. The group paused briefly to rest near a shallow stream, where they drank from its fresh waters and tried to catch their breath before continuing their journey.
Eldar pulled out another map he had acquired from one of the old libraries at the academy. "We're close now to the northern mountain borders. If we keep moving through the night, we might reach the mountain passes before dawn, but that will put us at greater risk."
Neral looked at Eldar and asked, "What do you suggest?"
Eldar thought for a moment, then said, "I suggest we continue until we cross the great river and then set up a temporary camp there. The area will be more open, and we'll be able to see any threats coming."
Arianne nodded in agreement. "I agree. The forest here is suffocating, and the energy is unstable. It's better to get out of this area and rest somewhere safer."
After gathering their belongings, they continued walking through the forest, heading toward the great river. The sounds of the forest began to fade as night deepened, and the shadows around them grew longer and more mysterious.
When they finally reached the river, the moonlight illuminated the calm waters. The air here was cold but refreshing, as if they had finally escaped the grip of the dark forest. They set up small tents near the river and started a small fire for warmth.
As they sat around the fire, their thoughts drifted to the long journey ahead, but another feeling began to creep into Neral's mind: the sense that something was approaching.
"Do you feel that?" Neral said suddenly, his voice tense.
"I feel something strange, yes," Arianne replied, scanning their surroundings cautiously. "But I don't see anything."
Eldar had already inspected the area without noticing any unusual movement, but he knew well that the sensations drawn from ether should not be ignored.
Suddenly, the ground trembled slightly beneath them, like a small earthquake had struck the area. Then, from the depths of the darkness, a massive entity appeared, its body glowing with a dark purple hue, and its eyes burning red. It had a humanoid shape, but its limbs were monstrous, massive, as if carved from stone.
"That's... not an ordinary monster," Eldar muttered, gripping his sword.
"Move back!" Neral shouted as he rushed toward the entity, trying once again to use the ether. The power inside him surged, but he knew controlling it was still a challenge. With every step he took toward the creature, he felt the ether trying to overwhelm him.
Arianne fired an arrow at the beast, but it bounced off its petrified skin without causing any harm. "It's protected by a very hard layer!"
"I'll try to break through it!" Neral shouted, preparing to launch an ether-charged strike. But at that moment, he felt something stab him from within. The pain was sharp and sudden, like something was tearing his body apart from the inside.
Neral stopped in his tracks for a moment, feeling the ether inside him destabilizing again. "Not now..." he muttered with difficulty, but he couldn't maintain his focus.
At that moment, the massive entity charged at Neral with unexpected speed, striking him with such force that he was thrown to the ground. The blow was so strong that he felt like his bones had shattered.
"Neral!" Arianne screamed, rushing toward him, but the beast was too fast. It turned toward her, and though she tried to dodge, she wasn't fast enough.
Arian darted quickly, trying to avoid the lethal strike, but she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder as the monster's blow struck her, sending her flying backward. She hit the ground hard, and the sound of her body crashing against the earth was terrifying. She tried to stand, but the pain was paralyzing her movements.
Eldar, watching all of this with a calm but urgent demeanor, realized time was running out. "We have to work together before it takes us down one by one!" he shouted, looking toward Neral, who was still struggling to get up from the ground.
At that moment, Neral felt a strange force rising within him, as if the ether inside him was responding in a way he had not expected. The pain tearing through his body became sharper, but he also sensed that something had shifted. There was a hesitation within him—whether to let this power flow freely or try to control it as he usually did.
"Neral! Don't give up now!" Eldar yelled as he charged at the beast, trying to push it away from Arian, but he could barely break through its defenses. Every strike from his sword met with a metallic clang that echoed off the creature's hardened skin.
In that moment, Neral regained his balance and slowly stood up. He realized he had to take a risk this time. Summoning the ether with all his strength, instead of attempting full control like he had before, he decided to let it flow freely, relying solely on his instincts.
A strange energy began to gather around him, its color a light blue mixed with streaks of violet light. The air around him grew dense, as though space itself was distorting under the weight of this new power. Neral locked eyes on the beast, which was closing in on Arian, and his gaze burned with a newfound fury.
"Get away from her!" Neral shouted, louder than he expected, then dashed toward the monster with a speed he hadn't imagined possible.
The creature turned at the last second, but Neral was faster. With a fist charged with ether, he struck the beast directly in its chest. The blow was so forceful that the monster staggered back two steps, letting out a sound akin to a pained roar.
For a moment, there was a spark of victory in Neral's eyes. But he quickly realized the beast wasn't down yet. Instead, it began to change—its petrified skin started to crack, and within it, a dark purple energy seeped out, as if Neral's attack had unleashed something buried deep inside.
"What is this?!" Eldar gasped, staring at the sight in disbelief.
"We've broken the monster's shell... but there's something deeper," Arian said as she struggled to get up, her eyes filled with concern.
The creature began to rise again, but this time, it was no longer slow and heavy like before. Its features had transformed into something darker and more sinister.