The morning after Hiro's quiet reflection was unlike any other in the enclave. The tamers, usually bustling with energy in the early hours, seemed subdued. Even the beasts moved with a wariness that hadn't been present before. The air was heavy, as if the entire valley was bracing for something inevitable.
Hiro could feel it in his bones. The gods were moving, and they were coming soon.
Lina joined Hiro as they watched the tamers prepare. "There's tension everywhere," she said quietly. "It's like everyone knows something is coming, but no one's saying it out loud."
"They feel it," Hiro replied. "Just like we do. The gods won't wait much longer. They'll strike when we least expect it."
Lina frowned, her gaze drifting to the sky where her hawk circled lazily, its keen eyes scanning for any sign of trouble. "We've been preparing for this, but… do you think we're really ready?"
Hiro's jaw tightened. "We don't have a choice. Whether we're ready or not, they're coming."
As if summoned by his words, the stillness of the morning was suddenly broken by a low, distant rumble. It was faint, barely noticeable at first, but it sent a shiver down Hiro's spine. The tamers around them paused, their conversations faltering as the sound grew louder, closer.
"Do you hear that?" Lina asked, her voice tense.
Hiro nodded, his eyes narrowing as he looked toward the horizon. The sound wasn't natural, it was something else. Something wrong.
Thorne appeared at Hiro's side, his face grim. "They're coming, aren't they?"
Hiro didn't need to answer. The rumbling grew louder, the ground beneath their feet trembling ever so slightly. The tamers, now fully aware of the approaching danger, began to gather, their beasts tense and ready for a fight.
"It's time," Hiro said quietly, his hand resting on the back of his wolf.
The sky above them began to darken, clouds swirling ominously as if heralding the arrival of something far greater than a mere storm. Lightning cracked in the distance, followed by the roll of thunder that shook the valley.
Lina's eyes widened in horror. "They're here."
A shadow passed over the valley, and the tamers looked up, their faces pale with fear. High above them, silhouetted against the darkening sky, were creatures of pure divine energy, beings that radiated with the power of the gods themselves. These weren't like the angel Hiro had fought before. They were more powerful, more dangerous.
And they were coming for them.
"We need to get everyone ready," Thorne said urgently, his falcon screeching as it took to the sky. "This is what we've been preparing for."
Hiro's heart raced, but he kept his voice steady. "Get into formation! We face them together."
The tamers moved quickly, years of hiding and training finally culminating in this moment. Their beasts, sensing the danger, stood firm by their sides, their muscles tense and ready for the coming battle.
Hiro took his place at the front of the group, his wolf and bear flanking him as they had done countless times before. But now, behind him, loomed the legendary beast, the creature the gods had hidden for centuries, its eyes glowing with a fierce light as it prepared to meet its captors head-on.
Lina stood by Hiro's side, her hawk diving through the sky with a shrill cry. "Whatever happens, we face it together."
Hiro nodded, his gaze never leaving the sky. "We'll face them, and we'll show them what we're capable of."
The first of the divine creatures descended, its wings spread wide as it hovered above the valley. Its eyes burned with the fury of the gods, and in its hand, it held a spear of crackling energy. Behind it, more followed, an army of divine enforcers, sent to crush the tamers once and for all.
Hiro felt his pulse quicken, but he remained calm. He had prepared for this. They all had. And now, the time had come to stand their ground.
As the first divine enforcer swooped down, Hiro raised his hand, his connection with the legendary beast surging to life. The beast roared, a sound that shook the valley to its core, and its eyes blazed with power as it leaped forward to meet the enemy.
The battle had begun.