The lion-like creature surged forward, a living tempest of electricity crackling through the air as it charged. Its roar was a thunderous blast that echoed through the clearing, shaking the very earth beneath them.
With terrifying speed, the beast appeared in front of Luna, its massive claw raised high to strike. Jin's heart skipped a beat. "Luna! Watch out!"
Luna spun away, narrowly dodging the deadly swipe. She threw Jin a quick, playful glance, her lips curving into a smirk. "Aw, was someone worried about me?"
Jin let out an exasperated sigh, tension flashing in his eyes. "This really isn't the time, Luna…"
Luna nodded, her expression hardening. "Fine. I'll draw its attention."
As she darted to the side, Jin prepared to capitalize on her move, ki surging through him. But the beast's head jerked sharply, its fiery gaze shifting from Luna to Riven, who had been watching for an opening from the edge of the clearing. The creature let out a snarl, its eyes narrowing as it targeted Riven with alarming focus.
Riven barely had time to react as the creature lunged her way, its massive paw crashing down. She managed to raise her arms in defense, but the beast's strike hit like a lightning bolt, sending her flying backward. She crashed into a tree, a gasp escaping her as the impact knocked the breath from her lungs.
Jin's eyes widened, fierce anger igniting within him. "Riven!" he shouted, the sight of his friend's pain unleashing something raw and dark inside him.
A low voice echoed in his mind, "Yes… let the rage run."
Dark ki began to pulse from Jin's body, shadows curling at his feet as the air grew cold and thick. The beast, sensing the shift, locked its gaze on Jin, realizing the tides had shifted.
"What… what is that?" Luna whispered, feeling the heavy, oppressive energy emanating from Jin. She watched in awe and fear as shadows seemed to cling to him, feeding off the ki in the air.
The symbol of a half-moon blazed into the blade of Jin's tanto, casting a ghostly light as Jin advanced on the beast. His movements were smooth, yet predatory, as if he were no longer the prey. With a swipe, Jin slashed at the beast, but it dodged, growling in defiance. The creature leapt forward, claws crashing down—yet shadows surged up from Jin, deflecting the blow, piercing into the beast's paw, and retreating.
The beast howled, retreating and unleashing a wave of electricity. But Jin barely flinched, extending his hand and hurling a condensed ki blast, shattering the lightning and striking the beast with relentless force.
From the sidelines, Kael, Kade, and Luna stared, stunned by the transformation in Jin. Gone was the teammate they knew; in his place stood a figure shrouded in shadows, merciless and cold.
Jin's eyes glowed an eerie shade of gray as he advanced, shadows twisting like tendrils around him. They shot forward, piercing the beast's heart, and began siphoning the beast's ki. As the energy drained, Jin's aura flared before he turned, his gaze falling on his friends. For a chilling moment, it seemed he would attack them—before his body suddenly collapsed.
The silence was thick as they exchanged glances, finally broken when Kade hesitated, backing up slightly. Luna sighed and knelt, lifting Jin onto her back.
As they trekked back to the Cliffside Lodge, the atmosphere felt heavy with questions. The dark energy had faded, yet Jin's unnerving aura lingered in their thoughts.
Days passed in the lodge, with Jin locked in a deep, unbroken sleep. Luna stayed by his side constantly, barring anyone from entering his room. She watched over him, each day passing with a mixture of concern and curiosity. Kade and Kael came to check on her, but she waved them away, her focus never leaving Jin's resting figure.
Inside his unconscious mind, Jin was trapped in a relentless nightmare. Each day, he witnessed the fall of a kingdom consumed by fire and terror, a colossal dragon named Fang laying waste to everything in sight. Over and over, he watched as buildings crumbled, people screamed, and Fang's shadow engulfed the land. The nightmare replayed more than forty times each day, the agony mounting until he felt as though he were part of that world, doomed to perish.
Finally, after a week, Jin's eyes opened. He blinked, disoriented, and tried to sit up. Before he could fully gather his bearings, Luna threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Jin! You're awake!" she whispered, her voice thick with relief. She pulled back just enough to look at him, worry etched into her expression. "Are you okay? How do you feel? You've been out for a whole week—none of us knew if you'd ever wake up."
Jin, still foggy, managed a faint nod. "I… I'm okay, I think. Just… tired," he murmured, his voice hoarse.
Luna gave him a quick look-over, her gaze lingering on his pale face and slightly trembling hands. "You scared us, you know? What happened out there in the forest, Jin?"
Jin's brows furrowed as he tried to recall, but all he could grasp were fragments—a haze of darkness, a vague sensation of rage, and then… nothing. "It's… it's all a blur," he admitted, frustration lacing his voice. "I don't remember much, just flashes."
Before he could dwell on it further, Luna pulled him into another embrace, this one gentler yet filled with a deep, lingering relief. Her arms wrapped tightly around him, and he could feel her heart racing against his chest. Jin blinked, momentarily stunned by the closeness, before letting out a quiet sigh.
"Luna… were you here this whole time?" he asked softly, curiosity tinged with surprise. "Or did you just come in to check on me?"
Luna pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, her expression soft but unwavering. "I've been here with you… the whole time," she admitted quietly. "I couldn't just leave you alone, not after what happened in the forest. I didn't know if you'd wake up, but I wanted to be here when you did."
Jin's chest tightened at her words, and a faint warmth spread within him, dispelling some of the lingering shadows. Slowly, he raised his arms and wrapped them around her, returning the embrace with a newfound strength. He held her tightly, his head dipping to rest on her shoulder.
"Thank you," he murmured, the gratitude thick in his voice. He didn't fully understand everything that had happened, but knowing she had stayed by his side all this time filled him with a sense of comfort he hadn't felt in a long time.
They stayed like that, wrapped in silence, letting the weight of the past week ease in each other's arms. Finally, Jin pulled back just slightly, looking down at her with a small, grateful smile.
"I owe you one, don't I?" he said, his tone lightening, though there was a deep sincerity in his eyes.
Luna managed a faint chuckle, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. "You better remember that," she replied, trying to keep her tone playful, though her voice wavered slightly. "Just… don't go scaring us." She paused, her gaze softening as her voice dropped to almost a whisper. "Don't go and scare me like that again."
Jin nodded, a hint of determination flashing in his gaze. "I'll try."
Luna's eyes softened further as she looked up at him, a trace of lingering worry still etched on her face. "Are you… really okay, Jin?" She couldn't help herself, her arms tightening around him instinctively, as if afraid he might slip away again.
Jin felt the warmth of her embrace and slowly wrapped his arms around her too, resting his head on her shoulder. "Yeah… I think I am," he murmured, letting himself relax for the first time in days.
But the week of exhaustion, along with the lack of food and the intense energy drain, caught up to him all at once. Before he could say anything more, his body went limp in her arms, and he drifted back into unconsciousness, the world fading away in her embrace.
Luna held him carefully, her heart racing, unsure if this was just a faint or something worse. But feeling his steady breathing, she let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Jin…" she whispered, her voice filled with a quiet resolve. "I'll stay by your side, no matter what." And with that, she began making preparations to ensure he recovered fully, knowing he would need time—and care—to regain his strength.
As Luna held Jin tightly within her arms, a wave of protectiveness washed over her, contrasting sharply with her usual combative nature. She had always thrived on chaos, relishing the thrill of battle and the rush of adrenaline that came with it. Yet here, in this moment, she felt something different—something she hadn't allowed herself to feel in a long time.
Luna gathered a variety of food, preparing a small stash in the corner of the room—enough to sustain him when he finally came to. Every time she returned to his side, she checked for any sign of consciousness, her heart racing with each small change in his breathing.
The door remained closed to keep anyone else from disturbing him.
Luna sat by his side, stealing glances at his peaceful face as she hummed softly to herself, creating a soothing atmosphere in the room.
Luna smiled softly to herself, a warmth blooming in her chest that felt at odds with her usual thrill-seeking nature. "This isn't so bad," she thought.
As she sat beside Jin she started to hum again looking out the window seeing snow falling. "I promise to be here when you wake up…" She said softly before laying her head down onto the bed and closing her eyes to fall asleep after days of being awake.