The next few days were a blur of preparation. Every moment I wasn't training, I was learning everything I could about the Old Ones—about what they were and how to stop them. Tobias had insisted on more intense drills, and Aria had pushed me harder than ever before. But it wasn't just about honing my physical skills; it was about tapping into the power I hadn't yet accepted.
Each night, as exhaustion pulled me under, the visions came—fleeting images of blood and darkness, of wolves locked in a battle they couldn't win. And at the heart of it all was him, the Old One, waiting in the shadows, watching me.
I woke from one such dream in a cold sweat, my heart pounding. I couldn't wait any longer. It was time to confront him—time to stop hiding and face the truth. But I knew I couldn't do it alone.
---
The moon was high when I found Aria standing at the edge of the camp, her back to me as she stared out into the darkened woods. Her arms were crossed, her usual composed demeanor cracked slightly as she held herself stiffly, as though bracing for something.
"I'm going," I said quietly.
She didn't turn around, but I saw the slightest tensing of her shoulders. "You're not ready."
"I'll never be ready," I admitted, my voice low. "But I can't wait anymore. He's getting stronger, and if I don't face him now, more people will die."
Aria finally turned to face me, her pale eyes studying me intently. "You don't understand what you're walking into, Kael. He's not like anything you've faced before."
"I know," I replied. "But I have to try. I have to end this."
For a long moment, she said nothing, just stared at me with that unreadable expression. Then, slowly, she nodded. "You won't be alone."
---
The journey to the Old One's lair was grueling, the terrain growing more treacherous with every mile. The air felt different here, thick with a palpable tension, as though the very ground was alive with some ancient, malevolent force.
Tobias led the way, his eyes never straying from the path ahead, while Aria and I followed close behind. My heart hammered in my chest, the anticipation gnawing at me with every step. I had no idea what to expect when we arrived, but I knew one thing: there would be no turning back.
"Do you really think we can defeat him?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Tobias didn't answer right away. Instead, he glanced back at me, his expression hard. "You're not going there to fight him, Kael. Not yet. This is about understanding him. Knowing what we're up against."
I frowned. "So, what? We're just going to walk in there, say hello, and leave?"
Aria snorted softly, but her expression was grim. "No. But you need to see him for yourself. Understand the kind of power he holds. Because when the time comes to fight him, you won't get a second chance."
---
We arrived at the entrance to the lair just as dawn broke over the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the jagged rocks that jutted out from the earth like broken teeth. The lair itself was hidden deep within a mountain range, a labyrinth of caves that wound their way through the earth, twisting and turning in ways that made my head spin.
The air inside was cold, the silence oppressive. My heart raced as we ventured deeper, the weight of the stone walls pressing in around us. I could feel something in the air—something dark, something ancient. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I had to force myself to keep moving.
Tobias and Aria moved with purpose, their steps confident, but I could sense their unease. We were walking into the lion's den, and we all knew it.
After what felt like hours of winding through the tunnels, we emerged into a vast, open chamber. The air here was colder, the shadows deeper. And at the far end of the room, seated on a throne of stone, was him.
The Old One.
He was nothing like I had expected. His appearance was deceptively human—tall, with long, dark hair that fell in waves around his shoulders. His eyes, however, were what gave him away. They were too sharp, too calculating, as though they could see straight through me.
"So, you've come at last," he said, his voice smooth and dark, like silk hiding a blade.
My body tensed, every instinct screaming at me to run, to get out of here before it was too late. But I forced myself to stay still, to meet his gaze.
"I've come to stop you," I said, my voice strong despite the fear gnawing at me.
The Old One smiled, a slow, chilling smile that sent a shiver down my spine. "Is that what you think?"
Tobias stepped forward, his body bristling with tension. "We're not here to fight. Not yet."
The Old One's gaze shifted to Tobias, his smile widening. "Ah, Tobias. Loyal as ever. Still clinging to your precious code, I see."
Tobias didn't respond, but I could see the tightness in his jaw, the barely controlled rage simmering beneath the surface.
The Old One stood, his movements slow and deliberate, as though he had all the time in the world. He took a step toward us, and I had to fight the urge to back away.
"You don't understand, do you?" he said softly, his gaze fixed on me. "This isn't about power. This isn't about domination. This is about evolution. About becoming something greater than what you are."
I clenched my fists. "You mean becoming a monster."
His smile faded, his expression growing cold. "A monster? Is that what you think I am?"
He took another step forward, his eyes boring into mine. "I am no monster, Kael. I am the future. And whether you like it or not, you are part of that future."
"I'm nothing like you," I growled, my muscles tensing.
The Old One's gaze never wavered. "Not yet. But you will be."
---
The tension in the room was unbearable, the air thick with the weight of the Old One's presence. Every instinct I had told me to run, to get as far away from him as possible. But I couldn't. I had to stand my ground, had to prove to myself that I wasn't afraid.
Because if I let the fear consume me, he would win.
"You think you can stop me?" the Old One asked, his voice almost mocking. "You, a mere pup, standing against centuries of evolution?"
"I'm not afraid of you," I said, though my voice wavered slightly.
The Old One chuckled, a low, dark sound that sent a chill down my spine. "You should be."