I clenched my jaw as I watched them flee into the distance, their figures disappearing into the night. But I had no time to celebrate our brief reprieve.
The creatures—whatever they were—had already begun to move toward us, their glowing eyes multiplying in the dark.
We weren't alone anymore. And the Lain Clan wasn't the only threat.
As I stood frozen, I saw something that stopped my heart for a moment. Blue fireflies—dozens of them—began to drift from the edges of the mountain, their pale blue light casting an ethereal glow against the darkening sky.
It was beautiful at first, but something about their presence was unnerving.
They weren't just fireflies. Their movements seemed deliberate, as if they were guiding something—herding it toward us.
My master's voice reverberated in my mind, cold with warning.
"Do not trust those creatures. They are not fireflies. They are Watcher Spirits, drawn to the scent of power, and they will lead those beasts straight to us."
I swallowed hard. The fireflies circled above us in an almost hypnotic dance, their soft glow illuminating the twisted rocks around us.
The creatures, now more clearly visible, began to approach, their forms becoming more solid in the light.
"Master… what are they?"
"They are the Guardians of Yu Mountain,"
my master's voice answered, his tone urgent.
"Ancient creatures that protect this place. Do not engage them. They will not hesitate to destroy you if they sense any weakness. You must hide."
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. My heart raced as I stepped back, silently moving into the crevice of a large rock, trying to blend into the shadows as best I could.
The creatures seemed to move around us, their eyes scanning the surroundings, their movements so fluid and unnatural that I could hardly believe they were real.
The fireflies flickered around us, their blue glow intensifying. We were surrounded.
The fireflies' glow seemed to throb, casting shadows that danced across the ground as Yin glanced down at the mark his master had just etched onto his hand.
The tattoo shimmered, a faint, silver outline that pulsed with his heartbeat. He clenched his fist, feeling a strange energy swirl within it.
"Master… if the Guardians are here, then there must be something beyond them,"
Yin murmured, his gaze drifting toward the cave from which the fireflies seemed to flow.
"But why would they gather here unless something powerful called them?"
His master nodded thoughtfully; his face as impassive as stone.
As they approached the mouth of the cave, the fireflies drifted away, vanishing into the dark woods. An unnatural chill crept into the air, and Yin's breath misted in front of him.
The blue light faded, replaced by an ominous silence, and his senses sharpened, catching the faintest sounds of footsteps—a soft padding across the stone.
From the shadows, a figure emerged—a wolf-like creature, its body shimmering as if woven from mist and moonlight.
Its eyes glowed a piercing blue, fixed intently on the intruders. It was a Soul Beast, an ancient guardian bound to the elemental energies of Yu Mountain.
Yin felt his heart skip a beat as the creature growled slowly, the air vibrating with its presence. "Master… what should we do?"
"Do not engage it unless necessary,"
his master instructed; voice steady but low.
"The wolf is bound to the Elemental Core—it's very life force. It will attack if it senses hostility. Our only chance is to move carefully and find a way around it."
But Yin's gaze flickered to the Elemental Core behind the wolf—a pulsating stone embedded into the wall of the cave, radiating a power that made the air hum.
It called to him, the same way the fireflies had been drawn to the mountain.
"Master, if the core is the reason these spirits are here, then…"
He trailed off, feeling the weight of his words. "We need it, don't we?"
"Yes,"
his master admitted, his voice heavy with a warning.
"But do not be reckless. If you are to confront this guardian, then you must harness the power of your mark wisely."
Yin took a deep breath and activated the storage mark, feeling its energy resonate with his own as he drew the herb from it. In one swift motion, he tucked it away, securing it safely.
Then, focusing on the mark's latent power, he stepped forward, his stance calm but resolute.
The Soul Beast's gaze narrowed, sensing his resolve, and it let out a low, warning growl. But Yin held his ground, summoning a soft pulse of energy to calm the creature.
Slowly, it lowered its guard, studying him with an intelligent, calculating stare.
Taking his master's advice to heart, Yin carefully approached, his movements slow and deliberate.
The wolf watched him for a moment longer, then turned, revealing the path to the Elemental Core.
Yin's heart raced as he took a step forward, the Core's energy calling to him, a gift of power awaiting…
"This beast is strong, with its one blow that can instantly kill us."
Yin's heart thudded as he glanced toward the shimmering wolf, still pacing by the cave entrance. His master's voice was sharp and urgent in his mind.
"Listen carefully, Yin. I'll distract him. You must slip inside and retrieve the Elemental Core but move quickly. We can't risk engaging this creature directly."
Yin nodded, steadying his breath. The weight of his master's plan sat heavily on him; there was no room for error.
His master stepped forward, hands crackling with energy, drawing the wolf's fierce gaze. The Guardian's eyes fixed on him, and with a low snarl, it lunged.
"Now, Yin!"
his master's voice echoed.
Seizing his chance, Yin slipped around the cave wall, inching closer to the pulsing Elemental Core. Its energy filled the air, thrumming like a heartbeat, and he could feel it pulling at him, urging him closer.
He was almost there, his hand reaching out, fingers inches from the core's warm, glowing surface. But in that instant, the wolf-like creature let out a guttural snarl and turned its attention back to him, as if sensing his presence at the core.
"Yin, retreat!"
his master shouted, voice tight with strain as he attempted to hold the beast's gaze.
Reluctantly, Yin pulled back, blending into the shadows as he slipped out of the cave. He couldn't help but glance back, the core's faint glow fading behind him as they retreated.
Once they were safely out of the beast's sight, they found shelter behind a nearby boulder. Yin leaned back against the rock, his frustration mingling with exhaustion.
"I almost had it,"
he murmured, clenching his fists.
"It was right there, calling to me."
His master placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Patience. The Elemental Core has been here for years and years; it will not vanish overnight. You must continue to hone your skills. Only when you are ready can we attempt this again."
Yin nodded, his resolve hardening.
"I understand, Master. I will be prepared."
They settled into the shadows, and under his master's watchful eye, Yin began practicing the Eagle Claw Smash, channeling his focus into perfecting each movement.
His hand struck the air with growing strength and precision, the energy surging through his limbs as he poured his frustration into the form.
Hours slipped by, and Yin's motions grew sharper, his stance steady, and his strikes more powerful.
Finally, his master's voice broke the silence.
lowering his hands, the Eagle Claw stance still ingrained in his muscles. He would be ready. The Elemental Core was waiting, and the next time he faced that beast, he wouldn't retreat.