The forest behind them seemed a world apart now. Orin, Nyron, and Riven trudged onward, their breaths heavy as they followed the faint outline of a path illuminated by the glow of the Relic. Orin carried it close to his chest, its warmth seeping through his armor and into his soul. Despite the reassurance of its presence, he couldn't shake the gnawing sense of foreboding that lingered like a shadow.
"We're finally out of that forest," Riven muttered, stretching his arms and rolling his shoulders. "No offense, but I don't think I could handle another round of angry trees and shadow beasts."
Orin smirked but kept his gaze ahead. "That spirit saved us. If she hadn't stepped in, those creatures would've overwhelmed us."
"She was testing us," Nyron said, his voice calm but sharp, as usual. His scythe rested against his shoulder, the black blade glinting faintly. "She wouldn't have let us leave with the Relic if she didn't believe in our cause. But trust isn't enough."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Riven asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It means," Nyron said, his dark eyes locking on the horizon, "that the further we go, the harder this will get. The Relics are scattered, protected by those who see us as intruders. Each battle will test us in ways we're not ready for."
Riven scoffed, the flames on his hammer flickering to life for a brief moment. "We've handled everything so far, haven't we? What's a few more 'tests'? Bring it on."
Orin sighed, sensing the tension between the two. "Let's save the energy for the real enemies, yeah?"
The banter died as the trio emerged from the forest into a vast open plain. Rolling fields of golden grass stretched out before them, dotted with clusters of wildflowers that swayed gently in the breeze. The moon above bathed the landscape in a silvery glow, and for a moment, the beauty of the scene washed away their worries.
But the tranquility was short-lived.
A low rumble echoed across the plains, faint at first but growing louder with each passing second. The ground beneath their feet began to vibrate, and Orin tightened his grip on the Relic.
"What now?" Riven muttered, raising his hammer.
The answer came in the form of a massive shadow cresting a hill in the distance. At first, it seemed like a trick of the light—a simple distortion of the horizon. But as it moved closer, its form became clear.
It was a beast unlike any they had encountered before. Towering at least twenty feet tall, it had the body of a lion but was covered in sleek black scales that shimmered like oil. Its eyes glowed an eerie red, and its mane seemed to ripple with shadowy tendrils that lashed out at the air.
Nyron's jaw tightened. "A shadow beast… but it's unlike the others. Stronger. Smarter."
The creature let out a deafening roar that shook the very ground, and without hesitation, it charged toward them.
"Guess we don't get a break after all!" Riven shouted, flames erupting around him as he prepared for battle.
Orin drew his sword, the blade gleaming with radiant light. "Stay together. Don't let it isolate us!"
The beast reached them in seconds, swiping a massive claw toward Orin. He barely managed to block the strike with his sword, the force sending him skidding backward.
Riven wasted no time, leaping into action with his hammer ablaze. He swung it downward, aiming for the beast's head, but one of the shadowy tendrils shot out and wrapped around his weapon. The beast snarled, yanking Riven off balance and tossing him aside like a ragdoll.
"Riven!" Orin shouted, but he couldn't afford to look away from the beast.
Nyron stepped forward, his scythe slicing through the air with precision. The blade cut through one of the tendrils, causing the beast to roar in pain. It turned its attention to him, its red eyes narrowing as it lunged.
But Nyron was faster. He darted to the side, his movements fluid and deliberate, as if he were dancing with the shadows themselves. His scythe carved through the beast's flank, leaving a deep gash that oozed black smoke.
Orin seized the opening, rushing forward with his sword aglow. He plunged the blade into the creature's chest, and a burst of radiant light erupted, forcing it to stagger backward.
The beast howled, its body writhing as the light from Orin's sword seemed to burn it from the inside. But it wasn't done yet. With a surge of fury, it lashed out with all its tendrils, creating a whirlwind of shadows that forced the trio to scatter.
"This thing just doesn't quit!" Riven yelled, pulling himself to his feet and reigniting his hammer.
"It's drawing power from the shadows," Nyron said, his scythe at the ready. "We need to cut off its source."
Orin nodded, his mind racing. He glanced at the Relic in his hand, its light still pulsing faintly. An idea began to form.
"Keep it distracted!" he shouted. "I've got a plan!"
Riven and Nyron didn't hesitate. Riven charged forward, his hammer blazing as he swung at the beast's legs. The flames licked at its scales, causing it to stumble, but it quickly retaliated with a swipe of its massive claws.
Nyron used the opening to strike from the other side, his scythe slicing through tendrils and leaving trails of inky blackness in its wake. He moved like a shadow himself, evading the beast's attacks with an almost unnatural grace.
Meanwhile, Orin held the Relic close, focusing on its light. He closed his eyes and let its warmth flow through him, channeling its energy into his sword. The blade began to glow brighter and brighter, until it was almost blinding.
When the time was right, he opened his eyes and charged.
"Get clear!" he shouted, and both Riven and Nyron dove out of the way.
Orin leaped into the air, his sword raised high. The beast roared, its tendrils lashing out in a desperate attempt to stop him, but it was too late.
With a cry of determination, Orin brought the sword down, driving it into the beast's back. The radiant light exploded outward, consuming the creature in a blinding flash. Its howls of rage turned to screams of agony, and then, silence.
When the light faded, the beast was gone, leaving only a smoldering patch of earth where it had stood.
Orin fell to one knee, breathing heavily as he clutched his sword. The Relic's glow had dimmed, but its warmth remained.
Riven approached, offering a hand to help him up. "Not bad, Lightheart. Not bad at all."
Nyron sheathed his scythe, his expression unreadable. "That was reckless. But effective."
Orin managed a weak smile. "Thanks… I think."
The trio stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the battle settling over them.
"This was no ordinary beast," Nyron said finally. "Someone—something—sent it after us."
Orin nodded, his grip tightening on the Relic. "Then we'd better be ready for whatever comes next."
As they continued their journey across the plains, the stars above seemed to shine a little brighter. But in the distance, unseen eyes watched their every move, and the shadows whispered of trials yet to come. Aza