Chapter 3:The beast within
The trees in Old Briarwood were denser than expected, their tangled branches arching overhead, blotting out the dimming light. The sun had nearly set, and the forest had begun to take on an eerie stillness, disturbed only by the faint rustle of leaves and the creak of leather saddles as the group rode forward.
Elias sat just ahead of Damon on the horse, his sharp eyes scanning the woods with a calm, detached look. Damon's brows knitted in curiosity as he studied the boy, noting how Elias moved with a quiet grace, almost as though he belonged in these woods. Finally, he leaned forward, his gruff voice breaking the silence.
"So, kid," Damon muttered, "this is a bit of a far cry from pouring drinks. Don't suppose you'd want to share where you learned to handle yourself around...monsters."
Elias just shrugged, his expression unreadable. "I like to keep my options open," he replied casually. "Never know when knowing a few tricks will come in handy."
Garrik, riding up beside them, chuckled. "Options open? Sure, sure. Next, you'll be telling us you're secretly the king of some hidden kingdom or something."
Liora, overhearing, leaned in with a grin. "I wouldn't put it past him. Kid's got that look, y'know? All mysterious-like."
Damon rolled his eyes. "I think he's just enjoying all the attention. Isn't that right, Elias?"
Elias raised his eyebrows innocently. "Me? Enjoy attention? Must be imagining things."
Liora laughed, clearly amused. "He's got you there, Damon. Guess he's not gonna spill his secrets just because we're nosy."
They rode on, the air light with banter, but tension still lingered. Ahead, a chill crept over the ground, and the underbrush seemed thicker, more tangled, as though the forest itself was aware of the unnatural presence lurking within. Finally, Elias motioned for them to halt.
"We're close," he said, his voice quieter now, more serious.
Damon tightened his grip on the reins. "All right, weapons ready. No telling what this thing's capable of." He glanced at Elias. "And you, stay close. Don't go doing anything stupid."
Elias shot him a quick smile. "Wouldn't dream of it."
They dismounted, moving slowly through the twisted shadows of the forest. The air was thick and still, each step seeming to echo, muffled in the dense undergrowth. Just as they neared a thicket, a low, guttural growl vibrated through the trees.
Liora tensed. "That's no ordinary beast."
Suddenly, the creature lunged from the shadows—a hulking form with eyes that glowed a sickly yellow, claws as long as daggers. It let out a deafening roar, charging at them with a speed that belied its massive bulk.
"Scatter!" Damon barked, shoving Garrik to one side.
The team split, each drawing their weapons. Garrik and Liora moved in tandem, attempting to flank the beast, while Ivor tried to draw its attention from the front. Damon held his ground, gritting his teeth as the creature bore down on them, his beast takeover magic beginning to hum through his veins.
But the beast was faster than they'd anticipated. With a powerful swipe, it knocked Ivor to the ground. Blood splattered across the leaves, and Garrik let out a strangled yell, lunging at the creature's side to drive it back.
"Get up, Ivor!" Damon shouted, though his own expression was laced with worry.
Elias's eyes narrowed, watching the chaos unfold. Without a second thought, he darted forward, closing the gap between him and the creature with astonishing speed. He picked up a fallen branch, and with a swift, precise motion, struck the beast's leg, catching it off-guard.
The creature reared back, hissing in fury, and Damon's eyes widened as Elias met his gaze, a fierce glint in his eye. For just a moment, Damon thought he saw something... otherworldly.
But Elias didn't hesitate. "Damon, now!"
Damon snapped out of it, rallying, and charged forward. With Elias's distraction, he managed to land a brutal blow to the beast's shoulder. The creature snarled in pain, staggering back, giving them a precious few seconds to regroup.
Breathing heavily, Damon nodded in Elias's direction. "Not bad, kid. You—"
But his words were cut short as the creature roared again, thrashing wildly. In its fury, it swung a massive arm toward Garrik, who couldn't dodge in time. The claws connected, and Garrik fell to the ground, his face pale, his breath coming in short, pained gasps.
"Garrik!" Liora cried, rushing to his side.
Elias moved quickly, grabbing Damon's arm as he lunged forward again. "Damon, fall back!"
Damon wrenched his arm free, his eyes blazing with fury, but Elias's grip was firm. "We can't lose everyone here," he said, his voice calm but intense. "We need a plan."
Damon clenched his fists, but he nodded, seeing the sense in Elias's words. They regrouped, watching as the creature prowled before them, its yellow eyes gleaming with malice. Damon's jaw tightened as he looked down at Garrik, whose breathing was shallow, fading fast.
For a moment, it was just the four of them, standing against the monstrous creature in a dark, deadly silence. Damon tightened his grip on his weapon, his gaze hardening. He didn't trust easily, but something in him knew that Elias was far more than he seemed.
"Fine," he muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing. "We do this together."
Elias nodded, a determined glint in his eye, and glanced around, assessing their surroundings. He tightened his grip on the branch he had grabbed, taking stock of their options. "Liora," he whispered, "can you draw its attention, just for a moment? We need to keep it off Garrik."
Liora hesitated, casting a worried glance at Garrik's pale face, but then she nodded, steel in her gaze. She grabbed a loose stone and hurled it at the creature, catching it in the shoulder. "Hey, ugly! Over here!"
The monster turned, a low growl escaping its throat as it locked onto her, its eyes narrowing with a renewed, twisted interest. Liora took a few careful steps back, taunting it further with a smirk, then sprinted to the side, keeping just out of reach.
Damon moved in, circling around to the creature's blind side. With a silent signal to Elias, he nodded, then lunged, aiming for the beast's exposed side. His blow landed hard, his weapon slicing through its thick hide. The creature screeched, thrashing in pain as Damon leapt back just in time to avoid its massive claws.
But even wounded, the creature was relentless. It turned, teeth bared, and charged directly at Damon with a roar that shook the ground beneath them. Damon braced himself, determination blazing in his eyes, though his expression betrayed the exhaustion setting into his limbs. He tightened his grip on his weapon, ready to give it everything he had.
Just as the creature lunged, Elias threw himself forward, shoving Damon out of the way. The beast's claws narrowly missed them both, gouging deep marks into the earth where they had just been standing.
"Elias, are you crazy?" Damon hissed, eyes wide with shock.
But Elias didn't answer. His focus was razor-sharp as he helped Damon back to his feet. "We're not out of this yet," he muttered, glancing between his companions and the monster, which was prowling again, readying for another attack. He felt an ache deep within, an instinct urging him to reach for a power that was frustratingly out of reach. But his divine abilities, sealed by the taboo, lay dormant.
Elias clenched his fist, teeth gritted as a sense of helplessness washed over him. This was no ordinary foe, yet he felt his own limitations as keenly as a dagger to the heart.
"I can't even protect them", he thought, the weight of his sealed power bearing down on him,
"not as I am now."
As if sensing his inner turmoil, Damon placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him. "We're not done yet, kid. We can still fight this thing." His voice was rough, but beneath it, there was a shared determination.
But as they turned back to face the monster, it lunged at Garrik once more, this time with terrifying precision. Liora threw herself between them, weapon raised, but the creature was faster, its massive claws tearing through her defense.
"No!" Damon shouted, his voice hoarse as he watched Liora collapse next to Garrik. A deadly silence hung in the air
Something in Damon snapped. He let out a low growl, his body trempling as raw , primal power surged through him consuming his senses. His eyes glowed a feral yellow , his features contorting as he let the beast within him take control. With a roar Damon's form shifted, limbs elongating, muscles bulging as he transformed fully into his Nargacuga beast form, a massive creature covered in jet-black fur, his body rippling with barely contained venomous energy
Elias took a step back , watching with a mix of awe and dread as Damon , now a towering night predator, fixed his gleaming red eyes on the monster. In an instant, Damon lunged , his speed and agility amplified, becoming a dark blue in the moonlight. The monster barely had time to react as Damon's claws sank into its flesh, tearing through sinew and bone with viciousness born of pure , unbridled rage.
The two clashed, Damon's venom soaked claws finding their mark again and again as he relentlessly attacked. The monster retaliated with swipes and snaps of it's powerful jaws but Damon evaded each move with an eerie precision, slipping between attacks like a shadow. Blood splatterd across the forest floor as Damon's claws tore deep wounds into the creature, who shrieked in pain , its own strength visibly faltering.
The beast stumbler back Weakened and desperate, but Diamond was merciless. He sank his fangs into its shoulder, venom encroaching through the creature's veins. With a final powerful lunge, Diamond slammed the beast to the ground, pinning it beneath his claws, his fangs deep in its throat
The Creature's Struggles Weakend Its roars dying to a ragged gurgle, before it fell limp, lifeless.
Damon released his grip, his blood-stained form towering over the slain beast. His chest heaved with heavy breaths, his eyes still wild, a raw grief and fury etched into every line of his beastly form.
Elias took a cautious step forward, watching as Damon slowly returned to his human form, blood-streaked and exhausted. For a long moment, Damon stood there, his gaze fixed on their fallen friends, a haunted look in his eyes.