The ground trembled as the Duskbound stepped forward, its massive frame gleaming with jagged, corrupted armor. Red veins of light pulsed across its body, matching the erratic glow of the Flowlines beneath their feet.
Eron's voice was calm, but the tension in his stance betrayed his unease. "Sarina, stay behind me. Kieran, don't engage unless I say so."
Sarina scoffed, though the tremble in her voice betrayed her nerves. "Stay behind you? That thing just threw Kieran into a tree! You think it'll stop to ask permission before it kills us all?"
"It doesn't kill randomly," Eron replied, his eyes locked on the creature. "The Duskbound's movements are tied to the Flowlines. If we can disrupt its connection—"
"It won't matter if we're dead before you figure it out!" Sarina snapped, gripping her dagger.
The Duskbound roared again, shaking the air. It crouched low, its massive claws digging into the dirt as it prepared to lunge.
Kieran, groaning as he pushed himself up from the tree he'd hit, barked, "Less talking, more surviving!"
"Stay low!" Eron shouted as the Duskbound charged, the ground quaking beneath its weight.
The Fight Begins
The Duskbound moved with terrifying speed for its size, its claws sweeping through the air. Eron dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike as the claws ripped through a tree behind him, splintering it like paper.
Kieran darted in, his sword glowing faintly with Flowline energy as he slashed at the creature's exposed flank. The blade struck true but glanced off the Duskbound's armor, leaving only a shallow mark.
"It's too tough!" Kieran yelled, retreating as the creature swung at him again.
"It's not just armor," Eron called out, circling the beast. "The corruption in the Flowlines is reinforcing it. We have to overload the energy or it won't break."
"Fantastic!" Sarina yelled sarcastically, dodging as the Duskbound's tail lashed out, carving a deep groove into the ground. "How do we do that?"
Eron's eyes flicked to the glowing veins beneath the ground, pulsing faster now as the Duskbound moved. His mind raced. "We lure it to the strongest Flowline concentration and disrupt it. I can force the energy to backlash into it."
Kieran wiped blood from his lip, his expression grim. "And while you're doing that, what's supposed to keep it from gutting us?"
Eron didn't answer, his sharp gaze fixed on the ground. He moved quickly, pressing a hand to one of the glowing veins. "The Flowline currents... they're strongest ahead. I'll guide it there."
The Duskbound turned its glowing red eyes toward Eron, its growl deepening.
"You don't have time to guide it!" Sarina hissed. "It's looking right at you!"
Eron rose slowly, stepping back as the Duskbound's claws dug into the earth. "I know."
The creature lunged, its claws aiming for Eron's chest.
Time seemed to slow as Eron threw himself backward, the claws slicing through the air inches from his face. He hit the ground hard, but before he could rise, the Duskbound's tail swung toward him in a blur of motion.
"Eron, move!" Sarina screamed.
But he was too slow.
In a heartbeat, Sarina darted forward, tackling Eron to the ground just as the tail slammed into the spot where he'd been standing. The force of the strike shattered the ground, sending shards of stone flying.
Pinned beneath her, Eron blinked up at Sarina, his breath catching.
"You're welcome," she said, her voice breathless, glaring down at him.
Eron smirked faintly, though his eyes were sharp. "You're getting good at saving my life."
"Don't get used to it," she shot back, rolling off him and grabbing her dagger. "Next time, try not to die."
The Duskbound growled, its fractured armor emitting wisps of dark smoke as it turned toward them.
"We can't keep this up," Kieran shouted, limping closer. "Eron, if you've got a plan, now's the time!"
Eron rose to his feet, brushing dirt from his hands. "I need you both to distract it. Just for a minute."
Kieran raised an eyebrow. "A minute? With that thing? You're joking."
"Do you have a better idea?" Eron asked, his tone sharp.
Kieran grumbled but raised his sword again. "Fine. But if I die, I'm haunting you."
Sarina rolled her eyes, but her voice was firm. "We'll keep it busy. Do your thing, Eron."
As Kieran charged at the Duskbound, Sarina moved to its flank, slashing at its legs to keep its attention divided. The creature roared, swiping at both of them, its claws narrowly missing.
Eron sprinted toward the center of the clearing, his sharp gaze scanning the ground. The Flowlines were brightest here, their energy crackling like an overcharged current.
This has to work.
He knelt, pressing both hands to the ground. The energy surged beneath his fingers, wild and unstable, resisting his attempts to control it. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he focused, forcing the Flowlines into alignment.
The Duskbound roared again, spinning toward Eron as it sensed the shift in energy.
"Eron, it's coming!" Sarina yelled.
Kieran lunged at the creature, driving his sword into the back of its knee. The blade lodged deep, and the Duskbound stumbled with a deafening growl, its movements faltering.
Sarina took the opening, leaping onto the creature's back and driving her dagger into a crack in its armor. The Duskbound thrashed, its tail striking the ground wildly as it tried to shake her off.
"Hurry up, Eron!" she shouted, gripping tightly as the creature bucked beneath her.
Eron gritted his teeth, the Flowline energy crackling violently as he forced it into a controlled surge. "Almost there!"
The Duskbound, enraged, twisted suddenly, flinging Sarina to the ground. She hit hard, the breath knocked from her lungs.
It turned toward her, its glowing eyes narrowing.
"Sarina!" Kieran yelled, but he was too far to reach her.
The creature raised a massive claw, its shadow falling over her.
The Plan Unfolds
Eron slammed his hands into the ground. The Flowline erupted, a surge of blinding energy shooting upward and striking the Duskbound.
The creature roared in pain, staggering back as its corrupted armor cracked further.
"Sarina, now!" Eron shouted.
Gasping, she rolled out of the way just as the Duskbound's claw came down, carving a deep trench in the earth where she'd been.
The creature, its armor hissing and smoking, staggered toward Eron, but its movements were slower now, weakened by the Flowline backlash.
"It's not dead yet!" Kieran called, his sword at the ready.
"It doesn't need to be," Eron replied, his voice firm. "We just need to get out of here. Now!"
Sarina, still catching her breath, glanced at Eron. "You're lucky I'm too tired to yell at you."
Eron offered her a hand, pulling her to her feet. "You can yell at me later. Let's go."
As they ran, the Duskbound let out a final, enraged roar, its glowing eyes burning into the darkness as it watched them disappear into the forest.
After the Fight
The forest was unnaturally still, the silence broken only by the labored breathing of the trio. The glow of the Flowlines beneath their feet flickered faintly, their erratic pulses mirroring the tension in the air.
Kieran leaned against a tree, groaning as he pressed a hand to his ribs. "Okay, next time someone suggests these Trials are a good idea, remind me how close I came to getting smashed into pulp."
"That's because you charged it like an idiot," Sarina shot back, hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. "What were you even thinking?"
"I was thinking it was going to eat you first, and you're welcome, by the way!" Kieran retorted, his tone sharper than usual.
"Enough." Eron's voice cut through their bickering like a blade. He stood a few paces away, his sharp gray eyes scanning the jagged claw marks left by the Duskbound. "It's not over."
Sarina straightened, frowning. "What do you mean, 'not over'? We saw it retreat."
"That doesn't mean it's gone," Eron replied. "The corruption tying it to the Flowlines is still active. If we don't keep moving, it'll come back."
Kieran shook his head, his sword resting heavily in his hand. "You're saying that thing could heal itself? After all that?"
"Not heal," Eron corrected. "It doesn't need to. It wasn't really hurt, just... weakened."
"Great," Sarina muttered. "So we didn't even win."
"We survived," Eron said evenly. "For now."
Sarina narrowed her eyes at him. "You were awfully calm back there, Eron. Like you've seen one of those things before."
"I haven't," Eron said without looking at her. His attention was fixed on the faint glow of the Flowlines beneath them.
Kieran snorted. "Yeah, right. Then how do you explain the way you handled that? Flowlines don't just explode on their own."
Eron's jaw tightened. "I improvised."
"Improvised?" Sarina stepped closer, her voice rising. "You improvised a move that nearly fried that thing? That wasn't instinct. That was..." She gestured vaguely, frustration evident. "...something else."
"I said, drop it," Eron snapped, his tone colder than usual.
Sarina glared at him, her amber eyes blazing. "Fine. But when this is over, you're going to start giving some real answers."
Eron turned away, his gaze scanning the forest. "If we live through this, maybe."
Unbeknownst to the group, a shadow lingered nearby. Perched silently on a gnarled branch, Vael Dren watched them with a faint, predatory smile. His tattered robes blended with the darkness, his glowing yellow eyes narrowing as they followed Eron.
"Remarkable," he murmured to himself, his voice a soft whisper. "The boy doesn't even realize what he's done."
Vael leaned back against the tree, recalling the burst of energy that had disrupted the Flowlines. The sheer force of it had sent shockwaves rippling through the Bastion, as if the very veins of the forest had momentarily bent to Eron's will.
"Oblivion Pulse," Vael said, savoring the name as though it were a long-forgotten memory. "Crude, but effective. And completely unintentional."
He chuckled softly, his gaunt face twisting into a grin. "This will be interesting."
With a faint shimmer, he disappeared into the shadows, his final words carried on the wind. "Very interesting."
Loryn Village: Eldrin's Summons
"Vael Dren? Are you sure?" Eldrin Vey's voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.
The scout shifted uncomfortably, his head bowed. "Yes, Master Vey. He was seen entering the Bastion, just before the Trials began."
"Describe him," Eldrin commanded, his voice steady but sharp.
"Tattered robes, glowing yellow eyes, and... and a presence, sir. It was unmistakable."
Eldrin placed his hands on the edge of the table, leaning forward. "You're certain it was him?"
The scout nodded. "I'd bet my life on it."
Eldrin closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. "Then you may have already done so."
Arrik Wenth, Eldrin's second-in-command, stepped into the room, his expression grim. "If it's true, then why now? Vael hasn't been seen in years. Why would he show up in the Bastion?"
Eldrin opened his eyes, his gaze piercing. "Because Vael doesn't act without purpose. If he's here, it's for something far more dangerous than the Trials."
Arrik hesitated before speaking. "Do you think he's after the Flowlines?"
Eldrin didn't answer immediately. Instead, he moved to the window, staring out at the distant forest. "Vael doesn't just seek Flowlines. He seeks control. And the Bastion's fractured energy is the perfect playground for him."
Vael's Legacy
Arrik frowned, lowering his voice. "It's hard to imagine. Vael was a hero once. A Catalyst Master."
"He was more than that," Eldrin said, his tone darkening. "He was the best of us. The Flowlines bent to his will. He could stabilize energy that no one else could touch."
"Until he went rogue," Arrik said grimly.
"Until he lost himself," Eldrin corrected. "Vael wasn't just a researcher. He was an innovator. He believed the Flowlines were more than veins of energy—they were the key to something greater. When the Council refused to support his experiments, he left."
"Left?" Arrik scoffed. "He stole Council artifacts, sabotaged stabilization points, and destroyed entire regions."
Eldrin's voice hardened. "And now he's here."
Arrik stepped forward. "What are your orders, Master Vey? Should we alert the others?"
"No," Eldrin said sharply. "The Trials must continue. Vael thrives on chaos. If we draw attention to him, we'll only give him what he wants."
"Then what do we do?" Arrik asked.
Eldrin turned, his expression resolute. "I'm going into the Bastion."
Arrik's eyes widened. "Alone? That's suicide. If Vael—"
"Vael is my responsibility," Eldrin interrupted, his voice leaving no room for argument. "If we wait, it'll be too late."
Arrik hesitated but finally bowed his head. "As you command."
Eldrin adjusted his cloak, his gaze fixed on the dark line of the forest.
As he stepped into the night, he whispered to himself, "Vael, if you've come for destruction, I will meet you there."