Chapter 6: The Mortal Mission
The sun was beginning to set on the horizon, painting the sky with a soft orange hue that contrasted with the darkness spreading through the forest. Riven walked among the trees, his mind absorbed by the thoughts that haunted him. He had been summoned for a special mission: to hunt a beast that had been wreaking havoc on nearby villages. The task seemed simple in theory, but the weight of responsibility pressed on him more with each step. It was an important job to prove that he could control Vorgar, and that he was ready to face greater threats. But as he ventured deeper into the forest, the feeling of insecurity he had been carrying for the past few days grew heavier in his chest.
The beast he was hunting was no ordinary creature. According to reports, it was a massive and brutal being, with claws sharp as knives and eyes that glowed with a malicious red light. It had attacked several villages, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, and the city feared it wouldn't stop until everything in its path was destroyed. The hunt was not only a matter of survival for the villagers but also a challenge for Riven. Controlling Vorgar and mastering his power in a real situation was something he had not yet fully achieved.
Vorgar walked beside him, calmer than usual, but still showing a contained tension. The dragon seemed to feel the gravity of the mission, and although he trusted Riven, the uncertainty was reflected in his stance. With every step they took, the weight of the situation grew more present, as though the very nature around them was silently watching.
— *Are you ready for this?* —Riven asked, more to himself than to his companion.
The dragon responded with a soft snort, a sound that, though not verbal, conveyed his readiness to face whatever challenge lay ahead. Riven felt a slight wave of reassurance seeing Vorgar's confidence, but he also knew this situation was different from any other. This time, he wouldn't just be fighting for his life; he would be fighting for others too.
Suddenly, a loud roar echoed through the air, causing Riven to stop dead in his tracks. The sound came from beyond the trees, and although he had heard it before in the reports, the threat it represented now felt much more real. Riven raised his hand to halt Vorgar, who was about to move ahead, and listened intently.
— *It's close.* —he murmured, his voice tense.
They proceeded with caution, their footsteps nearly inaudible among the fallen leaves. The tension in the air was palpable, and Riven couldn't stop wondering if he would be able to handle the creature. He knew it wasn't the same as training or fighting smaller enemies. Vorgar's and his own powers weren't fully in sync yet, and that imbalance could very well be their downfall.
As they approached the clearing where the roar had come from, they saw the silhouette of the beast. It was even larger than Riven had imagined: a monstrous being, covered in dark scales that seemed to absorb the light. Its eyes glowed with an intense red, and its claws were so long they seemed capable of slicing through the thickest trees like paper.
The beast was standing over the carcass of some animal, devouring it with insatiable hunger. Its movements were quick, almost too fast for such a large creature, and the air around it vibrated with an unsettling energy. Riven swallowed hard, feeling fear seep into his skin. He had heard that beasts became more aggressive when threatened, and he had no doubt this one would attack as soon as it noticed them.
— *Vorgar...* —Riven said, looking at his dragon. — *This is the moment. Trust me.*
The dragon gave a slight nod, his gaze fixed on the beast, and both prepared for the confrontation.
The instant Riven took a step forward, the beast raised its head, its eyes flashing as it noticed their presence. An ear-splitting roar filled the air, and the beast charged toward them with surprising speed. Riven instinctively backed away, but Vorgar didn't hesitate. With a fluid movement, the dragon surged forward, his wings beating powerfully to lift him above the creature.
— *Now!* —Riven shouted, knowing the opportunity was fleeting.
Vorgar descended with the force of thunder, his claws extended toward the beast. The impact was devastating, and the creature recoiled with a furious roar. But it wasn't enough to bring it down. The beast countered immediately, releasing a blast of dark energy toward the dragon, which barely managed to dodge it.
Riven launched himself into the battle, but the pressure of controlling Vorgar was beginning to take its toll. The connection he had felt at the start of the mission quickly faded under the aggressiveness of the beast. Though he was using his abilities to guide Vorgar, he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't working. The creature was too strong, and he didn't have the experience or control necessary.
The battle intensified, and Riven began to see the limits of his own abilities. With every attack, the beast seemed to adapt, as if anticipating their moves. And though Vorgar fought fiercely, Riven could see that their relationship still wasn't solid enough for them to take on a creature of this magnitude.
It was then that Riven felt a strange presence. Turning toward the edge of the clearing, he saw a man watching them, standing in the shadows of the trees. The man didn't seem worried about the battle, as if he were accustomed to these confrontations. He had a calm, almost indifferent expression as he observed Riven and Vorgar fight the beast.
— *Who are you?* —Riven yelled, still watching the beast.
The man didn't respond immediately but walked slowly toward them, as if the battle wasn't his concern.
— *It's not enough, is it?* —he said finally. His voice was soft, yet penetrating. — *You don't have control over your beast. And you won't win this battle without that connection.*
Riven furrowed his brow, not fully understanding. The beast let out another roar, forcing Riven to leap back. The man, unfazed, gestured with his hand, and the creature before them began to stagger, as if something was interfering with its will.
— *What are you doing?* —Riven asked, confused.
— *I'm manipulating the beast.* —the man replied with a cold smile. — *Don't you see? Beasts like that aren't just animals. They can be... controlled. If you know how to do it.*
A chill ran down Riven's spine. The man's words made him think about the implications of what was happening. He wasn't just hunting a dangerous beast—someone else was using these creatures for their own purposes.
The battle continued, but now Riven couldn't stop thinking about the threat looming over him. Something dark was moving in the shadows, something far more dangerous than the beast in front of him. And perhaps, that was the real mission he had been caught in.
End of Chapter 6.