### Chapter 8: Beasts in Captivity
The air was thick and acrid, laced with the metallic tang of blood and something more unnatural. Riven crouched in the shadows, his heart pounding as he surveyed the facility before him. It was hidden beneath a decrepit mansion on the outskirts of the noble district—a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that smelled of decay and despair. This was where the nobles conducted their twisted experiments, turning living creatures into abominations.
Behind him, Nyx slinked silently, her fur blending into the darkness. To his other side prowled the beast he had stolen, its stormy gray fur bristling with tension. Riven could feel the fragile thread of their bond strengthening, though it was far from stable. Every step beside the beast was a gamble, but he had no choice. He needed its power, and perhaps, it needed his guidance.
"This is it," whispered Alira, who had joined him for the infiltration. Her sharp eyes scanned the narrow corridor ahead. "The intel said the nobles use this place to enhance their beasts. Expect heavy resistance."
Riven nodded, his hand tightening on the hilt of his blade. "Then we move fast. We find evidence and destroy their operations."
Jorik's voice crackled softly through the enchanted comm-stone in Riven's ear. "I've got your escape route mapped. Just make sure you don't die before you use it."
Riven smirked grimly. "Noted."
### A Horrifying Discovery
The group advanced, slipping through the shadows. The further they went, the louder the sounds of torment became. Growls, whimpers, and the occasional roar echoed through the tunnels. Riven's jaw tightened as he passed cell after cell, each one housing a beast in various states of agony. Some were restrained with glowing chains, their eyes hollow and unseeing. Others thrashed against their confines, their bodies warped and twisted beyond recognition.
"This is worse than I imagined," Alira murmured, her voice tinged with disgust.
Riven stopped in front of a cell that held what once might have been a wolf. Its limbs were unnaturally elongated, its fur patchy and burned. Strange markings glowed faintly along its body, pulsing like a second heartbeat. The creature snarled weakly, its gaze filled with both pain and hatred.
"They're breaking them," Riven said quietly. "Forcing them to become something they're not."
Nyx growled softly, her ears flattening. The stolen beast beside Riven remained silent, but he felt its unease through their tenuous bond.
"We can't save them all," Alira said, though her tone was reluctant. "Focus on the mission."
Riven nodded, though the words felt like ash in his mouth.
### The Chamber of Experiments
They moved deeper into the facility, eventually reaching a massive chamber illuminated by eerie green light. At its center stood a series of platforms, each one holding a beast restrained by glowing sigils. Nobles and researchers milled about, their voices cold and clinical as they documented their findings.
Riven's attention was drawn to one platform in particular. The beast bound there was unlike anything he'd ever seen. It was massive, with scales that shimmered like liquid metal and eyes that burned like molten gold. Its presence radiated power and rage, and yet, there was an undeniable intelligence behind its gaze.
"What is that?" Alira whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I don't know," Riven admitted, but his gut told him this creature was important.
As he watched, a noble approached the platform, his voice carrying over the hum of the chamber.
"This one is proving… difficult," the man said. "Its will is unyielding, but no matter. The enhancements will break it soon enough."
Riven's fists clenched. He recognized the noble—Lord Darvian, the same man whose estate they had targeted.
"We can't let this continue," Riven said, his voice low and firm.
Alira nodded. "What's the plan?"
"We create a distraction, free as many beasts as we can, and destroy their equipment."
"And the big one?"
Riven hesitated, his gaze locked on the metallic-scaled beast. "It comes with us."
### A Fractured Alliance
Nyx growled softly, her displeasure clear. Riven turned to her, his expression softening. "I know it's risky, Nyx, but we can't leave it here. You understand that, don't you?"
Nyx's ears flicked, but she didn't move.
The stolen beast, however, let out a low rumble and stepped forward, its gaze fixed on the metallic-scaled creature. Riven felt a surge of emotion through their bond—determination, anger, and something else he couldn't quite place.
"You feel it too," Riven murmured.
The beast huffed, its tail lashing once before it crouched, ready to strike.
"Looks like your new friend agrees with you," Alira said, her tone dry.
Riven smirked faintly. "Then let's give them hell."
### Chaos Unleashed
The plan unfolded in a blur. Riven and Alira moved swiftly, cutting down guards and destroying equipment with surgical precision. Nyx darted through the chaos, her claws rending sigils and chains alike.
The stolen beast was a force of nature, its raw power tearing through the nobles' defenses. Riven marveled at its ferocity, but he also noticed something else—a growing coordination between the beast and himself. Their bond, still fragile, was strengthening with each shared battle.
As the chamber descended into chaos, Riven made his way to the central platform. The metallic-scaled beast snarled as he approached, its molten eyes narrowing.
"I'm not here to hurt you," Riven said, his voice calm but firm. "I'm here to help."
The beast thrashed against its restraints, but its gaze lingered on him, as if weighing his words.
"Trust me," Riven said. "Just this once."
With a swift slash of his blade, the restraints shattered. The beast roared, its scales glowing brightly as it rose to its full height. For a moment, Riven thought it might attack him, but then it turned, unleashing its fury on the nobles.
"Time to go!" Alira shouted, grabbing Riven's arm.
He nodded, whistling sharply to signal Nyx and the stolen beast. Together, they fought their way out of the facility, the metallic-scaled creature following close behind.
### A New Ally
Outside, under the cover of night, the group paused to catch their breath. The metallic-scaled beast stood a few feet away, its gaze still wary but no longer hostile.
"What now?" Alira asked.
Riven looked at the creature, then at Nyx and the stolen beast. "We give it a choice," he said.
Approaching the metallic-scaled beast cautiously, he extended a hand. "I don't know what they did to you, but you're free now. If you want to leave, I won't stop you. But if you want to fight back… I could use your help."
The beast stared at him for a long moment before lowering its massive head.
Riven felt the faintest whisper of a bond forming—a connection that promised both power and understanding.
He smiled faintly, his resolve hardening. The fight against the nobles was far from over, but with allies like these, he felt more prepared than ever.