The mountain path was narrow and treacherous, with jagged cliffs on one side and sheer drops on the other. A biting wind howled through the air, carrying the scent of pine and snow. Kaelron adjusted his grip on Ignis's reins, the gryphon's talons crunching against the frosted earth as they descended from the shrine.
Behind him, Nyx rode her panther, the beast's sleek form navigating the path with ease. Eryk walked beside Frostfang, his greatsword slung across his back. Despite the relative calm of the moment, tension hung thick in the air.
"We'll reach Tharien's Gate by sundown if we keep this pace," Nyx said, breaking the silence.
Kaelron nodded but kept his gaze on the path ahead. The fragment in his satchel pulsed faintly, a rhythmic thrum that seemed to sync with his heartbeat. It had been quiet since the shrine, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Ignis trilled softly, her golden eyes scanning the cliffs above them.
"She senses it too," Kaelron muttered.
"Senses what?" Eryk asked, his voice edged with impatience.
"Something's following us." Kaelron tightened his grip on his staff, his eyes narrowing.
Nyx frowned, her panther growling low. "We've been careful to cover our tracks. Unless..." She glanced at the satchel. "The fragment. It's a beacon, isn't it?"
Kaelron grimaced. "It's possible. The Maw's influence seems to find it wherever we go."
Eryk unslung his greatsword, his movements fluid despite the weapon's massive size. "Then we deal with whatever's out there. Simple."
---
As the group rounded a bend in the path, the air grew colder, and an unnatural silence fell over the landscape. The wind stilled, and even the distant cry of birds ceased.
Kaelron pulled Ignis to a halt, his pulse quickening. "Stay alert."
The words had barely left his mouth when the first arrow whistled through the air. Ignis screeched, her wings flaring as she shielded Kaelron from the attack. The arrow glanced off her feathers, its tip coated in a dark, oozing substance.
"Poison," Nyx hissed, drawing her twin daggers. Her panther lunged into the shadows, a blur of muscle and fur.
Figures emerged from the cliffs above, their forms cloaked in tattered black robes. Their eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and their movements were jerky, almost puppet-like. Shadow-corrupted bandits.
"They're not human anymore," Eryk growled, stepping forward with his greatsword raised. "They're the Maw's pawns."
The bandits moved with inhuman speed, leaping down from the cliffs to surround the group. Frostfang snarled, his icy breath freezing the ground beneath him as he lunged at one of the attackers.
Kaelron leapt from Ignis's back, his staff crackling with energy. "Ignis, to me!"
The gryphon roared, her feathers igniting as she dove into the fray. Kaelron channeled his magic through their bond, flames swirling around them as they fought as one.
---
The clash was chaotic and brutal. Kaelron swung his staff, arcs of fire slicing through the bandits as Ignis tore into them with her talons. The corrupted foes barely flinched as they fell, their bodies disintegrating into black mist.
Nyx moved with deadly precision, her daggers flashing as she struck weak points in the bandits' armor. Her panther fought alongside her, its powerful jaws snapping through corrupted flesh.
Eryk was a whirlwind of destruction, his greatsword cleaving through multiple enemies at once. Despite his ferocity, the sheer number of attackers began to wear on him.
"These things just keep coming!" he shouted, slamming his sword into the ground to create a shockwave that sent several bandits flying.
Kaelron gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his brow. The fragment in his satchel pulsed wildly, its energy feeding into the bond with Ignis. He could feel its power tempting him, urging him to unleash more.
"Kaelron!" Nyx's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
A massive figure emerged from the shadows—a bandit, but far larger and more grotesque. Its body was bloated with dark energy, its limbs twisted and unnatural. Its eyes burned with the Maw's corruption as it let out an ear-splitting roar.
"We've got a big one!" Eryk bellowed, charging at the creature.
---
The corrupted giant swung a massive, clawed hand, sending Eryk flying into a nearby boulder. He groaned, staggering to his feet as Frostfang leapt to his defense.
Kaelron raised his staff, channeling fire into a concentrated blast. "Ignis, full merge!"
The gryphon let out a fierce cry, her body glowing as Kaelron merged fully with her. Their forms fused into a single radiant entity, his body encased in golden feathers and molten armor. His vision sharpened, and his senses heightened as the bond reached its peak.
He launched himself at the giant, his wings propelling him forward with incredible speed. Flames erupted from his staff as he struck the creature, the searing heat cutting through its corrupted flesh.
The giant roared in pain, swinging wildly as it tried to swat Kaelron away. Nyx and her panther took advantage of the distraction, darting in to strike at its legs.
Eryk joined the fray, his greatsword glowing with Frostfang's icy magic. He delivered a devastating upward slash, freezing the giant's arm before shattering it with a second blow.
"Finish it, Kaelron!" Nyx shouted.
Kaelron soared above the creature, gathering a massive orb of fire in his hands. The energy of the fragment surged through him, amplifying his power. With a shout, he hurled the orb at the giant, the explosion engulfing it in flames.
When the smoke cleared, the corrupted giant was gone, its body reduced to ash.
---
The group stood in silence, their breaths heavy as they surveyed the battlefield. The corrupted bandits had vanished, their dark forms dissipating into the air.
Kaelron separated from Ignis, stumbling slightly as the bond released him. The gryphon nuzzled his shoulder, her golden eyes filled with concern.
"I'm fine," he assured her, though his body ached from the strain of the fight.
Nyx sheathed her daggers, her expression grim. "That was no random attack. They were waiting for us."
Eryk wiped blood from his lip, his gaze dark. "The Maw's corruption is spreading faster than we thought. It's like it knew we'd be here."
Kaelron clenched his fists. The fragment's energy had been wild and unpredictable during the fight, its power growing stronger with each battle. He couldn't ignore the possibility that it was attracting the Maw's forces.
"We need to get to Tharien's Gate," he said, his voice firm. "We need supplies, and we need answers."
Nyx nodded. "Agreed. But we can't stay long. If the Maw's influence has already reached the jungle, we'll need to move quickly."
As the group resumed their journey, Kaelron couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The battle had been a warning—a sign that the Maw was always one step ahead.
The jungle shrine awaited, but the path to it would be far more dangerous than any of them had anticipated.