The forest was alive with the calls of beasts, a symphony of growls, chirps, and distant roars that echoed through the trees. Kael moved cautiously, his spear resting lightly in his hand as his eyes scanned the dense underbrush. He had learned to move like the wilds—silent, deliberate, and always alert. Every step was calculated, every breath controlled.
The Shadow Hound's carcass was long behind him, but its memory lingered. That fight had taught Kael an important lesson: the beasts were not just powerful—they were evolving. The intelligence he had glimpsed in the Hound's gaze unsettled him. It had felt less like a battle against an animal and more like a duel against an adversary.
Kael crouched by a stream to refill his canteen, his reflection flickering in the clear water. He hardly recognized himself anymore. His once-clean features were now roughened by scars and dirt, his eyes sharper, more predatory. The wilds were changing him, just as he was learning to adapt to them.
...
Kael's rest was interrupted by a distant noise—faint, but distinct. A low, rhythmic pounding, like a drumbeat. His ears perked up, his muscles tensing as he tried to pinpoint the source. The sound grew louder, closer, until it became clear.
Footsteps. Heavy and deliberate.
Kael grabbed his spear and melted into the shadows, his body pressing against the rough bark of a tree. He held his breath, his heartbeat steady as he waited. Moments later, a hulking figure emerged from the trees.
It was a beast unlike any Kael had encountered before. Towering and grotesque, it moved with a lumbering gait, its muscles rippling beneath a thick hide. Its face was a grotesque fusion of predator and prey, with a long snout filled with jagged teeth and a pair of curved horns that gleamed in the dim light. What caught Kael's attention most, however, were its eyes—burning with an unnatural intelligence.
The beast sniffed the air, its nostrils flaring as it caught Kael's scent. A low growl rumbled from its throat as it turned its massive head in his direction. Kael's grip on his spear tightened.
The beast let out a deafening roar, shaking the forest to its roots, and charged.
...
Kael darted out of his hiding spot, narrowly avoiding the creature's claws as they tore through the tree where he had been moments before. Splinters flew in all directions, but Kael didn't stop to watch. He sprinted through the underbrush, his mind racing as he formulated a plan.
The beast was fast—faster than something of its size should have been. Its footsteps thundered behind him, shaking the ground with every step. Kael knew he couldn't outrun it forever.
He spotted a cluster of trees up ahead, their roots tangled together to form a natural barricade. Kael veered toward them, sliding into the narrow space between the trunks just as the beast lunged. Its massive body slammed into the trees, shaking them violently but failing to break through.
Kael used the moment of respite to catch his breath and assess the situation. The beast was too large to follow him into the narrow passage, but its claws were already tearing at the roots, breaking them apart with alarming speed. He needed to act fast.
...
Kael climbed higher into the trees, his spear slung across his back as he used the branches for leverage. The beast's roars grew more frenzied as it sensed its prey escaping. Kael reached a sturdy branch and unslung his spear, aiming carefully.
The beast's head broke through the roots just as Kael hurled his weapon. The spear flew true, embedding itself in the creature's shoulder. It howled in pain, thrashing wildly as blood spurted from the wound. But it wasn't enough to kill it.
Kael cursed under his breath. He hadn't expected the beast to be so resilient. It shook off the pain and began climbing the roots, its claws digging deep into the bark as it hauled its massive body upward. Kael's heart pounded as he realized he was running out of time.
Reaching into his pack, Kael pulled out a small pouch of powder—a mixture of herbs and minerals he had crafted during his time in the wilds. He sprinkled the powder onto the blade of his knife, muttering a silent prayer to whatever forces governed this untamed world.
As the beast reached his branch, Kael leapt. His knife found its mark, plunging deep into the creature's neck. The powder ignited on contact, sending a burst of flames through the wound. The beast let out one final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud.
...
Kael landed beside the beast, his legs trembling from the exertion. He retrieved his spear and wiped the blood from his blade, his breathing ragged. The creature lay still, its burning eyes finally extinguished.
Kael stared at it for a long moment, his mind racing. This beast had been different—smarter, stronger, and more determined than anything he had faced before. It wasn't just a fluke. The wilds were changing, and Kael knew he had to change with them.
As he turned to leave, something glimmered in the beast's remains. Kael knelt and picked up a small, crystalline shard, its surface pulsing with a faint, otherworldly light. He didn't know what it was, but he could feel its power thrumming beneath his fingers.
Kael tucked the shard into his pack and continued on his way, his mind filled with questions. The wilds held many secrets, and he was only beginning to uncover them. Whatever lay ahead, Kael knew he had to be ready.