The dense foliage of the wilds grew oppressive as Kael and the Wanderer pressed forward, the air thick with an unnatural tension. Each step felt heavier, as if the forest itself conspired to slow their progress. The ground beneath their feet was spongy, pulsating faintly with a rhythm that echoed Kael's own heartbeat. He couldn't tell if it was the wilds or the fracture's influence that tugged at his mind, but the pull was undeniable.
Kael tightened his grip on his spear, its faint glow a beacon in the suffocating darkness. The Wanderer, walking a few paces ahead, paused abruptly. His hand went to the hilt of his sword, his gaze scanning the shadows.
"We're not alone," he said, his voice low.
Kael stilled, his senses sharpening. The forest was unnervingly silent, yet he could feel the weight of unseen eyes upon them. His connection to the wilds buzzed faintly, warning him of the danger that lurked just beyond sight.
From the shadows emerged a creature unlike any Kael had faced before. Its body was sleek and sinewy, covered in a glistening black carapace that reflected the faint light of the spear. Its eyes, luminous and predatory, locked onto Kael with an intelligence that sent a shiver down his spine. This was no mindless beast.
The Wanderer drew his sword, the blade catching the faint light as it hummed faintly with its own energy. "Stay behind me," he said, his stance defensive.
But Kael stepped forward, his spear held at the ready. "No," he said, his voice steady. "It's me it wants."
The creature tilted its head, as if acknowledging his words. Then, with a burst of speed, it lunged. Kael barely had time to react, his spear moving instinctively to intercept. The force of the impact sent him skidding back, his boots digging into the spongy earth.
The Wanderer moved to assist, but Kael raised a hand. "No! I need to do this!"
The creature circled him, its movements fluid and precise. Kael mirrored its steps, his focus unyielding. He could feel the fracture's energy coursing through him, his connection to the wilds amplifying his senses. Every twitch of the creature's muscles, every shift in its stance, spoke to him.
It struck again, its claws raking through the air with lethal precision. Kael dodged, his spear lashing out in response. The tip grazed the creature's flank, drawing a hiss of pain and a burst of dark ichor. The wilds seemed to recoil at the scent, the air growing colder.
The battle was relentless, a blur of motion and fury. Kael moved with a grace and speed that surprised even himself, his spear an extension of his will. He could feel the wilds urging him on, their power surging through him like a tidal wave.
Finally, with a well-timed thrust, Kael drove his spear into the creature's chest. It let out a final, guttural cry before collapsing, its body dissolving into the earth. The silence that followed was deafening, the forest holding its breath.
Kael stood over the spot where the creature had fallen, his chest heaving. He could still feel its presence, a lingering echo in the depths of his mind. He turned to the Wanderer, his expression unreadable.
"What was that?" he asked.
The Wanderer sheathed his sword, his gaze wary. "A hunter," he said. "One of the fracture's guardians."
Kael frowned. "Why did it attack me?"
"Because you're a threat," the Wanderer replied. "To the fracture, to the wilds—maybe even to yourself."
Kael tightened his grip on his spear, his thoughts swirling. The wilds had chosen him, and the fracture had marked him. But the reasons remained elusive, shrouded in mystery and danger.
As they moved deeper into the forest, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that the battle had only been a prelude. The wilds weren't done with him, and neither was the fracture. Whatever lay ahead, he knew he couldn't face it alone. But he also knew he couldn't rely on anyone—not even the Wanderer.
The path ahead was dark and treacherous, but Kael was determined. The fracture's whispers grew louder in his mind, their words a constant reminder of the choice he would soon have to make.