Kael awoke to the first light of dawn filtering through the storm's thinning clouds, his body stiff from a restless night. The fragment had not pulsed again, but its presence was a constant pressure in the back of his mind, like a predator lurking just out of sight.
Rhea and Adrin were already up, the former inspecting her blade with an unreadable expression while the latter stood watch near the edge of their makeshift camp. The tension in the air was palpable, each of them grappling with the knowledge of the growing threat.
"Do we have a heading?" Adrin asked without turning, his eyes scanning the horizon.
Kael nodded, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains shrouded in mist. "The wilds are pulling me east. There's another fragment out there, something stronger."
Rhea approached, her brow furrowed. "If that fragment is connected to the same force as this one, we need to be ready. It might not be a simple retrieval."
Kael met her gaze, determination hardening his features. "I don't care how dangerous it is. If the wilds want me to find it, I will."
Before Rhea could respond, a low growl echoed from the forest behind them. Adrin's hand flew to his weapon, his stance tense as his eyes darted toward the sound.
"What now?" he muttered, his voice low.
The growl grew louder, and the underbrush rustled violently. Kael stepped forward, his spear at the ready, as a massive figure emerged from the shadows. It was a beast unlike any they had encountered before—its fur was jet black, streaked with veins of glowing red, and its eyes burned with an unnatural light.
The creature snarled, revealing rows of jagged teeth, and charged without hesitation.
Kael reacted instinctively, leaping forward to meet the beast head-on. His spear struck true, but the creature's hide was unnaturally tough, the weapon barely penetrating. The impact sent Kael skidding back, his grip tightening as the beast roared in defiance.
"Kael!" Rhea shouted, unsheathing her blade and rushing to his side. Adrin followed suit, his movements quick and precise as he flanked the creature.
The battle was brutal and chaotic, each blow barely slowing the beast. Its attacks were relentless, fueled by a power that seemed to mirror the fragment's energy. Kael gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting as his strikes failed to land a decisive blow.
Then, as if in response to his desperation, the fragment in his possession began to glow. Kael felt a surge of energy course through him, his senses sharpening and his strength increasing. The wilds were with him, guiding his movements as he launched another attack.
This time, the spear struck true, piercing through the beast's hide and into its heart. The creature let out a final, anguished roar before collapsing, its body dissolving into black smoke that dissipated into the air.
Kael staggered back, his breathing heavy. Rhea and Adrin joined him, their expressions a mix of relief and concern.
"What was that thing?" Adrin asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
"I don't know," Kael admitted, his voice grim. "But it wasn't natural. Something's changing in the wilds."
Rhea's gaze lingered on the spot where the beast had fallen. "If that creature was tied to the fragment's energy, then whatever we're dealing with is more dangerous than we thought."
Kael nodded, his resolve hardening once more. "Then we'll just have to be stronger."
The group gathered their belongings and set off toward the mountains, the weight of their journey growing heavier with each step. The wilds had given Kael strength, but they had also revealed the cost of his path.
And as the mountains loomed closer, he couldn't shake the feeling that the battle they had just fought was only the beginning.