"..!!"
A heavy silence followed his words, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Outside, distant roars and the clash of battle could be heard, a chilling reminder of the impending danger.
Elandar's expression darkened, his calm demeanor now laced with resolve. "We must act quickly," he declared, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Without hesitation, the group moved. Arlon followed, his steps measured but determined. Ace leapt gracefully onto his shoulder, his crimson eyes gleaming with anticipation as they joined the others outside.
Slash—
The village was in chaos. Flames flickered in the distance, casting eerie shadows as villagers scrambled to defend their home. The air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke and the sound of battle—roaring beasts, clashing steel, and the cries of the wounded.
Swoosh— Slash—
A monstrous creature lunged from the shadows, its grotesque form barely visible in the flickering light. Its claws slashed through the air with a deadly precision. Lawrence met the attack head-on, his sword ringing out as it clashed with the beast's thick hide.
Anthony was beside him in an instant, their blades moving in perfect unison, driving the creature back into the darkened woods. The stench of its breath filled the air, mingling with the acrid smell of burning wood.
Boom—
Nearby, Alice conjured a shimmering barrier, the shield spell absorbing the brunt of an explosive impact. She stood firm, her focus unwavering as smaller creatures threw themselves against the magical defense, only to be repelled by its glowing surface.
A chilling silence descended upon the group as the monstrous wolf emerged from the shadows. Its massive frame, dripping with a viscous fluid, loomed over them like a nightmare. Its ragged breath, heavy and foul, filled the air, making their blood run cold.
The group tensed, instinctively falling into defensive stances. Anthony and Lawrence raised their swords, ready to strike, while Alice strengthened her shield, the magical barrier shimmering brighter in anticipation of the coming assault.
The creature's lips curled into a grotesque snarl, and a deep, guttural voice rumbled from its throat. "×*&#+#..." it growled, the sounds harsh and alien.
The air grew still as the words echoed around them. Though incomprehensible to the others, Arlon and Ace understood every syllable, the meaning sharp and undeniable.
"Pathetic humans…"
Arlon's eyes narrowed, a cold determination settling over him. It's speaking English like Ace, he realized, the words clear despite their twisted delivery.
His mind raced, piecing together the implications. Could it be that this monster was similar to Ace? ,The thought sent a ripple of unease through him.
Ace's tail flicked sharply, his gaze locked onto the monstrous wolf. "Looks like this isn't just another mindless beast," he whispered into Arlon's mind. "We're dealing with something far more dangerous."
The large monster's gaze swept over the gray wolves before landing on Arlon's companions.
"So, these are the intruders," it rumbled, its voice deep and guttural. Its piercing eyes locked onto Lawrence.
"I can feel it... the presence of the same blood that awakens the seal."
"..."
Lawrence stiffened under the creature's scrutiny, a flicker of realization dawning in his eyes. This wasn't an ordinary creature—it was something far more intelligent, far more sinister.
Elandar stepped forward, his posture unwavering. "You will not harm us!" Elandar declared, his voice ringing with unwavering resolve. "We stand as guardians of the core, bound by duty to protect it at all costs."
The large monster let out a low, rumbling laugh, its lips curling into a sinister smirk.
"Protect the core?" it sneered, its voice a dark melody of mockery.
"Oh, you mean the power of the gods? Hahaha... You fools are blinded by its so-called protection." Its laughter echoed through the clearing, dark and menacing.
Elandar frowned deeply. "What do you mean?" he demanded, his voice laced with suspicion.
The monster's eyes glinted with malice as it threw back its head and howled, signaling the other wolf monsters to attack.
Howl—
"To arms!" Elandar commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. Lawrence and Anthony's swords flashed, clashing with the snarling beasts. Each strike was precise, holding the line against the encroaching monsters.
Arlon's gaze locked onto Lawrence, a knot of worry tightening in his chest. This is bad. Lawrence hasn't faced creatures like this in the novel before. If something happens to him now... He couldn't finish the thought. The stakes were higher than ever.
Beside him, Ace's voice cut through his swirling thoughts. "Arlon, we need to act! Stop zoning out!" The urgency in Ace's voice jolted him.
Arlon's eyes scanned the battlefield, his mind racing for a solution. Lawrence and Anthony were holding their own, but the large monster was circling, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Arlon's eyes locked onto the creature as its muscles tensed, its predatory gaze zeroing in on Elder Elandar. A sinister grin twisted across its monstrous face, rows of razor-sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light.
"Got you," it growled, its voice thick with malice and triumph.
In a blur of motion, the beast lunged, its massive form slicing through the air with deadly precision, aiming directly for Elandar. The elder stood resolute amidst the chaos, his expression unwavering, even as death loomed.
But before the creature could strike, Arlon stepped forward, his presence commanding. He thrust his hand upward, summoning the power of the Sky Dragon Soul.
"...!"
The stormy gray sky above darkened further, swirling ominously. A crackling bolt of dark purple lightning erupted from the heavens, streaking down with a deafening roar.
Crack—Boom!
The lightning struck Arlon's outstretched hand, surging through him with a fierce intensity before lancing toward the monstrous wolf. The searing energy hit the creature with unrelenting force, sending it hurtling backward.
Thud—
It crashed into the ground, its massive body writhing in pain, smoke rising from the charred wound that marred its side.
"..."
The battlefield fell silent for a brief moment, the sheer power of the attack leaving everyone stunned.
Kaelan's stern expression cracked, a flicker of shock crossing his face. "That power… it's not normal. Who is he really?"
Elandar, standing resolute, narrowed his eyes, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "The Sky Dragon's power… it can't be…."
Even the gray wolves, who had been fiercely defending their village moments before, paused, their eyes reflecting a mix of awe and newfound respect. The air around them was charged, the weight of Arlon's display of power sinking in.
The creature lay stunned for a moment, its golden eyes wide with shock as it stared at Arlon. There was no mistaking the power he had just unleashed—a power that few could wield. A mixture of surprise and realization flickered across the beast's twisted features.
"You…" the creature rasped, its voice a mix of disbelief and growing madness. It studied Arlon intently, as if seeing him for the first time.
Then, a maniacal grin spread across its face, its expression shifting to one of wild, almost reverent excitement.
"So it's you…" it murmured, its voice trembling with unrestrained glee.
Hahahah—
The beast began to laugh—a deep, chilling sound that reverberated through the forest, causing the ground beneath them to tremble. The very air seemed to pulse in response, the land reacting violently to the creature's unhinged mirth.
Arlon's gaze sharpened, but before he could react, a golden screen materialized in front of him. The narrator's words floated in bold, ominous text:
["The master of the land is looking at Arlon with a piercing gaze. A hint of satisfaction and anger whirls into the core—the ***** has appeared."]
Arlon's eyes narrowed in confusion, his mind racing. The master of the land? What does this mean? His thoughts swirled with unanswered questions, but there was no time to ponder.
The creature's laughter abruptly ceased, and it turned its wild gaze back to Arlon. But before Arlon could make another move, more wolf-like monsters emerged from the shadows. One lunged toward him, its form shifting mid-air into a billowing cloud of black smoke.
Swoosh—
The dark smoke enveloped Arlon, swirling around him like a living entity, cutting him off from the others. The dense fog obscured him completely, and the cries of his companions echoed in the distance.
"Master Arlon!" Lawrence and Anthony called out in unison, their swords ready but unable to pierce the smoke.
Within the swirling darkness, Arlon could feel the malevolent presence closing in. The power of the Sky Dragon Soul pulsed within him, but the oppressive force of the smoke was suffocating, blocking his senses and vision.
Ace's voice echoed in his mind, calm yet urgent. "Stay focused, Arlon. This is no ordinary attack."
Arlon clenched his fists, determination surging through him. He had to break free, not just for himself, but for others.
The battle was far from over, and the stakes had never been higher.From amidst the swirling black smoke, a figure began to emerge.
Thump— Thump— Thump—
Arlon's heart pounded in his chest as he saw it—a tall, menacing creature with deadly, golden eyes that pierced through the haze with unnerving precision. The figure moved with a terrifying grace, each step deliberate and measured.
Arlon's breath hitched as he fought to maintain his composure. The creature's new form was even more fearsome and dangerous than before. Its towering frame loomed over him, the long, sinewy arms appearing more than capable of enveloping him completely.
The oppressive darkness of the smoke only heightened the creature's sinister presence.
The monster advanced, its golden eyes burning with malevolence. A chilling smile twisted its face, grotesque and unnerving, like a macabre marionette.
The overwhelming power radiating from the creature was suffocating, and Arlon could feel the weight of its gaze pressing down on him.
Just as the creature seemed ready to strike, a golden screen materialized in front of its face, momentarily obscuring Arlon's view.
Flutter—
["—The master of the land wants to talk, but the core has stopped it. "No one can hurt the ****—"]
The sudden appearance of the screen blocked the monster's intimidating presence, and Arlon felt a wave of calm wash over him. The Sky Dragon Soul, resonating deep within him, steadied his racing heart, restoring his composure.
Arlon's brow furrowed in confusion as he read the message. It became clear that the large monster and the core were separate entities, locked in some kind of internal conflict.
Before he could process further, more screens appeared, detailing the tense exchange between the master of the land and the core.
["Don't you dare to stop me! I'll do whatever I want without your permission!"] the master of the land snarled.
The creature's gaze remained locked on Arlon, its expression filled with defiance and rage. Its mouth opened wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. The sight was horrifying—enough to make an ordinary person collapse in fear.
But the calming influence of the Sky Dragon Soul kept Arlon grounded. He stood firm, unflinching, staring back at the monster with unwavering resolve.
Another golden screen flickered into existence, but before Arlon could read its contents, the text began to glitch and distort.
Flutter—
["The punishment will be set for those who disobey—"]
Suddenly, golden chains materialized out of thin air, wrapping tightly around the creature's massive form. The chains shimmered with a radiant energy, glowing with an ethereal light as they tightened their hold.
Graahhh—
The creature let out a guttural roar, thrashing against its bonds, but the chains held firm.
Crack— Crackle—
The air crackled with electricity as the chains emitted a powerful current, sending jolts of energy through the monster's body. It writhed in agony, its movements becoming more frantic as the punishment took hold.
The golden light flared, casting stark shadows as the smoke thinned. Arlon's gaze remained fixed, his mind racing to piece together the implications of what he had just seen. The weight of the revelation pressed down on him, but there was no time to dwell.
The master of the land and the core were locked in a relentless struggle for control. The sudden appearance of the golden chains revealed the core's own power, a mechanism of punishment designed to keep the master in check.