The Moonlit Hollow was shrouded in an unnatural stillness. The snow-laden air hung heavy, and the artifact's golden glow pulsed steadily, casting eerie shadows across the jagged ice formations. Aria crouched on her favorite rock, her sharp blue eyes scanning the horizon.
The Frost Mink scurried around her, letting out nervous squeaks as it darted between patches of ice.
"Calm down," she muttered, her claws flexing against the stone. "It's quiet for now."
But even as she said it, she didn't believe it.
---
Xuan Hao stood near the artifact, his blade resting against his shoulder as he examined the faint crimson threads of energy surrounding it. His dark eyes reflected the golden glow, a calm expression on his face despite the tension in the air.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Aria asked, leaping down to approach him.
He glanced at her, his faint smile returning. "Feel what?"
"The shift," she said, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "The calm before something worse."
Xuan Hao's smirk widened slightly. "Always so dramatic."
Her tail flicked sharply. "I'm serious."
He tilted his head, his tone softening. "I know. And yes, I feel it. This artifact isn't done attracting attention."
---
The Frost Mink scurried toward the artifact, its tiny paws pressing against the faint barrier Xuan Hao had constructed.
"Careful," he said, his tone light. "That's not something you want to get too close to."
The mink chirped, tilting its head as if to say, Why not?
Aria sighed, nudging the tiny creature away. "Don't encourage them."
Xuan Hao chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're awfully protective for someone who claims not to care."
Her sharp blue eyes glinted. "And you're awfully irritating for someone I haven't chased off yet."
He smirked, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Touché."
---
The snow remained undisturbed, but the air carried an almost imperceptible hum, a vibration that resonated through the frozen ground.
"System," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "What's happening now?"
"Energy fluctuations detected. Artifact resonance increasing. Probability of environmental disturbance: 60%."
Her fur bristled. "Disturbance? What kind of disturbance?"
"Unconfirmed. Potential outcomes include terrain alteration, hostile attraction, or atmospheric shifts."
Aria growled softly, her tail lashing. "In other words, chaos."
---
Xuan Hao crouched near the artifact, his dark eyes narrowing as he studied its glow. "It's growing stronger," he said, his tone thoughtful.
Aria's sharp blue eyes flicked to him. "You've said that before. What does it mean this time?"
"It means whatever's out there is going to notice," he replied, glancing at her. "And we're going to have to deal with it."
Her claws scraped against the ground. "What's your brilliant plan for that?"
Xuan Hao smirked faintly, rising to his feet. "We improvise. Like always."
---
The Frost Mink chirped nervously, darting back to Aria's side.
She sighed, nudging the tiny creature with her paw. "Relax. We've handled worse."
The mink squeaked, its tiny eyes wide as it pressed closer.
"Don't look at me like that," she muttered, her tail curling around it. "We'll be fine."
Xuan Hao raised an eyebrow, his faint smile returning. "Reassuring your troops?"
Aria growled softly. "Don't start."
---
By midday, the hum of the artifact had grown louder, its glow casting flickering patterns across the jagged ice. The ground beneath it began to tremble faintly, a low vibration that made Aria's fur stand on end.
"System," she thought, her claws flexing. "What's going on now?"
"Energy surge detected. Artifact resonance approaching critical threshold. Hostile attraction probability: 80%."
Her ears twitched. "Eighty percent. Of course."
---
Xuan Hao stepped back from the artifact, his blade gleaming faintly as he rested it against his shoulder. "It's close," he said, his tone calm.
Aria crouched low, her sharp blue eyes fixed on the artifact. "Close to what?"
"To whatever happens next," he replied.
Her fur bristled, her claws scraping against the ground. "If it explodes, I'm blaming you."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Noted."
---
The Frost Mink scurried over to Aria, letting out a series of nervous chirps as it tugged at her leg.
She sighed, glancing down at the tiny creature. "I know. I feel it too."
The mink pressed closer, its tiny body trembling.
"For once, you're right to be scared," Aria muttered, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as she turned her gaze back to the artifact.
---
The first sign of trouble came as a low rumble that echoed through the hollow, shaking the jagged ice formations and sending faint cracks spidering through the frozen ground.
Aria crouched low, her sharp blue eyes blazing. "System, report!"
"Energy surge escalating. Terrain destabilization imminent. Hostile attraction confirmed."
Her fur bristled. "How many?"
"Six hostiles detected. Estimated arrival: 5–10 minutes."
---
Xuan Hao tightened his grip on his blade, his expression serious for once. "You ready?"
Aria growled softly, her tail lashing. "I'm always ready."
He smirked faintly, his dark eyes glinting. "Good. Let's hope that confidence holds."
---
The hostiles appeared moments later, emerging from the shadows at the edge of the hollow.
Three Abyssal Wolves prowled forward, their sleek black fur glinting faintly in the artifact's glow. Their glowing red eyes locked onto the artifact, their sharp claws scraping against the ground.
Behind them, two Frostscale Lizards slithered into view, their icy blue scales shimmering as they hissed softly.
And towering above them all, a Frostshadow Lynx prowled into the hollow, its sharp yellow eyes blazing with predatory intent.
"Hostiles confirmed: Abyssal Wolf Pack (3), Frostscale Lizards (2), and Frostshadow Lynx (1). Threat level: High to Extreme."
Aria crouched low, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Here we go again."
---
The battle began with a flurry of movement.
The Abyssal Wolves lunged first, their sharp claws slicing through the snow as they charged toward the artifact.
Aria activated Lunar Veil, her shimmering form disappearing into the shadows as she intercepted them.
"Lunar Veil II: 90% Progress."
Her claws raked through the nearest wolf's flank, the creature snarling as it stumbled back.
Xuan Hao moved like a shadow, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. One of the Frostscale Lizards struck at him, its icy tail lashing out, but he dodged effortlessly, landing a devastating blow to its side.
The Frostshadow Lynx circled them, its sharp yellow eyes calculating as it prepared to strike.
---
The fight was chaotic, each predator moving with deadly precision as they coordinated their attacks.
Aria used Spirit Step to phase through the wolves' strikes, reappearing behind them to land calculated blows.
"Spirit Step Mastery: Enhanced stamina efficiency detected. Minor Attribute Boost applied."
Xuan Hao's crimson energy flared as he countered the Frostscale Lizards, his movements fluid and efficient.
The Frostshadow Lynx lunged at Aria, its sharp claws slicing through the air in rapid, deadly strikes.
She dodged narrowly, her tail swishing as she circled around to land a devastating blow to its hind leg.
---
By the time the last hostile fell, the hollow was littered with blood and shattered ice.
Aria collapsed onto the snow, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.
Xuan Hao stood nearby, his blade dripping with blood as he surveyed the battlefield.
"Not bad," he said, his tone light. "For a guardian."
Aria growled softly, her tail flicking. "You're still annoying."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "And you're still stubborn."
---
The Frost Mink scurried over, chirping softly as it nuzzled Aria's side.
"For now," she thought, her sharp blue eyes drifting shut, "the hollow is safe. But this isn't over."