Within the thick fog, yellow eyes drew ever closer, radiating a cold and murderous intent. The group stood on high alert, every weapon drawn, glinting in the gray haze.
Loka, standing resolutely at the front, raised his battle axe and spoke in a low, steady voice:
"Hold the formation. Do not act rashly. It might be testing us—or preparing for a lethal hunt."
Katherine drew her bowstring taut, her sharp gaze locked on the glowing eyes.
"This thing… it's much larger than I imagined."
Irene scanned their surroundings nervously and whispered, "Loka, what should we do? Attack or retreat?"
Loka did not answer immediately. He studied the movement of the glowing eyes carefully before shaking his head.
"In this terrain, retreating is more dangerous than fighting. We have no choice but to face it."
As his words fell, a deep growl echoed through the fog, shaking the mountains like a rumbling storm. Then, a colossal shadow began to emerge.
It was a massive beast, its body covered in thick, gray-black fur, resembling a moving boulder. Its limbs were muscular and powerful, with every step causing the ground to tremble. Two curved, bone-like horns jutted from its forehead, adding an air of both majesty and terror.
"The Veilshadow Beast…" Loka murmured, his expression grim. "One of the ancient guardians of this land."
The warriors' faces grew more tense at the mention of the name. The Veilshadow Beast was a creature of legend in Airtulan, said to be the master of these heights, fiercely territorial and almost impossible to evade or defeat.
Katherine slowly lowered her bow and whispered to Loka, "Maybe it doesn't want to attack us outright—just to defend its territory. If we show goodwill, there might be a way out."
Loka weighed her suggestion briefly and nodded.
"We can't be certain of its intent, but it's worth a try. Warriors, hold formation. Do not strike unless absolutely necessary."
Drawing a ceremonial arrow with no edge, Katherine raised it high in a gesture of peace. Irene joined her, raising her hands as she spoke softly, "We mean no harm. We're merely passing through."
The beast halted, its golden eyes reflecting hesitation, though its growls did not cease. Lowering its massive head, it sniffed the air, as if gauging the intentions of these intruders.
"It's working…" Katherine whispered, a glimmer of hope in her voice.
But just then, a young warrior's spear slipped from his trembling hands, clattering loudly against the rocky ground. The sudden noise rang out like a thunderclap, causing the beast to recoil before unleashing a deafening roar.
"Damn it!" Loka cursed. "Prepare for battle!"
The Veilshadow Beast charged forward, slamming a massive paw into the ground. The resulting tremor dislodged rocks, and a cascade of fragments tumbled through the mist. Loka sprang into action, swinging his axe to intercept the beast's first strike. The sharp edge sparked against the beast's claw, but the blow failed to penetrate its tough hide.
"Aim for its joints!" Loka commanded. "Don't try to take it on alone!"
Katherine loosed an arrow aimed at the beast's eye. The arrow sliced through the fog, hitting its mark and eliciting an enraged howl. The beast staggered momentarily but retaliated with greater ferocity.
Irene darted to its flank, thrusting her short sword at its rear leg, but the blade skidded harmlessly off its thick fur. She quickly retreated, narrowly avoiding a powerful sweep of the beast's tail.
"Its hide is too tough!" she panted.
"Don't give up!" Loka roared, pouring all his strength into a blow aimed at the beast's front leg joint. This time, the strike forced the beast to its knees. For a fleeting moment, victory seemed within reach—until the beast unleashed an earth-shaking roar. With a sudden burst of power, it sent the warriors flying in all directions.
"Fall back!" Loka ordered without hesitation. He knew continuing the fight would only lead to greater losses. At that moment, through the thick fog, a faint outline of a path became visible.
"There!" Katherine shouted. "Head that way!"
The group retreated swiftly, the Veilshadow Beast not pursuing them. Instead, it stood its ground, emitting a series of deep growls before vanishing back into the mist. It seemed more intent on issuing a warning than eradicating the intruders.
"Did it let us go?" Irene asked between ragged breaths.
Loka nodded solemnly. "Perhaps. But it won't allow us to pass without consequence. We must tread even more carefully from here on."
Exhausted, the group rested briefly by a large boulder. Loka turned to Katherine.
"Your arrow saved us back there. Things could have been much worse."
Katherine said nothing, her grip tightening on her bowstring as her vigilant gaze remained fixed on the misty depths ahead. The real challenges of Veilshadow Heights, she knew, were just beginning.