Chapter 20: The Abyssal Behemoth
The ground trembled beneath Kael's feet as the colossal form rose from the shadows, its crimson eyes piercing through the darkness. The air grew thick with an oppressive energy, making it hard to breathe. Kael's heart pounded in his chest, a mix of fear and determination coursing through him.
Ciaran's voice was barely audible over the rumbling earth. "An Abyssal Behemoth," he muttered, his eyes wide with recognition. "We need to be extremely careful."
Kael tightened his grip on his scythe, the shadows around him swirling with anticipation. "What is that thing?"
Ciaran swallowed hard. "A manifestation of pure Void energy. It's a living weapon, created to annihilate anything in its path. Fighting it head-on is suicide."
The Behemoth's massive form towered above the treetops, its body a swirling mass of darkness interlaced with pulsating red veins. It let out a deafening roar, shaking the very foundation of the forest.
Kael glanced at the Void Hunters, who had momentarily halted their assault, their attention now focused on the new threat. "Do they control it?"
Ciaran shook his head. "No. It's beyond their command. Right now, it's a danger to all of us."
The leader of the Void Hunters barked orders to their team, their voices tense. "Form a perimeter! Do not engage unless necessary!"
Kael's mind raced, searching for a strategy. "If we can't fight it directly, what do we do?"
Ciaran's eyes darted around, assessing their surroundings. "We need to find its core. Every Behemoth has one—a concentrated mass of Void energy that holds it together. Destroy the core, and the Behemoth will collapse."
The Behemoth's massive arm swung down, crashing into the ground with a force that sent shockwaves rippling through the forest. Trees splintered and shattered under the impact, debris flying in all directions.
Kael and Ciaran dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow. Kael's shadows formed a protective barrier around them, shielding them from the falling debris.
"We can't keep dodging forever," Kael said through gritted teeth. "How do we find the core?"
Ciaran pointed to the Behemoth's chest, where a faint, pulsating light could be seen beneath the swirling shadows. "There. That's our target."
Kael nodded, determination hardening his features. "Then let's take it down."
The Assault
Kael and Ciaran moved in unison, their years of training evident in their coordinated attacks. Kael's shadows lashed out, striking at the Behemoth's limbs to draw its attention, while Ciaran circled around, searching for an opening to reach the core.
The Behemoth roared in frustration, its massive arms swinging wildly as it tried to swat them away. Each movement caused the ground to quake, making it difficult to maintain balance.
Kael's scythe sliced through the air, the shadows extending its reach as he aimed for the Behemoth's joints. The creature's dark form absorbed the blows, but each strike caused it to falter, if only for a moment.
Ciaran seized the opportunity, dashing forward with lightning speed. His blade gleamed with a faint, ethereal light as he plunged it into the Behemoth's chest, aiming for the pulsating core.
The Behemoth let out a deafening scream, its body convulsing as waves of Void energy erupted from the wound. Ciaran was thrown back by the force, crashing into a nearby tree with a pained grunt.
Kael's eyes widened in horror as the Behemoth's form began to shift and contort, its energy becoming increasingly unstable. "Ciaran!"
Ciaran struggled to his feet, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "We need to hit it simultaneously! It's the only way to overload the core!"
Kael nodded, his resolve unwavering. "On your mark."
The Behemoth's eyes blazed with fury, its movements becoming more erratic as it prepared to unleash its full wrath upon them.
Ciaran raised his blade, the ethereal light intensifying. "Now!"
Kael channeled all his energy into his scythe, the shadows converging to form a concentrated point of darkness. With a battle cry, he and Ciaran launched themselves at the Behemoth, their weapons striking the core in perfect unison.
Time seemed to stand still as the Behemoth's body convulsed, the core's light intensifying to a blinding brilliance. Then, with a cataclysmic explosion, the Behemoth disintegrated, its form collapsing into a swirling vortex of Void energy that was quickly absorbed back into the shadows.
The forest was eerily silent in the aftermath, the once-turbulent energy now dissipated. Kael and Ciaran stood amidst the wreckage, their breaths heavy, bodies battered but victorious.
The leader of the Void Hunters approached, their helmet removed to reveal a stern, battle-hardened face. "You've proven yourselves formidable," they admitted grudgingly. "But this isn't over."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "We just saved your lives. Stand down."
The leader's gaze was unwavering. "Our mission remains. You are a threat to the Crown, and we will not rest until that threat is neutralized."
Ciaran stepped forward, his blade still at the ready. "Then you'll have to go through us."
Tension hung thick in the air as both sides prepared for another confrontation, the outcome uncertain.
The leader of the Void Hunters raised their spear, the crimson glow intensifying as the ground beneath them cracked and split. The air grew heavy with an oppressive energy, and Kael's instincts screamed at him to move.
Ciaran's voice cut through the tension. "Kael! Don't let them regroup!"
Kael didn't hesitate. Shadows erupted around him, propelling him forward like a missile. His scythe twisted in his hands, its blade lengthening mid-air as he aimed for the leader's chest.
The spear met the scythe with a deafening clang, the impact sending shockwaves rippling through the forest. Nearby trees groaned and splintered, their roots tearing free from the earth as the force of the clash toppled them like dominos.
The leader pushed back, their strength unnerving, and Kael found himself sliding across the ground. His shadows flared, anchoring him to the earth, but the energy radiating from the spear burned against his defenses.
"You've barely scratched the surface of your power," the leader said, their voice cold and calm. "Let me show you what mastery truly looks like."
The spear surged with crimson light, arcs of energy crackling outward. The leader slammed its tip into the ground, and a shockwave erupted, carving a jagged crater into the earth that spread in a widening circle.
Kael leapt back, barely avoiding the collapse beneath his feet. The ground gave way, chunks of rock falling into the void as the edge of the crater crumbled.
Ciaran moved in a blur, his blade flashing as he intercepted one of the other Hunters. Their swords collided, sending sparks flying. The Hunter lunged, their Void-enhanced strength creating deep gouges in the earth with every strike.
Ciaran sidestepped, his movements precise and deliberate. With a sharp twist of his wrist, his blade carved through the Hunter's shoulder armor, drawing a hiss of pain.
"You're getting sloppy," Ciaran muttered, slamming the hilt of his sword into the Hunter's helmet. The force sent them sprawling, their impact forming a shallow crater in the soft earth.
Kael's focus snapped back to the leader as they advanced again, their spear spinning in a flurry of red light. The shadows around Kael thickened, forming jagged shields that deflected the spear's strikes, but each blow sent tremors through his defenses.
"You think you can stand against the Crown?" the leader said, their voice laced with disdain. "You're nothing but a child playing with power you don't understand."
Kael growled, his scythe shifting into a massive shadow-forged axe. The weapon hummed with energy as he swung it with both hands, aiming for the leader's midsection.
The impact was cataclysmic.
The axe collided with the spear, and the resulting explosion of energy ripped through the forest like a storm. Trees were torn from their roots, their trunks splintering and crashing to the ground. The earth itself cracked and buckled, forming deep fissures that snaked outward in all directions.
Kael staggered, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The axe dissolved into tendrils of shadow, retreating to his hands as he tried to steady himself.
The leader stood amidst the devastation, their armor scorched but intact. They raised their spear, its crimson glow intensifying to a blinding light.
"You've got potential," they said, their tone almost mocking. "But potential won't save you."
Ciaran broke from his duel with another Hunter, his blade trailing streaks of silver light as he charged toward the leader. His movements were a blur, faster than Kael had ever seen, and the ground beneath his feet cracked with every step.
He reached the leader in seconds, his sword slicing down in a vicious arc. The leader raised their spear to block, but the force of Ciaran's strike sent them skidding backward, their boots carving trenches in the dirt.
Ciaran didn't let up. His blade moved like lightning, each strike precise and devastating. The leader was forced onto the defensive, their spear deflecting blow after blow as Ciaran pressed the attack.
"You talk too much," Ciaran said coldly, his voice a low growl.
The leader's composure faltered for the first time, their movements growing desperate. Ciaran's blade struck with the force of a battering ram, shattering the ground beneath them with each impact.
Kael watched in awe as Ciaran drove the leader back, his relentless assault leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Kael's shadows flared again, coiling around his arms and chest like armor. He could feel the Void's energy thrumming beneath his skin, waiting to be unleashed.
He turned his attention to the remaining Hunters, who were regrouping near the edge of the battlefield. One of them raised a glowing gauntlet, the crimson veins pulsing as they prepared to strike.
Kael's vision narrowed, his focus sharpening. He raised his hand, and the shadows obeyed, surging forward in a tidal wave of dark energy.
The wave crashed into the Hunters, shattering their formation and sending them flying. One was slammed into a tree with enough force to crack the trunk, while another was hurled into a nearby boulder, the impact leaving a spiderweb of fractures in the stone.
The remaining Hunters scrambled to their feet, but Kael was already moving. His shadows twisted and formed into twin blades, each one humming with concentrated Void energy.
He struck with precision and fury, his movements fluid as the shadows extended his reach. Each blow left craters in the ground, the sheer force of his attacks carving through the terrain like a storm.
End of Chapter 20