Chereads / The Last Shadow: Legend of the Black Veil / Chapter 7 - The Beast Within

Chapter 7 - The Beast Within

The ancient guardian struck with a force that shook the chamber, its claws gouging deep into the stone floor as Rai and Tenzai leapt apart to avoid the attack.

Rai rolled to his feet, quickly nocking an arrow. He loosed it toward the beast's chest, but the arrow shattered against its thick, obsidian-like hide.

"This thing's armor is impenetrable!" Rai shouted, retreating toward the shadows of the room.

Tenzai lunged forward, his blade flashing in the dim light. He aimed for the beast's exposed joints, but the creature swatted him aside with terrifying speed. Tenzai crashed into a pillar, coughing as the air was knocked from his lungs.

"It's not just strong," Tenzai said, his voice strained. "It's smart. It's protecting its weaknesses."

The beast turned its glowing eyes toward Rai, a low growl reverberating through the chamber. It charged, its massive claws aiming to cleave Rai in two.

Rai dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. His mind raced. If my arrows can't pierce its hide, then what can?

Tenzai staggered to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "The runes!" he called out. "The carvings on the walls—they're connected to this thing. They might be its source of power!"

Rai glanced at the glowing carvings that lined the chamber walls. Each one depicted the guardian in various poses, its form surrounded by arcane symbols. The runes pulsed with an eerie light, syncing with the guardian's movements.

"Then we destroy the runes," Rai said, pulling another arrow from his quiver. He coated it with the silver liquid Tenzai had given him earlier, aiming for the nearest glowing carving.

The arrow flew true, striking the rune dead center. The carving shattered, and the light within it dimmed. The guardian let out a deafening roar, its movements faltering as if it had been wounded.

"It's working!" Rai shouted.

The guardian recovered quickly, its burning eyes locking onto Rai with renewed fury. It lunged toward him, its claws carving through the air.

"Keep it distracted!" Tenzai yelled, sprinting toward another glowing rune.

Rai fired another arrow, this time aiming for the guardian's face. The arrow exploded in a burst of silver light, momentarily blinding the creature. It thrashed wildly, its claws scraping against the stone floor.

Tenzai reached the second rune, slashing through it with his blade. The carving shattered, and another pulse of energy rippled through the chamber. The guardian roared again, its massive body beginning to flicker, as if it were losing its corporeal form.

"It's weakening!" Rai said, nocking another arrow.

But the guardian wasn't done yet. With a furious snarl, it turned its attention to Tenzai, charging toward him with relentless speed.

"Tenzai, watch out!" Rai shouted, loosing an arrow aimed at the creature's exposed back. The arrow struck, but it wasn't enough to stop the beast's momentum.

Tenzai braced himself, raising his blade just in time to block the creature's claws. The impact sent him skidding backward, but he held his ground.

"Rai, there's one more rune!" Tenzai called out. "It's on the pedestal!"

Rai's gaze snapped to the pedestal where the ancient tome rested. The final rune was carved into its base, glowing brighter than the others. He sprinted toward it, weaving through the chaos as the guardian continued its relentless assault on Tenzai.

The guardian seemed to sense Rai's intention. It let out a bone-chilling howl, abandoning its attack on Tenzai and turning to intercept Rai.

"Not this time," Rai muttered, sliding to a stop and aiming his arrow at the pedestal. He poured every ounce of focus into his shot, the air around him almost vibrating with tension.

The arrow flew, its silver-coated tip glinting in the dim light. It struck the rune dead center, shattering it into a thousand glowing shards.

The guardian let out an earsplitting roar as its body began to disintegrate, the glowing symbols on its form fading into nothingness. It thrashed wildly, its claws raking the air one last time before collapsing into a heap of shadow and dust.

The chamber fell silent.

---

Rai leaned against a pillar, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. "That... was way too close," he said, wiping sweat from his brow.

Tenzai approached the pedestal, his movements slow and deliberate. The ancient tome still rested there, untouched by the chaos of the battle.

"This is it," Tenzai said, his voice quiet. "The key to everything we've been searching for."

Rai walked over, his eyes narrowing as he studied the tome. "Are you sure? What if this thing brings more trouble than it's worth?"

Tenzai hesitated before reaching out to touch the tome. "Trouble or not, this might be the only way to uncover the truth about the werewolves and Taring Kegelapan. If we're going to stop them, we need to understand their power."

As his fingers brushed the tome's surface, a low hum filled the air. The runes on its cover flared to life, their light casting eerie shadows across the chamber walls.

Rai tensed, his hand moving to his dagger. "What's happening?"

The tome's pages began to flip on their own, glowing symbols rising from the parchment and swirling into the air. A voice, deep and resonant, echoed through the chamber.

"Seekers of truth, you have broken the chains of shadow. But beware, for knowledge comes at a price."

The light intensified, engulfing the room in a blinding flash.

When the light faded, Rai and Tenzai found themselves standing in a vast, desolate wasteland. The sanctuary was gone, replaced by a landscape of jagged rocks and swirling mist.

"What is this place?" Rai asked, his voice filled with unease.

Tenzai's grip tightened on his blade. "I think we've just stepped into the heart of the darkness we're trying to fight."