The journey to Kaelmont stretched on for hours, with the three travelers weaving through dense forests and rugged trails. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the landscape in hues of orange and red. Rai, Tenzai, and Kaida moved in silence, each lost in their thoughts.
Kaida clutched the glowing crystal tightly, her eyes scanning the horizon. "We're close," she said, her voice soft but steady. "Kaelmont is just beyond this ridge."
"Let's hope the town isn't overrun," Tenzai muttered, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his blade. "If those werewolves were a scouting party, we might have a bigger problem waiting for us."
Rai frowned, his fingers tracing the worn edges of his bow. "Do you think the Abyss has already reached Kaelmont?"
Kaida hesitated, then nodded. "The corruption spreads faster than we can contain it. If the town hasn't fallen, it's only a matter of time."
They crested the ridge, and Kaelmont came into view. The town sat nestled in a valley, its stone walls and tiled roofs glowing faintly under the moonlight. From a distance, it looked untouched, peaceful even, but Rai's instincts told him otherwise.
"Something feels... off," he said, narrowing his eyes.
Tenzai nodded. "No guards on the walls, no movement. It's too quiet."
Kaida tightened her grip on the crystal. "Stay alert. We don't know what we're walking into."
As they descended into the valley, the silence grew oppressive. The gates of Kaelmont stood open, swinging slightly in the night breeze. The trio entered cautiously, their weapons at the ready.
The streets were eerily deserted. Lanterns hung unlit from iron posts, and the air carried a faint, acrid smell—like burned wood and decay. Rai glanced at a nearby market stall, its wares abandoned and covered in a thin layer of ash.
"This place is a ghost town," Tenzai said, his voice low.
Kaida stepped forward, her eyes scanning the surroundings. "No," she said. "Look closer."
Rai followed her gaze and froze. On the walls of nearby buildings, dark claw marks were etched deep into the stone. Bloodstains smeared the ground, leading into alleyways and abandoned homes.
"They were here," Kaida whispered.
"Or still are," Tenzai added grimly, unsheathing his sword.
Rai's grip on his bow tightened. "We need to find survivors. If there's anyone left, they might know where the fragment is."
Kaida nodded. "Agreed. We'll search the town, but stay together. If those creatures attack again, we'll need to fight as a unit."
They moved cautiously through the empty streets, their footsteps echoing in the silence. Shadows danced in the corners of their vision, but every time Rai turned, there was nothing there.
After several minutes, they reached the town square. A large fountain stood at its center, its water murky and stagnant. Surrounding it were more signs of destruction—shattered barrels, overturned carts, and more blood.
"This isn't random," Kaida said, kneeling near a set of claw marks on the ground. "The attacks were coordinated. They herded the townspeople into one place."
Rai's stomach churned. "And then what?"
Before Kaida could answer, a faint sound broke the silence—a low, guttural growl that sent shivers down Rai's spine.
"They're here," Tenzai said, his sword gleaming in the moonlight.
From the shadows, figures began to emerge. Dozens of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness, followed by the hulking forms of werewolves. Their snarls grew louder, reverberating through the square as they closed in.
Kaida raised the crystal, its light flaring brightly. "Get ready!"
The werewolves attacked all at once, a wave of claws and fangs. Rai loosed an arrow, striking one of the creatures in the chest, but it barely slowed. Tenzai charged forward, his blade slicing through fur and flesh with practiced precision.
Kaida stayed in the center, channeling the crystal's energy to create a barrier of light. The werewolves hesitated to cross it, growling in frustration.
"Keep them back!" she shouted. "I'll try to expand the barrier!"
Rai fired arrow after arrow, each shot aimed to wound or distract. He moved quickly, dodging a swipe from a werewolf's claws and rolling to the side. Tenzai fought like a whirlwind, his strikes precise and lethal.
But the creatures kept coming. For every werewolf they brought down, two more seemed to take its place.
"We're outnumbered!" Rai shouted. "We need a plan!"
Kaida gritted her teeth, sweat dripping down her face as she concentrated on the crystal. "I'm working on it!"
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed through the square. The werewolves stopped, their heads snapping toward the source of the sound. From the darkness, a massive figure stepped forward—a werewolf twice the size of the others, its fur black as night and its eyes burning like coals.
"That's no ordinary werewolf," Tenzai muttered, tightening his grip on his sword.
Kaida's eyes widened. "It's an alpha. Be careful—it's far stronger than the others."
The alpha let out another roar, and the other werewolves fell back, forming a circle around it. Rai felt a chill run down his spine as the massive creature locked eyes with him.
"This just keeps getting better," he muttered, drawing another arrow.
The alpha charged, its speed defying its size. Rai barely had time to dodge as it swiped at him, its claws tearing through the ground. Tenzai leapt forward, his blade flashing as he aimed for the creature's neck, but the alpha caught the sword in its claws, snapping it in half with a single motion.
Tenzai stumbled back, his eyes wide. "That's... new."
Kaida's crystal flared brightly, and she stepped forward. "Buy me time! I'll use the crystal's full power!"
Rai and Tenzai nodded, moving to intercept the alpha as Kaida began chanting in a language Rai didn't understand.
The battle had only just begun.