The quiet aftermath of the battle settled into the thick forest air. Nox stood amidst the fallen shadow wolves, his chest heaving, his blade crackling faintly with the remnants of his magic. Blood dripped from shallow cuts on his arms, and his hands trembled from exertion. Yet his expression betrayed no weakness.
His mother stepped forward, her eyes sweeping the battlefield with practiced efficiency. "You're improving," she said, her voice firm but not unkind. "Your movements are more precise, your strikes more decisive." She paused, leveling her gaze at him. "But don't let this victory fill your head. These were wolves—nothing compared to the creatures that await you in the future."
Nox nodded, but his mind wandered. If this is the start, what does the rest look like? He glanced at his mother, who was already moving to collect the wolves' remains. Her movements were swift and methodical, a testament to her years of experience.
The forest felt different now, quieter than it had been moments ago. The air was heavy, almost oppressive. Something wasn't right. Nox noticed it first as a faint tremor beneath his feet, then as a distant, rhythmic clicking that grew louder with each passing moment.
His mother straightened, her entire posture shifting. Gone was the calm efficiency—her muscles tensed, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword. "Stay close," she ordered, her voice low but filled with authority.
Nox obeyed, falling in step behind her as they turned toward the source of the sound. The clicking grew louder, reverberating through the trees. Shadows shifted unnaturally, and the oppressive feeling in the air thickened.
Then it appeared.
A massive scorpion, its exoskeleton shimmering like polished obsidian, emerged from the dense underbrush. It was unlike anything Nox had ever seen. Its size alone dwarfed any creature he had Seen, its body rippling with an aura of raw, unrelenting malice. Multiple eyes gleamed with abyssal light, their alien gaze locking onto Nox with unnerving precision.
The creature's pincers, each larger than Nox himself, clicked together with a sound that seemed to echo through the forest. Its tail arched high, the stinger dripping with venom that hissed as it hit the ground. The very air around it seemed to warp, as though the beast's presence disrupted the natural order.
Nox froze, his heart pounding. He had read about creatures like this—ancient predators, remnants of a time when the world was with the demons. Void Scorpions. Beasts said to rival armies, their power unmatched.
"Nox," his mother's voice snapped him out of his daze, sharp and commanding. "Listen to me carefully. This isn't a fight we can win. You need to run."
"What?" His voice cracked, his pride rebelling against the command. "I can help you! I—"
"No!" she cut him off, her tone brooking no argument. "This thing is beyond you. It's beyond us. Go. Now!"
Nox hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to flee, but his pride held him rooted. He couldn't just leave her. But as the scorpion's many eyes fixated on him, he felt the weight of its gaze—a promise of death.
The creature lunged, its massive form moving with terrifying speed. The ground trembled beneath its weight, and Nox barely dodged the swipe of a pincer, the force of the attack sending him sprawling.
"Nox!" his mother shouted, her blade igniting with a fierce crimson light. Flames erupted around her as she charged the creature, intercepting its next strike. Her sword connected with its carapace, sending sparks flying, but the scorpion barely flinched.
"Run!" she roared, her voice filled with both command and desperation.
Nox stumbled to his feet and ran, his legs propelling him deeper into the forest. The trees blurred past him, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. Behind him, the sounds of battle raged. His mother's flames lit up the darkness, her strikes ringing out as they clashed against the scorpion's unyielding armor.
He glanced over his shoulder, his heart sinking. The scorpion was relentless. It barreled through her flames, its pincers carving through the fire as though it were smoke. His mother fought valiantly, her movements a dance of precision and power, but the scorpion was undeterred.
Why isn't it stopping? Nox thought, panic clawing at him. He pushed himself harder, weaving through the trees. The ground trembled again, the sound of splintering wood and snapping branches growing closer.
The scorpion had broken past his mother.
It crashed through the trees, its many eyes locked onto Nox with a predatory focus. His mother's voice rang out behind him, filled with desperation. "Nox! Keep going! I'll catch up!"
The beast lunged again, its massive stinger striking the ground mere inches from Nox. The impact sent him sprawling, dirt and debris scattering around him. He scrambled to his feet, his limbs shaking.
"Nox!" His mother's voice was closer now, and he turned to see her charging the scorpion. Her sword flared brighter than ever, the flames consuming the blade as she struck at the creature's exposed flank. The blow connected, and for the first time, the scorpion shrieked in pain.
It turned its attention to her, its pincers snapping furiously. She ducked and weaved, her strikes landing with precision, but it wasn't enough to slow the beast.
Nox's breath came in short, panicked gasps. He felt useless, watching as his mother fought to protect him. The gap between their abilities was glaring.
The scorpion shifted its focus back to him, its tail arcing high as it prepared to strike. His mother saw the movement, her expression twisting in horror.
"No!" she screamed, flames erupting around her as she surged forward. She threw herself between Nox and the creature, her sword slashing upward in a desperate attempt to intercept the attack.
The stinger descended, its speed blinding. Her blade met it mid-strike, the resulting clash sending a shockwave through the forest. But the sheer force of the attack overwhelmed her. She was thrown back, her body skidding across the ground.
Nox's heart stopped as the scorpion lunged again, its tail poised to deliver a killing blow.
Time seemed to slow.
The air around him grew heavy, saturated with energy. His sword, which had lain dormant, began to hum with an eerie resonance. The blade pulsed, it started to glow with a faint purple aura surrounding it.
Nox felt a pull—a deep, primal connection to the mana around him. It wasn't just his own magic. The sword was drawing from the environment, the scorpion's void energy, and something deeper, darker.
The ground beneath his feet began to warp, shadows twisting and coiling like living things. A low hum filled the air, growing into a deafening roar.
Then it happened.
A portal yawned open beneath him, its edges crackling with chaotic energy. Shadows and light swirled within its depths, an abyss that seemed to stretch on forever.
His mother's voice cut through the chaos, filled with panic. "Nox!"
She scrambled to her feet, flames igniting the air around her as she raced toward him. But the portal's pull was too strong.
The scorpion's tail struck, but the blow never landed. The portal consumed Nox in an instant, his form vanishing into the void.
His mother reached the edge, her outstretched hand grasping at empty air. The portal snapped shut, leaving her alone in the silence.