The world seemed to slow as the massive beast lunged at Leo. Time froze, and in the split second before everything exploded into chaos, my mind raced. My heart hammered in my chest, and every instinct screamed at me to run. I'd never faced anything like this—never even imagined I would. But there was no time for fear, not when the creature was so close, its jaws snapping, its roar shaking the ground beneath my feet.
Leo was already moving, drawing his sword with fluid precision. He wasn't panicked, his body and mind in perfect sync with the situation. But me? I stood there, frozen, as my legs felt like they were made of lead.
The beast's growl echoed through the clearing as it barreled toward Leo. Fey gripped his weapon, his sharp gaze cutting through the chaos. The smaller beasts—likely the pack that had been trailing their leader—spread out, circling us. I saw Leo's sword slice through one of them with a quick slash, the beast shrieking in pain. But even as one of them fell, I could tell—this was just the beginning.
Then I heard it.
A sharp rustle in the brush behind me.
I spun around just in time to see the glint of sharp claws just as a monster, smaller than the alpha, charged at me. It was quick, too quick for me to react properly. It was a blur of motion—dark scales, glowing eyes, and a low, guttural snarl that seemed to reverberate through my bones.
I barely managed to dodge, the creature's claws slashing through the air where I'd just been standing. My heart lurched in my chest as I stumbled backward, tripping over a root and falling to the ground. Pain shot up my spine as I hit the earth, my breath catching in my throat.
The monster didn't stop, though. It spun around in a deadly arc and lunged at me again, its claws aiming for my face. I scrambled, pushing myself up, but the creature was too fast. Before I could gain my footing, it pounced. Its claws raked across my chest, the sharp pain searing through me as I cried out. My vision blurred, but the moment of fear and pain only lasted for a second.
I rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding its teeth as it snapped at me. Sweat dripped down my face, my hands trembling, and my heart pounded in my ears. But there was no time to think. I couldn't afford to panic—not when everything was on the line.
The monster came at me again. This time, I didn't dodge fast enough.
Its claws sank into my shoulder, pinning me to the ground. My breath left my lungs in a rush, and I gasped for air, the weight of the creature pressing down on me like a stone. The sharp scent of blood and earth filled my nose as I struggled beneath it.
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think.
What am I supposed to do?
In that moment, I wanted to give up. To roll over and let the creature finish me off. But the thought of the village, of Leo, of Fey... it all flashed in my mind. I wasn't just fighting for myself. I was fighting for all of us. For my future.
For the world I was still learning to be a part of.
I gritted my teeth and used every ounce of strength I had to wrench myself free from the creature's grasp. Pain coursed through my body, but I ignored it. There was no room for pain now. I pushed against its weight, my hands scrambling for anything to use as leverage. My fingers brushed against something—sharp, jagged rocks. I seized one, desperate, and without thinking, I drove it into the creature's side.
The monster howled, its sharp, shrill cry cutting through the air like a blade. It recoiled, but I wasn't finished. My heart pounded, adrenaline flooding my system. I pushed myself up, using the momentum to twist the rock in its wound, twisting and digging deeper.
The creature let out another scream, but it wasn't enough. It was strong, but I was stronger now. I couldn't stop. I couldn't give up.
With one final, desperate twist, the creature went still.
I collapsed beside it, breathing heavily, my body trembling with shock and exhaustion. Blood soaked my shirt, the pain from my shoulder overwhelming. But it didn't matter. I had survived. I had killed it.
The bite in my shoulder throbbed, bleeding profusely, and if I didn't get help soon, I wouldn't make it. My vision began to blur at the edges, the world spinning around me as I tried to focus. All I could hear were the growls of the beasts and the clash of swords, but amidst the chaos, one thought consumed me:
Is this enough to awaken?