Taylax stood unmoving, his glowing patterns dimming as he scanned the shadows.
A low growl echoed from the trees. From the darkness emerged a monstrous figure, its grotesque, shifting form rippling with shadowy energy. It had no eyes, only a gaping maw that twisted unnaturally.
The creature roared, and the air filled with the sound of a thousand weapons materializing in the shadows. They hovered ominously, poised to strike.
Kahuna braced himself, his body instinctively dropping into a battle stance. But before the monster could unleash its fury, Taylax moved.
In a flash of light, he closed the distance, his fist glowing with raw energy. The impact of his strike shattered the creature's chest, and its shadowy form dissolved into smoke.
Kahuna stood frozen, his breath shallow. He hadn't even had time to react. "I couldn't… I didn't…"
Taylax turned, his eyes scanning the horizon. Smoke rose in the distance, a dark column stretching toward the heavens. "The kingdom," he said sharply. "It's under attack."
Before Kahuna could respond, the ground beneath them quaked. More creatures emerged, their shadowy forms slithering up like nightmares given life. They surrounded the garden, their numbers overwhelming.
Taylax summoned his staff, its glowing patterns illuminating the dark. "I'll hold them off," he said. "You need to get to the castle."
Kahuna hesitated, his eyes darting between the monsters and Taylax. "But—"
"Go!" Taylax's voice boomed with authority.
The creatures lunged, but Taylax moved with godlike precision, his staff a blur of light and power. In the chaos, Kahuna spotted an opening and sprinted toward the castle, his heart pounding as the sounds of battle faded behind him.
As Kahuna sped toward the castle, his thoughts raced as quickly as his flight. "How is this even possible? Our realm is hidden from the outer world—no creature should know of our existence."
Before he could dwell further, a deafening thud and blinding speed announced the arrival of a towering figure. A ten-foot-tall, four-armed creature collided with him, the impact bone-jarring and ferocious, sending Kahuna hurtling through the air. He tumbled and crashed, his body bouncing painfully across the ground until he finally landed in a shallow waterbed.
Groaning, Kahuna pushed himself to his feet, every movement agonizing as waves of pain coursed through him. Blood trickled from a gash on his forehead, dripping steadily onto the ground, mixing with the water that soaked his clothes. He steadied himself, crouching into a battle-ready stance, water streaming down his shirt. His eyes locked onto the enemy towering before him, his heart pounding furiously like a war drum.
The creature smirked, its grotesque face twisting in malicious glee. "I smell something... odd in you," it growled, its voice guttural and menacing. " I'll rip it out and gift it to my master."
Kahuna's breaths quickened, adrenaline surging through him like lightning. "Thump-thump-thump," his heart echoed. His stance tightened, every muscle coiled and ready for the impending clash; the creature's eyes gleamed with hunger, but Kahuna's own gaze held steady, his determination unshaken.
For a moment, silence reigned, thick with tension. Then, in a blur of motion, they collided mid-charge, their fists meeting with an earth-shattering impact. The shockwave rippled through the shallow waters, scattering droplets like shards of glass.
The creature's second arm shot out, grabbing Kahuna in a vice-like grip. With a sharp twist, Kahuna retaliated, driving a fierce kick into its face and breaking free.
He moved like liquid fire, weaving and dodging with exceptional agility, his fists flying in a relentless barrage of blows. Yet the creature merely absorbed the hits, unshaken.
"You think you're fast?" it sneered, its voice booming like thunder. "Your strikes are nothing to me."
With a terrifying speed, the creature's massive fist connected with Kahuna's side, the impact sending him flying toward a distant waterfall. He crashed through the cascading water, slamming into a massive boulder hidden behind it. The ground quaked under the force of his landing.
Coughing and clutching his ribs, Kahuna struggled to rise. Bloodied and battered, he barely had time to catch his breath before the creature leaped with terrifying force, covering an impossible distance to reach him. Its landing sent debris and a shockwave through the riverbed, clearing the water in an instant.
As the creature closed in for a killing blow, Kahuna narrowly rolled to the side, evading the devastating strike. A glowing light began to emanate from his arm, intricate patterns forming on his palm as power surged through him.
With a roar, he countered with a thunderous punch, the force sending the creature hurtling into the nearby cliffside. The impact carved a crater into the stone, but Kahuna didn't relax.
Before he could regroup, the creature's guttural voice echoed through the clearing. "Where do you think you're going?"
It emerged from the rubble, glowing with an eerie, unearthly energy. In a flash, it closed the distance, its massive fist cocked back for a finishing blow. Kahuna braced himself but couldn't react in time.
Just as the attack was about to connect, a powerful force intercepted it. The creature's punch stopped cold, its power absorbed by a glowing staff wielded by Taylax.
The old warrior stood firm, his robes tattered, his face lined with exhaustion. The staff trembled under the force of the blow but held strong.
"Taylax!" Kahuna exclaimed, a mixture of relief and shock in his voice.
"Leave now, Kahuna," Taylax commanded, his voice resolute despite his weariness. "Your kingdom needs you. Go."
Kahuna hesitated, his gaze flickering between the creature and his mentor. The weight of his duty pressed against his chest. Finally, he nodded, his face set with determination.
As Kahuna began to retreat, the creature snarled. "Where do you think you're going?"
Taylax stepped forward, his staff glowing brilliantly as he struck the creature's leg, sending it crashing to the ground. He stood tall, his eyes burning with defiance. "You'll have to go through me first."
The creature's laughter rumbled like an avalanche. "You're strong, old man," it said, a wicked grin spreading across its face. "But I'll crush you all the same."
Kahuna glanced back one last time before disappearing into the shadows, leaving Taylax to face the monster alone. The sound of their clash echoed through the forest, a testament to the bravery of one who would stand against overwhelming odds.
---
The kingdom was in chaos. Smoke and ash filled the air, screams of terror echoing as buildings crumbled. Amidst the destruction, Zaren stood, his chest rising and falling heavily. His body bore the scars of a long-fought battle—sweaty, bruised, and ragged from his earlier contest with Kahuna. Though partially healed, his movements carried the weight of exhaustion.
Before him loomed a grotesque, towering nine-foot creature of writhing tentacles. Its elongated limbs coiled and twisted unnaturally, stretching and snapping like whips. Its monstrous face bore a maniacal grin, sharp teeth gleaming with sadistic glee. From its crimson eyes pulsed beams of raw energy capable of disintegrating anything they touched.
Zaren was ensnared, the creature's tentacles coiled tightly around his neck and torso, squeezing the life out of him like a serpent. He gasped for air, clawing at the unyielding grip as his vision began to blur. The monster's grotesque teeth parted in a wild grin as its crimson eyes began to glow, preparing to unleash a deadly laser point-blank.
But then, a blur shot through the air. Kahuna leapt high above them, his fist glowing with radiant blue energy. Intricate patterns danced across his arm as he descended, driving a devastating punch into the creature's side. The impact sent it flying, releasing Zaren from its grip.
Zaren crumpled to his knees, coughing and wheezing, his hand clutching his neck as he struggled to regain his composure. His voice, hoarse but resolute, cut through the tension.
"I'm not fond of you, Kahuna," he rasped, his fiery gaze locking onto the monster as it began to recuperate. "But our kingdom is on the line."
The beast let out a guttural roar, shaking the ground beneath them. Its disjointed limbs twisted grotesquely, snapping back into place as it stood tall. The chaos of battle raged on around them—shrieks of terror, the crash of collapsing structures, and the acrid smell of blood and burned flesh saturating the air.
The creature sneered, its voice dripping with malice.
"You fools. Once my master devours your so-called king, your kingdom is as good as finished." Its single remaining eye gleamed with primal delight.
Kahuna and Zaren took their stances, their resolve unwavering. The beast lunged, its tentacles lashing out like living weapons. Zaren conjured spinning energy constructs on his arms and hurled them with precision, slicing through several of the monster's limbs. Kahuna, from the other side, landed a solid punch to its jaw, forcing its head back with a sickening crack.
But the creature regenerated instantly, its severed limbs sprouting anew. With a feral roar, it released a shockwave that blasted the brothers backward. It unleashed a barrage of laser beams from its eye, forcing them to separate, dodging in synchronized movements as the beams scorched the ground.
The brothers knew they couldn't approach head-on—the creature's tentacles created a near-impenetrable defense, swiping and striking with relentless speed. Its grotesque form covered a vast area, leaving only one vulnerable spot: its eye.
Kahuna took the lead, his glowing arms radiating with power. He dashed into the fray, his fists colliding with the whipping tentacles in a flurry of high-speed blows. The sound of impacts echoed like drumbeats, each strike precise yet punishing. The creature's strikes began to land, leaving bruises and gashes on Kahuna's body, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on.
Suddenly, one tentacle slipped through his defense, snaring his leg. With monstrous strength, the beast whipped Kahuna around and slammed him into the ground. The impact left him dazed, blood splattering from his mouth.
As the creature raised Kahuna again, preparing to deliver a fatal blow, Kahuna unleashed a desperate counter. A compact energy ball formed in his hand, glowing brighter than ever. With a ferocious yell, he hurled it into the creature's side, creating a gaping hole that tore through half its torso.
The monster staggered but grinned wickedly, its body already regenerating. Yet, the brothers had anticipated this.
As the creature focused on Kahuna, Zaren completed his incantation. In a flash of light, he teleported to the monster's side, his leg swinging in a devastating arc aimed at its head. The monster reacted with blinding speed, firing a laser beam that incinerated Zaren's leg mid-strike.
Kahuna screamed in horror. "ZAREN!"
But Zaren gritted his teeth, his face twisted in pain. In mid-air, he conjured a spinning energy disk, attaching it to his stump like a makeshift blade. With a fierce cry, he completed his strike, slicing the monster's head clean in half, from its glaring eye down to its gnarled mouth.
The creature's body convulsed, its tentacles thrashing wildly even without a head. It surged toward Zaren, determined to end him.
Kahuna, regaining his footing, launched another energy blast. The impact staggered the creature, giving Zaren the opening he needed. With a roar, Zaren conjured a massive circular disk, spinning with deadly energy.
As the monster lunged, Zaren brought the disk down with every ounce of strength he had left. The blade cleaved through the creature, slicing it in two. A brilliant explosion erupted, engulfing the battlefield in light.
When the dust settled, Kahuna and Zaren stood amidst the wreckage, battered but victorious.The monstrous remains dissolved into ash, leaving the two brothers alone in the silence that followed.
Kahuna glanced at Zaren, who leaned heavily on his energy construct, his face pale but resolute. Despite their differences, Kahuna and Zaren had fought as one, their combined might pushing the limits of their endurance.
However, the tides turned in an instant. As Kahuna turned to Zaren again, his heart dropped. From the shadows, a grotesque creature emerged—towering, with four massive arms, though one was severed. Its predatory eyes glinted with primal pleasure, and its movements were unnervingly swift.
Before Zaren could react, the creature was upon him. Kahuna's eyes widened in horror, but it was too late. The creature's arms swung with brutal force, slamming Zaren into the ground. The impact echoed like a thunderclap. Blood splattered from Zaren's mouth as his body was crushed into the earth, pinned under the monster's immense weight.
"No!" Kahuna bellowed, struggling against the tentacles of another beast that had ensnared him. The slimy appendages tightened their grip, hoisting him high as he thrashed in desperation. "Zaren, hold on! I'm coming!"
The four-armed creature sneered, pressing its immense bulk onto Zaren's chest. Zaren gasped, his lungs struggling to draw air. The monster's gravelly laughter echoed. "You're no warrior, just prey. Oh, and the old man? He died pathetically. Severed my arm, sure, but I can grow it back. Pity he wasn't enough of a challenge."
Kahuna's anger ignited like a wildfire. "You'll pay for this!" he roared, adrenaline surging through him. With a primal scream, he tore through the binding tentacles, shattering their grip with sheer force. Energy radiated from him like an uncontained storm as he launched himself toward the four-armed creature with a ferocious battle cry. His fist, glowing with raw, untamed power, cut through the air with devastating intensity, ready to deliver a crushing blow.
But just as he closed the gap, mere heartbeats from impact, the tentacles struck again—this time with brutal precision. They coiled around him mid-flight like iron chains snapping shut, their grip unyielding. The collision of his unstoppable momentum and their immovable force was cataclysmic, the air itself trembling with the clash. Kahuna strained against the bindings, his body trembling under the immense force, but they held firm, pulling him to an abrupt, jarring halt. It was as though the universe itself had conspired to contain his fury, forcing him to dangle, suspended, inches from his target.
He struggled, his muscles straining, but the grip was unyielding. The four-armed creature turned its grotesque head toward him, a cruel smile curling its lips. "Your realm will fall, boy," it said mockingly. "And your friend here? Dead, just like the rest. You seem to have a knack for losing loved ones."
Kahuna's gaze snapped downward, searching for Zaren, but his brother was gone. His heart sank, and rage consumed him. With an ear-shattering roar, he shattered the tentacle restraints once more, hurtling toward the monster with unrelenting fury. His fists pummeled the beast's face, each strike more ferocious than the last.
But the creature was prepared. It caught Kahuna by the neck, lifting him effortlessly. Its grip tightened, choking the life from him. Kahuna struggled, gasping for air, but before he could retaliate, a sudden sharp pain erupted in his chest. He looked down, eyes wide in disbelief, as one of the headless, tentacled creature's appendages pierced through him.
The four-armed beast glanced at the intrusion, its expression shifting from annoyance to fury. "You stupid octopus," it spat, berating its ally. "I needed what was inside him!"
Kahuna's vision blurred, his body limp as the creature held him aloft. Blood dripped from the wound, pooling beneath him. The monster's anger gave way to disgust as it sneered at Kahuna. "Pathetic," it muttered, tossing him aside like a broken doll.
Kahuna's body hit the ground with a sickening thud. His strength ebbed away, the light fading from his eyes. As he lay there, his thoughts drifted to his mother and the kingdom he had sworn to protect. Tears streamed down his cheeks as his vision dimmed.
And then, with one last, labored breath, Kahuna was no more.
___
The air hung heavy with ash and despair, thick like a shroud over the ruined Avatar Realm. Towers that once stood as proud sentinels of prosperity now lay as skeletal remains, jagged and broken. The land, once vibrant and alive, was barren and charred, its lifeblood drained into pools of blood and rubble.
The silence was deafening, a stark contrast to the chaos that had so recently consumed this realm. Only the faint crackle of smoldering embers and the occasional groan of collapsing structures broke the stillness.
Through this desolation, a figure moved.
It was neither Avatar nor beast—an amalgam of both, cloaked in an aura of otherworldly energy. Its form shimmered faintly, an outline that shifted between the tangible and intangible, as though existence itself struggled to contain it. The being's steps were deliberate, echoing with a resonance that defied the lifeless air.
This "eternal beast" strode through the carnage, its hollow eyes scanning the devastation. The faint glow of its form cast long shadows over the fallen, illuminating twisted limbs and faces frozen in agony. It seemed to absorb the grief and death around it, a silent witness to the annihilation of an entire realm.
It stopped before the shattered remains of a once-majestic throne.
There, slumped against the ruins, lay Queen Solara, the first queen of the fallen realm. Her golden crown, tarnished and bent, rested atop her bloodied brow. She had died as she lived—fighting. Her hand still gripped the hilt of her sword, its blade embedded in the earth as though she had tried to hold back the inevitable.
The figure knelt before her, its massive form dwarfing her still body. A spectral hand reached out but stopped short, trembling, as though afraid to touch the fragile remnants of its past.
The beast's voice broke the silence, a low, guttural sound that carried the weight of unspeakable loss.
"What did they do to you?" it whispered, the words a plea, a curse, and a lament all at once.
For a moment, the figure remained motionless, the energy around it pulsating erratically, mirroring the storm within. Then, it threw back its head and roared—a sound so primal, so filled with anguish, that the very ground seemed to quake in response.
"MOTHERRRR!"
The scream tore through the silence, echoing across the broken realm. The ruins seemed to tremble under its force, as though the land itself mourned alongside the beast. Waves of ghostly energy rippled outward, scattering ash and debris into the air.
As the echoes faded, the figure's form solidified slightly, its monstrous features becoming clearer. It stood taller now, its glowing eyes fixed on the horizon. The tremors ceased, leaving only the faint hum of energy that radiated from its body.
The eternal beast turned from the queen's body, its steps heavy as it began to walk away. Behind it, the ruins of the Avatar Realm stretched endlessly, a graveyard for the fallen.
As it reached the edge of the devastation, the figure paused. It turned its gaze back one last time, taking in the full weight of what had been lost.
"And thus, in the silence of a fallen realm," the narrative voice intoned, "the eternal beast was born—grief-bound, purpose-laden, and lost to the world it once knew."
The figure disappeared into the ash-filled horizon, a spectral titan whose presence would haunt the remains of the Avatar Realm for eons to come.
—