The air between Drakar and the Aurenbeast shimmered with tension, like the calm before a storm. The beast's amber eyes glowed, unblinking, its form pulsating with molten energy. Steam hissed from the cracks in its volcanic hide, and its mist-like tendrils coiled, reaching out as if tasting the air.
Taronis stood a few paces behind, silent and still. His presence was a steady anchor amidst the chaos. "Breathe, Drakar. Feel the ground beneath your feet. Let your fear dissolve."
Drakar inhaled deeply. The scent of scorched earth filled his lungs, hot and metallic. The ridge beneath his feet was rough, solid, a reminder that this battle wasn't about strength alone—it was about control.
The Aurenbeast crouched low, its sinewy form shifting like a mirage. Then, with a deafening roar, it charged.
Drakar's instincts flared. He sidestepped just as the beast's claws raked through the space he had occupied. Sparks erupted as talons met stone. Drakar pivoted, slashing with his dagger. The blade scraped harmlessly against the beast's hardened exterior.
It's like cutting through iron.
The Aurenbeast twisted, one mist-like limb solidifying into a whip of stone. Drakar barely raised his arm in time to block as the strike sent him skidding across the ridge. His breath left him in a sharp gasp, his muscles screaming.
Taronis's voice cut through the ringing in his ears. "You cannot fight it as you would flesh. Read its movements."
Drakar forced himself to stand, tasting copper on his tongue. His grip on the dagger tightened. The beast was circling, its molten veins pulsing in rhythmic waves.
Wait... the pulsing...
Drakar's eyes narrowed. The glowing veins weren't random—they surged before each attack. The beast's body rippled as the veins grew bright, signaling another lunge.
There.
The Aurenbeast sprang forward, claws outstretched. This time, Drakar didn't dodge blindly. He shifted his stance and dove low, sliding beneath the beast's torso. The heat scorched his back, but he ignored the pain. His dagger flashed upward, driving into a joint where molten rock met mist.
A hiss of steam erupted as the beast roared, stumbling from the unexpected strike. Its form wavered, the mist around its limbs flickering.
Taronis nodded approvingly. "Good. Use your mind, not just your blade."
Drakar's pulse quickened with the taste of progress. The beast's glowing veins dimmed momentarily, and it staggered, but its fury had not lessened.
The beast snarled, reforming its mist into jagged spikes that hovered around its body like a deadly halo.
"Drakar, watch the ground!" Taronis warned.
The ridge trembled as the spikes launched toward Drakar in rapid succession. He sprang to the side, barely avoiding the first two. The third grazed his arm, searing the flesh. Pain flared, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to slow.
Drakar's mind raced. I can't win by outlasting it—it's made of raw energy. I need to break its form.
He glanced at the stone formations nearby. The jagged pillars jutted upward like broken swords.
An idea sparked.
Drakar darted toward the nearest pillar, the Aurenbeast hot on his heels. The ground cracked beneath its heavy steps as it closed the distance.
"Come on..." Drakar muttered.
When he reached the pillar, he turned and faced the beast head-on. Its molten eyes burned with fury as it lunged, claws raised.
At the last second, Drakar dove aside. The Aurenbeast's momentum carried it straight into the stone pillar. The ridge shook as the pillar shattered on impact, collapsing onto the beast.
A cloud of dust and debris filled the air.
Drakar scrambled to his feet, coughing, his eyes scanning the settling dust. The beast's form flickered within the haze, its once-solid frame reduced to unstable wisps.
Taronis stepped forward. "Finish it."
Drakar's heart pounded. His muscles protested every movement as he advanced toward the weakened creature. The Aurenbeast's amber eyes dimmed, but its defiance still burned.
He raised his dagger, hesitating for only a heartbeat.
"For Garmok," Drakar whispered. "For myself."
He drove the dagger into the Aurenbeast's core.
A blinding flash of light erupted, followed by a resonant crack as the beast's form unraveled. The mist dissipated into the wind, leaving behind shards of cooled volcanic glass.
Silence returned to Hollow Ridge.
Drakar staggered back, his chest heaving. The adrenaline began to fade, replaced by exhaustion.
Taronis approached, his expression calm but approving. "You've done well."
Drakar managed a faint smile. "It wasn't just strength."
"No," Taronis agreed. "It was understanding."
Drakar glanced at the shards left behind, their edges glinting in the morning light. "What was that... truly?"
Taronis's gaze grew distant. "An echo of something older than the gods themselves. Eryndral holds many secrets."
Drakar exhaled slowly. The battle was over, but the path of strength had only just begun.