The forest stretched endlessly, its dense canopy blotting out much of the moonlight. Ryuga, Jin, and Kaira moved silently through the undergrowth, their breaths steady but their nerves on edge. The ambush had rattled them, and while their attackers had been dealt with, the looming threat of more competitors kept them vigilant.
"We need to find shelter," Kaira said, her voice cutting through the night air. "We can't keep moving like this."
"And what happens when someone finds us?" Jin retorted, his tone sharper than usual. "It's not like we can build a fortress out here."
"We'll manage," Kaira shot back, not missing a step. "Or would you prefer to collapse from exhaustion when someone stronger comes along?"
"Enough," Ryuga said, surprising even himself with the firmness of his voice. "Arguing won't help. Let's find somewhere defensible and rest in shifts."
Kaira glanced at him, then nodded. "Agreed."
"Fine," Jin muttered, rolling his shoulders. "But if we get ambushed again, I'm blaming you."
After an hour of searching, they stumbled upon a small cave partially hidden by vines. It wasn't ideal—too small to give them much room to maneuver if they were attacked—but it offered a reprieve from the open forest.
Kaira inspected the area while Jin set up a rudimentary barricade at the entrance using branches and rocks. Ryuga busied himself gathering dry leaves and twigs to make a fire.
"Not bad," Jin said, watching as Ryuga struck sparks with a flint. "Didn't think you'd have any practical skills."
Ryuga smirked faintly. "Growing up in a farming village has its perks."
The fire crackled to life, its warm glow a stark contrast to the cold tension that hung in the air. The three of them sat around it, the silence heavy.
"So," Jin said, breaking the quiet. "What's your deal, Ryuga? Why'd you join this crazy exam?"
Ryuga hesitated, the question catching him off guard. He stared into the flames, their flickering light reflecting in his dark eyes.
"I wanted more," he said finally. "More than what my village could offer. I was tired of living the same life every day, following the same rules, never questioning them."
Jin chuckled. "Sounds familiar. Let me guess—you wanted freedom."
Ryuga nodded.
"What about you, Kaira?" Jin asked, turning to her.
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she reached into her cloak and pulled out a small pendant. It was simple, made of silver, but the way she held it suggested it was precious.
"I have my reasons," she said quietly, her eyes distant.
Jin raised an eyebrow but didn't press further.
The first shift passed uneventfully, with Kaira keeping watch while Jin and Ryuga slept. When it was Ryuga's turn, he found himself staring into the forest, the fire reduced to glowing embers behind him.
His thoughts wandered back to the fight earlier. The heat he'd felt during the battle had been unlike anything he'd ever experienced. It wasn't just adrenaline—it was something deeper, something primal.
"You're overthinking again."
Ryuga turned to see Kaira sitting up, her sharp eyes glinting in the dim light.
"Can't sleep?" he asked.
She shrugged. "You're restless. It's hard not to notice."
Ryuga hesitated, then said, "During the fight earlier, I felt... something. Like a fire inside me. It was different from fear or anger. Do you know what I'm talking about?"
Kaira studied him for a moment. "That could be your Rynt."
"My Rynt?"
"It's the energy we all have inside us," she explained. "Most people go their whole lives without ever tapping into it. But under the right circumstances—stress, danger, strong emotion—it can manifest."
"Is that how you use it?" Ryuga asked.
Kaira smirked faintly. "Maybe. But you're not ready for that conversation yet."
The next morning, the group resumed their journey. The forest seemed to grow thicker as they went, the air heavy with the scent of damp earth and moss.
They encountered more signs of other candidates—trampled grass, broken branches, even the remnants of a campfire—but they managed to avoid any direct confrontations.
By midday, they reached a clearing where a large tree stood, its gnarled roots twisting into the ground like claws.
"Let's rest here," Kaira suggested.
Ryuga nodded, dropping his pack to the ground. As he stretched, he noticed something strange about the tree. Its bark was marked with deep grooves, almost like claw marks.
"What do you think did this?" he asked, running his fingers over the marks.
"Something big," Jin said, eyeing the tree warily.
Kaira frowned. "Stay alert. We might not be alone."
The attack came without warning.
A massive creature lumbered into the clearing, its spiked shell glinting in the sunlight. Its legs, thick and muscular, ended in sharp claws that gouged the earth with every step. Its long neck twisted as it surveyed the group, and its head—resembling that of a tiger, with glowing amber eyes and razor-sharp fangs—let out a deafening roar. Behind it, a scorpion-like tail lashed, the stinger dripping with venom.
"A Gorgodile!" Kaira shouted, her voice tinged with alarm.
"A what?" Jin yelled, backing away.
"A hybrid predator! These things are apex hunters. Don't let that tail touch you!"
The Gorgodile roared again, then lunged.
"Scatter!" Kaira shouted, diving to the side.
The Gorgodile's claws tore into the ground where she'd been standing a moment earlier. Jin grabbed a thick branch and swung it at the creature, but the Gorgodile's spiked shell shattered the wood with ease.
Ryuga froze, his mind racing. The fire inside him roared to life again, the same heat he'd felt during the ambush.
"Ryuga, move!" Kaira shouted.
The Gorgodile lunged at him, its jaws snapping. This time, Ryuga didn't hesitate. He ducked under its claws and slashed at its side with his knife. The blade barely pierced its thick hide, but the creature hissed in pain.
Kaira and Jin regrouped, flanking the Gorgodile. Kaira's dagger flashed as she struck, aiming for its legs, while Jin hurled rocks to distract it.
The Gorgodile turned its attention to Kaira, snarling as it lashed out with its tail. She dodged, but the venomous stinger grazed her arm.
Kaira cried out, falling to one knee.
"Kaira!" Ryuga shouted.
He felt the fire inside him surge, hotter and more intense than before. His vision blurred, and he charged at the Gorgodile, his knife glowing faintly as he drove it into the creature's exposed neck.
The Gorgodile roared, thrashing wildly. Ryuga was thrown to the ground, but his attack had weakened it. Jin seized the opportunity, grabbing a jagged rock and smashing it against the Gorgodile's head.
With a final, guttural hiss, the Gorgodile collapsed.
The three of them stood in silence, their breaths ragged. The Gorgodile lay motionless at their feet, its spiked shell cracked and bloodied.
"What the hell was that thing?" Jin asked, his voice shaking.
"A nightmare," Kaira muttered, clutching her injured arm.
Ryuga knelt beside her, tearing a strip of cloth from his shirt to bandage her wound. "Are you okay?"
"I'll live," she said through gritted teeth. "But we need to move. Its scent will attract other predators."
As they disappeared into the forest, Ryuga couldn't shake the feeling that the fire inside him was growing stronger—and that the path ahead would only test him further.