The black beast advanced toward Aiden, its entire form shrouded in a thick, sinister black aura that seemed to consume all traces of light around it. The only thing piercing through the suffocating darkness was its glowing crimson eyes, burning like two cursed embers in an abyss of shadow. Each step it took caused the ground beneath it to tremble, its presence warping the very air, making it thick with malice. The temperature around Aiden dropped drastically, and the golden aura surrounding his body was the only source of light in this ever-encroaching darkness.
Aiden's heart pounded against his chest, but his expression remained calm as he conjured two golden swords, one in each hand. Their radiant glow contrasted sharply against the blackness threatening to engulf him. He braced himself, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring, ready to counter the beast's next move. Then, without warning, the black beast vanished.
Aiden barely had a moment to react before the beast reappeared right before him, its massive claws slashing down toward his head. Most would have been defenseless against such an attack, but Aiden was already utilizing Ciara's night vision ability, coupled with his golden seed's enhancements. He barely managed to block the incoming claws, but the force behind the blow was beyond what he could counter. The sheer impact sent him flying backward like a missile, crashing into a massive tree with a thunderous crack, splitting it in half.
Still reeling from the shock, Aiden tried to regain his footing when he caught sight of the beast charging at him once more, this time with its jaws wide open, ready to rip his head clean off. With no time to think, Aiden instinctively crouched low and kicked the beast in its stomach with all his might. The attack barely made it stumble, but it gave Aiden enough distance to escape. The beast let out a deep, guttural growl, enraged at the resistance, before lunging at him once again.
Far away, Ciara and Lumina watched from the treetops, their eyes glued to the battle with unwavering intensity. Ciara's fur stood on end, every instinct in her body screaming that the creature before them was beyond unnatural. Her usual confidence wavered as she glared at the monstrosity attacking her master.
Lumina, though unable to see clearly, could sense everything happening through her antennae. The speed at which Aiden and the beast were clashing was beyond her comprehension. Every impact sent shivers through her as she felt the corrosive aura spreading from the beast, its sheer presence instilling fear deep into her core. She silently prayed for Aiden's victory, knowing full well what failure would mean.
Meanwhile, Aiden found himself on the defensive, parrying claw after claw, each strike threatening to overwhelm him. While to an outsider it seemed like a simple exchange of attacks, Aiden knew the truth—this was a battle of endurance, a battle he was rapidly losing. The beast's attacks were relentless, and his golden aura was starting to wane, struggling to counter both the corrosive aura and the beast's sheer physical strength.
Determined, Aiden raised his hand and conjured a Light Bomb, detonating it in front of the beast's face. The explosion of radiance caused the beast to stagger momentarily, blinded by the overwhelming brightness. However, it quickly recovered, relying on its instincts rather than its sight, and lunged at Aiden again with murderous intent. He barely rolled out of the way in time, his mind racing for a solution.
The beast's reaction to his Light Spear earlier proved that it was vulnerable to it. So, without wasting time, Aiden conjured another barrage of Light Spears and hurled them at the beast. Yet, the thick layer of darkness coating its body lessened their impact, causing only mild burns. Furious, the beast responded by tearing up chunks of earth and hurling them at Aiden. Each projectile exploded upon impact, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Aiden dodged them with difficulty, his body already showing signs of strain.
He knew he had to end this quickly.
As he continued evading, Aiden began charging his strongest Light Spear, channeling every ounce of energy he had left into it. Simultaneously, the beast started gathering its own deadly attack. Its black fur bristled, each strand soaking in the sinister aura before liquefying at the tips, forming razor-sharp needles coated in pure darkness. Both combatants were preparing their trump cards, their final, decisive blows.
Aiden ceased dodging and rushed toward the beast, closing the distance between them. The beast, sensing his movement, ceased throwing debris and crouched low, its glowing red eyes locking onto its prey. It knew what Aiden was planning, and it had no intention of letting him succeed.
The moment Aiden was within range, he infused a golden seed into his spear, launching it with all his strength. At the same time, the beast released its volley of corrosive black needles, aiming directly at him. The deadly projectiles streaked through the air, colliding with Aiden's golden barrier, causing cracks to form upon impact. Aiden clenched his teeth, concentrating all his energy into maintaining the barrier while his Light Spear surged toward its target.
The beast reacted fast, catching the spear in both hands, but the moment it made contact, its body erupted into flames of pure radiance. It howled in agony, thrashing wildly as the light enveloped it. The spear melted into a ball of blinding energy, completely consuming the beast within its luminous grasp.
It became a battle of endurance.
Aiden struggled to maintain his barrier as the liquid darkness continued to eat away at it. His body trembled, sweat pouring down his face as he felt the immense strain of the battle taking its toll.
Then, the white ball containing the beast began to tremble violently before collapsing in on itself. A fraction of a second later, it exploded in a radiant burst, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. The force shattered Aiden's barrier, sending him flying backward before he crashed into another tree, coughing up blood upon impact.
For a brief moment, all was silent.
Aiden groaned, his vision blurring as he struggled to remain conscious. His body was battered, his energy nearly depleted. Reaching into his storage, he pulled out another golden seed and consumed it. Immediately, warmth spread through his body as his injuries began to heal. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to sit up as he surveyed the battlefield.
The entire area had been decimated. The ground was ripped apart, craters littered the landscape, and not a single trace of life remained within a 500-meter radius. The sheer destruction left Aiden in awe. Then, he heard hurried footsteps.
Ciara and Lumina rushed toward him, their eyes filled with worry. The moment they reached him, they nuzzled against him, desperate to confirm his safety.
"Master, please do not pull such a stunt again," Lumina pleaded, her voice filled with genuine concern. "What would we do if something were to happen to you?"
Aiden chuckled weakly, patting them both affectionately. "Do you think I have a death wish?" he teased. "Of course, I want to live. But our enemies won't let us have a peaceful life that easily."
Scooping up Ciara and placing her back onto her rightful perch, he turned to Lumina and gently lifted her as well. Bringing her close, he whispered softly, "That's why, Lumi, we need to keep getting stronger. Stronger than anything."
Lumina's resolve hardened. "Yes, Master," she declared, determination burning in her voice. "Lumina understands. That's why I will create the most powerful army for Master so that you will never have to risk your life again."