Chereads / Bound by the essence / Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: The Beast of the Forest

Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: The Beast of the Forest

The ground shook with each roar, the vibrations rattling through Alexander's bones. He pushed himself to his feet, gripping his makeshift weapon tightly. Whatever was coming, it wasn't small, and it wasn't friendly.

Kaelith stood at his side, her golden eyes fixed on the dark forest ahead. "Stay close to me," she ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Alexander nodded, his pulse quickening. "What is it? Another beast?"

Kaelith's grip on her spear tightened. "Not just any beast. That roar belongs to something far beyond what you've faced so far."

The underbrush ahead rustled violently, trees swaying as if pushed aside by an invisible force. Then, it appeared.

A massive creature, easily four times the size of the Emberfang Alexander had fought earlier, stepped into the clearing. Its body was covered in deep crimson scales, each glinting like polished armor. Two curling horns jutted from its head, and its glowing yellow eyes locked onto the pair with predatory intent.

"An Infernal Hornback," Kaelith muttered, her voice low.

The name alone made Alexander's stomach churn. "And that's supposed to mean… what?"

"It's a top-tier orange Essence beast," she explained, shifting into a defensive stance. "More powerful, more resilient, and far more intelligent than anything you've seen."

The Hornback let out a guttural snarl, steam hissing from its nostrils. The air grew thick with heat, and the ground beneath its claws cracked, tiny flames flickering in its wake.

Alexander swallowed hard. "We're supposed to fight that?"

Kaelith smirked, though there was no humor in her expression. "Fight? No. Survive."

The Hornback charged without warning, its massive body barreling toward them like a living freight train.

"Move!" Kaelith shouted, leaping to the side.

Alexander dove in the opposite direction, narrowly avoiding the beast's horns as they gouged deep furrows into the earth. The shockwave of its charge sent him sprawling, his ears ringing.

Kaelith wasted no time, spinning her spear and slashing at the Hornback's flank. The weapon struck true, but the beast's scaled hide barely showed a scratch.

"Damn," she muttered, jumping back as the creature swiped at her with a claw the size of a tree trunk.

Alexander scrambled to his feet, panic rising in his chest. This was unlike anything he'd faced before. The Emberfang had been brutal, but this... this was overwhelming.

Kaelith's voice cut through his fear. "Alexander! Focus! Look for its weakness!"

Weakness. Right. But where? The Hornback seemed impenetrable, its scales reflecting the faint light like a shield.

The beast roared again, flames bursting from its mouth and engulfing the space between them. Alexander raised his arms instinctively, feeling the heat singe his skin even from a distance.

"Keep moving!" Kaelith barked, darting to the side to draw the Hornback's attention.

Alexander forced himself to move, his eyes scanning the creature for anything—any opening he could exploit. Then he saw it: a faint glow beneath the Hornback's massive chest, near the base of its neck.

"The core," he thought. "It's there."

But reaching it was another matter entirely. The beast's sheer size and ferocity made it nearly impossible to get close, let alone land a precise strike.

"Kaelith!" he shouted, dodging another burst of flames. "The core's under its chest!"

She glanced at him, then at the beast, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Good. Now we just need to keep it distracted."

"How?" Alexander asked, his voice cracking as the Hornback turned its attention toward him.

Kaelith grinned, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "You run. I'll handle the rest."

"Wait, what?!"

But she was already moving, charging at the beast with a speed that seemed impossible. Her spear struck again and again, each blow aimed at the joints between its scales.

The Hornback roared in fury, turning to swipe at her with its massive claws. Alexander took the opportunity to dart around to its side, his heart pounding as he closed the distance.

"Keep going, boy!" Kaelith shouted, her spear deflecting another blow.

Alexander gritted his teeth, adrenaline surging through his veins. He could feel the fiery Essence still swirling within him, its volatile energy pushing him forward.

The Hornback reared back, its chest fully exposed. Now or never.

With a shout, Alexander lunged forward, his weapon aimed for the glowing spot beneath its neck. The jagged edge struck true, piercing through the beast's thick hide.

The Hornback let out an ear-splitting roar, its body convulsing as orange Essence erupted from the wound. Alexander was thrown back by the force of it, his body slamming into the ground.

Kaelith leapt away as the beast staggered, its movements growing sluggish. With one final, guttural snarl, it collapsed, the light fading from its eyes.

Alexander lay on the ground, gasping for air. His entire body ached, and his hands were trembling, but the beast was dead.

Kaelith approached, her spear resting on her shoulder. "Not bad, boy. You might actually survive this after all."

He managed a weak laugh, pushing himself up. "That... was insane."

She crouched beside the Hornback's corpse, her fingers brushing against the orb of orange Essence that had begun to form. "Top-tier beasts leave behind potent Essence. This one's yours."

Alexander hesitated, staring at the glowing orb. "What happens if I take it?"

"You grow stronger," Kaelith said simply. "But it won't be easy. The power of a top-tier beast is no small thing. Absorbing it could overwhelm you if you're not ready."

He swallowed hard, his exhaustion warring with his determination. "I'll do it."

Kaelith smirked, holding the orb out to him. "Good. Let's see if you can handle it."

As Alexander took the orb, the fiery energy surged into him, hotter and more intense than anything he'd felt before. His vision blurred, and his body burned as the Essence coursed through him.

Kaelith watched silently, her expression unreadable.

In the distance, the faint sound of footsteps echoed through the forest, unnoticed by either of them.