The creature let out another spine-chilling scream, its jagged body shifting like liquid shadow. Kaelen gripped his sword tighter, his muscles still burning from the strain of the fight, but the slow healing was giving him an edge. He could feel the energy coursing through him, making his movements sharper, more precise.

Sigrid, now at his side, drew her own blade, her silver hair catching the moonlight in an eerie glow. She glanced at Kaelen, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the creature.

“We need to kill it fast,” she said, her voice cool and steady, despite the tension in the air. “It’s adapting too quickly.”

Kaelen gave a grim nod. "I’ve noticed. But it's not going to be that easy."

The creature lunged again, its claws aimed directly at Sigrid. But Kaelen was faster this time. He stepped in front of her, parrying the blow with his sword, and the force of the impact rattled his bones. The creature’s claws scraped across his armor, but he was too focused to let it slow him down.

He twisted, using the momentum to swing his sword in a wide arc, aiming for the creature’s throat. But it was too quick, and with an unnatural speed, the beast vanished into the shadows, reappearing just behind Kaelen. It slashed out, its claws raking across his back.

Kaelen gritted his teeth, but he didn’t falter. He spun, pivoting on his heel, and with a surge of energy, he struck again. This time, his blade connected. The creature howled in agony, and Kaelen’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the wound. But it wasn’t enough to stop it.

He could feel the creature’s hatred, its malice. It was no ordinary beast. It was something more—something ancient.

“We have to break its form,” Kaelen grunted, glancing over at Sigrid. “It’s using shadows, shifting between them. It’s not a solid target.”

Sigrid’s eyes flicked to Nessa, who was standing at the edge of the clearing, her face pale but determined. She had been watching, waiting for the right moment.

"Can you stop it?" Sigrid asked, her voice sharp.

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Nessa stepped forward, her hands glowing faintly with arcane energy. "I can try," she said, her voice strained. "But it won't be easy. This creature isn't just using shadows—it’s using the very fabric of the darkness itself. It’s part of the night."

Kaelen’s heart sank at her words. They weren’t dealing with just a beast; they were up against something that defied natural laws. But there was no turning back now.

With a deep breath, Nessa raised her hands, focusing all her magic into one, concentrated pulse. The air around them grew heavier, thicker, as her energy swirled in the air like a storm. The creature hissed, sensing the threat, and moved to strike again, but Nessa’s eyes flashed with determination.

"Stay back," she muttered under her breath, and in a flash of light, a barrier of glowing energy expanded outward, cutting the creature off from the group.

The creature screeched in fury, its form twisting violently against the barrier. But it couldn’t break through. The magic held.

Kaelen didn’t waste a moment. With the creature contained, he surged forward, his sword raised high. He could feel the strength in his legs, the way the ground beneath him seemed to shift with his every movement. He was faster now—faster than he had ever been before.

The creature fought desperately against the barrier, its claws slashing at the shimmering wall of magic, but it couldn’t get through. Kaelen closed the distance between them in a blur, his sword crackling with energy.

He saw the opening—the small crack in the creature’s shifting form, where the shadows momentarily wavered. It was now or never.

With a roar, Kaelen swung his sword downward, aiming straight for the heart of the beast. The sword collided with a force that made the air crack, and for a split second, Kaelen thought he’d missed. But then the creature froze, its body convulsing as if struck by lightning.

The shadows around it began to melt away, its form distorting into nothingness. With a final scream, the beast collapsed, disintegrating into the air like smoke, leaving nothing behind but the sound of the wind through the trees.

Kaelen stood there, breathing heavily, his sword still raised. He wiped the sweat from his brow and turned to face the others.

Sigrid was already approaching, her gaze sharp as ever. She didn’t say anything, but Kaelen could see the respect in her eyes.

Nessa lowered her hands, the magical glow fading, and for the first time since they’d arrived in the clearing, she seemed to relax. But the exhaustion on her face was undeniable. She’d put everything into that spell.

“That... wasn’t a normal beast,” Kaelen said, his voice low. “What was it?”

Nessa swallowed, wiping her forehead. “It’s... hard to say. But I think it was a Noctis Wyrm—a creature born from the very darkness itself. Rare, ancient... and nearly impossible to kill without someone who knows how to fight it. It feeds off fear, off the dark energy in the world.”

Kaelen frowned. A Noctis Wyrm. He had heard whispers of them in his past, but he hadn’t expected to encounter one. Let alone kill one.

“Thanks for the save,” Sigrid said, her tone almost begrudgingly respectful. “You’ve got more tricks than I thought.”

Nessa only nodded, still catching her breath. “Just don’t expect that kind of magic to come without a price.”

“Don’t worry,” Kaelen muttered, sheathing his sword. “I’m sure we’ll be paying for this one for a while.”

The three of them stood there in silence, the clearing now eerily quiet. The danger had passed—for now. But Kaelen couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much darker.

Whatever was coming next, he knew it wasn’t going to be easy. And they’d need to be ready.

"Pack your stuff," Kaelen said, his voice steady. "We’re not staying here long."

With a final glance over their shoulders, they began the long trek forward, unsure of what the ne

xt step would bring, but knowing they had no choice but to face it.