The Riftbeast towered above them, its molten veins glowing brighter as it stomped forward. Its every step sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, cracks spiderwebbing outward from its massive feet. Aethren gripped the shard tightly, its light pulsing in rhythm with his racing heart.

Kaelor stood firm, his blade alight with a silver glow that seemed feeble compared to the fiery radiance of the Riftbeast. “Aethren, stay back! Let me engage it first.”

“But—”

“No time to argue!” Kaelor cut him off, charging forward. His sword left a trail of light as he moved, a blur against the creature’s lumbering mass.

The Riftbeast swung a massive arm, its clawed hand crashing down with the force of a landslide. Kaelor dodged to the side, his blade slashing at the creature’s arm. Sparks flew as the sword met the beast’s stone-like hide, leaving a faint line of silver light but no visible damage.

“This thing’s tougher than it looks,” Kaelor muttered, darting back to avoid another strike.

Aethren watched helplessly as Kaelor danced around the Riftbeast, his attacks seemingly ineffective. The shard grew warmer in his hand, its light intensifying as if urging him to act.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. “What do you want me to do?” he whispered to the shard.

The answer came not in words but in a surge of energy that coursed through his body. The shard’s light expanded, forming a translucent barrier around him. At the same time, images flashed through his mind—memories not his own, showing him how to channel the shard’s power.

“Alright,” Aethren said, his voice steadier than he felt. “Let’s try this.”

He raised the shard, its light condensing into a glowing spear that hovered just above his palm.

Kaelor noticed the surge of energy and glanced back. “Aethren, what are you doing?”

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“Helping!” Aethren replied, hurling the spear with all his might.

The spear streaked through the air, leaving a trail of light before slamming into the Riftbeast’s chest. The creature roared, staggering back as the light spread across its body like cracks in a dam.

Kaelor didn’t waste the opportunity. He leaped forward, his blade striking the same spot where the spear had landed. This time, the sword bit deep, molten cracks splintering outward from the wound.

“Keep it up!” Kaelor shouted, retreating before the Riftbeast could retaliate.

Aethren nodded, summoning another spear. The shard responded eagerly, its light growing brighter with each attack.

The Riftbeast was relentless, its attacks growing more frenzied as it became injured. It unleashed a blast of fiery energy, the heat scorching the air around them. Aethren raised the shard’s barrier just in time, the flames washing over it harmlessly.

Kaelor, however, was forced to dive behind a jagged rock for cover. “It’s adapting,” he called out. “Be careful!”

Aethren didn’t respond. His focus was entirely on the shard, which seemed to guide his actions. He launched another spear, this one striking the Riftbeast’s leg. The creature stumbled, one knee crashing to the ground.

Kaelor seized the opportunity, charging in for a decisive blow. He leaped onto the creature’s back, his blade plunging into its neck. Light erupted from the wound, the Riftbeast’s roar shaking the ground as it thrashed in agony.

But it wasn’t over.

The Riftbeast slammed its massive fists into the ground, creating a shockwave that knocked Kaelor off its back. Aethren was thrown to the ground, the shard slipping from his grasp and rolling several feet away.

The Riftbeast rose, molten cracks spreading across its body as its fiery core became visible. It let out a deafening roar, the air around it shimmering with heat.

Kaelor struggled to his feet, blood trickling from a cut on his forehead. “Aethren, the shard! You have to end this!”

Aethren crawled toward the shard, his body screaming in protest. His fingers closed around it just as the Riftbeast loomed over him, its molten claws descending.

Time seemed to slow as Aethren raised the shard. A flood of energy surged through him, stronger than anything he had felt before. The shard’s light expanded, enveloping him in a radiant glow.

The Riftbeast’s claws struck the barrier, shattering against it like glass. The creature recoiled, its molten veins dimming as if its strength was being drained.

Aethren stood, the shard hovering in front of him. He could feel its power, a connection to something vast and ancient. He didn’t fully understand it, but he knew what to do.

He pointed the shard at the Riftbeast, and a beam of pure light erupted from it, piercing the creature’s core. The Riftbeast let out one final, earth-shaking roar before collapsing, its body disintegrating into ash and smoke.

The silence that followed was deafening. Aethren swayed on his feet, the shard’s light dimming once more. Kaelor caught him as he fell, lowering him gently to the ground.

“You did it,” Kaelor said, his voice filled with a rare note of admiration.

Aethren managed a weak smile. “We did it.”

Kaelor nodded, his gaze shifting to the horizon. “That wasn’t just a beast. It was a guardian of this place, a fragment of the Abyss’s power. They’ll only get stronger the closer we get to the Nexus.”

Aethren closed his eyes, exhaustion washing over him. “Great. Something to look forward to.”

Kaelor chuckled softly. “Rest while you can. The Shatterfield won’t remain quiet for long.”

As Aethren drifted into an uneasy sleep, the shard pulsed faintly in his hand, its light a reminder of the battles yet to come.