CHAPTER 52

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Night settled over Keldara, the village buried beneath thick blankets of snow. The wind howled through the narrow streets, rattling windows and shaking the wooden beams of the small homes. Inside, the warmth of the fires offered some comfort, but the tension was thick, palpable. Even the villagers, hardened by the unforgiving cold, couldn’t hide their fear. Something had been stalking these mountains, something that had already claimed several lives.

I stood at the edge of the village, my breath forming visible clouds in the freezing air. My companions—Tarek, Sari, and the few surviving traders—were holed up in one of the village houses, exhausted from the journey. They needed rest. But I couldn’t stay still. Not with the strange energy that pulsed beneath the surface here.

It was time.

The sense of foreboding I’d felt since entering the Wastes had grown stronger, and I couldn’t ignore it any longer. There was something out there in the darkness, something watching. The elder’s warning echoed in my mind: People have gone missing. We’ve heard whispers... and seen shadows moving where there shouldn’t be any.

The villagers had given no indication of wanting my help, but that didn’t matter. This wasn’t about them. It wasn’t even about the group I had traveled with. This was about me. About pushing forward, testing my abilities, and understanding the depths of the Aetheric Flow that had been shifting ever since that strange figure appeared.

“Auto-Heal... Auto-Dodge, stay ready,” I muttered under my breath, stepping into the night. I wouldn’t let my guard down—not out here.

The village quickly disappeared behind me, swallowed by the endless snow and darkness. My senses were on high alert as I moved through the icy landscape, the trees creaking under the weight of snow. Every shadow seemed to shift, and the Aetheric Flow was thick with disturbance. Something unnatural was here, hiding in the Wastes.

It felt like the echoes of the Primal Entity, but sharper—more deliberate. Whatever was causing these disappearances was watching me, but it wasn’t going to show itself easily. I moved in silence, feeling the Aetheric Flow brush against my awareness, guiding my steps.

Hours passed, or maybe it was less—time felt slippery out here, distorted by the oppressive cold. The further I ventured into the wild, the more I could feel something watching, trailing my steps. The wind grew harsher, biting at my skin through the thick layers of my cloak. My breath came in steady puffs, but even with Auto-Heal keeping me in perfect condition, there was an almost crushing weight to the magic here.

I paused, my hand on the hilt of my sword, listening.

Nothing.

Then, the slightest shift in the Aetheric Flow. A ripple—tiny, almost imperceptible—but it was there. A flicker of movement in the corner of my vision. I turned quickly, eyes narrowing at the shadows cast by the towering trees. Something moved, just beyond the edge of the treeline.

I stepped forward cautiously, my senses sharpening. The snow crunched underfoot as I approached the spot where I had seen the movement, but there was nothing there now. No sign of what had caused the ripple in the magic. But I knew better than to dismiss it. Something was out here, something that could manipulate the Flow in subtle ways.

I activated Analyze, focusing on the energy around me. The Aetheric Flow was quiet now, but the disturbance remained—a faint trace of something that had passed through, but was now gone.

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“Where are you?” I muttered, scanning the treeline.

I didn’t have to wait long for an answer.

A low growl echoed from the darkness, followed by the sound of snow crunching under heavy footsteps. My body tensed, and I immediately shifted into a defensive stance, ready for whatever was coming. The growl grew louder, deeper, and a massive figure emerged from the shadows—a hulking creature covered in frost and ice, its eyes glowing faintly with a cold, unnatural light.

The Frost Beast.

Its breath came in heavy, misty clouds as it stepped closer, each movement slow and deliberate. The air around it shimmered with cold magic, distorting the Aetheric Flow in a way I hadn’t seen before. This creature wasn’t like the demons I had fought. It was something older, something born from the magic of the Wastes itself.

I drew my sword, the metal glinting faintly in the pale moonlight. The Frost Beast let out another growl, its glowing eyes fixed on me. It wasn’t just a mindless creature—it had intelligence, something dangerous behind those glowing eyes. I had to be careful.

Without warning, the Frost Beast charged. Its massive form barreled toward me, the ground shaking under its weight. I held my ground, my Auto-Dodge kicking in as I sidestepped the creature’s attack at the last possible second. The Beast’s claws swiped through the air where I had been standing a heartbeat before, missing me by inches.

I moved quickly, my sword flashing as I struck at the creature’s side. The blade bit into its icy hide, but the Frost Beast didn’t even flinch. Its thick skin was like armor, and my attack barely left a scratch.

“Of course,” I muttered, frustration creeping in. This wasn’t going to be easy.

The Frost Beast turned, its glowing eyes narrowing as it prepared for another charge. I watched its movements carefully, studying the way the magic flowed around it. There had to be a weak point—something I could exploit.

As the Beast lunged again, I ducked low, rolling beneath its massive frame and slashing at its legs. This time, I saw a flicker of pain in its eyes, but it was fleeting. The creature turned with surprising speed, its claws raking through the air, forcing me to jump back to avoid the blow.

It was fast—faster than something its size should have been. But I was faster.

I narrowed my focus, letting the Aetheric Flow guide me as I moved. The Beast attacked again, but this time I was ready. I ducked under its claws, then channeled my magic into my sword, setting the blade ablaze with fire. With a swift motion, I struck at the Beast’s chest, the fire burning through its icy armor.

The Frost Beast let out a roar of pain, staggering back. The fire had hurt it—more than my physical attacks had. Fire was the key.

“Got you,” I muttered, a cold smile forming on my lips.

The Beast recovered quickly, its glowing eyes filled with rage. It charged again, but I was already moving, flames dancing along the edge of my sword. This time, I didn’t aim for its body. I focused on its head, where the magic was thickest, where the Flow seemed to swirl around it.

The Frost Beast roared, but I was faster. I leapt into the air, bringing my sword down in a powerful arc. The blade connected with the creature’s head, flames exploding outward as the fire met the cold magic. The Beast’s roar cut off abruptly, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Then, with a shudder, the Frost Beast collapsed, its massive body crashing into the snow. The glow in its eyes faded, and the magic around it dissipated.

I stood over the fallen creature, my sword still burning with fire, though the flames were beginning to die down. The battle had been intense, but my Auto-Heal was already working, ensuring that I felt no fatigue. I let out a slow breath, my mind still racing from the fight.

This Beast wasn’t just a random encounter. It was tied to the magic of this place, to whatever dark force was at work in the Wastes. The villagers had been right—there were shadows moving where they shouldn’t be.

And now I had to find out why.

As I sheathed my sword, I glanced back toward the village. They were still asleep, unaware of the danger that had just passed. But I knew better than to assume this was the end. The Frost Beast was just the beginning. There was something else out there, something that had drawn the Beast to this place.

I turned away from the village, my mind set on the next step. The mystery of the Wastes wasn’t going to solve itself, and I wasn’t going to find the answers by sitting in camp. This journey was mine to take, mine to uncover.

The path ahead was uncertain, but I would face it alone.