The towering, shadowy figure loomed before her and blocked her path, its presence filling the entrance of the cave with an overwhelming, oppressive force. She felt the weight of its presence—like a thick, oppressive fog hanging in the air. She took a step back, clutching Airy tightly, her gaze narrowed. Who was this creature, and what did it want?

A voice deep and rumbling, reverberated through the forest.

“Those treasures you carry… give them to me.”

For a moment, Nyx was stunned. Did it really think she’d hand over the treasures she’d worked so hard to find? She scowled, tightening her grip on Airy. What a nerve!

Who did this giant brute think it was, demanding them like that?

The creature moved forward slightly, revealing gleaming, menacing eyes that fixed on her with unsettling intensity. “Fear not, child. I merely wish to relieve you of those beautiful treasures in your possession.” There was an unnatural smoothness to its voice, as if it were trying to calm her, but the hunger in its gaze betrayed its intent.

Nyx held her ground, her heart pounding. A thief monster. She remembered Peacock mentioning them once, though she’d never expected to encounter one here, in a forest guarded by the Constellations themselves.

The creature’s eyes narrowed, sensing her defiance. “I only want the treasures, child. Nothing more,” it purred. “Surely, you wouldn’t deny me?”

Her jaw set. She wasn’t about to let some intruder take what was hers. Ignoring her growing unease, she weighed her options. Maybe I can wear it down, she thought, and if not, I can always teleport away.

Steeling herself, she lunged forward, summoning her Thunderclaw Slash skill and launching a relentless series of attacks. Her blade slashed through the air, lightning crackling around her as she struck at the creature again and again, not giving it a moment’s rest.

But it didn’t even flinch. Her strikes seemed to slide off its armor-like skin, as though she were hitting solid stone. She grit her teeth, frustration building. With a deep breath, she called on her Chrono Collapse, slowing down time around them to launch another furious barrage of Thunderclaw slashes. She poured everything into the attack, the cave echoing with the sounds of her effort.

Yet, as the dust settled, the creature stood untouched, its expression unchanged. She could feel her heart sink. Why isn’t this working?

“Cease,” the creature rumbled, lifting a single massive hand. Instantly, her movements stopped, as though an invisible force had locked her in place. She strained against it, breathing heavily, her frustration now mingled with a hint of fear. How was it this powerful?

The creature tilted its head, regarding her with a cold amusement. “You are bold, but foolish, child.” Its voice was like stone grating against stone. “Look at me—do you not see what I am?”

Nyx tried to steady her breathing, her gaze never leaving it. “What do you want?” she asked defiantly.

The creature chuckled, a sound that echoed through the cave like distant thunder. “I am no mere monster. I am a Constellation—the Three-Horned Bull God of Greed. Greater than any you have known.” Its gaze hardened. “Now, give me those treasures, and in exchange, I will grant you a skill of unimaginable power.”

Nyx narrowed her eyes, fury flashing behind her exhaustion. None of the other constellations had ever mentioned a “Bull God of Greed.” She scoffed, her jaw tightening. “Nice try. If you were one of them, they’d have warned me about you.”

The creature’s gaze darkened, but it masked its anger with a slick smile. “Why waste words, then?” It leaned in closer, its eyes gleaming as it gestured to the treasures she’d tucked away. “Just hand those over, and I’ll grant you one of the most powerful skills of all time.”

Nyx rolled her eyes. A fraud and a terrible liar, she thought. Her mind whirled, assessing her options. She’d already lost this fight; there was no winning this battle. But if she couldn’t win, she could escape. Silently, she let go of her weapons, fixed the creature with a final glare, and then vanished in a blink, teleporting away without another word.

Moments later, she reappeared in Drac’s cave, her heart still pounding. She found him nearby, resting, and rushed forward. “Drac! Something tried to steal from me,” she blurted out, her voice frantic. “I tried to fight, but… I couldn’t even scratch it. I had to get out of there.”

Drac’s eyes darkened, and a fierce growl rumbled in his throat as he rose to his full height. His protective instinct flared, and he immediately focused on her story. “Where were you?” he asked, his voice low and serious. She told him exactly where she’d been, her words tumbling out in a rush.

Without a second thought, he swept past her, heading for the cave’s entrance. “Stay here,” he commanded firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I’ll deal with this.”

As he soared into the sky, his powerful wings cutting through the air, he followed the path she’d described, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. Once there, he found no sign of the creature itself, though something lingered in the air—a faint, unmistakable scent that stirred memories of an old foe. Drac’s eyes narrowed, a slow growl rumbling in his chest as he absorbed the implications.

***********************************************

Nyx was in trouble—and she knew it. Drac had scolded her fiercely when he’d returned to his cave last night, and she could still feel the heat of his disapproving glare. She hadn’t gone into the forbidden part of his territory, but she’d come close enough to meet an ancient creature that she now understood was better left alone.

Her punishment, much to her dismay, was to have a companion at all times. Drac had explained that what she encountered wouldn’t hurt her, but if she saw it again, she was to ignore it and let him know. Then he’d take care of it.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Nyx held her tongue as he explained, though she felt frustration bubbling up. She knew she’d brought this on herself, but it still stung her pride. She loved her independence, and now it felt as if it had been clipped. Drac’s decision was final and not up for discussion. Wherever she went, Ien, the Aetherlings, or one of the constellations would be at her side.

To make matters worse, the other constellations had all found out—somehow. She soon learned they could communicate telepathically, which only added to her embarrassment. Now they each knew of her “mishap,” and they each insisted on her being watched over at all times.

When she saw Ien and the Aetherlings again, they rushed to her with cries of relief, clutching her as if she’d nearly disappeared from their lives forever. Len was the most emotional, eyes wide with worry as he looked her over.

“Nyx! Are you hurt? Did it touch you?” Len’s voice was laced with panic as he checked her arms, looking for any hint of injury.

“No, no, I’m fine! Really!” Nyx reassured, giving a half-hearted laugh as Len continued his frantic inspection.

Len looked relieved but still hugged her tightly. “You should have waited for us, Nyx. We’re never letting you go alone again.”

Nyx wanted to protest, but Len’s expression softened as he continued. “When you were little, that thing came looking for a fight. Drac had to chase it away. I didn’t know what it was back then, but now I do. You scared us all.”

Nyx nodded, guilt creeping in. She knew he was right, even if it felt unfair. Drac probably had told the others to reinforce the rules—and as much as it frustrated her, she couldn’t argue. So, for now, she tried to settle into the idea of having a chaperone.

In the days that followed, she visited each constellation, delivering the treasures she’d gathered.

At Griff’s Territory

Griff looked at her with a raised eyebrow as she recounted her run-in with the creature. “So, you decided to take on a beast older than most mountains?” he asked, a smirk tugging at his beak.

Nyx sighed, handing him a small jewel she’d found in the caves. “I didn’t know it was that dangerous. I thought I could handle it.”

Griff chuckled, accepting the treasure. “You’re brave, I’ll give you that. But bravery has its limits, kid. Next time, stick to the safer side of the forest, hmm?”

She gave a small nod, looking down, feeling slightly chastened.

“Good girl,” Griff said, placing a comforting clawed hand on her shoulder. “And thanks for this.” He tucked the gem away with a wink. “Always could use a little more sparkle.”

At Snake’s Territory

Snake’s eyes glinted with amusement as Nyx handed over her treasure—a small crystal with a delicate, spiraling shape. She recounted her story again, expecting another lecture.

“So you thought you’d just… fight it?” Snake’s voice was smooth, coiling around the words like a vine. “Quite bold. Quite foolish, too.”

Nyx bit back a retort. “I didn’t know how powerful it was. Besides, I thought I’d be fine.”

Snake chuckled, his tongue flickering. “That’s the thing about danger—it rarely announces itself.” He wrapped himself around the crystal, studying it with interest. “Thank you for this, little adventurer. Just remember, next time… listen to Drac’s warnings.”

She gave a small huff of agreement, though part of her still wanted to argue.

At Peacock’s Territory

Peacock took the delicate chain Nyx handed him, its tiny beads glinting in the light. “Oh, lovely! You do have a good eye for beauty, Nyx,” he said, admiring it.

Nyx shuffled her feet. “I got it in the caves,” she said. She explained what had happened, waiting for his reaction.

Peacock’s expression shifted to one of concern, though his tone remained light. “A shame you had to meet that horrid beast,” he murmured, his feathers rustling slightly. “Terribly unpleasant creature, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “Everyone’s saying I shouldn’t have tried to fight it…”

Peacock nodded sagely. “Perhaps they’re right. Sometimes, knowing when to step back is the wiser choice.” He winked, draping the chain around his neck. “Besides, your value to us is far greater than any treasure you could find.”

With Fox Along the Way

As Nyx ventures along the territory, she spotted him lounging under a tree, chewing on a piece of fruit. When he noticed her, he grinned. “Ah, Nyx! Got anything interesting for me?”

Nyx pulled out a handful of shiny pebbles and a small tray of food for him. Fox’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he examined her gifts.

“Good haul!” he said, nodding in approval. She recounted her story, and he listened with an unusual intensity.

“Sounds like you met the legendary pest of the forest,” he chuckled. “Tried to claim what’s yours, did it? Shame on it.” He tapped her shoulder lightly. “But you don’t have to worry—you’ve got us on your side.”

She smiled a little, reassured by his words.

At Tiger’s Territory

When she arrived at Tiger’s den, he was waiting for her. She handed him a precious stone she’d found, and as she told her story, his expression remained calm.

Tiger listened quietly, nodding as she explained. “I’m not surprised,” he said simply, his gaze steady. “That creature’s old and It knows no loyalty, no boundaries.”

“So… why is everyone telling me to just ignore it?” Nyx asked, feeling frustrated. “I didn’t go looking for it.”

Tiger’s eyes softened. “Because it’s like the wind, Nyx. It comes and goes, doesn’t harm unless provoked. If you ignore it, it will eventually go away.”

“But it doesn’t feel fair,” she muttered. “I did what I was supposed to.”

Tiger gave her a gentle smile. “Life isn’t always fair. But you’re strong, and you’ve got all of us watching over you. That’s what matters.”

With each constellation telling her the same thing, Nyx found herself lying in bed later that night, feeling a mixture of confusion and frustration. If everyone said the same thing, why was she still being punished? She closed her eyes, feeling a small spark of defiance mixed with the comforting sense of protection she’d felt from each constellation. She would find her own path through this, even if she had to obey for now.

Three-Horned Bull Territory

In the northwestern reaches of the Dark Forest, where shadows coiled like smoke, the Three-Horned Bull God of Greed surveyed his realm. Piles of glittering treasures sparkled in the dim light—golden coins, shimmering jewels, and ancient artifacts—all meticulously gathered yet never enough. His hooves clattered against the stone floor as he paced back and forth, the tension radiating from him palpable.

“More, I need to have more,” he muttered, his voice low and gravelly, as if the very earth could grant him his desires. He scowled at the treasures, a deep-seated hunger gnawing at him.

Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught his eye. He turned sharply, his muscles tensing as he locked onto the source—a figure lounging on a massive rock at the cave’s edge. The Tiger God of Envy stretched lazily, the glint of gold and gemstones cascading off his sleek fur.

“What do you want, Tiger?” the bull barked, irritation bubbling beneath his skin.

“Just checking in, my old friend. It’s been a while,” the tiger replied, his tone casual as he toyed with a bejeweled trinket, the light catching the jewels as he flicked them between his fingers.

The bull snorted, his gaze unwavering. “As you can see, I am well. You may leave now.”

The tiger rose, muscles rippling under his coat, and padded closer, eyes piercing. “You really don’t have to do this. I can introduce you to her if you like.” His voice dropped, a hint of a growl lacing his words. “But don’t terrorize the little cub for your own selfish gain.”

The bull’s nostrils flared, disbelief twisting his features. Who was this cat to lecture him? He stood tall, horns gleaming with menace. “I don’t need your help! I’ll do this my way!”

A low chuckle rolled from the tiger’s throat, smooth and mocking. “Suit yourself. But remember, if you change your mind, I’ll be around.” In an instant, he vanished, leaving only a whisper of his presence, the echo of his laughter lingering like a bad dream.

The bull shook off the encounter, shaking his head as if to dispel the tiger’s words. He turned back to his treasures, their sparkle igniting a fire in his chest. He rummaged through the piles, each coin and jewel whispering promises of power and wealth, each a step closer to filling the gaping void inside him. There had to be more, he thought, his mind racing with new plans. Greed drove him forward, a relentless tide that would not be denied.

With fierce determination, he began plotting his next move, envisioning the endless wealth that lay beyond his grasp—if only he could seize it without anyone standing in his way.