Kael’s hands gripped the bars of the cage, his enhanced strength making the wooden beams groan under the pressure. The crude construction creaked as he strained, and with a final snap, the locking beam splintered and fell to the ground.
Berry, sitting nonchalantly inside the cage, raised an eyebrow. “Ah, my knight in shining… well, dirt-covered armor. Took you long enough.”
Elira stepped past Kael, crouching to check on the prisoners. “Are you all alright?” she asked, her voice soft but urgent.
The small group inside nodded hesitantly, their pale faces and trembling hands betraying the terror they had endured. Felix sat in the corner, his gaze fixed on the ground. “I… I’m sorry,” he muttered, his voice barely audible.
“We’ll deal with that later,” Elira said sharply. “Right now, we need to get everyone out of here.”
Kael’s gaze swept over the group, his voice calm but firm. “Stay close, stay quiet, and don’t stop moving until I tell you to.”
The prisoners scrambled out of the cage, their movements shaky but fueled by desperation. Elira took a position near the rear, helping a limping man as the group followed Kael into the shadowy forest.
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The forest was eerily silent as the group moved through the underbrush. Their breaths were hushed, muffled under the weight of fear. Kael led the way, his enhanced eye scanning for any signs of danger. Every step was deliberate, every sound scrutinized.
“Just a little further,” Elira whispered to a struggling woman, her voice steady even as her heart raced.
Then it came—the sound they all feared. A deep, guttural roar echoed through the trees, followed by the crash of splintering wood and the thundering of heavy footsteps.
Kael froze, turning his head toward the sound. The group huddled together, eyes wide with terror as the noise grew louder. The monster was on their trail.
“Go,” Kael said, his voice low and commanding. He turned to Elira, his gaze steady. “Take them to the village.”
Her eyes widened, her breath hitching. “What? You can’t—”
“I can,” he interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. “You’re the only one who can get them back safely. I’ll keep it busy.”
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Elira hesitated, her expression torn between fear and determination. “Don’t do anything reckless.”
Kael gave a faint smirk. “Reckless is all I know.”
She swallowed hard, then nodded. “Stay alive,” she said softly before turning to the group. “This way! Keep moving!”
As the group disappeared into the shadows, Kael turned to face the approaching monster. The faint glow of its purple eyes cut through the darkness like two burning embers. It moved with a terrifying combination of speed and precision, its claws slicing through the underbrush as it closed the distance.
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Kael ran, weaving between trees and leaping over fallen logs. The monster’s guttural growls grew louder, its thundering footsteps shaking the ground. Each movement was calculated, each turn designed to keep the creature chasing him and away from the others.
The first strike came fast—too fast. The monster’s claws raked across his arm, leaving deep gashes that burned with pain. Kael gritted his teeth, using the momentum of his stumble to push himself forward.
The second swipe caught his side, tearing through his jacket and grazing his ribs. Blood seeped into the fabric, but Kael didn’t slow. His mind raced, calculating every step as he led the creature deeper into the forest.
The sound of rushing water reached his ears, a roar that grew louder with every step. Kael broke through the tree line and found himself at the edge of a steep cliff. Below, a waterfall crashed into a deep pool, the mist rising like smoke in the moonlight.
The monster emerged from the shadows, its glowing eyes locked onto him. Kael stood at the edge, his chest heaving, blood dripping from his wounds.
“You don’t give up, do you?” he muttered, his voice dry despite the situation.
The creature roared, its massive form lunging forward. Kael stepped back and leapt into the air, the cold wind tearing at him as he fell. The world blurred into a cacophony of roaring water and icy spray before the impact hit, the freezing depths swallowing him whole.
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Elira led the group through the forest, her heart pounding with every step. The silence behind them was as terrifying as the sounds of the monster had been. She refused to think about Kael—about whether he had survived. She couldn’t afford to.
The clearing of the village came into view, faintly lit by torches and lanterns. Villagers rushed to meet them, their expressions shifting from worry to cautious curiosity as they saw Elira and the freed prisoners.
“What happened?” her father demanded, striding toward her.
Elira took a deep breath, steadying herself. “We got them out. But Kael… he stayed behind to lead the monster away.”
Her father’s brow furrowed deeply. “A monster?”
Elira nodded, her voice firm despite the tremor in her hands. “It’s… not normal. It’s something else entirely.”
The villagers exchanged uneasy glances, their gazes flickering to the unfamiliar faces of the rescued prisoners. Whispers rippled through the crowd, but the urgency of the situation kept questions at bay. Elira’s father rested a hand on her shoulder, his voice softening. “You did well. Let’s get everyone inside. We’ll sort this out together.”
Elira nodded, but her thoughts remained with Kael, the image of him standing against the monster burned into her mind. As the villagers ushered the rescued prisoners into the safety of the townhall, she lingered near the edge of the clearing, her gaze fixed on the dark forest.
“Please,” she whispered to the shadows, her voice barely audible. “Come back.”