Mihai and Cian made their way back to the village in silence, the chill of their encounter with the vampire-beast lingering in their minds. Raven trotted beside them, his gaze flicking into the trees as if still watching for shadows.

When they reached the edge of the village, Cian gestured for Mihai to wait. He approached one of the elders, a stout man with a weathered face, his eyes sharp even in the dimming light.

“We found something in the forest,” Cian said, his voice low. “A creature—stronger and darker than anything I’ve seen before. It could be a threat.”

The elder’s face darkened. “A vampire-beast, then. So the old rumors were true.” He glanced toward the heart of the village, where others were beginning to gather, drawn by the urgency in Cian’s voice. “If what you say is true, the village needs to prepare. There hasn’t been a beast of that kind here in years.”

Mihai stepped forward. “We can help defend the village. But we’ll need everyone ready—this creature’s fast, and it won’t be easy to kill.”

The elder nodded, turning to the gathering crowd. “Everyone, listen! We have a threat on our hands—a vampire-beast. We’ll need a line of defense around the village. Gather any weapons you can find, and don’t wander alone.”

The villagers murmured among themselves, fear mingling with determination. Mihai felt a surge of purpose; this was his chance to prove himself and earn their trust.

As the villagers dispersed, preparing makeshift weapons and lighting torches, Mihai and Cian took position near the village’s edge, where the forest shadows stretched like dark tendrils onto the open ground. The mist grew thicker, cloaking the trees in an eerie haze. Mihai tightened his grip on his weapon, feeling the tension building.

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“You ready?” Cian asked, notching an arrow and casting Mihai a sidelong glance.

Mihai nodded, steadying his breathing. “Let’s do this.”

The night grew still as they waited, the silence pressing down like a weight. Then, from the darkness, they heard it—a low, guttural growl that seemed to reverberate through the trees.

The vampire-beast emerged, its gaunt, twisted frame barely visible in the shadows, only the faint glint of its red eyes betraying its presence. The creature took a step forward, baring fangs that gleamed in the torchlight, its gaze fixed on Mihai and Cian with a chilling intensity.

“Hold your ground!” Mihai called to the villagers, raising his weapon as he met the creature’s gaze.

The beast lunged forward, closing the distance in a heartbeat. Cian released his arrow, his power accelerating it through the air, but the creature twisted mid-leap, dodging with unnatural speed. It landed mere feet from Mihai, its red eyes burning with a ravenous hunger.

Raven charged, teeth bared, and clamped his jaws onto the creature’s leg, his growl deep and fierce. The beast snarled, reaching down to swipe at Raven, but Mihai struck its arm with his weapon, throwing it off balance.

Cian fired another arrow, this time catching the creature in the shoulder. The vampire-beast hissed in pain, its gaze flickering with fury as it turned toward Cian.

“Stay back!” Mihai shouted, circling the creature to draw its attention. He raised his weapon, readying himself as the creature lunged toward him, its claws flashing in the torchlight.

Mihai dodged, feeling the rush of air as the creature’s claws passed inches from his face. He struck at its knee, hoping to weaken its movements, but the creature retaliated with a powerful swipe that nearly knocked him off his feet.

Raven lunged again, clamping onto the creature’s other leg, pulling it off balance. Cian took the chance to draw his knife, hurling it with all his strength, accelerating its speed as it flew. The blade struck the creature in the side, embedding deep and drawing a howl of rage.

The vampire-beast twisted, trying to free itself, but Mihai swung his weapon in a powerful arc, striking its torso and forcing it back. The creature staggered, its movements slower now as it tried to recover.

“Press on!” Cian shouted, drawing another arrow and aiming carefully. He fired, the arrow flying faster and hitting the creature in the chest. The beast staggered, its form flickering as it struggled to stay upright.

Mihai stepped forward, delivering a final blow to its skull. The vampire-beast let out a strangled cry before crumbling into ash, its twisted form dissolving into the night.

Breathing heavily, Mihai glanced around at the villagers, who had watched the battle in silence. The elder stepped forward, his face solemn.

“You’ve proven yourself tonight, Mihai,” he said, nodding. “You are one of us—a hunter, a warrior.”

Mihai felt a surge of pride, his purpose clearer than ever. He had earned their trust, and he would honor it.

As the village returned to a cautious calm, Mihai glanced at Cian and Raven, feeling a newfound bond with his companions.