Void space

The air was thick with an oppressive silence, broken only by the distant rustle of the trees. For one frozen moment, no one dared to move. The beast, a gargantuan creature of nightmare, loomed before us, its piercing eyes glowing with an insatiable hunger. The weight of its presence crushed down on us like an immense pressure, sending tremors through the earth with each movement.

Then, it roared—so deafening, so violent, that the sound seemed to tear through the very fabric of reality. My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively shrank back. My father's voice shattered the terror. " Stay there. No matter what, don't come out."

His words were calm but heavy, carrying the full force of his authority. I did as he ordered, my feet carrying me almost automatically to the safety of the carriage, but my eyes remained fixed on the beast. Father, Mother, and the others moved forward, their every step measured and purposeful as they prepared to face the beast that towered above them like a living mountain.

The beast's legs scraped the earth as it advanced, its claws digging deep into the ground, creating massive gouges in the dirt. It moved with the weight of an ancient predator, its hulking body seemingly unfazed by the chaos it was about to unleash.

Father's voice cut through the rising tension, commanding. "Formation, now!"

At once, the party shifted into action. Mother and Oliva stepped back, their wands already glowing with the beginnings of powerful magic. Father stood at the front, sword in hand, the blade shimmering with aura. Velcor and Aaron took their positions just behind him, weapons raised, forming a perfect arrowhead formation with Julie in the center.

The air crackled with anticipation. Without warning, they surged forward, moving in perfect synchronization. Father was the first to strike. With a swift movement, he imbued his sword with a powerful aura, and a protective mana shield surrounded his body like an ethereal cocoon. He launched himself into the air with a speed that defied logic, landing with a fierce slash aimed directly at the beast's thick neck.

The impact was like striking stone. Father's sword met the beast's hide, but it barely left a mark. The creature's skin was tougher than steel, impervious to anything short of the most powerful strikes.

Frustration flashed in Father's eyes, but he didn't falter. Aaron and Velcor moved in, both attempting to land a blow on the creature's legs. Their swords clanged against the beast's thick hide with no effect, as if the creature's flesh was invulnerable.

Then, Julie leapt into action. Her body moved like liquid, a blur of grace and deadly precision. She jumped high into the air, her daggers glowing with the aura she channeled. As she spun in midair, she used her speed and the power of the aura to extend the reach of her blades. Wind and dust began to whip around her as she spun faster, becoming a whirlwind of cutting edges, her daggers slicing through the air in rapid succession.

A vortex of wind and slashes surrounded her, cutting deep into the beast's thick hide, but it didn't falter. It roared in pain, but its skin quickly began to heal, regenerating with terrifying speed.

Father's face twisted with determination as he charged forward again. He moved with the ferocity of a beast himself, the ground shaking with each step as his aura blazed around him. He leapt once more, his sword raised high. He swung down with every ounce of strength he had, his aura-infused blade aiming for the beast's chest.

But even with all his power, the beast didn't flinch. The blow barely scratched the surface. It was as though the creature was made of something beyond mortal comprehension.

Velcor, never one to back down from a fight, released a battle cry that reverberated through the air. He launched himself onto a nearby tree, using its branches to propel himself toward the beast's head. With a vicious battle roar, he swung his blade down—but the beast's massive tail lashed out like a whip, knocking him away before his sword could even make contact. Velcor crashed to the ground with a sickening thud, his blood staining the earth beneath him.

Aaron, undeterred, pressed the attack, trying to mimic Father's movements. But just as he was about to land a blow, the beast's enormous paw struck out, sending him hurtling through the air. He collided with the trunk of a tree, his body crumpling under the force.

Julie froze, her eyes widening in fear. The beast's paw came crashing down upon her, and in an instant, she was sent flying across the battlefield, her body limp as she crumpled to the ground.

The beast had made its move.

Mother and Oliva, prepared for this moment, unleashed their most devastating attacks simultaneously. Mother's spell summoned a torrent of water, a hundred blasts shooting toward the beast at lightning speed. Oliva, her eyes glowing with power, summoned a massive wind vortex. Wind slashes as sharp as blades tore through the air, each one leaving deep gouges in the creature's skin.

The beast howled in agony, its massive body trembling from the onslaught. Blood spurted from its wounds, but even as it bled, the creature began to heal. Its regeneration was immediate—its wounds closed before our eyes, as though it were a living nightmare that could not be defeated.

Father, undeterred, dashed toward one of the beast's head. He drove his sword into one of its massive wounds, channeling every ounce of his aura through the blade. For a moment, the beast let out a deafening screech as the blade sank deeper into its flesh, but then something horrifying happened: The creature began to regenerate.

Before Father could react, the beast's colossal paw swung toward him, its massive claws striking with the force of a falling mountain. The blow sent Father flying across the battlefield, his body smashing into a tree with an ear-splitting crack. He landed hard, blood dripping from his mouth as he struggled to rise.

Fear crept into my heart as I watched the battle unfold. The beast was far more powerful than anything we had anticipated, and we were helpless against its might. Velcor and Aaron lay motionless, their bodies battered beyond recognition. Mother and Oliva were all incapacitated, their magic spent, and their bodies broken.

The beast, undeterred, began to turn toward the carriage. My heart skipped a beat as its gaze locked onto me—cold, calculating, and full of death.

Desperation surged within me. I didn't want to be weak. I didn't want to be helpless anymore. My hands clenched into fists as I shouted, "Come to me, you filthy beast! I'll kill you, even if it costs my life!"

The beast paused.

It was as if it was considering my challenge, weighing whether I was worth the effort. Its enormous, glowing eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, everything else seemed to vanish. I could feel the rage building inside me, the helplessness turning to burning fury. I couldn't just stand here. I couldn't let them die. I couldn't let this beast win.

Tears welled in my eyes as I screamed, "No! I won't be weak! I won't let them die! I WILL BE STRONG!"

A voice echoed in my mind, cold and mocking. "You're still weak. You're still the helpless child. Look at how many died for you and how rohald died to save you. How many will die because of your weakness."

I shook my head, forcing the voice to silence itself. "No! Not this time. They're still alive. They can't die. I won't let them!"

For a moment, silence fell between us.

Then, without warning, the beast surged forward. It moved with terrifying speed, closing the distance between us in an instant. Its claws shot out and grabbed me, lifting me high into the air with ease. My heart raced as I struggled, but it was futile. The creature was far too powerful.

With one final, guttural growl, the beast turned and began to run deep into the forest, its massive legs pounding the earth with every step. I was helpless in its grasp, my body nothing more than a fragile doll in its mighty claws. The sounds of battle faded away as the beast carried me deeper into the darkness.