Chapter 76: The Secret of the Moon
898 Words
The battlefield had fallen into an eerie silence.
Dust and glowing particles drifted slowly through the air after the massive collision in the sky. The once-clear valley now looked like the aftermath of a great war.
Cracked earth stretched in every direction.
Burning fragments of shadow flickered across the ground.
And in the center of it all stood Dravoryx.
The Devourer’s enormous body trembled with violent power.
Deep cracks ran across his scales like spreading lightning. From those wounds, thick streams of dark smoke poured into the air.
Yet despite the damage…
He was still standing.
Still alive.
Still terrifying.
Aria stared at him, her silver eyes glowing faintly beneath the dim moonlight.
“How… is he still alive?” she whispered.
Beside her, Kael remained in his powerful Alpha form.
His massive wolf body radiated strength, the glowing silver markings across his black fur pulsing with energy.
But even he looked wary now.
“That creature refuses to fall,” Kael growled.
Darius stood a few steps behind them, brushing dirt from his coat as if the destruction around him were nothing more than an inconvenience.
“Of course he does,” he said calmly.
“You don’t earn the title ‘Devourer’ by being easy to kill.”
Dravoryx slowly lifted his head.
His burning red eyes locked onto Aria.
“You…” he growled.
His voice rumbled like distant thunder.
“The Moon’s Chosen…”
Dark energy swirled violently around his body again.
“You are the greatest threat to my existence.”
Aria felt a chill run through her spine.
For a moment, the silver glow around her body flickered slightly.
Using so much power had begun draining her strength.
Her breathing grew heavier.
Kael noticed immediately.
“You’re weakening,” he said quietly.
“I’m fine,” Aria replied quickly.
But even she knew that wasn’t completely true.
The power of the Moon Goddess still flowed through her, but controlling it was becoming harder with every passing moment.
Darius stepped closer, his sharp eyes studying her carefully.
“Your body isn’t used to that much power,” he said.
“If you keep pushing like this…”
He didn’t finish the sentence.
Aria looked up at the sky.
The storm clouds were beginning to gather again.
Dravoryx spread his massive wings slowly.
The ground trembled beneath his weight.
“You believe you have already won?” he snarled.
“Then allow me to show you true despair.”
Dark energy erupted from his body once more.
But this time it was different.
More violent.
More unstable.
The cracks across his scales began glowing with a deep crimson light.
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“He’s doing something dangerous.”
Darius frowned.
“That’s not just power…”
“He’s burning his core.”
Aria turned toward him.
“What does that mean?”
Darius’s voice grew serious.
“It means he’s sacrificing his own life force.”
The Devourer threw his head back and roared.
The sound echoed across the entire valley.
“If I must fall…”
His wings spread wider than ever before.
“Then I will take this world with me!”
Dark lightning exploded across the sky.
The storm began forming again, larger and more violent than before.
Aria felt the pressure building in the air.
If he unleashed another attack like that…
The entire kingdom would be destroyed.
“No,” she whispered.
Her crescent mark suddenly burned hotter against her skin.
Pain shot through her chest.
Aria gasped and fell to one knee.
“Aria!” Kael shouted.
Silver light flickered around her body again.
But this time it behaved strangely.
Unstable.
Wild.
The world around her faded slightly.
And then—
She heard the voice again.
Soft.
Ancient.
Familiar.
“You are not meant to fight alone.”
Aria’s eyes widened.
“The Moon…”
The voice continued gently.
“Your power is not destruction. It is balance.”
Images suddenly flashed through her mind.
Ancient battles.
Old kings.
Moon priests standing beneath silver skies.
And one powerful truth.
The Moon Goddess power had never been meant for one person alone.
Aria slowly lifted her head.
Her glowing eyes turned toward Kael.
Understanding filled her expression.
Kael noticed immediately.
“What is it?”
Aria stood slowly.
The silver light around her became calmer now.
More controlled.
“The Moon showed me something,” she said softly.
Darius raised an eyebrow.
“And?”
Aria looked between them.
“We’ve been fighting the wrong way.”
Dravoryx roared again in the distance as the storm above grew even stronger.
But Aria’s voice remained steady.
“The Moon’s power isn’t meant to destroy him alone.”
Kael stepped closer.
“Then what is it meant for?”
Aria reached out her glowing hand toward him.
“For us.”
Kael stared at her hand.
Darius groaned quietly.
“Oh, wonderful,” he muttered.
“This is becoming inspirational.”
Aria smiled faintly.
“But it’s the only way.”
Moonlight flowed gently between her fingers.
“Together… our powers can stop him.”
Kael slowly lowered his massive head.
His glowing golden eyes met her silver ones.
And for the first time since the battle began—
Hope returned.
But behind them…
Dravoryx’s storm of destruction continued growing.
And the Devourer was almost ready to unleash his final attack.
- Writer
