Chapter 29: The First Strike
849 Words
The night over the northern border of the Lycan kingdom was quiet.
Too quiet.
The small frontier village of Grey Hollow rested beneath the pale glow of the moon, surrounded by dense forest and distant mountains. Its people had grown used to peace.
But tonight…
Something felt wrong.
A cold wind swept through the narrow dirt streets, rattling doors and whispering through the trees like a warning no one could understand.
At the edge of the village, two Lycan warriors stood guard beside a wooden watchtower.
One stretched and sighed.
“Another quiet night.”
The other didn’t respond immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the distant mountains.
“I don’t know,” he said slowly. “Something feels off.”
His partner chuckled.
“You worry too—”
The ground trembled.
Both froze.
“Did you feel that?” the first asked.
The second nodded.
Another tremor followed—stronger.
Then came a sound.
Not thunder.
Not wind.
A roar.
Deep. Monstrous. Ancient.
It echoed through the mountains like something awakening from the bones of the earth itself.
The warriors turned toward the sky—
And saw it.
A massive shadow moving above the clouds.
Wings.
Enormous wings.
Before they could react—
A blast of dark fire tore through the sky.
The watchtower exploded.
Wood shattered into flames as the structure collapsed, sending burning debris crashing into the village below.
Screams filled the night.
Villagers poured from their homes in panic as fire spread across rooftops.
Then—
He descended.
Dravoryx landed at the center of the village with a thunderous impact that cracked the ground beneath him.
His wings stretched wide, casting a monstrous shadow over the burning ruins.
Golden eyes scanned the chaos.
“Pathetic,” he rumbled.
The surviving Lycan warriors rushed forward, shifting into their wolf forms.
“Protect the villagers!” one shouted.
Dravoryx watched them, amused.
“You still believe you can fight me.”
They charged.
They never reached him.
With a single sweep of his claw, he sent them flying like broken leaves. Bodies slammed into buildings—or didn’t rise again.
Dravoryx inhaled.
Then unleashed another torrent of dark fire.
Flames devoured everything in their path.
The village became an inferno.
He lifted his head and roared.
The sound echoed across the land.
---
Far away, atop a cliff overlooking the burning borderlands—
Magnus watched.
Fire reflected in his eyes.
Behind him stood several rebel wolves.
One spoke hesitantly.
“My Alpha… that village had no army.”
Magnus didn’t look away.
“That’s the point.”
The wolf swallowed.
“You’re sending a message.”
Magnus nodded.
“The Lycan kingdom has grown comfortable.”
His gaze hardened.
“Now they will remember fear.”
---
At the Lycan palace—
War horns shattered the night.
Their echoes rang across the city, summoning soldiers and generals alike.
Kael stormed into the war chamber, where commanders had already gathered.
“What happened?”
A scout stepped forward, dust still clinging to his armor.
“My lord… Grey Hollow has fallen.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“Magnus?”
The scout shook his head.
“No.”
Silence.
“It was a creature.”
A general frowned.
“What kind of creature?”
The scout’s voice trembled.
“A massive beast… with wings.”
He swallowed.
“It destroyed the village in minutes.”
At that moment, Alina stepped into the chamber.
She froze.
Wings.
Fire.
Golden eyes.
The vision returned—clearer than ever.
Kael turned sharply.
“Send reinforcements immediately.”
A general hesitated.
“My lord… if the reports are true, ordinary soldiers won’t be enough.”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“They’ll hold the border until we arrive.”
Alina stepped forward.
“I’m coming with you.”
Kael’s gaze snapped to her.
“No.”
Her silver eyes burned with quiet intensity.
“If that creature is what I think it is… I may be the only one who can face it.”
The room grew tense.
“You don’t even know what it is,” Kael said.
Alina’s voice softened—but didn’t waver.
“I can feel it.”
She placed a hand over her chest.
“It’s ancient.”
Her gaze shifted toward the north.
“And this is only the beginning.”
---
Back in the ruins of Grey Hollow—
Silence had returned.
But it was no longer peaceful.
Only ash and fire remained.
Dravoryx stood at the center of the destruction, smoke curling around his massive form.
Magnus approached from the shadows.
“Well done,” he said calmly.
Dravoryx glanced at him.
“That was merely a warm-up.”
Magnus looked toward the distant kingdom.
“The real war begins now.”
A slow grin spread across the beast’s face.
“Oh, I hope so.”
His golden eyes burned with hunger.
“I have waited centuries to destroy the Lycans.”
He lifted his head toward the moon.
“And this time…”
His voice dropped into something cold. Final.
“Nothing will stop me.”
- Writer
