Chapter 25: The Thing Beneath the Mountain
624 Words
Night fell slowly over the Lycan kingdom.
Torches burned along the palace walls as guards doubled their patrols after the battle. The war had paused—but everyone knew it wasn’t truly over.
Something worse was coming.
Inside the palace courtyard, Alina stood beside the massive Shadow Beast.
Even under the torchlight, the creature’s dark scales shimmered faintly. Its glowing red eyes scanned the darkness, as if expecting danger to emerge at any moment.
Alina gently rested her hand on its head.
“You felt it too… didn’t you?”
The beast responded with a low, uneasy rumble.
Kael approached from the palace steps, dressed once again in his royal armor. His expression was serious—more guarded than before.
“The scouts have returned,” he said.
Alina turned toward him.
“What did they see?”
Kael’s golden eyes shifted toward the distant mountains.
“Magnus and his rebels disappeared into the northern mountain range.”
Alina’s stomach tightened.
“The place where that strange power awakened?”
Kael nodded.
“Yes.”
The Shadow Beast suddenly growled louder, its claws digging into the stone floor.
Alina felt the Moon-Bound power stir again inside her chest.
“That thing in the mountain…” she whispered. “It’s dangerous, isn’t it?”
Kael didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, his gaze moved to the enormous guardian beside her.
“That creature might know the answer.”
Alina blinked.
“You mean the Shadow Beast?”
Kael nodded slowly.
“If it truly served the ancient Lycans, then it may remember what was sealed there.”
Alina hesitated.
“Then… how do we ask it?”
Kael folded his arms, watching her closely.
“You’re the Moon-Bound.”
His voice softened slightly.
“It listens to you.”
Alina turned back to the giant creature.
For a moment, uncertainty held her still.
Then she slowly raised her glowing hand.
Silver light spread across her palm, soft but powerful.
The Shadow Beast lowered its head without resistance, allowing her to touch its scaled forehead.
The moment their connection formed—
A vision crashed into Alina’s mind.
She saw the same mountains—but from centuries ago.
Ancient Lycans stood before the massive stone entrance Magnus had opened.
But they weren’t entering it.
They were sealing it.
Gigantic stone chains wrapped around the entrance. Glowing symbols burned into the rock, pulsing with powerful magic.
They weren’t protecting something inside.
They were imprisoning it.
One of the ancient kings stepped forward, his voice echoing with authority.
“Never let the creature beneath this mountain awaken again.”
The vision shattered.
Alina stumbled backward, gasping for air.
Kael caught her before she fell.
“What did you see?”
Her face had gone pale.
“The mountain…”
Her voice trembled.
“It’s a prison.”
Kael’s expression darkened instantly.
“For what?”
Alina swallowed hard.
“For something the ancient Lycans were too afraid to kill.”
At that exact moment—
Far away inside the mountain, Magnus and his soldiers stepped into a massive underground chamber.
The walls were carved with ancient markings.
At the center stood a gigantic stone cage.
Inside it—
Something enormous moved.
Two glowing yellow eyes opened in the darkness.
A deep voice echoed through the chamber.
“Who dares… wake me?”
Several of Magnus’ soldiers stepped back in fear.
But Magnus walked forward without hesitation.
“I do.”
The creature shifted.
Heavy chains rattled violently against the stone.
“Why?”
Magnus smiled slowly.
“Because I have a kingdom for you to destroy.”
Silence filled the chamber.
Then—
The creature’s eyes gleamed brighter.
A low, chilling laugh rumbled through the darkness…
And the entire mountain trembled.
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