Chapter 42: The Moon's Awakening
918 Words
The battlefield trembled beneath the weight of the Nightborn army.
Dozens of the monstrous creatures continued pouring from the dark vortex above, landing heavily across the plains like falling meteors. Their crimson eyes burned through the smoke and chaos, and their growls echoed like the sound of grinding stone.
Fear spread through the Lycan ranks.
Some soldiers tightened their grip on their weapons while others exchanged nervous glances. Even the bravest warriors had never seen creatures like these before.
Kael stepped forward, raising his sword high.
“Hold your ground!” he commanded loudly.
His voice cut through the fear like a blade.
“We’ve fought worse than monsters before!”
The Lycan soldiers slowly steadied themselves, their formation tightening again. The warriors began raising their shields and blades, preparing for the next wave.
Across the battlefield, Dravoryx watched the scene with clear amusement.
“You still believe you can win,” he said, his deep voice echoing across the plains.
Aria stood firmly at the center of the battlefield, her silver aura glowing brighter with each passing moment.
“We don’t need to believe,” she replied calmly.
“We will win.”
Dravoryx laughed again, the sound rumbling like distant thunder.
“You humans and Lycans are all the same,” he said. “Always clinging to hope even when destruction stands right before you.”
Behind Aria, the massive forms of Lunaris and Thalor shifted slightly, preparing themselves for battle.
The great silver wolf lowered his head beside her.
The Moon-Bound’s power grows stronger, Lunaris spoke into her mind.
Aria closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the energy flowing through her veins. It was different now—stronger, deeper, almost as if the moon itself was awakening within her.
“I can feel it,” she whispered.
Thalor’s deep voice followed.
Then it is time you learn the final truth.
Aria’s eyes opened.
“What truth?”
Before the guardian serpent could answer, the Nightborn army suddenly attacked.
With a deafening roar, dozens of the creatures surged forward across the battlefield, their massive claws tearing through the earth as they charged toward the Lycan army.
“Brace yourselves!” Kael shouted.
The first clash came like an explosion.
Lycan warriors met the Nightborn head-on, swords and claws colliding violently. The battlefield instantly erupted into chaos once again.
One of the monstrous creatures lunged toward Aria.
Before it could reach her, Lunaris leapt forward.
The silver wolf slammed into the creature with tremendous force, sending it flying across the ground.
Another Nightborn tried to strike from the side.
But Thalor’s massive tail swept across the battlefield like a storm, crushing the creature beneath its weight.
Still, more of them continued coming.
Too many.
Dravoryx watched calmly from above, his wings beating slowly.
“Fight as much as you like,” he said.
“The outcome will remain the same.”
Aria clenched her fists.
She could see it clearly now.
Even with the guardians and the Lycan army fighting bravely, the Nightborn were too many. If the vortex continued bringing more creatures into their world…
The kingdom would fall.
“There has to be a way to stop this,” she whispered.
Lunaris looked toward the swirling darkness in the sky.
There is.
Aria turned to him quickly.
“What do you mean?”
The guardian wolf’s eyes glowed softly.
The Moon-Bound was never meant to simply fight the Devourer.
Your true purpose… is to seal the gate between worlds.
Aria’s heart skipped.
“The vortex?”
Thalor nodded slowly.
That gate allows Dravoryx to summon his army.
Close it… and his power will weaken.
Aria looked back toward the sky.
The swirling darkness stretched wider and wider, lightning flashing within its depths.
But sealing something like that would require enormous power.
“Can I really do it?” she asked.
Lunaris stepped closer.
You are the only one who can.
Before Aria could respond, a powerful explosion shook the battlefield.
Kael was thrown backward as one of the Nightborn beasts slammed into him.
He rolled across the ground before struggling to his feet again, blood dripping from a cut across his forehead.
“Damn monsters!” he growled.
More creatures were surrounding the Lycan warriors now.
The battle was turning again.
Dravoryx noticed Aria staring at the vortex above.
A dark smile slowly spread across his massive face.
“Ah… now you understand.”
He lifted into the air once more, rising toward the swirling gate.
“But it’s already too late.”
The vortex suddenly pulsed with dark energy.
Even larger shapes began forming inside the swirling darkness.
Creatures even more powerful than the Nightborn.
Aria’s eyes widened.
“No…”
Dravoryx’s voice echoed across the battlefield.
“Behold the true beginning of the end.”
Aria took a deep breath.
The silver light around her body suddenly flared brighter than ever before.
Moonlight burst through the clouds again, illuminating the battlefield in a brilliant glow.
Her voice became steady.
“Then I’ll close it before they arrive.”
Lunaris stepped beside her.
Thalor raised his enormous body behind her.
The guardians had made their choice.
If Aria attempted to seal the vortex, it would require all of their power.
And it might cost them everything.
High above the battlefield, the dark vortex continued expanding.
The fate of the Lycan kingdom now rested on one final decision.
Aria lifted her hands toward the sky.
And began to gather the power of the moon.
- Writer
