THE UNSEEN TERROR

The sound of breaking glass ricocheted through the canteen, a sharp, piercing noise that instantly shifted the tension in the room. Gorik and the Wild Elf both snapped their heads toward the source of the disturbance, their battle momentarily forgotten. Eldrin's heart skipped a beat as his eyes darted around, trying to locate the new threat. The broken window near the rear of the canteen offered a glimpse of the dark night outside, but nothing appeared to be entering through it.

But then he heard it—a low, guttural growl, deeper and more menacing than anything he had heard before. The Wild Elf tensed, its glowing eyes narrowing as it shifted its stance, no longer solely focused on Gorik. Whatever had broken through the window was clearly no ally of the Wild Elf.

Eldrin gripped his sword tightly, his knuckles turning white as he backed away, trying to stay close to the other patrons who were huddling near the center of the room. The air was thick with fear, everyone's nerves already frayed from the ongoing battle, and now this new, unseen menace had everyone on edge.

"Stay alert," Gorik muttered, his voice low but carrying through the silence. His eyes never left the shattered window as he slowly repositioned himself, ready to defend against this unknown enemy. The Wild Elf was doing the same, its predatory instincts clearly sensing the danger.

Another growl rumbled through the room, this time closer, vibrating through the wooden floorboards beneath their feet. It was followed by the sound of something heavy dragging across the ground, a slow, deliberate noise that sent a shiver down Eldrin's spine.

Then, out of the shadows near the broken window, something began to emerge. At first, it was just a silhouette, a massive shape that seemed to ooze out of the darkness itself. But as it came into the dim light of the flickering lanterns, Eldrin's breath caught in his throat.

The creature was monstrous, towering nearly twice the height of a man. Its skin was a mottled gray, covered in thick, knotted muscles that rippled with every movement. Its head was elongated, almost reptilian, with rows of sharp, jagged teeth visible even as it kept its mouth half-closed. Two glowing, yellow eyes glared out from beneath a heavy brow, filled with a primal hunger that made Eldrin's blood run cold.

A murmur of fear spread through the patrons, and even the Wild Elf seemed to take a step back, clearly wary of the newcomer. This was not an ordinary beast of the forest—this was something far worse, something ancient and powerful, a predator that had been awakened by the Red Moon.

"By the gods…" Gorik breathed, his voice tinged with awe and trepidation. He adjusted his grip on his axe, the confidence he had shown earlier now tempered by the realization of the new threat before them.

The creature let out another growl, this time directed at the Wild Elf, who hissed in response, its bark-like skin bristling. For a moment, it seemed as though the two creatures might turn on each other, but then the monster's gaze shifted to the huddled group of humans.

It took a step forward, the floorboards groaning under its immense weight. Eldrin could feel the vibrations through the soles of his boots, each one like a countdown to disaster. He could barely process what was happening—just moments ago, they had been on the verge of a deadly battle between Gorik and the Wild Elf, and now this new, even more terrifying creature was about to join the fray.

The Wild Elf seemed to make a decision in that instant. With a snarl, it lunged at the monster, claws outstretched, moving with the same blinding speed that had made it so deadly in its fight against Gorik. But the monster was ready. It swung one massive arm, covered in thick, spiked scales, and caught the Wild Elf mid-leap, sending it crashing into the far wall with bone-shattering force.

The impact shook the entire room, and several patrons cried out in shock. The Wild Elf slumped to the ground, dazed but still alive, its glowing eyes burning with renewed hatred as it struggled to rise. Blood dripped from the gashes in its side, but it was far from beaten.

Gorik seized the opportunity. With a roar, he charged the monster, his axe coming down in a powerful arc aimed at the creature's exposed side. The blade bit into the thick, scaled hide, but it didn't go as deep as Gorik had hoped. The creature let out a pained snarl and turned its attention to him, swinging its tail like a battering ram.

Gorik barely had time to brace himself before the tail struck him in the chest, sending him crashing into one of the tables. The wood splintered under his weight, and for a moment, Eldrin feared the worst. But Gorik, ever the warrior, was already struggling to his feet, his gaze locked on the monster with unyielding determination.

Eldrin's mind raced. He had to do something—anything—to help. But what could he do against a creature like this? His sword felt like a toy in his hand, completely inadequate against the monster's thick scales and overwhelming strength.

The Wild Elf, now back on its feet, let out a shriek of rage and charged at the monster again, this time aiming for its throat. The monster responded with a roar, its jaws snapping at the Wild Elf, but the creature was too fast, darting around to strike at its legs, claws slashing through scales and drawing blood.

The battle between the two beasts was fierce and primal, each one a deadly force of nature. Gorik, now back on his feet, took a moment to recover, his eyes flicking between the two combatants as he calculated his next move.

"Eldrin!" Gorik shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We need to take that thing down while it's distracted!"

Eldrin nodded, though his heart was pounding in his chest. He knew Gorik was right—the only chance they had was to work together, to strike when the monster's attention was divided between them and the Wild Elf.

As the Wild Elf darted in for another attack, Gorik moved to flank the monster, his axe ready to strike. Eldrin swallowed his fear and followed, circling around to the creature's other side. They had to time this perfectly—one wrong move, and they could both end up dead.

The Wild Elf lunged at the monster's throat, and the beast responded with a swing of its massive claws. But this time, Gorik was ready. He charged in from the side, his axe aimed at the monster's neck, hoping to land a fatal blow.

At the same time, Eldrin steeled himself and struck at the creature's exposed leg, driving his sword into the softer flesh between the scales. The monster let out a deafening roar of pain, its attention momentarily divided as it tried to deal with both threats at once.

But the creature was not so easily defeated. With a powerful sweep of its arm, it knocked Gorik's axe aside and turned to face Eldrin, its yellow eyes burning with fury. Eldrin's heart leaped into his throat as the monster's jaws opened wide, ready to tear him apart.

But just before the monster could strike, the Wild Elf leaped onto its back, sinking its claws into the beast's flesh and dragging it backward. The monster roared in fury, twisting and thrashing as it tried to dislodge the Wild Elf, but the creature held on with grim determination.

Gorik, seizing the moment, retrieved his axe and charged forward again, this time aiming for the monster's underbelly. The blade struck true, sinking deep into the flesh beneath the scales. The monster let out a scream of pain, its tail lashing out in a desperate attempt to defend itself.

Eldrin scrambled back, barely avoiding the deadly swing of the tail, and watched as Gorik fought to keep his balance. The monster was weakening, its movements becoming more frantic, more desperate. But it was far from defeated.

The Wild Elf, still clinging to the monster's back, drove its claws deeper, its eyes blazing with a savage fury. The monster staggered, its legs buckling under the combined assault. For a moment, it seemed as though they might actually bring it down.

But then, with a final, desperate roar, the monster twisted its body, throwing the Wild Elf off and slamming it into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, and the Wild Elf lay still, momentarily stunned.

Gorik gritted his teeth and swung his axe once more, but the monster, sensing its own impending doom, lashed out with all its remaining strength. Its tail struck Gorik again, this time catching him in the side and sending him crashing into the wall.

Eldrin's blood ran cold as he saw Gorik fall, his axe slipping from his grasp. The monster, battered and bleeding but still alive, turned its gaze back to Eldrin, its eyes filled with murderous intent.

The battle had reached its climax, but the outcome was still uncertain. Eldrin's hand shook as he raised his sword, ready to face the creature. In that moment, he knew the next few seconds would determine everything—whether they lived or died, whether they defeated the monster or became its next victims.

But as the monster prepared to strike, a new sound filled the room—a deep, rumbling growl that seemed to come from all around them. The monster froze, its yellow eyes widening in fear.

Eldrin felt the ground tremble beneath his feet, and he realized that he was doomed