Eyes In The Dark

The forest felt alive in a way that Kael had never experienced before. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig echoed louder than it should, as if the trees themselves were whispering secrets. The newly gained power from the Beast King coursed through Kael's veins, but instead of comfort, it brought unease. The shadows here seemed to have a life of their own, shifting and twisting unnaturally.

Kael adjusted his grip on his blade, the faint glow of the Beast King's energy radiating from his body. Behind him, the Guardian Beast followed silently, its eyes darting toward every movement in the darkness. They had entered the forest to track the shadow creature, but it was clear now they were being watched.

"Something is wrong," Kael muttered. His voice barely carried in the thick, oppressive air.

The Guardian Beast growled softly, its fur bristling.

"Do you sense it too?" Kael asked.

The beast nodded, and Kael's chest tightened. Whatever was out there wasn't just watching it was waiting.

The deeper they ventured, the darker the forest grew. The canopy above was so dense that not even a sliver of moonlight could pierce through. Kael used the faint glow from his connection to the Beast King to light their way, but the shadows seemed to close in around them, as if trying to snuff it out.

They came across strange markings on the trees claw marks that were unnaturally deep, glowing faintly with an ominous red hue.

"What kind of creature leaves marks like this?" Kael whispered to himself.

The Guardian Beast sniffed the air, its ears flattening against its head. Suddenly, it stopped in its tracks, letting out a low, warning growl.

Kael followed its gaze, his heart racing. In the distance, two red eyes blinked open, glowing like embers in the darkness. A moment later, more eyes appeared four, six, eight until an entire swarm of glowing red eyes stared back at them from the shadows.

Kael tightened his grip on his blade. "Stay close," he whispered to the Guardian Beast.

The red eyes didn't move, but the air grew heavier, colder. A chilling voice echoed through the forest, low and guttural.

"Foolish mortal. You dare bring the light of the Beast King into my domain?"

Kael's blood ran cold. "Who's there?" he demanded, his voice steady despite the fear creeping into his chest.

The shadows shifted, and a figure stepped forward. It was cloaked in darkness, its form almost impossible to define. Only its red eyes and the faint outline of claws and fangs were visible.

"I am the Watcher," it said, its voice like nails scraping against stone. "I guard the path you seek. Turn back, or face the consequences."

Kael clenched his jaw. "I don't have time for games. The shadow creature is threatening the world, and I need answers. If you're in my way, then so be it."

The Watcher laughed, a sound that sent chills down Kael's spine. "You think you're ready to face the shadow? You don't even know what lies ahead. Very well, Beast King. Let's see if your light can survive the dark."

Without warning, the glowing red eyes surged forward, their movements swift and chaotic. Kael barely had time to raise his blade before the first shadow beast lunged at him. Its claws raked against his armor, sparks flying as he pushed it back with a swing of his sword.

The Guardian Beast roared, leaping into the fray. It tackled one of the shadow beasts, its massive jaws clamping down on the creature's neck. But for every beast they defeated, two more took its place.

Kael's movements became a blur as he fought, the energy of the Beast King enhancing his speed and strength. But even with his newfound power, the shadow beasts were relentless.

"They're testing me," Kael realized, gritting his teeth as he blocked another attack. The Watcher wasn't trying to kill him—at least, not yet. It wanted to wear him down, to see how far he could go before breaking.

"Enough of this!" Kael shouted, slamming his blade into the ground. A shockwave of golden light erupted from the sword, disintegrating several shadow beasts at once. The light forced the remaining creatures to retreat, their growls fading into the distance.

The Watcher stepped forward again, its red eyes narrowing. "Impressive. But light cannot exist without darkness, Beast King. You may have won this battle, but you are far from ready."

Kael pointed his blade at the figure. "If you're so sure of that, why don't you fight me yourself?"

The Watcher chuckled. "In due time. But first, let's see how you handle… this."

The Watcher raised its clawed hand, and the shadows around Kael began to writhe and shift. They coalesced into a single form a mirror image of Kael, but darker, twisted. Its eyes glowed red, and its blade radiated the same ominous energy as the shadow beasts.

Kael stared at the doppelgänger, his chest tightening. It was like looking into a distorted version of himself—a version consumed by darkness.

"What is this?" Kael demanded.

"Your greatest enemy," the Watcher replied. "Your own fear, your own doubt, your own shadow. Defeat it, and perhaps you'll earn the right to face me."

The shadow Kael lunged without warning, its movements fluid and precise. Kael barely managed to block the attack, the force of the blow sending him stumbling backward.

The doppelgänger attacked relentlessly, each strike aimed at Kael's weakest points. It knew his every move, his every thought. Kael struggled to keep up, his confidence wavering.

"I can't fight myself," he thought, panic creeping in. "It knows everything I'll do before I do it."

The shadow Kael smirked, as if reading his thoughts. "You're weak," it taunted, its voice a distorted version of Kael's own. "You don't deserve the power of the Beast King."

Kael gritted his teeth, refusing to let the words get to him. He focused on his training, on the bond he shared with the Guardian Beast and the Beast King. This wasn't just a battle of strength—it was a battle of will.

The fight raged on, the two Kaels clashing in a whirlwind of light and darkness. Each strike sent shockwaves through the forest, the energy crackling in the air.

Just as Kael began to gain the upper hand, the Watcher raised its hand again, and the shadow doppelgänger froze. Kael hesitated, his blade hovering mid-strike.

"What are you doing?" Kael demanded.

The Watcher's red eyes gleamed with malice. "You've done well, Beast King. But your journey is far from over."

Before Kael could react, the Watcher snapped its fingers. The shadows around Kael and the Guardian Beast surged upward, swallowing them whole.

Kael's vision blurred as he was pulled into the darkness, the Watcher's laughter echoing in his ears. When the shadows finally receded, Kael found himself in a completely different place a vast, barren wasteland under a blood-red sky.

In the distance, a massive fortress loomed, its gates guarded by towering shadow creatures. Kael's heart sank as he realized where he was.

"The Shadow Fortress," he whispered.

And standing atop the fortress, watching him with glowing molten eyes, was the shadow creature itself waiting for him to make his move.