Chapter 12

The Rocky Mountain pass was a treacherous stretch of jagged cliffs, narrow pathways, and howling winds that seemed to carry whispers of ancient dangers. Shaun and Laelar had been traveling for days, their journey taking them deeper into the heart of the mountains. The air grew thinner, and the landscape more desolate, but Shaun's determination never wavered. He had a lead—a faint clue about the man who had killed his mother—and he wasn't about to let anything stop him.

Laelar, on the other hand, was less enthusiastic about the terrain. "Remind me again why we couldn't take the nice, flat road through the valley?" he grumbled, adjusting his hood to shield his face from the biting wind.

Shaun smirked, glancing over his shoulder. "Because the valley road adds three days to the journey. And because I thought you could use the exercise."

Laelar shot him a glare. "Next time, I'm picking the route."

Before Shaun could retort, a low, guttural growl echoed through the pass. Both men froze, their hands instinctively going to their weapons. The sound was deep and primal, like the rumble of thunder, but it was unmistakably alive.

"What was that?" Laelar whispered, his eyes scanning the rocky cliffs above them.

Shaun's expression turned serious as he drew his sword. "I don't know. But it doesn't sound friendly."

The growl came again, closer this time—a deep, rough sound that seemed to shake the ground beneath them. It carried an untamed fury that sent shivers down their spine. Then came the footsteps—heavy, steady, and too close for comfort. Each step echoed like a drumbeat, the crunch of rocks and gravel growing louder with every second.

From the shadows of the cliffs, the creature emerged, its massive form silhouetted against the dim light filtering through the jagged peaks. It was a Grendel, a monster straight out of the darkest legends, and it was every bit as terrifying as the stories described.

The Grendel stood at least ten foot tall, its massive body packed with thick muscle. Its gray, leathery skin was covered in jagged scars, each one a reminder of past battles. Some scars seemed to pulse, as if it had hearts all over its body. Its broad chest rose and fell with deep, heavy breaths, air hissing through its flared nostrils. A strange heat surrounded it, making the air shimmer as if it were giving off its own warmth.

It's head was unusually large, sitting on a thick, powerful neck that flexed with every movement. Its face was terrifying—a twisted mix of rage and hunger. Its glowing yellow eyes shone like eerie lanterns, filled with a sharp, unsettling intelligence. A heavy brow ridge cast deep shadows over its face, making its scowl even more menacing. Its mouth was wide and filled with jagged, razor-sharp teeth, each as long as a dagger and dripping with saliva. When it snarled, its blackened tongue flicked out like a snake's, adding to its monstrous appearance.

The creature's arms were its most noticeable feature—long, thick, and packed with bulging muscles. They nearly reached its knees and ended in huge, clawed hands. Each claw was as long as a sword, curved and razor-sharp, able to slice through both stone and flesh. As it moved, its fingers twitched, as if itching to tear into its next victim.

Its legs were shorter but no less powerful, each one like the trunk of a tree, ending in broad, clawed feet that dug into the ground with every step. Its movements were deliberate, almost predatory, as if it knew it had all the time in the world to savor the hunt.

The Grendel's breath reeked of decay, a thick, rancid stench that filled the air. Every exhale came with a deep, rumbling growl, and its chest rose and fell heavily with each breath. The heat of it could be felt even from a distance, a chilling sign of the raw, untamed power flowing through its body.

As it stepped fully into the light, the Grendel let out a thunderous roar that seemed to shake the mountains themselves. Its glowing eyes locked onto Shaun and Laelar. Drool dripped from its jaws, sizzling as it hit the ground, while its claws scraped against the rock with a sharp, grating sound that made their skin crawl.

For a moment, everything seemed frozen in time. The Grendel was a nightmare made real—a beast of pure rage and destruction. Its scarred body told of countless battles, and its burning eyes were filled with an endless hunger. To the creature, Shaun and Laelar were nothing more than prey.

Laelar's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way… that's a *Grendel*. They're supposed to be extinct!"

Shaun tightened his grip on his sword. "Well, someone forgot to tell that one."

The creature let out a loud roar, its foul breath washing over them, and charged at them with shocking speed. Shaun and Laelar barely had time to move. Shaun quickly stepped aside, just missing the creature's huge claws, while Laelar rolled away and pulled out his sword.

It attacked again with shocking speed, its huge claws cutting through the air like blades. Shaun barely rolled aside in time as the creature's claws smashed into the rocky ground where he had just stood, sending shards of stones flying everywhere. The loud crash shook the ground beneath them.

Before Shaun could stand up, the Grendel attacked again. It swung its massive arm in a wide arc, its claws slicing deep marks into the cliffside as if the solid rock were soft clay. Large chunks of stone broke off and fell, forcing Laelar to dive out of the way to avoid being crushed.

"It's not giving us a second to breathe!" Laelar shouted, his voice barely audible over the creature's roars and the crashing of falling rocks.

Shaun gritted his teeth, his eyes locked on the Grendel. The creature was fast, unnaturally fast, but its movements were as predictable as rain water. Every time it attacked, it favored its right side, its movements slightly more exaggerated and telegraphed on that flank. Its left side, while still dangerous, was slower to react. But even with that knowledge, the Grendel's sheer speed and power made it nearly impossible to capitalize on its predictability. It didn't give them time to think, let alone counterattack.