Hatching

Nathan knelt beside Veyra as Theo stood watch. Her pulse was faint, her skin cold. The blast from the demon cultist hadn't just burned her , there was a curse on her. Black veins spidered out from the point of impact, pulsing slightly with each heartbeat.

"She needs a healer," Theo muttered.

Nathan's gaze didn't leave her. "We can't move her. Not with that egg still here."

They both turned.

The egg, now throbbing faster, had begun to glow from within. Not red — not molten. Violet. The same violet as the Surnok's eyes.

Theo stepped forward slowly. "It's reacting. To the battle. "

"Or to us."

Nathan rose, jaw tight. "We need to end this."

He raised his sword and aimed it toward the center of the egg.

Then the air shook.

Not from a spell.

From a growl.

A second Surnok.

It dropped from the cavern wall like a living avalanche, slamming down between them and the egg. Its violet eyes locked onto Nathan, fury and protectiveness blended into one monstrous intent.

Nathan didn't hesitate.

He moved — his Nova igniting again, blade striking the beast's hide in a flash of searing light. The impact sent him skidding back, boots dragging in the dust.

Theo joined the fight immediately, striking low at the creature's hind legs. His spear couldn't pierce, but it slowed it, just enough.

The Surnok roared, spinning with terrifying speed. Its tail lashed out.

Theo went flying.

Nathan caught the glint of blood in the air.

"No!" he shouted.

The Surnok charged.

Nathan's thoughts raced. He couldn't hold back anymore. Not Nova. Not even the part he kept hidden.

Not when his friends were dying.

With a wordless cry, he let the magic surge — deeper than light. Deeper than Nova.

Threadstone sparked in his veins.

For a moment, the world twisted.

The air rippled, warping light and heat alike.

Nathan moved.

He was faster than the beast.

Faster than sound.

His blade tore through the creature's hide at last, laced with the hidden power he'd tried so hard to bury. The Surnok screamed , a high, strangled shriek and crumpled to the stone floor, twitching once before it stilled.

Silence.

Nathan stood in the center of it, shoulders heaving, eyes dim with residual light.

Theo groaned nearby, dazed but alive.

Veyra remained unconscious.

And the egg…

It had stopped pulsing.

But it hadn't cracked.

Not yet.

Nathan lowered his sword, expression grim. "It knows we're here now."

He looked at the egg.

"What was that?" Theo shouted.

Nathan didn't reply. He simply turned, eyes locked on the massive egg at the center of the cavern , a towering shell veined with glowing filaments of red and silver, pulsing in rhythm with something deep and terrible.

Theo took a step forward, his expression tightening. "You're telling me that thing—the Surnok we barely survived—was the warm-up?"

A shiver rippled through the air, and all three turned as a new presence emerged from the shadows — not a beast this time, but cloaked figures in crimson and gold. Their hands shimmered with binding sigils, their faces masked.

Three of them.

Demonbound, the Strongest of the Demon faction.

"You're too late," the lead figure said, his voice echoing unnaturally. "The Child of Surnok stirs. And our work is nearly complete."

Theo stepped forward, spear raised. "I've had enough of your damn riddles."

"Then die ignorant," the demonbound hissed, flicking his fingers.

A burst of corrupted flame roared toward them.

Theo dove, knocking Veyra out of the way just in time but, the shockwave sent them tumbling across the cavern floor. Veyra screamed, then went silent.

Nathan's heart stopped. "Veyra!"

He rushed to her side. Her body was limp, her breathing shallow, a faint burn trailing across her back.

Theo staggered upright. "She's alive—but barely."

Nathan looked up.

The demonbound were preparing another volley.

He didn't have time to think.

Light exploded from within him, pure and searing.

The ground cracked beneath his feet.

Nathan light up into a huge burst of fire, with threads weaving around him like a barrier.

The light dimmed.

The nest burst into flames, scorched by the radiant force.

Theo blinked. "Did we win?"

"Not yet"

Nathan knelt beside Veyra, checking her pulse. Still alive—barely.

Theo stopped in his tracks "That wasn't not normal Nova," he breathed. "What the hell are you?"

Nathan didn't answer.

Theo stood still, spear lowered, his face pale. "Nathan," he said slowly, "that wasn't just Nova."

Nathan froze.

Theo's eyes narrowed. "That glow—those strands around your arm. That wasn't anything the Order teaches. That wasn't even Light magic, was it?"

Nathan glanced down at his hand, where faint threads of glowing stone still traced his skin like cracks in marble. He clenched his fist and stood.

"It's… something I developed," he said evenly. "A subclass trick. Something I've been working on for a while. It's technically still Nova—just… modified."

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Modified?"

"Yeah. You know how my class focuses on adaptive casting. I fused it with some elemental resonance theory, my old masters helped me a bit with the theory crafting." He kept his voice level. "Didn't think it'd work this well."

Theo studied him for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "You always were the weird one in training."

"Still am."

Theo gave a faint laugh, though it didn't last. His gaze turned back to the battlefield.

"We need to move her," Nathan said. "Now, before more of those things show up."

"What about the casualties and our report?"

Nathan looked at the pulsating shell. "We'll come back with a team. This time, more prepared."

Theo nodded. "And the Council?"

Nathan gave a grim smile. "They'll have to listen now."

Behind them, Veyra groaned again—unconscious but alive.

And far above, in the cracks of the rocky ceiling, something unseen shifted… and blinked.

"We need to go, NOW."