Last Stretch

The air was thinner at these heights, and each breath grew heavier. The group had advanced with difficulty, overcoming every obstacle of the treacherous ascent, and now, finally, they were only a few meters from the summit.

The sun was beginning to set on the horizon, painting the clouds a deep red that cast long shadows over the black rock. The wind was fierce, whistling through the cracks and pushing with force, as if trying to knock them down.

Fenix, with his muscles burning and his hands numb, looked up. The final stretch was a rocky slope that would take them directly to the summit. Ron and Rhen led the way, with Vanya making sure Fenix didn't fall behind.

Each step was a test of endurance, but this time, Fenix wasn't just fighting with his body—he was battling with his mind. He had learned on this journey that if he couldn't overcome challenges with brute strength, he had to find a smarter way to do it.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of effort, they crossed the last edge of the mountain and reached the summit.

What they found there took their breath away.

In front of them, just a few meters away, lay a colossal creature, deeply asleep.

It was a giant over eight meters tall, its enormous body covered in thick gray fur, with some areas darker and others marked by scars from ancient battles. Its white belly was streaked with deep claw marks, evidence of countless fights. Resting in its hand was a massive iron mace, over two meters long, with a wooden handle reinforced by thick metal rings.

But the most shocking thing wasn't the creature itself—it was what it was protecting.

Behind the monster, a massive black chain stretched from the summit of the mountain to the next peak: the Dark Mountain, their destination.

It was an improvised bridge, a colossal chain of metal connecting this mountain to the larger one—a brutally simple yet effective shortcut.

Vanya narrowed her eyes.

"A natural passage… controlled by this thing."

Ron clenched his fists.

"Now I understand why there are no safe paths between these mountains. Anyone who tries to cross this place… would have to face it."

Rhen observed the scene with a serious expression.

"If those chains are the only way to cross without having to descend and climb the Great Mountain again, then we have no choice."

Fenix felt a chill run down his spine. Fighting something like this was madness.

Each breath from the monster made its chest rise and fall, as if an earthquake rumbled inside it. If it woke up and attacked, their chances of survival would be minimal.

"So… what do we do?" he asked in a low voice.

The group began to move slowly, their steps barely audible against the rock. Every creak of the wind sounded like thunder in the tense atmosphere.

Fenix moved cautiously, holding his breath, his hands sweaty with nerves. They were halfway across, passing just a few meters from the colossal guardian…

When suddenly, a loose rock tumbled down the slope.

That sound was enough.

The giant let out a deep, guttural growl, a sound that rumbled through the mountain like distant thunder. Its massive body trembled, and slowly, its eyes opened.

Fenix felt his blood freeze.

The monster rose sluggishly, its imposing silhouette blocking part of the sky. Its dull yellow eyes fixed on them, filled with a mix of fury and determination.

With a deafening roar, it raised its mace and slammed it into the ground with overwhelming force.

The entire mountain seemed to shake with the impact.

"Run!" Ron shouted.

Stealth was no longer an option.

The group rushed toward the chain as the colossus prepared its next attack.

Fenix was the first to reach the enormous metal structure. He stumbled as he stepped onto the first link; the chain was not completely stable, and each movement caused it to sway violently.

Vanya and Rhen followed closely behind, moving quickly but maintaining their balance.

Ron, however, paused at the edge of the mountain, sword in hand, watching the colossus lift its mace once more.

"Ron!" Fenix shouted.

But the knight didn't move. He knew that if they crossed without doing anything, the monster would crush them before they could reach the other mountain.

With a roar of defiance, Ron charged toward the giant, dodging the mace and striking a direct blow to its leg.

The monster grunted and staggered for a moment.

"Don't be an idiot! Run!" Vanya shouted from the chain.

Ron, taking advantage of the distraction, leaped and grabbed onto the chain at the last second, just as the mace smashed into the ground behind him.

Ron shouted:

"Vanya, activate your ability to shield us from the wind so we can cross the chain!"

Without hesitation, Vanya manipulated the air around them. The wind still blew, but now with less intensity, allowing them to move more steadily along the chain.

The massive chain seemed to stretch for an entire kilometer, tilting dangerously toward the Dark Mountain. Each step was a challenge, and as they advanced, the surface became even more slippery due to the freezing temperatures of the Dark Mountain.

Every movement was a mortal risk.

They decided to pause for a moment to catch their breath. The effort of maintaining their balance on that treacherous, makeshift bridge was draining their stamina.

It was then that Fenix, still regaining his breath, spoke:

"Vanya, what if we use your rope to tie ourselves together?"

Vanya blinked, surprised. Why hadn't they thought of that earlier?

If they tied themselves together, then if anyone slipped, Ron or Rhen could hold them up with their strength.

"Damn it, why didn't we think of this before?" Vanya cursed.

With great care, they began passing the rope to one another, tying it tightly around their waists. The knot ensured that if one of them fell, the weight of the group would keep them from plummeting.

When the last of them was secured, Fenix felt a great sense of relief.

Now, he didn't rely solely on his own balance.

The final push.

Each step brought them closer to the Dark Mountain, but something inside Fenix began to unsettle him. His body reacted strangely, as if an unknown energy was calling to him from the other mountain.

His heart pounded harder.

Something was waiting for them.

And he wasn't sure if it was a blessing… or a warning.