Chapter 16: Clash

The memories… How long has it been? He couldn't remember. Only the agony remained, stretching endlessly into the depths of his mind.

"Fen! Come on, we gotta finish clearing this dungeon!" Rose's voice snapped him back to reality.

They had been fighting their way through the dungeon, cutting down wave after wave of monsters. Each battle brought them closer to the bottom floor. And then, at the, they found it—something unreal.

A dark entity loomed before them, its very presence twisting the air around it. Fenrir stiffened. There was something disturbingly familiar about it, yet it felt far more destructive than chaos itself. A sickening energy radiated from its core, sending a chill down his spine. Unbeknownst to him, he was standing before the Abyss.

"Rose! Stay behind me—I'll handle this," he growled, stepping forward.

The entity shifted, its form contorting before solidifying into a massive dragon. Fenrir lunged, claws flashing as he met its attack head-on.

It was powerful. Too powerful. Nothing on this planet had ever made him struggle—but this thing did.

With a growl, Fenrir lunged, using his massive body to slam the abomination into the stone walls. The impact sent debris raining down, cracks splintering through the rock.

The dark dragon retaliated without hesitation, unleashing a blast of energy that hurled Fenrir backward. He dug his claws into the ground, skidding to a stop. Snarling, he exhaled a freezing breath, ice spreading toward his foe—only for the creature to shatter it with ease.

This had to end quickly.

Behind him, Rose let out a strangled gasp. His ears twitched at the sound, his instincts flaring. He turned just in time to see her legs give out beneath her. Whatever this thing was, its mere presence was draining her strength.

Something snapped inside him. Chaos roared to life, crackling through his veins like wildfire. His claws pulsed with dark energy, growing sharper, stronger. With a snarl, he struck. His Chaos Claws carved through the dragon's abyssal form, shredding it apart in a single decisive blow.

Silence fell. The creature was gone, its existence erased. Fenrir stood over its remains, his breath heavy, his heart pounding.

Whatever that thing was… it wasn't from this world.

Fenrir rushed to Rose's side, his ears twitching with concern. "Are you okay?"

She pressed a hand to her temple, blinking as if trying to clear the haze from her mind. "I'm fine… just a little dizzy."

"Come on, let's get out of here."

She nodded, managing a small smile before climbing onto his back. With a powerful leap, Fenrir carried them away from the eerie remains of the battle, eager to leave the darkness behind.

But neither of them knew—the monster's influence had yet to fade.

As they pressed on, a black raven watched from the dungeon crumbling walls. Its beady eyes gleamed before it spread its wings and soared toward the heavens.

As they traveled, Fenrir cast a glance at Rose. "Maybe you should rest for a bit. I'll keep watch."

"Yeah, that's fine," she murmured, pulling off her backpack and using it as a makeshift pillow. Within moments, she was fast asleep.

His mind, however, refused to rest.

What the hell was that thing? A demon?

He had never read about anything like it in any book, nor had he sensed such a presence before. Its power felt… off. It bore a resemblance to chaos, but it was far more destructive, more corrupting. And whatever it was, it affected Rose. Yet he felt fine. Completely untouched.

His gaze softened as he looked at her sleeping form. I hope she feels better soon…

But this was a sign—it was time to stop the detours and head home.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Rose finally stirred, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Feeling any better?" Fenrir asked, his voice tinged with concern.

She stretched with a small yawn. "Yeah, I feel a lot better… Guess I slept the whole day, huh?"

Fenrir offered a small smile, relieved that she seemed fine, but the lingering presence of that strange energy still clung to her. His expression darkened.

"Alright, we're heading to a church—just to make sure you're completely okay," he said firmly.

Rose rolled her eyes. "Don't be such a worrywart. I'm completely fine."

"Nope," Fenrir said, already turning in the direction of the nearest town. "You're getting checked out."

Rose insisted she was fine, but Fenrir wasn't taking any chances. With a sigh, she climbed onto his back, and they set off.

As they moved, she broke the silence. "What the heck was that thing? I've never heard of anything like it before. And the way it kept changing shape… that was insane. But more importantly, how are you? It didn't seem to affect you the way it did me."

Fenrir's ears flicked as he thought, his gaze drifting for a moment. "I don't know," he muttered. "Maybe it's because I'm built different." His thoughts lingered, more questions rising. Or maybe it's because I'm a god—or my chaotic energy made me resistant. It felt familiar… but not exactly the same. Could be because I'm not from this world.

Rose sighed. "Well, whatever it was, it's dead. Hopefully, we don't run into any more of them."

As Fenrir and Rose departed, the world moved on, unaware of the storm brewing beyond their realm.

——————-

In another realm, far from mortal eyes, forces gathered in secret.

"Loki," a towering frost giant rumbled, his voice like cracking ice. "The Jotnar, the fire giants, and the dark elves stand with you. We are ready to aid in overthrowing Odin and ending his reign."

Loki's lips curled into a sharp grin. "Good," he murmured. "And Hel?"

"She is preparing our ally as we speak," the giant confirmed.

Loki leaned back, satisfaction glinting in his eyes. The time for change was near.