Chapter 6 – The True Nightmare
The forest was eerily silent.
Kairo and Raizen stood amidst the burning battlefield, their breaths heavy. The Ghostfang Alpha lay motionless, its body charred, the dark energy around it flickering like dying embers.
But the warning it had whispered before its death still rang in Kairo's ears.
Run.
Something was coming.
Raizen shifted uneasily. "You felt that too, right?"
Kairo nodded, his golden eyes scanning the shadows between the trees. The air itself felt heavy, like an unseen force was pressing down on them.
Then—
A growl.
Low. Deep. Ancient.
The remaining flames flickered and died out.
And then, from the darkness—
Two crimson eyes opened.
Kairo's pulse quickened. The presence felt… wrong. Unlike anything he had faced before.
Raizen took a step back, tightening his grip on his sword. "Kairo…"
Then it emerged.
A beast larger than the Ghostfang Alpha, covered in shadowy mist, its body a swirling mass of black and red energy. Horns curved back from its head, and its mouth was lined with jagged fangs.
It wasn't just a monster.
It was something else.
Something far older.
Kairo clenched his fists, fire flickering in his palms. "What the hell is that…?"
The creature grinned.
And then—
It spoke.
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Memories of the Past – A Glimpse Into the Truth
Kairo froze.
A beast… talking?
The creature's voice was deep, almost echoing inside his mind.
"You… bear the Phoenix's flames." Its glowing eyes narrowed. "A rare sight."
Kairo gritted his teeth. "Who are you?"
The creature chuckled. "A relic of the past. A reminder of what was once whole."
Raizen stepped beside Kairo, his sword still sparking with lightning. "You're speaking in riddles. What do you really want?"
The beast tilted its head. "To test you."
Then—
It moved.
Faster than the Ghostfang Alpha.
Kairo barely had time to react before a claw slashed toward him—
He dodged, fire erupting beneath his feet—
But the shockwave alone sent him crashing into a tree.
Raizen lunged forward, lightning crackling around his sword—
The beast blocked with a single claw, stopping the attack like it was nothing.
Kairo coughed, standing up as flames flickered around him. He could feel something stirring deep within his power—a memory, a voice.
Then, it hit him.
This energy…
It wasn't just some random monster.
It was something connected to the origins of their power.
The Phoenix inside him flared to life. Kairo… do not underestimate it. This being is tied to the ancient balance.
Kairo's eyes widened. "You're not just a beast…"
The creature smirked. "Clever."
The forest trembled as its power surged—
And the real battle began.
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To be continued-
Next Chapter – The Beast's Trial