Chapter 11: The Beast of Black Hollow
The woods were quiet.
Too quiet.
Leon and Astha moved carefully along the forest path.
The trees here were twisted and dark, their branches sharp like claws.
Fog wrapped around their legs like snakes.
"I don't like this," Leon said softly.
Astha checked her compass. The needle spun wildly, confused by the magic in the air.
"We're close," she replied. "The ruin is just beyond the Black Hollow."
Leon looked ahead. There was a large stone arch in the distance, broken in half. Vines wrapped around it like chains.
And just beyond that… silence.
⚠️ A Warning in the Wind
Suddenly, the wind changed.
The leaves trembled.
Leon stopped. "Did you hear that?"
Astha turned. "No—wait. Yes."
A low growl came from the trees. Slow. Deep.
"Something's watching us," Leon whispered.
Astha raised her hand. A glowing sigil hovered above her palm, casting light into the fog.
Then the growl turned into a roar.
CRASH!
A massive black beast leapt from the trees, eyes glowing red, claws longer than swords.
Its body was like smoke and fur twisted together.
Leon shouted, "Down!"
He pushed Astha aside as the creature slammed into the ground where she'd stood.
🐺 The Fight Begins
The beast circled them, slow and hungry.
Astha shouted, "It's not natural—it's made of dark magic!"
Leon clenched his fists, flames rising around him.
"Then let's burn it down."
He threw a fireball. It hit the beast's shoulder, but the creature shook it off and charged.
Leon rolled aside, but the beast swiped and knocked him into a tree. He gasped, wind knocked from his lungs.
"Leon!" Astha cried.
She raised both hands. "Light Sigil: Bind!"
Chains of glowing silver wrapped around the beast—but only for a second.
It shattered them like glass.
It turned toward Astha now.
🔥 The Flame Awakens
Leon stood, shaking. Blood dripped from his lip. His chest burned—not from pain… but from the fire inside.
"I'm done running."
His eyes flashed red.
The mark on his hand glowed like hot metal.
"Flameblood Surge…"
A wave of fire exploded from his body.
He charged at the beast. Fire wrapped around his fists as he punched it across the jaw.
The creature howled and stumbled back.
Astha joined him, casting spell after spell, trapping it between light and flame.
One hit.Two.Three.
With a final roar, Leon slammed his fist into the beast's chest—his fire piercing straight through.
The beast exploded into ash.
Silence returned.
🌌 Under the Stars
They sat beside a small fire hours later, breathing hard, wounds wrapped.
Astha looked at Leon.
"You could've died."
He nodded. "So could you."
She was quiet, then said, "You're getting stronger. But that power… it's not just fire. It's something more."
Leon stared into the flames.
"I think it remembers things I don't."
🏛 In the Shadows of Ruins…
Just beyond the trees, a crumbling ruin stood under the moonlight.
A faint glow pulsed deep inside.
It was old. Dangerous. Full of secrets.
And it was waiting for them.