Chapter 12

The next day, Kaden sat beneath the canopy of the woods, the sun barely breaking through the thick trees. His mind was restless, churning with thoughts he couldn't escape. The soldiers had stopped searching for him, their urgency waning, but he couldn't return to the outskirt. To them, he was now an outcast—the boy detested by the lords. The weight of their scorn pressed heavily on him. 

"Why couldn't I get a flower?" he thought bitterly, staring at the dirt. His hand drifted to the hair bracelet on his wrist. The memory of Lira's bright eyes flashed in his mind, her hope evident when he whispered a promise to her: "Everything will change once I get a flower."

But it didn't.

Breaking through his spiraling thoughts was the sharp snap of branches. His head jerked up, his eyes scanning the dense trees. There, emerging from the shadows, was a wild animal.

No, it was—a beast. 

Its eyes glowed an unnatural red, feral and frenzied. Saliva dripped from its jagged teeth, sizzling against the ground. The creature's body was grotesque—muscular with sharp, bony protrusions jutting out of its back. Its long tail, barbed and glistening, swayed menacingly behind it. A guttural snarl rumbled from its throat, the sound chilling and primal. 

Kaden's breath caught in his chest. "No," he whispered, stepping back instinctively. "This can't be right. There aren't supposed to be any beasts here. Not after a portal closes. They're supposed to retreat into the portal."

But this beast stood before him, solid and undeniable. 

Fear gripped him as his eyes darted around, searching for something—"anything"—to defend himself with. His gaze fell on a sharp piece of wood lying among the scattered debris. Grabbing it, he held it tightly, his knuckles white. 

But his grip didn't lessen the dread clawing at his chest. "I'm done for," he thought, the truth sinking in. There was no way he could survive this. 

The beast growled, its tail lashing the air before it lunged. Its tail struck him with brutal force, slamming him into a nearby tree. Kaden's body crashed against the bark, and the air was ripped from his lungs. He coughed violently, sharp pain lancing through his back. 

The beast, satisfied with its strike, stalked toward him slowly, its glowing eyes locked on him. It snarled again, its movements deliberate, almost mocking, as though it intended taunt before savoring its prey. 

Kaden groaned, forcing himself to his feet. His legs wobbled, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He wiped it away with the back of his hand and tightened his grip on the wood. 

As the beast lunged again, Kaden's instincts kicked in. He dashed toward it, raising the sharp wood at an angle, aiming for its head. The two collided in a blur of desperate movement. 

The beast sank its fangs into Kaden's stomach, the pain searing and immediate. It felt like molten fire coursing through his veins, and he screamed in agony. His vision blurred, and his body grew weak as the beast fed on his blood. 

"Get off me!" he roared, slamming the wood into its hide with all the strength he could muster. But the moment the wood made contact, it snapped in two as if it were made of glass. The beast didn't even flinch. 

F*ck

The pain was unbearable, his blood draining rapidly. He felt drowsy, his strength leaving him, his consciousness slipping away. Desperation gripped him as his vision dimmed. With trembling hands, he smacked the beast's head, knowing it was useless. 

The impact reverberated through his hand, pain shooting up his arm. It was like hitting solid rock. Still, he didn't stop. Blow after blow, his bruised and battered hands kept striking, even as his strength waned. 

Just as he was about to give in, something shifted. Black veins snaked across his hands, pulsing with an otherworldly energy. Kaden's eyes widened in shock. "This... this is the same as before," he thought, remembering the soldiers. But this time, he didn't loose his consciousness. 

The beast snarled, unfazed by his futile struggle. With what little strength he had left, Kaden clenched both fists, the black veins throbbing with power. He roared, bringing his fists down on the beast's head one final time. 

The sound was deafening—like metal meeting concrete. The force of the blow sent the beast hurtling through the air, its massive body crashing into a tree with a sickening thud. 

Kaden slammed the beast into the tree, the force of the impact reverberating through the clearing. He staggered back, his body barely holding together. Leaning against a tree, he pressed his hands tightly against the deep wound on his stomach, trying to stanch the blood that trickled freely. Every breath he took was shallow, each movement sending a jolt of pain through his body. 

The beast shook its massive head, growling lowly. Its red eyes narrowed with fury, and it charged toward Kaden, its steps pounding into the earth. 

Kaden forced himself to stand straight, gritting his teeth. He adjusted his footing, trying to ready himself. But something felt... off. 

The beast seemed slower. The wild frenzy in its movements now appeared calculated, as though every action unfolded in slow motion. 

And then he saw it—lines of red information filled his vision, symbols and data he couldn't fully understand. The trajectory of the beast's paw was charted in bright red, glowing arrows directing his attention. 

"What the hell is this?" he thought, distracted by the bizarre display. 

Too late, he realized the beast's paw was dangerously close to his neck. Instinct screamed at him, and he crossed both arms in front of himself to block the blow. 

The impact was devastating. A sickening "crack" echoed through the forest as the bones in his arms gave way. Kaden screamed as the force hurled him through the air, his body slamming against the ground. 

Pain overwhelmed him, but his mind raced. "What was that?" he thought, remembering the strange red information. His vision flickered, and the data reappeared, this time guiding him step by step. 

The beast snarled and charged again, its relentless anger burning hotter. Despite the pain wracking his body, Kaden pushed himself to his feet, his fists clenched tightly. 

The creature leapt at him, jaws wide, aiming to tear his head off. But Kaden moved before he could think, sliding under the beast just as it lunged. 

The moment seemed to stretch out as he slid beneath the monster. Its underbelly came into full view, vulnerable and unguarded. 

"An opening," he thought, his instincts roaring louder than his fear. 

With every ounce of strength left in him, he clenched his fist. The black veins returned, surging up his arms like a dark tide. He drove his fist into the beast's stomach with all his might. 

The creature let out a guttural roar, its massive body crumpling to the ground. Kaden staggered to his feet on the other side, panting heavily. He turned, expecting to see the beast motionless. 

But it was already standing. 

"Tough bastard" he muttered as he spat the blood forming in his mouth.

The beast roared louder than before, its rage now incandescent. It charged again, claws tearing at the ground as it came. 

The red information returned, filling Kaden's vision. This time, it issued a simple command: "STAY STILL."

"Stay still, my ass!" Kaden shouted, his frustration boiling over. But as the rest of the information displayed, detailing the incoming attack and suggesting his next move, a grin spread across his face. 

"This better work," he muttered, bracing himself as the beast closed the distance.