Awakening The Predator

The ruins were quiet save for the occasional crackle of dying flames and the faint hum of residual energy in the air. Orin knelt amidst the remains of Valkas, his body trembling as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. The Monari's power coursed through him, every fiber of his being buzzing with energy that didn't feel entirely his own.

Zeela stepped forward cautiously, her hand on her blade. "Orin…" she began, her voice laced with concern and something else—fear. "What did you just do?"

Orin's head snapped up, his glowing eyes meeting hers. For a moment, he didn't respond. His breath came in slow, shallow gasps, and his hands, still stained with ichor, clenched into trembling fists.

"I…" Orin began, his voice hoarse. "I don't know."

"You ate it," Hiroshi said bluntly, his daggers still drawn. "The Monari. The core. All of it."

Wake crossed his arms, his usual bravado replaced by a cautious edge. "Yeah, and now you're glowing like a Monari beacon. Care to explain that?"

Orin staggered to his feet, his legs unsteady beneath him. "I didn't think," he admitted. "It was instinct—something inside me… it *needed* to."

"Needed to?" Zeela's sharp tone cut through the air. "Orin, that wasn't instinct. That was something else."

The squad fell silent, their gazes heavy on him. Orin's chest tightened as he struggled to articulate what he was feeling. The beast inside him was quiet now, almost satisfied, but its presence still loomed, watching from the depths of his mind.

"Whatever it was," Orin said finally, his voice steadier than he felt, "it worked. Valkas is gone, and… and I'm still here."

"For now," Zeela muttered, but she didn't press further.

Hiroshi sheathed his daggers with a sigh. "We need to move. That fight probably drew every Monari in the area."

Wake nodded, his flames flickering faintly as he surveyed the ruins. "Agreed. Let's figure out what's going on with Orin *after* we're not about to get eaten."

Zeela gave Orin one last look before turning away. "Let's move."

The squad traveled in tense silence as they made their way out of Fang Ridge. Orin kept to the back of the group, his thoughts churning. His senses felt sharper now, the faintest rustle of leaves or distant growl of a Monari clear as day. His body felt stronger, lighter, but there was an edge to it, a sense that the power wasn't entirely his own.

*You've taken the first step,* the beast whispered, its voice softer now but no less menacing. *This is what you are meant to be.*

Orin ignored it, focusing on the path ahead. But as they continued, he began to notice subtle changes. The shadows seemed to bend toward him, the air around him colder than the rest of the group. The faint scent of Monari blood lingered on him, and he could feel it seeping into his veins.

"Do you feel that?" Wake asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Zeela glanced over her shoulder. "Feel what?"

Wake frowned, his flames sparking to life. "The air's different. Heavier. Like… we're being watched."

Orin stiffened. He felt it too, an oppressive weight that seemed to follow them, growing stronger with every step. The shadows around them deepened, twisting unnaturally.

"Stay sharp," Zeela said, her hand on her dagger. "We're not alone."

The group slowed, their senses on high alert. Orin scanned the surroundings, his glowing eyes piercing through the darkness. The forest was unnervingly quiet, the usual sounds of wildlife replaced by an eerie stillness.

Then it hit him—a wave of energy so powerful it brought him to his knees. Orin gasped, clutching his chest as the beast inside him roared to life.

"Orin!" Zeela shouted, rushing to his side. "What's happening?"

"I don't… know," Orin ground out, his body convulsing as the power surged through him. His vision blurred, flickering between the forest and something darker—a void of swirling shadows and glowing red eyes.

The whispers returned, louder this time, a cacophony of voices clawing at his mind. *You've taken the first taste. Now the hunt begins.*

Orin gritted his teeth, fighting against the overwhelming force. "It's the Monari… the core… it's doing something."

Hiroshi cursed under his breath, drawing his daggers. "Whatever it's doing, it's not good."

The shadows around them began to move, coalescing into shapes that were both familiar and alien. Monari emerged from the darkness, their eyes glowing with the same red light as Valkas. They were smaller, weaker, but there were dozens of them, their snarls filling the air.

"Looks like we've got company!" Wake shouted, his flames roaring to life.

Zeela pulled Orin to his feet, her gaze hard. "Can you fight?"

Orin nodded, his claws extending instinctively. "I'll manage."

The Monari charged, their claws and fangs flashing in the dim light. The squad moved as one, their attacks swift and coordinated. Wake's flames cut through the horde, Hiroshi's daggers finding weak points with deadly precision, and Zeela's gravity wells sent Monari crashing to the ground.

Orin moved through the chaos like a predator, his claws slicing through the creatures with brutal efficiency. His movements were faster now, more precise, as if the Monari's power had already become part of him. But with every strike, the whispers grew louder, urging him to unleash more.

*Take them. Feed. Grow stronger.*

"No," Orin growled, his claws tearing through another Monari. "Not now."

But the power surged, and he felt his control slipping. His strikes became more vicious, his vision narrowing to red as the beast clawed its way closer to the surface.

"Orin!" Zeela's voice cut through the haze, grounding him. "Focus!"

He forced himself to breathe, to pull back, but the battle was far from over. The Monari kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless.

"We can't keep this up!" Hiroshi called, dodging a swipe from a particularly large creature.

Zeela nodded, her gravity wells surging with renewed force. "We need to break through. Orin, can you—"

Before she could finish, Orin roared, his claws glowing faintly with the same energy as Valkas's core. He surged forward, tearing through the horde with a ferocity that left the others stunned. The Monari faltered, their movements growing sluggish as if responding to his presence.

The whispers roared in triumph. *They fear you. They bow to the predator.*

With one final strike, Orin slashed through the last of the Monari, their forms dissolving into shadow. The forest fell silent once more, the oppressive energy fading.

Orin stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving, his claws still extended. The power inside him burned, but it felt… sated, for now.

"What the hell was that?" Wake asked, his flames dimming.

Orin turned to face them, his glowing eyes still flickering with remnants of the Monari's energy. "I don't know," he said, his voice quiet. "But it's not over."

Zeela stepped closer, her gaze steady but wary. "Orin, whatever's happening to you… we need answers."

Orin nodded, the weight of her words settling over him. "Then we need to find Azail," he said. "Because I think he already knows."