The forest changed almost immediately beyond the black swamp. All the trees seemed to have dark bark instead of the usual brown and they were all smooth as though something was smoothing them.

Their trunks were wider than castle towers and their branches twisted blocking all the sunlight. Strange glowing roots ran across the ground illuminating the darkness in pale blue patterns.

Bones littered the ground everywhere. Massive bones. Some were ancient enough to resemble stone while others looked disturbingly fresh. No creature attacked them immediately which was both strange and disturbing.

Cassian walked slightly behind the two, his expression still relaxed inwardly though his eyes continuously observed Atheline.

He found him far more interesting than expected. His father’s instructions surfaced in his mind.

Stay close to him.

Understand why the queen protects him so fiercely and if possible... determine whether he can be separated from her. At that time, Cassian assumed the task was simple.

A love-struck consort, nothing much.

He had already seen him once and he had looked weak at that point.

But after seeing the pressure he seemed to unconsciously release and the way it lingered around him now furthermore the way Yander seemed to be trying to match his pace beside him instead of leading, Cassian realised something important.

The queen’s obsession might not have been irrational at all.

Ahead of them, Atheline suddenly stopped walking.

The moment he stopped, the entire forest seemed to tense.

Yander reacted first. Her hand moved instantly towards the slender sword resting at her waist while dark flames flickered faintly around her fingers.

The air surrounding her heated rapidly, distorting slightly beneath the pressure of concentrated elemental fire. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Cassian’s relaxed expression disappeared next. Shadows beneath the enormous trees began stretching unnaturally towards him, gathering around his boots like living creatures responding to instincts.

Silence filled the forest. Then, an eye opened, large enough to dwarf them. It felt oppressive just looking at it.

A second eye opened beside the first one, then a third followed.

Massive golden pupils stared through the darkness ahead without blinking. The beast had not been alone, branches cracked loudly.

Something enormous shifted between the trees, its body still mostly concealed by darkness and fog.

Atheline’s gaze sharpened slightly.

"Three."

Cassian blinked once.

"You can already tell."

Atheline didn’t respond instead wind exploded sideways. He moved instantly.

"DOWN!"

The command came out sharper than intended but it got the message through.

All three of them reacted at once.

A black blur tore through the same place they had been standing a fraction later.

BOOM.

The impact shattered the ground violently. Ancient roots burst apart while stone exploded through the air.

Yander twisted mid-motion and unleashed fire immediately. A torrent of dark flames roared toward the creature. For the first time, it came into view.

A wolf. A six-eyed Scaled Wolf at that.

Its body towered at nearly three stories high, covered in black armour like scales instead of fur. Sharp pointed crimson spikes ran along its spine while six glowing golden eyes stared forward hungrily.

Supreme class.

Yander’s flames struck directly against its body and split apart. The wolf burst fast through the inferno untouched.

It was far too fast for a beast of its size.

Cassian’s shadows surged upwards instantly. Dozens of black tendrils erupted from beneath the earth and wrapped around the monster’s limbs mid-charge.

The beast roared violently, its sound shaking the surrounding forest. Its reach was monstrous. The shadow bindings cracked immediately but the delay was enough.

Lightning flashed and Atheline appeared above the wolf, dagger already descending. Electricity exploded across the blade, leaving streaks of lightning behind it.

The dagger pierced through one of the wolf’s eyes and a fountain of blood erupted. The wolf let a scream that was enough to burst eardrums.

Violent wind exploded outwards from its body instinctively, throwing all three backwards simultaneously.

Atheline flipped through the air before landing smoothly on a broken stone while Yander slid backwards across the ground, flames stabilising her footing.

Cassian crushed harder, shadows cushioning the impact at the last second.

Then the trees moved again. A second monster emerged, Massive claws tore through ancient trees before. A gigantic serpent lunged downward from the canopy above.

It had blue scales, a large jaw, and dozens of glowing eyes stretched along its neck.

Yander reacted immediately.

"Above."

The serpent opened its jaw and ice erupted from within its throat. A freezing storm descended towards them. Atheline raised one hand instantly.

Fire exploded upwards, then wind joined.

The flames spiraled violently into a rotating inferno that collided against the ice storm head-on.

BOOOOOM

Steam exploded across the battlefield and visibly vanished instantly.

The third monster attacked from within the mist.

Cassian was the first to sense it. His shadows conveyed the message in mangled screams.

"Left!"

A gigantic claw burst through the steam directly towards Yander. It was too fast for her to stop it.

She turned sharply, but the claw still tore across her side, throwing her violently through several trees.

Cassian’s shadows immediately retaliated. Dark spikes erupted from the ground beneath the monster, piercing upwards like spears.

The creature roared.

A massive ape-like beast emerged through the steam, its body covered in gray armour plating thicker than fortress walls. One arm bled from Cassian’s spikes, barely, since the damage had been insignificant.

Cassian clicked his tongue.

"That’s annoying."

The ape charged, each step shattering the earth beneath it. Cassian’s shadows spread outward instantly, swallowing the surrounding area in darkness

The monster’s movement slowed in the darkness, not physically but perpetually. Its senses became distorted within the shadow field. The beast roared in confusion then a flaming sword cut across its chest.

Yander had returned.

Blood stained her side now but dark flames exploded around her body with terrifying intensity.

Unlike Igrad’s destructive flames, her fire was more concentrated.

She slashed again.

A line of compressed fire element tore across the apes amoured chest and exploded.

The impact staggered the ape backwards. But they didn’t get any respite, the wolf tore through the battlefield and attacked again.