The Rebirth Of The Beast Tamer-Chapter 87: The Raging Peaks 4

A pack of shadow hounds which was larger than those in the pass, their fur matted with dark energy, their eyes glowed like molten embers which poured from the cliffs, their movements were erratic and ferocious.

Kelvin channeled a fire Convergence through Xerion and the End-Tyrant’s flames swept across the plateau, incinerating hounds in bursts of ash and light, their screeches pierced the air.

Lyra wove shadow runes with her gauntlet glowing as tendrils lashed out to bind the hounds’ limbs that pinned them in a place.

Salaris struck from the shadows, her talons rendered some flesh in swift with precise strikes. Darius fired soulstone blasts, each explosion shattered the hounds’ forms, while Rhoam charged and his iron bulk crushed them beneath his paws.

But the hounds were relentless, their numbers were overwhelming, their dark energy amplified their strength. One lunged at Lyra and used its claws to graze her leg and tore through her armor while drawing blood out.

She gasped and stumbled, but Salaris intervened and tore the hound apart in a blur of shadow and feather.

Kelvin’s heart raced and fear spiked through him, the Veil’s whispers creeped into his mind, saying. "You will fail. She will fall. But he pushed them back, shouting, "Lyra, hold on!"

"I am fine!" she screamed out, her gauntlet trembled as she wove a new rune while binding another hound. Her face was pale and pain etched lines were around her eyes, but her resolve burned fiercely.

Darius took a hit, a hound’s fangs scraped his arm, leaving a shallow scratch. He cursed, firing a soulstone blast that sent the creature flying, Rhoam’s charge finished it off immediately.

"There are too many of them!" he shouted, his voice strained, his bravado was cracked under the pressure.

Kelvin’s mind raced with doubt clawing at him. The hounds were stronger than expected, their dark energy was a suffocating weight, and Lyra’s injury was a stark reminder of their vulnerability.

For a moment, he faltered, the whispers grew louder as he said. You are not enough. You will lose them all but Xerion’s warmth surged through their bond, which was a blazing lifeline that steadied him.

"We stay together!" he shouted with his voice cutting through the chaos. "Focus on the alpha!"

He spotted the largest hound, its eyes blazed brighter, its form was radiating dark energy. Kelvin channeled a massive Convergence and Xerion’s flames roared into a fiery vortex that engulfed the alpha, and scorched the air.

Lyra’s runes bound its limbs, Salaris’s talons raked its flanks, and Darius’s blast cracked its skull, Rhoam’s charge sent it crashing to the ground.

The pack faltered, their unity was broken, and the trio finished them off, their beasts striked as one.

Silence fell, it was heavy and absolute, the plateau was littered with ash and bones. The trio stood panting, with their beasts battered but alive.

Lyra leaned on Salaris with blood trickling down her leg, her face was pale but defiant. Darius wiped his arm, his grin was weak but returning.

Kelvin’s hands trembled, his body was aching, but pride swelled in his chest, a spark of resolve was reigniting. "We did it," he said, with his voice hoarse, the whispers faded.

Lyra nodded, her eyes was fierce despite the pain. "Together." Darius leaned on Rhoam and his grin was steadier now and he said. "I told you that we are unstoppable."

They searched the hounds’ remains and found some loot: a handful of dark shards, their surfaces pulsed with faint violet light, and several beast pelts, matted but potent with soulstream energy.

"Split it evenly," Kelvin said, dividing the shards among them for their gear and giving Lyra the pelts to reinforce her armor. The act was small but vital, a reminder of their unity in the face of doubt.

The monitoring device hummed, as its message flickered: "Rift pulse is stabilized. Proceed to primary rift now and always remember that your unity is your strength."

The words were a lifeline, but the flickered signal was a warning, the Peaks holds greater dangers still.

They camped that night in a shallow alcove, the storm’s howls mingling with their restless thoughts.

Kelvin lit a fire with Xerion’s breath, the End-Tyrant’s flames casted a warm glow that pushed back the darkness.

Lyra tended to her leg, her runes sealed the wound, though the pain lingered in her eyes. Darius bandaged his arm, and his humor was subdued as he fed Rhoam a chunk of dried meat, the panther’s iron plates clinked softly.

"We almost lost it back there," Darius said, his voice was quiet, a rare crack in his brave mind. "Those hounds... they got into my head and made me think of my village, burning."

Lyra’s expression softened with her hand pausing on her bandage. "Me too. I saw my sister, trapped in the shadows. But we are stronger than that."

Kelvin nodded with his hand resting on Xerion’s scales. "The Veil wants us to doubt ourselves. But we have got each other, and our beasts. That’s enough."

They shared quiet stories to ease the tension, Darius recounted a childhood prank that left his village’s well glowing green, with Lyra speaking of her sister’s laughter, Kelvin recalled his father’s tales of Xerion’s ancient battles.

The End-Tyrant’s amber eyes gleamed with a low hiss affirming their bond, his warmth was a steady anchor against the cold.

As they settled for the night, the monitoring device hummed and its message was clear: "There is a primary rift that is 2 miles to the north. Prepare for increased resistance."

Kelvin’s heart sank, but their resolve burned brighter, a spark that would light their path through the Peaks’ jaws.

The dawn brought a gray, turbulent sky, the Peaks was looming darker now. They pressed on, the path grew steeper and the air thicker with dark energy.

The shadow hound ambush had shaken them, but their unity was held firm, a flame that would burn through any darkness. The Shattered Peaks were a crucible, and the Tide’s Crest was ready to face its fire.

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