The forest grew darker with each step, the air thickening with tension. Elian and Mira walked side by side, their footsteps barely audible on the soft earth. Both were lost in thought — Elian could feel the magic within him stir in response to an unseen threat, while Mira, usually composed, had a shadow of unease flickering in her eyes.
"We're almost there," she said, her gaze fixed ahead. "Ready?"
Elian glanced at her with a hint of mockery.
"Ready for what? We came here to win. This is just another part of the path," his voice was calm and cold — the voice of someone certain of his strength.
"You're so confident," Mira smirked. "Let's just hope your power isn't weaker than your words."
Elian offered no reply, only a faint smile. As they advanced deeper into the woods, the trees parted, revealing a wide clearing. At its center stood a glowing stone, faintly illuminated by an eerie light. And before it — Gorm.
The Trial Boss.
He was enormous, with a body like hewn rock and eyes burning like molten fire. In his hand, he gripped a massive club, and his presence filled the air with a suffocating aura of impending doom.
"So that's him," Mira whispered. "Gorm, Guardian of the Forest. We were prepared for this, but… it still feels off."
Elian didn't respond. His eyes were locked on the creature, sensing the raw magic radiating from it. It wasn't fear he felt — it was anticipation. The kind that makes your blood sing.
Then, as if answering his thoughts, Gorm spoke. His voice was deep and grinding, like boulders crashing together.
"Brave little ones... You've come to face me. Let us see who stands when the dust settles."
Elian remained motionless, the corner of his mouth twitching into a wider grin.
"We came to end this trial. Your roaring doesn't impress me. You're just another checkpoint."
Suddenly, Mira froze — her eyes caught a flicker in the air. A dark spear ripped through the trees, flying toward them at blinding speed. She barely had time to react.
But Elian did.
He moved instantly, tearing his weapon free and snatching the incoming spear mid-flight. The force shredded the sleeve of his coat as he deflected the weapon into the ground beside them with a crash.
Mira was stunned. She hadn't even seen where it came from — everything happened so fast.
"You're... that fast?" she whispered.
Elian chuckled, not even looking at her.
"Relax. That was just the warm-up."
He turned his attention back to Gorm.
"Well then. Ready to make this fun?"
And with that, he lunged forward, dark energy already coiling around him like a storm. Gorm roared and brought down his club with thunderous force, but Elian was already gone — his movements too precise, too fast, almost as if he could predict every strike before it came.
Dodging with ease, he delivered a blow straight to one of the creature's weak spots — not enough to kill, but enough to make a point.
He didn't want to end it too quickly.
This... this was entertainment.
Mira watched from the side, her eyes fixed on Elian. He was ruthless, efficient, almost inhuman in the way he moved. There was power in him — raw, terrifying power.
And for the first time, she wasn't sure whethe
r she was standing beside a hunter...
...or a monster.