The Howling Wastes stretched before Ren, an endless expanse of jagged rock, parched earth, and untamed wilderness. The air was thick with the scent of wild beasts and the low growl of distant creatures. It was a land where only the strongest survived—and in the case of the Beast Clans, strength was their only law.
Ren could feel the primal energy of the land thrumming around him, the very air alive with the growls of hidden predators. This would not be a diplomatic negotiation. The Beast Clans were savage, untamed, and ruthless. To gain their loyalty, Ren would have to prove his worth. Not with words or gold, but with blood. His blood.
At the front of the massive encampment, Ren stood tall, gazing at the enormous gate—crafted from bone and dark iron—that separated him from the Beast Clan's territory. It was a symbol of their power, a barrier designed to keep out intruders. Ren wasn't sure what awaited him beyond, but he knew one thing: he had to survive.
Behind him, Kael, his beast master, was visibly tense. Kael had known the Beast Tribes for years. He was a skilled tamer, but even he had little power over the savage clans. They didn't respect mere men; they respected only strength.
"Ready?" Kael asked, his voice rough with anxiety.
Ren didn't answer immediately. His mind was already focused, calculating. The trials would be brutal. There was no room for hesitation.
He turned to Kael. "If they think they can kill me, let them try."
Kael sighed but nodded, following Ren as he stepped toward the gate. A loud roar sounded from within the camp, followed by the scraping of claws on stone. The Beast Tribes knew they were being approached. The air grew heavier, thick with the scent of danger.
The gates opened slowly, and the Beast Clan's chief emerged—an enormous figure towering over them. His body was covered in thick fur, his eyes glowing with an animalistic yellow gleam. He was a beast in both body and soul.
"You come to our lands seeking alliance?" The chief's voice rumbled like thunder, sending shivers through the air.
Ren stared up at the massive figure. This was no simple negotiation.
"I come to prove that I am worthy of standing with your people," Ren said, his voice unwavering.
A deep growl rumbled from the chief's throat. "You think you can tame the beasts of this land with words? We do not bow to men. We only bow to strength."
Ren's gaze hardened. "Then I will show you strength."
The chief's lips curled into a vicious smile. "Very well, human. Survive the trials, and I will consider your alliance."
Ren's blood boiled, but his mind was cold. The trials. He had heard the stories.
To enter the Beast Clan, one had to face the Trial of Fangs. A ritual where the challenger would have to fight against the Beast Tribe's fiercest warriors, each one more brutal and savage than the last. But it wasn't just a matter of combat. It was a test of survival. To show dominance, to assert that you were not prey in the wild.
Ren's grip on Voidfang tightened. He would not be prey.
The Trial Begins
A clearing beyond the chief's camp served as the arena. The ground was stained with the blood of past challengers, their bodies discarded like ragdolls after failing to survive the trials. Ren stepped forward, his heart beating steadily, his senses on high alert.
The chief's voice echoed through the clearing. "The first trial will be against the Feral Beast. A creature born from the wilds, as savage as the land itself. You must defeat it or die."
A roar shattered the air, and from the shadows, a massive, four-legged beast emerged. Its fur was matted with blood, and its claws gleamed like steel. Its eyes were wild, filled with rage, as if it had tasted the flesh of countless challengers before Ren.
It lunged at Ren with terrifying speed.
Ren's eyes narrowed. He barely had time to draw Voidfang before the beast's claws raked through the air. He twisted, narrowly avoiding the swipe. The force of the attack sent a gust of wind that nearly knocked him off balance.
The beast roared, snapping its jaws, and Ren was forced to leap backward, his feet skidding across the bloodstained earth. He felt the ground beneath him shift, the very earth alive with the beast's hunger. It would not stop until he was torn apart.
Ren's mind raced. This was not a fight he could win with mere speed or strength. He needed to control the pace. He needed to outwit the beast.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing on his surroundings. Voidfang pulsed with dark energy. Ren channeled that energy, focusing it into his legs as he sprinted toward the creature with inhuman speed. He was a blur—a flash of black as he closed the distance.
The beast, expecting a retreat, hesitated. A deadly mistake.
With a savage cry, Ren plunged Voidfang deep into the beast's side. The blade tore through flesh and bone, the power of the weapon igniting in a fiery burst. The beast howled in pain, thrashing wildly.
Ren didn't relent. He pressed the attack, slashing across its neck. The creature buckled, its massive form crashing to the ground in a heap of blood and fur.
The arena was silent.
Ren stood over the fallen beast, panting, his body covered in sweat and blood. He had defeated it, but at what cost? He was already exhausted, his body screaming in pain from the brutal fight. But there was no time to rest. The trials were far from over.
The chief stepped forward, his expression unreadable.
"You survived the Feral Beast. But the trials are only beginning. Now, you will face the Beast Tribe's greatest warrior."
Ren grinned, blood dripping from his lips. "I'll kill them all if I have to."
The chief chuckled darkly. "That's the spirit."
The next trial would be even more brutal. Ren's journey had only just begun.