The night air crackled with tension. Caleb's ears rang from the force of the Cragfang Alpha's roar, a sound that seemed to shake the surroundings itself . The ground sank beneath its weight as it charged again, faster than anything that large had a right to be.
"Move!" Gorrin barked, diving left as Caleb hurled himself in the opposite direction. The Alpha's claws gouged the ground where they'd stood a breath before.
Caleb rolled, barely avoiding the follow-up strike. His chest heaved, sweat blurring his vision, but his hands moved on instinct, pulling Riftenergy from within. A jagged spear of light formed in his grip.
He spun and launched it.
The spear flew true, slamming into the Alpha's flank. The beast snarled, twisted its head, and locked eyes with Caleb. That was a mistake.
"Gorrin!"
Gorrin didn't hesitate. While the monster was distracted, he came from behind, driving a blade deep into its rear leg. Black ichor sprayed. The Cragfang howled, bucked, and threw Gorrin off with a violent twist.
Caleb rushed in, forming another weapon as he ran. This one—a broad axe—solidified just in time for him to swing it across the beast's snout. It staggered, more out of surprise than pain.
"Keep the pressure on!" Gorrin shouted, wiping blood from his mouth as he got up.
Caleb nodded, focusing harder. The axe dissolved, reforming into twin curved blades. He danced around the Alpha, slashing, baiting, drawing its attention while Gorrin circled for a vital strike.
But the Alpha adapted. Its eyes flared, and a wave of corrupted energy erupted from its body. Caleb was blasted back, crashing into a twisted tree. His blades shattered. His breath caught in his lungs.
"Caleb!" Gorrin sprinted forward, throwing knives glowing with Riftenergy to slow the Alpha's charge. They bit into the monster's hide, but only barely.
Caleb groaned, pushed himself up. He could feel the Riftenergy inside him, pulsing in time with his heart. Something inside him was cracking open, responding to the battle—to the pain.
He remembered Gorrin's words: Will. Emotion. Let it burn.
He closed his eyes. Let it burn.
When he opened them, his irises glowed.
The air shimmered around him as he stood, Riftenergy flaring from his body. He didn't form a weapon this time. He let the energy flow naturally. His hands glowed, his muscles tensed, and he ran.
The Alpha turned too slowly.
Caleb struck with both fists, Riftenergy exploding on impact. The beast roared as its chest plate cracked. He followed with a spinning kick enhanced by a surge of energy that knocked the Alpha sideways.
Gorrin was waiting. He leapt and stabbed his weapon through the Alpha's eye.
The Cragfang howled, flailing. Still not dead.
"Now!" Gorrin shouted.
Caleb screamed and charged, summoning a massive hammer mid-step. He swung with everything he had.
The hammer landed with a thunderous crunch, collapsing the Alpha's skull.
The beast convulsed—once, twice—then fell still.
They stood in silence, chests heaving, blood and sweat staining the earth around them. The Rift pulsed in the distance, still open, still humming. But for now, they had won.
Gorrin wiped his blade and looked at Caleb. "You're getting it."
Caleb, still trembling, nodded. "Not fast enough."
"Fast enough for tonight."
But in the silence, the wind shifted. And with it came a new scent—metallic. Familiar.
More monsters were coming.
The Cragfang Alpha was only the beginning.