The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
Zein stepped carefully through the dark trees. The wind brushed past his face, soft and cool. His hands stayed close to his sides, his fingers twitching slightly, still tingling with the power of the Void Script.
The black marks on his arm were faint now. Resting. Sleeping. But they were still there—like old scars that never faded.
It had been hours since he left the Obsidian Shrine.
And though his body was still sore, he felt… alive.
Stronger.
Lighter.
Changed.
But the forest had changed too.
It no longer felt empty.
Something was watching.
At first, Zein thought it was just his mind.
Maybe the fear from before was still crawling around in his head.
But then he heard it.
Snap.
A branch. Behind him.
He froze.
His heart thumped in his chest.
He slowly turned around.
Nothing.
No wind. No bird. No sound at all.
Just the trees. And darkness.
He took a slow breath and whispered, "I know you're there…"
And the moment he spoke—
It moved.
Fast. Low. Heavy.
Leaves burst into the air. The ground shook. Zein spun around just in time to see something leap from the trees.
Something huge.
It landed with a crash, claws digging into the dirt.
Zein staggered back, his eyes wide.
It looked like a wolf… but not like any wolf he had seen.
It was three times the size of a man. Its fur was black and matted, glowing faintly with red light under its skin. Its eyes were pure white, like two burning moons. Its teeth were long, jagged, and sharp as blades.
Its growl was deep, like thunder caught in a bottle.
A Void-Touched Beast.
Zein had heard stories.
Monsters twisted by dark magic. Creatures that fed on energy—mage energy.
It didn't want food.
It wanted him.
Zein ran.
His legs moved before his brain could think.
The beast roared behind him, loud enough to shake the trees. Zein ducked under branches, jumped over roots, and slipped on wet leaves. His heart pounded like a drum.
But the beast was faster.
It crashed through the trees, smashing everything in its path.
Zein looked over his shoulder just as it lunged—
Wham!
The beast slammed into a tree where he had stood a second before. Bark exploded everywhere. Zein rolled on the ground, coughing, and scrambled back to his feet.
He couldn't run forever.
He had to fight.
He stopped in a small clearing, chest heaving.
The trees circled him like guards. The sky above was cloudy, gray, and low. The beast came through the trees slowly now, its eyes locked on him.
Zein raised his hand. The black marks on his arm began to glow.
"Come on…" he whispered.
The beast snarled.
Zein felt the Void respond.
A pulse in his chest. A low hum in the air.
He didn't know any real spells yet. No training. No books. No teacher.
Just raw instinct.
And pain.
But that was enough.
He threw his hand forward. "Cut."
A dark line shot from his palm.
Shhhhhh-tack!
It sliced across the beast's shoulder. Black blood sprayed out.
The beast howled in rage and pain.
Zein's eyes widened. "I actually hit it…"
The creature charged again.
Zein dodged, just barely. The beast's claws tore through the earth, missing him by inches.
He whispered again. "Pierce."
A thin black spear formed in the air and shot forward, stabbing into the beast's leg.
It stumbled—but didn't stop.
It leapt at him, jaws wide.
Zein raised both hands.
"Wall!"
A burst of shadow rose in front of him like a shield. The beast crashed into it, breaking the wall but slowing down just enough for Zein to roll away.
His arms burned. His legs shook. The Void Glyphs were draining him fast.
But he didn't stop.
He stood back up, face bloody, eyes fierce.
"I'm not weak," he growled. "Not anymore."
The beast roared and lunged one last time.
Zein stood his ground.
He felt the Void rush through him, wild and hot. His heart raced. His eyes burned. The marks on his skin glowed brighter than ever.
He screamed into the sky, "Sever!"
And time seemed to slow.
A huge black slash cut through the air.
It hit the beast dead in the chest.
BOOM.
The creature flew backward, crashing into a tree so hard the trunk split in half. Leaves and dust flew everywhere.
Zein fell to his knees, gasping, every muscle in his body aching.
Silence.
He looked up slowly.
The beast lay still. Its white eyes had dimmed. Black blood oozed from the wound across its chest.
Dead.
Zein's arms dropped to his sides.
He was shaking all over.
His whole body hurt. He could barely move.
But he was alive.
He had won.
Not with perfect skill. Not with perfect control.
But with everything he had.
He crawled over to a tree and leaned back against it.
Tears filled his eyes—not from fear.
But from relief.
"I did it," he whispered.
"I survived."
As he rested, a familiar voice echoed in his head.
> "The first of many trials…"
Zein didn't answer. He just closed his eyes.
> "Your bond with the Void grows stronger."
> "But strength alone won't be enough…"
He opened his eyes slowly. "Then teach me."
> "In time. For now… rest, Zein. The world still sleeps on you. But not for long."
Zein leaned his head back, breathing deeply.
He had faced a beast.
He had faced death.
And he was still here.
Something had awakened inside him.
Not just magic.
Purpose.