The creature did not pounce right away. Its many eyes twitched and shifted, scanning every direction. Around the clearing, the corpses began to groan and stir.
Their skin bloated grotesquely, oozing foul liquid from every pore. Bones ripped free from torsos with sickening cracks. Some corpses had their jaws split down the middle, revealing rows of needle-like teeth dripping venom.
One twisted corpse collapsed to the ground and reshaped itself into a six-legged wolf of bone and rotting sinew, its skeletal limbs scraping against each other as it threw back its head and howled at the sky.
The other abominations gathered near their master, circling in eerie silence, predator eyes fixed on Aaric.
The mutated Acromantula's focus shifted, its gaze locking on him—until a soft hoot echoed through the darkness. A brown owl with black, star-like eyes swooped into the clearing, landing on a branch behind Aaric.
"Dune, do not come closer," Aaric warned sharply, his voice calm but commanding. "There is dark magic in this place."
The owl hooted in protest, concern evident in its call.
"Use your powers to help from afar," Aaric ordered, wand raised in his right hand as silver wisps of flame shimmered around his left.
Dune gave an acknowledging hoot.
The Acromantula crouched low, massive frame coiled like a spring. With a thunderous crack, it surged forward, the ground trembling beneath its charge.
Aaric darted to the side, weaving a Protego with his wand. As the creature barreled past, it lashed out its hind legs, launching thick black webs that anchored to the ground, halting its momentum with a gust of wind. It spun in place with terrifying speed, its claws tearing at the air and hammering against the shield.
The Protego held—but only barely. The magical force behind the strike pushed Aaric back a step, boots skidding against the dirt.
The creature growled, leaning closer, its many eyes burning with alien rage. Aaric met its gaze without a flicker of fear, lips curling into a smirk.
Then his silver flame erupted outward, forming into a coiling serpent of living fire that lunged at the Acromantula.
The wolf abomination sprang forward, intercepting the serpent mid-strike. Green energy shimmered across its form, shielding it from instant immolation. The two forces clashed, snapping and writhing like predators locked in combat.
Another undead monstrosity lunged at Aaric, its split jaws gaping wide—only to be halted midair by an invisible force and flung back violently. Dune's hoot rang out from above, the owl's power bending space itself to protect Aaric.
The Acromantula struck again, its claws sweeping forward. Aaric countered, sending ice shards from his free hand and razor-sharp severing charms from his wand.
The beast shattered the ice with shocking speed, forcing Aaric to adapt. With a sharp motion, he transmuted the ground, jagged spikes erupting upward beneath its bulk.
Meanwhile, two more undead joined the wolf, harassing the silver serpent as it battled fiercely, fire and corruption intertwined.
The Acromantula screeched and spat venom, a corrosive jet arcing toward Aaric. A sudden ripple in the air met it, Dune's invisible barrier catching the attack and sending the venom splattering harmlessly to the ground.
Aaric's expression hardened. His eyes shifted into serpentine slits, a flower-like pattern glowing faintly within the iris. Frost condensed around his hand as he formed an ice blade, gleaming in the moonlight.
He surged forward. Blade met claw in a clash of strength and speed, each strike ringing like metal on stone. Venom hissed against silver fire as they traded blows, the air alive with magic and fury.
Whenever the creature's second claw darted in for a sneak attack, Aaric would transmute the ground beneath it into sudden walls or spikes, thwarting its movements. Dune's spatial magic warped reality nearby, preventing any flank attacks.
With a sweeping motion of his wand, glowing runes flared to life beneath the Acromantula, massive ice spikes erupting upward and impaling its legs and torso. Boiling, acidic blood spilled onto the earth, sizzling as it ate through the ground.
The beast thrashed and roared.
Aaric began whispering in Parselmouth, his voice low and commanding. The creature paused, shuddering, then ripped its own limbs free from the ice in a desperate bid for escape.
It lunged again, but Aaric met it head-on, his blade catching another swipe. Acid spewed toward him, but Dune's barrier held firm.
The clearing erupted in green light as new runes ignited beneath their feet. From the soil rose serpents with the same flower-patterned eyes as Aaric. They slithered forward, unnatural and silent.
The Acromantula tore off one of its own claws and hurled it like a spear. Aaric didn't see it coming—until a sharp metallic clang rang out. The claw fell harmlessly to the ground. A thin, invisible layer of magic clung to Aaric's body, protecting him.
With a final burst of speed, Aaric severed another limb, his blade cutting clean through. The creature howled in agony.
The summoned serpents wrapped around its body—and then combusted into Ashwinders, their living fire burning only the beast, leaving the surroundings untouched.
The monster shrieked and flailed, rolling wildly as the silver flames devoured it. Aaric pressed the attack, carving away limb after regenerating limb.
Suddenly, a bone spike shot from the wound in its torso. At the same moment, a brown feather streaked through the air, intercepting it mid-flight and sending it clattering uselessly to the ground—Dune's perfect aim saving Aaric.
The silver flame returned to Aaric, its task complete. The remaining undead burned to ash, their twisted forms gone.
The Acromantula staggered, hatred blazing in its remaining eyes. Its maw opened wide, and a green flash burst forth—the Killing Curse, fired like a cannon.
The silver flame devoured the curse mid-air, pulsing once before surging forward in a blinding flash of green-silver light. The creature screamed as it dissolved into boiling, toxic blood, its death cry echoing through the forest.
Aaric did not stop chanting. Golden light bled into the clearing as his eyes briefly turned molten gold, runes spreading outward across the corrupted earth.
Far away, Luna clutched Chaya tightly, staring toward the battle with wide, worried eyes.
"I don't need protection," Luna whispered, her voice trembling. "You can go help him."
Chaya hissed softly, slithering around Luna's neck to comfort her instead.
Her golden eyes flared suddenly as she turned sharply toward the battlefield.
When the corruption was fully contained, Aaric called Dune down. The owl landed lightly in front of him.
"I need you to form a pulling force," Aaric said gently, rubbing her head.
Dune rose higher, wings beating as spatial magic rippled through the air. Aaric continued chanting in Parseltongue, drawing the dark energy into a whirling vortex of runes above the clearing.
The black energy slowly purified, condensing into a white sphere of pure essence. Aaric retrieved a small bird's egg from a nearby tree, pressing it against the sphere, merging the two.
A/n: please give your thoughts on the action of the chapter.
Power stones and reviews please.