The forest quaked beneath the colossal weight of the Ravagerak. Its molten amber eyes burned like twin infernos as it stalked the hunters, each breath a guttural growl that shook the air. The canopy above swayed violently from the force of its roars, loose leaves raining down like a storm of green fire.
Hunnt led the charge into a narrow clearing, his fists clenched so tightly that blood seeped between his knuckles. His jaw was set, every muscle taut with anticipation. "Stay sharp," he barked, voice cutting through the rumbling growls that echoed around them.
Pyro darted ahead, claws clicking against bark as he scurried up a mossy log. His golden eyes narrowed as his nose twitched rapidly. "Master… it's moving faster! Nyaah! It's mad!" His tail lashed in agitation, body tense with the kind of danger only his instincts could sense.
Corwin strode forward, hammer resting heavily on his shoulder. He said nothing at first, his eyes locked on the massive predator as though calculating each breath it took. Then, his low, even voice rumbled like the earth beneath their feet. "We push back, or we die here. Brace yourselves."
Elara stayed back, heart hammering against her ribs. Her bowstring was taut, an arrow nocked and ready, though her hands trembled ever so slightly. She had faced predators before, but this thing — this monster — radiated power so overwhelming that even her carefully crafted arrows felt small. She breathed deeply, repositioning herself with a quick Soru slide behind a fallen log. "I'll cover you," she whispered more to herself than the others, her eyes locked on the monster's silhouette.
Ravagerak let out a guttural roar and lunged, its spiked tail swinging in a broad, vicious arc. The strike hit the ground like a meteor, dirt and rocks exploding into the air. Hunnt and Pyro braced instinctively with Tekkai, their bodies stiffening to absorb the vibrations. Even then, the shock rattled their bones, forcing their knees to buckle. Hunnt grimaced, pain shooting up his arms, while Pyro hissed, his fur standing on end.
Elara rolled sideways just in time as the tail clipped the ground beside her, the impact spraying shards of stone. She loosed an arrow mid-roll, the projectile whistling through the air before bouncing harmlessly off Ravagerak's plated hide. "Damn it…" she muttered, her eyes narrowing.
Then Corwin moved.
With a bellow, he surged forward, hammer raised high above his head. The ground shook beneath his charge, each step fueled by Tekkai-enhanced strength. His hammer glowed faintly from the energy of his strike as he slammed it down against Ravagerak's armored flank.
The impact thundered like a landslide. Sparks erupted, a metallic screech filling the air as hammer met scale. For the first time, Ravagerak staggered, its molten eyes widening slightly as a guttural groan tore from its throat.
Hunnt's eyes widened. "Corwin—good! You made it flinch!"
Pyro landed beside Corwin, darting in and slashing with his SnS, his small but sharp strikes distracting the apex predator. "Nyahaha! The big guy's staggered, nyaah!" His tail flicked wildly as he danced out of reach.
Hunnt seized the moment, fists a blur as he dashed with Soru, landing a flurry of strikes at Ravagerak's exposed leg joint. Each hit rang painfully up his arms, his knuckles screaming from the impact, but he refused to stop. "If we keep the pressure—!"
Elara's eyes sharpened as she inhaled and released, loosing another arrow. This time, the shot slipped between scales, grazing softer flesh near the beast's hind leg. Ravagerak roared in frustration, staggering further.
But their success came at a cost.
The apex predator reared back, chest heaving like a bellows, before unleashing a Roar of Domination. The sound wasn't just heard — it was felt. The ground split, branches snapped, and even the air seemed to vibrate with the sheer force of the roar.
Hunnt, Pyro, and Corwin braced with Tekkai again, their bodies shuddering as the shockwave coursed through them. Hunnt's vision blurred, spots flashing across his eyes. Pyro yowled in pain, rolling across the dirt before springing back to his feet. Corwin stood his ground, hammer quivering in his grip, every muscle straining to resist the quake.
Elara staggered back, nearly losing her grip on her bow. Her knees buckled as the vibration rattled her bones, but she forced herself upright. "It's… it's enraged!" she cried.
Ravagerak's eyes glowed brighter now, its movements faster and more erratic. It charged suddenly, horns lowered in a devastating gore aimed directly at Hunnt.
"Hunnt, move!" Corwin roared.
Hunnt stomped the ground and vanished in a blur of Soru, reappearing to the side as the horns tore through a tree, splintering it into fragments. He twisted with Kami-e, rolling across the dirt before springing back upright, fists clenched.
Pyro darted in, claws flashing as he landed a sharp swipe against the monster's muzzle. The blow was small, almost laughable compared to Ravagerak's size, but it bought the hunters precious seconds. "Nyaah! Over here, ugly!" Pyro taunted, his voice sharp and playful despite the blood dripping down his side.
Elara repositioned again, her movements fluid now, Soru carrying her to higher ground. From atop a slanted rock, she fired three arrows in rapid succession. The shafts embedded themselves into Ravagerak's shoulder joint, drawing a pained snarl.
The monster's tail whipped around in fury, smashing into the ground with enough force to create a crater. Rocks flew in all directions, one grazing Elara's cheek. She hissed in pain but held her stance, bowstring already drawn again.
Corwin's eyes narrowed as he saw the opening. He charged once more, every muscle in his body tensing as his hammer glowed faintly from the force of his swing. With a deafening roar, he brought it down on Ravagerak's knee joint.
The impact echoed like thunder, the force sending shockwaves up the monster's leg. For a brief second, its massive form staggered again, its claws raking the earth in frustration.
Hunnt shouted over the chaos, his voice raw but steady. "Everyone, stick together! Observe its movements and strike only when it leaves an opening!"
The battle turned into a storm of motion and sound. Hunnt danced around the predator with Soru, slipping between attacks and landing glancing blows. Pyro twisted with Kami-e, darting between claws and tail strikes, distracting Ravagerak with reckless precision. Elara's arrows struck exposed gaps, each shot chipping away at the monster's patience. Corwin remained the anchor, his hammer blows slow but devastating, each one leaving the apex predator reeling just a little more.
Still, the toll was mounting. Hunnt's fists bled from the repeated impacts. Corwin's arms trembled with each hammer swing. Pyro's movements grew slower as blood matted his golden fur. Elara's arrows quivered in her grasp as her breath came shorter, every shot taking more effort.
Ravagerak, enraged and unyielding, roared once more. Its molten eyes swept across the battlefield, promising destruction. Its massive form hunched, preparing for another relentless charge.
Hunnt clenched his fists, ignoring the blood dripping down his arms. His eyes burned with resolve. "This is far from over. But we'll find a way… together."
Pyro's golden eyes gleamed, his whiskers twitching. "Nyahaha… Master, we'll break it! Nyaah!"
Corwin steadied his hammer, his voice calm despite the chaos. "Then let's finish what we started."
Elara exhaled slowly, another arrow nocked. Her determination shone as bright as the fire in her chest. "We'll hold. We have to."
The forest itself seemed to tremble in anticipation as Ravagerak let out another ear-splitting roar. The hunters braced themselves, bodies battered but spirits unbroken.
The apex predator was enraged, but so were they — and the true battle was just beginning.
——————————————————————————————————————
✨ Hi amazing readers! ✨
I'm beyond excited to share not just one, but two epic stories with you!
📖 Final Fantasy: The Unwritten
Step into the vast multiverse of Final Fantasy—where heroes, destinies, and untold adventures intertwine in ways you've never seen before.
⚔️ Renegade: Arsenal of War
Follow the journey of a relentless tech soldier who forges groundbreaking weapons to end the war once and for all.
Your support means the world to me—every read, comment, and share helps bring these stories to life. 🌌🔥 Together, let's explore the unwritten and fight through the arsenal of war!
Thank you for being part of this adventure. Let's dive in! ✨
——————————————————————————————————————