The earth quaked as the beast roared, its wings unfurling with a sound like thunder. Shards of darkness burst forth, piercing the air with every beat.
Leah raised her blade high, its edge blazing with celestial fire. When steel met shadow, the clash reverberated like a storm tearing the heavens apart.
Every strike carved light into the night, yet every blow from the beast shattered the ground beneath her. The valley itself seemed to weep, torn between destruction and salvation.
"Is this… all you've got?" the beast mocked, its claws swiping at her with merciless speed.
Leah staggered, her breath ragged, but a fire burned in her eyes. "I will not yield. Not to you. Not tonight."
Summoning all her strength, she drove the blade into the ground, releasing a surge of pure energy. The radiance tore through the shadows, forcing the beast back.
Yet as the smoke cleared, the beast only smiled, baring fangs that gleamed under the blood moon.
"Good… struggle more. Show me the true weight of your destiny."
The night had only just begun.