Chapter 822

The Black Beast

At another part of the battlefield, Kevin and Gregory fought together.

They were surrounded by Skylurs and Virelops that seemed to be everywhere. The beasts came from all directions, their yellow and red eyes gleaming through the snow, their bodies moving with terrifying speed. The blizzard made it difficult to see them coming, but Kevin and Gregory had already learned to rely on their other senses. They could hear the crunch of snow beneath heavy paws, the hiss of breath, the shriek of Virelops as they lunged through the storm.

Kevin’s spear flashed through the air, carving through the hide of a Skylur that lunged at him. Gregory’s axe followed immediately, the heavy blade coming down with enough force to split bone, taking down a Virelop that had attempted to leap onto Kevin’s back.

“Left!” Gregory shouted. Kevin turned, another Skylur charged, and his spear thrust forward. The weapon struck the beast beneath its jaw, and Kevin twisted his wrist before pulling the blade free. The Skylur collapsed.

“Thanks.”

Gregory snorted. “Don’t thank me yet.”

Kevin barely had time to understand what he meant before another beast came rushing toward them. They made quick work of the Skylurs and Virelops, one Skylur falling, then another. The Virelops shrieked as they died, their small bodies disappearing beneath the snow. For a moment, it seemed as though the two men had finally gained the upper hand.

Then they paused.

More Skylurs approached. Their numbers seemed to multiply with every passing moment. But more than that, there was one other beast amongst them. Kevin stopped, his grip tightening around his spear. Gregory did the same, his axe held ready. Neither man spoke. They simply stared.

Now, in all their years in Nirvana, this was one beast they had never seen. Its eyes were red—not the glowing red of a Virelop, but darker, deeper, as though its eyes were filled with bloodlust. Its hide was black, a stark contrast against the striking white snow. It was huge almost as large as a skylur and its body was built with thick, powerful muscles. It didn’t rush toward them. It stalked, slowly and confidently, as though it already knew they were going to die.

Kevin wasn’t one who got scared easily. He had faced Trihydras, Tidebreakers, Skylurs, Graveharts, and creatures whose names he had still nit learnt. He had fought through battles that would have broken lesser warriors. But something about this beast did not sit right with him. His instincts screamed at him to be careful.

Gregory whispered, his voice low and grim. “That’s one hell of a creature.”

Kevin nodded slowly. His squad had only joined Gregory’s because Gregory’s squad needed the help. There had been numerous Enclave warriors around them, but Kevin’s squad had supported them, taking down the warriors while Gregory’s men dealt with the beasts. The Enclave warriors were dead, but the beasts only kept increasing. And now this thing had appeared.

Kevin’s palm grew damp around his spear. He turned toward Gregory. “Are you up for it?”

Gregory laughed. There was no humor in the sound. It was the laugh of a man who knew he had just been handed a terrible situation and had decided to face it anyway. “I suppose we’ll find out.”

Kevin nodded, then raised his voice. “Listen up!” The nearby warriors turned toward him. “No one else approaches the beast that now approaches us!” He pointed toward the black creature. “Focus on the Skylurs instead. We will fight the beast alone.”

Micah frowned. “Are you sure?”

Gregory turned toward him. “We are. You and the rest take down the Skylurs and Virelops. Until you finish, no one approaches that beast.”

The warriors immediately returned to the fight. Kevin rolled his shoulders, loosening the tension gathering in his muscles. Then he reached down and pressed a kiss to the bracelet around his wrist. It was a small gesture—one his wife had given him—but it grounded him. For a moment, he thought of her. Then he looked at Gregory. The older warrior gave him a nod.

No more hesitation.

They began running directly toward the beast. The creature’s head lifted, its red eyes locked onto them. For the first time, its expression seemed to change. It had noticed them. Then it ran.

Kevin’s eyes widened. It was fast. Far too fast for something of that size. “Fuck!” He immediately planted his feet and thrust his spear forward. The blade drove toward the beast’s chest. It struck. And stopped. Kevin’s arms shook from the force of the impact. The spear hadn’t pierced the hide. Not even close. The blade scraped across the beast’s body, leaving only a shallow scratch.

The creature snarled, then swung its massive head toward Kevin. He barely moved in time, the beast’s jaws snapping shut where his torso had been a heartbeat earlier. Gregory immediately attacked its legs, his axe swinging downward. The beast jumped, clearing the blade with surprising ease before landing several feet away.

Gregory’s eyes narrowed. “It can think.”

Kevin glanced at him. “Obviously.”

“No. I mean it is anticipating us.”

The beast lowered itself, its eyes moving between them. Kevin tightened his grip.

They attacked again. Kevin came from the front, Gregory from the side. Kevin’s spear moved in quick, precise thrusts while Gregory’s axe swung in wide, powerful arcs. But the beast parried every attack—not literally, it simply moved. Every time Kevin thought he had found an opening, the beast was already moving. Every time Gregory swung his axe, the creature dodged. It wasn’t merely fast. It was intelligent. It was reading them.

Kevin’s spear struck again. The beast twisted. Gregory’s axe came down. The beast stepped aside.

Meanwhile, the others fought the Skylurs around them. Micah moved with his axes, hacking through the limbs of the beasts. His movements were brutal and efficient. One swing, another, another Skylur fell. For a while, they thought they were going to win. Then more black beasts appeared.

Micah froze for half a second. There were three now. No. Four. His stomach dropped.

A black beast suddenly lunged toward them. It was about to attack Micah when Jeffwry pushed him out of the way the beast’s teeth clamping on his arm.

He screamed. The pain that shot through him was immense, but Jeffrey didn’t stop. He gritted his teeth and drove his sword upward. The blade pierced directly through the beast’s eye. The creature released his arm immediately, stumbling backward, roaring. Jeffrey didn’t waste the opportunity. He attacked again.

The beast moved strangely, its head thrashing from side to side. It couldn’t see. Jeffrey realized it immediately.

He drove his sword through the other. The beast roared. He stabbed it again and again and again until finally, the creature collapsed.

Jeffrey staggered backward. His vision blurred. He looked down at his arm. The blood was already changing—dark, almost black.

“Fuck.”

He immediately bit down on the device in his mouth. The herbs released, and the pain dulled almost immediately, though the dizziness remained. He forced himself upright, then shouted toward the others. “Aim for the eyes!”

Arrows immediately rained down, striking the beasts.

Micah rushed toward Jeffrey. His heart pounded when he saw the warrior’s arm. Jeffrey’s pulse was increasing, his breathing shallow, and the blood around the wound was turning darker by the second.

The beast was poisonous.

Micah grabbed him before his knees gave out. He immediately took his whistle and blew into it. The sound echoed through the storm—a signal. Medical aid was needed. They couldn’t afford to lose another warrior.

Then, through the storm, came the sound of paws. A black wolf emerged from the trees. Micah immediately recognized her. He carefully placed Jeffrey onto her back.

The wolf lowered herself. Jeffrey groaned as Micah secured him. The black wolf immediately turned, then disappeared amidst the snow.