Kaden stood still long after Lyra had disappeared into the fog, her cryptic warning lingering in the air. His heart was heavy with doubt, his thoughts racing. He had always been taught to trust his instincts, to rely on his bond with the beasts, but now, something felt different. The world seemed more dangerous than ever before.
The Unseen Hunter, still lying beside him, let out a low growl, as though sensing the unease in Kaden's mind. Kaden knelt beside it, placing a hand on its ethereal form.
"I'm not going to let anyone take you from me," he whispered, though he wasn't sure if he was speaking to the beast or to himself.
Suddenly, a loud roar echoed through the trees, shattering the stillness of the forest. Kaden's heart jumped in his chest, and before he could even process the sound, the air around him shifted. The wind picked up, swirling around him with a force he had never felt before. The trees creaked and groaned as if the entire forest was alive, and Kaden could feel it—a deep, primal pull, a call he couldn't ignore.
The Unseen Hunter's red eyes flashed, and it stood, its form flickering wildly. Kaden's senses flared, the headset buzzing as it synchronized with the beast's energy.
"They're coming."
A massive shadow fell across him, and Kaden barely had time to react before he was thrown backward, landing hard against a tree. The ground shook with the force of something enormous charging through the forest, its footsteps heavy and deliberate.
From the darkness emerged a towering figure, a creature more massive than any Kaden had ever seen. It was a hybrid of beast and machine—its body covered in jagged metal plates, its eyes glowing with an unnatural blue light. It was a war machine, a creation designed to control and conquer.
Kaden's breath caught in his throat. "A war beast…"
The creature's gaze locked onto him, and the ground trembled as it roared, its voice a terrifying blend of mechanical growls and animal fury. It was more than just a beast. It was a weapon, one that had been forged for destruction.
Kaden's mind raced. This is it. The trial Lyra spoke of.
He glanced at the Unseen Hunter, which stood beside him, ready to fight, its form fully visible now—solid and powerful. The bond they shared was real, but would it be enough to defeat something like this? Something that could tear the Wilds apart?
He didn't have a choice.
"Let's show them what we can do," Kaden muttered under his breath.
With a sharp motion, he thrust his hand forward, the connection to the Unseen Hunter sparking to life. The creature responded immediately, lunging toward the war beast with an explosive speed. Kaden followed, heart racing. It was time for the first real test of his power.