The chamber was still, the heavy presence of corruption now nothing more than a lingering whisper.
Leon let out a slow breath, his grip loosening on his sword. The beastman's body remained on the ground, its once-monstrous form now eerily silent.
The glow from the pedestal pulsed faintly, like a dying ember.
Kaelen sheathed his daggers. "That wasn't a normal trial guardian. Someone twisted it into… whatever that was."
Rhun frowned, crouching next to the fallen beastman. His golden eyes darkened. "There is no honor in this death. This was not the work of fate—it was interference."
Leon stepped closer to the pedestal, his fingers brushing against its ancient carvings. The stone was warm—not with corruption, but with something deeper.
Then—
A voice whispered.
It wasn't from the darkness.
It wasn't from an enemy.
It was… old.
And it came from the pedestal itself.
---
The Warning Left Behind
The glow intensified as the carvings shifted, rearranging into a new inscription.
Leon's eyes narrowed as he read the ancient script.
"The cycle is broken."
"The beast has fallen, yet the chains remain."
"Beware the hand that stirs the veil, for it does not seek balance—it seeks dominion."
Kaelen read over his shoulder. "What does that mean?"
Leon's stomach tightened.
It meant something had disrupted the natural order of this trial.
And worse—it wasn't done yet.
Rhun ran a hand over his face. "If something is interfering with beastman trials, it threatens our entire foundation." His voice was low, controlled, but Leon could hear the anger simmering beneath.
Jarek, still sitting on the ground, groaned. "Right, so, just to summarize—this wasn't supposed to happen, something powerful caused it, and we have no idea what's next? That about right?"
Leon's gaze lingered on the pedestal.
Something was still missing.
And then—
The pedestal sank into the ground, revealing a hidden compartment.
Inside was a single stone tablet.
Leon reached for it, feeling its weight. The inscriptions were ancient, but unlike the rest of the chamber, these words weren't just a warning.
They were instructions.
---
The Path Forward
Leon read aloud:
"To restore balance, seek the First Fang."
Rhun stiffened. Kaelen's expression darkened.
Jarek blinked. "Okay. Sounds important. But… what's a 'First Fang'?"
Rhun exhaled. "The First Fang is a relic—an artifact from the early days of beastmen rule. A symbol of strength, but also of leadership."
Kaelen's tone was sharp. "It was lost centuries ago."
Leon frowned. Or maybe it was never lost—just hidden.
If something was interfering with the beastman trials, corrupting guardians, and breaking the cycle—then this tablet was a clue.
A new goal.
A new path.
Leon turned to the others. "Then we find it."
The First Fang may hold the key to stopping whatever force was twisting this world.
And if that was true—
They had no time to waste.
---