The weight of their next destination settled over the group like an unspoken command.
The Beastman Emperor's Vault—a place of power, a fortress that held the deepest secrets of beastman history. It wasn't just a repository of relics. It was a sanctuary of authority, built to protect the legacy of the strongest rulers of the south.
And now, it was their only lead.
Leon turned the stone tablet over in his hands once more, memorizing every carved symbol, every stroke of the ancient inscription.
They had survived the corrupted trial. They had uncovered a warning hidden in history.
But this was only the beginning.
The First Fang—an artifact tied to the very foundation of the beastman race. If something was interfering with the trials, disrupting the balance, then it stood to reason that the First Fang held a power that could either restore that balance or shatter it completely.
Kaelen stood with his arms crossed, watching Leon. "You're serious about this, aren't you?"
Leon met his gaze. "This isn't just about a relic. It's about whoever—or whatever—is trying to control this world's future."
Jarek let out a dramatic sigh, stretching. "Right. So we just have to break into the most well-guarded beastman stronghold in the world and steal an ancient weapon that probably shouldn't even exist anymore. Easy."
Rhun didn't laugh. His expression remained unreadable, his golden eyes focused. "It won't be that simple."
Leon nodded. "I know."
And yet, they had no other choice.
---
A World Stirring in Chaos
They emerged from the ruined chamber, stepping into the open air once more. The landscape beyond was different from when they had first entered.
The skies were darker.
Storm clouds rolled in from the horizon, thick and unnatural. The winds carried a tension that hadn't been there before—a silent warning.
Something was changing.
Kaelen clicked his tongue. "This place feels different."
Leon agreed. The land was reacting.
If the trials were corrupted, then the rest of the world would begin to show signs of it too.
They needed to move fast.
Rhun looked toward the distant mountains in the south. "The closest city to the vault is Stormclaw Fortress. If we want access to the emperor's domain, we'll have to start there."
Jarek groaned. "Let me guess—Stormclaw is crawling with beastman warriors who'll kill outsiders on sight?"
Rhun's lips curled in a small smirk. "Only if you insult them first."
Jarek held up his hands. "I'll be on my best behavior."
Kaelen chuckled. "That would be a first."
Leon adjusted his sword belt and started walking. "Then we make for Stormclaw."
The road ahead was long. But this was only the beginning of the hunt.
---
Whispers in the Dark
Far from the ruins, deep within the unseen corners of Devia, a pair of eyes watched.
The corruption had been severed, but not destroyed.
And its master had taken notice.
A figure, cloaked in shadows, turned toward the darkened flames that flickered in their domain.
"They move faster than expected," a voice murmured, smooth yet cold. "Interesting."
A long pause.
Then—a command.
"Watch them. But do not interfere… yet."
The shadows shifted.
The game had begun.
---