Zhar'Kor descended like judgment falling from the sky.
His wings sliced the wind like invisible blades.His tail quivered—extended like a lance of death.The air howled around him.
I stood beneath him. Bleeding. Exposed.
Bait.
Not because I believed I was stronger.But because, in this moment, I was the only one insane enough to try.
The plan was simple.Force him to descend.Make him believe the hunt was over.And then…trap him.
—Now! —I shouted.
Matías raised both hands and activated one of his riskiest abilities: Anchored Light.
A web of invisible golden threads surged from the ground, powered by pure spiritual energy drawn from his inner core.
It wasn't an attack.It was a trap.A cage of light that only snapped shut when the prey crossed its threshold.
Zhar'Kor never saw it coming.
As he dove—faster than a falling star—his tail aiming straight for my chest, he crossed the boundary.
And then...he was trapped.
The light snapped shut around him.His wings shuddered.His tail whipped like a furious serpent.
He couldn't fly.He couldn't rise.
Zhar'Kor screeched.
A cry so fierce it shattered windows in the fortress beyond.The barrier shook.Matías fell to one knee, sweat pouring from his brow.
—I can't hold him for long! —he yelled.
That was all I needed.
I ran.
Each step lit fire in my veins.Excalibur pulsed in my hand, as if sharing my fury.
—This ends now, monster!
Zhar'Kor saw me.
He tried to spin, tried to strike with his tail.
Too late.
I slid beneath his massive form.The first slash tore through his right tendon.The second—his left wing.The third—straight into his heart.
A burst of black ichor splattered across the ground.Venom sprayed like cursed rain.
And then… he fell.
The trap faded.The beast crashed into the earth.The battlefield fell silent for a moment.
Matías collapsed to his knees.
I rushed to him, still trembling from the adrenaline.
—Are you okay?
—Just… exhausted.
I extended my hand.He smiled.Took it.
We stood there, for a few seconds. Breathing.
Zhar'Kor was dead.But he left more than wounds behind.He reminded us how vulnerable we are when we stop thinking.
—That was way too close —I muttered.
—But we did it —Matías replied.
I looked at him.
—Yeah. One down.
And together, we turned our gaze northward...
Where a new dark echo was rising from the forest.
The last of the three...
Lyr'Thal.