The dark forest was silent. No birdsong, no rustling leaves. Only the dull crunch of branches underfoot as the squad slowly moved forward. A dense fog crept along the ground, limiting visibility to only a few steps ahead. The morning chill seeped through their clothes, slithering like icy tendrils beneath their armor. Faint sunlight barely penetrated the skeletal, gnarled trees, casting long, menacing shadows over the mist-covered earth.
"It's been a week since we left the capital," Edward said quietly, without looking back. "And we still haven't found a single living creature."
"We've only found traces," noted Erina, his second-in-command, adjusting the hilt of her sword. "And these tracks… they look strange."
The squad moved cautiously. Heavily armored warriors led the way, forming a protective formation, while archers followed behind, ready for any threat. Mages took up the rear, their hands occasionally flickering with a faint magical glow, prepared for any sudden attack.
"The tracks lead deeper into the forest," said one of the scouts, crouching to examine a fresh claw print in the damp soil. "They're larger than any normal beast… and the shape is unusual."
Edward bent down, studying the imprint. Deep grooves sank into the earth, a good finger's depth. Whatever had left these tracks was massive, clearly heavier than any known predator.
"Stones on their heads…" he muttered. "This might not be just wild animals. If these creatures carry stone-like structures, then either someone is controlling them, or it's a part of their nature."
"Magic?" Erina suggested.
"Not impossible," Edward replied, tightening his grip on his sword. "But what kind?"
The forest grew denser. Twisted branches stretched toward them like gnarled fingers, occasionally snagging on their armor. Leaves and mist clung to their faces, leaving a damp, uncomfortable chill. The scent of damp earth and decaying foliage filled the air, laced with an eerie hint of rot. The mist thickened around them, obscuring their path back. It felt as if the forest wasn't just surrounding them but slowly tightening its black claws, cutting off their retreat.
Then, a faint crackle—like a careful footstep on a branch—broke the silence. Another, slightly louder, as if the steps were becoming bolder. From somewhere to the side, dry leaves crunched under unseen weight, followed by a barely audible low growl that sent shivers down some of the soldiers' spines. The air grew dense, charged with an alien presence.
"To arms," Edward ordered in a hushed tone.
The archers immediately took their positions, bows drawn. The mages stood still, ready to cast their spells. The warriors closed ranks, raising their shields. Everyone held their breath, listening to the deathly silence.
And then the fog began to move. At first, it trembled, as if disturbed by unseen footsteps, then it started swirling, forming faint silhouettes. Dark shadows, vague outlines—watching but not attacking. Their hidden eyes glowed faintly from the depths of the forest. The mist coiled around the trees, crawling along the ground as if testing whether they had ventured far enough. The trees seemed to shift, subtly altering their positions. The air thickened, and the squad suddenly realized—there was no way back. They had been lured into a trap.
The mist swirled lower, pressing against the ground as though obeying an unseen force. The branches trembled, though there was no wind. And then, from the darkness, they emerged—slowly, like nightmares taking form. Their breathing was heard before their bodies were fully visible. Heavy, ragged, as if they had been waiting patiently for the right moment.
They were enormous.
Towering, massive beasts, their eyes glowed with a dim light, and on their heads… stones. Not just random rock formations but smooth, eerily polished structures with fine cracks running through them, like veins of magic.
The first beast let out a low growl.
Edward tightened his grip on his sword, feeling the cold hilt become slick with condensation. His fingers started to go numb from the chill, but he didn't loosen his hold. He knew—letting his guard down for even a moment in this place would be fatal.
"Do not fire until we know their intentions!" he commanded.
The beasts did not attack. They simply stood there, watching the squad… assessing them.
Then, suddenly, one of them stepped forward.
The ground trembled.
A sharp crack echoed through the forest, and the stones on its head began to glow with a faint light.
"Magic!" one of the mages shouted.
At that moment, the fog surged forward, engulfing the squad in a thick, suffocating cloud.
From the depths of the forest, a prolonged howl rang out. One, then another, then a third… Dozens of voices joined in a haunting, chilling chorus. Out of the swirling mist, new figures began to emerge—wolves. Their dark fur, embedded with shards of crystal, shimmered in the eerie glow of the magical energy. Their eyes gleamed with predatory light, their movements unnervingly coordinated, like soldiers following an unspoken command.
But that wasn't the most terrifying part.
Behind the pack, slowly pushing through the trees, a colossal figure loomed. As the flashes of magic illuminated it, the massive form of a bear came into view. Its black fur was marred with patches of jagged stone, as if nature itself was trying to turn it into a living monolith. On its forehead, encased in a network of cracks, pulsed a massive crystal. It throbbed rhythmically, like a heart trapped within stone.
The bear slowly raised its head, parted its jaws, and roared.
At that moment, everything fell into silence. Even the wolves waited.
Edward clenched his sword tighter.
"Prepare yourselves…" his voice was firm, but deep inside, he knew—they were facing something unlike anything they had ever encountered before.
Screams and roars blended into a single chaotic cacophony. Soldiers fought off the wolves, their blades flashing in the glow of magical energy as they sliced through dark pelts encrusted with crystal shards. Archers loosed their arrows, mages conjured barriers and hurled firebolts, yet the predators moved with terrifying coordination, as if guided by a single mind.
Edward did not enter the battle immediately.
He watched.
Before him loomed the bear—massive, towering, its black fur riddled with crystalline plates. The stone on its forehead pulsed with flickering light, like a living heart. The bear breathed heavily, its paws carving deep furrows into the ground. It did not charge recklessly but rather studied Edward, as though assessing him.
"This beast... it's not ordinary. Does it understand that I am its enemy? Or is it a victim of another's will?"
Edward took a slow step forward, tightening his grip on his sword. He needed more information.
"Erina, stay back until I figure out what it's capable of," he ordered.
Erina nodded but did not lower her weapon.
The bear moved first.
A sudden lunge—and the ground trembled. Enormous claws slashed through the air, cutting through the mist. Edward barely dodged, feeling the gust of displaced air rush past his face. He retreated, waiting. The bear struck again—downward, aiming to crush him with its massive paw. Edward darted to the side and finally countered. The sword's edge scraped against the beast's hide, but the metal merely sparked against the stone plating.
"Its defense is strong. The stone isn't just fused—it's a part of its body. I need to find its weak spots."
Edward lunged again, aiming for the front joint of its paw. The strike was precise, and the beast roared in pain, but the wound was shallow. The stone armor prevented the blade from piercing deep.
"Erina, it's almost impervious to regular weapons!"
"Then how do we kill it?" she shouted, parrying an attacking wolf.
Edward sharply stepped back, dodging another of the bear's attacks. At that moment, he sensed… a shift in its aura. The stone on its forehead glowed again, and then a dense wave of magical energy rippled through the bear's body, strengthening its muscles, making it even faster, even deadlier.
"This isn't just wild magic. Someone has imbued it with power. Is the stone its source? Or merely a conduit?"
He had seen enough.
Edward exhaled and finally allowed himself to release his power. His sword ignited, then became enveloped in a thin layer of blue light—Aura. The blade seemed to burn with cold fire, emitting soft waves of energy. Warmth coursed through his arms, flooding his muscles with strength, making his movements swifter, more precise. This was the moment of absolute control, when his body and weapon became one. A surge of energy flowed through him, filling his limbs with power.
The bear lunged again.
But this time, Edward did not retreat.
His figure blurred in a burst of speed, dashing forward faster than he could under normal conditions. His blade flared as it cut through the air. The first strike—across the foreleg. The stone armor fractured, shattering under the force of Aura. The second strike—against its side. The hide and crystalline growths split apart, and dark blood spilled onto the ground.
The bear roared in pain, but it no longer mattered.
The final move.
Edward leaped, aiming directly for the creature's head. The stone on its forehead glowed even brighter, but it was too late.
— Let's end this.
The sword cut through the air, then through flesh.
The bear froze in place. In that moment, its eyes flashed with an eerie brightness, as if sending one last message. A deep crack split across the stone on its forehead, shattering it into two pieces. Edward felt a faint pulse, barely perceptible—like a distant voice trying to reach him, but the words dissolved into nothingness. The beast trembled, then its massive form split apart, dark blood pouring onto the soil. The light in its eyes faded.
Silence.
Edward exhaled, turning toward the squad.
"Eliminate the rest. Quickly."
The mages did not hesitate. A wave of fire engulfed the remaining pack, archers finished off the wounded, and foot soldiers ensured none were left standing.
Dead silence once again settled over the forest.
Erina stepped closer, gazing down at the collapsed corpse of the beast. One of the mages halted beside her, his face troubled.
"Commander..." he raised his hand hesitantly, pointing toward the remains of the stone. "This… this isn't just natural magic. There's a trace of something… else. This looks like a control spell."
"They… they aren't just animals. They're something more," Erina murmured, concern evident in her voice.
Edward stared at the fractured stone. A sensation of unease twisted in his gut.
"If creatures like this have appeared here, how many more exist? Is this a mere anomaly, or part of something greater?"
"Who created them? How did they end up here?"
His grip on his sword tightened as a faint tremor ran through him.
"Ordinary beasts don't behave like this. They don't evaluate opponents. They don't wait. These creatures… they aren't just predators. They are weapons. The only question is—who or what is wielding them?"
"And how many more of them are waiting ahead?"
***Hello, this is the author of "My little one is the daughter of the main characters"***
I have an important announcement regarding the release schedule. From now on, this story will be updated once a week—either on Saturday or Sunday at 8:00 AM.
This change is due to the fact that I have started a new story, which will be released Monday through Friday at 3:00 PM.
Thank you for your attention and support!