Recap of Chapter 6:
Ka'roth, having slain the horned beast and claimed the fear of the plains, commanded the submission of surrounding creatures. Leading his new horde, he ventured into the Forest of Bones, where he fought and killed the eyeless Devourer, absorbing its essence and evolving further—his wings mended, his claws sharpened, and his dominance cemented. His horde grew unified under his rule, marking the dawn of the first organized beast force. Yet whispers warned of "eyes opening," hinting at greater dangers stirring.
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The First Signs of Rivalry
The dawn sky burned crimson, streaked with clouds like torn flesh. Ka'roth marched at the head of his horde, his wings stretched high like banners of terror. Behind him, over two hundred beasts followed—fangs, claws, tusks, and wings, moving as one living storm.
His wounds from the Devourer had sealed perfectly, leaving faint jagged scars glowing faintly under his scales. Power radiated from him in waves, felt by every beast in his presence. His roar carried farther now, echoing over miles.
But as the sun rose, a deep, answering roar split the horizon.
Ka'roth halted instantly. His head turned toward the sound, eyes narrowing. His horde stilled, instincts twitching with unease.
From the plains ahead came movement—not prey, not stragglers. No, this was organized.
Out of the golden grasslands emerged another horde.
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The Rival Apex
At its head strode a towering beast rivaling Ka'roth in size, though bulkier, built like a mountain of living muscle. Its hide was dark slate-gray, armored in jagged ridges. Four horns crowned its head, and its glowing amber eyes locked on Ka'roth with primal fury.
This was Gral'thar, a titan-beast, and he had gathered his own following. Over one hundred and fifty beasts stalked behind him, moving with strange unity.
For the first time since his ascension, Ka'roth felt it—not fear, but challenge.
The two armies faced each other across the plains, the wind carrying their scent of blood and dominance. The world itself seemed to hold its breath.
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The Clash Begins
Gral'thar roared, a sound like a mountain breaking apart, and his horde surged forward.
Ka'roth spread his wings wide, his own roar splitting the sky. His horde answered, their cries uniting into a deafening wave. Then they charged.
The two tides collided with earth-shattering force. Fang met claw, tusk met bone. The plains became a frenzy of blood and thunder.
Ka'roth crashed directly into Gral'thar. Their impact sent beasts flying like broken twigs. Ka'roth's claws slashed across Gral'thar's armored hide, sparks flying. The titan-beast retaliated, slamming his horned skull into Ka'roth's chest, cracking scales.
Ka'roth staggered back, then lunged low, sinking his fangs deep into Gral'thar's shoulder. Hot blood sprayed across his muzzle. Gral'thar roared and struck Ka'roth's side with his tail like a battering ram, hurling him through a line of trees.
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The Horde War
Around them, chaos reigned. Ka'roth's horde fought with coordinated brutality, snapping necks, trampling prey underfoot. Raptors leapt onto the backs of tusked beasts, tearing at their spines. Winged predators dive-bombed from above, ripping chunks of flesh from Gral'thar's followers.
Ka'roth's energy pulsed outward instinctively—his presence alone sharpened his horde's ferocity. Beasts that would normally scatter fought like predators possessed.
But Gral'thar was no lesser beast. His dominance spread too. His own horde resisted fear, fighting savagely despite Ka'roth's aura.
The clash became a storm of dominance—two rulers imposing their wills on the same battlefield.
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The Final Duel
Ka'roth rose from the splintered trees, his tail whipping, wings flaring. He launched himself forward, slamming into Gral'thar with unstoppable momentum. They rolled across the dirt, tearing into one another.
Gral'thar's horns raked across Ka'roth's chest, slicing deep wounds, but Ka'roth's claws found gaps between the beast's ridges. He drove them in, ripping out chunks of flesh.
Pain flared bright, but Ka'roth welcomed it. The hunger in his mind howled: Consume. Rule.
With a brutal surge of strength, Ka'roth hooked his claws into Gral'thar's neck and wrenched downward. Bone cracked, and Ka'roth bit deep, tearing through sinew until blood flooded his jaws.
Gral'thar's roars faltered. His massive body shuddered violently, then collapsed under Ka'roth's weight.
The titan-beast was dead.
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The Submission of the Rival Horde
A stunned silence fell.
Both hordes froze, panting, bloodied, their gazes fixed on Ka'roth. He stood atop Gral'thar's corpse, his glowing eyes sweeping across them. His roar followed—a sound so powerful it seemed to shake the very sky.
One by one, the rival beasts lowered their heads.
Gral'thar's horde bent their knees, submitting completely. Ka'roth had claimed not just victory, but unification. His army swelled to nearly four hundred beasts, a living tide of dominance and fear.
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The Surge of Ascension
As Gral'thar's lifeless essence poured into him, Ka'roth's body convulsed. His wings expanded, broad enough to blot out the sun. His scales hardened into a near-metallic sheen, streaked with faint glowing lines.
Inside his mind, the whispers grew deafening:
"You rise… faster than any before. The eyes watch closer now. The Abyss stirs."
Ka'roth snarled, dismissing them. He spread his colossal wings, casting his horde in shadow. The beasts below howled in unity, trembling in awe.
This was no longer dominance.
This was sovereignty.
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Ka'roth's first war had forged him into the undisputed Apex of the First Era. His horde marched behind him like an unstoppable force. But far beyond, in the deepest reaches of the Abyss, something ancient uncoiled—drawn by the growing storm.
For the first time, Ka'roth felt not just challenge… but the faintest brush of a predator that even he might one day fear.
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