Chapter 1 – The First Body
The village square was packed.
Villagers whispered among themselves, glancing nervously at the sheet-covered figure lying on the dirt.
Strom crouched beside it, gently lifting the edge of the sheet. One look was enough — deep slashes ran across the man's torso, too wide and too precise for any regular hunting animal.
Strom (thinking): These cuts… too clean… and too big.
He lowered the sheet and stood, dusting off his hands.
Strom: "How long ago was this?"
Villager: "Just before sunrise… no tracks, no sign of a struggle, nothing."
That answer didn't sit well. Strom turned and headed back toward his forge, his mind already racing.
That evening, as Strom sharpened his spear, Wraith leaned casually in the doorway.
Wraith: "So? What are we dealing with? A wolf? Or one of those idiots swinging homemade claws?"
Strom: "No wolf I know does that… and no man either, unless he's faster than sight."
Wraith: "You sure it's even an animal? Because if it is, why kill and leave? Beasts eat. This thing just… ended him and walked away."
Strom: "You're right. And the victim was just a blacksmith — no enemies, no trouble."
Wraith: "Then stay home at night, idiot. Whatever's out there isn't normal."
Strom gave a low chuckle, but his eyes were locked on the dark treeline outside his window.
Something about this didn't feel random.
For the first time in weeks… Strom felt watched.
Chapter 2 – Confessions and Awkward Silence
Strom: "Let me check one more time."
Wraith: "You better stay at home. He's only targeting blacksmiths, remember?"
Strom: "Not the time to joke."
Strom wandered to the attack site again. Empty. Not even a footprint. When he came back, Wraith was waiting by the door with arms crossed.
Wraith: "Well? My knight returns?"
Strom: "Nothing. No claw marks, no scent, no presence. Like he was never there at all."
Wraith: "Sounds like someone with a grudge, not a beast."
Strom: "You're probably right…"
They shared a simple dinner and turned in for the night.
Lying in bed, Strom's mind raced: Five years together… does she even like me like that?
He clenched his fists, trying to summon courage.
Strom: "Hey, Wraith… who's yo–yo… your ch… chr—"
Wraith: "What?"
Strom: "…Who… is your crush?" Instant regret hits like a sledgehammer.
Wraith turned toward him, one eyebrow raised, clearly enjoying his struggle.
Wraith: "Wow. That took, what, five years? You really suck at this."
Strom: "I'm not good at this, okay?"
Wraith: "What if I don't tell you?"
Strom: "Come on girl … I just want an answer."
Wraith: "Fine… my crush is… the guy who's a total mommy's boy."
Strom: eyes widen "You like Sam?!"
Wraith: facepalming "I was talking about you, idiot! Why do guys never pick up on hints?"
Strom: "I am not a mommy's boy."
Wraith: "Right… except you're literally a Dragon mommy's boy." She laughs so hard it echoes.
Strom: "Good night, demon. I'm never talking to you again."
Wraith was still laughing when Strom rolled over, hiding his very red face in the pillow.
Chapter 3 – The Empty Streets Plan
Sam had just returned from a long trip when Strom stepped outside.
Strom: "Yo, you up for a morning walk?"
Sam: "I already traveled half the continent and you still want a walk? But… sure."
They strolled to the village square and instantly froze. A crowd had gathered, whispers filling the cold air. Strom's stomach sank.
Strom: "Not again…"
Sam: "What happened this time?"
They pushed through to the front. Seven bodies. Seven at once. Each victim bore the same sharp, clean claw marks—almost surgical, but feral at the same time.
Back at home, the conversation turned grim.
Sam: "This isn't some guy with a blade. This feels like an animal… no, something ancient. You can almost feel it near the bodies."
Wraith: "If it's an animal, then why doesn't it eat them? Why just… kill and leave?"
Sam: "That's what makes me sure it's not natural. The claw marks are too clean. Too perfect."
Strom: "I checked that area last night. Nothing. Not even a scent."
Sam: "Strange, but you have to believe what's in front of us."
Strom: "This… doesn't feel right."
Wraith: "Maybe if everyone stops wandering the streets at night—no gambling, no late work, nothing—it might lose its prey."
Strom: "That… actually makes sense."
That evening, Strom called the village together.
Strom (to crowd): "Until we find what's doing this, nobody goes out at night. Lock your doors. No exceptions."
When the crowd dispersed, Strom glanced at Sam.
Strom: "Hope this works."
Sam: "If it doesn't, then whatever's out there isn't just hunting—it's choosing."
Chapter 4 – The First Clash
Morning broke with screams. Strom and Sam rushed to the square—this time, the horror wasn't outside. It was inside homes. Three houses raided, nineteen people dead.
Strom knelt by one of the doors, looking at the claw marks that had sliced straight through iron bolts.
Strom (grim): "They're not even safe in their own homes…"
Sam: "Yeah… this isn't about hunting. This is revenge. Pure, deliberate."
Strom: "Makes sense… and I don't like it."
Back home, Astrid and Wraith were sitting together, mid-conversation.
Strom: "What's up, Valkyrie?"
Astrid: "Nothing much. You tell me."
Sam: "Busy solving mysterious stuff."
Wraith: "Still killing people?"
Strom: "Yeah, but I've got an idea."
Sam: "What, set a trap?"
Strom (grinning): "Nah… what about a night out?"
The First Clash – Nightfall
They waited outside the village that night, armor strapped tight and weapons ready. The air was unnaturally still. Then…
Four glowing eyes appeared in the dark.
The thing moved—fifteen feet of nightmare muscle, claws long enough to cut through magic steel. Its eyes locked on them and—
freeze.
Every one of them felt their muscles go stiff for a split second before instinct snapped them out of it.
Strom (to team): "Move now!"
The beast struck with blinding speed, clawing Strom's shoulder plate clean off and tearing through Astrid's reinforced armor like paper. Sam tried to conjure a shield but the creature slammed him aside with its tail, sending him rolling.
It didn't kill them—it didn't even try. It simply struck, then leaped into the trees, vanishing into the darkness like a shadow made of muscle and rage.
Back home, all of them were bruised and bleeding but alive. Sam collapsed on the floor, hands shaking.
Sam: "Thank the gods… we're still breathing."
Astrid: "That thing… it's huge. Fifteen feet at least."
Wraith: "And fast. Way faster than a wyvern."
Strom: "Its claws cut right through my armor like it was cloth."
Astrid: "Mine too. Not even a dent, just sliced."
Sam: "And… it didn't kill us. It let us go. That means… it knew who we were."
Everyone fell silent.
Strom (finally): "Yeah. That wasn't an animal. That was a warning."
Chapter 5 – The Hunt for the Hunter
The campfire crackled, casting uneasy shadows on everyone's faces. Strom's voice cut through the silence.
Strom: "Alright, everyone… we're going to hunt that thing down. This time, we hurt it."
Wraith nearly jumped to her feet, eyes wide.
Wraith: "Are you mad?! That thing spared us! If we go after it again, it won't show mercy next time."
Astrid: "She's right. Remember that… stun. One look and we couldn't move an inch. It's like our bodies just… froze."
Sam adjusted his mage staff, still nursing bruises from the first encounter.
Sam: "And its speed… big things aren't supposed to move that fast. But this one? It was like—whoosh—gone before I even blinked."
Wraith crossed her arms, visibly shivering.
Wraith: "I couldn't even see it properly. Just… glowing eyes in the dark."
Strom gripped his spear, his expression unshaken.
Strom: "Exactly why we need to be prepared this time. Armor reinforced, traps ready, magic barriers—everything. We face it on our terms, not its."
Astrid cracked her knuckles, reluctantly nodding.
Astrid: "Fine. But if I end up in pieces, I'm haunting you."
Strom (grinning slightly): "Noted."
The rest of the day was a blur of planning.
Sam enchanted the weapons with runic energy meant to resist stun magic.
Astrid forged heavy-bladed spears strong enough to pierce dragon-scale-level hide.
Wraith prepared healing charms and scouting gear.
When night fell again, all four stood at the edge of the village, a web of traps hidden behind them and the faint glow of Sam's barrier stones surrounding their position.
Strom tightened his grip on the spear.
Strom (to all): "This time… we are the hunters."
The silence of the night was suffocating. Then, faint movement—the same four glowing eyes in the distance.
Chapter 6 – The Second Clash
The forest was quiet—unnaturally quiet. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Then, from the darkness… four glowing eyes blinked into existence.
Strom (whispering): "He's here…"
In an instant, the beast lunged, faster than anyone could react. That same soul-piercing stun gaze froze Strom's body for a split second—just long enough for the monster's claws to slash through the air like lightning.
The traps triggered—spiked nets snapping up from the ground and enchanted chains locking around its legs.
But instead of slowing, the creature simply tore through them, muscles bulging as if the chains were made of paper.
Strom (shouting): "Run, everyo—"
A black blur smashed into him, throwing Strom into the dirt hard enough to crack the ground.
Sam raised his staff, voice shaking but steady enough to finish a chant.
Sam: "Barrier Field—Activate!"
A glowing dome enveloped the team just as the beast slashed again—its claws sliced through Sam's barrier like it was silk, the magical shards bursting into harmless sparks.
Wraith: "Sam, that barrier lasted two seconds! We're doomed!"
Astrid swung her giant blade, aiming for the creature's chest, but he sidestepped with predatory grace, eyes flashing. His tail whipped like a mace, catching Astrid in the ribs and sending her flying.
Strom (roaring): "ASTRID!"
The beast leaped for her prone body, claws poised to end it—
But Sam, teeth clenched, channeled every drop of mana he had:
Sam: "Incantation—Arcane Break Pulse!"
A wave of raw magic slammed into the beast's head, dazing it for the briefest second.
Strom and Wraith seized the moment, spears piercing into its shoulder and neck, glowing with blue and silver runes.
The creature roared—a supersonic blast that shattered their focus, making their ears bleed and legs buckle.
Wraith (screaming over the sound): "MY HEAD—MAKE IT STOP!"
The creature's tail lashed, its claws raked across Strom's chestplate, shredding steel like paper. Everyone was down, bleeding, stunned.
Strom planted his palm on the ground, activating the emergency glyph in his bracelet.
From his forge—blue spectral blades erupted, hundreds of glowing weapons swirling around him like a storm.
Strom (breathing heavy, eyes glowing): "Hey… cat… take this!"
The blades shot forward like missiles, slamming into the beast's body and exploding in blue light.
The creature staggered back, snarling, its roar shaking trees but… it stopped advancing.
It stared at Strom with those four terrifying eyes for a long moment—then slowly backed into the shadows, vanishing into the night.
The team was broken, panting, bruised, but alive.
Astrid (coughing): "That… thing… wasn't even serious."
Wraith: "We barely scratched it…"
Sam: "If you didn't summon those blades, we'd be dead, Strom."
Strom tightened his grip on his spear, rage boiling.
Strom: "Next time… it doesn't walk away."
Chapter 7 – Aftermath & First Clues
The group limped into Strom's forge-house, every step heavy from blood loss and fatigue. Astrid winced, clutching her ribs; Sam nearly collapsed onto a chair, his staff slipping from his hand.
Sam (glaring at Strom): "Don't you dare say, 'we're hunting him.'"
Strom's jaw tightened, but the fire in his eyes didn't dim.
Strom: "We can hunt it down."
Astrid (snapping): "I'm not doing this. Not again."
Wraith: "Why do you even want to hunt him? He's just… unbeatable."
Strom leaned on his spear, its tip still faintly glowing from the earlier summon.
Strom: "We can't stop now. But we need something new—something he doesn't expect."
Sam: "What? You want to throw water at the cat?"
Strom gave him a look that said "not now."
Strom: "We could barely see him out there. He's fast enough to shred armour and disappear before we blink. First… we need information."
Wraith raised an eyebrow.
Wraith: "Why don't you just ask him? I'm sure he'll tell you."
Strom smirked slightly despite his exhaustion.
Strom: "His roar isn't natural,
Wraith. Our ears were bleeding. That's not just a sound—it's magic… and it's meant to make us freeze."
Astrid: "So he's… wild? Like a predator, not some ancient god's pet?"
Sam (shaking his head): "You didn't feel that aura? That wasn't some random animal. That thing's ancient."
A heavy silence filled the room. They all knew Sam rarely exaggerated.
Strom (sighing): "For now, we don't have a way to stop him. But we'll figure it out."
Wraith: "Still… why's he attacking villagers but left us alone the first time?"
Strom: "That's what I'm going to find out. But for now? Clean your wounds, eat, and sleep. Tomorrow… we start digging."
No one argued after that. The weight of fear—and curiosity—hung over them like a storm waiting to break.
Chapter 8 – The Truth About the Beast
The morning sun cast long shadows across the quiet village, but Strom's face was anything but calm. He stormed up to one of the villagers—a man known for always disappearing at night—and grabbed him by the collar, nearly lifting him off the ground.
Strom (cold and direct): "I know you know why it's attacking us."
The man's eyes widened, darting nervously at the onlookers.
Villager: "W-What are you saying, Strom? I don't know anything."
Strom (tightening his grip): "You leave the village every night and come back in the morning… so don't lie. You know exactly what's going on."
The villager squirmed but stayed silent.
Strom (voice lowering, almost dangerous): "If that thing doesn't kill you… I will. You're hiding something."
The man froze, realizing there was no escape from Strom's gaze.
Villager (shaking): "…So you know… I did something."
Strom: "Say it. Now."
The man's shoulders slumped, his voice cracking.
Villager: "We… we hunted down a female black beast during the day. She was weak. Vulnerable."
Wraith stepped forward, eyes narrowing.
Wraith: "Why? Why would you kill her?"
Villager: "She stole livestock. Our cows… our goats. She was dangerous."
Astrid crossed her arms, anger sharp in her voice.
Astrid: "So your solution was to kill her?"
Villager: "We… we didn't think… But now—only those who helped kill her and his.....are being targeted. Him… and their families… that's why I leave at night. To keep my family safe."
Strom's jaw clenched, and his voice dropped to a chilling calm.
Strom: "So you're the real monster here. He's just doing what you forced him to do."
Villager: "I swear we didn't know—"
Sam (cutting him off): "Her and what? Finish it."
The man hesitated, trembling.
Villager: "…She was pregnant when we killed her."
The room went silent. Even the air seemed to stop moving.
Wraith (disgusted): "You monsters… you killed his mate and their child."
Strom slowly released the man, his eyes colder than ice.
Strom: "I think you're already on his menu tonight."
Villager (pleading): "Please… my family will die with me!"
Strom : That's not my problem
But no one answered him. The team turned and walked out, the weight of the confession heavy on their shoulders.
The silence between them on the way back wasn't fear—it was guilt. They weren't hunting a mindless predator anymore…
They were standing in the way of a grieving mate.
Chapter 9 – The Nyxcos Truth
The room was silent except for the faint crackle of the fire. Strom sat with his hands over his head, elbows resting on his knees. His eyes were fixed on the ground, jaw clenched tight.
Wraith: "So, hero… what's your plan?"
Strom (groaning): "What plan? I have no plan."
Sam: "So we just… let them die?"
Astrid: "They started it. They killed his mate. They deserve what's coming."
Wraith: "And what about the children, Astrid? He's going after them too. They had nothing to do with it."
Strom (coldly): "He's not thinking about justice. He's grieving. He's unstoppable because of it… and if we want to stop him, we need to know what he is."
Sam: "How, dude? We barely even saw him… we don't even know his name."
Strom: "The Slayer Tower library. If there's any record of this thing, it's there."
The Slayer Tower
The team traveled to Strom's old village, Wraith and Astrid seeing it for the first time. The villagers whispered as they passed, fear and anger still clinging to their eyes.
Astrid (whispering): "Uh, Strom… why do they keep calling you a monster?"
Strom (without looking back): "Back in the day, I was the most wanted monster they'd ever seen."
They ignored the whispers and pushed open the heavy iron door of the Slayer Tower, the air thick with dust and old ink.
Strom: "Demon section. Spread out. Find anything about a black beast with four eyes and claws like steel."
For hours, they searched—shelves upon shelves of brittle scrolls and ancient tomes—until finally Sam's voice broke the silence.
Sam (holding a torn book): "Found something… I think."
The cover read Beasts of the Forgotten World. Pages were missing, eaten through by time and termites, but one remained intact.
The Nyxcos – The Nightmare Guardian of the Tharrson Tribe
A mystical creature born once every thousand years, bred to protect sacred lands and tribe bloodlines. It is said that no weapon forged by man can pierce its hide, and that looking into its eyes is to face paralysis itself…
Sam (looking up): "So his name's Nyxcos… and he's not even supposed to be evil. He's… a guardian."
Astrid: "A guardian who's tearing through an entire village. Nice."
Wraith: "Which means… he wasn't hunting people before. Something changed."
Strom: "The Tharrson Tribe. If we can figure out their link to him, we can find a way to stop him without… killing him."
Sam: "Good luck with that, the rest of these pages are gone."
Strom: "Then we look for books about the tribe itself."
Another two hours of searching led them to an old scroll sealed in cracked leather. It contained records of the Tharrson tribe's unique tradition.
The Tharrson Blood Mark
All who belong to the Tharrson line are born with a sigil on their wrist—the mark of the guardian's kin.
Strom stared at the drawing of the sigil, his mind racing.
Strom: "That's it. We find that mark, we find a way to control this. Follow me, everyone… we're going to stop him."
Chapter 10 – The Tharrson Truth
Astrid: "So, dragon boy… where are we even going?"
Strom: "I know a guy… one of the old ones, with that mark on his wrist."
Wraith: "You mean a mark on his face with four eyes?"
Strom (half-smirking): "No, genius… his hand. Four eyes is our problem."
Sam: "Who is he?"
Strom: "Your old gardener, Sam."
Sam (confused): "Wait… he had that mark? I never noticed."
Astrid (laughing): "That's why he's Strom… and you're Sam."
After a long trek through dusty paths and low-hanging trees, they reached an old, quiet house far from the village.
Astrid: "You sure this guy's going to talk? If he still thinks you're a monster, this could be a waste of time. Also… it's almost evening."
Strom: "He already knows what real monsters look like. I saved his life once; he'll believe me."
Wraith (muttering): "Perfect, so he tells us… and then we just kill the beast, right?"
Strom (sharp): "No, Wraith. Stop him. Not kill him."
Astrid (rolling eyes): "Stop him? He didn't even give us time to breathe last time."
Strom: "And yet, here we are."
They entered the old house, where a wrinkled man sat by a clay fire pit. His eyes widened when he saw Strom.
Villager: "How could I forget you, Dragon Knight? You saved my life once."
Sam: "And me!"
Villager (squinting): "Sam? The same boy who used to scream when a cat crossed his path? Oh yes, I remember."
Astrid (grinning): "Fear of cats. Noted."
Strom (rolling up his sleeve): "I need information… about this." (pointing at the tattoo on the man's wrist)
The old man sighed, leaning back.
The Lore of Nyxcos
"Long ago, our village was small but constantly under threat at night. We worshiped a divine creature… a black cat with four eyes, the Guardian of Shadows. One day, one was born larger, faster, stronger than any before. That… was Nyxcos.
I was seven when I first saw him. He kept us safe, but when no one attacked, when there was no blood to spill, he… changed. He grew restless. Aggressive. Still… he never killed any innocent.
Then one day, he disappeared. We found him deep in the caves with a mate. We worshiped them one last time before leaving the village. The tribe split up, scattered across the land. I was nine when I left… and now I am ninety-seven."
Strom: "How do we stop him now?"
Villager (laughing): "Stop him? Son, you don't. He's the nightmare you pray passes by your door."
Astrid: "He's killing innocent people! We have to do something."
Villager: "Then give him what he lost… or worship him again."
Sam: "Worship? What does that even mean—ritual, offerings, dance, blood magic?"
Villager: "I don't know. I was just a child when we left. But there's one thing… if you can touch his nose, calm him, make him feel whole again… maybe, just maybe, he'll stop."
Wraith (flat): "Touch his nose. Sure. That's easy."
Strom: "Any other tricks?"
Villager (shrugs): "No. Only that… or death."
They left the house, heavy silence between them, the setting sun throwing long shadows on the path.
Chapter 11 – Blood for Calm
The night air was unnaturally silent as Strom and the gang reached his house.
Astrid tossed her sword onto the table, the metal clanging loud in the stillness. "So what now? We just… leave that beast alone and act like none of this is happening?"
Strom leaned against the doorway, jaw tight, eyes shadowed by anger. "Nah… we stop him. One way or another."
Sam pinched the bridge of his nose. He still had faint bruises from the last encounter. "Bro… we can't bring his mate back, and we don't know any 'ritual' to calm him. We're done."
Wraith, sitting on the windowsill, arms folded: "And he's already spared us once. We go again, he'll kill us. Period."
Strom's hands clenched into fists. "There's still one option left—the nose touch."
Sam laughed bitterly. "You heard that old man—it's either we calm him or we die trying. That's like… what? One percent chance?"
Strom stepped forward, eyes burning blue in the candlelight. "I'll take one percent. If you're scared, stay home. I'll do it alone."
Wraith's expression hardened. "Nope. Not happening. I'm coming. Whatever that thing is… I'm not letting you face it alone."
Sam sighed, muttering: "Fine. Best bros forever, right?"
Everyone turned toward Astrid, who sighed dramatically: "Okay, I'm in too. But remember—I'm the only child of my mother. Someone take care of her if I die."
The Hunt Begins
Midnight. The sky clouded over, no moonlight to guide them—only the glimmer of their lantern. They returned to the barren battlefield where they had first clashed with the beast. The trees still bore the scars of claws; the air still carried the faint metallic scent of blood.
Strom (to Sam, low voice): "You sure you can handle this? You'll have to push mana far past safe limits."
Sam smirked despite the sweat already forming on his brow: "Yeah… I got this."
And then, in the distance, two pairs of glowing eyes opened—pure white dots in the void, locked on them.
Strom: "Here we go…"
Unstoppable Force
The beast burst forward—fifteen feet of nightmare muscle and claws moving faster than any human could track. The ground trembled with each bound. Sam slammed his staff into the earth, summoning a massive glowing barrier.
The beast collided, claws screeching against mana like blades on glass. The barrier cracked on impact.
Strom: "Go for the nose!"
They rushed in—Astrid on the left, Wraith on the right, Strom straight forward. But the creature's four eyes glowed, freezing them in place for a fraction of a second, long enough for it to whip its tail and throw Astrid into a tree.
Sam grunted, reinforcing the barrier. "Hold it together, hold it together…!"
Strom tried to push through, striking with his spear, but the beast ducked under and slashed across his armor, tearing through steel like it was cloth. Sparks erupted as Strom flew back into a stone pillar, the impact knocking the wind out of him.
Wraith rushed in, dagger aimed at the beast's snout, but it roared—a supersonic blast of sound that rattled her skull and sent her crumpling to the dirt, clutching her ears.
Sam's Last Push
Sam's barrier shattered with the next swipe. Blood dripped from his nose, then his mouth and fall on the ground feeling unconscious.
Astrid (kneeling beside him, panicked): "Sam! Please wake up , please don't leave me—wake up, please!"
Sam laughed weakly, forcing his staff upright: "Hold me tighter… I'll make one more barrier…" His mana flared violently, surrounding them all in a bubble of protective energy. His whole body trembled, veins glowing faint blue.
Wraith's Gamble
The beast advanced on Astrid, who stood in front of Sam, sword raised but shaking.
Astrid (grim whisper): "Better me than them… okay cat, let's play…"
Sam (hoarse): "No, Astrid, run! He'll kill you!"
But before the beast could pounce, Wraith stumbled forward, blood dripping from her palm—she had cut it herself, deep. Her eyes burned with defiance despite the weakness in her body.
She reached up and slammed her bloody hand onto the beast's cold nose.
Wraith (pleading voice): "Please… stop… she wouldn't want you like thi…"
Her body collapsed immediately, limp on the ground.
The Beast Hesitates
The beast froze. Its glowing eyes softened slightly, confusion rippling through its body. Its stance lowered, trembling—not from fear, but from something unfamiliar. It let out a distorted, mournful roar that shook the night, then leapt into the trees, disappearing into darkness.
Aftermath
Strom regained consciousness, staggering toward Wraith, scooping her into his arms. Astrid clutched Sam's hand tightly, tears streaking her face but relief slowly taking over.
Strom (to himself, voice cold): "Not my friends… not until I'm here…"
The group limped back home—bloody, broken, but alive.
Chapter 12 – The Truth of the Dragon
Morning light cut softly through Strom's small wooden house. Everyone sat in silence, nursing bruises and scratches from the nightmare fight. The smell of dried blood still clung to the room, mixed with Astrid's healing herbs.
Wraith's head rested gently on Strom's shoulder. Her usually sharp eyes were half-lidded from exhaustion, but she hadn't let go since they returned. Across the room, Astrid sat beside Sam—for the first time ever not teasing him, just holding his hand tight. Sam gave her a weak but reassuring smile.
The silence broke when Wraith tilted her head slightly, side-eyeing Strom.
Wraith: "Strom… now you have to tell me—what is your idiot level exactly?"
Strom blinked at her.
Strom: "Now what happened?"
Wraith sat up, pointing toward the window, where claw marks from the beast were still visible on a nearby tree.
Wraith: "That monster is fifteen feet tall. You have a fifty-foot Dragon Mom… and you didn't think to call her?!"
Strom rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
Strom: "Okay, first of all—calling mom every time I fight isn't exactly part of my knightly code. Second—and more importantly—" He held up a broken pendant, its core cracked and metal casing warped. "I ripped and broke my pendant. I can't even wear it properly anymore. And when I try to hold the core by itself…" He winced, touching his temple. "It's like getting stabbed in the skull with a spear. I can't hold her power for long. Basically, all these fights…" He tapped his chest. "…were on my raw power alone."
Astrid blinked and leaned back slightly, clearly surprised.
Astrid: "Wait—you mean to tell me, in all clashes, you fought without your Dragon Mom's boost?"
Strom gave a faint smirk.
Strom: "Yeah. Just me and my forge-born blades."
Astrid chuckled, shaking her head.
Astrid: "Honestly, I also forgot about your Dragon Mom entirely. Guess I'm not the only one who panics mid-fight."
Sam, sitting up straighter, looked thoughtful.
Sam: "So what's the plan? Repair the pendant? Or… are you making something new?"
Strom looked at his broken pendant one last time, eyes hardening as he set it on the table.
Strom: "No. I know what I'm cooking next."
The others exchanged glances, unsure what he meant, but they all recognized that look—the look Strom got when he was about to create something world-shaking