The beast charged again, its massive form kicking up a storm of dirt and dead leaves. Its tusks glistened, sharp as blades, the fog swirling wildly in its wake. But this time, they were ready.
Or at least they thought they were.
Li Jiang lunged first, his sword flashing in the pale light, slicing clean through the beast's shoulder but the blade passed through like smoke. The wound hissed, closing almost instantly as the shadows knit themselves back together.
"It's not working!" he growled, stepping back as the beast's tusks swung toward him. He barely ducked in time, the curved tusks grazing the fabric of his sleeve, cutting it open like paper.
Qin Juan rushed in next, her fists glowing with soft golden light. She struck fast and hard, each punch sending ripples of golden energy through the beast's thick body.
For a moment, the creature staggered but then it snapped its jaws at her with a roar. Qin jumped back just in time, landing heavily on her feet, her breath sharp and uneven.
Then James clenched his fist and charged forward, striking at the beast right after Qin Juan's blow. But as his fist connected, the creature barely flinched, shrugging off the attack as if it were nothing more than a passing breeze.
The impact, meant to drive it back, felt dull and useless against the beast's twisted, shadowy form.
Confusion flooded James's mind. Why? he thought, frustration tightening his chest. 'The cauldron's power, it should've worked…'
But the beast just snarled, red eyes burning with anger.
As the beast released a wave of dark aura that struck like a sudden storm, forcing them all backward.
James staggered as the force threw him back, but he managed to catch his balance, boots sliding across the damp earth.
Around him, the others did the same, steadying themselves as the heavy, suffocating pressure bore down on them. The dark aura hung thick in the air, making every breath feel like dragging weights through water.
As for James, confusion flickered in his eyes as he steadied himself, 'Why isn't the cauldron's power working?' he thought, a knot tightening in his stomach, 'Is this beast immune… or is something else blocking me?'
The fog coiled tighter around them, wrapping like a suffocating noose, every breath shallow and strained. James's mind raced, frustration mixing with fear as the beast charged at him again, its red eyes locked onto him like a predator closing in on its prey.
Whispers filled the air mocking, cold, pressing into their ears like sharp needles. Without hesitation, Li Mei ran to James's side, her eyes sharp with focus.
Gripping her weapon tight, she then rushed to the beast's flank and slashed upward, her blade leaving a thin arc of light across its dark side. But the beast barely flinched, its massive body pushing forward, ignoring the cut as it charged straight for James.
"James, move!" Qin shouted.
But James's boots caught on a hidden root beneath the moss. His heart froze as the beast bore down on him, tusks lowered for the killing blow.
"Hold on!" Qin Juan's voice cut through the noise. She reached into her robes with lightning speed, pulling out a thin yellow talisman marked with bright red symbols. Her fingers moved fast, precise, pressing her palm to the paper.
The symbols lit up, flaring with sudden golden fire.
"Break!"
With a sharp snap, she flung the talisman forward. It spun once through the air, then exploded in a flash of blinding light.
The beast screamed, twisting its head aside, tusks tearing up dirt instead of flesh as it staggered past James.
The explosion sent ripples through the fog, pushing it outward in a ring of glowing warmth.
"It's blinded!" Li Mei shouted.
"Good, hit it now!" Li Jiang roared, already in motion, with his sword.
Qin didn't hesitate her fists glowed brighter as she lunged forward, striking the beast's ribs with a heavy blow that sent dark smoke pouring out of its side like steam escaping a cracked pot.
James gritted his teeth and pushed himself to his feet, the golden warmth of the cauldron rising again. The fear was still there but now it was fuel.
Together, they pressed in, coordinated, relentless.
The beast tried to recover but it was too late.
This time they were ready.
Li Jiang and Li Mei didn't hesitate they both shot forward like arrows released from a bow, their swords flashing as they struck with sharp, precise movements.
Their swords sliced through the beast's smoky side, tearing chunks of shadow into the fog.
At that same moment, James felt the warmth of the golden cauldron surge inside him. He gritted his teeth, focusing the heat until golden light rushed into his fist. With a roar, James drove his fist into the beast's head.
"Ahhh!" he shouted, pushing power of the golden cauldron into the strike. There was a sharp crack, like breaking stone.
The beast let out a shriek, its huge body ripping apart like torn cloth. Its red eyes flickered one last time before fading into the mist, leaving nothing but drifting ashes on the cold air.
Silence followed.
Only the soft hiss of the fog curling around their feet filled the space. The talisman's last sparks drifted down, fading out.
Qin Juan lowered her hands, breathing hard. "Didn't think I'd have to use that one here," she muttered.
Li Mei gave her a quick, sharp smile. "Good choice and thanks."
James exhaled slowly, heart still racing, but steadier now. "Nice trick." he said, glancing at Qin.
Qin smirked faintly, brushing dirt from her sleeves. "Sometimes you don't win with strength. You win by making the monster look the wrong way first."
But then Li Mei's smile dropped. Her eyes sharpened as she stared ahead. "Don't relax yet."
James frowned. "What now?"
She nodded toward the fog. "That thing…" Her voice was low. "It's still there."
They all turned and saw it.
The phantom. James's own face, standing in the mist, hollow-eyed and still. It hadn't moved. Not yet. But it was watching.
James's throat felt dry. "It's still standing there…"
"Not for long," Qin said sharply. "That thing's not done."
Li Jiang gripped his sword tighter. "Then we finish it."
"On my mark," Li Mei whispered, steady and sharp.
Her blade pointed straight at the thing wearing James's face. "We hit it together."
Without another word, the group spread out, circling the phantom.
But then.
The phantom tilted its head slightly, as if listening to something only it could hear. Slowly. Its hollow eyes locked only on James.
It opened its mouth, far wider than human jaws should, and a wave of thick, black smoke poured out but this time, it didn't spread toward the others. It curled straight toward James alone, like a snake knowing its prey.
James's body locked up.
The others barely had time to react when James suddenly dropped to one knee, clutching his head with both hands.
"James!" Qin Juan's voice cut sharply through the air, but he didn't respond.
To James, everything shifted.
He wasn't standing in the forest anymore.
He was back home.
His home, before the fire. His mother at the doorway. His father, silent. His little sister crying in the corner.
"Why didn't you save us?" his mother whispered, her voice full of pain.
James's chest tightened, the air crushing him from the inside.
"James! Wake up!" Li Mei shouted from far away, her voice like a thread in the dark.
But it was like he was underwater.
Drowning.
Outside the illusion, the others moved.
Qin Juan struck at the phantom with glowing fists but the blows passed through the smoke like wind. Li Jiang slashed downward, his blade cutting shadows but never hitting solid flesh.
"Break it! Break its hold on him!" Li Mei yelled, her blade flashing as she attacked, cutting through the curling fog but the phantom only cared about James.
It didn't flinch.
James trembled, his breathing shallow. The guilt, the memory it felt real.
Then something deep inside him flared.
Not the memory.
The cauldron.
A golden warmth fought against the illusion, pushing against the white fog in his conscious.
'They're not real.'
'Butt this thing is still here.'
'It's lying to me.'
His fists clenched tighter, the golden light finally building again stronger, angrier.
"I didn't fail you," James whispered through gritted teeth.
"You're not real."
And with a sudden roar, he drove his glowing fist forward not at the illusion but right at the phantom's head.
Crack.
The phantom shrieked, twisting violently, its form tearing like old cloth, the black smoke scattering in all directions.
Its red, hollow eyes flickered once.
Then vanished.
The fog fell quiet again, curling low around their ankles, broken and weak.
James was left standing there, panting, his fists trembling.
"Next time…" he muttered, breathless, "try harder."
Li Jiang gave a small nod. "Well done."
Qin Juan smirked. "Finally landed a punch that mattered."
Li Mei stepped closer, her eyes soft but steady. "You held on. That's what counts."
James tried to smile, but his vision was already starting to blur. The world around him wavered, the fog twisting strangely as his legs weakened beneath him.
"Wait…" he breathed, swaying.
Before he could hit the ground, Li Mei stepped in, catching him with ease. "Got you," she whispered, lowering him gently.
"Seriously?" Qin muttered, folding her arms. "Right after the victory speech?"
"He pushed too hard," Li Mei said quietly, brushing his hair from his face. "But he'll be fine."
"That's good." Li Jiang said calmly, his eyes scanning the fog, "but we can't stay here for long." They both nodded, understanding the weight of his words.
As the fog coiled at their feet again, curling like something alive but for now, it gave them space.