The roar grew louder.
It rolled across the mountains like thunder, shaking loose snow from the cliffs. Orion and Liora stood side by side, staring into the darkness where the sound came from.
The wind stopped.
The forest froze.
Even the stars seemed to hold their breath.
Liora whispered, "It's huge… whatever it is."
Orion tightened his grip on the pendant. The blue glow pulsed once, as if reacting to the approaching creature.
Then, from the shadows, two massive golden eyes appeared.
The beast stepped into view — taller than the trees, its body covered in silver fur that shimmered like moonlight. Horns curved backward from its head, and its breath came out as cold mist.
But its most terrifying feature was the mark glowing on its forehead:
A broken star.The same shape as Orion's pendant.
Liora gasped. "It has your mark!"
The beast lowered its head and spoke in a deep, rumbling voice:
"You carry the Star Within. You… are the one we have been waiting for."
Orion's heart hammered."You can talk?"
"Yes," the beast growled. "Because I am no simple monster. I am a Sentinel — guardian of the path to the Heart of the World."
Orion stepped forward slowly. "Why were you roaring? Were you warning us?"
The Sentinel's eyes narrowed.
"I roared because you awakened your star power. And such a thing… always brings danger."
Before Orion could ask more, the ground cracked behind them — long black claws burst from the earth.
Shadow creatures.The same kind that attacked the village.
But there were more now — dozens, crawling out of the darkness, hissing and snarling.
Liora drew her blades. "They found us!"
The Sentinel growled. "Your light attracted them. They feed on star energy."
One creature leaped at Orion.
He raised his hand instinctively—
BOOM.
A burst of blue light shot out, blasting the creature back into a tree. The power was stronger now, more controlled.
The Sentinel watched him with approval.
"Good. You are learning."
But there was no time to celebrate. The creatures rushed from all directions — climbing trees, running across the ground, even leaping from the cliffs above.
Liora fought like lightning, slicing cleanly through shadows. Orion moved beside her, his punches sending out ripples of glowing air. Every attack he made left trails of blue light.
But the creatures seemed endless.
Liora shouted, "There are too many!"
The Sentinel stomped the ground. A shockwave flattened a group of creatures, but even more replaced them.
Orion's breathing grew heavy. His power sparked weaker and weaker.
He whispered, "I can't… hold them…"
The Sentinel snarled, "Then unlock more! Use the memory you saw!"
But Orion hesitated — afraid of what more power might mean, afraid of becoming the person who destroyed a world.
Liora grabbed his hand in the middle of the battle.
Her voice was steady and brave."I trust you."
The world seemed to stop.
Orion closed his eyes, letting the power rise.
A soft blue glow spread across his body. The cracked star pendant shined like a small sun.
Suddenly — a calm filled him.
Not rage.Not fear.Balance.
When he opened his eyes, they glowed completely blue.
He raised both hands.
Light exploded outward, swallowing the battlefield in a giant wave.
Shadow creatures screamed and evaporated. The mountains echoed with their fading cries. The sky lit up as if a second sun had risen for a moment.
And then — silence.
The Sentinel bowed its massive head toward Orion.
"You have taken your first true step… Child of the Star."
Liora exhaled shakily. "Orion… that was— incredible."
But Orion trembled.
Because even though the battle was won, a cold realization entered his heart:
If this was his "first step," then the path ahead would be far more dangerous.
The Sentinel spoke again, voice heavy.
"Follow me. The Heart of the World… awaits."