The night air shattered with a low, guttural roar.
From the edge of the forest, a massive shadow erupted, towering above the trees. Sylas froze for a heartbeat, his instincts screaming danger.
The creature was enormous—at least five meters tall, with limbs twisted like jagged iron and eyes glowing faintly red in the darkness. Its skin was rough, armored in jagged scales that shimmered in the firelight. Long claws scraped the ground, leaving deep furrows in the sand, and its maw—huge and lined with jagged teeth—opened to emit a terrifying growl.
The knights' expressions froze. Their confidence vanished instantly.
"It… it's a Tier Six!" one of them shouted, voice breaking.
Sylas had no idea what "Tier Six" meant, but from their faces, he understood perfectly. Danger beyond measure. Death incarnate.
Seems my luck is not that good, he thought grimly.
Before anyone could react, fifteen smaller shadows emerged from the darkness, writhing between the trees. Their forms were less defined, more feral, but each moved with lethal coordination. Thin limbs, clawed hands, glowing eyes—predators designed to hunt in packs.
Panic spread through the camp. Knights shouted orders, but the fear was obvious. Even trained soldiers faltered when the sheer scale of the threat became clear.
Sylas's blue eyes narrowed. He did not panic. He observed.
The captain's expression was tense. He was handsome, calm, but now lines of worry etched his features. He quickly assessed the situation: a Tier Four captain and knights facing a monster two tiers above him, supported by fifteen smaller creatures. Survival was uncertain at best.
Sylas understood immediately. If they fought here, in this formation, they would die.
He adjusted his position slightly, slowly inching toward the desert. Every step was deliberate, silent. The dunes were open and exposed, yes—but free from the forest's ambush. At least there, he could survive.
The knights tried to form a defensive line, but fear was contagious. They hesitated. Orders clashed with instinct. Weapons shook in trembling hands.
The captain's gaze flicked to the desert behind them, calculating. Protecting the princess was his priority. He considered abandoning the camp entirely, taking her and retreating into the open sand. He could not risk losing her.
Sylas stayed low, keeping his blanket wrapped around his thin frame, blending in with the shadows near the dunes. He didn't rush—he didn't need to. The chaos would come to him.
The Tier Six monster let out a roar that shook the desert and forest alike, and the fifteen smaller creatures advanced silently behind it.
The night had grown teeth.