THE BEAST OF BLACK HOLLOW
The creature stepped fully into the clearing.
Trees snapped like twigs beneath its weight.
Every warrior froze.
Even the monsters moved away from it.
The beast towered over everything in the forest.
Its body looked like a wolf—but twisted and enlarged beyond anything natural. Thick black fur covered muscles the size of boulders. Long claws dug deep into the earth with every step.
And its eyes…
They glowed the same deep red as the Blood Emperor’s.
Rowan slowly backed away.
“…That thing is huge.”
Lucian didn’t look away from it.
“That’s not a normal creation.”
The Alpha King stepped forward protectively.
His golden aura flared again.
“Everyone fall back.”
The warriors immediately obeyed.
No one argued.
The creature’s massive head lowered slightly.
Its glowing eyes fixed on Aria.
The Blood Emperor laughed from where he stood frozen.
“My masterpiece.”
Aria glanced at him briefly.
The pressure holding him in place remained strong.
But his smile had returned.
“You spent years creating monsters.”
Her ancient voice echoed again.
“…This one is different.”
The Blood Emperor nodded proudly.
“Yes.”
“That creature carries the blood of hundreds of wolves.”
Lucian’s eyes narrowed.
“And the bodies of just as many.”
Rowan muttered,
“Great. A giant stitched-together nightmare.”
The creature let out a low growl.
The sound shook the ground.
Several warriors stumbled backward.
The Alpha King didn’t move.
His golden eyes stayed locked on the beast.
“What does it want?”
The Blood Emperor answered calmly.
“You.”
The beast took a slow step forward.
Aria stood completely still.
Silver energy pulsed around her body.
Lucian walked closer to her.
“Don’t underestimate it.”
Aria’s glowing eyes studied the creature.
“…It is strong.”
Rowan shifted back into human form beside them.
“Strong?”
“That thing is bigger than a house.”
The beast suddenly roared.
A deafening sound that echoed through the mountains.
The force of it knocked several warriors to the ground.
Then it charged.
The ground shook violently as the creature rushed forward.
Lucian reacted first.
“Move!”
He leapt toward the beast, his blade flashing toward its massive leg.
The strike landed.
But the creature barely reacted.
Its thick skin barely cut.
Lucian landed and looked up.
“…That’s a problem.”
Rowan shifted into his wolf again and lunged at the creature’s side.
His massive jaws clamped down hard.
But the beast simply swung its enormous paw.
Rowan was sent flying across the clearing.
He crashed into the dirt with a painful thud.
“Okay—really big problem!”
The Alpha King launched forward next.
Golden energy exploded around him as he slammed his fist into the beast’s chest.
This time the creature staggered slightly.
But only slightly.
It roared again and swung its claws at him.
The King dodged the strike, but the force ripped through several trees behind him.
Lucian cursed.
“That thing is nearly indestructible.”
The Blood Emperor’s laughter echoed again.
“I told you.”
Aria still hadn’t moved.
Her glowing silver eyes studied the creature carefully.
Watching every movement.
Analyzing it.
The Primordial power inside her stirred.
“…You built it to fight me.”
The Blood Emperor smiled.
“Of course.”
Aria slowly stepped forward.
Silver energy crackled around her again.
The giant creature stopped suddenly.
Its glowing red eyes locked onto her.
Lucian noticed immediately.
“It’s reacting to her.”
Rowan struggled back to his feet.
“Well she did wake up its boss.”
The beast lowered its massive head.
Like it was preparing to attack again.
But this time—
Aria didn’t wait.
She lifted her hand.
Silver light burst forward.
The force slammed into the creature’s chest like a tidal wave.
For the first time—
The beast was pushed backward.
The ground tore open beneath its claws as it struggled to hold its balance.
Lucian’s eyes widened.
“She moved it.”
The Blood Emperor’s smile faded slightly.
“…Interesting.”
The creature roared again and lunged forward once more.
But Aria’s eyes burned brighter now.
The Primordial power surged fully through her body.
She raised both hands.
The air itself seemed to bend.
“Enough.”
The single word echoed like thunder.
The beast froze mid-charge.
Every warrior stared.
Even the monsters had stopped moving again.
Lucian whispered,
“…She stopped it.”
But then something strange happened.
The beast didn’t collapse.
It didn’t retreat.
Instead—
It slowly began standing taller.
Its body started growing larger.
Muscles expanding.
Bones cracking as its size doubled.
Rowan’s eyes widened in horror.
“…Why is it getting bigger?”
The Blood Emperor laughed loudly.
“Because it feeds on power.”
Lucian’s voice turned grim.
“And Aria just gave it a lot of that.”
The beast roared again.
This time the sound was even louder.
More terrifying.
Aria’s silver eyes narrowed.
Because now—
The creature was staring at her with even greater hunger.