Beasts of Anomaly

The towering beast stepped fully into the clearing, its massive frame casting an ominous shadow over Azhaan. Its body was made entirely of writhing vines, twisted and knotted into an almost humanoid shape. Glowing green eyes locked onto Azhaan, filled with an intelligence that sent chills down his spine.

The Shadow Stalker growled low, stepping in front of him, its fur bristling. Tendrils of shadow coiled around its body, preparing for an inevitable clash.

"What is that thing?" Azhaan whispered, gripping his dagger so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Kaela's voice echoed faintly from the other side of the stream. "That's a Verdant Guardian! It's a protector of the Wild—this is your final trial!"

Azhaan cursed under his breath. "Final trial? Feels more like an execution!"

The Verdant Guardian raised an arm, and the vines twisted and extended, whipping toward Azhaan like living snakes. He barely managed to dive out of the way, rolling across the forest floor as the tendrils slammed into the ground, sending dirt and debris flying.

The Shadow Stalker moved like a shadowy blur, dodging the vines and retaliating with a slash of its claws. The attack tore through part of the beast's arm, sending chunks of vines tumbling to the ground. But the Guardian simply regenerated, the severed vines reattaching themselves with unnatural ease.

"Azhaan!" Kaela shouted. "You can't fight it like a normal beast! It's tied to the forest—you'll need to use its connection against it!"

"How do I do that?!" Azhaan yelled, narrowly avoiding another attack.

"Figure it out!" Kaela replied, her tone sharp but encouraging.

Azhaan gritted his teeth, his mind racing. The Guardian's movements were slow but deliberate, and every time the Shadow Stalker managed to land a hit, the beast regenerated. Fighting it head-on was useless.

The forest pulsed around him, the crystalline trees glowing faintly. An idea began to form in his mind.

"It's tied to the forest," he muttered to himself. "Then maybe the forest can stop it."

The mark on his arm flared with heat, and a thought—not entirely his own—surfaced in his mind. The Shadow Stalker growled softly, its red eyes meeting his.

"You're with me on this?" Azhaan asked.

The beast didn't respond, but its posture shifted, readying itself for whatever Azhaan had in mind.

"Alright," Azhaan said, his voice steady. "Let's do this."

Azhaan sprinted toward the Guardian, weaving through the vines that lashed out at him. The Shadow Stalker darted alongside him, phasing in and out of the shadows to avoid the attacks.

"Keep it distracted!" Azhaan shouted.

The Shadow Stalker let out a guttural snarl and lunged at the Guardian, slashing at its torso. The beast roared, swinging a massive arm to swat the Shadow Stalker away, but the nimble creature vanished into the shadows before reappearing on the Guardian's back.

Meanwhile, Azhaan darted toward one of the crystalline trees. The closer he got, the more he could feel the energy emanating from it, like a heartbeat pulsing through the air.

"Come on, come on," he muttered, placing a hand on the tree's glowing surface. The mark on his arm flared again, and a surge of energy shot through him, almost knocking him off his feet.

The Guardian roared, sensing the shift in the forest's energy. It turned its glowing eyes toward Azhaan, vines whipping toward him with deadly speed.

"Shadow Stalker, now!" Azhaan shouted.

The beast sprang into action, leaping in front of the vines and taking the brunt of the attack. It phased into shadow at the last second, avoiding serious harm but buying Azhaan the time he needed.

Focusing on the energy coursing through the tree, Azhaan closed his eyes and reached out with his mind. He didn't know exactly what he was doing, but the connection felt instinctive, as if the forest itself was guiding him.

The ground beneath the Guardian began to shift. Roots erupted from the earth, wrapping around the beast's legs and arms. The vines that made up its body thrashed wildly, but the roots held firm, tightening their grip.

The Guardian let out a deafening roar, its glowing eyes flaring with rage.

Azhaan opened his eyes, the mark on his arm blazing with light. "You're part of the forest," he said, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him. "And the forest has had enough of you."

The roots surged upward, completely enveloping the Guardian in a cocoon of earth and vines. The beast struggled, but its movements grew weaker as the forest reclaimed it. Within moments, the clearing fell silent.

Azhaan collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving. The Shadow Stalker padded over to him, nudging his arm gently with its nose.

"You did it," Kaela said, her voice filled with both relief and pride as she crossed the stream to join him.

Azhaan looked up at her, his exhaustion evident. "Did I pass?"

Kaela grinned. "You passed."

Alira emerged from the shadows, her expression unreadable. "Not bad, rookie. Not bad at all. The forest accepted you—and that's not something it does lightly."

Azhaan managed a weak smile. "So… do I get my answers now?"

Alira smirked. "A deal's a deal. Rest up, kid. We've got a lot to talk about."

As Azhaan leaned against the Shadow Stalker, a sense of accomplishment washed over him. For the first time since arriving in Aetheris, he felt like he might actually belong. But he also knew this was only the beginning.

The Wild had tested him—and it wouldn't be the last time.