The chamber trembled as the corrupted beastman faltered, its hulking frame lurching backward.
Leon saw it—the hesitation in its movements, the way the black veins pulsing beneath its fur flickered and dimmed. The corruption's grip was weakening.
Kaelen didn't stop. His daggers slashed through the last of the dark carvings on the pedestal, and the air itself seemed to shudder.
A deep, guttural howl erupted from the beastman—one of pain, not rage.
Jarek, still catching his breath, blinked. "Did we actually—?"
Before he could finish, the ground cracked beneath them.
The corruption wasn't giving up without a fight.
---
The Last Struggle
Leon barely had time to react before the beastman lunged again, its massive claws swiping through the air.
But this time—it was slower.
Leon twisted aside, sword flashing in a precise counterstrike. His blade bit deep, cutting through the beastman's side—and this time, the wound didn't close.
It howled, staggering back. Its body was breaking down.
Rhun moved next, his spear piercing through its shoulder, pinning it in place. "It's no longer invincible."
Kaelen landed beside Leon, his gaze sharp. "Then let's finish this."
Leon nodded.
With the corruption weakened, it was no longer a battle of endurance—it was a battle of strength.
And they were stronger.
---
The Final Blow
The beastman snarled, its form trembling, disjointed. The darkness binding it was unraveling, but its eyes—those black pits—still burned with desperation.
It knew it was dying.
Leon exhaled, raising his sword. "Rest now."
Then—
He dashed forward.
The beast swung wildly, but Leon was faster.
His blade sank into its chest, piercing through corrupted flesh and striking deep into the core of its being.
A violent pulse erupted from the wound, sending waves of dark mist spiraling outward.
The beastman stiffened—then let out a final, rattling breath.
The corruption shattered.
Its body collapsed, the dark energy dispersing into nothingness.
Silence filled the chamber.
Then, the oppressive weight in the air vanished.
It was over.
---
The Aftermath
Rhun pulled his spear free, exhaling deeply. "That should not have been possible."
Kaelen cleaned his daggers, eyes still watching the fallen body. "Something else is at work here."
Leon agreed. This wasn't just ordinary corruption.
It was something more.
Jarek, finally breathing normally, slumped to the ground. "I hate ancient ruins. Just putting that out there."
Leon stepped toward the pedestal, now cleansed of its dark markings. The once-tainted stone glowed faintly, as if freed from a great weight.
The trial had been corrupted.
But who—or what—was responsible?
As the echoes of battle faded, Leon knew one thing for certain—
This was only the beginning.
---