The wind howled through the vast plains as Leon and his companions traveled southward. The terrain had begun to change—the rolling hills and scattered forests of the neutral lands were giving way to jagged rock formations and vast open stretches of wild terrain.
This was the Beastman Continent.
Rhun walked ahead, his golden eyes sharp as he scanned the horizon. "We'll reach Stormclaw Fortress in three days if we maintain this pace."
Leon nodded, adjusting his gear. They had little time to waste.
The corruption had disrupted the trials. Something was interfering with the natural order of the world. And the First Fang might be the key to understanding why.
But the journey would not be easy.
Kaelen, walking beside Leon, kept his voice low. "You know, once we reach Stormclaw, things are going to get complicated."
Leon glanced at him. "Because of the emperor?"
Kaelen nodded. "Beastmen don't take kindly to outsiders meddling in their affairs. And breaking into their sacred vault?" He let out a quiet chuckle. "That's not something they'll just let us do."
Leon already knew that.
The Beastman Emperor's Vault wasn't just a treasury—it was a symbol of power. To enter it without permission was to challenge the very authority of the beastman race.
Rhun glanced back at them. "We won't be breaking in."
Jarek scoffed. "Oh? And what's the plan? Walk up to the front gate and ask nicely?"
Rhun's expression was unreadable. "Something like that."
Leon frowned. He had a feeling Rhun wasn't telling them everything.
---
The Presence of a Predator
By the time night fell, they had set up camp in a rocky outcrop, using the stone formations as cover from the cold wind.
Kaelen tended to the fire while Jarek checked their supplies. Rhun stood watch at the edge of the camp, his posture tense.
Leon sat on a nearby rock, staring into the flames.
Something about this land felt… different.
It wasn't just the looming presence of beastman authority. It was something deeper.
Something watching them.
Leon slowly reached for his sword. "We're not alone."
Jarek froze. "Wait, what?"
Kaelen's hand immediately went to his daggers. "Where?"
Rhun didn't move. "They've been following us for some time."
Leon narrowed his eyes. "You knew?"
Rhun finally turned to face them. "They weren't a threat. Not yet."
Kaelen scoffed. "And you didn't think to tell us?"
Rhun's ears twitched, his voice calm. "Would it have changed anything?"
Leon exhaled. "How many?"
Rhun looked toward the darkness beyond their camp. "Five. No—six."
Jarek gripped his staff. "Bandits?"
Rhun shook his head. "No."
Leon understood immediately. They were being hunted.
And their hunters had finally decided to make their move.
---
The Shadow Pack
A deep, guttural growl echoed through the night.
Then—movement.
Six figures emerged from the darkness, stepping into the dim glow of the fire. Their forms were sleek and powerful, their golden eyes glowing in the night.
Beastmen.
But these weren't ordinary warriors.
Their movements were too precise. Their presence was too controlled.
They were trained.
Rhun stepped forward, his posture relaxed—but his hand remained on his spear. "Stormclaw sent you?"
One of the beastmen—a tall, muscular warrior with jet-black fur—smirked. "We were sent to ensure you made it to the fortress… unharmed."
Kaelen scoffed. "Right. Because sneaking through the shadows like assassins is totally friendly behavior."
The black-furred beastman chuckled. "It is when the ones we are following are dangerous."
Leon studied them carefully. They weren't here to kill. At least, not yet.
That meant they were under orders.
Leon sheathed his sword, meeting the warrior's gaze. "Then take us to Stormclaw."
The beastman nodded. "As you wish."
The hunt was over.
Now, the real challenge would begin.
---
Stormclaw Fortress Awaits
As they followed their silent escorts, Leon kept his guard up.
Stormclaw Fortress wasn't just any city.
It was one of the greatest strongholds of the beastman race.
And soon, they would walk straight into its heart.
Into the den of warriors.
Into the domain of the Beastman Emperor himself.
---