The air grew colder as night fell, the mist thickening to a near-impenetrable veil. The tension in Hallowglen was suffocating, the villagers’ breaths shallow as they clung to their torches and prayed silently. On the walls, warriors and hunters stood ready, their hands trembling only slightly as they gripped their weapons. The faint glow of the fires reflected in their eyes, casting them in an almost spectral light.

  Kalenor stood at the northern wall, his sharp amber gaze fixed on the forest beyond. The mist shifted unnaturally, curling and twisting as if alive. And then, from the depths of the fog, they emerged.

  The husks shambled forward, their grotesque forms barely human. Their bodies were twisted and decayed, blackened branches erupting from their flesh, their eyes dark pits of nothingness. They moved with a grotesque rhythm, groaning and wheezing as they dragged themselves closer to the village. Behind them, the forest groaned under the weight of something larger, unseen but unmistakably powerful.

  The warriors and hunters tightened their grips on their weapons, their fear replaced with grim determination. Bastions of flame had been erected along the walls, rows of torches burning brightly in defiance of the encroaching darkness. Rows of arrows, their tips wrapped in cloth soaked in oil, were lined up and ready to be fired.

  Kalenor’s cloak billowed in the faint breeze as he raised his hand, signaling the patrols to hold steady. The carpenter approached him, carrying a barrel of flammable lacquer. “Use this,” the carpenter said, his voice steady. “It’ll make the arrows burn hotter and longer.”

  Kalenor nodded, though he decided to keep the lacquer in reserve for now. “Thank you,” he said simply, his mind already racing with strategies. The carpenter gave a curt nod and returned to his position near the main hall, his sword and shield ready.

  As the husks drew closer, Kalenor raised his voice. “Archers! Ready your arrows!”

  The warriors and hunters quickly moved to their positions, lighting the cloth-wrapped tips of their arrows from the torches. The flames crackled and hissed, their light dancing against the darkened forest.

  Kalenor watched as the shambling creatures neared the outer gate, their groans growing louder, more guttural. His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword as he gave the order.

  “Fire!”

  A volley of flaming arrows arced through the night sky, their fiery trails briefly illuminating the mist. They struck the front ranks of the husks, the flames igniting their corrupted bodies. The creatures let out shrill, unnatural screeches as they burned, their movements becoming erratic before they collapsed into smoldering heaps.

  But the attack did little to slow the tide. For every husk that fell, more emerged from the mist, their grotesque forms illuminated by the flickering firelight. They pressed forward, undeterred by the flames or the death of their kin.

  Then, the ground began to tremble.

  Kalenor’s sharp eyes scanned the forest, searching for the source of the disturbance. The mist parted slightly, and for a brief moment, he saw it—a massive figure moving through the trees, its shadow casting a menacing silhouette. The Lady in Blue stood at its side, her horned figure barely visible through the swirling fog.

  “It’s her,” Kalenor muttered under his breath. His grip on his sword tightened as he turned to the patrols. “Prepare yourselves! Something bigger is coming!”

  The warriors and hunters exchanged uneasy glances but obeyed, readying their weapons and steadying their nerves. The fires burned brighter, their heat pushing back against the cold mist, but the sense of dread only deepened.

  The ground shook again, harder this time, as the massive figure drew closer. The mist parted once more, and the monster revealed itself.

  Kalenor’s eyes widened as the creature stepped into the firelight. It was massive, its hulking frame covered in dense, mossy growths that dripped with moisture. Thick, jagged roots and vines snaked across its body, pulsing faintly with corrupted energy. Its green-tinged eyes glowed with a predatory hunger, and its breath came in deep, rumbling growls. Blackened claws, sharp as blades, dug into the earth with each step, leaving deep gouges in its wake.

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  Before Kalenor could speak, one of the hunters shouted, his voice breaking with fear. “It’s a Mossback Bear! Gods help us!”

  The words sent a ripple of unease through the patrols. Kalenor’s grip on his sword tightened. “What is a Mossback Bear?” he demanded, his tone sharp.

  The hunter turned to him, his face pale. “It’s one of the oldest beasts in Brynshale! They’re territorial and deadly enough on their own, but corrupted like this? It’s unstoppable!”

  The Mossback Bear let out a deafening roar, its voice reverberating through the village like a thunderclap. The husks scattered, their movements frenzied as they seemed to make way for the beast. The Lady in Blue remained motionless, her presence a silent command over the chaos.

  Kalenor steeled himself, his jaw clenched. “It’s not unstoppable. Archers! Aim for the bear! Fire at will!”

  The hunters and warriors loosed their arrows, the flaming projectiles striking the Mossback Bear’s mossy hide. But the flames sputtered and died almost instantly, the moisture clinging to its body extinguishing the fire before it could take hold. The beast roared again, swiping at the wall with its massive claws, sending splinters flying.

  Kalenor turned to the carpenter, who stood ready with the barrel of lacquer. “We need the lacquer now!” he ordered.

  The carpenter nodded and began coating a fresh set of arrows with the flammable substance. Kalenor’s mind raced as he calculated their next move. The battle for Hallowglen was far from over, and the Mossback Bear was only the beginning.

  The Mossback Bear let out another ear-shattering roar, its jagged claws raking against the walls as it slammed its massive body into the barricades. The wood groaned, splintering further with each hit. Kalenor, standing on the wall, gritted his teeth. He had fought creatures before, but nothing like this a beast of pure corruption and overwhelming strength.

  “Take care of the husks!” Kalenor shouted to the warriors and hunters along the wall. “Leave the bear to me!”

  The men exchanged uneasy glances but obeyed, their focus shifting to the horde of husks clawing at the gates. Kalenor, with no time to second-guess himself, gripped his sword tightly and leapt down from the wall. As he landed, he recited the runes etched onto his shield, his voice steady and commanding. The mist began to swirl around the shield, solidifying as he reinforced it further with a bolster spell, causing the shield to glow faintly with his Essentaria.

  Kalenor wasted no time. He dashed toward the Mossback Bear, his blade slashing across its forearm. The beast let out a pained growl, stumbling back a few steps before turning its full attention to him. Its glowing green eyes locked onto Kalenor, and it charged.

  The bear swung a massive claw, but Kalenor raised his enchanted shield just in time. The impact sent a jarring shock through his entire body, but the mist held firm. Another swipe came, and Kalenor deflected it, sidestepping to avoid the follow-through. The bear roared in frustration, swiping again and again, each strike deflected by the mist-covered shield.

  Kalenor, however, was beginning to falter. His breaths came in ragged gasps, sweat dripping down his face. Every movement was slower, his arms growing heavy with exhaustion. The Mossback Bear, sensing his weariness, lunged forward with terrifying speed. Kalenor narrowly dodged, the beast slamming into the wall behind him with enough force to tear a section of it down.

  The breach was immediate and devastating. The warriors on the wall yelled in alarm as the husks began pouring through the opening. Thinking quickly, they poured the oil they had reserved for the battle into the gap and ignited it. Flames roared to life, creating a fiery barrier that cut off the advancing husks. But the Mossback Bear, now inside the walls, remained focused on Kalenor.

  “Stay back!” Kalenor shouted at the hunters who were attempting to distract the beast. He raised his shield again, preparing for another attack. “This is my fight!”

  One of the hunters yelled back, “Trust us, Scalesworn!” The man hurled a jar of lacquer onto the bear, the sticky substance coating its mossy hide. Kalenor’s mind raced. If this worked, they could end the beast here and now. But the risk was immense.

  Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, Kalenor called upon his draconic powers. Scales erupted across his arms and legs, his limbs elongating and strengthening as he unleashed his partial transformation. His muscles burned with raw energy as he sprinted toward the bonfire, the Mossback Bear charging after him, its massive claws tearing into the ground in its relentless pursuit.

  The distance to the bonfire shrank rapidly. Kalenor could feel the beast’s breath on his back, the corrupted heat of its body washing over him. With the flames roaring just ahead, Kalenor planted his scaled feet firmly into the ground and pushed off with all his might, flipping backward over the charging bear.

  The Mossback Bear surged forward, its momentum carrying it toward the bonfire. As Kalenor landed behind the beast, he drove his shoulder into its hindquarters, ramming it with every ounce of his strength. The combined force of Kalenor’s push and the bear’s uncontrolled charge sent the creature hurtling into the flames.

  The bear erupted into fire, its mossy hide igniting instantly. The beast let out a deafening roar, thrashing wildly as the flames consumed it. It staggered out of the bonfire, its movements erratic and desperate, swinging its massive claws wildly. One of the strikes caught Kalenor in the side, the force of the blow sending him crashing into the dirt several feet away.

  Pain exploded across his torso as blood seeped from the deep gash. Kalenor gasped, struggling to push himself upright. The bear, still ablaze, stumbled back toward the tree line, its roars growing weaker with each step. Finally, it collapsed, the flames reducing it to little more than ash and smoldering remnants.

  The warriors and hunters, emboldened by the sight, cheered as they continued their assault on the husks. The corrupted creatures, now leaderless, faltered in their advance, making them easier targets for the defenders.

  “Kalenor!” a hunter shouted, his voice filled with alarm. “He’s down!”

  The Scalesworn lay motionless near the bonfire, his scaled arms reverting back to their human form. Blood pooled around him, his breaths shallow and labored. The hunter who had lured the bear to the bonfire knelt beside him, desperately calling for help.

  “Stay with us, Scalesworn,” the hunter said, his voice trembling. “We still need you.”

  Kalenor’s amber eyes flickered open, his lips curling into a faint smile. “We… held the line,” he murmured before his vision blurred, and darkness overtook him.