Chapter 18: The Warden's Hunt
The Verdant Warden towered above him, a beast woven from root and bark, its limbs gnarled like spears, its eyes blazing with coals. With every step it took, the Hollow seemed to lean closer, as though the forest itself had chosen its champion.
Elias's blade felt pitiful in his grip, a shard of stone against a living fortress. His warriors strained against the tether, their ember eyes flaring. But the pull was worse here — the Hollow's roots constricted their forms, choking their movement.
The system flared.
> [Survive the Hunt.]
Tip: Direct combat not advised.]
The Warden roared, a sound like trees snapping in a storm. It swung its arm, a massive root-hand smashing down. Elias dove aside, the ground shattering where he had stood. Splinters tore his cheek, hot blood dripping.
He bolted through the twisted roots, breath burning. The Warden followed, every step quaking the ground, tearing trees from the soil.
The Hollow whispered as he ran. Coward. Runner. Pretender.
Elias gritted his teeth, shoving through thick vines. Another roar shook the canopy, and the vines twisted suddenly, coiling around his arms and legs.
He hacked at them with his blade, but the vines bled black ichor, screaming like wounded animals. More lashed upward, wrapping his throat.
The illusion came swift.
Seris stood before him, eyes wide, her sword falling from her hands. "Why did you betray us, Elias? Ashwood trusted you… I trusted you."
His chest convulsed. The vines tightened.
The system pulsed.
> [Illusion Restraint Detected.]
Willpower Check — Difficulty Increased.]
His vision blurred. His lungs screamed. He thought of the Council chamber, of her hand steadying him when he bled. He forced the words past the tightening vines.
"You… are not her."
The illusion cracked, shattered like glass. The vines recoiled, hissing, and Elias collapsed to his knees, gasping.
The Warden crashed into the clearing, eyes blazing, jaws yawning wide. Elias staggered up, blade shaking in his hand. He couldn't kill it. Not yet. But maybe… maybe he could endure.
The system chimed.
> [Survive Condition Progress: 32%.]
Stat Gained: Endurance +1.]
The Warden roared again, the sound shaking Elias to the marrow. And then it lunged, forcing him to run once more, deeper into the Hollow.
But as he fled, he realized something chilling — with each illusion resisted, the Hollow seemed to learn him, weaving his deepest fears into sharper weapons.
The girl's voice slid through the chaos, low and amused. "The longer you run, the hungrier it becomes. Tell me, Elias… how many fears can you face before you break?"
Moonrise was still distant. The hunt had only begun.