Day fifty-one. It was the first full day of dedicated zone monitoring.
Draven stood at the zone boundary as sunrise painted the sky orange and gold. The purple-white mist swirled beyond the invisible line that separated the corruption from the clean forest air.
He knelt, examining the simple markers they had placed yesterday—rocks positioned precisely at the boundary edge. The mist had moved forward. Maybe two centimeters. Barely noticeable, and it could be due to natural fluctuation.
"Is anything different?" Zor called from overhead, circling at a safe distance above the zone perimeter.
"Maybe," Draven said carefully. "The boundary might have shifted forward slightly. We need more days to confirm if it is actually growing or if this is just normal movement."
Zor landed on a nearby branch. "If it is growing, that is not good."
"No," Draven agreed. "It is not."
By afternoon, they had established a proper monitoring system. Sylvara's scholarly mind organized everything methodically. Markers were placed every ten meters around the zone perimeter. Measurements were taken three times daily—morning, noon, and evening. The Genesis Codex recorded everything for analysis.
Malvorn used his earth communion to sense underground expansion. "The below-surface movement matches the above. The purple corruption is spreading through the soil and roots. It is slow. Very slow. But it is definitely moving outward."
Feyra marked the current boundary on the rough map she had drawn. "If it keeps growing, how long until it reaches that village you mentioned? The one that is two days' travel away?"
Draven calculated mentally. "At the current rate, it would take years. Maybe decades. But if the expansion accelerates, the implication changes."
Velnar clicked thoughtfully. "The old stable zones existed for centuries without changing. This one grows. It has a different nature. It is more dangerous in the long term."
Days passed with a consistent pattern.
Day fifty-two. Morning measurements showed three centimeters of growth overnight.
Day fifty-three. Four centimeters this time. Sylvara updated the records carefully. "Is this acceleration, or normal variance? We need more data."
Day fifty-four. Two centimeters. Slower today, but still moving outward. The pattern was inconsistent, but the trend was clear—the zone was definitely expanding.
By day fifty-six, they had documented over twenty centimeters of total expansion. The overall average was roughly one meter per week.
"It is not stopping," Draven said during the evening measurement on day fifty-six. "Whatever creates these zones, it is not a one-time event. It is active. It is continuous. It is spreading."
"Which means the threat grows every day," Zor said grimly. "It is slow enough that we do not notice day-to-day. But it is fast enough to matter in the long term."
The weight of that realization settled over them. It was not an immediate crisis, but it was an inevitable disaster if left unchecked.
The Genesis Codex compiled the week's data into a visual format. "At the current rate, the zone will double in size within two years," Sylvara summarized. "If the rate accelerates—which seems likely based on the slight upward trend—it could double within one year instead."
"And the village two days away becomes threatened within a decade," Malvorn rumbled. "Maybe sooner. People would need to evacuate. They would need to abandon everything."
"Unless someone figures out how to stop it," Draven said quietly. "Or at least figures out how to slow it down."
---
Training happened daily between monitoring shifts. They could not watch the zone constantly; they needed to stay sharp and ready.
Feyra practiced size manipulation under Sylvara's guidance. The newest Lord-tier was still adjusting to the new abilities.
"Focus on your core," Sylvara instructed. "The size change is density manipulation. You are compressing or expanding your mass-energy relationship."
Feyra concentrated. Her four-foot form rippled and grew: five feet, six, seven, eight feet of magnificent white fox covered in blooming green roses.
"Good! Now shrink down. Slowly. Maintain control throughout the transition."
She focused again. Eight feet became one foot tall—a tiny fennec fox with roses that remained perfectly proportioned.
"I am smaller than a house cat," Feyra's voice came out squeaky at the reduced size. "This is amazing! I could hide anywhere!"
"You can also grow to eight feet when enemies least expect it," Zor added approvingly. "That is a tactical advantage."
Feyra shifted back to her normal four feet. "It is getting easier each day. It felt like pulling my own bones apart the first few times. Now it is just natural."
Malvorn practiced separately. Twenty-five stories of earth-element power maintaining a perfect magnitude zero. Draven watched as the Overlord moved through precise forms. No tremors. No accidents. Just perfect control.
"Three months ago you could not move without causing earthquakes," Draven observed. "Now you are more controlled than most Lord-tier beasts I have seen."
"You taught me that control is not suppression," Malvorn replied. "It is understanding. Knowing exactly where my power is. I am not fighting nature. I am working with it."
"The ultimatum that Raziel gave expires soon," Draven said with confidence. "Three months of control demonstrated. If he checks on you, he will see you have mastered yourself completely."
Afternoons focused on group coordination. Four Lord-tier beasts, one Overlord, one human bearer. They practiced fighting as a unified force.
"Left flank, Velnar! Zor, take dive pattern three! Sylvara, use suppressing fire! Feyra, use your small form, slip through, and heal Velnar's position!"
They moved like water. Flowing. Adapting. Supporting each other instinctively. The week of training showed results. They were not just powerful individuals; they were a unified pack.
"We are getting better," Zor said after one particularly smooth drill. "The communication is improving. We are starting to predict each other's movements."
"That is what family does," Malvorn rumbled. "It knows each other. It trusts each other. It fights together."
Evenings meant simple meals together around the fire. Feyra told stories. Zor shared memories of the war. Velnar spoke of centuries watching forests grow. Sylvara discussed theories. Malvorn listened mostly. Draven watched his family. Four beasts and one Overlord who had become his pack. He knew he would protect them with everything he had.
---
Day fifty-seven. The last day of their first monitoring week.
Draven knelt at the boundary markers. The purple-white mist had advanced another four centimeters since morning. The total weekly expansion was approximately one meter three centimeters.
"The zone is definitely growing," Draven confirmed aloud. "It is not fast enough for immediate danger, but continuous expansion will eventually threaten the nearby settlements."
Sylvara updated the Codex. "The pattern shows a slight acceleration over the week. Day one was the slowest. Day seven was the fastest. If the trend continues, the expansion rate will keep increasing."
They gathered around the evening fire, the data collected, but the understanding incomplete.
"We know this one zone exists," Draven summarized. "We know it is expanding. We know it killed the Thunder Wolf. We have no idea if similar zones exist elsewhere."
Zor finished his thought. "We are isolated. We have no outside information."
"Could we travel to the stable zones?" Sylvara suggested. "We could see if they are changing too."
"That is an option," Draven agreed. "But those zones are spread across the continent. It would take months to visit even a few of them."
Malvorn rumbled. "So we continue monitoring this zone. We document the changes. We wait." He paused. "We are isolated out here. Who would even bring us information?"
The uncomfortable silence stretched. Waiting was the only real option despite their frustration.
Then Malvorn stiffened. Magnitude zero flickered slightly. His earth communion was suddenly active and urgent.
"Something is coming," he said quietly. His crystalline features focused on the distant mountains.
Draven stood instantly, hand moving to his blade. "What is it? Another corrupted beast?"
"No. Not corruption." Malvorn's massive form turned slowly, facing the northeast. "Something else. Something... powerful. Very powerful. It is approaching our location deliberately."
Zor launched into the air immediately. "I will scout ahead and see what—"
"Wait," Malvorn commanded, his voice radiating authority. "Do not approach whatever this is. The power signature is like mine. Overlord-tier. It is massive, controlled, and not corrupted. It is moving straight toward us with a clear purpose."
Silence was absolute.
"Another Overlord?" Draven asked carefully. "Coming here? Why?"
"Unknown. But Overlords do not travel randomly. Something brought whoever this is directly to our location. They know we are here."
The presence grew stronger. Even those without earth communion could feel it now. The air temperature was rising noticeably. Fire element. Massive fire element approaching. Mountains worth of thermal energy moving steadily closer.
"Volcanic signature," Malvorn identified. "Magma-based. Immense control but overwhelming power beneath. This is stronger than me. Significantly stronger. Ancient power. One of the strongest beings in Theia."
The Genesis Codex pulsed gently. Adhivar's presence flowed to Draven: Recognition. Known entity. Not threat.
The presence intensified. Close now. Very close. Heat distortion was visible on the horizon through the trees.
"They are not hiding their power," Malvorn assessed. "They want us to know they are coming. This is deliberate. Announced."
"So we wait," Draven said firmly. "We stand here. We show we are not afraid. And we find out who is coming and what they want."
The pack formed a protective formation around Draven instinctively. Four Lord-tier beasts, one Overlord, one human bearer. Family united. Ready.
The heat grew stronger. The presence was overwhelming. Almost here.
Someone was coming. Someone powerful. Someone who might finally have the answers they desperately needed.
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