Hero of war : The divine beast

Kael's gaze locked onto the knife lying on the kitchen counter. Slowly, cautiously, he picked it up, the blade trembling in his hand. **Knock. Knock.** The sound came again, harder this time. Kael flinched, his heart pounding. Should I open it? He edged closer to the door, every muscle in his body tensed.

**Bang!** A clap of thunder lit up the room, and in that brief flash, Kael saw the silhouette of the figure outside. It was tall and unnaturally thin, its posture twisted and inhuman. Kael froze. A cold wave of dread swept over him. This isn't human.

Ellia's warning echoed in his mind: *Nyxen disguise themselves as humans to lure their prey.*

Kael bit back a scream, clamping a hand over his mouth. **Knock. Knock.** The door rattled under the force, the wood creaking ominously. Kael's eyes darted around the room. *I need to escape.* Behind the bed, a small ventilation hole offered a glimmer of hope. *That's my way out.*

But his mind raced with doubts. *What if it catches me before I reach it?* His breathing steadied, and his expression hardened. If I want to survive, I have to outsmart it.

**Bang!** The door splintered under the next strike, and the creature stepped inside. Its monstrous voice rumbled, "Gone already? Foolish brat."

But Kael was ready. From the shadows to its left, he struck, plunging the knife into its throat. Black blood gushed from the wound, and the Nyxen staggered. Kael didn't wait to see the results. He sprinted toward the hole, adrenaline fueling his every step.

Just as he reached the opening, something wrapped around his arm—a slick, purple tentacle. Panicking, Kael slashed at it with the knife, severing the appendage. Ignoring the searing pain in his arm, he crawled through the hole and out into the rain.

As he stumbled to his feet, a sense of dread settled over him. Something was wrong. His vision blurred, and he looked down to see a cut on his wrist where the black blood had mingled with his own. A searing pain spread through his body, but Kael clenched his teeth. *This is nothing. The lab was worse.*

Thunder cracked, illuminating the forest. Behind him, two massive figures emerged from the shadows. Kael's heart pounded as he sprinted away, but from the trees ahead, another figure rose. Its body blended with the darkness, but its grotesque grin gleamed through the night—a smile that stretched unnaturally from its nose to its chest.

Kael veered to the side, but a hand shot out from the ground, grabbing his leg. He screamed, the sound swallowed by the storm.

---

In the camp, Asmodius sat across from his friend Luke, a gnawing unease prickling at his thoughts.

"Something feels wrong," Asmodius muttered.

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Feels wrong about what?"

"I don't know," Asmodius admitted. He glanced at Luke and said, "I think I'll check on Kael."

"Kael? You mean the captain's kid?"

"Yeah. It's late, and the captain isn't around. Keep the tent safe," Asmodius said as he rose to his feet.

"Got it. Just don't take too long," Luke replied.

Asmodius stepped out into the rain, his heart lurching when he heard a scream from the direction of the captain's cabin. Kael's scream. Without hesitation, he sprinted uphill, dread clawing at his chest.

---

Kael was surrounded. Three Nyxen loomed over him, their grotesque forms twisting in the rain. Blood dripped from Kael's head, and his drenched clothes clung to his battered body. He raised his knife, its edge cracked and dull.

*I'm trapped. The knife won't last. Think, Kael. Think.*

He was too slow. A hand lashed out from behind, piercing his back. Kael collapsed to the ground, his vision dimming. One of the Nyxen leaned over him, its monstrous grin inches from his face. Rows of jagged teeth lined a mouth that stretched impossibly wide.

Kael closed his eyes, ready to accept his fate.

A voice echoed through his mind—a child's voice. *Giving up so soon?*

Kael opened his eyes and found himself in a vast, white plain. A thin layer of water rippled beneath his feet. Before him stood a younger version of himself, but different—animal-like ears adorned his head, and a tail swayed behind him.

"Remember, Kael," the boy said, his voice steady. "We are the divine beast. The best of our kind. Focus. Remember who you are."

Pain jolted Kael back to reality. A Nyxen bit into his arm, its fangs tearing into his flesh. But Kael's body moved on its own. His appearance shifted—his nails elongated into gem-like claws, and his teeth sharpened into fangs. Fury burned in his eyes.

Kael sank his fangs into the Nyxen, locking it in place. The voice returned. *Take what you've lost from your enemies.* Kael clawed at the creature's head, ripping it clean off.

A devilish grin spread across his face as he stood, blood dripping from his claws. "Who's next?" he growled.

The other Nyxen transformed, their bodies sprouting countless tentacle-like arms. One charged at Kael, but before it could fully transform, he dashed behind it, claws digging into its flesh. With a sickening crack, Kael snapped its neck.

Lightning flashed, illuminating Kael's monstrous form atop the lifeless Nyxen.

The remaining Nyxen lashed out, a tentacle tripping Kael mid-dodge. He slammed into a tree, his wounds reopening. Blood poured from his mouth as his once-confident smirk twisted in pain. His body began to deform, his ears splitting and bleeding.

The Nyxen lunged, its arms aiming to finish him off.

But before they could strike, Asmodius appeared, cutting them down with a swift slash. He chanted, his voice steady and powerful.

"O holy light, I call upon thee to smite my foe. Holy X Slash!"

Two radiant slashes carved into the Nyxen, splitting it in half.

Asmodius sheathed his sword and scooped up Kael's limp body. Blood soaked his arms as he sprinted back to camp, muttering under his breath, "I have to hurry."