Chapter 16: The Maw of the North
The wind howled as it swept across the northern wilderness, biting into the flesh of anyone daring to venture too close. Caelen's boots crunched the frost underfoot, each step a reminder of the harsh terrain they were crossing. He was used to the cold by now, having spent countless hours training in the blizzards and snowstorms of the highlands, but this... this was different. The chill of the northern expanse seemed to seep into the very bones, numbing all sense of time and urgency.
He glanced back at the ragtag group following him, each of them struggling to keep pace in the deep snow. These were the people who had, for better or worse, joined him on this journey to the north. Some, like him, had been born into hardship, and others were simply swept into the current of fate. All were united now by the same goal—survival.
"Keep moving," Caelen muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible above the wind's deafening wail.
Even in the face of such extreme conditions, the group pressed on. Ethan Walker was ahead of him, with his ever-confident stride. There was something unnerving about the way Ethan moved, though. It wasn't just the way he seemed to cut through the wind effortlessly, nor the way his golden eyes seemed to always be scanning their surroundings, as though he could see the invisible threats that lurked beyond the storm. It was more than that. Ethan was different now—changed.
The energy that Caelen had felt pulsating from Ethan back in the cave had only grown stronger since they began their trek north. There were moments when Caelen could almost hear a hum in the air, a vibration that echoed from Ethan's very core. It was subtle, but unmistakable—a presence that seemed to stretch beyond the normal flow of magic, something almost primal.
But it wasn't just the magic that concerned Caelen. It was the person himself. Ethan had always been a mystery, even before the explosion of power that had altered him so. The way he interacted with others had grown increasingly distant, as though he were watching them from afar, evaluating them for some unknown purpose.
"Stay sharp," Ethan's voice broke through Caelen's thoughts. He glanced up to find the other man looking back at him, his golden eyes reflecting the dim light of the overcast sky. "Something's coming."
Caelen narrowed his eyes, instinctively reaching for his weapon. The others had yet to notice, but that wouldn't last. Something was coming—something big.
He could feel it now too. The air was shifting. It was like the very landscape around them was holding its breath, waiting for something terrible to happen.
"Get ready," Ethan said, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "This is going to be interesting."
The ground shook beneath their feet as an unnatural roar split the air. It was distant at first, like thunder rolling in from the horizon, but then it grew louder—closer. The snow around them began to swirl, whipped into a frenzy by the force of whatever was approaching. Caelen's heart rate quickened, and he instinctively pulled his cloak tighter around him, bracing himself for the inevitable.
The beast appeared in the distance, its hulking form cutting through the storm like a predator sensing its prey. It was massive—at least thirty feet tall, with black scales that seemed to shimmer with an ethereal glow, reflecting the harsh light of the storm. Its eyes were a piercing white, cold and calculating, and its fangs were as long as Caelen's arm, sharp as the ice surrounding them.
"Drake," Caelen muttered under his breath. "A northern drake."
Ethan's eyes gleamed with amusement, but his posture remained relaxed, almost nonchalant, as though this was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. "It's not going to be easy, but it won't be a problem."
The group began to rally behind them, weapons drawn and faces tense. They had faced countless monsters in the past, but the northern drake was on another level. No mere mortal could defeat it without a strategy—and even then, the chances were slim.
"Do you have a plan?" Caelen asked, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword. He wasn't one to question Ethan often, but this was different. The stakes were too high.
Ethan's smirk widened, his golden eyes flashing with excitement. "I do. But you're going to have to trust me on this."
Before Caelen could respond, Ethan stepped forward, his energy flaring in an almost palpable wave. The snow around them seemed to shift, moving with a life of its own as if responding to his presence. The group faltered for a moment, stunned by the sheer power radiating from the man.
"What are you—?" Caelen began, but his voice caught in his throat as he watched the energy around Ethan intensify.
Without warning, Ethan raised his hand, and the wind obeyed. A sudden, violent gust of air slammed into the northern drake, sending it stumbling back. The drake roared in fury, its massive wings beating against the sky as it tried to steady itself. But Ethan wasn't done.
He moved swiftly, the air around him crackling with raw energy. With a flick of his wrist, the ground erupted beneath the drake, sending jagged spikes of ice and stone shooting up toward its underbelly. The creature howled in pain as the spikes embedded deep into its flesh, but it was far from finished. It lashed out, its tail sweeping through the air, smashing through the spikes and sending shards of ice flying in every direction.
Caelen barely had time to react, dodging one of the shards as it whizzed past him. He could hear the gasps of the others behind him as they braced for the oncoming battle.
"Get ready," Ethan shouted, his voice now calm and collected. "This is where it gets interesting."
Caelen nodded grimly. There was no turning back now.
The drake lunged forward, its jaws snapping shut with a deafening crack. Caelen ducked, narrowly avoiding the creature's attack. He could feel the heat of its breath on his skin, the stench of sulfur and blood filling the air. It was fast—faster than anything of its size had any right to be.
But Ethan wasn't caught off guard. He moved with the precision of someone who had fought such creatures before, his energy flaring as he manipulated the environment around them. He raised his hand once more, and this time, the ground beneath the drake shifted again, causing the beast to stumble forward.
Caelen didn't waste the opportunity. He charged forward, his sword flashing as he aimed for the drake's exposed side. He connected with the beast's scales, but the sword barely made a dent. The northern drake's hide was tough, impervious to most attacks. But Caelen had been trained for this moment—he had trained for an enemy like this. He didn't let the failure of his first strike deter him.
Instead, he danced around the beast, landing blow after blow on its massive frame. Each attack was calculated, finding weak points in the drake's armor, but nothing seemed to slow it down. The beast howled, thrashing wildly as it tried to bring its claws down on Caelen.
From the corner of his eye, Caelen saw Ethan moving again, his energy building in intensity. The air around them shimmered as though reality itself was bending to Ethan's will. With a sharp motion, he launched a bolt of energy directly at the drake, striking it in the eye. The creature recoiled, letting out a pained scream as it staggered back.
But it wasn't enough to finish it. Not yet.
Ethan's eyes flashed, his energy expanding outward as he prepared for the final blow.
This was where it would all come to a head. Caelen could feel the tension in the air, the weight of the battle pressing down on them. He knew that they had only one shot to end this before the drake turned the tide in its favor.
Ethan's golden eyes locked onto the creature's chest, and with a single word, he released the full extent of his power. "Die."
A wave of energy rippled outward, engulfing the drake in a blinding flash of light. The force of the explosion shattered the air around them, sending Caelen to his knees as the ground trembled beneath him. The drake let out one final, deafening roar before its massive form crumpled to the ground, motionless.
It was over.
For now.