The red eyes under the bridge opened wider, glowing like burning coals.
Lira's breath hitched, and she held onto Kael with both hands.
"Kael… it's looking at us…" she whispered.
Kael pulled her behind him and stared down into the cracks.
A wave of cold air rushed upward, strong enough to make Lira shiver.
The voice of the Sanctuary spoke again:
"Do not fear it.
Fear gives it strength."
Kael frowned.
"Easy for you to say…"
The bridge shook harder.
Long cracks spread under their feet.
Lira grabbed Kael's arm tightly.
"If we fall, we die… right?"
Kael wrapped an arm around her waist.
"We're not falling."
The cracks widened.
A huge claw—black and twisted—broke through the gap in the bridge.
It scraped the air, searching blindly for them.
Lira covered her mouth.
"Kael…"
Kael pulled her back, keeping her behind him.
Another claw came out.
Then another.
The Devourer was climbing up.
The Sanctuary's voice echoed:
"Do not attack.
Do not run.
Move forward together."
Kael grit his teeth.
"So we just walk while that thing climbs up to eat us?!"
But he knew the Sanctuary wasn't wrong.
If they ran, their bond would break.
If they fought, the fear inside them would grow.
He looked at Lira.
"Stay close. Don't think about it."
Lira nodded weakly.
"I'll try…"
They started walking again.
But the bridge shook so violently that Lira nearly slipped.
Kael grabbed her waist and held her steady.
"It's okay. I have you."
But the Devourer wasn't staying below.
A massive head rose through the cracks.
It had no face—only a huge mouth filled with sharp teeth.
Black mist poured out of it like smoke.
Lira trembled uncontrollably.
"Kael… I can't… I can't move…"
Kael cupped her face with both hands.
"Look at me. Not at that thing."
"But—"
"Lira. Look at me."
She finally looked into his eyes.
Kael held her face gently but firmly.
"You're not alone. I'm right here.
Just follow my steps."
Lira nodded, though tears were forming in her eyes.
They started walking again, step by step.
The Devourer slammed its claws onto the bridge behind them.
The entire pathway bent under the pressure.
The beast lunged forward.
Lira screamed and grabbed Kael's arm.
"KAEL!"
Kael turned, shadows rising around him.
The beast roared, shaking the whole bridge.
Kael shouted back:
"WE'RE NOT AFRAID!"
The shadows around Kael expanded, covering Lira too.
And Lira's silver light rose with them.
Their shared power hit the Devourer—not to attack, but to push its presence back.
The beast froze.
It didn't fall.
It didn't retreat.
But it stopped moving.
The Sanctuary's voice returned:
"Good…
Your bond is holding.
Fear is losing its grip."
Lira panted hard.
"That thing… it's terrifying…"
Kael took her hand again.
"I know. But we keep walking."
They stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
Behind them, the Devourer roared again—
—but it didn't move.
It only watched them.
Waiting.
Kael pulled Lira close as they neared the end of the bridge.
Lira whispered, voice shaking:
"Kael… is it gone?"
Kael looked back…
The Devourer's red eyes were still staring.
"No," he said quietly.
"It's not gone."
The Sanctuary spoke once more:
"It has seen you.
It has marked you.
It will come again…
outside the Sanctuary."
Lira's heart dropped.
Kael's hand tightened around hers.
They had survived this trial…
But the Devourer was not finished with them.
Not even close.