The battlefield churned in a storm of fog, embers, and screaming steel.
Beasts roared.
Talons struck.
Aeron fought in the middle of it all, half-healed and fully irritated.
But then—
Everything stopped.
Just for a moment.
A deep, resonant growl rolled through the air, vibrating the bones of every creature present.
Even the Red Talons paused, momentarily stunned.
Aeron felt the vibration in his chest, as if something ancient had reached through his ribcage and gripped his heart.
He turned toward the largest Ashrend beast—the first one that had bowed to him.
Its ember cracks glowed brighter, shifting from orange to molten gold.
Aeron blinked.
"Wait… that's new."
The beast lowered its head and stepped toward him, each footfall shaking the ground. Its pack parted around it in quiet reverence.
The Red Talons watched warily.
Serik's voice drifted through the haze.
"Do you know what they are, Aeron?"
Aeron wiped blood from his jaw.
"Big, angry, lava wolves?"
"No."
Serik stepped into view, blade dripping red.
"They are older than wolves. Older than man. Older even than the first sword masters."
The air trembled again.
The beast exhaled a plume of steam and fire before kneeling—kneeling—before Aeron.
Aeron held up both hands.
"No. No kneeling. I'm not accepting applications for divine pets."
Serik ignored him.
"Ashrend beasts are children of the Sixth Forge, created in the age when gods walked freely. Their purpose was singular."
The beast growled—long, low, vibrating the stones beneath them.
Aeron frowned.
"Purpose?"
Serik's silver eyes narrowed.
"To hunt immortals."
Aeron froze.
The beast's eyes glowed gold—mirroring the faint golden curse-line beneath Aeron's shirt.
Serik continued, voice almost ritualistic:
"They were forged to devour the undying. To devour you. Yet they bow instead."
Aeron felt a chill—not of fear, but of comprehension dawning slowly.
"Why?" he demanded.
Serik's smile was thin and dark.
"Your curse is not merely a punishment. It is a brand. A beacon. And the beasts recognize it."
The Ashrend beast rumbled again, more forceful this time. Aeron felt its presence pressing against him—like a massive, ancient instinct brushing his soul.
A sudden flash surged across Aeron's vision—
A Vision of the First Forge
Fire.
Hammers.
Gods towering like mountains.
A massive forge glowing white-hot.
Creators shaping beasts with claws like swords and hearts like furnaces.
A voice, echoing like thunder inside Aeron's skull:
"THE IMMORTAL MUST GUARD THE GATE.
THE BEASTS SHALL GUARD THE IMMORTAL."
Aeron staggered back, clutching his head.
The vision snapped away.
The beast stepped closer, touching its snout to Aeron's chest—directly over the curse scar.
A low, mournful sound escaped it.
Aeron whispered, shaken, "They're… not hunting me."
Serik nodded.
"They are following their original command. In the age of the gods, the immortal was not prey. He was the protector. And they were his shield."
A beast roared—loud, furious, territorial.
The Red Talons flinched.
Aeron looked around at the pack—massive bodies, glowing plates, maws filled with fire—and realized something sickening:
"They're defending me."
Serik lifted his cursed blade.
"Correct. Which means the gods—your gods—did not curse you to wander alone."
He leveled the blade at Aeron's chest.
"They intended for you to command them."
Aeron recoiled slightly.
"Oh absolutely not. I'm not leading a herd of volcanic murder-dogs."
Another beast approached and nudged his arm, almost affectionately.
Aeron groaned.
"Oh gods… they like me."
Serik's expression darkened.
"And that is exactly why Varkos wants you."
The beasts growled at the warlord's name.
Aeron looked between the Talons and the pack—between ancient loyalty and present danger.
His thoughts tangled.
His pulse raced.
But not from fear.
From dread.
Not of death—he couldn't die.
But of responsibility.
"Why me?" Aeron asked quietly.
Serik answered with a solemn whisper:
"Because the return of a god requires three things:
a key,
a sacrifice,
and a guardian."
Aeron's stomach flipped.
"And I'm all three?"
Serik nodded.
"Yes. And these beasts… are the last surviving reminder."
The largest beast roared so loudly the fog itself split apart.
The pack surged forward.
The Talons raised their blades.
And Aeron realized his choices were gone.
The battle wasn't a three-way fight anymore.
It was everyone against everyone
for him.