Now that it was up close, she could see everything. The rancid black veins spiderwebbing across its flesh. The way its mouth stretched too wide, revealing rows upon rows of rotting, jagged teeth.
A putrid energy leaked off it, something ancient, rotten, and malevolent.
Thalina shuddered.
"This thing is… wrong."
Tharion didn't answer immediately. He was breathing heavily, his hands trembling slightly as he kept the shield up.
Then, his jaw clenched. "We need to run. Now."
Thalina shook her head. "Wait—"
"No." Tharion's voice was sharper than usual. "It's draining my energy on purpose."
Thalina's stomach twisted.
The Hunter wasn't just attacking blindly.
It was smart.
It wasn't trying to break the shield.
It was feeding on it.
The air was thick with tension, suffocating, as Thalina turned to Tharion.
