Hollowfang let out a deep, terrible roar—a sound that shook the trees like thunder filled with hate. Its sharp, shadow-covered claw rose into the air, glowing with dark energy as it swung down toward Kai. The beast's eyes burned like two hot coals, locked onto him with the fierce focus of a hunter ready to kill.
Kai didn't think—he just moved. His body reacted on its own. He ducked low, muscles tightening as the huge claw sliced just above his head. The air screamed with the sound, like metal scraping bone, sending a chill through him.
But then he slipped.
The wet forest floor, covered in rotting leaves, shifted under his boots. He lost his balance and fell backward, slamming face-first into the mossy trunk of a twisted old tree. The hit knocked the air from his lungs, and his vision blurred with stars.
