SS rank Xalvathar: The Soulweaver

Zanele's eyes widened as she watched the mother bear emerge from the forest, a massive creature that seemed even more fearsome as it rose on its hind legs, roaring in grief and rage at the sight of her fallen cub.

"Mama bear!" Zanele gasped.

"Run!" Liyana urged, clutching her spear tightly.

Haruto gripped his sword, bracing himself, his eyes never leaving the bear. But Takumi grabbed his arm, pulling him back.

"Are you crazy?" Takumi hissed. "We can't outrun a bear like that!"

Haruto shook free, his voice sharp with determination. "If we keep running, we might lose it. Let's go!"

Zanele's heart wrenched as she stole one last glance at the cub. But before she could process her feelings, the bear charged after them, its mighty paws thundering on the ground. They sprinted through the dense forest, trees whizzing by as the ground beneath them seemed to tremble with each step of the beast.

Zanele glanced back, and for a fleeting moment, their eyes met—the bear's tear-filled gaze drilling into her very soul. Her legs faltered for just an instant, the weight of that look holding her in place.

"Why are you stopping?" Takumi's voice cut through her daze. He was already several paces ahead, his concern laced with frustration. "Sorry!" she called back, forcing herself to push forward. The dense forest worked in their favor, the thick trees slowing the bear down.

Finally, they stopped, gasping for air as the bear's enraged roars faded into the distance.

"I don't ever want to see another bear again," Liyana muttered, wiping sweat from her brow, her face pale with fear.

"Too bad," Haruto said grimly, his tone more serious than ever. "That bear has our scent. It'll find us sooner or later."

Liyana shot him an exasperated look. "Way to kill the mood."

Zanele turned her gaze to Takumi, her brother's troubled expression catching her attention. She couldn't help but ask, "Ever since we got our ranks, you've seemed… off. What's going on?"

Takumi stared at the ground, his voice low and filled with frustration. "I just… I wanted to be S-rank too. I thought if I was strong enough, I could protect you. But it turns out I'm not strong enough."

Zanele placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, her gaze softening. "Takumi, rank doesn't mean anything. If you fight with everything you've got, you'll protect everyone. And that's what matters."

Before Takumi could respond, Haruto smirked, breaking the moment. "Not to ruin the brother-sister bonding, but Liyana and I have a plan. If we work together, we can either kill the bear or wound it badly enough to make it leave us alone."

Zanele blinked, her brow furrowing in curiosity. "What's the plan?"

Haruto's expression grew serious. "We climb up into the trees and wait. When the bear approaches, we jump down. Zanele and I will aim for the heart, and Liyana and Takumi will focus on its legs. We'll keep it from moving, and if we're lucky, we'll get out of this alive."

Takumi's eyes darkened, but his voice was steady as he nodded. "Understood."

They quickly climbed into the trees, staying as still as possible, the silence hanging heavy between them. Minutes passed like hours until the unmistakable sound of the bear's growl echoed through the forest.

The bear was near.

They all froze, holding their breath as the bear sniffed the air below. It stopped, its head swiveling in every direction, its nostrils flaring. For a moment, it seemed to sense something, but it didn't yet know where they were. It was too late.

They jumped.

Liyana was the first to land, her spear finding its mark in the bear's leg. The beast let out a savage roar, the pain causing it to stagger. Takumi followed swiftly, using his dual daggers to climb up the bear's thick hide. He dug his blades deep into its flesh, and the bear howled, shaking in fury.

Haruto and Zanele landed on its back, the bear bucking violently as it tried to throw them off. Zanele held on tightly, her heart pounding. She pulled out her dual-bladed sword, aiming for the bear's head, but before she could strike, she lost her balance. She tumbled from its back, landing hard on the ground below, the wind knocked out of her.

The bear's eyes fixed on her. It raised one massive paw, its claws gleaming in the dim light, and Zanele realized with horror that it was about to crush her. She froze.

A surge of panic flooded Takumi's chest. His vision blurred. He could see it—he could see his sister's life slipping away. Time seemed to stretch, his mind screaming for him to do something, anything.

"Hey! Over here!" Takumi screamed, his voice desperate.

His eyes turned white, his body moving faster than ever before. He dashed toward the bear, ducking under its claws as it swiped at him in a blind rage. Takumi leaped up, his feet finding purchase on the bear's side as he scrambled up its body.

With a swift twist of his body, Takumi reached the bear's neck. His daggers plunged deep into the beast's flesh. He spun around its neck, driving the blades in with all his strength. The bear's body trembled, its growl turning into a final roar before it collapsed, lifeless.

Takumi fell to the ground, his body soaked in blood. His clothes clung to him, heavy and stained. Zanele looked at him, her breath caught in her throat.

"See?" she said, her voice soft but filled with pride. "You're not weak. You protected me."

Takumi's tired smile was barely there, his energy spent. But for the first time in a long while, he believed her. With a soft sigh, he collapsed, the world fading into darkness.

When he awoke, he was back at his mother's house, the familiar scents of home comforting him as he slowly opened his eyes. Zanele was by his side, her face a picture of relief.

"You're awake!" she exclaimed, her voice full of warmth.

Takumi blinked, disoriented. "What… what happened?"

Zanele's face darkened. "X found us. He said the gate's under attack, and it's not safe to stay outside."

Takumi's heart skipped a beat. "Who attacked?"

"The Wrathbound," Zanele replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Creatures bound to some dark force… driven by wrath. Xalvathar created them… and they're just the beginning."

Meanwhile, far from the safety of their home, a figure cloaked in shadows observed with a wicked smile.

Xalvathar's voice echoed from the darkness, thick with malevolent satisfaction. "Your children will have the same fate as you. You may save them for now, but all you do is delay the inevitable. Death... will come."

He chuckled to himself, his eyes glinting with dark amusement. "Power is growing… The Wrathbound, my children, are fighting. Oh, what a good age to be me... Haha."