The Beast Master's Vengeance

The screams echoed across the village, sharp and desperate, cutting through the cold night like a blade. Kael's legs felt heavy as he ran through the chaos. Flames danced across the rooftops, illuminating the once-peaceful village in a sinister glow. Thick smoke filled the air, choking his lungs and stinging his eyes. The beast was here.

Everywhere Kael looked, destruction greeted him. The village square, the heart of his home, was a battlefield. Villagers people he had known his entire life fought valiantly with whatever weapons they could find, but it was a losing battle. Pitchforks, scythes, and wooden clubs were no match for the monstrous creature that towered over them, its glowing red eyes brimming with fury.

Kael ducked into an alley, pressing his back against the cold stone wall as he tried to catch his breath. His chest still ached from the blow he'd taken earlier, the beast's claws leaving a deep gash across his tunic. He winced, pressing a hand against the wound, but the pain was nothing compared to the guilt twisting in his stomach. He had felt it the connection, the bond but he had failed. He hadn't been strong enough to control the beast.

"Kael!" a voice shouted.

He turned to see a familiar face Mira, a brave woman who had always been like an older sister to him. She held a bow in one hand, her quiver nearly empty. Her usually kind face was streaked with soot, her eyes wide with fear.

"We can't hold it off much longer!" she said, her voice trembling. "It's killing everyone. We need you!"

Kael's stomach churned. What could he do? He had tried to reach the beast, to control it, but it had overpowered him. How could he save anyone when he could barely save himself?

"I" he began, but the words caught in his throat. Before he could say more, the ground shook violently, and the beast's roar tore through the night.

Mira's eyes darted to the square, her expression hardening. "We don't have time, Kael. If you're the one with the power your father spoke of, then use it. If not, we all die tonight."

Her words stung, but they were true. Kael nodded, forcing himself to stand straight. He gripped his sword tighter, though he knew it wouldn't be enough. "I'll try," he said, his voice low but determined.

Mira gave him a tight nod before disappearing into the fray, her bow raised and ready.

Kael stepped out of the alley and into the square. The sight made his heart sink. Dozens of villagers lay lifeless on the ground, their weapons scattered around them. The beast stood in the center, its massive form silhouetted by the flames. It was an unstoppable force, tearing through anything and anyone in its path.

The air was thick with fear and desperation, but Kael felt something else too. Anger. A deep, burning anger that bubbled up inside him. This was his home. These were his people. And the beast had taken everything from him.

Kael took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He reached inward, searching for the power his father had spoken of. It was there he could feel it, faint but steady, like a flicker of light in the darkness. He focused on that feeling, letting it grow, letting it consume him.

The beast turned its gaze to Kael, its red eyes locking onto him. It let out a low growl, the sound vibrating through the ground. The villagers who remained paused, their eyes darting between Kael and the creature.

"Kael!" someone shouted. "It's coming for you!"

The beast lunged, its massive claws tearing through the air. Kael didn't move. He didn't raise his sword. Instead, he reached out with his mind, just as he had before, but this time, he didn't let fear hold him back.

The connection snapped into place. Kael felt it as clearly as he felt the ground beneath his feet the beast's rage, its pain, its confusion. It wasn't just a monster; it was a living being, driven by instincts it couldn't control.

"Stop!" Kael shouted, his voice ringing out across the square.

The beast hesitated, its claws just inches from his chest. For a moment, everything was still. The villagers held their breath, their weapons frozen mid-swing.

Kael stepped closer, his hand outstretched. "You don't have to do this," he said, his voice softer now. "I can feel your pain. Let me help you."

The beast's growl softened, its massive form trembling. Its red eyes flickered, the glow dimming. Kael felt the bond between them strengthen, the power inside him growing. For the first time, he felt like he could control it.

But then, something changed.

A sharp whistle cut through the air, and Kael's eyes darted to the side. One of the villagers, an older man with a spear, had decided to strike. The weapon flew through the air, its point aimed directly at the beast's chest.

"No!" Kael shouted, but it was too late.

The spear struck the beast, the tip piercing its thick hide. The creature let out a deafening roar, its eyes blazing with renewed fury. The connection between Kael and the beast shattered, the power inside him flickering and fading.

The beast reared back, its claws slamming into the ground with enough force to send Kael flying. He hit the ground hard, his head spinning.

When he looked up, the square was in chaos once again. The beast's fury was unstoppable now, its roars shaking the very earth. The villagers scattered, their weapons useless against the creature's wrath.

Kael struggled to his feet, his vision blurry. He had been so close—so close to stopping the beast, to saving his home. But now, it was too late.

The beast's gaze turned to the remaining villagers, its massive form towering over them. Kael's heart sank. He had failed.

As the creature prepared to strike, its claws raised high, Kael heard a voice a deep, guttural voice that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once.

"You cannot control what you do not understand, boy."

Kael's blood ran cold. The voice wasn't human. It wasn't the beast. It was something else. Something far more dangerous.

Before Kael could react, the ground beneath the beast began to crack, dark tendrils of energy rising from the earth and wrapping around its massive form. The creature roared in pain, its struggles growing weaker as the tendrils tightened.

Kael stumbled back, his eyes wide. This wasn't his power. This was something else entirely.

The tendrils pulled the beast into the ground, and within moments, it was gone. The square fell silent, the flames flickering in the eerie stillness.

Kael's chest heaved as he looked around, searching for the source of the voice. But there was nothing. Just the empty village and the bodies of those who had fallen.

And then, the voice came again, softer this time, but no less chilling.

"You are not ready, Kael. But you will be. Soon."

Kael's fists clenched, his mind racing. Who—or what—was behind this? And what did they want with him?

The flames crackled, casting long shadows across the square. Kael looked at the ruins of his home, his heart heavy with guilt and determination.

This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

The real battle was just beginning.