The Shattered Crowns

Akash sliced through the miasma of teeth and claws. A Karnen lunged for Winter, but his crimson blade cut through it cleanly, the creature's blood splattering across the already blood-soaked bridge.

"Do something, Sorceress," Akash snapped. "People are dying!"

Winter barely glanced at him, her face pale and strained. "I have little Atta left, child. If I let go, the horde below will tear down the trees at their roots," she said, her voice hollow. Even so, she flicked a hand toward the skies, and a bolt of lightning crackled down, singeing a spot on the bridge.

Akash opened his mouth to retort, but another Karnen lunged at him. He spun, his blade biting into its carapace. Blood sprayed from the creature, splattering Akash's face. A gash along his lip oozed crimson. He grimaced, knowing the claw mark would scar.

The storm raged on, its winds pushing more Karnen from the larger trees. For the first time, the villagers gained ground. Slowly, they began to push the monsters back.

But then, from the forest floor, a larger Karnen emerged, climbing toward the platform. Its middle section was plated with thick, hardened carapace, more like a shield than armor. Two of its limbs ended in blunt battering rams, while the other two bore massive axe-like appendages, each capable of cleaving through trees and men alike. It towered over the others, and from beneath its armor, acidic ooze dripped, eating into the wood with every drop.

The acid burned like a mikar's venom.

Akash adjusted his stance, gripping his resin-infused blade tightly. His muscles ached, but he couldn't falter now. Nearby, an older hunter leaped onto the giant Karnen's back, his knife aiming for the soft tissue at the neck. The blade connected but shattered on impact, splinters of steel falling harmlessly to the ground.

The Karnen thrashed violently, flinging the hunter off its back as if he were nothing. It didn't roar, didn't scream—it simply moved, its massive axe-arms cutting through everything in its path. More hunters died, their bodies crumpling under the crushing blows.

"You'll need to kill it, Akash. I can't help you much," Winter said. Her voice was calm, though her face was pale with exhaustion. Her hands shook as she continued to pull Atta from the environment, even as it became more and more fleeting. Behind her, a loud crack split the air as another tree fell under the weight of the storm she conjured.

"I'll kill it," Akash replied, his tone sharp and determined.

Winter's eyes narrowed. "Do not die, child. If you fall, the Karnen will overrun the village."

Akash let out a humorless laugh. "So no pressure, then."

The wind howled as Winter's storm battered the horde. Her strength was fading—her face was drawn, her breath uneven—but still, she kept the vortices alive. Below, more Karnen clawed their way upward, slipping through the gaps in her storm.

The colossal Karnen roared forward, its battering ram arms pounding into the hunters. The sound of bones cracking echoed across the battlefield. Another Karnen fell under its massive weight, crushed alongside the hunter trying to stop it.

Hunters loosed arrow after arrow, but none pierced its thick armor. The beast's axe-arms swung wildly, cleaving through the semi-circle of hunters who tried to flank it. With one massive blow, its battering rams punched through the platform, sending men tumbling to the forest floor below.

Lightning crackled again, crashing into another tree. The burning wood fell, crushing several Karnen attempting to climb. But the giant Karnen shifted its weight, ignoring the storm entirely, and turned its attention to Winter. She was the only thing keeping the village from complete destruction.

The remaining hunters rushed to block the colossal Karnen, but they could only buy her seconds. Akash finally reached it, his blade gleaming red in his hand, a reckless smile pulling at his lips.

It looked like he'd finally get the fight he wanted.

Adrenaline surged through his veins, battling the doubt creeping into his thoughts. He wasn't ready. A week of practice wasn't enough to face monsters like this. And yet, his body felt impossibly light, like this moment was what he had been made for.

A hunter beside him muttered, "The thing would've been dead ten times over if it didn't have that armor. Great Shifter protect us."

Another hunter tightened his grip on his weapon. "A final stand, eh? Let's make sure it counts. A hunter among hunters to whoever brings it down."

"Aye," a third said grimly. "Let's kill this thing and earn our place in the songs of the village."

The first hunter turned to Akash. "Don't go weak on us now, ground-dweller. That blade of yours is the only thing that can cut through its hide. We need you."

"I'll do my part," Akash said, his eyes never leaving the rampaging beast.

The hunters scattered, surrounding the Karnen as it lashed out. Knives and arrows glanced off its armor, doing little more than irritating the creature. It roared, its axe-arms sweeping the area, sending men flying like ragdolls.

Akash barely managed to deflect one of the massive axe-arms as it careened toward his head. The impact jarred his shoulder, a faint popping sound making him wince. Gritting his teeth, he steered the blade away and into the wooden floor, sparks flying as it grazed his resin-infused blade.

The Karnen's other axe-arm cleaved through one of the hunters, splitting him in two.

Another hunter, the first to speak, dropped his weapon and fled. He must have realized how futile their fight was.

Akash dodged a battering blow from the Karnen's remaining ram-arm, then struck upward. His blade tore through the joint of the creature's limb, severing it cleanly. The arm fell to the ground with a sickening thud.

Three arms remained.

The Karnen reeled back, blood gushing from the stump where its arm had been. Its rage was palpable, like a weight pressing down on everyone nearby. The platform shook under its movements, forcing Akash to steady himself.

His breathing was ragged, his leathers torn and bloodied. But the Karnen wasn't finished. Its axe-arms rammed into the ground, splintering wood and creating new gaps for smaller Karnen to crawl through.

Akash rolled to avoid another strike, the massive weapon smashing into the spot he had just vacated. The remaining hunters flanked the beast, trying to divert its attention.

Taking his chance, Akash plunged his blade into one of the axe-arms, dragging it downward. The arm tore free, unable to hold its own weight without the bones and tendons to support it.

Two limbs left.

But the beast wasn't slowing down. It loomed over Akash, towering above him. Its remaining limbs flailed, carving through the hunters with brutal efficiency. Blood stained the platform as men fell around him.

The Karnen lunged, its jaws snapping open to reveal rows of needle-like teeth. Akash raised his blade, driving it upward into the creature's mouth. Blood gushed as the blade cut through, but the Karnen's weight bore down on him, wrenching the weapon from his hands.

Akash hit the ground hard, his breath knocked out of him. Pain exploded in his chest, a sharp reminder of a likely broken rib.

The Karnen staggered back, wounded but still standing. Its yellowed eyes burned with fury as it turned its attention to Akash and Winter.

Akash forced himself to his feet. His left arm hung limp, likely dislocated, but he refused to back down. He placed himself between Winter and the advancing beast, his body shaking but unyielding.

The platform was littered with corpses, and the storm was weakening. Winter was barely upright, her hands trembling as she clung to the last remnants of Atta.

The colossal Karnen opened its jaw again, rows of teeth glinting like blades.

Akash spat blood onto the ground, glaring up at it. "Damn, you're an ugly thing."

If he was going to die, he'd do it standing.