Alpha Instinct-Chapter 94: "Wings of Dread"

Leonard knew this was his mission: to face the Ursulus Rex. Uncertainty gnawed at him, not fear. "Am I really ready for what’s coming?" The question echoed in his mind, a sharp blade. One wrong decision would seal his fate: life or death.

He turned to Silverin. "I don’t think it’s my time to fight the U-Rex," he said, his voice firm, despite the doubt eating away at him. "I need to face some regular Ursulos first. Understand their movements, patterns, and abilities... and adapt to the environment."

Silverin nodded slowly. "I agree, Leonard. You should avoid a direct confrontation for now. Focus on growing, on gaining experience in this place. And, if the time comes, maybe you can challenge the Ursulus Rex. Although, even then, I think it’s madness."

"It is madness," Xavier agreed, adjusting his quiver. "The reason the Named Elites are still alive is simple: very few people are capable of facing them head-on. Maybe a Titanium rank... or Diamond... but those are incredibly rare."

"I need to trust my master," Leonard said, more to himself than the others. "If he said it was possible... I want to believe it."

A collective sigh escaped the group. The disbelief was palpable.

But Saito’s image surfaced in Leonard’s mind, clear and imposing. He could almost hear his master’s voice: "You will find the answer."

Raviel approached, placing a heavy hand on Leonard’s shoulder. "You know we can’t face it as a group, right?"

"Yes, I know," Leonard replied. "It has an ability that enrages it when surrounded. I’ve been told about it."

"I don’t want you to think you’ll be fighting alone because we won’t help you," Raviel said, his voice filled with an unusual concern. He paused, thoughtfully. "Go to sleep, Leonard. I’ll keep watch tonight. You need to rest."

Silverin and the others agreed. Raviel and Kaleb took the first watch, switching later with Mikaela and Xavier.

The night passed without incident.

In the morning, as the first rays of sunlight began to pierce the darkness of the dead forest, the group prepared to leave. Horses were saddled, equipment checked, and leftovers from dinner consumed quickly.

A roar ripped through the silence. Loud, guttural, a primal tremor that shook the earth. It was a sound that promised pain and death, leaving no room for hope.

"Ursulus Rex...," Mikaela said, her voice strained with urgency. "We have to go. Now!"

Without hesitation, they hurried, mounting their horses.

"Wait," Evelyn said, frowning in concentration, "I remember reading about a secondary trail around here... Let me see..."

She closed her eyes for a moment, activating one of her tracking abilities. A subtle, almost imperceptible glow emanated from her eyes. "Yes! There’s a narrow trail about five hundred meters ahead. It’s rougher, but it leads us directly north, away from the sound. We need to go north. Now."

"I trust you, Evelyn," Leonard replied, adjusting the reins. "Which way is best?"

"That trail," Evelyn replied, pointing with her head. "I’ll lead."

Xavier pulled a worn leather compass from his pocket. "I’ll mark north. Let’s take Evelyn’s trail, then. No time to waste."

Another roar echoed through the forest, closer and more intense than the last.

"Sounds like our big friend isn’t in the mood for games..." Kaleb commented, with a nervous smile. "...Think he’d go for a round of rock, paper, scissors to decide who he eats first?"

A tense silence followed the joke, broken only by the sound of the horses’ hooves.

After a few minutes of tense riding, Raviel stopped them. "Go ahead," he said, his voice firm. "I’m going to stay behind. I need to check the path the Ursulus Rex is taking. Make sure we’re not being followed."

"Raviel, that’s crazy!" Mikaela protested.

"It’s necessary," Raviel responded, with a determined look. "Someone has to do it."

Xavier approached, handing Raviel a small metal whistle attached to a small, carved wooden box. "Take this," he said. "I’ll keep the box."

"What is it?" Leonard asked, curious.

"A Leirion Marker Whistle," Xavier explained. "It only works with Neumond energy. If Raviel blows hard, channeling his ELEV, the box resonates. The sound..."

"...is inaudible to Leirions, but we’ll hear it, no matter the distance," Raviel finished, tucking the whistle into his pocket. "That way, you’ll know where I am... and if I’m in trouble."

"Be careful, Raviel," Leonard said, concerned.

Raviel smiled, a rare and reassuring smile. "I can take care of myself, kid. Go. And don’t look back."

Raviel dismounted and slapped his horse’s rump, sending it galloping after the group. He watched as his companions rode away, gradually disappearing into the dead forest.

"So, it seems it’s just you and me now, Ursulus Rex," Raviel murmured, turning to face south, where the roars were coming from.

Meanwhile, the group continued onward, the tension palpable in the air.

"We can’t go much further," Evelyn said, looking around cautiously. "We’re almost at the center of the second volcano. It’s Salamander, Wyvern... and Dragon territory."

"Great," Kaleb grumbled. "From killer bears to fire-breathing dragons. What an upgrade, huh?"

"We don’t have a choice," Leonard said, his gaze fixed ahead. "We need to find somewhere safe."

The trail narrowed, winding between rocks. The smell of sulfur burned his throat.

Leonard felt a shiver, not just from the Ursulo Rex. "We’re entering forbidden territory," he said. "We need shelter. Fast. Before something worse finds us."

Evelyn scanned the surroundings, tense. "There!" she pointed to a narrow fissure in the rock face. "A cave. It might be a hiding place."

Kaleb nodded. "Better than nothing. But what if there’s something inside?"

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"We’ll have to risk it," Leonard replied. "Mikaela, get a light ready. Xavier, keep watch."

A metallic screech echoed in the distance. It wasn’t an Ursulo.

"Get inside!" Leonard ordered. "Now!" They dismounted and ran towards the fissure, the ominous sound approaching, cutting through the silence like a blade.

Above them, the only certainty was the approach of a colossal flying monster—whatever was on the ground was a separate problem