The Rebirth Of The Beast Tamer-Chapter 90: The Panthers Rift 1

Kelvin moved along the narrow path with his boots sinking into the damp shale, each step was a jolt of pain that passed through his bruised ribs.

His staff was held tightly in his trembling hand which pulsed faintly with fire runes and their glow was dimmed by exhaustion.

The flame-carved pendant around his neck was a symbol of their triumphs at Shadowfen, Crags, Wastes, Hollow, and now the Peaks’ rift, but the cloaked figure’s glowing runes and silent acknowledgment gnawed at him, a cold dread that twisted like a knife in his chest.

The Veil’s whispers lingered faintly but it was persistent, promising failure, sowing seeds of doubt that rooted deeper with every step.

Xerion, the End-Tyrant, was moving beside him, his massive serpentine form was a cascade of crimson and gold scales that shimmered weakly in the fading light.

The ancient beast, a Level 8 Legendary whose legend stretched back to the Great Rift War, moved with a weary grace, his twenty-foot length wove over the uneven path.

His amber eyes was deep and ageless, which scanned the cliffs with a low hiss vibrating the air as if it was sensing the lingering threat.

Their bond, an 82% sync ratio, was a blazing lifeline, but even Xerion’s warmth felt muted, strained by the battle’s toll. Kelvin rested a hand on the serpent’s scales, their heat was a faint anchor against the fear that clawed at his heart.

Lyra limped to Kelvin’s left hand side, her silver braid was touched with sweat and blood, her shadow-etched gauntlet flickered with runes that struggled to maintain their glow.

Salaris, her shadow-cloaked raptor, flickered at her side, her iridescent feathers were dulled by dust, with her talons clicking faintly on the stone.

Lyra’s eyes were sharp but shadowed by pain, stared ahead, her chest and side wounds bandaged but seeping, each step was a grimace of effort.

"We are not out of this yet," she said, her voice was hoarse, barely audible over the wind’s mournful noise. "That figure... they are not done with us."

Kelvin nodded with his jaw clenching. "They are playing a long game. We need to get back and figure out what they are planning."

Darius trudged on his right, Rhoam, his iron-plated panther, lumbered behind, his massive paws were dragged with his iron plates clinking dully, marred with scratches from the aberrations.

Darius clutched a soulstone and there was a green glow faint in his trembling hand, his usual grin was replaced by a tight-lipped grimace.

"I am starting to hate these mountains," he muttered, though his voice was rough, the gash on his leg slowed his pace. "This feels like the Veil is laughing at us."

Kelvin managed a faint smile, Darius’s attempt at humor was a spark against the oppressive gloom. "We are still standing," he said, though the weight of their injuries and the rift’s battle pressed down like the cliffs above. "That is what that matters."

The monitoring device in Kelvin’s pack hummed weakly, its runes flickered erratically: "Signal disrupted. Return to Sanctum. Unknown energy persists."

The Sanctum’s watchful eyes were fading, the device’s faltering signal was a stark reminder of their isolation. The mention of unknown energy sent a chill down Kelvin’s spine, echoing the cloaked figure’s presence.

They had been descending for hours, the path was treacherous, the fog thin but still heavy with the scent of ozone and decay.

Flashbacks of their training in the Sanctum’s yard was filled with Kelvin’s mind, which was grueling sessions after the Hollow, where they had pushed their limits to prepare for this trial.

He had meditated with Xerion, their bond deepened as he visualized their synchronizing ratio climb, the End-Tyrant’s flames kept burning brighter.

Lyra had crafted advanced shadow runes, her gauntlet wove bindings that held even the strongest rogue beasts. Darius had honed his soulstone blasts, his aim was deadly precise, Rhoam’s charges synchronized seamlessly.

But the rift’s battle had shaken them, their injuries were a reminder of their fragility, and the cloaked figure’s challenge loomed like a storm on the horizon.

"We are stronger than this," Lyra said with her voice steady despite the pain in her eyes. "We sealed the rift. We can handle whatever that is next."

Kelvin nodded, drawing strength from her resolve, but doubt gnawed at him. "We need to stay together. The Veil is still out there."

The path widened into a rocky clearing and the ground was littered with jagged stones and twisted roots that pulsed faintly with violet light.

The air was heavy, the pulse of dark energy lingered like a heartbeat. They paused to rest, their beasts were settled nearby, Xerion coiled into a protective ring, his flames casting a dim glow.

Salaris perched on a boulder with her feathers blending with the shadows; Rhoam sprawled across the ground, his iron plates gleamed faintly.

Kelvin pulled out the monitoring device, its holographic display flickered weakly, showing their silhouettes alongside Xerion’s serpentine form, Salaris’s sleek outline, and Rhoam’s hulking shape.

A new message scrolled across: "Rogue beast activity detected. Prepare for immediate engagement." His heart sank, the warning was a cold confirmation of the Peaks’ unrelenting dangers.

Before he could speak, a low growl rumbled from the cliffs above, followed by the skitter of claws and the snap of breaking stone. "Form up!" Kelvin shouted, Xerion rearing with his flames ignited in a blazing arc that lit the clearing.

A pack of rogue beasts, shadow panthers, their fur matted with dark energy, eyes glowing like embers—poured from the cliffs, their movements were swift and coordinated, driven by the Veil’s lingering influence.

Kelvin channeled a fire Convergence through Xerion, the End-Tyrant’s flames sweeping through the clearing, incinerating panthers in bursts of ash and light, their screeches piercing the air.

Lyra wove shadow runes, her gauntlet flickering as tendrils lashed out to bind their limbs and pin them in a place. Salaris struck from the shadows, her talons were rended flesh in swift and precise strikes.

Darius fired soulstone blasts, each explosion shattered the panthers’ forms, while Rhoam charged, his iron bulk crushed them beneath his paws.

But the panthers were relentless, their dark energy amplified their speed with their claws and fangs tearing through the air.

One lunged at Lyra, its claws raked her already-wounded side, drawing a fresh gush of blood. She cried out, collapsing to her knees, her gauntlet flickered as she struggled to weave a rune.

Kelvin’s heart lurched, fear spiked through him, the Veil’s whispers roared, she is gone. You have failed. But he pushed them back, shouting, "Lyra, hold on!"

"I’m trying!" she gasped, her voice was strained as she forced a rune into place, binding the panther’s limbs. Her face was ashen, blood soaking her armor, but her eyes burned with defiance.

Darius took a hit, a panther’s fangs sank into his arm, deepening the gash from the rift battle. He cursed and fired a soulstone blast that sent the creature flying, Rhoam’s charge finished it off.

"There’s too many!" he shouted, his voice was cracked, his bravado crumbled under the weight of pain and exhaustion.

Kelvin’s mind raced with doubt clawing at him. The panthers’ ferocity was overwhelming, their dark energy was a suffocating weight, and Lyra’s collapse was a knife in his heart.

The monitoring device lay silent, its signal dead, leaving them utterly alone. The whispers grew louder all of a sudden. You are weak. You will lose them all.

And for a moment, he faltered, his grip on his staff became loosened, the weight of leadership was crushing him. He saw the Sanctum falling, his friends’ lifeless forms, the Veil’s shadows consuming everything.

But Xerion’s warmth surged through their bond, a blazing lifeline that steadied him. The End-Tyrant’s amber eyes locked onto his, a low hiss vibrated the air, as if urging him to fight.

"We focus on the leader!" Kelvin shouted, spotting a massive panther, its eyes blazing brighter with its form radiating dark energy.

Kelvin channeled a massive Convergence, Xerion’s flames roared into a fiery vortex that engulfed the leader, scorching the air.

Lyra pushed through her pain, her runes binded its limbs, her gauntlet trembled with effort. Salaris’s talons raked its flanks and weakened its glow.

Darius aimed a soulstone blast and the green light flared as it struck the leader’s core, Rhoam’s charge shattered it in a burst of ash and light.

The pack faltered, their unity was broken, and the trio finished them off, their beasts striked as one. Silence fell, heavy and absolute, the clearing were littered with ash and bones.

The trio collapsed, their breaths were ragged and their beasts were battered but alive. Lyra leaned on Salaris with blood soaking her armor, her face was pale but defiant.

Darius clutched his arm with his grin gone, his eyes were haunted. Kelvin’s hands trembled, his body aching, but pride swelled in his chest, a spark of defiance was reignited.

"We are still here," he said with his voice hoarse and the whispers fading. Lyra nodded with her eyes fierce despite the pain. "Together." Darius leaned on Rhoam, his voice quiet as he said. "Barely."

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