บท 23: The Hunt [1]

The dense underbrush of the eastern woods muffled our steps as we advanced, the distant rumble of Crystal Falls a constant companion. Our nerves were taut, anticipation mixed with a razor-sharp focus as we neared the lair of our quarry. The forest's natural chorus faded into a tense silence, punctuated only by the occasional snap of a twig underfoot, signaling our cautious progress.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Suddenly, a low growl vibrated through the air, a sound so deep and resonant it seemed to stir the very leaves on the trees. "It's close," Lysander's whisper barely broke the silence, his twin daggers glinting ominously in the dim light.

As we formed a semicircle, the Gryphalion burst forth from its hiding with a ferocity that sent shockwaves through the clearing.

ROOOAAAAR!!!

Its roar, a thunderous boom, was the battle cry that set our hearts racing.

Elara acted first, her staff tracing intricate patterns in the air.

Whooooosh

A spiraling vortex of water and air shot towards the Gryphalion, the spell's release marked by the crackle of elemental energy.

The Gryphalion, with a majestic flap of its wings, soared upwards, dodging the attack with an agility that belied its size. Its counterattack—a stream of fire—hurtled towards us with a fierce sizzle, illuminating the battleground with an eerie glow.

"Scatter!" The command left my lips as we dove in different directions, the ground where we stood seconds ago exploding in a shower of sparks and embers. Leon and Viktor, undeterred by the beast's display of power, charged with a determined shout, their swords swinging in arcs that sang through the air.

Swosh.....Clang

The scales of the Gryphalion were so tough that their swords would bounce of with every strike.

I raised my scythe, drawing upon the dark energy that coursed through me. With a flick of my wrist, shadows coalesced into tangible force, hurling towards the Gryphalion with a whoosh that mirrored the sound of the wind itself.

The battle was a cacophony of elemental fury and martial prowess. Elara's spells burst with a crack and pop as they collided with the Gryphalion's magical defenses. Lysander's daggers found their mark with a thwip-thwip, slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Each of us danced our own deadly dance with the Gryphalion, our movements and attacks a symphony. The Gryphalion's retaliatory strikes—talons scraping against stone with a harsh screech, wings beating with a powerful whump—challenged us at every turn.

The forest around us bears witness to the struggle, the air filled with the sounds of our confrontation. The clang of metal, the sizzle of spells, and the roar of the Gryphalion blend into a song of battle that resonates through the trees.

Our resolve hardens with every exchange, every spell cast, and every swing of our weapons. We are more than just students; we are hunters in the truest sense, each of us playing a vital role in this dance of life and death. The outcome of this hunt hangs in the balance, a test of our skills, our courage, and our will to prevail.