2025-01-16 00:40:27The morning after Ethan’s life-altering discovery, he found himself standing in the middle of Willowridge’s bustling town square. Despite the ordinary scene of people going about their day, Ethan felt anything but ordinary. The artifact hung around his neck on a makeshift cord, hidden beneath his shirt, and the wolf-like creature which he’d decided to name Silver trotted silently by his side, invisible to everyone else.
“You’re sure no one can see you?” Ethan whispered.
Silver tilted his head, as if offended by the question.
“Right, sorry,” Ethan muttered. He was still getting used to the idea of having a monster companion.
“Hey, Earth to Ethan!”Mia’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She waved a hand in front of his face. “Are you even listening?”
“Uh, yeah. What were you saying?”
Mia rolled her eyes. “I said we should start by figuring out what that artifact actually does. I mean, sure, it tames monsters, but there’s got to be more to it, right?”
Ethan nodded. She had a point. So far, all he knew was that the artifact had some kind of taming ability and could summon bursts of light. But the man in the woods had hinted at greater powers—and greater dangers.
“Let’s head to the library,” Mia suggested. “If anyone knows about weird ancient artifacts, it’s Mrs. Kline.”
The Willowridge Library was a sprawling, old building that smelled of aged paper and wood polish. Mrs. Kline, the head librarian, was a petite woman with sharp eyes and an encyclopedic knowledge of just about everything. When Ethan and Mia approached her desk, she looked up from her book with a curious expression.
“What can I help you with today?”She asked.
Ethan hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. Mia, however, jumped right in. “We’re looking for information on artifacts. You know, ancient, magical, mysterious… that sort of thing.”
Mrs. Kline raised an eyebrow. “That’s quite a broad topic. Do you have anything more specific in mind?”
“It’s, uh, circular,” Ethan said. “With symbols on it. Kind of glows sometimes.”
Mrs. Kline’s expression shifted slightly, her sharp eyes narrowing. “Glows, you say?”She closed her book and stood. “Follow me.”
She led them to a secluded corner of the library, where shelves were lined with dusty tomes and faded scrolls. She pulled out a thick book with a cracked leather cover and flipped through the pages until she stopped at an illustration that made Ethan’s heart skip a beat. It was the artifact, or something very close to it.
“This,” Mrs. Kline said, tapping the page, “is the Seal of Eryndor. It’s said to be one of several ancient relics created to maintain balance in the world. Each seal has unique powers, but they’re also incredibly dangerous. They attract… unwanted attention.”
Ethan exchanged a glance with Mia. “What kind of attention?”he asked.
Mrs. Kline’s gaze hardened. “Corrupted creatures. Dark forces that seek to exploit the seals for their own purposes. If you’ve come across one, you’d best be careful. They have a way of choosing their bearers, and once chosen, there’s no turning back.”
Ethan’s stomach churned. The artifact had chosen him, but why? He didn’t feel particularly special or capable.
“Is there anything else we should know?”Mia asked.
Mrs. Kline hesitated, then leaned closer. “The seals’ powers grow with their bearer, but so does the danger. If you’re not careful, the very thing that protects you could destroy you.”
As they left the library, Ethan couldn’t shake Mrs. Kline’s words. The artifact felt heavier around his neck, as if it were reminding him of the responsibility he now carried. Silver trotted ahead, occasionally glancing back as if urging him to keep moving.
“So, what’s the plan?”Mia asked.
Before Ethan could answer, a deafening roar echoed through the streets. People screamed and scattered as a massive creature emerged from an alleyway. It was a grotesque, hulking beast with leathery wings and glowing red eyes, its body crackling with dark energy.
“Oh no,” Mia whispered. “Is that…?”
“A corrupted monster,” Ethan said, his voice trembling.
The creature let out another roar and lunged toward a group of terrified bystanders. Without thinking, Ethan grabbed the artifact and held it up.
“Silver, let’s go!”
The wolf-like creature appeared in a flash of light, growling as it positioned itself between the monster and the fleeing civilians. Ethan felt the connection between them strengthen, like an unspoken bond urging him to act.
“What do I do?”Ethan asked, panic creeping into his voice.
“Focus!”Mia shouted. “You tamed Silver, didn’t you? Use that bond!”
Ethan took a deep breath and concentrated. The artifact pulsed in his hand, and he felt a surge of energy flow through him. Silver leapt forward, dodging the monster’s massive claws and striking with blinding speed. The battle was intense, every movement precise and deliberate. Ethan could feel Silver’s determination, his instincts guiding the fight.
“Now!” Ethan shouted, raising the artifact. A beam of light shot out, striking the corrupted monster and enveloping it in a radiant glow. The creature let out a final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing into a pile of ash.
For a moment, there was silence. Then the bystanders erupted into cheers, some shouting their thanks as they hurried away.
Ethan sank to his knees, his hands trembling. Silver returned to his side, nuzzling him gently.
“You did it,” Mia said, kneeling beside him. “You actually did it.”
Ethan looked at the artifact, its glow dimming as the energy subsided. He had won, but the weight of what had just happened was overwhelming. This was only the beginning, and he knew the challenges ahead would only grow more dangerous.
“I’m not sure I’m ready for this,” he admitted.
Mia placed a hand on his shoulder. “You don’t have to be ready. You just have to try. And you’ve got me and Silver to help you.”
Ethan managed a small smile. She was right. He wasn’t alone in this. Together, they would face whatever came next. As they walked home, the artifact hummed faintly against his chest, a reminder that his journey was far from over.
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A still, black static climbed over the battlefield, thicker than tar, devouring the whispers of the dead.The stench of blood and burnt flesh filled the air.Ethan froze in place, breathing shallow, limbs still sore from his tussle with the Abyss Reaver.But his fatigue didn’t matter now.A much greater enemy had been born from the void.The person before him was still shrouded in shadows, golden eyes flickering like embers in darkness.The air bristled with malevolence, a suffocating weight crushing down on Ethan’s ribs.The voice from the void, smooth with malice, echoed in his head:“Join me, Ethan. You’ve started to embrace the darkness that lurks in your soul.”The knuckles of his fingers turned white as he gripped his sword.The fatigue, the lacerations, the burden of every painful conflict fought they didn’t matter.He had come so far, escaped death countless times.And he wasn’t about to stumble now.But before he could answer, the ground shook violently beneath him.A monstro
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Episode 169: The Fusion of Beasts
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