The creature's roar shook the entire clearing.
Arin felt the vibration travel through the ground and into his chest. The beast that had emerged from the eleventh gate towered over the forest like a living mountain of scales and shadow.
Its red eyes burned like two distant stars.
Lira stood beside Arin, gripping her dagger tightly.
"Please tell me you have a plan," she said.
Arin kept his eyes on the monster.
"Working on it."
The creature stomped forward again, its massive claws digging deep trenches into the forest floor.
Every step cracked branches and crushed stones.
The air around it seemed darker, heavier.
As if the forest itself feared the creature.
Arin stepped forward slowly.
The balance within him stirred again.
Light flickered along his fingertips.
Shadow gathered behind him like a silent wave.
The beast tilted its head slightly.
It seemed to recognize something within Arin.
Something familiar.
Then it roared again and lunged.
The ground exploded beneath its claws.
Arin raised his hand instinctively.
A burst of bright energy shot outward.
The impact slammed into the creature's chest like a powerful storm.
The monster staggered backward two steps.
Lira's eyes widened.
"Okay that definitely worked."
But the creature was far from defeated.
It shook its massive head and snarled.
Dark smoke poured from its jaws.
The forest trees bent under the pressure of its roar.
Then it charged again.
This time faster.
Much faster.
Arin barely had time to react.
"Move!" Lira shouted.
They jumped in opposite directions as the monster crashed through the clearing.
Trees snapped like thin sticks.
The creature's tail swung violently and smashed a giant boulder into pieces.
Arin rolled across the ground and quickly stood again.
He could feel the gate behind the monster pulsing.
Every second it remained open made the air feel more unstable.
The prison seal was weakening.
Lira ran toward him.
"We can't keep fighting it forever."
"I know."
"Then what's the plan?"
Arin looked at the gate.
"Close it."
Lira blinked.
"That sounds extremely difficult."
"It probably is."
The monster turned again.
Its glowing eyes locked onto Arin.
This time it did not roar.
Instead it studied him.
Then it spoke.
Its voice was deep and rough like grinding stone.
"Bearer…"
Arin froze.
"You can talk?"
The creature's chest rose slowly as it breathed.
"Yes."
Lira whispered.
"Oh great, it's intelligent."
The beast stepped closer.
"You carry the balance."
Arin nodded slowly.
"Yes."
The creature lowered its massive head slightly.
Then it spoke again.
"The prison weakens."
Arin glanced toward the gate.
"I noticed."
The beast growled softly.
"You should not have come."
Arin frowned.
"I didn't open the gate."
The creature's red eyes flickered.
"The gates respond to you."
Lira crossed her arms.
"That seems to be happening a lot lately."
The monster lifted one claw and pointed toward the gate.
"Close it."
Arin blinked in surprise.
"You want me to close it?"
"Yes."
Lira looked completely confused.
"Wait a second."
"You came out of the gate."
"Why would you want it closed?"
The creature's voice grew quieter.
"Because worse things remain inside."
Silence spread across the clearing.
Arin felt a chill run down his spine.
"What do you mean worse?"
The creature slowly turned its head toward the swirling darkness of the gate.
"There are beings older than me."
Lira whispered.
"That's comforting."
Arin stepped closer to the monster.
"If you want the gate closed, help us."
The beast studied him again.
"You trust me?"
Arin shrugged slightly.
"Not really."
"But I trust that you don't want something worse escaping."
The creature let out a low rumble.
Then it turned toward the gate.
"Then we must act quickly."
Suddenly the ground trembled violently.
The gate pulsed with dark energy.
Something moved inside the swirling mist.
A second shape.
Larger than the first.
Lira stepped backward.
"Oh no."
Arin felt the balance inside him flare again.
The symbols along the gate began glowing intensely.
The forest winds began spinning wildly.
The prison was breaking faster now.
The monster beside them growled deeply.
"It comes."
Arin clenched his fists.
"What comes?"
The creature's red eyes darkened.
"A hunter."
The swirling darkness inside the gate exploded outward.
A long skeletal arm burst through the mist.
It was massive.
Even larger than the beast standing beside them.
Lira's voice trembled.
"That can't be good."
The arm clawed its way onto the ground.
Then a second one followed.
Something enormous was forcing its way through the gate.
The beast beside Arin roared angrily.
"We must close it now!"
Arin stepped forward.
"How?"
The creature pointed toward the glowing symbols around the gate.
"The bearer must touch the seal."
Arin looked at the blazing runes.
The energy coming from them felt dangerous.
"What happens if I do?"
The beast answered calmly.
"The gate will either close…"
"Or destroy you."
Lira grabbed Arin's arm.
"Those are terrible odds."
Another monstrous roar echoed from inside the gate.
The skeletal creature pushed its skull through the mist.
Its hollow eyes burned with ghostly blue fire.
The clearing shook violently.
Trees collapsed under the pressure.
Arin took a deep breath.
"If that thing gets out…"
Lira nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
Arin stepped toward the gate.
The light and shadow inside him surged violently.
Energy rippled across his body.
The runes glowed brighter with every step he took.
Behind him, the beast roared and attacked the skeletal creature climbing out of the gate.
The two monsters collided with a thunderous impact.
The forest trembled under their battle.
Arin reached the gate.
The ancient symbols burned like fire.
He raised his hand slowly.
The balance within him screamed with power.
Light surged through one arm.
Shadow twisted through the other.
Arin pressed his hand against the glowing seal.
The world exploded with energy.
Reader's Question:
If touching the ancient seal had a chance of saving the world but might destroy you instantly, would you still do it?