The forest had changed.
Kael felt it immediately.
The deeper they moved from the stream, the heavier the air became. The mist no longer drifted gently—it clung to everything, thick and suffocating. Even the sounds of the forest had faded again.
No insects.
No small creatures.
Nothing.
Kael tightened his grip on his staff. "It's too quiet."
Lyra didn't slow down. "Good. That means we're close."
"Close to what?"
She stopped.
Then pointed ahead.
The trees parted into a massive clearing.
The ground was scarred—deep claw marks carved into the earth, broken trees scattered like fallen pillars. In the center of it all lay a shallow basin filled with murky water.
Kael's chest tightened.
"…Something lives here."
Lyra nodded.
"This is its territory."
Kael swallowed. "Its?"
Before she could answer—
The water in the basin rippled.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
It exploded.
A massive creature surged out of the water, its body towering over them. Thick, armored scales covered its form, coated in moss and mud. Its limbs were heavy, powerful, and its head—low and wide—was lined with jagged teeth.
But its eyes…
Glowed faintly through the mist.
Watching.
Measuring.
Kael's heart slammed against his chest.
"…That's not normal."
Lyra stepped forward slightly, her stance firm. "Mistbeast."
The creature let out a deep, rumbling growl that vibrated through the ground itself.
Kael took a step back. "And we're… fighting that?"
Lyra glanced at him.
"You are."
"…Wait, what?!"
The Mistbeast moved first.
Faster than something that size should be.
It lunged forward, claws tearing into the ground as it closed the distance instantly.
Kael's instincts screamed.
Move.
Now.
He threw himself to the side just as the creature's claw slammed into the spot where he stood.
BOOM!
The ground cracked.
Kael rolled, barely regaining his footing.
"Lyra?!"
She didn't move.
She just watched.
"…You've trained enough. Now survive."
Kael stared at her.
"…You're serious."
The Mistbeast roared again.
Kael clenched his teeth.
"Alright… fine."
The creature charged again.
This time, Kael didn't panic.
He focused.
The water.
Feel it.
The moisture in the air.
The damp ground beneath him.
The pool behind the creature.
It was all there.
Waiting.
The Mistbeast swung its massive claw.
Kael raised his hand—
And the mist moved.
Not wildly.
Not chaotically.
But with purpose.
A dense layer of moisture condensed in front of him, forming a shifting barrier.
The claw hit—
And slowed.
Not stopped.
But slowed enough.
Kael darted backward, heart racing.
"…That worked."
But the Mistbeast didn't hesitate.
It adapted.
It slammed its tail into the ground.
The impact sent a shockwave through the clearing, knocking Kael off balance. He stumbled, his concentration breaking.
The mist collapsed.
"Focus!" Lyra shouted.
Kael gritted his teeth, forcing himself up.
The creature wasn't just strong.
It was smart.
"Then I have to be smarter," he muttered.
The Mistbeast circled him now, slower.
Watching.
Waiting.
It wasn't rushing anymore.
It was learning.
Kael exhaled slowly.
Think.
The environment.
The water source.
The terrain.
He glanced behind the creature.
The basin.
That's it.
The Mistbeast lunged again.
Kael didn't dodge.
Instead—
He stepped forward.
The creature's eyes widened slightly.
At the same moment, Kael thrust his hand toward the basin.
The water responded instantly.
A surge shot forward, wrapping around the creature's legs.
It staggered.
Just for a second.
But that was enough.
Kael moved.
Faster than before.
More confident.
He pulled the water tighter, binding the creature's legs as much as he could.
The Mistbeast roared, thrashing violently.
The water strained.
Kael's arms trembled.
"…Hold…!"
The creature broke free.
But it was off balance.
Lyra's voice cut through the chaos.
"Now! Head!"
Kael reacted instantly.
He pulled what little water remained and condensed it into a sharper, more focused stream.
Then—
He launched it.
CRASH!
The water slammed into the Mistbeast's head, forcing it back.
Not enough to defeat it.
But enough to stun it.
Kael dropped to one knee, breathing hard.
His energy was fading fast.
The Mistbeast shook its head, recovering.
Its glowing eyes locked onto him again.
Angrier now.
More dangerous.
"…I can't keep this up," Kael whispered.
Lyra didn't step in.
She just said one thing.
"Then end it."
Kael froze.
End it?
How?
He wasn't strong enough.
He didn't have enough control.
Unless—
He closed his eyes.
Just for a second.
And felt it.
Not the water alone.
But everything.
The mist.
The air.
The basin.
The rhythm.
When he opened his eyes—
They were steady.
Focused.
The Mistbeast charged one final time.
Kael didn't move.
Until the last second.
Then—
He stepped forward.
And pulled everything.
The mist condensed violently.
The basin surged.
The air itself seemed to bend.
All the moisture in the clearing rushed toward him—
Then exploded outward.
BOOOOM!
A massive wave crashed into the Mistbeast from all sides, slamming it into the ground with overwhelming force.
The clearing shook.
The mist scattered.
Silence followed.
Kael stood there, barely.
His body swayed.
Then—
He collapsed.
"…Heh…"
A weak laugh escaped him.
"I… actually did it…"
Lyra walked over slowly, looking at the fallen Mistbeast.
Then at Kael.
"…Not bad."
She crossed her arms.
"You're starting to look like a real Tidebound."
Kael didn't respond.
He was already unconscious.
The mist slowly returned.
But this time—
It felt different.
Not hostile.
Not watching.
But… calm.
As if the island had acknowledged him.