The corrupted wolf's roar shook the clearing, its distorted howl reverberating through the ancient trees. Aren's heart pounded as the monstrous beast loomed over them, its twisted body radiating a dark, suffocating aura.
Sharu stepped forward, his silver light flaring defiantly. Aren tightened his grip on his sword, determination burning in his eyes.
"This thing is far stronger than the others," Liora whispered, her Ice Wolf growling low, frost spreading along the ground.
Dorian grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Then we just have to hit harder."
The corrupted wolf charged, its immense bulk crashing through the underbrush. Dorian and his Shockwave Lion took the lead, unleashing a powerful sonic blast that hit the wolf head-on. The shockwave slowed its advance, but the beast barely faltered.
"Scatter!" Aren shouted, pulling Lyra out of the way as the wolf's massive paw smashed into the ground where they'd been standing. Debris flew, and the impact left a small crater in the earth.
Aric leapt to the side, his Fire Salamander launching a searing fireball at the wolf's flank. The flames scorched its fur, but instead of recoiling, the wolf seemed to absorb the energy, its eyes blazing brighter.
"That's not good," Aric muttered.
Lyra sent her Shadow Falcon diving in, its talons glowing with dark energy as it struck at the wolf's eyes. The beast snapped at the bird, but the falcon nimbly evaded, circling back to strike again.
Liora's Ice Wolf took advantage of the distraction, freezing the ground beneath the corrupted wolf's paws. The beast snarled, shaking off the ice with brute force, but the momentary pause gave Dorian and his lion enough time to attack. The lion pounced, claws crackling with electricity, and slashed at the wolf's back.
Aren and Sharu flanked the creature, Aren slashing at its exposed leg while Sharu fired a concentrated beam of silver light. The corrupted wolf howled, staggering, but its dark aura thickened, pulsating like a heartbeat.
"It's regenerating!" Liora shouted, eyes wide.
Lyra's falcon swooped down, aiming for the wolf's glowing eyes, but a wave of dark energy erupted from the beast, forcing the bird back. The wolf's wounds began knitting together, black tendrils weaving through its flesh.
"We need to cut off its power!" Aren yelled. "There must be a core or a weak point. Sharu, let's find it!"
Sharu's eyes gleamed with resolve as he unleashed a pulse of energy. The wave seemed to clash with the wolf's aura, revealing faint lines running along the beast's chest—like corrupted veins leading to its heart.
"There!" Aren pointed. "That's the source of its power!"
Dorian nodded, gripping his spear. "We'll keep it busy. You and Sharu aim for the heart!"
The team split, attacking from multiple angles. Aric's Salamander unleashed a ring of fire, forcing the wolf to retreat. Liora's Ice Wolf snapped at its legs, coating them in a layer of frost. Dorian and his lion hammered it from the side, keeping it off balance.
Aren charged in, Sharu at his side. As they approached, the wolf sensed the threat and released another wave of dark energy, pushing them back. Lyra's falcon darted in, attacking the wolf's head, drawing its attention.
"Now!" Lyra shouted.
Seizing the moment, Aren and Sharu rushed forward. Aren swung his blade, the edge glinting with Sharu's silver light, and struck the center of the wolf's chest. The corrupted veins recoiled, but the blade didn't pierce deep enough.
With a furious snarl, the wolf lashed out, sending Aren sprawling. Sharu yipped and leapt onto the wolf's back, digging his small claws into the dark flesh. Silver light seeped into the corrupted veins, causing them to writhe and weaken.
"Aren!" Liora called, helping him to his feet.
"I'm fine," he panted. "We just need more power."
Dorian grit his teeth, his lion roaring defiantly. "If Sharu's light weakens it, then we need to amplify it."
Aric's eyes lit up. "Resonance! If we combine Sharu's light with our elemental attacks, it might be enough to pierce the heart!"
Aren nodded. "Everyone, focus your energy through Sharu!"
They formed a circle, their beasts gathering around Sharu. Aric's Salamander sent a wave of heat, Liora's wolf breathed ice, Dorian's lion released a shockwave, and Lyra's falcon summoned shadows. Sharu absorbed the elemental energies, his silver light intensifying until it pulsed with fire, ice, electricity, and shadow.
The wolf lunged, but Sharu released the combined energy in a focused beam, striking the heart directly. The corrupted veins cracked, and the wolf let out a pained howl, the dark energy unraveling around it.
Aren didn't hesitate. He rushed forward, his blade glowing with the same resonant light, and drove it into the heart. The wolf convulsed, its form dissolving into mist as the seal stone absorbed the remnants of the dark power.
Silence fell, broken only by the group's labored breathing. The air felt lighter, as if the forest itself was sighing in relief.
Sharu collapsed, exhausted, but unhurt. Aren scooped him up, hugging the little beast tightly. "You did great, buddy."
Dorian grinned, leaning on his spear. "Hell of a fight. We actually pulled it off."
Lyra looked at the stabilized seal, her expression still tense. "But why was the core corrupted in the first place? These seals should be protected by ancient guardians."
Liora frowned. "Something must have tampered with it. But who—or what—could do that?"
Aren's gaze shifted to the remnants of the temple, unease knotting his stomach. This wasn't just a random corruption—it felt planned, as if something was testing the seal's defenses.
Aric placed a hand on Aren's shoulder. "We should get back before anyone notices we're gone. But we need to warn Mira and the academy about this."
Aren nodded, still lost in thought. As they made their way back, the weight of what they'd faced hung heavy in the air. The wolf was just a symptom—the real threat was still out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the next seal to fall.
As dawn broke, Aren glanced back at the forest, determination hardenin
g his resolve. They had survived this battle, but the war was just beginning.