The afternoon light filtered through the forest canopy, glinting off Willa's shield as she trained alone in the field. Each swing of her sword followed a rhythm — inhale, exhale, move — the same breathing pattern Hunnt had drilled into her. Sweat streaked her face, but she smiled faintly; this rhythm felt alive in her now, a quiet heartbeat of progress.
Seren had been telling her stories again earlier that morning — tales of the Eternal Wanderers, a group of nameless hunters who stood against monsters no one dared to face. Willa had listened closely, eyes wide as Seren spoke of four hunters who once protected Korvan Village itself. The thought filled her with something she hadn't felt since Vaelstorm — hope.
But now both were gone — chasing a strange sound echoing from deep within the forest.
The clearing was quiet, too quiet. Willa lowered her sword slightly, listening. The forest around her seemed to hold its breath. Then, from far off, she felt it — a tremor beneath her feet. Another, stronger this time. A rhythmic vibration that sent a shiver up her spine.
The ground shook again, leaves fluttering down like falling ash.
Then came the roar — metallic, deep, and powerful enough to rattle the trees.
From the western ridge, something massive tore through the forest.
When it emerged, the sunlight struck its armor — iron-gray plates interlocked like the scales of a forged beast, glowing faintly with molten red veins. Each step left craters in the soil. Steam hissed from vents along its back.
Its eyes burned like smoldering embers.
Ravarak — The Iron Howl of the Vale.
Willa's breath caught in her throat. She had heard Seren mention the name in passing, half in awe, half in fear. But she never imagined it was real.
The monster wasn't looking at her. Its gaze was fixed beyond the clearing — toward the direction of Korvan Village.
Her chest tightened.
If it reached the village… the people wouldn't stand a chance.
Her instincts screamed to run, to find Kael and Seren, to call for help — but her feet didn't move. She remembered Vaelstorm — the screams, the lightning, the chaos when the Leviathan attacked. She remembered Hunnt's calm face as he stood between the people and the monster.
Not this time, she thought.
She tightened her grip on her sword, her pulse syncing with her breathing.
"If no one else is here…" she whispered, "…then I'll stop it."
Ravarak lowered its massive head, steam venting from its shoulders with a hiss that sounded almost like laughter.
The ground shuddered as it scraped its claws across the dirt, preparing to charge.
"Come on then," she said, voice trembling but steady.
The Ravarak lunged forward, faster than she could react. The impact hit her shield like a storm. The sound of metal against metal thundered through the clearing. She was thrown backward, crashing into the base of a tree. Her arms burned, her breath knocked from her chest.
The world spun. Her shield arm shook violently.
But she pushed herself up again, panting. Blood ran from a small cut along her cheek. Her chest throbbed.
Ravarak roared, steam bursting from its vents, red light pulsing brighter beneath its armor. The sound made her bones ache.
"Breathe…" she muttered, staggering to her feet. "Balance… breath…"
Her heartbeat steadied with her breathing. She lifted her shield again, her stance low, steady.
The monster charged once more. This time, she sidestepped, slamming her shield into its leg as it passed — her strike rang out like a bell. The impact barely slowed it, but it gave her a moment to counter. She slashed upward — Rising Slash, then Side Slash, then Thrust — all flowing in rhythm.
Sparks burst across its hide, the sound of scraping metal filling the air.
But her blade barely left a mark.
Ravarak swung its tail. She ducked — too slow. The blow clipped her shoulder, sending her tumbling again. Pain flared through her ribs as she rolled across the dirt. Her sword slipped from her hand and embedded itself in the ground.
She gasped, clutching her side, the metallic taste of blood in her mouth.
Her vision blurred, but she could see the monster circling her, slow and deliberate. It wasn't just a beast — it was intelligent. It knew she was weakening.
Still, she crawled toward her sword, grabbed it, and rose to her feet. Her shield was cracked. Her arm was numb. But she faced it again.
"I won't let you through," she whispered.
Ravarak growled and slammed its forearms into the ground. A shockwave rippled outward — Echo Slam. The pressure hit her like a wall, tossing her backward again. She hit a boulder and fell to her knees.
Her whole body trembled now. Every breath hurt.
She forced herself up once more, leaning on her sword for support.
Memories flashed before her eyes — Vaelstorm's burning docks, the frightened faces of villagers, her brother's panicked shouts, Hunnt's voice telling her to "breathe and move with purpose."
Then she heard Seren's story echoing in her mind — the story of the four hunters who fought the Volcarian Basal, defending their home when no one else would.
That same fire sparked inside her.
She raised her sword again, even as her vision swam.
"You're not going any further," she said, her voice hoarse but filled with resolve.
The Ravarak roared again and lunged forward.
She met it head-on. Her sword cut across its snout — a shallow wound, but enough to make it recoil slightly. She followed up with a Shield Bash, her body screaming in pain as she struck. The clang echoed through the clearing.
The monster retaliated instantly, its claw slamming into her shield. The blow sent her flying backward. She landed hard, rolling through the dirt. Blood smeared her chin. Her breathing grew ragged.
She was exhausted. Every part of her hurt.
But she wasn't done.
She pushed herself up, legs shaking. Her breaths came short and fast. Her sword arm trembled. Her shield hung broken.
Still, she stepped forward.
The Ravarak reared up, armor plates expanding, its inner heat glowing red.
Then — a flash of light.
A gunshot cracked through the forest. The bullet sparked against Ravarak's shoulder.
Kael burst from the treeline, light bowgun braced against his arm, firing another round to draw its attention.
"Willa!" he shouted.
She turned, eyes widening as Seren rushed past her, shield raised. Seren blocked the next strike meant for Willa, the impact shaking the ground beneath them.
"Get back!" Seren barked, pushing her behind him.
But Willa shook her head, her voice breaking. "No! I'll protect the village! I won't run!"
"It's okay," Seren said through clenched teeth, parrying another blow. "We're here now. You've done enough."
Willa staggered forward anyway, raising her sword. "I'm not done. I can still fight!"
Kael's light bowgun roared again, muzzle flashing as he kept firing at the monster's joints. "Then fight with us!" he shouted.
Ravarak roared, rearing high, its Iron Howl shaking the entire clearing. The air shimmered from the force.
Willa, bleeding and exhausted, planted her feet and raised her cracked shield one last time. The roar shook her to her bones, but she didn't move.
Her breath steadied. Her eyes stayed on the beast.
"Not this time…" she whispered.
The three hunters stood together — Kael firing from range, Seren guarding the front, Willa striking from the side — their movements instinctively aligned.
The Iron Howl thundered again, echoing through the valley.
The fight was far from over.
But for the first time, Willa wasn't standing alone.