The entire plain hardened and cracks began to appear at the center of the area while the ground continued to shake with great enthusiasm. Even the veterans among the knights had a hard time controlling their balance.
When Cylon Gabras saw their steed run away from the cracks that formed in the center, he commanded everyone to get away and spread out with haste. They left their items and camps. Harions aren't creatures easily scared by a natural earthquake. There must be something that is truly fearsome to cause them to act in such a way.
Then, a low and chilling growl came from underground. It wasn't that loud, but everyone heard it clearly and it instilled fear and nervousness in everyone.
All of a sudden, everything went slow for Aeneas. Even sound passing through his ears became muffled as his beating heart masked his surroundings. A piercing chill crawled up his spine. Oddly, the scene was too familiar to him, yet, he couldn't make sense why.
From the cracks came out a stream of dark red mist only Aeneas could see. It was dense and blood-curdling. The boy thought that for it to be reeking of death and destruction, that dark red mist must've been chaos itself. Though, he was unsure why he alone could see it. But it was a thought for another time since a number of the weaker knights, researchers, and squires who drowned in the dark red mist began to hallucinate and act in a distraught manner. Shouting in both anger and pain as if unaware of their surroundings. Their eyes also began to have reddish spots in it. Thankfully, the knights were able to make them unconscious by knocking them out with either a punch or anesthetic medicine and pulling them away from the source.
Behind the chaos emitting from the cracks, a giant hand with great force resurfaced. It was big enough to crush a couple of knights if it wanted to. The hand was muscular and gray with four thick fingers armed with sharp long black talons. Clasped on the hardened soil above, the left one also emerged. Both arms pulled the entire body. Slowly, the monster's face emerged. Its size made the basilisk a mere toddler when compared to it.
Two long curved black horns with a blood-red hexagonal gem at its forehead, eyes shallow and red, two holes for a nose, and a mouth with sharp fangs. Its muscular thick body resembling that of a gorilla, was gray with cinders of black flames all over it. On its back was a long tail with two black spikes at the end. All of them shuddered at the sight of the gigantic beast.
Everyone spread out, a distance away from the gigantic monster who remained in place, not moving. Although terrified, all of the steeds remained close to their knights for the bond they'd built was greater than the face of death.
At first, none of them, researchers included, had any knowledge as to what the monster was at the time. It must've been a beast rarely mentioned in the annals of history or a newly seen one.
Seeing the monster made Aeneas have another sense of deja vu. But like earlier, it remained just that, a feeling he couldn't understand.
The acting commander felt that the monster in front was leagues above the basilisk they took down. But, before him were thousands of great Panteran knights. He was confident that there was no beast they couldn't slay. And so, he drew his sword and shouted, "Let the Zeal of his power glow!" Without question, the knights drew their swords and assumed their battle formations with their squads.
Their Zeals glowed, the light escaped from the crevices of their armors. Golden glimmer formed in many of the knight's eyes. Those with different Zeals also followed his command. While they prepared to attack, Cylon tasked some knights to protect the researchers and squires since they were not sure whether it was a lone enemy.
"Charge!"
It was a sudden raid. The knights made a series of coordinated attacks. Their skillful executions would make anyone be left in disbelief if they learned that it was their first time fighting with each other.
After a barrage of sword slashes and strong bursts of flames from their magic, the monster was filled with cuts and burns. Some of the knights even cast earth magic to hold its limbs in place. But the beasts remained static. As if it was still asleep or couldn't bother to feel the pain.
Cylon saw it as a chance to finish the beast. He, along with Irus and the other higher-ranked knights, attacked with all their might, cutting the beast's head. They could hear its weight as it fell on the ground.
"That wasn't much of a challenge," Cylon said with a smile.
On Aeneas's side, Tiriara cheered for the knights when she saw their easy victory.
"But… that beast was rather weak," the girl commented.
Neoma looked at Lyra, "Do you know what it is, Aunt Lyra?" She asked.
Lyra was deep in thought before answering Neoma's inquiry. She said that its appearance was quite familiar, so she must've read about it somewhere.
"Well, it's already dead. I guess it doesn't matter. We can learn more about it after we extract its body." Lyra continued.
Amid their conversation, Tiriara noticed that Aeneas was staring at the monster. It was as if that being entranced him and couldn't steer his gaze away from it. Concerned, Tiriara patted him on the shoulder, "What are you thinking?" She asked.
"It's not dead."
"Huh? Didn't you see its head on the ground? Surely it's dead, you jest," Tiriara replied while hitting the boy on the back.
But, the boy's face changed. From uncertain curiosity, it turned to a grim, then of sheer terror.
"They need to get away, it's alive!" Aeneas shouted.
What he alone could see, was the chaos surrounding the supposed dead monster was becoming denser. Then, it took mere seconds for the entire area to be covered with it. Some of the knights could feel the eerie sensation but were convinced that the monster was dead.
The knights were celebrating when Aeneas shouted aloud. Those near him turned to take a look. Rhene was the most concerned as she knew that Aeneas didn't act in such a way just to get attention. But most of them who were near the monster couldn't hear past their cheers.
Then, all their smiles and cheers stopped. Everyone felt a tingling sensation coming from the giant beast. Their instincts made them leap away and guided their hands to the hilt of their swords. The decapitated head of the giant monster began to float. A few squads of knights near it tried to attack once again, but all of them missed as the head moved with haste and reattached at the monster's neck. Its wounds quickly healed as if it had never been injured. And its red eyes glowed brighter.
What came next was a deafening roar, so loud that the closest knights found their ears bleeding. When it stopped, the acting commander ordered everyone to attack once again. But, this time the great beast did it first. It slammed its buff arms to the ground and from it spread gushing black flames, burning everything that it managed to touch. A magic made from chaos.
Few proud ones leading the charge were reduced to nothingness. Some managed to survive with the power of their Zeals but attained grave injuries and were also knocking on death's door. Six of the ten people from the special squad from Decatris died protecting the researchers, while the remaining four attained injuries. Knights who also protected the squires and some of the researchers received great burns.
Rhene and Haemon jumped in front of Aeneas and the others, but before the black flame made from chaos hit them, the black egg from Aeneas's bag appeared and sucked the flames.
Still, the monster continued its slaughter, smashing knight after knight. Even though it was a giant, its movement was fast. With their lives on the line, the proud Panteran knights counter-attacked. Most of them were capable enough to sever a limb or damage the monster with their magic, but all of it was for naught as no matter how injured the giant beast was, it took mere seconds for it to regenerate.
With a scream, balls of black flames materialized in the skies. Then, it rained upon them. Some bearers of the Proud Lion's Zeal tried to engage with their own flames. Few succeeded in nullifying it, while some got their flames destroyed. Some tried their best to dodge, and the unfortunate ones got burnt to ashes.
It was then that Cylon realized what a huge mistake he made. Years of peace made him succumb to his untested confidence. Though Panteran knights are great, they were still human, puny creatures when against a beast capable of such destruction.
"Retreat!"
Seeing piles of bodies increase as time passed, the acting commander, Cylon, ordered their retreat. He and some of the higher-ranking ones were to remain to hold off the beast. They were the only few who were confident enough to match the monster's dark flames.
The researchers and squires run towards the tall trees with some of the knights guiding them.
But, before they could get further away, the monster screamed and continued to slam the ground, sending waves of black flames and burning a bigger area of the forest. It became weaker when it was about to reach Aeneas and the others but the black egg sucked it once again.
Another scream came from the giant beast. Aeneas noticed the chaos spread with haste. Then, rumbling occurred. The beasts lurking in the shadows had become mad and began charging at them.
Within the history of Panteran expeditions in the Great Verdant forest, it was the first time where there was a casualty, a great one at that. And at the present, all hope was lost as everyone felt that no one would return alive.
But, within the darkness, a golden ray of hope shone bright. The lord of Arsida has arrived with the unit he came to aid. Behind him were piles of the remains of maddened beasts they had come across.