Lu thrummed under Theon's skin like a second heartbeat as he reached for the book again. This time, his fingers didn't shake.
As his fingers made contact with the page, the glow returned, faint at first, then growing stronger, pulsing in time with his heartbeat. The energy flowed through him with a purpose now, as if it had been waiting for this moment, for him to be ready.
But this time, Theon didn't just let the energy flow passively. He remembered the diagrams, the stances that had been depicted, and without thinking, he began to mimic the movements.
Though it may have looked quite ridiculous from a bystanders perspective, his hands moving widely and his limbs jutting out, his body moved instinctively and soon began to enter a smooth flow, following the patterns he had seen in the book, aligning his posture with the flow of the Lu.
And as he did, the energy responded, intensifying, flowing more smoothly, more efficiently. Theon could feel it gathering at key points in his body, then releasing in controlled bursts, amplifying his strength, his awareness, his very essence as his wounds began to close up and strengthen. The sensation was overwhelming, but this time, he was ready for it. He embraced it, tracing the energy through his meridians with each movement to the best of his ability.
And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the glow vanished. The pages of the book returned to their ordinary state, the ethereal light gone, leaving only the intricate diagrams and unreadable text behind.
Theon stood still, his breath coming in deep, controlled breaths as he absorbed what had just happened. He could still feel the energy within him, but it was different now—more stable, more permanent. He had taken the Lu into himself, made it his own, and he could feel its effects in every fiber of his being and he could tell, there was no more power left in the pages of the book.
He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers, marveling at the newfound strength that coursed through them. His mind was clearer, his senses sharper, and he could feel the power within him, waiting to be unleashed.
It was finally time to exit the cave.
The forest outside was still, the air heavy with the scent of earth and damp moss. The chill of the night air hit him, but it no longer seemed to bite as deep. The moon hung low, casting a silvery light that filtered through the trees, bathing the landscape in a cold glow. But through its serenity Theon knew the truth, the beast was near.
And he didn't have to wait long.
A low growl rumbled through the air as if it was greeting Theon. Theon's muscles tensed as he turned to face the source of the sound. From the shadows, the beast emerged, its massive form hulking and menacing, the dark tendrils of energy coiled around its massive form, crackling with power as they twisted and writhed. Its glowing eyes locked onto Theon, filled with the same predatory intensity as before.
But this time, Theon was ready.
The beast charged, its massive paws tearing up the earth as it barreled toward Theon with terrifying speed. But instead of fleeing or bracing for impact, Theon moved with a calm, deliberate grace. He sidestepped the beast's initial lunge, letting it crash into the ground where he had stood just moments before. The impact sent a tremor through the forest, but Theon remained steady, his eyes never leaving the beast.
The beast spun around, its rage palpable as it lashed out with its tendrils. This little hairless monkey had not only made him run around, survived it AND made it wait but it had also managed to emerge stronger than before. The dark energy crackled through the air, seeking to ensnare Theon, but he was already on the move. He darted between the trees, using the forest's natural cover to his advantage. The tendrils struck out, but they met only empty air or the unyielding trunks of trees.
Theon had noticed something in their first encounter: the beast relied heavily on its size, strength, and the dark energy that surrounded it. But those very advantages also made it predictable. Its attacks were powerful but straightforward, driven by raw aggression rather than strategy. Theon couldn't match its strength, but he didn't need to—he just needed to be smarter.
The forest became a blur as Theon wove between ancient oaks, the beast's thunderous pursuit shaking the earth. His lungs burned with Lu-charged breath as he spotted his target ahead—the jagged maw of the ravine he'd marked during his earlier flight.
The beast's claws tore at his backswing, close enough to shred his tunic. Theon pivoted off a moss-caked boulder, using the rebound to launch himself toward the precipice. The overhanging branch loomed—his only chance.
As the creature lunged, Theon leaped onto the branch, using it to propel himself upward and out of the beast's reach. The creature's momentum carried it forward, and in that split second, Theon twisted in mid-air, bringing his blade down in a precise, calculated strike. But instead of aiming for the beast's body, he targeted the ground beneath it.
With a sharp crack, the rocky ledge beneath the beast gave way.
But the beast was ready.
With a quick pounce it jumped backwards, dodging the crumbling earth.
And with a quick glance the beast retreated and immediately crouched down, poising its body.
Theon landed in a roll, boots skidding through damp earth—just as the beast launched itself across the ravine in a surge of shadow and fury.
Time slowed.
The creature's massive form cut through the air, tendrils whipping like black lightning, its jaws wide enough to swallow him whole. Theon didn't think. He moved.
Daggers flashed.
Theon stabbed both his daggers into the ground with his entire might and cleaved them sideways, his veins pumping lava and his tendons pushing steel as he mustered all the strength he could.
Yet to the surprise of both the beast and Theon, the mud gave away quite a bit easier than it should have. Whether it was a combination of the soft ground as result of the recent rain, the new strength Theon had gained or the air of weakness and corruption that hung around the planet, it was like an act of god as the soil gave away for Theon to cleanly cleave off the ground that the beast had jumped towards.
The beast's roar turned to something between fury and disbelief as the earth beneath its paws crumbled into nothing. Claws scraped stone. Tendrils lashed wildly at empty air. For one suspended heartbeat, the creature hung there—a monstrous silhouette against the sky—before gravity took hold.
Then it fell.
The creature let out a furious roar but the ravine was too steep, the walls too treacherous. The beast's size worked against it as it tried to climb, the dark tendrils lashing out in a futile attempt to grab hold of something solid. Theon saw his opportunity and acted swiftly. He grabbed a large rock from the ground and hurled it at a cluster of loose boulders perched above the ravine.
BANG
The impact triggered a small landslide as the boulders tumbled down, crashing into the beast and sending it deeper into the chasm. The creature roared in pain and fury, but its cries were soon drowned out by the sound of collapsing earth and stone.
Theon watched as the beast's form disappeared into the darkness below, the tendrils of dark energy flickering and fading as it fell. The ground rumbled, and then, silence. The only sound was the distant echo of falling rocks, and then even that faded away.
Theon let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His heart was still racing, adrenaline coursing through his veins, but his mind as clear as always
He approached the edge of the ravine cautiously, peering down into the darkness. There was no sign of movement, no indication that the beast would be returning. Theon knew better than to assume it was dead—it was too powerful, too resilient. But for now, it was trapped, buried beneath tons of rock and earth. That would give him the time he needed to escape the forest and reach the safety of the castle in the distance.
With one last look into the ravine, Theon turned and began to make his way back through the forest. He had strayed quite far from his direct path to the palace he had originally chartered and even though he didn't know his exact location he had a good enough estimate.