Bodies lay strewn across the shattered earth, mangled and torn; their blood flowed down the street like a crimson river. Death didn't just come for a visit; it seized the land as its territory.
"Fuck!!! The end has come, we're all going to die!" screamed a ragged village man as he hurdled over the fallen corpses, trying to escape from the horrible scene.
And then came the roar.
The cry echoed across the city. All heads swiveled toward the cry's origin. There it stood, forged from nightmares and storms, the Growler, a calamity, towers above the mountains. Its mane is a wildfire, ever-burning and warping like ferocious thunderclouds. Each of its fangs is the size of a warship, glinting with ancient blood and jagged like shattered stone. When it roars, the skies tremble and crack—lightning splits the heavens, the resulting shockwave flattened entire forests. Its eyes burned with a molten hunger, twin souls filled with wrath and cunning. Claws like obsidian spires gouge deep canyons into the earth with every step. This was the first Calamity class monster that humanity has ever seen.
The villagers that were watching saw the monster battling humans.
"That's Finn Silver, the strongest human, I heard that he and his spirit can part the sky with just a wave of their hand," exclaimed one villager.
"What do you know? I witnessed the very heavens bow down to him wherever he walked," boasted another villager. "We're saved!"
"I don't know how much longer I can hold the spell for, Finn. Hurry and kill the piece of shit," yelled Reed. Beside Reed was a fairy spirit, who, alongside Reed, was casting a gravity spell on the Growler, restricting its movements.
"Don't worry, I only need a few minutes," said Finn. "Orion, Echo, and Samora, you distract the Growler, and Kerina, you can give backup with your long-range spells, once I see an opportunity, I'll slay the beast."
"Aye, captain," replied Orion in a condescending voice. "You better not screw it up."
"Worry about yourself, Orion," said Finn.
The group took off in different directions to carry out their task.
The earth violently shook beneath them.
The Growler thrashed against the weight of Reed's magic. Its marbled muscles strained against the pressure. Chained by gravity itself, the creature snarled, its eyes—flames of fury— locked onto the warriors charging towards him.
"Just a few moments," muttered Reed. His spirit fairy landed on his shoulder; its wings flickered like a dying flame.
"MOVE NOW!!!" screamed Finn.
The warriors all charged towards the monster. Suddenly, a cracking sound echoed around the area and if you looked at the gravity spell, you could see cracks developing.
The beast let out a ferocious roar, his muscles releasing a colossal might, breaking free of the spell.
"Oh, shit," said Reed. Collapsing to the floor, completely drained of energy.
The rest of the warriors continued their charge.
"Come here you mountain mutt," yelled Orion. He dashed towards the beast, blades in hand, wind magic flowing around him. Leaping into the air, he slashed the beast's foreleg with his blades. Sparks flew as the blades were helpless against the thick hide of the beast. Only leaving a shallow gash, unable to draw the Growler's attention.
He swiftly harnessed wind magic around him and just barely dodged the jaws of the beast in its bone-crushing lunge.
"Ay, watch it little puppy, you almost bit my face off," exclaimed Orion. Quickly dashing away from the beast.
Echo appeared behind it in a blink of shadow, twin daggers in hand. Her form was a blur, darting in to slash at the back of its ankles. She vanished just as its enormous tail slammed down, causing the earth to tremble and crack.
With a warcry, Samora, clad in fiery armor, charged directly at the Growler. Leaping powerfully, she focused her flames into a fist, smashing the beast's jaw. A rumbling was heard as the flame blasted the beast, causing its head to jerk to the side.
"NOW, KERINA!" Finn shouted.
From the nearby ridge, Kerina stood with her hands raised to the stormy sky. Violet light swelled within swirling clouds, growing to mountainous proportions. Then with a final cry, she unleashed a shimmering spear made of pure lightning. It struck down with the force of the heavens, it slammed into the Growler's back and shoulders, causing it to roar in blinding rage. Its head twisted to glare at her.
The Growler planted his titanic limbs on the shattered earth, its talons sinking into the ground. Its mane ignited—no longer just fire like—but fire itself. The very air around the beast was warping from the heat.
A low rumbling growl took over the silence. Its chest expanded, massive ribs glowing from within. Eyes lit up, the very essence of fire laid within as it glared at Kerina.
"GET THE FUCK OUT OF THERE KERINA," scream Finn.
But it was too late.
The Growler threw its head back, jaw cracked open. And then—it exhaled.
A torrent of fire, unlike anything ever seen, erupted forward. Annihilating everything in its path. A beam, pure and destructive, instantly melted steel mid-flight, unleashing the wrath of the inferno. The trees instantly evaporated, the earth shattered like infinite glass. Molten lava bursted out from deep fissures. Volcanic might rained down upon the earth.
The breath carved a burning scar into the world. Nothing remained.
"KERINA," yelled Finn and the others in sorrow. As for what was left of her—nothing. Not even one speck of dust remained of her. Everything being annihilated in the blazing breath of fiery might.
"Ahhh, I'm going to fucking kill you," exclaimed Finn. Eyes bloodshot from anger. Unable to think clearly, he charged at the monster. He leaped towards its head, yelling wildly.
"Don't be an idiot Finn, we need to fight this thing together," yelled Orion.
A flash of clarity lit up Finn's face. But, it was too late. Finn twisted his head to see a titanic claw swing towards him, cutting through the air. It slammed him into a nearby mountain, the mountain collapsed from the force.
Finn struggled to get up, the blow having severely injured him. Chest slightly caved in from the broken ribs, his body covered with gashes, blood flowed down his body, staining the earth red.
Filled with determination, Finn turned towards his group. "Sorry about that guys, let's work together and kill this fucker and avenge Kerina," yelled Finn to the others. "Reed, do you have one last spell on you?"
"Yeah, I recovered my magic a bit, however; I can only hold it for a few seconds," replied Reed.
"That's enough time," said Finn. "Everyone, distract the Growler and buy some time for Reed."
"No problem; will you be able to kill it?" asked Orion.
"Yeah, I just need some time to prepare," replied Finn. A look of determination on his face.
When Orion made eye contact with Finn, he nodded.
"Okay everyone, let's go distract this mountain mutt," said Orion.
Letting out a warcry, the others all charged at the Growler.
Echo blurred into motion, merging with the shadows, and appeared behind the Growler, blades drawn. Slashed the monster's ankle, dodging the backhanded claw that crushed the ground where she had just stood.
Samora soared upwards on a pillar of fire, fists ignited, she hurled molten blasts at the monster's face. The monster hurled blasts back at her, but unlike her, who danced with precision, the monster's blasts were more chaotic.
"This is for Kerina," roared Samora. Launching a tremendous blast of molten flame at the beast's head. Blinding the beast.
Orion darted through falling rubble, calling the surrounding wind into a vortex. He slashed at the monster's chest, sending a gust that tore through flesh and fur, drawing a howl of rage from the Growler.
Reed took position, hands raised, casted the gravity spell once more. His Fairy spirit shimmered beside him, drawing upon the last of its strength. "Hold…hold…HOLD," he screamed. His spell wrapped around the Growler, restricting its movements. The beast slowed mid-run, its movement thick like it was dragging an entire mountain with it. "Hurry up Finn! I can't restrict it for much longer," he yelled.
Finn stood at the edge of the battlefield, the destruction reflecting in his eyes. He dropped to one knee, plunging the sword into the earth.
The blade began to glow.
He closed his eyes. Whispered something under his breath.
Around him, the ground cracked. Energy pulsed upwards, swirling around his body in radiant gold. Wind rushed outwards, lifting his hair and cloak, as if the world itself bent towards his rising power.
"Just a few more moments," whispered Finn.
The Growler let loose a thunderous roar, cracking the sky in its fury.
Turning towards Finn, it forced a step forward.
Reed's face paled as blood spurted from his nose, he tried to keep the spell going, but couldn't last much longer.
Finn, now," shouted Reed.
"I need more time," Finn yelled back.
His sword pulsed brighter, his veins glowed with raw energy. He became a conduit for an ancient and vengeful power.
"We don't have time!" shouted Orion.
Reed collapsed along with the spell restricting the beast.
The Growler was free.
It lunged towards Finn.
Time seemed to slow down. Echo tried to intercept, but the beast swatted her from the air like a fly. Samora unleashed a final inferno, but the Growler charged through it, singed but undeterred. Orion raised his blades, but the Growler slammed a claw down, throwing him across the field.
It charged towards Finn, lunging with its bone-crushing jaw. But just before it reached him.
Finn stood up.
"This is the end for you," whispered Finn.
Eyes blazing, sword now a blinding pillar of light, he launched into the air with a shockwave that cratered the earth behind him.
He met the Growler mid-lunge, framed by light and ruin.
He struck.
The sword carved through the beast's face, down its spine, and cleaved the titan in two with a scream of ripping earth and shattered heavens. A burst of light engulfed the field, and the roar of the Growler turned into a wail—then a whisper—then silence.
The fading light scorched the battlefield.
The Growler's body lay split, smoking, and motionless.
Finn dropped to his knees in the crater. Sword gone. Energy gone.
But the monster was dead.
He smiled. "Kerina... we avenged you."
Then he collapsed.