Veilbound: The Hidden Pact

The guardian beast stepped fully into view, its glowing eyes fixed on Kai and Ignis. The molten light from the streams reflected off its scaled body, making it seem even larger, more terrifying. Each step it took reverberated through the ground, shaking loose bits of rock from the canyon walls.

Kai took an involuntary step back, his breath coming in shallow bursts. "That thing doesn't look like it's here to talk."

Ignis didn't respond. His golden eyes stayed locked on the beast, his body tense, flames flickering in his hands. The heat radiating from him grew stronger, the air shimmering around him.

"Listen carefully," Ignis said, his voice low and steady. "This isn't like the enforcers. Guardians are pure instinct. They protect the Veil, and they'll attack anything that disturbs the balance."

Kai clutched the package to his chest, his heart pounding. "So what do we do? Fight it?"

Ignis shook his head. "Fighting it isn't the plan. Surviving is."

Before Kai could ask what he meant, the guardian beast let out a deafening roar. The sound echoed through the canyon, making the ground tremble beneath their feet. Then it charged, its massive claws tearing into the rocky ground as it surged toward them with impossible speed.

"Run!" Ignis shouted, shoving Kai to the side.

Kai stumbled but managed to keep his balance. He bolted down the narrow path, the heat from the molten streams making it hard to breathe. Behind him, he could hear the beast's growls and the crackle of Ignis's flames. He risked a glance back and saw Ignis standing his ground, a torrent of fire erupting from his hands as he tried to slow the creature down.

The flames slammed into the guardian, but it barely flinched. It barreled through the fire, its claws swiping at Ignis with brutal force. Ignis dodged, his movements quick and precise, but Kai could see the strain on his face.

"Keep moving!" Ignis shouted without looking back.

Kai turned and ran, his legs burning as he pushed himself forward. The path narrowed further, the jagged rocks on either side making it harder to maneuver. He stumbled again, nearly falling into a molten stream, but caught himself just in time.

The guardian roared again, and Kai's blood ran cold. He glanced back to see it swiping at Ignis with relentless ferocity. Ignis was fast, but the beast was faster, and it was only a matter of time before it landed a blow.

Kai's chest tightened. He couldn't just leave Ignis to handle this alone. But what could he do? He didn't know how to fight, and every time he tried to use the fragment's power, it nearly overwhelmed him.

The fragment pulsed faintly in his hands, as if responding to his thoughts. Kai looked down at it, the faint cracks in its surface glowing softly. He took a shaky breath, his grip tightening.

"Okay," he muttered to himself. "Let's see what you've got."

He closed his eyes and focused, trying to channel the energy the way Ignis had told him. The fragment pulsed again, the warmth spreading through his body like a current. He could feel it, raw and untamed, but it was there—waiting for him to take control.

When he opened his eyes, the air around him shimmered with heat. He turned back toward the guardian and Ignis, his heart pounding. "Hey! Over here!"

The guardian's head snapped toward him, its glowing eyes narrowing. Ignis froze, his flames flickering as he turned to Kai. "What are you doing? Run!"

Kai ignored him, raising his free hand. The fragment's energy surged, a bright spark forming in his palm. It grew into a ball of light, crackling with raw power. He could feel the heat radiating from it, the energy straining against his control, but he held on.

The guardian charged at him, its massive form bearing down on him like a freight train. Kai gritted his teeth and hurled the ball of light with all his strength.

The impact was explosive. The light slammed into the guardian's chest, sending it skidding backward with a deafening roar. The force of the blast knocked Kai off his feet, and he hit the ground hard, the air rushing from his lungs.

When he looked up, the guardian was still standing, but it looked dazed. Its glowing eyes flickered, and its movements were slower, less certain.

Ignis appeared beside him, hauling him to his feet. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Kai gasped for air, his legs shaky beneath him. "It worked, didn't it?"

Ignis glared at him but didn't argue. The guardian shook its head, the glow in its eyes returning. It roared again, louder this time, the sound vibrating through Kai's bones.

"We need to go," Ignis said, his voice urgent. He grabbed Kai's arm, pulling him down the path. "That won't stop it for long."

Kai stumbled after him, his body screaming in protest. "What about you? Can't you just... I don't know, dragon it to death?"

Ignis snorted. "If it were that easy, we wouldn't be running."

The guardian's footsteps thundered behind them, and Kai didn't need to look back to know it was gaining on them. The path ahead widened slightly, revealing a jagged archway carved into the rock.

"There!" Ignis shouted, pointing to the archway.

Kai pushed himself harder, his lungs burning as he sprinted toward the opening. The ground shook as the guardian charged after them, its roars echoing off the canyon walls.

They reached the archway just as the guardian lunged. Ignis turned, flames erupting from his hands to create a blazing barrier between them and the beast. The guardian crashed into the flames, snarling and clawing at the barrier, but it couldn't break through.

Ignis gritted his teeth, the strain evident on his face. "This won't hold forever. Get through the archway!"

Kai didn't hesitate. He ducked under the archway, the air on the other side cooler and lighter. When he turned back, Ignis was right behind him, the flames disappearing as he stepped through.

The guardian roared, but it didn't follow. It paced at the edge of the archway, its glowing eyes fixed on them, before finally retreating into the shadows.

Kai collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. "Please tell me that thing isn't coming back."

Ignis leaned against the rock wall, his face pale but determined. "Not for now. Guardians don't leave their territory."

Kai let out a shaky laugh, his body trembling. "Great. One problem down, a million to go."

Ignis smirked faintly, his golden eyes glinting. "Welcome to the bond, human."

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