The air changed at dawn.

  The campfire had gone cold. The jungle buzzed — but not like before.

  It wasn’t life.

  It was warning.

  The trees parted behind them.

  Not from wind.

  From something massive.

  The Third Trial had begun.

  A tremor hit the camp.

  Myla dropped her flask. Ishro stood in silence.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “It’s coming.”

  Zariin froze. Tesska raised her blade without a word.

  A howl split the morning — long, guttural, inhuman.

  Then came the beasts.

  Not vines.

  Not roots.

  Things with bark-skin, bone-spikes, and too many eyes.

  Grinsh was the first to charge.

  His axe sang.

  He cleaved one in half — but another pierced his side.

  He roared and swung again, blood flying.

  Rell blasted flame — but one beast absorbed it.

  [THOUGHTS]

  Too many.

  Strong.

  Smart.

  Selena’s voice cracked through the chaos.

  “Fall back! The trees are closing!”

  They ran.

  Tesska went down. A claw through her gut.

  She didn’t scream.

  Zariin covered her — but vanished in a blink of illusion, sobbing.

  Myla screamed as Ishro dragged her back, bleeding.

  Rell fought beside Selena — fists lit, eyes wild.

  “Where?!”

  “Cave! East!”

  The group scattered. Half already gone. Maybe worse.

  They reached a ridge — the cave Selena mentioned.

  They tumbled in, wounded, gasping.

  Rell collapsed against the wall. His chest heaving.

  [THOUGHTS]

  Too fast.

  Too soon.

  Too much.

  Selena knelt beside him. Put a hand to his shoulder.

  “We’re still here.”

  He looked at her.

  Eyes cracked open like old stone.

  [SPEAKS]

  “…Not all.”

  They sat in silence.

  Outside, the beasts screamed.

  Inside, the final trial waited.