The roar came again. This time, it was louder, closer, and angrier.
"Please, feet. You can run faster than this," Finn pleaded.
Somehow, he regretted his decision to complete the Daily Mission earlier. It sapped every single ounce of energy from him.
Finn's boots pounded against the dirt, and each step was now fueled by sheer desperation. The beast was right behind him. He didn't dare look over his shoulder, but the snarls and the thundering crash of paws told him all he needed to know.
It was gaining. It was a matter of seconds before it reached him.
The Builder Panel shimmered before his eyes, and just beyond it, there it was.
The East Stone Gate.
It was rising, brick by brick, forged from light and summoned from nothing. Its archway curved into form, its foundation rooted itself to the walls.
Towering sides snapped into place like pieces in a divine puzzle. However, the gate—solid, thick, secure—was forming closed.
"No, no, no! Open it!" Finn shouted, flinging his arm forward as if that would make a difference. "Please! Let me through! Don't close it yet!"
For a moment, nothing changed. The gate loomed ahead, sealed tight.
Then, like something had heard him, the golden glow flickered across the surface, and the gate shuddered.
A loud, groaning sound echoed as the two heavy stone doors began to open, splitting slowly from the center. The gears of invisible mechanisms turned with divine hums. Inch by inch, the opening widened.
But it was not fast enough. It was too slow.
Finn's heart dropped.
'It's too slow… I'm not going to make it in time. The beast is too fast.'
Behind him, the monstrous wolf howled again, closer than ever.
Then something passed next to his face.
SWOOSH!
An arrow whistled through the air and slammed into the dirt just inches in front of the beast. It didn't pierce the creature, but it forced it to skid back, growling and snarling as its eyes blinked against the sudden interruption.
Finn snapped his gaze ahead.
"Finn! Move!" a voice bellowed.
It was Xabi. This time, he was outside the gate again, standing firm, bow in hand and a quiver slung across his back. He was already drawing another arrow.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Three more arrows flew in rapid succession, pelting the beast's path. One clipped its front paw, and though it didn't injure the creature, it staggered it, just enough to buy Finn a few precious seconds.
"Get inside!" Xabi barked. "Now!"
Finn didn't need to be told twice. He dashed forward with everything he had left. The gate had opened just wide enough for a person to slip through. He dove past the edge, stumbled, and rolled onto the ground inside the village walls.
Xabi was right behind him, leaping in backward as he fired one final arrow.
"Close the gate!" Finn yelled in his mind.
As if in answer, the golden light flared around the arch. The massive stone doors groaned, then slammed shut, just as the wolf launched itself toward them.
BOOM!
The impact shook the wall. Dust flew from the seams. But the gate held firm.
Finn lay on the ground, chest heaving, arms limp. Xabi stood beside him, panting, bow still drawn. It was just in case he needed to use it again.
From the other side, the wolf howled and clawed at the stone.
But it could not get through.
They were safe, at least for now.
The dust had barely settled when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the stone path.
Eleven figures sprinted toward the East Gate, men and women, some with spears, others with rusty swords, pitchforks, or tools hastily turned into weapons. They were the warriors of the village.
They came with clenched jaws and widened eyes, ready to face whatever terror had struck the village.
The other guard who had been stationed with Xabi was at the front, sweat streaming down his temple. "I've called them!" he gasped. "They're here!"
Among the group was Old Hann, cane forgotten in his grip, his robe flapping as he marched past the others with surprising speed.
But even with their weapons and anger, as they neared the newly erected Stone Gate, the sound from the other side made a few of them falter.
BOOM!
Another slam from the beast. The thick stone shuddered.
One of the younger warriors instinctively stepped back. "Wh-what in the spirits' name is that sound?"
Finn forced himself to his feet. His body screamed for rest, but he straightened up as Old Hann approached, his eyes stern and weathered.
"You went into the forest, didn't you?" the village chief asked, voice low and heavy.
Finn swallowed, then nodded. "Yes, Old Hann. I did."
Old Hann snorted sharply. "Then you've led the beast straight to us."
The words hit like a punch to the chest.
Before Finn could respond, Old Hann turned to the crowd.
"Twelve of us. Xabi, you'll lead. We take the beast down before it circles and finds another weak point."
He then turned to Finn and warned him, "You... Out of the way!"
'What? I can't let them go out. If five of them were killed, I'll be penalized,' Finn thought.
His mind was racing. He needed to find an excuse or another way to prevent any death even without the penalty.
"Wait," Finn stepped forward, voice louder than he expected. "You can't just open the gate!"
Old Hann's eyes narrowed. "And why not? We have weapons. We're not cowards."
Finn's fists clenched. "Because it's a Level 1 beast out there."
The words dropped into silence.
A few of the warriors blinked. Then one snorted. Another chuckled. Soon, a few laughed openly.
"A Level what?"
"Are we using numbers for animals now?"
"Finn, since when are you a beast expert?"
"Yeah! You think you're a hunter now?"
"I… read about it," Finn said quickly, scrambling for a believable excuse. "In Old Thom's books. About beast characteristics and danger levels."
Hearing Old Thom's name was mentioned, Old Hann didn't laugh. But his expression grew more displeased. "Enough talk. With twelve of us, we have numbers. Open the gate."
"No!" Xabi stepped in, firm and resolute. "Finn is right. That thing isn't normal. Opening the gate is suicidal."
Everyone fell silent. Xabi was one of the youngsters with the greatest potential in terms of strength and battle. Even Old Hann was quiet for a moment.
Then Finn raised a hand. "What if… we don't open the gate?"
They all looked at him.
He continued, "We can climb the wall. See what it's doing. Get a look before making a move. Maybe… maybe arrows will be enough."
"Yeah," Someone muttered, "He might be right."
"If it's stuck out there…"
"We could injure it before it gets the chance to pounce."
Old Hann frowned, but didn't reject the idea outright.
Finn pressed on, "I know I messed up by leading it here. But if we lose anyone now, it won't be worth it. Let's do it right."
Xabi gave a nod. "I'll go up first."
He slung his bow over his shoulder and jogged toward the nearest ladders he could find. He returned with two ladders, one in each hand.
"Let's go," he said.
One by one, the others prepared to follow.
And Finn, wiping sweat from his brow, watched the top of the wall, heart thudding, hoping the beast hadn't already found a new way in.