Kael tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, his breath steady despite the oppressive aura of the Harrowmatriarch bearing down on him. Her massive frame blocked the exit, her glowing yellow eyes narrowing as if assessing the intruder who had slaughtered her brood. A guttural growl rumbled in her chest, growing into a shrieking roar that reverberated through the cavern, causing loose stones to fall from the ceiling.

  Her speed was mich faster than her offspring. In a blur of motion, she launched herself toward him, claws outstretched and wings propelling her with terrifying force. Kael dropped into a low stance, rolling to the side just as the monstrous claws raked the air where he had stood. She landed with a deafening crash, her claws digging deep gouges into the stone floor, sparks flaring from the impact.

  Kael countered swiftly, spinning on his heel and slashing at her exposed side. His blade grazed her thick fur, but the poison-laden steel missed by a hair. Her roar of rage echoed through the cavern as she pivoted with unnatural agility, one claw lashing out. Kael barely had time to throw himself backward, the razor-sharp talons slicing through the air just inches from his chest.

  She came at him again, faster this time, her wings creating gusts of wind that threw dust and debris into Kael’s face. He squinted against the storm, his enhanced reflexes allowing him to sidestep another deadly swipe. Before she could press the attack, he thrust his free hand forward, casting Jarla. A burst of fiery sparks erupted from his palm, slamming into the Harrowmatriarch’s face.

  The beast recoiled with a screech, her wings snapping upward to shield her eyes from the burning embers. Kael seized the opportunity, darting forward and slashing at her abdomen. This time, the blade bit deep, black ichor seeping from the wound as the poison began its slow work.

  The Harrowmatriarch howled in pain and fury, her body thrashing as she lashed out blindly. Kael ducked and weaved, his movements fluid and precise, avoiding the wide arcs of her claws by mere fractions of a second. Her wing came around in a devastating sweep, forcing him to leap back to avoid being crushed. The sheer power of her attack sent him skidding across the cavern floor, dust and sharp pebbles biting into his skin.

  Kael was back on his feet in an instant, his sword raised as the Harrowmatriarch lunged again. This time, her jaws snapped at him, rows of serrated teeth dripping with venom. He twisted his body just in time, the creature’s fangs snapping shut with a sickening clack inches from his neck.

  She was relentless, faster than anything her size had any right to be. Her claws struck like lightning, forcing Kael to give ground as he parried and dodged with inhuman speed. Each swipe carried enough force to cleave stone, and the air around them seemed charged with her rage.

  Kael cast Jarla again, the fiery sparks momentarily blinding her, but she adapted quickly. Her wings beat against the air, creating a shield of wind that extinguished the flames before they could reach her. Kael’s eyes narrowed as he shifted his approach. This was no mindless beast; she was learning, adapting, becoming more dangerous with each passing second.

  The Harrowmatriarch reared up on her hind legs, her full height towering over Kael. She let out a screech that made the air vibrate, then came crashing down, her claws aimed to crush him. Kael dove forward, sliding under her massive form and slashing at her exposed underbelly. His blade struck true, carving a deep gash that elicited another blood-curdling scream.

  But she was not deterred. The Harrowmatriarch spun with terrifying speed, her wing catching Kael mid-movement and sending him sprawling. He hit the ground hard, the impact jarring his bones, but he rolled to his feet with practiced ease, ignoring the sharp pain radiating through his ribs.

  Black ichor dripped from her wounds, staining the cavern floor and filling the air with a rancid stench. The poison was working, but it was slow—too slow. She charged again, her movements becoming more erratic but no less lethal. Kael’s enhanced reflexes saved him time and again, his body moving with a precision born of centuries of battle.

  As she lunged, he sidestepped and brought his blade down in a brutal arc, severing one of her claws. The Harrowmatriarch shrieked, staggering back and flailing wildly in pain. Kael pressed the advantage, his strikes coming faster now, each one aimed at her weakening defenses.

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  The Harrowmatriarch’s wings swept forward, a thunderous gust extinguishing the torch perched on the cavern wall. Darkness enveloped the space instantly, oppressive and suffocating. The faint glow of Kael’s crimson eyes was all that remained of the light. He didn’t falter, his enhanced senses sharpening in the absence of sight, but even so, he knew this was her territory, her domain, and she would exploit it mercilessly.

  A claw raked through the darkness, striking his side. The sheer force of the blow sent Kael skidding across the rough ground, his armor scraping against the stone. Pain flared in his ribs, but he rolled to his feet instinctively, keeping his sword at the ready. Another attack came from the left—a blur in the blackness—and though he twisted away, the tip of a talon caught his shoulder, slicing through his armor and grazing flesh.

  Kael hissed through clenched teeth. She was fast, faster than her brood, and with the torch extinguished, the advantage was hers. He heard the rush of air as she moved, the faint scrape of claws against stone as she repositioned for another strike. He stood still, his breathing calm, letting his other senses take over.

  The Harrowmatriarch lunged again, her massive wings creating a powerful downdraft as she closed the distance. Kael sidestepped at the last possible moment, his blade slicing upward. He felt resistance as it tore through fur and skin, eliciting a guttural roar from the beast.

  She retaliated instantly, her claws swiping in a wide arc. Kael ducked, the tips of her talons narrowly missing his head. He pivoted, swinging his sword in a precise strike aimed at her exposed flank. The blade bit into her flesh, black ichor splattering onto the cavern floor.

  Another gust from her wings blasted him, and she disappeared into the shadows once more. Kael’s enhanced hearing picked up the faint sound of her breathing, the subtle scrape of her claws as she circled him. He cast *Jarla*, flames erupting from his palm and briefly illuminating the cavern. The embers struck her chest, forcing her back with a screech of rage.

  But the spell had done more than just repel her—it had ignited the edge of her massive nest, a sprawling mound of bones, fur, and debris. The flames spread quickly, casting flickering light across the chamber. It was dim, uneven, but enough for Kael’s red eyes to adapt and pierce through the shadows.

  The Harrowmatriarch snarled, her movements now more cautious as the firelight danced across her grotesque form. She lunged again, her claws outstretched. Kael dodged, his blade striking and carving another deep gash into her side.

  Her fury reached a crescendo as she reared back, her chest expanding unnaturally. Kael’s instincts screamed a warning just before she unleashed a sonic shriek. The sound was deafening, a wave of pure agony that rattled the walls and sent loose stones tumbling from the ceiling.

  Kael staggered, his enhanced hearing amplifying the piercing noise to an unbearable level. His head throbbed, his vision swam, and nausea clawed at his stomach. He fell to one knee, clutching his ears, his sword trembling in his grip. The Harrowmatriarch seized the opportunity, charging forward with her claws raised for a killing blow.

  Even disoriented, Kael’s instincts refused to let him fall. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding her strike. Her claws struck the ground where he had been, shattering the stone and sending shards flying. Gritting his teeth against the pain and disorientation, Kael forced himself to his feet, relying on muscle memory and years of training to evade her relentless attacks.

  The poison was finally taking its toll. Her movements, once a blur of speed, were now sluggish and uneven. She stumbled as she swung at him, her claws scraping harmlessly against the floor. Kael regained his footing, his focus sharpening despite the lingering pain in his ears.

  He lunged forward, his sword carving through the air with lethal precision. The blade sank into her chest, just below her sternum, and she let out a strangled cry. Black ichor gushed from the wound, coating his hands and staining the floor.

  The Harrowmatriarch stumbled back, her wings faltering as she tried to lift herself into the air. Kael didn’t let up. He struck again, his blade finding her throat and cutting deep. Her roar turned into a wet gurgle as she collapsed, her massive form crashing to the ground.

  Kael stood over her, his chest rising and falling with measured breaths. The flames from the nest flickered and danced, casting eerie shadows across the cavern. The Harrowmatriarch twitched once, twice, then went still, her glowing eyes dimming as the life left her body.

  The cavern fell silent, save for the crackle of the burning nest and the faint drip of ichor pooling around her corpse. His expression cold and unyielding.

  Kael turned toward the exit, the dim light of the burning nest casting flickering shadows across his bloodied form. His body felt heavier with each step, the weight of his wounds dragging him down like an anchor. The adrenaline that had carried him through the fight was gone now, leaving behind searing pain and an emptiness that gnawed at the edges of his consciousness.

  His grip on the hilt of his sword slackened, the blade clattering to the ground as his arm dropped to his side. Blood seeped from the gashes across his body, soaking into the fabric of his torn armor. He pressed a hand to the deepest wound on his side, but his strength was fading, and the pressure did little to stem the flow.

  Kael’s breathing slowed, each inhale shallow and labored. He leaned against the rough cavern wall, his knees trembling as they threatened to buckle beneath him. His vision blurred, the edges of the world dimming as exhaustion took hold.

  His resolve, the iron will that had carried him through thousands of battles, faltered for the briefest moment. His legs gave way, and he sank to the cold, bloodstained floor. The burning nest crackled softly in the background, its light dancing over the fallen Harrowmatriarch and the carnage she had wrought.

  Kael closed his eyes, his body surrendering to the overwhelming fatigue. His mind remained steady, even in this moment of weakness, but the silence of the cavern was deafening. The weight of his centuries of experience pressed against him, reminding him that this was not the first time he had faced death, nor would it likely be the last.

  For now, there was only darkness, the faint, flickering warmth of the firelight fading as his breathing slowed to a near whisper. His body grew still, his mind retreating into the void, hovering between wakefulness and the pull of unconsciousness.