The deep and dark forest of Sharamrind stretched endlessly, its towering trees forming an unbroken canopy above. The branches twisted like ancient fingers, their dense foliage allowing only slivers of moonlight to pierce through. A heavy mist curled around the massive trunks, slithering across the damp earth, wrapping the forest floor in an eerie embrace. The silence was unsettling—no rustling leaves, no chirping insects. Only the whisper of the wind carried through the trees, as if the entire forest was holding its breath.
A group of soldiers stood frozen at the entrance of a cave-like opening hidden between the thick roots of an ancient tree. Their faces were tense, and their hands gripped the hilts of their swords. The mission they had come for should have been simple, but none of them dared take a step forward. Something held them back—something stronger than duty.
"You go—" one of them whispered urgently. "No way you go!" another hissed. "I can’t… You know him, right?"
The words were enough to send a shiver through the group. They had seen many things in their time—battles, bloodshed, even death itself—but what lay ahead of them now was something far more terrifying.
A deep voice sliced through the air.
"What is happening here?"
The soldiers turned sharply, their backs straightening as a lone figure stepped toward them. The ground itself seemed to bow under his presence. Muzahir Raizer, the head soldier of the empire, stood tall, his sharp eyes scanning the hesitant men before him. The flickering torchlight cast shadows across his face, making his presence even more imposing.
"Muzahir Sahib…" someone whispered in reverence.
Despite years of serving under him, the soldiers still shivered when he was near. It wasn’t just his authority—it was the weight of his presence. A man who had never lost a battle, a man who never wavered. If even he was here, then what they were about to face was far beyond an ordinary mission.
Muzahir took another step forward, his boots pressing against the damp ground. "Why are you standing here like statues?" His voice was calm but carried the sharp edge of command.
Just as the soldiers opened their mouths to respond, a sound tore through the silence.
A deep, guttural roar.
Every man’s breath hitched. Their heads snapped toward the dense undergrowth beyond the cave entrance. The forest itself seemed to shift, shadows twisting unnaturally. The undergrowth trembled, but nothing could be seen. The soldiers gripped their weapons tighter, scanning the darkness for whatever lurked beyond.
Then, another sound—this time, a low, hissing breath.
The soldiers turned sharply toward the noise. And then, they saw it.
A massive tiger.
It stood just beyond the tree line, its golden eyes glowing like embers in the dim light. Its fur, streaked with deep black stripes, rippled with each slow, measured breath. It was larger than any tiger they had ever seen, its muscles taut beneath its thick coat. But its eyes... its eyes held something unnatural.
Muzahir, who had never shown fear, felt his heart hammer in his chest. This was no ordinary beast. Its sheer size and the way it moved with unsettling intelligence made it clear—this was a predator unlike any other.
The tiger took a step forward.
Every muscle in the soldiers’ bodies screamed to run, but none of them could move. A single twitch could mean death.
The beast prowled toward them, its movements slow and deliberate. It was not charging—it was stalking. Watching. Testing.
One of the soldiers at the edge, panicked beyond reason, reached for his weapon.
But before he could react—
BOOM.
Something crashed through the forest, sending a deafening shockwave through the trees. The ground shook beneath them.
And then—
Silence.
Hey dears, i hope its interesting for you as much as for me . And give some love through like and comments.
What do you about this chapter?
Write a comment ...