The beast hurtled toward them, a massive blur of shadow and muscle. Its glowing red eyes locked on Evelyn, and its roar echoed through the cursed forest like the death knell of some ancient, forgotten god. The ground shook beneath its weight as its jagged claws tore through the earth.

Evelyn's heart pounded in her chest. Time slowed for a split second—just long enough for her to realize they were wildly outmatched. Her grip tightened around her sword, every instinct screaming at her to move. But the beast was fast—too fast for something its size.

“Scatter!” Luka’s voice boomed through the chaos, and the group sprang into action, fanning out to avoid the beast’s initial charge.

The monster crashed into the spot where Evelyn had stood only moments before, its claws sinking into the dirt as it let out a frustrated howl. Luka shifted into his wolf form, launching himself at the creature, his teeth bared in a feral snarl. He slammed into the beast’s side, knocking it off balance. But the creature barely seemed to notice, swatting Luka away with one massive paw as if he were nothing more than a fly.

Luka hit the ground hard, letting out a pained growl as he rolled to his feet. Blood dripped from his side, but his eyes were blazing with fury. He charged the beast again, and this time, Evelyn was right behind him.

The creature swung its claws at them, but Luka darted to the left while Evelyn ducked to the right. She swung her sword in a wide arc, slicing through the creature’s shadowy flesh. The blade cut deep, but instead of blood, a thick, dark mist poured from the wound. The beast roared in anger, its red eyes glowing even brighter as it lashed out with its tail, catching Evelyn off guard and sending her sprawling to the ground.

“Evelyn!” Luka’s voice was raw with panic, but there was no time to answer. The beast was on her again, its massive form looming over her like a nightmare come to life.

Before it could strike, Kael’s shadow magic surged forward, wrapping around the creature’s legs like black tendrils. The beast roared, thrashing against the restraints, but Kael held firm, his face twisted in concentration. “Now! While it’s distracted!”

Raine was the first to act. She darted forward, her dagger gleaming as she aimed for the creature’s exposed neck. She drove the blade in deep, and the beast howled in agony, its massive body convulsing as the dark mist spewed from the wound. But even as it staggered, it didn’t fall.

“This thing won’t die!” Raine shouted, frustration and fear lacing her voice.

Morgana, who had been chanting softly to herself, suddenly stepped forward, her violet eyes glowing with power. “It’s not just a beast,” she said, her voice low and full of dread. “It’s a manifestation of the Heart of Shadows. We can’t kill it—not as long as the Heart remains intact.”

Evelyn scrambled to her feet, her breath coming in ragged gasps. “Then what do we do?”

Morgana’s eyes flicked toward the altar, where the Heart of Shadows pulsed with dark energy. “We have to destroy the Heart. It’s the only way.”

Evelyn’s blood ran cold. The Heart of Shadows was the source of all of this—the cursed forest, the spirits, the beast. But if they destroyed it, what would happen? Would the forest collapse around them? Would they even survive?

Before she could voice her concerns, the beast broke free from Kael’s magic, roaring in fury as it swiped at them with its massive claws. Luka darted in front of Evelyn, taking the brunt of the attack. He yelped in pain as the claws raked across his chest, leaving deep, bloody gashes.

“No!” Evelyn screamed, rushing to his side.

Luka collapsed to the ground, his breathing labored. Blood soaked through his torn clothes, and his skin was deathly pale. Evelyn’s heart lurched in her chest as she knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she pressed against his wounds.

“We need to end this now,” Raine said, her voice sharp with urgency. “If that thing doesn’t kill us, the Heart will.”

Evelyn’s eyes flickered to the Heart of Shadows, still pulsating ominously on the altar. Every instinct told her to destroy it, to end the nightmare once and for all. But fear gnawed at her—what would happen to Luka? To all of them?

Morgana stepped forward, her face grim. “I can perform the ritual to destroy the Heart, but I’ll need time.”

“We don’t have time!” Raine snapped, her eyes darting between the beast and the altar.

Evelyn stood, her mind racing. “Kael, Raine, keep the beast busy. Morgana, do whatever you need to do.”

Kael nodded, his shadow magic already swirling around him again. Raine darted toward the beast, her movements quick and precise as she slashed at its legs, drawing its attention away from Morgana.

Evelyn knelt beside Luka, her heart breaking at the sight of him in so much pain. His breathing was shallow, and his eyes fluttered closed as she gently touched his face.

“Stay with me, Luka,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Please, stay with me.”

Luka’s hand weakly grasped hers, his voice barely audible. “You... have to finish this.”

“I can’t lose you,” she whispered, tears blurring her vision.

“You won’t,” he managed, his grip tightening for just a moment. “But you have to destroy the Heart.”

Evelyn nodded, her resolve hardening. She would finish this—for Luka, for all of them.

Morgana’s chanting grew louder, the air around the altar crackling with energy. The Heart of Shadows pulsed faster, as if it were fighting against the witch’s magic. The beast, sensing the danger, roared in fury and charged toward the altar, but Kael and Raine blocked its path, their movements desperate as they fought to keep it at bay.

Evelyn stood, gripping her sword tightly as she ran toward the altar. The dark energy coming off the Heart was almost suffocating, but she pushed through it, her mind focused on one thing: destroying it.

Morgana’s eyes met hers for a brief moment, and the witch nodded. “Now, Evelyn! Strike it now!”

Without hesitation, Evelyn raised her sword and brought it down with all her strength, the blade slicing through the Heart of Shadows. For a moment, there was silence—then a deafening crack split the air as the Heart shattered, its dark energy exploding outward.

The blast knocked Evelyn off her feet, and the ground trembled beneath them. The beast let out one final, agonized roar before it dissolved into mist, its massive form disintegrating as the Heart’s power was destroyed.

For a moment, everything was still.

Then, as the dark energy faded, the cursed forest began to crumble around them. The trees groaned and snapped, the ground splitting open as the entire realm began to collapse.

“Run!” Kael shouted, grabbing Raine as the earth began to give way beneath their feet.

Evelyn scrambled to her feet, her eyes darting to Luka. He was still barely conscious, and she rushed to his side, pulling him up as the ground continued to shake violently.

“We have to go!” she shouted, her heart pounding as the world around them fell apart.

Together, they ran, the cursed forest collapsing into nothingness behind them. The nightmare was over—but the cost of their victory lingered in the air like a heavy, unspoken weight.

And as they fled into the fading light, Evelyn knew that the destruction of the Heart of Shadows was just the beginning.