The Mythic Defect

CHAPTER 6 The First Beast’s Bargain

The second prison broke beneath the eastern district before Drake could answer. A deafening explosion tore through Ashveil City as an entire section of the streets collapsed inward, swallowing buildings, merchants, and fleeing civilians into darkness. Crimson light erupted from the crater moments later, followed by a roar so monstrous that even the storm clouds above the city trembled.

The sound carried rage. Not the mindless rage of a beast driven by hunger. This was older.Deeper.The fury of something that had suffered for centuries and finally tasted freedom again. People throughout the plaza screamed as another colossal creature emerged from beneath the city ruins. Unlike the reptilian beast from earlier, this one resembled a gigantic wolf wrapped in shattered chains, its silver fur stained black from ancient wounds that had never healed.

The moment it reached the surface, it threw its head toward the heavens and howled. Every spirit beast within Ashveil reacted instantly. Some collapsed in terror. Others lashed out wildly against their contractors. A few simply fled. The bond between humans and beasts across the city had begun to destabilise.

Grand Elder Varis cursed under his breath.“The prison network is collapsing faster than expected.”Drake stared at the enormous wolf tearing through the eastern district while flames spread through the surrounding streets.

“You expected this to happen eventually?”Varis looked older than before. Not physically.Emotionally. as a man watching buried sins crawl back into the light.“The seals were weakening for years,” the elder admitted grimly. “But nobody believed the prison creatures still possessed enough strength to break free.”

Azhareth’s low voice echoed beside them.“That was your first mistake.”The ancient beast remained standing near the shattered altar, though its condition continued worsening rapidly. The chains embedded throughout its body glowed brighter now, as if reacting violently to the other awakened creatures beneath the city.

Drake noticed the blood still dripping steadily across the broken stone beneath Azhareth’s claws.“You can barely stand,” Drake muttered internally.“I have survived worse.”That wasn’t an answer.”Azhareth turned its golden eyes toward him. For a brief moment, Drake sensed exhaustion buried beneath the creature’s ancient composure. Then another tremor shook the city hard enough to split the arena floor apart again. This time, screams echoed from the northern district.

A third prison had opened. The executioners atop the towers no longer looked confident. Several stared toward the spreading destruction with visible panic while trying to maintain the Heavenly Lock overhead. The barrier pulsed brighter with each prison collapse.

Drake finally understood its real purpose. It had never been created to protect the city. It existed to contain disasters. And now Ashveil itself had become the disaster. Varis stepped closer carefully, remaining wary of Azhareth.“If we do nothing,” the elder said heavily, “every living person inside these walls dies before sunrise.”

Drake’s eyes narrowed.“And you think Azhareth can stop them.”Varis hesitated. Then he answered honestly.“No. I think only Azhareth can command them.”

The words settled heavily over the ruined plaza. Lyra looked toward the chained beast with uncertainty.“You mean those creatures beneath the city recognise him?”Azhareth answered before Varis could.“They recognise what I am.”

Another roar thundered across Ashveil. Far in the distance, a gigantic serpent wrapped itself around one of the city’s watchtowers before crushing the structure apart effortlessly. Fires spread through the streets while terrified civilians fled deeper into districts that were no longer safe.

Drake watched the destruction silently. Only hours ago, the nobles had laughed at him for being worthless. Now the entire city depended on the “defect” they tried to kill. The irony would have been satisfying if innocent people were not dying around him.

“You’re thinking about helping them,” Azhareth observed quietly. Drake looked at the beast sharply.“You sound surprised.”I am.”Drake frowned.“You said humanity imprisoned your kind. Buried them alive beneath cities. Why would you care what happens to them now?”

Azhareth remained silent for several seconds. When the ancient beast finally spoke, its voice carried a strange bitterness.“Because hatred becomes exhausting after enough centuries.”Drake did not know how to respond to that.

For a brief moment, he saw something inside Azhareth that resembled loneliness rather than rage. That realisation unsettled him more than the creature’s power ever had. Before the conversation could continue, a new voice suddenly echoed across the ruined arena.“You cannot trust it.”

Everyone turned. Lucien Ashthorn descended from the noble platform surrounded by several armoured retainers. Unlike earlier, however, the arrogant confidence he normally carried had weakened beneath visible tension. Still, hatred burned clearly in his silver eyes when he looked at Drake.“This thing is manipulating all of you,” Lucien declared. “The moment it regains its strength, it will slaughter everyone here.”

Several frightened nobles nearby immediately agreed. Drake almost laughed bitterly.Interesting.Now that their lives depended on Azhareth, suddenly everyone remembered how dangerous it was. Varis looked toward Lucien sharply.“This is not the time for clan politics.”It stopped being politics when he endangered the kingdom,” Lucien snapped, pointing directly at Drake. “Everything happening right now started the moment that trash formed a pact with it!”

The accusation struck harder than Drake expected. Because part of him feared Lucien might be right.If he had rejected Azhareth beneath the altar…Would the prison beasts still have awakened? Would the city still be collapsing? The thought twisted painfully inside his chest. Azhareth noticed immediately.“You are blaming yourself.”

Drake clenched his jaw.“Aren’t you?”The ancient beast’s eyes narrowed slightly.“No.”The answer came instantly. Without hesitation.“That prison was already dying,” Azhareth continued calmly. “Humanity built its kingdom atop suffering and believed time would erase the consequences.”

Another explosion interrupted them. This time, the southern district erupted in flames. The screams reaching the plaza grew louder.Closer.Drake turned toward the burning city and felt something inside him harden. Whatever happened next, people would die if nobody acted. Varis seemed to realise the same thing. The elder stepped directly toward Drake despite the obvious danger surrounding Azhareth.“The First Beast may listen to you now,” he said urgently. “If there is any chance of calming the prison creatures, we must attempt it immediately.”

Lucien stared at Varis in disbelief.“You cannot seriously trust him.”I trust necessity,” Varis replied coldly. The noble heir’s expression darkened. Then his gaze shifted toward Drake again. For the first time, Drake noticed something beneath Lucien’s anger.Fear.Not fear of death.Fear of losing status.

If Drake somehow became the saviour of Ashveil after everything that happened today…The balance of power inside the city would change forever. Lucien understood that. And he hated it. Before anyone could speak further, the Heavenly Lock above the city suddenly flickered violently. One of the executioners shouted in panic.

“The barrier is destabilising!”A deafening roar answered him. The gigantic chained wolf from the eastern district leapt onto a rooftop overlooking the plaza. Crimson energy poured from the broken shackles around its neck while hatred burned in its glowing eyes. The creature stared directly at Azhareth. The entire city seemed to hold its breath.

Then, slowly…The wolf lowered its head.Submission.Not forced.Not terrified.Respectful.Drake’s heartbeat quickened. The beast recognised Azhareth. Several priests collapsed to their knees in horror.“The legends were true…”

“No…” another whispered. “That cannot truly be the First Beast…”Lucien’s face paled. Meanwhile, the chained wolf spoke in a rough voice that sounded unused for centuries.“Lord of Origins,” it growled. “The prison walls have fallen.”

The plaza descended into stunned silence. Even Drake froze. The beast could speak. Varis closed his eyes heavily.“This is worse than I feared.”The wolf’s glowing gaze shifted toward the humans surrounding Azhareth. Hatred immediately sharpened its expression.“These are the descendants of the jailers,” it snarled. “Why do they still breathe?”

Killing intent exploded across the plaza. Several nobles stumbled backwards in terror while executioners raised their weapons again. Drake stepped forward instinctively.“Wait.”The wolf’s eyes snapped toward him. For a brief moment, Drake felt overwhelming pressure crash against his body. The creature’s aura alone felt strong enough to crush his bones.

Yet despite that pressure, Drake held his ground. The wolf narrowed its eyes.“A human stands beside the First Beast?”Azhareth answered calmly.“He is my contractor.”

The revelation visibly shocked the wolf.“That is impossible.”So the world keeps repeating.”The chained wolf stared at Drake again, this time with open confusion rather than immediate hostility. Then another prison beneath the city exploded. A gigantic insect-like creature burst upward through the western district, tearing apart buildings as civilians fled screaming through collapsing streets.

The wolf immediately growled.“The others awaken hungry.”Varis stepped forward urgently.“Can they be stopped?”The wolf’s glowing eyes shifted toward him with obvious disgust.

“You ask mercy after centuries of chains?”Varis lowered his gaze briefly.“No,” he answered quietly. “I ask for a chance to end this without more hatred.”The wolf looked genuinely surprised by the response. Drake noticed Azhareth watching the exchange silently. Then the ancient beast finally spoke.“Enough blood has already stained this city.”

The wolf lowered its head again.“As you command.”Drake blinked. That simple? But Azhareth’s next words immediately erased that relief.“The awakened prisoners may obey my authority,” the ancient beast continued, “but the deepest chamber remains sealed.”

Varis’s expression shifted instantly. Cold dread filled his eyes.“No…”Drake looked between them.“What deepest chamber?”Nobody answered immediately. Then the ground beneath Ashveil trembled harder than ever before.

Massive cracks spread across the city walls. The Heavenly Lock above them flickered wildly. And from somewhere far below the earth…A sound echoed upward. Not a roar.Not a howl.A laugh.Ancient.Mad.Hungry.Even Azhareth’s golden eyes darkened slightly.“The Devourer,” the First Beast said quietly. For the first time since Drake met him, Azhareth sounded genuinely concerned.