Balam: Virgo the Pure (Trials of the Zodiac Book 2)

THE MOUNTAIN MONARCH

ZAKHAR

As King Breki approached, his molten form casting a sinister glow against the burning battlefield, excitement welled within me. I could feel Balam sharing the same anticipation, a bond between us that transcended words. The dull, impenetrable armor that cloaked Breki only added to the unease coursing through my veins.

I flexed my hand, watching in awe as the ancient stone gauntlets, once worn by Thor, yielded to my touch. With a deep breath, I tightened my fist encased in the gauntlets, feeling the extraordinary strength coursing through my veins. The tremor from within was nothing short of monumental, the sensations electrifying yet foreign. As I inhaled again, I channeled the newfound power into my arms and limbs, the veins in my hands throbbing with otherworldly energy.

I charged at King Breki, the flames reflecting in his molten eyes. Balam's sickle beat me there, cutting a glob of lava from his arm. It was enough to distract the raging king, who screamed something incomprehensible. His face looked less regal, more like a monster on a rampage.

The earth trembled beneath every thunderous stride I took. As my fist collided with the molten king, the searing heat barely registered against the tide of power surging through the gauntlets. The shockwave that followed was a fraction of the one I unleashed on Sebastian, yet it sent the king hurtling back, crashing through the burning remains of the butcher shop.

With astonishing speed, King Breki surged back to his feet, charging me with an unyielding ferocity as he ignored Balam's attacks. Our battle unfolded amid the backdrop of an explosive scene. The ground we stood upon cracked and splintered, giving way as geysers of lava shot into the sky. The newfound strength coursing through my body enabled me to hold my ground, but it was clear that this confrontation couldn't continue; the kingdom couldn't handle it.

As the relentless gravity of our situation bore down upon me, a distant, thunderous rumble resonated across the battlefield. The very earth quivered in response to this powerful, ground-shaking tremor. My eyes instinctively darted toward the horizon, and there, emerging from the hazy distance, came an awe-inspiring sight.

Before me loomed an imposing horde of prehistoric tigers, their presence mirroring the design of my ornate armor. These creatures defied any description I'd known, hummer-sized with eyes of a deep, lustrous chocolate brown. Their magnificent forms bore intricate jaguar-tiger markings, each stripe exuding an aura of primal authority. Their claws, dark as obsidian, gleamed with an unyielding strength that appeared as formidable as the rocky gauntlets I wore.

In contrast to the high-pitched, grating howls of Dire wolves, the rumbling growls of the tigers resonated with an eerie, bone-chilling timbre that seemed to freeze King Breki and even a few fire giants who were close to breaching the gate. A group had passed our warriors in the fields and were relentlessly hacking at the immense tree Balam had conjured just hours ago.

A dozen or so of the prehistoric tigers poised to strike, racing down the stone stairs Alvis had teleported me to. Gracefully, they leaped upon the massive tree stump, nimbly avoiding the snarled tangle of roots, and with a sudden ferocity, they pounced upon the fire giants. The tigers were not at all bothered when the giants ignited their skin. The giants scattered in disarray, reminiscent of scattering roaches in the face of their feral onslaught.

My gaze swiveled to Balam, whose face radiated an incandescent light as he channeled his profound magic. Amidst the noise of battle and chaos, I shouted to him, "Balam, protect my father's home. Take the tigers and join the fight against the other giants. I'll handle Breki – I can do this!"

With confidence reflected in his eyes, Balam met my gaze and nodded in a solemn pact. He wasted no time and called to the prehistoric tigers. The beasts abandoned their pursuit of the fire giants and came to his side.