Primal Outcasts

Chapter 11: Turning Tides

Kuma stared at the gate, a strange familiarity mingling with unease. His heart pounded in his chest, the rhythm quickening as he struggled to decipher the overwhelming sensation urging him to touch the crystal. The gate before him was unlike anything he had seen—its towering bars twisted and turned in intricate patterns, almost alive with energy. The enigmatic blue crystal at the center glowed softly, both inviting and foreboding at once.

Kuma hesitated, his paw hovering inches away from the crystal. Something deep within him recognized this place, but he couldn't place it. The memories danced just out of reach, frustratingly vague.

Determined to find another way, Kuma tore his gaze from the gate and glanced around, scanning his surroundings for other options. He turned in a full circle, his eyes searching for anything—a key, a hidden path, some clue that could offer an alternative to the mysterious crystal.

But the landscape stretched out before him, barren and empty for miles. There were no other gates, no hidden passages, no signs of life or escape: just the gate, the crystal, and the vast, desolate terrain.

Kuma sighed, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. The crystal was the only way forward, and he knew it. Yet the unease gnawed at him, warning him that once he placed his paw on that crystal, there would be no turning back.

"Ok screw it, I don't know what to do or where to go but forward!" Kuma grumbled as he placed his paw against the crystal, glowing on impact. "What's going on?"

The gate glowed brightly in purple light as the hooded entity phased out through the gate, with the gate remaining closed. The entity has a dark cloak covering the whole bulky body from the feet to the head, showing its skull mask. The mysterious being glares at Kuma with its eyes, with one black eye and the other eye shining brightly.

"Wha-what are you? How do I get out of here?" Kuma asked with a tremble of fear in his voice.

The entity spoke in a deep voice, ignoring Kuma's question. "You seek to unlock the gate and its Test of Soul, but you brought no key."

Kuma took a step back, his heart racing as he tried to process the entity's words. The figure before him was imposing, and its deep voice resonated with an eerie power that sent chills down his spine.

"I-I don't have a key," Kuma stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't even know how I got here! I was just trying to find a way back home.  What do you mean by Test of Soul? What is this place?"

The entity landed in front of Kuma with a shockwave that made Kuma nearly lose his balance. "No key... No test then!" The entity growled as he summoned dual blades at each hand. The dual blades are their colors, one is black and one is yellow.

"Well.... Crap..." Kuma shaky said as he reached for his sword and activated it, standing for the fight.

Meanwhile, Nibel, once supposed to be a haven for Animals, is under attack by some mysterious force with an army of Earth Golems.

"Aaah help!" One of the citizens shouted as the Cat lady was about to be crushed by one of the golems when a burst of flames impacted on golem, pushing it back.

Max rushed with his spear gripped tightly toward the golem as he pierced his through the chest. The golem struggled for a moment until it crumbled into pieces, reaching the spear pierced through the clay doll that was inside the golem.

"Just as I thought! Someone is controlling these golems from somewhere!" Max growled as he crushed the doll with his bare paws. "Ma'am get to safety."

"Yes, General! Thank you!" Cat said as she rushed to the group that was being escorted to safety.