Her Reckoning(shadow series)

Chapter 16

As Valencia's consciousness faded into oblivion, Monstuta was left unchecked, a force of wrath unbound. His fury, long restrained, was now set free to wreak havoc upon the world, and his vengeance began with Thornridge.

With an ear-splitting roar that shattered the sky, Monstuta surged forth, his colossal wings beating the air with a violence that shook the very earth. With each sweep, waves of scorching heat radiated from his form, flames licking the ground beneath him, igniting the town in an inferno of pure rage. His breath was fire, his touch devastation, and as his fury spread, Thornridge crumbled beneath his power.

The town, once peaceful and hidden amidst the trees, now writhed under the onslaught of chaos. Homes, built with care and love, stood no chance against the flames. The wooden structures burst into fireballs, their beams and walls collapsing into blackened heaps of ash. The air was filled with the sickening crackle of burning wood and the wails of terror as people fled from the destruction raining down upon them. There was no escape.

But Thornridge was not defenseless. The Thornridge Riders, men and women of fierce reputation, mounted their war beasts and rallied to face the creature of nightmares. They spurred their mounts forward—tigers with iron jaws, wolves bred for war, and griffins, their feathers gleaming under the flames of Monstuta's wrath. At the forefront rode Captain Aldric, known for his unwavering courage. His mount, a jet-black griffin named Rhaegor, soared high, leading the assault.

"Steady! On me!" Aldric bellowed, his voice hoarse with determination as the Riders followed, their formations tight.

Monstuta's blazing eyes fixed on them, and he descended upon them like a falling star. Rhaegor shrieked and dove, talons outstretched, leading the charge. But Monstuta met him mid-air, his claws ripping through feathers and bone. With a swift movement, he crushed the griffin in his grip, flinging the lifeless body toward the soldiers below. Aldric's scream was cut short as he and his mount fell in flames, a dark shadow against the night sky.

Below, soldiers charged forward, spears glinting in the hellish glow, their Sync beasts at their side. A tiger, massive and rippling with muscle, leaped through the smoke and ash, jaws wide. Monstuta swiped once—his claws cleaved through the beast's skull, leaving its body to crumple, lifeless. A Rider screamed in horror as his mount collapsed beneath him, but Monstuta's fire met him before he could rise. He was engulfed in an instant, a wail of agony lost in the crackling flames.

Wolves encircled Monstuta, their snarls echoing as they snapped at his legs. The beast reared up, towering over them, and with a single thunderous roar, unleashed a torrent of black flame. The air turned molten as the wolves vaporized where they stood, their ashes blown away by the wind.

Above, the griffins made another attempt to strike. A trio of the majestic creatures dived at Monstuta from different angles, their riders launching spears tipped with silver. One spear struck his side, but it bounced harmlessly off his scaled hide. Monstuta's wings beat once, twice—then he surged upward, talons outstretched. He grabbed two griffins in his mighty claws, slamming them together mid-air, snapping bones and ripping flesh. He hurled the remains down to the burning streets, where they were swallowed by the flames.

But the greatest threat came not from the ground, but from the sky itself. Thornridge's defenders unleashed their last hope: the dragons riders.

Three dragons, their scaled bodies shimmering in the fiery glow, erupted from behind the hilltops, roaring as they bore down on Monstuta. Each beast was a legend in its own right, with wings as wide as the town square, and breath that could turn stone to molten slag. One, a mighty red dragon named Tharandur, led the charge, his roar deafening as he hurtled toward Monstuta, fire spilling from his maw.