Instead of retreating, he met Thorn’s charge head-on. With a snarl, Viliam ducked low, avoiding Thorn’s outstretched hand, and slammed his massive shoulder into Thorn’s midsection, knocking the air out of him.
Thorn staggered, gasping.
Viliam didn’t give him time to recover. Using the momentum, he swept his wing across the sand, sending a cloud of dust into Thorn’s face, blinding him momentarily.
Thorn coughed and swiped at his eyes, trying to clear his vision, but Viliam was already moving.
In a blur of midnight fur and wings, Viliam pounced, his teeth glinting in the moonlight.
He didn’t go for a killing blow. Instead, he aimed for Thorn’s ear.
Thorn barely had time to react before razor-sharp fangs clamped down. There was a sickening ripping sound, followed by a strangled, furious cry.
Thorn staggered back, blood running down the side of his face.
Viliam had taken the top of his ear clean off.
Thorn let out a snarl of rage, his speed now reduced to normal, but he was still dangerous.
Thorn lunged again.
He aimed a punch at Viliam’s head, but the nightglider twisted, dodging the strike and using his wing to push Thorn off balance.
He stumbled, his footing faltering on the uneven sand.
Taking advantage of the moment, Viliam lashed out with his claws once more, this time targeting the Pendant of Ironhide.
His claws scraped against Thorn’s chest, and with a final, powerful swipe, he ripped the chain from Thorn’s neck.
The moment the pendant fell, Thorn’s body reverted to its normal state.
Vulnerable.
No longer protected by the enchanted iron. He staggered back, a look of shock crossing his face as he realized the tide had turned.
Viliam roared, his wings flaring wide, towering over Thorn.
Thorn’s hand crackled with electricity, but Viliam moved faster. His jaws snapped around Thorn’s wrist.
A sickening crunch.
The sound of sharp fangs sinking deep into flesh and bone.
Thorn’s scream tore through the night, raw and furious, his body convulsing as the nightglider twisted his hand, shredding muscle and tendon in one savage motion.
Thorn’s fingers spasmed, his grip loosening. With a final violent jerk of Viliam’s maw, something small and metallic slipped free.
The ring.
It tumbled from Thorn’s mangled hand, landing in the sand with a faintthud, its once-potent glow flickering weakly before vanishing altogether.
Viliam spat out the bloodied remnants, his chest heaving, golden eyes fixed on Thorn with a fierce intensity. His wings trembled slightly, each labored breath betraying the toll the fight had taken on him.
He didn’t have the strength to strike again,not yet. For now, he kept his stance firm, his body angled protectively in front of Elora as he recovered, watching Thorn’s every move.
Thorn lurched backward, his body a wreck of torn flesh and trembling limbs. Blood streamed from the ragged wound where the top of his ear had been, soaking into his collar, dark and glistening.
His once-pristine coat hung in tatters, clinging to him with sweat and gore. His mangled hand quivered against his chest, fingers twitching uselessly, a ruined, twisted thing of shredded muscle and splintered bone. The skin was torn away in places, exposing raw tendons.
