Viper-lashed branches whipped through the air—each strike driving searing agony into their very souls. Those wounded lost all balance, limbs betraying them.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPJvcDEOqD
The forest hunted them backward, branch by branch, as if bent on expulsion.
«Arian! Snap out of it!» Maru’s icy claws dug deep into Arian’s arm, wrenching him back from the treeline. «Your fury blinds you—you’ll drown us all!»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzn9fEiWyBQ
Blood welled from gashes on Arian’s forearm, dripping onto the soil beneath them, staining the earth like accusations.
«I’m sorry—should’ve stayed focused!» Arian’s breath hitched, his mind plunging into black silence.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTagvv7Y5x
Then—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3UJ3qXm2r
A stinging slap echoed through the woods.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDT2CXDwk4
His cheek flushed crimson, shock jolting him back to clarity.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKPk0d4H2B
«Drekarön!» His voice hissed, raw but commanding. «How firm’s your grip on your fire?»
«Not perfect—» Drekarön called back, not looking up from the gashed student he staunched. «—but I control it well enough.»
«Good. You and Maru take point.» Arian commanded like a battle-hardened general. «Leo, the elf, and I hold this position—covering your advance.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdCeVvdXyy
«All units—ready the counterattack!»
Then—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONNJJ6OMcX
The world froze.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfwfUZoJyZ
Branches halted mid-lash—glass statues in a petrified forest.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXMXlZhqOQ
A suffocating silence fell, thick as a breath held too long.
Crack!297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAe59sDqDI
Earth split beneath their feet.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IcfIUGJSB
Roots—black as void-serpents—speared upward, lashing at throats and limbs.
Drekarön’s crimson flames had turned the earth to hellfire, his hands incinerating branches to ash.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6fATvG73c
Ice melted—churning soil into a mud-choked death-trap for the roots.
«Arian—what’s the plan?!» Drekarön’s roar tore through excruciating pain. «I can’t hold this fire much longer!»
«Hold position!» Arian’s hands plunged deep into the earth, agony wrenching a groan from his lips. «I need Laina’s exact location!»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmz9XMlMSw
«Leo! Advance—support them!» His voice cracked but brooked no delay. «Sayron—was it? Guard the wounded! Move!»
The battle had ended. The hostile trees vanished. Exhausted, they sat slumped on the sodden earth, the stench of smoldering wood choking the air.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ls6u6WhEv
Then—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTP4zltJCt
Arian’s hoarse shout snapped them to attention.
«Found her!» His cry—cracked with fatigue yet ringing with triumph—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkdKvO3gFp
A ragged melody of hope.
But not all rejoiced.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrR0aO0Sm75
Some seethed with resentment.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtB22eMUSzr
Reduced to this wretched state...297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSL6UvdL2df
For one girl.
«Arian—out with it!» Drekarön sprang up, urgency overriding his own role in the forest’s ruin. «Where is she?»
«We don’t all go.» Arian’s sharp-eyed gaze swept the group. «I need four.»
A student surged to his feet, voice thick with accusation:297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD22jbABuEW
«Why gamble everyone for one girl?! We’re bleeding out here—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qp8fjtTRd
—while you fixate on her!297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD2CXCJyHT
What’s she worth?!»
Maru lunged—fangs bared for the boy’s throat, seconds from drenching the earth in blood—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuxIHDdJIb
When Arian’s fist slammed into his chest, halting him mid-strike.
Step by deliberate step, Arian advanced.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbXD7FbyoO
Suffocating pressure clamped the air.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTugH3td7H
Not a soul dared breathe.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfGkEj8zQC
His blue eyes seethed with silent fury.
«Listen, worm.» Arian’s voice cut colder than winter steel. «You couldn’t even protect yourself. Soiled your pants in battle—yet you dare question me?»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbRHuiWEej
His knuckles whitened, fist rising—not in rage, but like a judge delivering sentence.
CRUNCH.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhTnsIDUJm
The punch shattered the boy’s nose, blood gushing down his chin.
«From now on—» Arian’s voice boomed, drowning the boy’s whimpers,297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMy900M1FIr
«—let this be law:297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk4Hn3zl3h
No one—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcgw4zaxGu
NO ONE—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHz6BYBzK5
who fails to defend their own life297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAdvkbsEOJ
opens their mouth against my orders.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJWTwvSnbB
He leaned inches from the bleeding face.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8uRvFE5Ys
«Do. You. Understand.»
Suddenly, a voice long absent echoed in Arian’s mind:297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zWKQ7Oljh
«Well done, Papa! Had to show ’em who’s Alpha!»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyC1cTjeaJ4
Shadwolf had returned—Laina’s location secured.
«My thanks, son. Stay put—I’ll come for you soon.»
Silence smothered the clearing.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ag52WRo31
Not a whimper from the wounded;297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFkMnnbQpR
Not a rustle from the trees.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmR8ZEeXFn9
Heads bowed—one by one—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgipVJDrFM
Until Drekarön’s hands settled on Arian’s shoulders.
«I follow your lead.» The dragonkin’s voice rumbled low. «Without you today…»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpdFjEQzBa
His bared teeth weren’t quite a smile.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoijjChDGv
«…I’d have failed to shield these weaklings.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDH4CpyHPg
He stood ready—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnSvgHYGjx
A weapon awaiting its master’s command.
Maru pressed a fist to his heart—a silent oath of fealty to their new leader.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSE9Yedxiv
«Listen well, all of you!» Arian’s voice cut through the stillness. «This is the true trial! We were fools not to see it sooner.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9lusmBTsO
He raised a blazing azure flame in his palm—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ9bZBAUJv
A shattered crown of fire.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr89UUtFkPb
«William warned us: ‘Stay vigilant. Guard each other. Survive.’297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugxO4tPCod
Meaning—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLDScwAvqq
All thirty of us are shards of a single key.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb32GvqJ5Q
The key to escape.»
With a roar, he hurled the flame skyward.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCyJkja2Zo
«To leave this forest—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCp1dhmtxJW
—we save Laina!297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQpPo8aibb
UNDERSTOOD?!»
His cry slammed into the heavens.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehvPzQL8BF
Now—they moved.
and then Add to home screen.