Viper-lashed branches whipped through the air—each strike driving searing agony into their very souls. Those wounded lost all balance, limbs betraying them.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNjaznJ2bS
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!»263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xZQKkc5KG
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUV3329jl9e
Then—263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ecympizv7
A stinging slap echoed through the woods.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXyvyGWK7w
His cheek flushed crimson, shock jolting him back to clarity.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVMDm55D9h
«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.»263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuywzIwclc9
«All units—ready the counterattack!»
Then—263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSY5KYF2Vei
The world froze.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPwE93RICc
Branches halted mid-lash—glass statues in a petrified forest.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhS5CzjbrN
A suffocating silence fell, thick as a breath held too long.
Crack!263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YaMcHFNlh
Earth split beneath their feet.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr87liho56
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYodZyJXFYt
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!»263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6e9rZBbV6
«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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZtmJC1fBJ
Then—263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbNHJeO8nk
Arian’s hoarse shout snapped them to attention.
«Found her!» His cry—cracked with fatigue yet ringing with triumph—263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lRvWlP9Kc
A ragged melody of hope.
But not all rejoiced.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipKg7WYlnF
Some seethed with resentment.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihVArXuAOc
Reduced to this wretched state...263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFc1bkr4Ig
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:263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡere8szsoxl
«Why gamble everyone for one girl?! We’re bleeding out here—263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RviHosXnl
—while you fixate on her!263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eBoA38O7o
What’s she worth?!»
Maru lunged—fangs bared for the boy’s throat, seconds from drenching the earth in blood—263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡET6fIq3IOU
When Arian’s fist slammed into his chest, halting him mid-strike.
Step by deliberate step, Arian advanced.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkZzJphx7u
Suffocating pressure clamped the air.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlFsRsltsR
Not a soul dared breathe.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n6NeVdDha
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?»263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBtFpvCa13
His knuckles whitened, fist rising—not in rage, but like a judge delivering sentence.
CRUNCH.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5TJIbwxbf
The punch shattered the boy’s nose, blood gushing down his chin.
«From now on—» Arian’s voice boomed, drowning the boy’s whimpers,263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRM7qCLniAG
«—let this be law:263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgemwyAKDrw
No one—263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxjtK5nGhN
NO ONE—263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuqPhIHhuz
who fails to defend their own life263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wXqrs7bGw
opens their mouth against my orders.»263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUNV9hsPuZ
He leaned inches from the bleeding face.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhanklzyrEi
«Do. You. Understand.»
Suddenly, a voice long absent echoed in Arian’s mind:263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9GG9aYN0r
«Well done, Papa! Had to show ’em who’s Alpha!»263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZU1Oje7DtQ
Shadwolf had returned—Laina’s location secured.
«My thanks, son. Stay put—I’ll come for you soon.»
Silence smothered the clearing.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhfNoPgn8i
Not a whimper from the wounded;263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOF9ernzfd
Not a rustle from the trees.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g5XTktGaz
Heads bowed—one by one—263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwrrDaHAwH
Until Drekarön’s hands settled on Arian’s shoulders.
«I follow your lead.» The dragonkin’s voice rumbled low. «Without you today…»263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI4JJCy3mz
His bared teeth weren’t quite a smile.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzjFIUU4zd
«…I’d have failed to shield these weaklings.»263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2PqFRgT7I
He stood ready—263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxzUQ9UeDE
A weapon awaiting its master’s command.
Maru pressed a fist to his heart—a silent oath of fealty to their new leader.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3Pu08zdfg
«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.»263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bojM3RADz
He raised a blazing azure flame in his palm—263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyVuZ7WMmW
A shattered crown of fire.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS1nKjhqib
«William warned us: ‘Stay vigilant. Guard each other. Survive.’263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPakg4WSQZo
Meaning—263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZbegnGc7M
All thirty of us are shards of a single key.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iP0I0yiLS
The key to escape.»
With a roar, he hurled the flame skyward.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q5smdr88w
«To leave this forest—263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwdccGC3eq
—we save Laina!263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcpu0yGvA1
UNDERSTOOD?!»
His cry slammed into the heavens.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgxBYf8xId
Now—they moved.
and then Add to home screen.