Viper-lashed branches whipped through the air—each strike driving searing agony into their very souls. Those wounded lost all balance, limbs betraying them.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jAjaWXfQt
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!»282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgT797j8mt
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60rhMqE6mk
Then—282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeh4DafASTV
A stinging slap echoed through the woods.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoYKz9hZ6Z
His cheek flushed crimson, shock jolting him back to clarity.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv3FwTS56M
«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.»282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDvWJ1nGVG
«All units—ready the counterattack!»
Then—282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlizoB7fBYz
The world froze.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xh6hUpIbt
Branches halted mid-lash—glass statues in a petrified forest.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWxeLf7bOD
A suffocating silence fell, thick as a breath held too long.
Crack!282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp5y0Dyj1s
Earth split beneath their feet.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKXDcKw9zg
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCOPwIQiZe
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!»282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fkeQgDtO8
«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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYA4klx7ts
Then—282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYSntTDQlD
Arian’s hoarse shout snapped them to attention.
«Found her!» His cry—cracked with fatigue yet ringing with triumph—282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfMK22NaJR
A ragged melody of hope.
But not all rejoiced.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8z5rnTH8v
Some seethed with resentment.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPSJUlEtcW
Reduced to this wretched state...282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmNpqYtPWn
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:282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUjmaGOiCN
«Why gamble everyone for one girl?! We’re bleeding out here—282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4P1z6iOrA
—while you fixate on her!282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3atR0tUK6D
What’s she worth?!»
Maru lunged—fangs bared for the boy’s throat, seconds from drenching the earth in blood—282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfY6Lv4WB3
When Arian’s fist slammed into his chest, halting him mid-strike.
Step by deliberate step, Arian advanced.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7Msndhz5m
Suffocating pressure clamped the air.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ3HfGaPD3
Not a soul dared breathe.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65113ly4DW
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?»282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5CrYzqO4a
His knuckles whitened, fist rising—not in rage, but like a judge delivering sentence.
CRUNCH.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3dkaKDuCL
The punch shattered the boy’s nose, blood gushing down his chin.
«From now on—» Arian’s voice boomed, drowning the boy’s whimpers,282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxF5NjimubE
«—let this be law:282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviWYl2ObrG
No one—282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzD2xRaUKp
NO ONE—282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCzhNZLBaS
who fails to defend their own life282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo43bfIQase
opens their mouth against my orders.»282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHBIpvgEYI
He leaned inches from the bleeding face.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPTQdUEevU
«Do. You. Understand.»
Suddenly, a voice long absent echoed in Arian’s mind:282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoJ0oSMcpC
«Well done, Papa! Had to show ’em who’s Alpha!»282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOa0GRGcBWU
Shadwolf had returned—Laina’s location secured.
«My thanks, son. Stay put—I’ll come for you soon.»
Silence smothered the clearing.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6mbswlgQ4
Not a whimper from the wounded;282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDWMnZN8gI
Not a rustle from the trees.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPNN2Pa1Df
Heads bowed—one by one—282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0JJso1Tgn
Until Drekarön’s hands settled on Arian’s shoulders.
«I follow your lead.» The dragonkin’s voice rumbled low. «Without you today…»282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gx9MOm5Ps
His bared teeth weren’t quite a smile.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBmnq5UCVT
«…I’d have failed to shield these weaklings.»282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz784yM1sy8
He stood ready—282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUnRb97TtV
A weapon awaiting its master’s command.
Maru pressed a fist to his heart—a silent oath of fealty to their new leader.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w6bd1Tnln
«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.»282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4eTuKFNs8
He raised a blazing azure flame in his palm—282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQI9F0UuWjC
A shattered crown of fire.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMkECpmuCm
«William warned us: ‘Stay vigilant. Guard each other. Survive.’282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdDM5XRnBb
Meaning—282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhic6Z6Hia
All thirty of us are shards of a single key.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTRTwXSIsj
The key to escape.»
With a roar, he hurled the flame skyward.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXfSolJKrT
«To leave this forest—282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXhO8O6SWF
—we save Laina!282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtRYaVrOqX
UNDERSTOOD?!»
His cry slammed into the heavens.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8azHPV9Ru
Now—they moved.
and then Add to home screen.