At the edge of the Dark forest....
Velex and the pack leader were staring each other down, sadly he didn't have the luxury to wait for the shadow hound to make it's move. Every second lost was another moment an acolyte could die. He dashed forward, but he didn't use his magic power to boost his speed he couldn't waste any right now. The pack leader lunged at Velex as he came closer, same as before it tried to bite down when he was in range. Velex quickly activated his magic to side step, Yet as if waiting the shadow hound was able to dig in his back legs into the ground to swipe at Velex with it's front claws. Although he was caught of guard he folded his arms in front of himself. he got pushed back, the sleeves on his arms were torn blood fell down his hands. But the wounds wasn't too deep and he was able to still fight. But another attack like that wouldn't be good.
The pack leader didn't wait for Velex to recover, Although it was surprised it wasn't able to deal with this human with that attack it continued on. Too Velex surprise the pack leader was slightly slower compared to it's last attack, it seemed the attack had cause sum strain on its back legs. Although he was faster then the shadow hound originally although not by much and only by using his magic power, at least this meant that it couldn't do many of those attacks and he was ready for it now.
The exchanged a few blows, for the most part they were superficial wounds as Velex was wary of the hounds attacks. With his speed the hound had a hard time to deal any substantial damage to him. They soon came to another short stand still.
Yet again Velex charged forward, they both focused on using fast attacks. The pack leader didn't try to bite him this time, when Velex came within 10ft it dug in it's front legs propelling its self forward trying to body slam Velex. Velex wasn't caught by surprise this time, he started to use his magic energy before the shadow hound had began to charge he couldn't afford to save his magic energy after the first clash. Yet he didn't dodge he moved most of his magic energy towards his hands and slammed forward into the shadow hound. Although it was stronger then regular shadow hounds, it still remained a speed base beast. Velex knew if he tried to dodge he could come out worst. As they slammed into each other, he was able to pierce the chest of the shadow hound, but before his claw like nails dug deeper the hounds head slammed down on his body. The hound held its ground while Velex was sent slamming into a large tree, his muscles were screaming in pain, But at least no bones were broken and he soon stood up. The shadow hound growled in rage, blood spilled from the 2 wounds on its chest, it stood still for a few moment hesitating. Although Velex wanted to attack the shadow hound a few seconds was what he needed to stabilize his body and the more the shadow hound waited the more blood it lost.
He took this time to inspect the battle on the acolytes side, it was a disappointing sight to see. Of the remaining 17 acolytes at the start of his battle, 8 had died and the battle field was dye in blood. Yet they didn't die alone more then 16 shadow hounds had died. But it didn't matter the battle on there side was hopeless more then 20 shadow hounds were still surrounding them. most of them had used up all their magic energy.
Although the pack leader was almost dead, even if the hounds went into a state of chaos they were still high in numbers, the situation was very dangerous and wouldn't only get worse with time. He didn't wait any longer before the pack leader made any decision, he pushed half of what remained of his magic energy below his feet as he dashed forward. It was all or nothing moment, the hound quickly reacted to his attack it didn't want to fight instead it lunged towards it's pack. Velex wasn't about to let it get away, from his ring he took out a sword he never used it before as his body was his weapon. But in this moment it became the perfect weapon, he braked on the ground and flung the sword towards the hound. The pack leader had no idea what was happening behind it, it got used to fighting Velex in close combat. Before it could howl to it's pack, It felt a sharp pain on it's stomach as it fell and stumbled to the side Letting out a sharp cry. Although the sword had dug deep into its body it wasn't fatal, but as it stumbled on the ground the sword embedded it self deeper into its body. Before the hound had a chance to do anything else, Velex arrived in front of it and stab down on it's injured chest striking it's heart, blood flowed on the forest floor from its body the pack leader was dead.
The pack had heard the shrill cry of its wounded leader, when they had seen the human kill it's leader they did not act out in rage. They began to howl and roar at one another, soon all the shadow hounds began to howl. The acolytes had gotten a second to breath, Yet without hesitation Velex yelled at them as he ran by "RUN!! You fools or DIE!!". He didn't wait for any of them not even Lybert, he ran past all of them, towards the recruitment site. The acolytes quickly snapped out of their daze and ran.
Sadly although some of the hounds began to fight one another more then 12 hounds ran after them competing for their flesh. most of these acolytes had used up their magic energy and 1 by 1 the hounds caught up to them and ripped their bodies apart. The acolytes further ahead didn't dare look back, they only hoped that their fellow acolytes flesh would distract the hounds.
Sadly that wasn't the case, most of the hounds continued their chase. Although their were few hounds now, they had no magic power left to fight back. But not all of them were in such despair, lybert and 2 of the Su family acolytes had saved some of their energy thanks to Velex early command. Sadly the younger sibling Tom had long fallen in the battle only Tyler and Fae had made it till now. The trio had lost sight of Velex by now, they only kept running in the direction he had left. behind them 4 hounds still followed the rest were occupied by their 'meals'.
The trios luck was running out along with their magic, although they were close to the recruitment site they knew they would not make it. The hounds were getting closer to them second by second, they looked at each other and they knew it was over. They came to a stop and held their swords in hand, if they were gonna die at least they try to kill one of these hounds. Before the hounds came 30ft from them a Shadow jump down from a large tree behind them. Velex jumped in front of the trio and he let out a beastly roar. the 4 shadow hounds came to a halt they stared at the human that had killed their pack leader, they felt the danger in Velex's roar, it was a fight 4 on 4 they had lost their advantage. As they recalled this savage humans fighting prowess they began to retreat, unlike the older pack leader these younger shadow hounds didn't have too many complex thoughts. They saw Velex as a huge threat and decided to flee.
when the shadow hounds left, Velex fell to the ground on his back. He magic energy had bottom out, the pain in his body from being slammed had finally started to effect him, the wounds on his arms didn't help. He had made the decision to show himself as he saw only 4 hounds chasing the trio, if they got closer they would of smelled his blood and even after the 3 were eaten he would of been next. so he didn't hesitate to make the best he could out of the situation and bluff the strength of his side, luckily it had worked out.
Lybert, Fea, and Tyler looked at Velex with joy and exhaustion as they also fell to the ground. they were safe at least for now, they had thought he had left them behind to their surprise he had saved them yet again. although it wasn't too far from the truth.
Velex cut into the 3 acolytes thoughts "We have too move, I can't fight right now and I'm sure you 3 aren't better off"
all 3 of them agreed, they had suffered a few injuries during the battle. Although they were better of then Velex without their magic energy they were sitting ducks. The group collected themselves and made run for the recruitment site, they couldn't risk trying to hide out inside the forest not with all the blood on their bodies. It was a brutal experience of the 14 acolytes they had met, they were all dead now eaten to the bone and forgotten. Even the Su sibling Tom had perished, the 4 traveled as fast as they could they didn't stop for a moment. As if after misfortune came fortune, they had not ran into any beast for the remainder of the day.
Soon they came to a large clearing. They could see a massive wooden wall, and towering over it were many large tents of different colors. without stopping they made it to the Gate, even though the gate was open they fell right there and then. Any sliver of energy they had left was gone from their bodies, they rested happily looking through the open gate.
They could see acolytes walking up and down looking at each tent, the large tents were split into sections. In front of the road of the gate was a large court yard with some acolytes sitting in front of a desk. seeing the buzzing sight they had no will to fight back their exhaustion. They rested outside the recruitment site for a few hours, in that time other groups made it to the site. Acolytes wearing robes of different colors bearing many diverse symbols. No one came to speak them or bother them they all went about their business.
Soon the group had more or less recovered sum of their strength and went inside the recruitment site, just a bit up the road an acolyte step forward and told them to head for the courtyard. They would be giving the next group of acolytes directions and explain the recruitment process.
They went into the courtyard where about 50 other acolytes right now were waiting patiently more or less. After a few more acolytes join the courtyard, an elderly men came before the desk in the front. He wore a white rob with small red flames around it, his hair was short and grey. Although Velex was weak at the moment, he could feel the energy from the acolytes around him, but this old man looked nothing more then a normal human in his eye's. But as he saw all the acolytes noticeably tense up he knew that was far from the truth. 'Could he be.....'