The murky waters of the sinking ship were closing in on Rius, and he struggled to keep his head above the surface. He could feel the pressure of the water bearing down on him, and his lungs were burning with the need for air.
As he fought against the currents, his vision blurred, and it seemed like his journey might end beneath the waves. But just when he thought he couldn't hold on any longer, he felt a strong grip on his arm.
"Rius, hold on! I've got you!" Leive's voice cut through the darkness, and Rius felt a glimmer of hope.
With Leive's help, Rius managed to break through the surface of the water, gasping for air. He looked up to see his loyal friend and brother-in-arms swimming towards him, his eyes filled with determination.
"Thank you, Leive," Rius said, his voice ragged. "I thought I was done for."
Leive smiled, his gaze locked on Rius. "We're not going to let anything happen to you, brother. Not on my watch."
As Leive swam back towards the shipwreck, carrying Rius on his back, Mika and Jean came into view. They were both injured, but they were alive.
"Are you guys okay?" Rius asked, his voice shaking.
Mika nodded, her eyes filled with tears. "We're alive, Rius. That's all that matters."
Jean added, "We owe our lives to Leive. He saved us all."
The shipwreck, a somber reminder of their ordeal, loomed in the background as they made their way back to shore. Rius couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as he looked upon the wreckage.
Tears welled up in Leive's eyes as he looked upon the lifeless form of his friend. "If you're gone, Rius, I don't want to live either."
But in a miraculous twist of fate, Rius stirred, drawing in a sudden, sharp breath. The team, caught between grief and elation, couldn't believe their eyes as Rius opened them, alive and well.
Laughter mixed with tears as the group shared a moment of overwhelming relief. The odds had been against them, but fate had other plans. Rius, seemingly back from the brink of death, brought a renewed sense of purpose to the battered team.
But the respite was short-lived as the reality of their situation sank in. The ship was lost, and revenge burned in their hearts. Yooren, the Knight Hunter, had to be stopped, not only for retribution but for their chance at survival.
"We can't let him get away with this," Rius said, his voice filled with determination. "He needs to pay for what he's done."
Leive nodded in agreement. "We can't let him get away with this. He's caused too much pain and suffering."
Mika spoke up, her eyes blazing with anger. "I'm ready to take him down. He won't get away with what he's done to us."
Jean added, "We need to work together and take him by surprise. We can't let him know we're coming."
Rius looked at his team, feeling a sense of pride and camaraderie. "We're in this together. We'll take him down, no matter what it takes."
With newfound determination, the recovered Rius and his team faced Yooren once more. The battleground, once a ship deck, now a twisted wreckage beneath the waves, witnessed a clash of magic and steel. The team fought not only for revenge but for the final emergency boat that would ensure their escape.
The battle was fierce, each swing of the sword and burst of magic echoing through the remnants of the ship. The stakes were high, and the group's determination to overcome adversity painted their every move.
As the final confrontation unfolded, the team's unity and shared resolve proved to be a force that even Yooren, with all his dark prowess, struggled to contend with. The sea, witness to their struggles, churned with both chaos and determination.
"We will not let you get away this time, Yooren," Rius said, his voice filled with conviction.
Yooren sneered, his eyes darting between each member of the team. "You fools don't know what you're getting into. You think you can stop me? You're nothing but children playing at war."
Leive stepped forward, his sword at the ready. "We may be young, but we're not afraid to fight for what's right. We won't let you hurt anyone else."