Chapter 67 - Ch 67: House Ambush attack!!

The morning sun had already bathed the house in its warm light as Nash and his companions gathered around the breakfast table. They were enjoying the familiar comfort of a meal together, the aroma of freshly cooked food mingling with their laughter and chatter.

Suddenly, a loud crash shattered the tranquility. An object hurtled through the window, sending shards of glass flying across the room. It landed on the table with a heavy thud, causing everyone to freeze.

Tanaka was the first to react, her voice tinged with alarm. "What was that?" she exclaimed, eyes wide with shock.

Before anyone could answer, Nash, Sophie, Niya, and Sylvia all realized the gravity of the situation. "It's an attack!" they shouted in unison, their instincts kicking in.

Dense smoke began to billow from the object, quickly enveloping the room in a choking cloud. The thick, acrid scent filled their lungs, causing the girls to cough violently as they struggled to see through the haze.

Amidst the confusion, a kunai knife whistled through the air, aimed directly at them. Nash's voice rang out urgently, "Look out!" He threw up his hands, channeling his energy to form a protective forcefield around his companions.

The translucent barrier shimmered into existence just in time, deflecting the kunai. But the attack was far from over. More projectiles followed—exploding shuriken that detonated on impact, sending shockwaves through the house.

"Brace for impact!" Nash shouted as the forcefield absorbed the brunt of the explosions. The house around them began to crumble under the assault, walls shaking and debris falling as the relentless barrage continued.

Outside, the people of Oze City were thrown into panic. The sudden sounds of destruction drew crowds to the streets, their eyes wide with fear and confusion. "What happened to the heroes' house?" they murmured among themselves, the realization dawning that their protectors were under siege.

Inside the collapsing house, Nash and his companions stood firm within the forcefield. The room was a chaos of smoke and fire, but their resolve was unbroken. As the final explosion rocked the foundation, Nash's barrier held strong, keeping them safe amidst the devastation.

As the smoke began to clear, the heroes prepared to face their unseen assailants, ready to defend themselves and the city that had come to trust in their strength.

As the dust settled and Nash lowered the protective barrier, the heroes prepared for the next wave of attack. The atmosphere was tense, the morning light casting eerie shadows through the smoke-filled ruins of the house. Suddenly, a dark figure emerged from the lingering mist—a demon ninja, cloaked in a swirling shroud of dark energy, leapt towards them with incredible speed.

"Look out, Nash!" Niya shouted urgently, seeing the demon ninja hurtling towards him from the corner of her eye. Nash, momentarily distracted by scanning their surroundings for more threats, turned just in time to see the assailant closing in.

In a flash, Niya moved to intercept the attack. Her blade met the demon ninja's with a loud clash of steel, but the force behind the demon's strike was immense. Niya was thrown back, her body lifted into the air by the sheer power of the blow. Nash, reacting swiftly, dodged the demon's second strike and caught Niya mid-air, his strong arms breaking her fall.

"Are you okay, Niya?" Nash asked, his voice filled with concern as he helped her steady herself.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Niya responded, her voice firm despite the impact she had taken. Her eyes were steely with determination.

As the demon ninja prepared for another attack, the rest of the team sprang into action. Sophie, Sylvia, and Tanaka took their battle stances, their faces set with grim resolve. Sophie, her hands already crackling with elemental energy, stared in disbelief at the formidable opponent before them.

"Impossible," she muttered, her voice laced with frustration. "I didn't detect its presence with my demon magic sense. It must be very powerful to evade my detection."

The demon ninja, cloaked in its dark mist energy, seemed to move like a shadow, its form barely tangible. It radiated an aura of malevolence that sent shivers down their spines. The creature's eyes glowed with an eerie light, filled with a malevolent intelligence.

Sylvia, with her bow at the ready, drew an arrow and aimed at the demon ninja. "We need to be careful," she said, her voice steady as she tracked the creature's rapid movements.

Tanaka, her healing magic at the ready, positioned herself to support her comrades, her eyes focused and alert. "Stay close, everyone," she urged. "We can't afford to be separated."

Nash, now fully aware of the threat, drew his sword and positioned himself between the demon ninja and his team. His eyes locked onto the demon's glowing gaze, his grip on his weapon tightening.

"We take it down together," Nash commanded, his voice filled with resolve. "No matter how powerful it is, we fight as one."

The demon ninja launched itself at them once more, its blades slicing through the air with deadly precision. Niya, having regained her footing, met the attack head-on, her sword clashing against the demon's once more. This time, she held her ground, her strength and determination unwavering.

Sophie unleashed a torrent of water and earth magic, her spells combining to create a barrier of swirling elements that forced the demon ninja to momentarily retreat. Sylvia loosed her arrow, aiming for the demon's vulnerable points, while Tanaka readied her healing magic, prepared to assist anyone who needed it.

The battle was fierce, the demon ninja proving to be a formidable foe. Its dark energy seemed to absorb and deflect their attacks, making it difficult to land a decisive blow. But the heroes fought with unwavering courage and unity, their bond strengthening with each clash.

As the fight raged on, Nash found an opening. With a powerful swing of his sword, he struck the demon ninja, the force of his blow sending it staggering back. The creature hissed in anger, its eyes glowing even brighter with fury.

"Sophie, now!" Nash shouted.

Sophie, responding instantly, unleashed a concentrated blast of water and earth magic, the elements swirling together to form a powerful strike. The attack hit the demon ninja squarely, disrupting its dark energy and leaving it vulnerable.

"Finish it, Niya!" Nash commanded.

Niya, with a fierce battle cry, charged forward and delivered a final, devastating blow. Her sword pierced through the demon ninja's dark mist, the creature letting out a ghastly wail before dissolving into nothingness.

Breathing heavily, the heroes stood amidst the ruins of their home, the morning light shining down on their victory. They had faced a powerful enemy and emerged triumphant, their bond as strong as ever.

"We did it," Sylvia said, her voice filled with relief and pride.

"Yeah," Tanaka agreed, a smile breaking through her serious expression. "We did."

Nash looked around at his companions, his heart swelling with gratitude and admiration. "Good job, everyone. We fought well, together."

As the heroes regrouped and began to assess the damage, the people of Oze City, who had been watching from a distance, started to approach. They came with expressions of awe and respect, murmuring their gratitude and amazement at the heroes' prowess. The scene was momentarily calm, with the morning light casting a hopeful glow over the ruined house.

Suddenly, Nash noticed a disturbance in the air. Four more shadowy figures began to form at the edges of the clearing. "Look out!" Nash shouted, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. The people of Oze City, sensing the imminent danger, began to scatter, their initial admiration turning to panic.

Nash quickly activated his amulet, summoning a spear and shield with a flash of light. The familiar weight of his weapons in his hands brought a sense of readiness. He turned to his companions, his eyes scanning the surroundings for the source of the new threat.

Sophie, her brow furrowed in concentration, whispered urgently, "They must have a dark summoner somewhere in the city. It's impossible to summon four shadow ninjas at once without one."

The heroes took their battle stances, their backs to each other, forming a defensive circle. The shadow ninjas advanced, their forms shifting and blending with the lingering smoke and mist. Their eyes glowed with the same eerie light, and their movements were fluid, almost ghostly.

"This is gonna be a pain in the ass," Nash muttered, his grip tightening on his spear. He knew they were in for another tough fight.

Sylvia notched an arrow and took aim, her eyes sharp and focused. "We need to find that summoner and stop them, or they'll just keep coming."

Tanaka, her healing magic at the ready, nodded in agreement. "Stay close, everyone. I'll keep us standing."

Niya, her sword gleaming in the morning light, positioned herself next to Nash. "Let's take them down one by one. Stay sharp."

The shadow ninjas moved in unison, their attacks swift and coordinated. Nash raised his shield just in time to block a flurry of strikes, the impact reverberating through his arm. He countered with a thrust of his spear, forcing one of the ninjas back.

Sophie, channeling her elemental magic, unleashed a barrage of water and earth spells, aiming to disrupt the ninjas' movements. "We can't let them get too close," she called out, her voice steady despite the chaos.

Sylvia's arrows flew true, each one finding its mark with precision. She targeted the shadow ninjas' vulnerable points, trying to weaken their assault. "I'm keeping them off balance," she said, her voice calm and determined.

Tanaka, amidst the chaos, kept her focus on her team. Whenever one of them took a hit, she was there, her healing magic mending wounds and restoring their strength. "I've got your backs," she reassured them, her presence a steadying force.

The battle was intense, the shadow ninjas proving to be agile and relentless. They attacked from all angles, their dark energy swirling around them. But Nash and his companions held their ground, their teamwork and skill shining through.

Nash spotted an opening and lunged forward with his spear, driving it into one of the ninjas. The creature dissipated into a cloud of dark mist, but three still remained. "One down, three to go!" he shouted, pulling back to regroup with his team.

Sophie and Niya worked in tandem, their attacks complementing each other. Sophie would create barriers of water and earth, forcing the ninjas into Niya's waiting blade. With each clash, they managed to whittle down the ninjas' numbers, but the strain was evident.

"We can't keep this up forever," Sylvia warned, her arrows running low. "We need to find that summoner!"

Nash, panting from exertion, nodded. "We need to split up. Sophie, can you track the magic source?"

Sophie closed her eyes briefly, focusing on the magical energies around them. "Yes, I can sense it. It's faint, but I think I can lead us there."

"Good," Nash said. "Sylvia and Niya, hold off these ninjas.

"Tanaka, stay close to them and provide support. Sophie and I will find the summoner."

The team split, moving with precision and purpose. Sylvia and Niya, backed by Tanaka's healing magic, focused on holding the shadow ninjas at bay. Arrows and sword strikes filled the air as they fought with unyielding resolve. Sylvia's aim remained true, each shot slowing the ninjas' relentless advance, while Niya's blade danced with lethal grace, her movements a blur of defensive and offensive strikes.

Tanaka stood behind them, her hands glowing with soft, golden light. Whenever a strike managed to slip past Sylvia and Niya's defenses, Tanaka was there, mending wounds and restoring energy with her healing magic. "Stay strong," she urged, her voice calm amidst the chaos.

The battle grew fiercer. Despite their efforts, a ninja's blade sliced deep into Sylvia's hand. "Ahhh!" Sylvia shouted, her bow slipping from her grasp as she clutched her wounded hand.

"Sylvia!" Niya called out, her voice filled with concern. She fended off the three ninjas, her sword moving with desperate speed. Tanaka rushed to Sylvia's side, her healing magic immediately working to close the wound.

As the ninjas pressed harder, Niya found herself overwhelmed. A blade slashed across her thigh, and another struck her back. She staggered, her movements slowing as pain coursed through her body. "Niya!" Tanaka shouted, watching in horror as Niya was stabbed in the stomach.

Without hesitation, Tanaka activated her ultimate skill, Time Reversal. A golden aura enveloped Niya, and in a heartbeat, her wounds vanished as if they had never been. But the strain was too much for Tanaka. She collapsed, unconscious from overexertion.

The ninjas closed in, sensing an opportunity. Just as it seemed they would be overwhelmed, Nash and Sophie arrived. "Hold on!" Nash shouted, his spear gleaming as he charged forward.

Meanwhile, Sophie and Nash sprinted through the ruined streets, Sophie leading the way with her senses attuned to the faint traces of dark magic. The city was a maze of debris and panicked citizens, but Sophie navigated with unerring focus.

"The source is close," Sophie said, her voice tense with concentration. "I can feel it getting stronger."

As they turned a corner, they came upon an abandoned alleyway, shadows flickering ominously at the far end. Standing there, cloaked in dark robes, was a figure muttering incantations under their breath. The air around them shimmered with dark energy.

"That's our summoner," Nash said, gripping his spear tightly. "Let's end this."

Sophie nodded, summoning her elemental magic. With a swift motion, she sent a surge of water and earth toward the summoner, aiming to disrupt their concentration. The summoner reacted quickly, raising a hand to cast a protective barrier that absorbed the impact of Sophie's spell.

Nash charged forward, his spear ready to strike. The summoner, seeing the attack coming, unleashed a wave of dark energy that surged toward him. Nash raised his shield, the force of the dark magic pushing him back but not stopping his advance.

Sophie, not missing a beat, conjured a swirling vortex of water that caught the summoner off guard, breaking their focus momentarily. "Now, Nash!" she shouted.

Nash took the opportunity and lunged, his spear piercing through the barrier and striking the summoner. The dark energy around them flickered and began to dissipate, the connection to the shadow ninjas weakening.

With his last breath, the summoner gasped, "My queen did not tell me they are very strong... Hahaha..." He vanished into thin air, his dark essence dissolving into nothingness.

Back at the house, the remaining shadow ninjas faltered, their movements becoming sluggish and uncoordinated. Sylvia and Niya seized the advantage, launching a coordinated assault that cut down the ninjas one by one. Despite their injuries, they fought with unyielding determination, knowing that their friends were counting on them. With Tanaka's support, they managed to hold their ground until the last of the shadow ninjas dissolved into nothingness.

Nash and Sophie stood over the fallen summoner, breathing heavily but triumphant. The dark energy that had threatened to overwhelm them was finally dissipating, leaving a sense of calm in its wake.

"We did it," Nash said, lowering his spear. "The summoner is down."

Sophie nodded, her eyes scanning the area for any lingering threats. "Let's get back to the others."

They hurried back to the house, finding Sylvia, Niya, and Tanaka waiting amidst the ruins. The people of Oze City began to cautiously approach once more, their fear replaced with relief and gratitude.

"We took down the summoner," Nash announced as they reunited with the team. "The shadow ninjas should be gone for good now."

Sylvia, still catching her breath, smiled. "Good job, you two. We held our ground here."

Niya sheathed her sword, her eyes reflecting a mixture of relief and exhaustion. "It was tough, but we made it."

Tanaka, who had overexerted herself, lay unconscious on the ground. Nash's heart sank, and a tear rolled down his cheek. "Tanaka, wake up," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

Sophie checked Tanaka's pulse, her face pale. "She's not breathing," she said, her voice trembling. "Tanaka has been healing us non-stop... to save our lives."

Niya and Sylvia's faces were etched with sadness. "She gave everything to protect us," Niya said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sophie detected a faint heartbeat. "Wait, there's still a pulse. It's weak, but she's alive."

Relief washed over the group. Nash cradled Tanaka gently, his tears falling onto her face. "You saved us, Tanaka. We'll get you through this. We promise."

As the morning light continued to shine down on them, the team took a moment to catch their breath and appreciate their victory. They had faced overwhelming odds and come out stronger, their bond as unbreakable as ever.

Together, they stood as a testament to the power of unity and the resolve to protect those in need. And as they looked out over the city they had saved, they knew that their journey was far from over—but they would face whatever came next, side by side.