Adrian's instincts kicked in the moment the chief barked the order to arrest them. Soldiers closed in, weapons drawn, their faces twisted with malicious glee as they prepared to take him and Zack down.
Adrian knew he had to act fast—there was no time to hesitate.
Drawing his sword, Adrian spun on his heel, using the momentum to slash through the nearest soldier's weapon, disarming him in one fluid motion.
Without missing a beat, he summoned his fiery chains, the molten links shooting out from his back with a hiss. They wrapped around another soldier's legs, yanking him off his feet and sending him crashing to the ground.
Zack, wide-eyed and trembling, could barely keep up with the chaos around him. Adrian had to split his focus, using one chain to keep Zack close and protected while fending off the advancing soldiers with his sword.
The odds were stacked against him—there were too many, and they were closing in fast.
