In the heart of the dead forest, two men—each carrying a child—and a girl were running for their lives.
Of course, this was Xander's group. Philo carried Xander, and Andrew held Emilia, as the children were mundane and would slow down the soul weavers if left to run on their own. Aurelia, the only one among them who had awakened her abilities, trailed behind. Though she wasn't as fast as the two older, more experienced soul weavers, she did her best to keep pace, but fatigue was beginning to show.
She shuddered, recalling the massacre the Abyssal Shade had unleashed on the others.
They ran, eyes fixed ahead, not daring to look back, knowing that hesitation could be their death. But soon, they all noticed something. The heavy presence of the Abyssal Shade had vanished.
Had they lost it?
For a moment, hope flickered, but it was quickly snuffed out. The grim reality settled in—there was no way they had outrun something so powerful. It was an entire tier above them. That left only one conclusion:
It was hiding.
It was a hunter—and now they were the prey.
The soul weavers' dread deepened as their bodies moved on instinct, pushing their limits. But hope shattered when the Abyssal Shade crashed into the ground just meters in front of them. They skidded to a halt.
The abominable creature stood before them, its grotesque, wide grin etched across its face.
Xander, Emilia, and even Aurelia shrank behind Philo and Andrew, the sight of the predator's smile chilling them to their cores. Philo and Andrew felt terror wrap around their hearts as the monster brought its cleaver-like hands together with a sharp *snap*, the sound like a butcher preparing his tools.
Andrew glanced at Philo, a silent question in his eyes. Philo, tight-lipped, shook his head. Andrew looked down, searching for an answer, but found none. Despair settled like a weight on them all.
But then, Andrew's head snapped up, a glimmer of resolve flickering in his eyes. He turned toward Aurelia—the girl he had sworn to protect—and bowed slightly. Aurelia's eyes widened in understanding, dread swelling in her chest.
Andrew faced Philo, his voice low but firm. "It's been an honor, brother."
Philo wanted to argue, wanted to pull him back from this suicidal plan, but the words died in his throat.
Andrew raised his hammer, soul essence gathering at its head in a brilliant glow. He shifted into a stance, his muscles straining as sweat began to pour down his face, whether from the immense power he was channeling or pure fear, it was impossible to say.
"Protect the children... and escape this hell," Andrew whispered, his voice resolute.
Before Philo could respond, the energy at the end of Andrew's hammer exploded, launching him forward with unbelievable speed. He reached the Abyssal Shade before it had time to react, slamming the hammer into its chest. The force of the blow sent the creature flying backward, disappearing into the darkness.
Philo stood frozen, stunned by Andrew's power.
"Run!" Andrew shouted, his voice thick with urgency. "It blocked the hit! It'll be back any second!"
Philo snapped out of his daze, grabbed Xander and Emilia, and bolted. Aurelia followed close behind as they vanished into the trees.
Andrew watched them go, a grim smile curling his lips. He dropped to one knee, his leg muscles torn from the strain of the attack. His breath was ragged, but his spirit wasn't broken yet.
"Come on, you bloody bastard," Andrew growled, glaring into the forest. "I'm not dead yet."
As if answering his challenge, a guttural roar echoed through the trees.
"Yes... if I don't die, your pride will be ruined, won't it?" Andrew sneered as the Abyssal Shade emerged from the shattered treeline, one cleaver barely hanging from its arm, fury blazing in its eyes.
....
Back in Thane City
The spawns of Abyssal Shades had just finished and were stampeding towards the army. Ava and Roy, clad in soul armor, observed the scene as the last of the Abyssal Shades left the range of the Calamity Gate. With the shades gone, only the guardian of the gate remained—a hulking, four-armed abomination. Its cleavers weren't mere weapons but a grotesque extension of its own body, fused to its arms like natural, razor-sharp appendages. The creature's distorted grin stretched across its face, wide and menacing, as it towered over the battlefield, ready to defend the gate at all costs.
Ava raised her hand. "Now!"
At her command, the Soul Weavers surged forward toward the horde. The Shades, sensing the attack, rushed to meet them with manic fury. The two forces clashed, leaving only the Guardian and a few defenders at the gate.
Suddenly, a figure dashed ahead of the Soul Grandmasters. With a powerful leap, it soared high above the battlefield before crashing down in the center of the Abyssal Shades. A deafening sonic boom rippled out as the figure landed, creating a crater and shattering the ground beneath the Shades. Several were crushed instantly, disoriented by the shockwave.
Roy crouched in the center of the chaos, slowly rising to his feet. "Manipulating gravity never gets easier... My muscles are killing me," he grumbled, eyeing the recovering Shades.
With a swift motion, Roy raised his hand. "Kneel."
The Abyssal Shades that had been regaining their footing suddenly found themselves pinned to the ground, their bodies crushed under an immense gravitational force. Weaker Shades were obliterated, their bodies reduced to pulp under the weight.
Roy's hand flicked upward, and spikes erupted from the ground, skewering those nearest to him.
Ava saw her opening and dove into the fray, weaving between the Shades with deadly grace. Her longsword sliced through any that stood in her way, leaving a trail of death behind her. She moved so quickly that even the other Soul Grandmasters struggled to keep up with her.
Roy released his gravity hold, summoning his greatsword back into his hands. "The rest is up to you!" he shouted to the remaining Grandmasters before smashing his way out of the horde and racing after Ava.
The Soul Grandmasters, now seeing a weakened and scattered horde, let out a battle cry and charged. Victory was still far from certain, but the tide had shifted in their favor.