Hearing Philo's alert, the other Soul Weavers tightened their grips on their weapons, bracing for the battle of their lives. Aurelia tried to maintain her composure, but her trembling hands betrayed her inner fear.
Soon enough, the Abyssal Shades appeared, rushing toward them in a frenzied swarm. The abominations wasted no time, pouncing from all directions, but the experienced Soul Weavers stood firm.
One of the guards wielding a massive hammer swung with precision, crushing a Shade into the ground with a single blow. The ground cracked beneath the force. Another guard moved with deadly efficiency, his spiked shield drawing in the charging Shades and impaling them. He followed up with swift strikes from his short sword, finishing off any that survived.
Philo darted around the battlefield with alarming speed, targeting weak spots and either maiming or outright killing Shades with his daggers. Aurelia was holding her own, though the pressure was immense. She was aided by Philo, who would intervene when a Shade got too close, and by Xander, who used his Shadow Weave to blind Shades, allowing Aurelia to strike from their blind spots.
Emilia, however, stood frozen, unable to participate in the battle as chaos erupted around her.
Despite their efforts, fatigue was setting in. The bodies of Abyssal Shades began to pile up, but the relentless horde showed no signs of stopping. More than a few dozen Shades had fallen, yet they kept coming.
"We can't keep this up!" yelled the hammer-wielding guard, his voice strained.
"We need a plan!" added the man with the spiked shield, sweat dripping from his brow.
"I don't think we have the luxury of retreating right now," Philo interjected, his eyes scanning the battlefield as he struck down another Shade. "We're at their mercy."
For a moment, they exchanged desperate glances, each one searching for a solution. Finally, Dan, the shield-wielding guard, broke the silence. "I'll stay behind."
The other Soul Weavers turned toward him in shock.
"What?!" Aurelia exclaimed, her eyes wide.
"If someone doesn't hold them off, we'll all die," Dan said firmly, his voice resolute. "My Soul Weave allows me to attract their attacks. I can buy you enough time to escape."
The hammer-wielding guard's face twisted with disbelief. "But you'll die, Dan! There has to be another way!"
Dan shook his head, determination solidifying in his gaze. "No, there isn't. Our mission is to protect the young miss. If I don't do this, we all die here. I'll make sure the rest of you survive."
A heavy silence fell over the group as Dan's words sank in. The others wanted to protest, but there was no time, and deep down, they knew he was right. Even the hammer-wielding guard had no more arguments.
Taking a deep breath, Dan steadied his stance and readied his shield. "Go. I'll draw them in."
Philo glanced at Dan, a brief flash of sorrow passing over his face, but he quickly refocused on the battle. "We'll honor your sacrifice, Dan. Stay strong."
Dan nodded, his back straightening as he braced for the oncoming wave. With a sharp pulse from his Soul Weave, he emitted a surge of energy, instantly drawing the attention of every Abyssal Shade. All at once, the Shades halted mid-attack, their heads snapping toward Dan. A moment of eerie stillness followed, before the Shades, like a singular force, turned and rushed toward him.
"Now!" Dan shouted, gripping his shield tighter as the Shades closed in.
"Move!" barked the hammer-wielding guard as he led the others, including Philo and the children, out of the encirclement. They broke through the thinning ranks of Shades, who paid them no mind as they converged on Dan. The group escaped, running as fast as they could toward safety, while Dan was left behind to face the horde.
Despite being overwhelmed, Dan fought fiercely, holding off the Abyssal Shades with his shield and short sword. Even those that flanked him moved in front, as if compelled by his Soul Weave to face his shield head-on. But it was clear, as the numbers swelled around him, that his time was running out.
From a safe distance, Andrew, the hammer-wielding guard, paused and looked back. His heart clenched as he saw Dan struggling against the mass of Shades. "I can't just leave him!" Andrew shouted, preparing to turn back.
Philo grabbed his arm. "You'll die if you go back. Do you think that's what Dan wants? Our mission is to protect the young miss. You can't do that if you're dead."
Andrew's face contorted in pain, torn between his duty and his loyalty to his comrade. He glanced at Aurelia, who was watching him with wide, uncertain eyes. His resolve faltered for a moment, but then he forced himself to move forward. "Let's keep going."
Philo nodded, leading the group towards the cave. Behind them, Dan continued to fight, roaring defiantly as he battled the swarm. He knew this was the end, but if it meant the others would survive, it was a price he was willing to pay.
"I'm not done with you yet, you ugly bastards!" Dan bellowed, hacking and slashing with everything he had left. But, inevitably, the Abyssal Shades overwhelmed him, his final stand coming to a brutal end.
Meanwhile, Philo and the others reached the cave, but what awaited before them made their blood run cold. Bodies—human bodies—lay strewn across the ground, torn apart and partially devoured. Some were beheaded, others mutilated, and all bore horrific expressions, telling tales of their terrifying deaths. Adults and children alike had fallen to whatever horrors had chased them down.
Emilia retched, unable to stomach the grisly sight. Xander and Aurelia turned pale, their faces drained of color. Even the seasoned Soul Weavers felt a chill of fear creeping up their spines.
Before anyone could speak, a tall monstrosity stepped out of the cave. It stood over two meters tall, its single head twisted slightly to the side, with bright green eyes gleaming with malevolent hunger. Its grotesque form had four arms-two abnormally long ones with razor-sharp claws, and the other two wielding cleavers, fused into its flesh like unnatural extensions. Blood dripped from its claws, and it held the corpse of a child in one of its elongated arms.
Andrew whispered, his voice trembling with dread, "An upper-rank Tier 2..."
Philo remained silent, but the fear in his eyes spoke volumes. Even the children, unfamiliar with the exact rankings of such creatures, could feel the overwhelming power radiating from it. Their legs refused to move, paralyzed by the sheer terror of the abomination before them.
The creature stared at them for a moment before it dropped the lifeless child, straightened its back, and grinned, revealing rows of sharp, bloodstained teeth. Then it roared, and the group knew....
It was time for a new hunt.
"Run!"