The forest seemed to wrap itself around them, dense with shadows and the scent of damp earth. Padrino's senses were on high alert, every rustle of leaves and distant call of a bird igniting his instincts. Darius, still weakened from his imprisonment, leaned on Grendar for support as they made their way deeper into the woods. Niko led the group, his sharp eyes scanning the path ahead, while Elda watched the rear, her magic at the ready in case they were ambushed.
The night sky above was obscured by the thick canopy, leaving only faint glimmers of starlight to guide their way. Time was slipping through their fingers. Reinforcements from Galdros would not be far behind, and the Black Widow's venomous threat still lingered in Padrino's mind.
"Where are we headed?" Darius asked in a hoarse voice, his strength slowly returning.
"To the extraction point," Padrino replied, his tone sharp with urgency. "We have a small window to get you to safety before Galdros sends its hounds after us."
Darius nodded, though his face showed the weight of the situation. "And then what? Galdros won't stop until Earlshide is under their heel."
Padrino's eyes flicked towards him, his jaw set. "Then we don't stop. We fight."
As they pushed through the undergrowth, Padrino couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The trees seemed to shift, their branches whispering secrets he couldn't hear. He knew the Black Widow's reach was vast. Even with her defeat, her influence wouldn't vanish overnight. Galdros had spies everywhere, and their enemies could be lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"We're close," Niko said, his voice cutting through Padrino's thoughts. "I scouted this route earlier. The rendezvous point is just beyond that ridge."
Padrino gave a curt nod, signaling for the group to pick up the pace. But before they could reach the ridge, a sharp whistle cut through the air—one Padrino recognized all too well.
"Get down!" he shouted, pushing Darius to the ground just as an arrow zipped past where his head had been. The group scattered, diving for cover behind trees and rocks as more arrows rained down on them from the darkness.
"It's an ambush!" Elda hissed, her hands already glowing as she prepared a defensive spell.
"They were waiting for us," Grendar growled, his axe ready in hand as he positioned himself between Darius and the unseen attackers.
Padrino's mind raced. How had they known? The Black Widow couldn't have alerted them so quickly. Someone else was pulling the strings. But who?
A figure stepped out from the shadows, dressed in the dark leathers of a Galdrosian scout, a bow in hand and a cruel smile on his face. "You didn't think it would be that easy, did you, Penduko?"
Padrino narrowed his eyes, recognizing the man. Xanthos, one of Galdros' most notorious hunters. He had made a reputation for tracking down enemies of the kingdom, never failing to deliver them back to his masters, dead or alive.
"Xanthos," Padrino muttered under his breath. "Of course."
Xanthos laughed, his voice filled with smug confidence. "You've made quite the mess, Penduko. But it ends here. You'll be brought back to Galdros in chains, along with your little band of rebels."
Padrino's grip tightened on his sword. "Over my dead body."
Xanthos shrugged. "That can be arranged."
More scouts appeared from the treeline, their bows trained on the group. The odds were stacked against them, but Padrino had faced worse. His mind quickly mapped out the terrain, calculating their chances.
"We need to split up," Niko whispered urgently, crouched beside him. "If we stay together, they'll surround us."
Padrino nodded, formulating a plan. "Grendar, take Darius and head east. Niko, Elda, you're with me. We'll create a diversion."
Grendar didn't hesitate, hauling Darius to his feet and disappearing into the trees. Xanthos barked orders to his men, sending several of them in pursuit. The rest remained, their eyes locked on Padrino and his companions.
"Ready?" Padrino asked quietly.
Niko smirked. "Always."
With a swift motion, Elda unleashed a burst of blinding light, momentarily disorienting the scouts. In the chaos, Padrino and Niko leapt into action, striking down the closest enemies with deadly precision. The forest echoed with the clash of steel and the cries of the fallen.
Xanthos, recovering from the flash, drew his sword and charged at Padrino. Their blades met with a loud clang, sparks flying from the force of the impact.
"You can't outrun me, Penduko," Xanthos sneered as their swords locked. "I've hunted better men than you."
"Then you're in for a disappointment," Padrino shot back, breaking the lock and landing a quick blow to Xanthos' side.
The scout captain grunted in pain but didn't falter. He swung back with a fierce counterattack, forcing Padrino on the defensive. Their duel was brutal and fast, each man giving no quarter.
Meanwhile, Elda's magic kept the other scouts at bay, her spells crackling with energy as she fended off their arrows and blades. Niko moved like a shadow, striking from the darkness and slipping away before the enemy could react.
But Xanthos was relentless. He fought with a deadly precision that matched Padrino's own, and for every strike Padrino landed, Xanthos answered in kind. It was a battle of equals, and neither man was willing to back down.
"You should've stayed in Rimuru," Xanthos taunted, his breath labored but his eyes burning with determination. "You're out of your depth, Penduko."
Padrino parried another vicious strike, his muscles straining. "You talk too much."
With a sudden burst of speed, Padrino ducked beneath Xanthos' guard and drove his sword into the man's leg. Xanthos cried out, stumbling back, his balance faltering.
Padrino seized the opening. With a powerful slash, he knocked Xanthos' sword from his hand and pressed his blade to the scout captain's throat.
"It's over," Padrino said, his voice cold.
Xanthos glared up at him, his chest heaving with ragged breaths. "You think killing me will change anything? Galdros will never stop hunting you."
"I'm not killing you," Padrino replied, stepping back. "But you won't be following us either."
Before Xanthos could respond, Niko appeared at Padrino's side, an arrow nocked and aimed at the fallen captain.
"We should move," Niko said. "More will be coming."
Padrino gave one last glance at Xanthos, who lay on the ground, clutching his wounded leg, and nodded. Together, they vanished into the forest, leaving the defeated hunter behind.
The night stretched on as they raced toward the extraction point, the weight of their mission bearing down on them. Galdros was relentless, but so were they.
And Padrino knew that this fight was far from over.