The air grew heavier as the noble soldiers closed in, their formation tight and disciplined. Amanda stood at the forefront, her crimson aura flaring like a storm about to unleash its fury. Beside her, Fenris bared his fangs, his golden eyes locked onto the approaching threat. Eryndor shifted his stance, gripping his weapon tightly, his own mana crackling faintly in preparation.
The leader of the soldiers, a tall man with sharp features and a silver-plated breastplate, raised his hand. The squad halted, their weapons at the ready but not yet drawn. His icy blue eyes met Amanda's, and a smirk played at the corners of his mouth.
"Amanda Wynthorne," he said, his tone mockingly formal. "The nobles of Esralian have grown tired of your little escapades. Surrender now, and perhaps they'll show mercy."
Amanda's expression remained calm, her lips curving into a cold smile. "Mercy from the same nobles who butchered my family? How generous."
The man's smirk faded, replaced by a look of disdain. "You've been marked, girl. You're a pest, an infestation that must be eradicated. The Seed's energy led us right to you."
"So predictable," Amanda replied. Her voice was steady, but her aura burned brighter, the shadows around her twisting unnaturally. "You think you're prepared, but you have no idea what you've walked into."
The soldier's patience snapped. He gestured sharply, and his men moved, forming a semicircle around her group. Amanda could sense their mana signatures—strong, disciplined, and well-coordinated. But they were nothing compared to the power surging within her since absorbing the Seed.
Eryndor stepped closer to her, his voice low. "There are too many. We need a plan."
Amanda didn't answer immediately, her eyes scanning the soldiers. She raised a hand, silencing him with a slight motion.
"Fenris," she said softly, her voice carrying a commanding tone.
The wolf growled in response, his muscles tensing as dark energy began to coil around his form. Amanda placed her hand on his head, channeling a surge of mana into him. Fenris's body shimmered, his already formidable frame growing larger, his fur bristling as crimson streaks appeared along his back. His golden eyes burned like embers, and his growls deepened into a guttural roar.
Eryndor's eyes widened. "What did you do to him?"
"Unlocked his potential," Amanda replied without looking at him. Her focus was on the soldiers.
The leader's voice cut through the tense air. "Enough stalling! Take them!"
The soldiers charged.
Amanda's aura erupted, a wave of crimson energy rippling outward and halting the soldiers in their tracks. Her hand moved with precision, weaving a spell as dark tendrils shot from the ground, ensnaring several of the attackers. Their struggles were futile as the shadows tightened around them, dragging them to their knees.
Eryndor leapt into action, meeting the soldiers who broke through the tendrils. His blade danced, parrying and striking with a speed that belied his size. Sparks flew as his weapon clashed with theirs, his movements calculated and unrelenting.
Fenris lunged, his massive form tearing through the soldiers like a force of nature. His claws and fangs ripped through armor with ease, each strike imbued with the dark energy Amanda had granted him.
The leader remained at the rear, watching the battle unfold with a scowl. He extended his hand, summoning a sphere of ice that crackled with mana. With a swift motion, he hurled it toward Amanda.
She saw it coming and raised her hand, summoning a shield of shadows. The ice collided with it, shattering into a spray of frost that dissipated harmlessly.
Amanda locked eyes with him. "You'll have to try harder than that."
The man's lips curled into a snarl, and he drew his blade. It glowed with a pale blue light, the air around it growing colder. He charged at her, his movements swift and precise.
Amanda met him head-on. Their weapons clashed—his blade against the dark energy coiling around her hand like a living weapon. Sparks of frost and shadow flew as they exchanged blows, their power shaking the ground beneath them.
Eryndor fought his way toward her, his breath labored but his resolve unshaken. "Amanda!" he called out, cutting down another soldier as he reached her side.
"I have this," she replied sharply, not taking her eyes off her opponent.
The leader pressed his attack, his strikes growing faster and more aggressive. "You're strong," he admitted, "but you're reckless. Power like yours always comes with a price."
Amanda smirked, her movements fluid and controlled. "I'll pay whatever it takes to destroy people like you."
With a burst of energy, she pushed him back, her aura flaring brighter. She raised her hand, summoning a spear of shadow that materialized in an instant. With a swift motion, she hurled it at him.
The man dodged, but the spear grazed his shoulder, leaving a trail of darkness that burned through his armor. He winced, his movements faltering for the first time.
Amanda seized the opportunity. She closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, her hand wreathed in shadow as she struck his chest. The force of the blow sent him crashing to the ground, his blade clattering from his grasp.
She stood over him, her crimson eyes glowing with an intensity that made him freeze. "Your mistake was thinking you could stop me," she said coldly.
The man's expression twisted with fear and anger. "You think this ends with me? The nobles will never stop hunting you."
Amanda's smirk returned, but it was devoid of humor. "Let them come."
With a final surge of energy, she released a wave of shadows that engulfed the man. When the darkness receded, he lay unconscious, his body surrounded by deep scorch marks.
The remaining soldiers faltered, their morale shattered. Fenris growled, his massive form dripping with blood, while Eryndor's blade dripped with mana-infused energy.
"Leave," Amanda commanded, her voice echoing with authority. "Tell the nobles that their reckoning is coming."
The surviving soldiers didn't hesitate. They turned and fled, disappearing into the forest.
Eryndor approached her, his expression a mix of awe and concern. "You're drawing more attention with every step we take."
"Good," Amanda replied, her tone unwavering. "Let them see what they're dealing with."
Fenris padded to her side, his form shrinking slightly as the dark energy receded. Amanda knelt beside him, running her fingers through his fur. "You did well," she said softly.
Eryndor sighed, sheathing his weapon. "What now?"
Amanda gazed at the horizon, her crimson eyes burning with determination. "We keep moving. There's more power to claim, and I'm just getting started."
The forest seemed to hold its breath as Amanda and her companions resumed their journey, their path marked by the shadows they left behind.