Bianca's breath came in shallow gasps as she danced between the two goblins. Their swords slashed through the air with frightening speed, but she was faster.
Her movements were precise and efficient, every step calculated. She wasn't playing around anymore; the intensity of the battle had made sure of that.
Her Beast, unlike the others, was not a simple manifestation of power.
It was a Shadow Beast, a dark and ethereal presence that cloaked her like a second skin.
The Beast wrapped around her body like an armor, lending her enhanced speed and agility.
The air was thick with tension as the goblins advanced, their eyes gleaming with malicious intent. Bianca's own eyes glowed faintly, a reflection of the Beast's power.
She was acutely aware of every movement, every breath, but it wasn't enough to keep her from being cornered.
A goblin archer, positioned farther back, released an arrow. It flew through the air with deadly precision, grazing Bianca's arm as she barely managed to dodge.
The sudden pain flared across her skin, but there was no time to react. The goblin in front of her swung its sword down in a wide arc, and Bianca's feet planted firmly against the ground.
In one smooth motion, she pushed off and leapt to the side, narrowly evading the slash.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to create space. Her breathing was rapid now, her body slick with sweat.
The weight of the battle was starting to take its toll. The goblins were relentless, and her energy was dwindling fast.
She could feel it — the slow wave of exhaustion coming over her. Little by little, the goblins were closing in on her.
Every dodge, every strike, was becoming harder to make. She could sense it in the air, the crushing inevitability.
She was outmatched, outnumbered — and soon, she would be dead.
"Bianca!" Alan's voice cut through the chaos, a lifeline in the storm.
She looked over her shoulder just as Alan and the Nighthound rushed forward. The Nighthound's massive form darted through the battlefield like a shadow itself, its dark aura swirling as it moved with unnatural speed.
But just as Alan and the beast neared her, the goblin archer released another arrow, its sharp point cutting through the air with a deadly hiss.
It embedded itself in the ground directly in front of Alan, the force of it sending a shiver of fear down his spine. If he had moved a second sooner, the arrow would have pierced his leg.
The goblin's laughter echoed from the distance, cruel and mocking. It was preparing another barrage of arrows.
Bianca's heart sank as she watched the goblin not hesitate. Three more arrows were drawn and released, their sharp tips whistling through the air in quick succession.
Alan's eyes hardened. He was no stranger to danger, and this was no different. He raised his sword, the dark energy swirling around it in a protective shield.
The first arrow struck the blade with a crack, but Alan held firm. The second and third arrows came at him like lightning, but with a flick of his wrist, he deflected them, the dark energy amplifying his movements.
Each arrow embedded itself into the ground with a faint thud, harmless for now.
But Bianca was still in danger.
The goblin didn't hesitate. It unleashed another round of arrows, each one aimed directly at Alan.
But the Nighthound wasn't about to let that happen. With a fierce growl, the creature surged forward, its body enveloped in a dark, swirling aura.
The goblin's attention snapped to the Nighthound, its focus broken as the beast collided with it, knocking the goblin off balance.
This was Alan's opening.
His heart thudded painfully in his chest as he sprinted toward Bianca. The shadows of the battlefield seemed to stretch and close in around him, but he didn't slow down.
He couldn't. He had to reach her. He had to make sure she was okay. He had already lost too many people, and he wasn't about to let her be the next one.
"Bianca, hold on!" he shouted, his voice breaking through the chaos.
Bianca was on her knees now, struggling to rise. Her breath came in ragged bursts, her eyes unfocused as she tried to steady herself. The goblins were closing in. Her sword lay abandoned on the ground beside her, her arms too weak to lift it.
She could feel the pressure closing in, the weight of her impending defeat pressing against her chest like a vice. She wasn't sure how much longer she could keep going… The armor around her flickered as she didn't have enough mana to maintain it.
But Alan was there. He was moving toward her, every step a promise that she wouldn't be left behind.
'Move,' he thought, his mind screaming at his body to act.
He could see her. He could see how fragile she was in that moment. His legs burned, his muscles screamed for rest, but there was no time.
He had no choice. He had to reach her before it was too late.
Just as the goblin raised its sword to strike, Alan moved. His body surged forward with all the speed he could muster, his sword held high, ready to defend.
But the goblin didn't see him coming. In that final moment, just as the blade came down, Alan leapt.
There was a slicing sound as his sword met the goblin's. His hands trembled as he countered the goblin's massive strike, but he didn't mean to counter – instead he used the force of the goblin's blade to push himself back and closer to Bainca.
Alan landed on his feet, sliding to a stop just in front of Bianca. His chest heaved as he took a moment to steady himself, his gaze locking with hers.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice hoarse with both relief and exhaustion.
Bianca's eyes fluttered as she slowly pushed herself to her feet, her face pale but determined. "I... I'm fine," she said, though her voice was shaky. "I'm not dead yet."
Alan offered a small, weary smile. "Good. Because we're not done yet."