As Arthur waited for Morgan, he absentmindedly drew a diamond in the dirt. At the diamond's tip, he wrote MK, placing BM on either side. At the back of the diamond, he added WM, and in the center, he marked W and H.
Phloria watched him draw and said, "Our Mage Knight will take the front of the formation, with the Battle Mages to either side. The War Mage will guard the rear, while the Warden and Healer hold the center. A classic arrangement, strong and efficient."
Arthur nodded, focused on the plan, until the sound of hurried footsteps signaled Morgan's arrival.
"I lost my Warden," Morgan announced, frustration lacing her tone.
Arthur exchanged a grim look with him. "We lost our War Mage."
Phloria's calm demeanor faltered for a moment as she considered the setback. "What do we do now?" she asked, her voice steady but concerned.
Yurial stepped forward. "Then it's settled. Phloria and I will form the second line of defense. You two will hold the front," he said, motioning to Arthur and Morgan.
Arthur nodded, gripping the pendant that hung from his wrist. The small trinket shimmered and transformed into a jian blade, its edge gleaming with an ethereal light. Beside him, Morgan's pendant shifted into a coffin shield, large and imposing, its dark surface marked with intricate runes.
With their roles clear, the group formed up: Arthur and Morgan took the lead, weapons at the ready, while Phloria and Yurial followed closely behind. The remaining groups trailed, searching for them amid the dense forest.
For the next two days, they moved through the woods, gathering magical ingredients and keeping a careful eye on their surroundings. Though the losses in their formation weighed heavily on them, they pressed on, determined to complete their mission.
As dusk settled over the forest, a chilling wind swept through the trees, carrying a sense of unease. Arthur and Morgan led the group cautiously, their senses heightened. The underbrush rustled, and the eerie silence stretched on.
They didn't see it coming.
A sudden flash of golden light cut through the shadows, striking the ground between Arthur and Morgan. The earth cracked and smoked as the radiant energy dissipated. A figure stepped into view, her form regal yet menacing. Scarlett the Sekhmet. Her feline eyes gleamed with malice, and her golden armor reflected the last light of day. The large, curved blades she wielded glowed faintly, humming with latent power.
"You've come far, but this is where it ends," Scarlett said, her voice carrying an otherworldly resonance. "No one leaves this forest without proving their worth to me."
Arthur's jaw tightened. "Then we'll prove it."
Morgan raised her coffin shield, the runes flaring to life. "Stay back!" she barked at Phloria and Yurial, who reluctantly retreated to a safer distance. "This one's ours."
Scarlett wasted no time, leaping forward with inhuman speed. Her first strike came down on Morgan's shield like a hammer. The runes flickered as the shield absorbed the impact, but the force drove Morgan back a few paces. Arthur darted to the side, his jian blade flashing as he aimed for her flank.
Scarlett twisted, deflecting Arthur's attack with one blade while swinging the other at him. He barely ducked in time, the blade whistling past his head.
Morgan countered, slamming her shield into Scarlett and forcing her back. Scarlett's feet skidded on the dirt, but she regained her balance effortlessly, her feline grace unshaken.
"Is that all you have?" Scarlett taunted, lunging at Arthur again. Her attacks were relentless, each swing of her blades a precise, deadly arc. Arthur deflected one strike, then another, but the sheer speed of her assault forced him into a defensive stance.
Morgan seized the opportunity to strike. She raised her free hand, and the runes on her shield pulsed with energy. A wave of dark energy erupted from the shield, crashing into Scarlett. The force threw her back, slamming her into a tree, but Scarlett landed on her feet, unscathed.
"Impressive," Scarlett said, her tone cold. "But not enough."
With a guttural roar, Scarlett unleashed a surge of golden light. The ground beneath them trembled as beams of radiant energy shot out in all directions. Arthur and Morgan were forced apart, each dodging the blasts as best they could. One beam grazed Arthur's shoulder, burning through his armor and searing his skin. He gritted his teeth against the pain and pressed on.
"Morgan!" Arthur called, his voice strained. "We need to end this now!"
Morgan nodded, her face grim. "On my mark," she said, raising her shield again. The runes glowed brighter, forming a barrier of shadowy energy around her.
Scarlett lunged at Morgan, blades poised for a killing blow. At the last second, Morgan dropped to one knee, letting the attack glance off her shield. "Now!" she shouted.
Arthur surged forward, channeling the last of his energy into his jian. The blade shone with a brilliant blue light as he drove it straight toward Scarlett's chest. Scarlett twisted, her golden armor deflecting the strike, but the force of the blow sent her reeling.
Seizing the moment, Morgan slammed her shield into the ground, releasing a massive shockwave of energy. The wave engulfed Scarlett, driving her to her knees. But even as she faltered, her eyes burned with defiance.
Scarlett let out a final roar and struck the ground with both blades, sending a radiant explosion outward. The force hit Arthur and Morgan full-on, throwing them backward. Arthur hit the ground hard, the world spinning around him. Darkness crept into the edges of his vision.
Morgan landed a few feet away, her shield shattered, her breaths shallow. She turned her head toward Arthur, her lips moving as if to speak, but no sound came out. The exhaustion and the strain of the battle had taken their toll.
Scarlett's form blurred as she stepped forward, but her movements were unsteady. She paused, her breath labored, then collapsed to one knee. "Next time," she murmured before vanishing in a flash of golden light.
Arthur and Morgan lay motionless, the forest falling silent around them. Phloria and Yurial rushed to their sides, their faces pale with worry.
"They're alive," Yurial said, checking their pulses. "But barely."
Phloria nodded, her expression resolute. "We need to get them out of here. Now."
With great effort, they hoisted Arthur and Morgan onto their shoulders and began the trek back to safety, the weight of the battle heavy on their minds.