The old fortress stood firm and menacing in the middle of the dark night, adorned with shifting shadows every time lightning illuminated the sky. Its moss-covered, weathered walls appeared even more intimidating under the relentless downpour. The ground surrounding the fortress had turned into mud, making each of Aris's steps feel heavy. Yet, his determination to save Lysandra remained unshaken. With steady breaths, he stared at the massive gate before him.
Wasting no time, Aris began circling the fortress. His sharp eyes tried to pierce through the darkness, searching for signs of Lysandra or an entry point he could use. Every crack of a branch or gust of wind heightened his vigilance. He knew this place was riddled with dangers, and a single misstep could spell the end of his mission.
Suddenly, a loud roar shattered the night's silence. A massive explosion echoed from within the fortress, followed by a blinding light emanating from one side of the structure. Aris froze momentarily, his body tense. He could hear shouts and the clash of weapons. This was no ordinary skirmish. From the intensity, he knew someone was battling a formidable foe.
"Lord Sylas, and Lysandra?..." Aris muttered, his eyes widening as the possibility dawned on him.
At the same time, a familiar sensation stirred deep within him. Lysandra's presence. Though faint, he could feel the girl's existence nearby. It was as if an invisible bond connected them, signaling that Lysandra was not far away.
Without hesitation, Aris quickened his pace. The rain drenching his body no longer mattered. Each raindrop felt like a push urging him forward. "Lysandra... I'll save you," he murmured, his eyes burning with determination.
When Aris arrived at the site of the explosion, his suspicions were confirmed. Lord Sylas was locked in a fierce battle against a towering man radiating a dark aura. The man looked immensely powerful, and the massive sword in his hand moved with a speed that belied its size, forcing Lord Sylas to remain on the defensive.
Nearby, Lysandra sat slumped against a wall, her body weak. Her clothes were dirty and torn, revealing the harsh ordeal she had endured. Yet her eyes remained focused on her father, who was fighting with all his might to protect her. "Father! Be careful!" she cried, her voice hoarse but filled with concern.
Lord Sylas, though visibly exhausted, stood his ground. "Lysandra... I won't let them touch you!" he yelled, desperately parrying attacks with every ounce of strength he had. But the foe before him was too strong. The man's movements were swift and powerful, making Lord Sylas look as though he was being toyed with.
Watching everything from a distance, Aris clenched his fists. Anger and sorrow swirled within him. He couldn't let this continue. Without hesitation, he leaped into the fray, unsheathing his sword. "I won't let this go on!" he shouted, aiming a strike at the enemy attacking Lord Sylas.
The man turned to face Aris, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Oh?" he said with an intimidating tone, swinging his sword toward Aris, who deftly parried the blow.
The ensuing three-way battle was intense. Aris sought openings to strike, while Lord Sylas continued to fight despite his waning strength. Yet in the chaos, their foe managed to outmaneuver them. In one swift motion, he exploited the moment when Aris and Lord Sylas attacked simultaneously. Unintentionally, Aris drove his sword into Lord Sylas's chest.
"No!" Aris shouted as he realized what had happened. His eyes widened, his body trembling. Lord Sylas staggered, blood pouring from his wound. He grasped Aris's shoulder with a trembling hand, trying to reassure the young man. "Aris... don't hesitate. Remember what you said. This battle is life and death. You must carry on... I entrust Lysandra to you," he whispered before collapsing to the ground.
Aris froze, his emotions in turmoil. Anger, sorrow, regret—they all flooded him. But as he saw Lysandra crying in fear in the corner of the room, something within him snapped. He raised his sword, his eyes blazing with fury. "You!" he roared, charging at the enemy with relentless ferocity.
Aris attacked wildly, each strike imbued with raw power and emotion. Initially, the enemy seemed to enjoy the fight, but Aris's unexpected ferocity began forcing him to retreat. In a single strike, Aris managed to land a hit, shocking the foe. The blow was strong enough to hurl him out of the fortress, his body crashing into the forest below.
Without hesitation, Aris leaped after his enemy, leaving the old fortress and Lysandra behind with the arriving reinforcements. The heavy rain continued to pour, amplifying the dramatic moment.
As they fought in the dense forest, the relentless rain turned the terrain into a slippery and treacherous battlefield, but it also worked to Aris's advantage. He swung his sword horizontally, unleashing a powerful slash that toppled several trees behind his opponent. Rocks scattered from the impact of his strike. However, the enemy began revealing his true strength. With a single swing of his sword, a wave of energy radiated outward, obliterating massive trees in one strike.
Aris fought with all his might just to hold his ground. Each of the enemy's attacks felt lethal. He struggled to block them, his body pushed back by the overwhelming force. Yet he refused to give up. Aris's eyes stayed locked on his foe, seeking an opening amidst the barrage of relentless attacks.
In a spontaneous move, Aris leaped into the air, twisting his body and launching an attack that seemed to come from all directions. Five slashes appeared to strike simultaneously, creating an illusion that disoriented his enemy. The attack was enough to stun the man momentarily and force him back, but it wasn't enough to defeat him.
However, Aris's moment of downfall came when the enemy, moving with blinding speed, launched an unavoidable counterattack. A dark blade pierced through Aris's defenses, and before he could react, his right arm was struck with a devastating blow, severing it instantly. The excruciating pain tore through his body, forcing him to scream, "AAAAARRRRGGHHHEEE EEEEHHH UUGHGH," his voice echoing through the pouring rain.
His severed arm fell to the ground, blood gushing from the wound. Despite this, Aris's furious eyes showed no sign of surrender. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand even as the pain ravaged his body. With an extraordinary strength of will, he closed his eyes briefly, focusing on the rain pouring over him. The water flowing around him began to gather at his severed arm.
With a groan of pain, Aris started using his blessing to regenerate his lost arm. The process was agonizing, far more excruciating than losing the arm itself. The flowing water transformed into new tissue, slowly reconstructing the missing limb. Yet the pain was so intense that he screamed again, this time with a voice that shook the forest.
Through gritted teeth and with tears mixing with rain, Aris glared at his enemy. "Why... Why are you doing all of this?!" he shouted, his voice hoarse and filled with anguish.